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Season 1, Episode 1x05
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Sleeping Dogs is the 5th episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds first season.

Synopsis[]

While exploring a gas giant, Enterprise finds the wreck of a Klingon scout vessel sinking into the atmosphere.

Script Chapters[]

Teaser[]

FADE IN

EXT. WARP SPACE [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise travels to Starbase 12.

INT. ARMORY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

A phaser is being loaded as a device is being fixed to the wall as we see both Lieutenants Mason and Smith.

LT. MASON [re: PADD]: You have a ten second firing window you ready?

LTJG. SMITH: Yes.

Jack pushes a button on PADD, the 3D target starts moving around and Julia fires alot of shots in its direction.

LT. MASON [re: PADD]: Time.

LTJG. SMITH: Any better?

LT. MASON [re: PADD]: Your hit to miss ratio is still below fifty percent. If those had been live rounds, you'd have blown out two or three bulkheads.

LTJG. SMITH [sighs]: I've never had this much trouble with the laser pistol.

LT. MASON: This is an entirely new weapon. Unlike the laser pistol you don't have to compensate for particle drift. Just point straight at the target, and try and keep your shoulders relaxed. It's hard to aim accurately when you're tense. Ahem.

LTJG. SMITH: Are you alright.

LT. MASON: Yeah, just a cough.

Then they hear the engines power down.

LTJG. SMITH: I thought we were staying at warp for the next few days.

Lieutenant Mason checks the monitor read out.

LT. MASON: We're approaching a gas giant. Class nine.

LTJG. SMITH: Well, so much for target practice.

LT. MASON: There'll be more time to practice.

[BLACKOUT. END OF TEASER, STARTING CREDITS]

Act 1[]

FADE IN

EXT. PLANET ORBIT [OPTICAL]

[EPISODE NOTES: OPENING CREDITS FALL OVER OPENING]

The Enterprise is in orbit of the planet, as a probe flies from the ship.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

Commander T'Lar turns from her console to report.

LCDR. T'LAR: The probe's entered the outer atmosphere.

ANGLE - TRANSPARENT VIEWER [OPTICAL]

shows the probe's transmission.

CPT. BRANSON: Can we clean up the signal?

LTJG. SMITH: I'm trying, sir. There's a lot of EM interference. It sounds very strange.

Commander T'Lar turns from the science console to report.

LCDR. T'LAR: Intense magnetic fields often create unique waveforms.

CPT. BRANSON: Let's hear them.

Lieutenant Smith taps commands into the console.

[Electronic Jupiter-type music.]

ENS. CARLSON [smiles]: Siren calls.

John turns to her.

ENS. CARLSON: That's what we called them when I was a kid. My dad would put them through the speakers whenever we flew by a gas giant. It gave me nightmares sometimes.

Julia stops the sounds.

LCDR. T'LAR: Other than keeping Ensign Carlson up at night, I'm not sure what we expect to accomplish here. There are four gas giants in your own solar system.

John looks over at her.

CPT. BRANSON: None of them are class nine. I think this one's worth a closer look.

Commander T'Lar examines her sensor scans.

LCDR. T'LAR [re: scanner scope]: I'm reading an anomalous power signature in the lower atmosphere, and several bio-signs.

CPT. BRANSON [confused]: But how?

LCDR. T'LAR: Unknown.

CPT. BRANSON: Let's see it.

ANGLE - TRANSPARENT VIEWER [OPTICAL]

shows through the murk, a ship comes into view.

JUMP CUT TO:
INT. SICKBAY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

Doctor Carlson is treating Lieutenant Mason for the common cold.

LT. MASON [snotty]: We can travel faster than the speed of light. You'd think we could find a cure for the common cold.

DR. CARLSON: You should be grateful Jack the common cold that we go through is nothing compared to some of the common colds that I've seen before I was posted here. I once had a patient with the Kamaraazite flu. He sneezed so violently he nearly regurgitated his pineal gland.

LT. MASON: Lovely, Steven just lovely. I don't see how I could actually catch a cold on a hermetically sealed starship.

DR. CARLSON: Oh, you may have picked up the virus from a piece of equipment. It could have been lurking inside a sealed container.

LT. MASON [thinking]: I did open a case of plasma coolant.

DR. CARLSON: Whoever packed that case was probably nursing a cold.

LT. MASON [sneezes]: But that was in spacedock five months ago?

DR. CARLSON [sighs]: You underestimate the tenacity of a virus, Lieutenant. It can lay dormant for months, adapt to whatever environment it finds itself in. This should ease the symptoms.

Doctor Carlson gives Mason a hypospray.

DR. CARLSON: But the only cure I know of involves bed rest.

LT. MASON [waves off the idea]: No, that'll have to wait. The Captain wants me on the team investigating that shipwreck.

DR. CARLSON: Well, you won't be contagious inside an environment suit. Just try not to sneeze in your helmet.

LT. MASON: I'll do my best.

He leaves sickbay.

EXT. PLANET ORBIT [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise is in orbit of the planet.

INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

John looks at the monitor showing the Federation-Klingon Neutral Zone border, as well as tactical updates from several outposts along the border on the Federation side.

[READY ROOM DOORS CHIMED]

CPT. BRANSON: Come.

[READY ROOM DOORS WHOOSHED OPENED] As Lieutenant Smith enters and walks over to the desk.

LTJG. SMITH: You got a minute sir?

CPT. BRANSON: Sure, what's on your mind?

LTJG. SMITH: That shipwreck. We have no idea what type of life forms we'll find on that alien vessel, and there's a lot of interference in the atmosphere. Are you sure the away team won't need a translator?

CPT. BRANSON: They have their UTs, and we'll try to keep an open com-link with them.

LTJG. SMITH: What about the language on the control panels, the hatches? They might need someone to help them find their way around.

CPT. BRANSON: Julia, are you trying to tell me something?

LTJG. SMITH: John, I realize that I haven't always been the first one in line to volunteer for this type of mission, but I want you to know that I am prepared to go. Took a while, but I think I finally got my space legs.

CPT. BRANSON [smiles]: I never doubted that you'd find them. Your timing couldn't be better. Z just asked me to assign you to the team. You'd better get to the shuttle bay before they leave without you.

LTJG. SMITH [smiles]: Aye, sir.

Julia leaves the ready room as John's surprised at how much Julia has changed since she's been aboard the Enterprise.

INT. LOCKER ROOM, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

The boarding party is suiting up in their EVA suits as Julia is doing a system check on her suit.

LCDR. IVANOVA [confused]: I thought you were acquainted with the environmental suit.

LTJG. SMITH: I am Commander, I'm just brushing up on the backup systems. Wouldn't want the emergency oxygen to fail during a hull breach.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Smart.

LT. MASON: Trust me Lieutenant if there was a hull breach the pressure would crush you to something about this big.

He holds up his clenched fist.

LTJG. SMITH: Oh dear.

LCDR. IVANOVA: I requested you for your skills as a translator, but if you're uncomfortable.

LTJG. SMITH: I'm perfectly comfortable. I used to find the suits a little claustrophobic, but I'm getting used to them. I'll see you in the shuttle.

Both Commander Ivanova and Lieutenant Mason look at each other surprised.

EXT. GAS GIANT ATMOSPHERE [OPTICAL]

The shuttle craft Gardner descends down to the vessel.

INT. CANOPY, SHUTTLE CRAFT GARDNER

Commander Ivanova and Lieutenant Mason are at the forward consoles as Lieutenant Smith is at one of the other consoles.

LT. MASON: It's one hundred kilometers below us, still descending.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Gravity's pulling it deeper into the atmosphere. At their current altitude the pressure is fifteen thousand gsc.

LT. MASON: That's well within our hull tolerance.

LCDR. IVANOVA: For the moment. But at the rate that vessel is sinking, we'll have an hour at most.

LTJG. SMITH: You sound worried Commander?

LCDR. IVANOVA: A little bit.

LT. MASON: We'll be on our way back well before we're in any danger. I for one have no interest in imploding a valuable shuttle.

LTJG. SMITH: Or three valuable officers.

[Shuttle shakes about] As Commander Ivanova checked the console read out.

LCDR. IVANOVA: We've entered an eddy of liquid helium.

LT. MASON: Hang on!

Lieutenant Mason works the helm controls to get the shuttle out of the eddy of liquid helium, as the shuttle stops shaking about.

LCDR. IVANOVA: We're clear of the eddy.

LTJG. SMITH: That wasn't so bad.

LCDR. IVANOVA: 100 meters and closing.

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

The shuttle approaches the Alien vessel.

INT. CANOPY, GARDNER

The landing party looks out the window at the alien vessel.

LTJG. SMITH: Is that a hatch on the port side?

LT. MASON: Yeah it is bring us in for docking.

[Alarm blares] As Julia jolts at the sound.

LTJG. SMITH: What was that?

LT. MASON: It's just the proximity alarm.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Twenty meters. Ten. Engaging docking interface.

INT. CORRIDOR, ALIEN VESSEL [DARKNESS]

[DOORS WHOOSHED OPENED] As the boarding party enters wearing their EVA suits as their helmet lights shine through the darkness.

LCDR. IVANOVA [re: tricorder]: Nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere. Carbon dioxide levels are high, but nothing's toxic. It's breathable.

Lieutenant Mason looks over at Lieutenant Smith who turns to him.

LTJG. SMITH: You first.

Lieutenant Mason turns his helmet as it hisses and he removes its as he nods at the others, Commander Ivanova and Lieutenant Smith follow suit as they nearly gag.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Perhaps we should leave them on.

Lieutenant Smith coughs as Lieutenant Mason turns to her.

LT. MASON: You alright?

LTJG. SMITH [coughing]: Can't you smell that?

LT. MASON [shakes head]: I can't smell anything due to this damn cold.

LTJG. SMITH: Count your blessings Jack.

They start looking around the corridor.

LTJG. SMITH: Uh, guys you may wanna take a look at this.

They walk over to where Julia is at.

LCDR. IVANOVA: What is it?

LTJG. SMITH: It says deck two, red sector.

LT. MASON: What language?

LTJG. SMITH: Klingon.

They all draw their phasers powering them up as the blue light shows the phasers are on stun.

LT. MASON: How could we not know this was a Klingon ship?

LCDR. IVANOVA: It was very murky it was very hard to tell.

LT. MASON: So, we don't know how many Klingons we're up against?

Commander Ivanova gets out her tricorder.

LCDR. IVANOVA [re: tricorder]: I'm reading three bio-signs. That way. All very weak.

LTJG. SMITH: How weak are we talking here?

CUT TO:
INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

[BRIDGE DOORS WHOOSHED OPENED] As a stun grenade rolls out and goes off as Lieutenant Mason enters the bridge with his phaser at the ready as he clears the bridge.

LT. MASON: Clear.

Commander Ivanova and Lieutenant Smith enters as they see the crew at their stations as Commander Ivanova scans them.

LCDR. IVANOVA [re: tricorder]: They're still alive. We should leave before they regain consciousness.

LT. MASON: And what if they don't? The atmosphere's going to crush this ship like an eggshell pretty soon.

LTJG. SMITH: Shouldn't we try to help them?

LCDR. IVANOVA: They don't want our help.

LTJG. SMITH: How do you know?

LCDR. IVANOVA: They're Klingons. To die at their post assures them a path to the afterlife. If we rescue them, they'd be dishonored.

LT. MASON: Well, I for one don't intend to just fly off and let these people die, honorable deaths or not.

LCDR. IVANOVA Your compassion is admirable but misguided. If they awake and find us on their ship, they'll kill us.

CUT TO:
INT. GALLEY, IKS SOMRAW

There are carcasses hanging from butcher's hooks, some green stuff in bowls. A woman walks out of a storage area.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: How many are there?

LCDR. IVANOVA [to com]: Three on the bridge, but I'm detecting at least nine more bio-signs on board.

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: You can't tell what happened to them?

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

LCDR. IVANOVA [com voice]: I'm detecting residual amounts of an carbon dioxide based neurotoxin, but it seems to have dissipated. There's not enough to affect us

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: Standby.

John pauses the com call and walks over to the engineering console where Commander Darden is at.

CPT. BRANSON: How long is the shuttle's hull going to hold up?

Commander Darden taps commands into the console and reports.

LCDR. DARDEN: At their present rate of descent, half hour, give or take.

John walks back to the Captain's chair and toggles the com panel.

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: Z?

LCDR. IVANOVA [com voice]: Go ahead Captain

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: You've got twenty minutes to see if you can do anything for that crew, then I want you out of there.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

LCDR. IVANOVA [to com]: I don't believe there's anything we can do in twenty minutes. I suggest we leave now.

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: You have a margin of safety

[He crackles out]

LCDR. IVANOVA [to com]: Captain? Ivanova to Enterprise.

INT. CORRIDOR, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

(The Klingon woman moves towards the voices.)

LT. MASON [OC]: Damn interference.

LCDR. IVANOVA [OC]: Or we've dropped out of comm. range.

LTJG. SMITH [OC]: We still have twenty minutes.

LCDR. IVANOVA [OC]: It doesn't make sense to place ourselves at risk when they'd rather die.

LT. MASON [OC]: There must be something we can do. Maybe they have a distress beacon we can activate.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

LCDR. IVANOVA: I doubt you'll find one. Klingons don't call for help.

LTJG. SMITH: What if we carry some of them into the shuttle? We could save three or four.

LCDR. IVANOVA: And if they wake up on the trip back to Enterprise?

[The sound of a bulkhead closing.]

LTJG. SMITH: What was that?

LCDR. IVANOVA: I'm not sure.

Mason pulls out his phaser.

LT. MASON: You two stay here.

He goes to investigate.

INT. CORRIDOR, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

Lieutenant Mason searches for whatever the noise was as he gets jumped by a woman as they tango, she double fists Jack as both Commander Ivanova and Lieutenant Smith shows up has their phasers drawn.

LCDR. IVANOVA: STOP!

She enters the docking port as the doors closed as two blue energy beams lance out but strike the door and sparks.

LTJG. SMITH: You alright?

LT. MASON: Yeah.

She helps him up as they look up and sees the light change from green to red.

[CLUNK SOUND]

LTJG. SMITH: What was that?

LCDR. IVANOVA: It's our shuttle taking off.

The boarding party look at each other.

[BLACKOUT, END OF ACT ONE]

Act 2[]

FADE IN

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

John stands at the rail.

CPT. BRANSON: Anything?

Commander Darden taps commands into the com console.

LCDR. DARDEN: Try it now.

Captain Branson toggles the com panel.

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: Branson to Ivanova come in.

LCDR. DARDEN: They're back in com range.

(Kara sees the shuttle leaving the gas giant.)

ENS. CARLSON: Captain.

ANGLE - TRANSPARENT VIEWER [OPTICAL]

shows the shuttle leaves the gas giant.

CPT. BRANSON: Shuttle craft Gardner come in.

LCDR. DARDEN: I'm picking up something.

BU'KAH [com voice]: Duj-to! Chak wa kah Deesh paklah! kah Deesh paklah!

CPT. BRANSON [shocked]: That sounds like Klingon.

LCDR. DARDEN: I'll try to tie in the UT.

BU'KAH [com voice]: Chak wa kah Deesh paklah! kah Deesh paklah! 'kiv Duj in range. Respond. We've been attacked by an unknown ship designation Enterprise NCC-1701. Any warships in range, respond

CPT. BRANSON: That's not good power phasers 20% just wanna disable the engines.

Lieutenant Mitchell taps commands into the console.

LTJG. MITCHELL: Ready.

CPT. BRANSON: Fire.

Mitchell presses the button.

EXT. SPACE [OPTICAL]

A single phaser blot lances out and struck the port engine of the Gardner and disables it.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

John stands at the rail.

CPT. BRANSON: Tractor the shuttle to the bay T'Lar you've got the conn.

LCDR. T'LAR: Aye, sir.

Captain Branson EXITS the bridge as Commander T'Lar sits in the Captain's chair.

CUT TO:
INT. SHUTTLE BAY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

[SHUTTLE BAY DOORS WHOOSHED OPENED] As Captain Branson and three security officers enter with tact vests and type-II phasers set to stun.

CPT. BRANSON: Johnson you and Olson take the starboard side me and Henderson will take the port side.

ENS. JOHNSON [nods]: Aye, sir.

They spread out as Bu'kaH jumps the guard who goes to look inside. It takes stun shots from both Branson and Johnson to knock her out.

CPT. BRANSON: Everybody all right?

[Johnson nods as the guards get up again, John walks over to the com panel and toggles it.]

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: Branson to bridge.

LCDR. T'LAR [com voice]: T'Lar here sir

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: Transfer the coordinates to the shuttle bay. I'm going back for the boarding party.

LCDR. T'LAR [com voice]: Sir, the alien ship sunk another two thousand meters. It's below the shuttle's safety limits

CPT. BRANSON: Divert power to the shields we'll take Enterprise down.

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

The Somraw's adrifted.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

The landing party are out of their EVA suits as they're trying to figure out how to get off the vessel.

LT. MASON: There's got to be some way off this ship.

LTJG. SMITH: What about escape pods?

LT. MASON: I don't know about the structural integrity of Klingon escape pods. My guess is we're better off in here.

LCDR. IVANOVA: It's irrelevant, Lieutenant. Klingons don't use escape pods. It would be considered an act of cowardice to abandon ship.

LTJG. SMITH: Well, maybe we can use their comm. system to contact Enterprise?

LCDR. IVANOVA: I doubt their com will penetrate the EM field any better than our own. If we can access their helm controls we might be able to put this vessel into a stable orbit.

LT. MASON [sighs]: I haven't had much experience at piloting Klingon ships.

LCDR. IVANOVA: We have no other choice.

[HULL GROANS] As they looks around.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Start translating those consoles. Look for anything marked propulsion, helm, navigation.

LTJG. SMITH: I'll try, but reading Klingon is a lot different than speaking it.

LT. MASON: We could always try to awaken one of the crew?

LTJG. SMITH [sighs]: Alright.

She moves to one of the consoles.

LTJG. SMITH: Kolat chack tabak. Plasma containment, maybe.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Are you sure?

Julia examines the console read out and turns to Commander Ro.

LTJG. SMITH: Containment. I'm certain.

She walks over to the next station and examines the console read out.

LTJG. SMITH: This looks like the tactical station.

Jack walks over to where the girls are at.

LT. MASON: Yeah, it is I recognize the systems: Torpedoes, tactical sensors, disruptor arrays.

LCDR. IVANOVA: What about this one?

They walk over to where Ro's at and Julia examines the console read out.

LTJG. SMITH: I recognize pressure. Ka'tahl. That can mean wall or barrier.

LT. MASON: Or hull.

LTJG. SMITH: Maybe.

LCDR. IVANOVA: If I'm reading this correctly we've got a few hours at most. The hull integrity's failing.

They walk to the forward section as they examine the console.

LCDR. IVANOVA: This looks like helm control.

LTJG. SMITH: I think you're right. Quee nagah. Impulse drive.

LT. MASON: Good work Julia.

Mason tries to use the controls, but alarms sound instead and text scrolls on a screen.

LT. MASON: Julia?

She looks at the screen.

LTJG. SMITH: It says the pressure's failing in the J'khat bah. Fusion manifold. Do you know what that means?

LT. MASON: To quote our very own Commander Darden, that means we're dead in the water.

[COMMUNICATOR BEEPS] As Lieutenant Smith gets her communicator out and flips it open as Captain Branson's voice comes over the com.

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: Branson to boarding party. Come in

LTJG. SMITH [to com]: We read you, Captain.

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise heads towards the shipwreck's position.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: How are you holding up?

LTJG. SMITH [com voice]: We're doing okay, sir. It's nice to hear your voice

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: What's your status?

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

LCDR. IVANOVA [to com]: We've been attempting to restart their engines, but they appear to be offline.

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: Don't worry about it. We're coming to get you

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

CPT. BRANSON: Kara, how much farther?

Ensign Carlson taps commands into the helm console and reports.

ENS. CARLSON: Ten thousand meters, but I'm having a hard time getting a fix on them. Too much interference.

Captain Branson turns to Commander Darden at the engineering console.

CPT. BRANSON: Is our probe still working?

LCDR. DARDEN: Barely.

CPT. BRANSON: Use it to get a fix on the vessel.

Commander Darden begins to work at the console.

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

The probe's crushed under the pressure.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

LCDR. DARDEN [shocked]: The probe's gone!

[HULL CREAKS AND GROANS] As T'Lar turns from the science console and reports.

LCDR. T'LAR: Sir, external pressure's at maximum.

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: I'm afraid we've got a little hitch in our rescue plan.

[BOOM! BIG METAL GROAN AND CREAKING]

ENS. CARLSON: Deflectors are failing.

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: We'll be back for you as soon as we can.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: In the meantime, just sit tight

[He dissolves into static.]

LTJG. SMITH [to com]: Captain, you're breaking up. Captain?

The boarding party's worried that they're trapped on the vessel.

[END OF ACT TWO, FADE OUT]

Act 3[]

FADE IN

INT. SICKBAY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

In the surgical bay Bu'Kah stands behind a force field.

LT. BU'KAH: Release me. Cowards! Let me die on my feet.

Both Commander James and Captain Branson are there as Doctor Carlson walks over to them.

DR. CARLSON: Zhasa was right. There's a neurotoxin in her bloodstream. Untreated, it could kill her within a day or two.

CPT. BRANSON: Can you help her?

DR. CARLSON: I'm working on it right now.

LCDR. DARDEN: Zhasa, said the Klingons were unconscious. Why is this one so lively?

DR. CARLSON: She's showing the effects of hypothermia. My guess is she took refuge in a low temperature environment aboard her ship. The cold would have delayed the effects of the toxin.

LT. BU'KAH: I demand to speak to your Captain!

Commander Darden leans over to him.

LCDR. DARDEN: You know, I read if they sense a leader's weak, they'll try to kill him and take command.

Captain Branson looks over at him and then walks over to the surgical bay.

CPT. BRANSON: I'm John Branson Captain of the Starship Enterprise.

Bu'Kah looks at him.

LT. BU'KAH: I've never seen your kind before but you have made an enemy of the Klingon Empire.

CPT. BRANSON: From what I've noticed, that's not hard to do. You stranded three of my people down there.

LT. BU'KAH: You raided my vessel, infected my crew.

CPT. BRANSON: We didn't infect anyone. We boarded your ship to try and help.

LT. BU'KAH: Liar.

CPT. BRANSON: Look, I don't know what happened to your crew but we had nothing to do with it. Now your vessel is sinking deeper into the atmosphere and unless we do something, it'll be destroyed.

LT. BU'KAH: Better that than let it fall into your hands.

CPT. BRANSON: I've got three very capable people on your ship. Let them help. If you tell them how to get the engines running, they can fly it out of there.

LT. BU'KAH: And fly it where? Back to your world to steal our secrets?

CPT. BRANSON: No.

LT. BU'KAH: When our Birds of Prey arrive, your ship will be destroyed.

CPT. BRANSON [to Andy, leaving]: Remind me to stop trying to help people.

CUT TO:
INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

ANGLE - WALL MONITOR [OPTICAL]

shows the schematics of the Klingon vessel.

ENS. CARLSON: I found these schematics in the Vulcan database. It's a Raptor Class scout vessel.

CPT. BRANSON: How long will it last down there?

ENS. CARLSON: Its hull's at least twice as thick as ours, reinforced with some kind of coherent molecular alloy.

LCDR. DARDEN [sighs, crosses arms]: Yeah, it's a tough little ship but it can't hold up under that pressure forever. What if we use duratanium braces to reinforce a shuttle? It won't look pretty but, it might hold up long enough for us to get our people out.

ENS. CARLSON: Our only other option is for Zhasa and Jack to fix a broken-down Klingon ship and fly it out themselves.

CPT. BRANSON: I don't think we're going to get any help from our guest in Sickbay. Get started on those braces.

LCDR. DARDEN [nods]: Aye, sir.

Commander Darden EXITS the briefing room.

CPT. BRANSON: Keep an eye out for any Klingon ships coming this way.

ENS. CARLSON: Aye, sir.

Ensign Carlson EXITS the briefing room.

CUT TO:
INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

The Away Team are working to restore the warbirds engines.

LT. MASON: The one time we need our Chief Engineer is the one time we leave him behind.

LTJG. SMITH: Hey guys come take a look at this.

They walk to the screen.

LT. MASON: This must be the Captain's logs?

LCDR. IVANOVA: Let's hear it.

Lieutenant Smith activates the log.

CPT. K'DOK [monitor]: OonoS Thrott! Nej joS mIch ka Xanant 'ach pagh Q'tahL

LCDR. IVANOVA: Can you make it English?

LTJG. SMITH: Sure.

Lieutenant Smith taps commands into the console.

CPT. K'DOK [monitor]: Class planet. We destroyed their ship, but we've sustained damage in our port fusion injector. We've descended into the outer atmosphere of a Q'tahL Class planet to make repairs in case there are other Romulan ships in the area. My crew is falling ill and I have been unable to determine why. If we had died when the Romulan attacked our honor would be secure, but to fall victim to some disease, to be crushed into nothing in the depths of this miserable planet

K'Dok coughs and drinks the bottle of ale as the transmission ends.

LT. MASON: Sounds like we need to find the port fusion injector.

Lieutenant Smith goes to one of the consoles.

LTJG. SMITH: Wait, I saw that somewhere. Here. One deck below us. It's in the reactor pit.

LT. MASON: Reactor pit that could be Engineering?

LTJG. SMITH: Could be.

JUMP CUT TO:
INT. MAIN ENGINEERING, IKS SOMROW [RED ALERT]

[ENGINEERING DOORS WHOOSHED OPENED] As they enter and search the engine room.

LT. MASON: Is this it?

LTJG. SMITH: No. That says something about plasma induction. Here it is. Port fusion injector.

[The panel has a Klingon slumped across it, so Mason and Ivanova haul him away, and they get to work on repairing the port fusion injector.]

CUT TO:
INT. MAIN SHUTTLE BAY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

[Inside a shuttle in bay 5.]

INT. CANOPY, SHUTTE CRAFT

Captain Branson's doing some wielding.

CPT. BRANSON: I think I might have made a tactical error dealing with the Klingon woman. I asked her for help. She could see that as a sign of weakness.

LCDR. DARDEN: You been boning up on your Klingon psychology?

CPT. BRANSON: We've run into them three times, and every time they've wanted to destroy us. I'd love to figure out why.

LCDR. DARDEN: Well, maybe the best thing is just to steer clear of them.

CPT. BRANSON: That may not be so easy. We could use their help right now. If we can re-establish a comm. signal with Zhasa and the others, the Klingon woman could probably talk them through the repairs, but she's got a thousand generations of instinct telling her not to trust me.

LCDR. DARDEN: Maybe it's time you started thinking like a Klingon.

John looks at him.

[COM CHIRPS] As Doctor Carlson comes over the com.

DR. CARLSON [com voice]: Carlson to Captain Branson

CPT. BRANSON [toggles com panel]: Branson here.

CUT TO:
INT. SICKBAY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

DR. CARLSON [to com]: You'll be pleased to know I've developed an antitoxin. There's an interesting wrinkle, though. When you have a moment I'd like to share it with you.

INT. MAIN ENGINEERING, IKS SOMROW [RED ALERT]

Lieutenant Mason stand up, staggers and burns his hand against a pipe.

LT. MASON: Argh!

LTJG. SMITH: You alright?

LT. MASON [nods]: Yes. I seem to be getting a little light-headed. Must be the heat.

LCDR. IVANOVA [re: tricorder]: You're dehydrated. You need some water.

LTJG. SMITH: I saw a galley on the schematics. Deck four, blue sector. I'll see what I can find.

LCDR. IVANOVA: You shouldn't go alone.

LT. MASON: Watch yourselves.

CUT TO:
INT. KLINGON GALLEY, IKS SOMRAW

The pair enters and search for some water.

LCDR. IVANOVA: It's called gagh. It's a Klingon delicacy, but only when they're alive.

LTJG. SMITH: They look like worms.

LCDR. IVANOVA: They are worms.

Julia stirs the ladle in a pot and pulls up an animal skull.

LTJG. SMITH: Ugh!

They hear movement from behind a door, and ready their phasers. Ivanova opens the door to reveal three pigs with lots of spines and attitude, then shuts it again.

LTJG. SMITH: What the hell was that!

LCDR. IVANOVA: Targs. Klingons prefer their food freshly slaughtered.

Lieutenant Smith sits down, scared and upset.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Are you alright Julia?

LTJG. SMITH [sighs]: I promised myself I wouldn't do this.

LCDR. IVANOVA: You're in a dangerous situation in an alien environment. Your anxiety is understandable.

The ship jolts.

LCDR. IVANOVA [flips open the communicator]: Ivanova to Mason report!

INT. MAIN ENGINEERING, IKS SOMROW [RED ALERT]

LT. MASON [to com]: The hull pressure's approaching critical. This ship's about to be crushed!

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

A visual of the outer hull starting to cave in.

[BLACKOUT, END OF ACT THREE]

Act 4[]

FADE IN

INT. MAIN ENGINEERING, IKS SOMROW [RED ALERT]

Lieutenant Mason is drinking water.

LT. MASON: It'll work.

LCDR. IVANOVA: If you're wrong, you could destroy the ship.

LT. MASON: Look, even with Julia's help it could take hours just to find the fusion injector in here. We're out of time.

LTJG. SMITH: I say we try the weapons.

LCDR. IVANOVA: How do you know you can even access the tactical systems?

LT. MASON: If there's one thing on board this ship I ought to be able to figure out, it's the torpedoes.

EXT. GAS GIANT ORBIT [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise is orbiting the planet.

INT. CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM, U.S.S ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

Commander Darden is present.

LCDR. DARDEN: I'd like to run one more structural diagnostic before you launch.

CPT. BRANSON: Qapla'.

LCDR. DARDEN: I beg your pardon?

CPT. BRANSON: Success. I decided to take your advice about thinking like a Klingon. The Federation database has 900 pages on them.

LCDR. DARDEN: Learn anything?

CPT. BRANSON: Plenty. They're driven by a warrior mentality. They tend to view anyone they meet as a potential enemy.

LCDR. DARDEN That may explain why our guest is so irritable.

CPT. BRANSON: They also have a strong sense of duty. Er, Heh CHo' mruak tah. Death before dishonor. Finish up that diagnostic. I'll be in Sickbay.

LCDR. DARDEN: Going to go put your homework to use?

CPT. BRANSON: Something like that.

He EXITS the ready room.

INT. SICKBAY, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

Doctor Carlson gives Bu'kaH a hypo.

DR. CARLSON: Please relax. If you strain against the straps you might hurt yourself.

LT. BU'KAH: What's that? Is that what you used against my crew?

CPT. BRANSON: Doctor Carlson has developed an antidote to the neurotoxin in your system.

LT. BU'KAH: Is this how you plan to gain my trust? First poison me, then miraculously cure me?

CPT. BRANSON: Have you had a drink lately?

LT. BU'KAH: What?

CPT. BRANSON: The bio-agent that affected you and your crew was consumed, apparently in alcohol.

DR. CARLSON: Specifically, the toxin was bonded to a molecule unique to Xarantine ale.

LT. BU'KAH: There was a raid.

CPT. BRANSON: Yes? I can understand your not wanting to talk about it, if the raid went badly for you.

LT. BU'KAH: The Romulans were no match for us! We attacked their outpost and took what we wanted.

DR. CARLSON: And that included some Xarantine ale?

(She nods)

CPT. BRANSON: Did your whole crew drink it?

LT. BU'KAH: The triumph belonged to all.

CPT. BRANSON: I'll take that as a yes. It was that ale that infected you, not us. Think about it. When did your crew start getting sick? Was it right after the raid? After you celebrated your victory?

LT. BU'KAH: This is a trick.

CPT. BRANSON: Is it? How do you feel? Better or worse since the injection? We can make enough of this for your entire crew, if it's not too late. What if this isn't a trick? What if we're telling you the truth? You'd be letting your crew die a very dishonorable death when you could have saved them. Can you live with that?

Camera pushes in on Bu'kah.

[BLACKOUT, END OF ACT FOUR]

Act 5[]

FADE IN

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

A photon torpedo has been fired down into the lower atmosphere.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

The Away Team are at the tactical console.

LTJG. SMITH: One thousand meters. Two thousand. Three thousand.

Detonation, the ship shakes.

LTJG. SMITH: No effect! We're still sinking.

LCDR. IVANOVA: The shock wave dissipated before it reached us.

LT. MASON: We'll need to detonate one closer next time.

(The hull groans)

LCDR. IVANOVA: The ship's hull is under enough pressure already. If you detonate a torpedo too close.

LT. MASON: And if I don't? We need to generate a large enough shock wave to push us into a higher orbit. To do that, the blast has to be big and it has to be close.

(Ivanova nods.)

LT. MASON: You heard the Commander. Load two this time.

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

The Class-F shuttle travels to the shipwreck.

INT. CANOPY, SHUTTLE CRAFT

Both Branson and Bu'kah are at the pilot and co-pilot chairs.

CPT. BRANSON: Sensor resolution's dropping off.

LT. BU'KAH: This was your plan? To grope in the darkness and hope to stumble across my ship?

CPT. BRANSON: That's how we found it the first time.

[BOOM!]

LT. BU'KAH: What was that?

CPT. BRANSON: Weapons fire.

LT. BU'KAH: Where?

Captain Branson taps commands into the helm console.

CPT. BRANSON: Bearing two nine seven mark two six one, down about two kilometers.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

The Away Team are at the tactical console.

LT. MASON: Did it work?

LTJG. SMITH: We've moved up, but only two hundred meters.

Jack smacks the console.

LT. MASON: That's all!

[BOOM!] They braced themselves.

LTJG. SMITH: A compartment just collapsed. Deck three, green sector.

LT. MASON: This whole damn ship's coming apart. How many torpedoes do we have left?

LTJG. SMITH: Six.

LT. MASON: Load to more.

LTJG. SMITH: It won't be enough.

LT. MASON: Load the weapons.

LTJG. SMITH: We already tried. It didn't work.

LT. MASON: Lieutenant!

LCDR. IVANOVA: She's right. We'll never reach a safe altitude climbing a few hundred meters at a time.

LT. MASON: The longer we stand around arguing the more ground we lose.

LTJG. SMITH: Fire them all. What if we detonated all the torpedoes at once?

LCDR. IVANOVA: We may gain enough altitude, but I doubt we'd make it in one piece.

LTJG. SMITH: I don't know about you but I'm willing to take the chance.

LT. MASON: We'll detonate at eight hundred meters.

LTJG. SMITH: I was thinking more like five hundred.

Both Jack and Ro look over at Julia.

LTJG. SMITH: Look, I didn't come all this way to get crushed in the atmosphere of some anonymous gas giant.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Do it.

Lieutenant Smith taps commands into the tactical console.

LTJG. SMITH: Loading ports one through six.

LT. MASON: Brace yourselves.

They brace themselves.

LTJG. SMITH: Torpedoes armed.

LCDR. IVANOVA: Fire!

Lieutenant Smith presses the panel.

[BOOM!] As circuits explode on the bridge.

INT. CANOPY, SHUTTLE CRAFT

Both Branson and Bu'kah are at the pilot and co-pilot chairs.

[SENSORS BEEP] As Captain Branson checks the read out.

LT. BU'KAH: What is it?

CPT. BRANSON: Another explosion. There's a shock wave this time. Hang on!

[BOOM!] As they both brace themselves as they see debris flyby.

EXT. GAS GIANT SURFACE [OPTICAL]

The Class-F shuttle approaches the Klingon vessel.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

The Away Team are at the tactical console.

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: Branson to Ivanova

LCDR. IVANOVA [flips open communicator]: Ivanova here.

CPT. BRANSON [com voice]: What have you been shooting at?

LT. MASON [to com]: We used the shock waves to gain some altitude but it's only temporary. We'll start sinking again unless we can come up with a way to get this ship out of here.

INT. CANOPY, SHUTTLE CRAFT

Both Branson and Bu'kah are at the pilot and co-pilot chairs.

CPT. BRANSON [to com]: I brought someone who should be able to help do just that. We're docking now.

INT. CORRIDOR, IKS SOMRAW [RED ALERT]

PORT SIDE DOCKING HATCH WHOOSHED OPENED] As both Captain Branson and Lieutenant Bu'kah enter.

CPT. BRANSON: I believe you've all met Officer Bu'kaH. What's the status of their engines?

LCDR. RO: The Klingon crew made most of the necessary repairs before they were overcome, but the port fusion injector is still damaged.

LT. BU'KAH: I will tend to my own ship.

CPT. BRANSON: I didn't bring you down here just so you could die with your shipmates. My crew risked their lives to get this ship out of danger. I don't intend to leave until the job is finished.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

LTJG. MITCHELL: Commander, there are two ships approaching at high warp. I think they're Klingon.

LCDR. T'LAR: How long till they get here?

LTJG. MITCHELL: Sixteen minutes.

Lieutenant Palmer turns from the com console and reports.

LT. PALMER: We're being hailed. It's the Captain.

LCDR. T'LAR: On screen.

ANGLE - TRANSPARENT VIEWER [OPTICAL]

shows the bridge of the Somraw as Bu'Kah sits in the Captain's chair.

CPT. BRANSON [viewer]: This is Klingon Raptor Somraw, hailing Enterprise. Request permission to disembark four passengers

LCDR. T'LAR: Granted.

EXT. GAS GIANT ORBIT [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise faces the Somraw.

INT. MAIN BRIDGE, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE [YELLOW ALERT]

[TURBO-LIFT DOORS WHOOSHED OPENED] As the boarding party walks onto the bridge.

CPT. BRANSON: Get ready to break orbit, Kara. I think we've had about enough of this place.

ENS. CARLSON: Aye, Captain.

LTJG. SMITH: It's the Raptor, sir. They're hailing us.

LCDR. DARDEN: Calling to say thanks?

CPT. BRANSON: I doubt it. Put it through.

ANGLE - TRANSPARENT VIEWER [OPTICAL]

shows the bridge of the Somraw as K'Dok sits in the Captain's chair.

CPT. BRANSON: What can I do for you?

CPT. K'DOK [viewer]: Prepare to surrender your vessel

CPT. BRANSON: Maybe your engineer neglected to tell you, but we just saved you and your crew.

CPT. K'DOK [viewer]: You violated our ship, accessed our weapons

CPT. BRANSON: It was either that or stand by and watch you get crushed.

CPT. K'DOK [viewer]: Disruptors!

Lieutenant Mason turns to report.

LT. MASON: They're charging weapons.

CPT. BRANSON: You wouldn't last ten seconds in a battle with us. You've got multiple hull breaches, your shields are down, and from what I'm told you're fresh out of torpedoes. If I were you, I'd take what little honor I had left and go home. Fire one shot and I'll blast you right back to where we found you.

[The transmission ends with a snarl.]

LCDR. T'LAR: They're moving off.

CPT. BRANSON: Get us out of here before their friends show up.

[He shakes head.]

EXT. WARP SPACE [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise travels to Starbase 12.

INT. LIEUTENANT MITCHELL'S QUARTER, U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

Julia's sleeping while Tyson sits on the couch and gets out a hypo and a vial of morphine and gets it out and injects the meds into his shoulder.

EXT. WARP SPACE [OPTICAL]

The Enterprise travels to Starbase 12.

[BLACKOUT, END OF ACT FIVE, END CREDITS]

Cast[]

Starring[]

Character Actor(s) Rank Position
John Branson Jarvis Davidson Cpt. Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Zhasa Ivanova Felecia Linkous Lcdr. Executive Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

Also Starring[]

Character Actor(s) Rank Position
Jack Mason Kevin Reagan Lt. Chief Tactical/Security Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Kara Carlson Delena "Dee" Lusk Ens. Chief Conn Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Tyson Mitchell Blake Waymire Ltjg. Chief Navigational Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Julia Smith Sadie Brickhouse-Waymire Ltjg. Chief Communications Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Steven Carlson Jacob Elliot Lt. Chief Medical Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
T'Lar Becky Elliot Lcdr. Chief Science Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Anthony Darden TBA Lcdr. Chief Engineer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

Guest Stars[]

Character Actor(s) Rank Position
Harris Payne TBA Ens. Assistance Chief Engineer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Christine Chapel TBA Ltjg. Assistance Chief Medical Officer, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Henry Johnson TBA Ens. Security Guard, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701
Kayla Mackenzie TBA CPO Transporter Chief, U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

Special Guest Stars[]

Character Actor(s) Rank Position
K'Dok TBA Cpt. Commanding Officer, IKS Somraw
Bu'kaH TBA Cdr. Executive Officer, Somraw

Trivia Notes[]

Background Information[]

  • Inspired by: Star Trek: Enterprise.
  • A Klingon episode.
  • Lieutenant Smith focus episode.
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