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THE STAR WARS FADE IN: 1. SPACE A sea of stars is broken by the vast blue surface of the planet, OGANA. Five small moons slowly drift into view from the far side of the planet. The main titles are followed by a roll-up: Until the recent GREAT REBELLION, the DAI NOGAS were the most feared warriors in the universe. For one hundred thousand years, generations of DAI perfected their art as the personal bodyguards of the King. They were the chief architects of the invincible ROYAL SPACE FORCE, which expanded the King's power across the galaxy, from the celestial equator to the farthest stars. Now these legendary warriors are all but extinct. One by one, they have been hunted down and destroyed as enemies of the NEW GALACTIC KINGDOM by a ferocious and sinister rival warrior sect, THE LEGIONS OF LETTOW. A small silver spacecraft emerges from behind one of the Ogana moons. The deadly little fightercraft speeds past several of the moons, until it finally goes into orbit around the FOURTH MOON.
A harsh gale blows across the bleak grey surface of the Fourth Moon. The blood red sky presses down on a lone figure, JUSTIN VALOR, a tall, heavy-set boy of sixteen. He slowly makes his way across a wierd plain covered with huge sprawling lakes. The water in some of the lakes is bright red, while in others it is a vivid green. The oddly colored lakes create an ominous landscape against the eerie red sky. The heavy winds whip at the young boy and make the going extremely difficult. His face is covered by a breath mask and goggles. He stops for a second to adjust the shoulder strap on his chrome multiplelaser rifle. Something in the sky catches his eye, and he instinctively grabs a pair of electrobinoculars from his belt. He stands transfixed for a few moments,
A damaged spacecraft, half buried in the dust, rests next to the remains of an abandoned supply shack. Justin makes his way across the colorless landscape and rushes into the crumbling building. The interior of the hut is shabby, but manages to abate the howling winds. Seated in front of a thermoheater are Justin's father, AKIRA, and his young brother, BINK. Akira is a large, burly man, wearing the distinctive robes of a Dai. Bink is ten years old, with dusty blond hair and a large scratch on his cheek. Justin slams the door and removes his gear. His ruggedly handsome face is caked with many layers of dust. JUSTIN Dad! Dad! They've found us! Bink looks up from a small cube he has been studying. His father whacks him across the shoulder with a braided wire connector. AKIRA Continue with the problem. Your concentration is worse than your brother's. (to Justin) How many? JUSTIN AKIRA Good. We may not have to repair this old bucket after all. Prepare yourself. BINK AKIRA Do you have the answer? BINK I think it's the Corbet dictum: "What is, is without."
BINK (Cont.) Ahhh, Pop... AKIRA Bink, do you feel you're ready? BINK Yes, sir. I've outmarked Justin in twelve disciplines. I'm as good... AKIRA All right, son. Get your gear. Bink jumps up with the enthusiasm available only to a ten-year old and grabs his gear. His father frowns and shakes his head.
Akira Valor and his two sons carefully make their way up a rock bluff overlooking the Lettow spacecraft parked among the colored lakes. Akira inspects the with his electrobinoculars. AKIRA No tracks. Bi-lock hasn't been opened. Interior systems are still on. JUSTIN Are we going to wait for him to come out? AKIRA He's not in there. He's baiting us. I'm surprised they only sent one this time. We must be wearing them down, or they must think this warrior is something special. Stay on guard, and keep hidden. I'm going to work
my way across the ridge and call his bluff. Better we meet in open combat than wait for him to ambush us. Keep your guard! Akira leaves his two sons and moves off along the obscured ridge. Justin and Bink watch him intently. Justin throws down his multiplelaser rifle in disgust. JUSTIN He should have let me go with him. He's getting too old to make an open challenge. BINK He's not too old to realize you'd just get in the way. Justin ignores his little brother's remark and sneaks a look over the ridge at the Lettow spacecraft. Akira moves out of the rocks some distance away and starts toward the starship. Bink moves to the ridge next to his brother, his chrome laserrifle sparkling in the reflected red light of Ogana. BINK JUSTIN Bink reluctantly move away and watches the other direction. Akira has almost reached the Lettow spacecraft and still there is no sign of its occupant. BINK What's happening? JUSTIN Nothing. I don't like it.
JUSTIN Something's happened! He's been in there too long. BINK Let me look! Stand my guard. Bink takes the electrobinoculars from his brother and studies the silent spacecraft. Justin impatiently scans the distant red horizon. BINK I think the power just went off. We'd better wait here until someone comes out. JUSTIN What if he needs help? BINK The power went back on again.... With the aid of the electrobinoculars, Bink watches the running lights of the starship flash on and off. Suddenly something huge moves in front of his field of vision. Before either of the two young boys can react, a large, sinister Lettow warrior in black robes and a face mask looms over them. He carries a long lasersword which cuts young Bink down before he or his brother is able to raise his weapon. The startled Justin backs away in horror, then settles down and ignites his lasersword which creates an eerie red glow. He stumbles over rocks as he attempts to avoid the charging Lettow warrior. The evil warrior swings his mighty lasersword, but Justin manages to deflect the intended deathblow.
The legionnaire suddenly senses something behind him and whirls around to face Justin's father, Akira Valor, a Dai Nogas master. The Lettow warrior raises his lasersword, but is cut in two before he can bring it down again. Akira moves to the fallen legionnaire and studies him carefully. Justin, still a little wobbly from the whole experience, attempts to stand. Akira sees his dead son Bink and goes to him. He lifts him into his arms and begins to weep. Justin stands bewildered, watching his father cradle the dead child.
Akira Valor slides into one of the four seats of the small Lettow starship. Through the front viewing canopy, he watches Justin drag Bink's body to a small crevasse. Justin places a small locket around his brother's neck, makes a complicated sign, and dumps the body into the shallow depression. The giant engines of the spacecraft begin to whine, kicking up large clouds of dust. Justin climbs into the seat beside his father and removes his breath mask and goggles. There are tears in his eyes. Father and son look out across the wasteland towards Bink's grave. The thunderous clap of an explosion is followed by a small mushroom cloud rising out of the depression. Justin throws a container down in a fit of rage. JUSTIN How many more of them are there? I want to finish it, once and for all. I'm sick of running. When will it stop? Justin's father waits silently until the tirade is finished. Justin sits silently for a few moments. JUSTIN (Cont.) I'm sorry. AKIRA Son, plot a course for TOWNOWI. Justin lights up like a Geenick at feeding time. JUSTIN Townowi! You mean we're going home? AKIRA We both need a rest. Akira pulls back on the throttle and the powerful spaceship lifts off the surface of the Fourth Moon of Ogana.
A title card appears over a sea of billowing clouds on the gaseous planet of GRANICUS: Granicus: Capital of the New Galactic Empire. The towering yellow oxide clouds pass, revealing the Royal City of Granicus. The magnificent domed and gleaming city is perched, mushroom-like, on a tall spire which disappears deep into the misty surface of the planet. The peacefulness of this nebulous idyll is broken by the increasing wail of ion engines. Four sleek stardestroyers from the Royal Fleet burst out of the huge cumulus range. The craft are flying in a tight formation as they bank steeply, and head toward the royal capital of the New Galactic Kingdom.
Stardestroyers are two-man spacecraft crammed with sophisticated electronic weaponry. The pilot and gunnery officers sit side-by-side surrounded by
PILOT Tok-One to Chicks: Shape it up. Let's make it good. CHICK-ONE Does that glare bother you? PILOT Use your face shield, Chick-One. The pilot is cold and professional as he maneuvers his craft closer to the others. The positions of the ships are displayed on a read-out, along with a graphic representation of the city. The pilot gives the gunner a quick look before he flips his sunshield over his eyes. PILOT Here we go. Count: three, two, one, now!
On a huge austere platform stands the dark SON HHAT, Lord of Granicus, Consul to the Supreme Tribunal, and ruler of the Galactic Kingdom. He is a thin gray looking man with an evil mustache hanging limply over his insidious lip. Standing at rigid attention on his right are several generals dressed in the black and grey uniform of the realm. Five members of the Supreme Tribunal sit off to the side. On Hhat's left stands MARA HORUS, newly appointed Governor of the Townowi Systems. He is a young treacherous man with stone-cut angular features and piercing gray eyes. They all gaze skyward as the four gleaming stardestroyers scream low overhead in an impressive barrel-roll formation. As the sound of the spacecraft resonates throughout the glass canyon of the Plaza, the group of dignitaries return their attention to the parade of royal shock troops and giant air tanks (which ride magically, two or three feet above the ground).
SON HHAT Upon this battle depends the survival of the Galactic Kingdom. Upon this battle depends the life and long continuity of our civilization. Not since the great Dai Rebellion has our destiny been placed in such a balance. This is to be the most magnificent campaign of all! You have never been called without doing something to be remembered, something notable and striking. The conquering of the Townowi System, the last of the independent systems and the last refuge of the outlawed, vile sect of the Dai, will have such important and lasting consequences, that I can't but consider it as an epoch in history. To the rear of the Plaza, watching the spectacle over the shoulder of a curious bureaucrat, stands CLIEG OXUS, a tall, blond young man about twenty years old. He seems interested in what the King has to say, but keeps looking around nervously as if someone were after him. His arm rests across his head, as he carefully but coolly adjusts a glowing blue ring on his index finger. The King nears the end of his speech. Mara Horus has moved up to stand next to the sinister monarch. The troops shout a royal salute in response to a particularly partisan statement. SON HHAT (Cont.) ... I have personally asked the Townowians to accept this Treaty of Alliance. During the period of negotiation, they have only decided to be undecided. We will barter no longer. Governor Horus has been appointed the First Lord of the Townowi System and Surrounding Territories. This is the last frontier and the final stone in the great wall of the Galactic Kingdom.
Oxus walks into the glass and chrome splendor of one of the famous nightclubs of Granicus. He moves to the long mirrored bar and sits next to a rough looking man, BOMOJE ESPAA, dressed in the distinctive gold and furs of the galactic traders. OXUS Your glass is empty. Oxus speaks into a small intercom on the bar front. OXUS (Cont.) A dantic and... He looks in Espaa's glass. ESPAA No thanks, Clieg. I've had enough. OXUS Just a dantic, then. Espaa, it's not like you to refuse a drink. You're going to give the galactic traders a bad name. A drink appears magically from a small elevator in the bar. Oxus takes it, and then places a pen-like transmitter he has taken from his pocket next to the intercom. It creates a low electronic buzz.
A controller sitting in front of a row of monitors taps his headphones, then flips a switch back and forth a couple of times. He is obviously annoyed. CONTROLLER Number eighteen is out again. Give me a maintenance check.
Espaa leans in close to Oxus. He is suddenly very serious. ESPAA Clieg, we've got problems. They've just grounded all spacecraft, including trade frigates. Even the ships under royal registry can't move. Something big is up. OXUS I'm afraid they're not waiting for the Alliance Treaty. They're already moving against the System. I've got to get word back. ESPAA The chrome companies are protesting the embargo, but it's going to take some time. OXUS Isn't anything moving? ESPAA Military ships, but... They are interrupted by a royal officer and several storm troopers. The officer shouts over the P.A. system as the troops rush to block the exits. Oxus and the galactic trader are tense, but remain cool. OFFICER Attention: All captains and first officers of Guild Trade frigates will accompany me to the Ministry of Transport immediately. Espaa gives Oxus a hopeless look as the troops check their papers, and then take Espaa away. A small fight breaks out in the back of the nightclub as one of the trader captains expresses his dislike of the kingdom. Oxus slams his glass to the bar in a gesture of hate and frustration.
The large white-on-white executive quarters resound with the high-pitched laugh of the evil Governor Horus. He slaps DARTH VADER, a tall, grim looking general, on the back and the general's mouth makes the slightest gesture at a smile. HORUS Success! I told you. We are no longer under the control of the GREAT FAMILIES. We've gained a true advantage. VANTOS COLL, a member of the Supreme Tribunal, and a man of the grossest dimensions, appears to be a little worried. COLL A rather dangerous advantage. You still have a system to HORUS But this system will bring us more scientific wealth than that of any other house in the tribunal. We will easily gain control of the directorship. COLL Don't underestimate the armies of Townowi. They're lead by a Dai warrior. HORUS I've told you about Commissioner Coll, General. He worries a lot. VADER It's a myth that any Dai still exists. COLL General Skywalker is no myth. When
I first arrived at court, he was the first bodyguard to the King. He lead the Dai Rebellion. VADER NGAI THUC lead the Rebellion. COLL So the King would have you beieve, but I was there. VADER Then why wasn't he hunted down like the others? COLL Because he is too dangerous, too clever. Besides, his presence on Townowi is still only a rumor. HORUS Then why do you believe it? COLL Because I knew him. He's there all right. I can sense it. Mark my words, Townowi will not be easily conquered.
A low, sleek landspeeder (an auto-like transport which travels a few feet above the ground on a magnetic field) glides into the courtyard of the palace of Townowi. The planet, with its bright green sky, is a desert wilderness; but the palace is a sparkling oasis, with low concrete walls and great turrets spilling over with foliage from rooftop gardens. The speeder stops before an enormous shaded corridor. Fountains line the beautiful and highly polished tile walkway. Two young boys, OETA (7) and PUCK (5) are helped out of the speeder by AMBER, a one-armed bodyguard dressed in the
The palace library is a dim, cool room, projecting an aura of time-worn comfort and security. In the distance, the children can be heard screaming through the corridors. KING KAYOS, silver haired but amazingly youthful under a tanned and leathery face, motions for one of his aides to shut the partially closed door. He is in the middle of an emergency meeting of the Townowi High Senate. The twelve men sit in overstuffed chairs, placed in a large circle. A large, sallow-eyed galactic trader named AAY ZAVOS, fiddles nervously with a small scrap of leather as he speaks. ZAVOS My Lord, the chrome companies are with you in spirit, but you must understand, they can't openly support you. Royal trade restrictions are very unfavorable and we, of course, favor your independence. KAYOS If there were to be war, would your frigates still supply us? ZAVOS Your bluntness is to be commended. It could be arranged. COUNT SANDAGE, a corrupt noble of the senate, jumps to his feet in a rage. SANDAGE This is nonsense! We have no choice but to approve the treaty. If there is war, the New Galactic Kingdom will destroy our entire system with a snap of the finger. General Skywalker is a dreamer if he thinks he can mount any meaningful resistance, and you're dreamers if you believe him. So much trust in one aged man. You must see...
SKYWALKER Is there anyone here so naive he believes the Galactic Kingdom would even bother negotiating if they were contemplating destruction of this system? Your Excellencies, this is more than a simple raid on your resources. You must reach a decision. MIR NASH, a thin, birdlike senator, turns to General Skywalker. NASH General Skywalker, war is a serious business... a deadly business. SKYWALKER Procrastination is a deadly business, Senator. War is my business. Have you approved my defense measures? The GRANDE MOUFF TARKIN wears the long black robes of the Townowian religion. He speaks with a high, cracking voice. TARKIN An actual war with the Galactic Kingdom is still only a remote possibility. As a military treatise, your proposal has certain merits, but in the harsh light of reality, an attack against the Galactic Kingdom appears to be a somewhat extreme defense.
You must understand, General, we're interested in avoiding a war, not starting one. SKYWALKER There are times when offense makes the best defense. If that Alliance Treaty isn't signed, we will need all the advantage we can get. KAYOS Count Sandage, I want you to head the delegation to Granicus. You will leave tomorrow with our answer regarding the treaty. My decision will be forthcoming. The senators whisper among themselves. KAYOS (Cont.) All right, then. May the force of others be with you all. The senators leave in a flurry of hushed conversation. The general is lost in thought, and remains in his chair. Oeta and Puck, King Kayo's two young sons, storm through the existing senators, and rush on to Kayos' lap. The King is obviously very proud of the two young princes. He throws Oeta into the air, and then catches him again. PUCK Me too! Me too! OETA Zara's leaving! Zara's leaving and you gotta say good-bye. The King picks up Puck and swings him around, then puts him down. KAYOS Okay, whippersnapper, go tell your mother and your sister that I'm on my way.
KAYOS Luke, my daughter is leaving for the academy at Chathos. Won't you come and wish her well? It would mean a lot to her. She truly idolizes you, you know. Come on, the war will wait. SKYWALKER Of course. I'm sorry, My Lord. Politics always seem to distress me. General Skywalker rises, and as they head for the door, Kayos pats him on the back. KAYOS I know, Luke. I feel THE FORCE also.
A large, four-seat speeder sits gleaming in the sunsoaked courtyard. The PRINCESS ZARA, about fourteen years old, possessing a soft beauty and iron will, is embracing her mother, QUEEN BREHA, a warm, silver-haired matron. There are tears in the princess' blue eyes. Oeta and Puck jump around inside the speeder, disrupting the efforts of the one-armed Amber to pack several plaxiform cases. Zara embraces the King as he approaches with the general. ZARA Oh, Daddy, I'll miss you so. KAYOS The semester will be over before you know it. You'll have a grand time. There are so many new things to learn. I wish I were going.
SKYWALKER May your studies do you honor. Zara is somewhat embarrassed by the general's formality and can only manage an awkward smile before returning to her parents at the speeder. BREHA Hurry, Zara. You must make it to Yuell before nightfall. The princess' maids-in-waiting, ALANA, a short stocky girl, and MINA, more comely (somewhat that same stature as Zara) with long dark hair, giggle and straighten Zara's dress before she enters the speeder. The prin- cess and Mina hug Alana, whose giggles have turned to tears. The two boys scramble out of the speeder as Amber helps the princess and her maid into the back seat. The speeder is piloted by a trooper of the first order. Amber jumps into the seat beside him, and the speeder starts with a low buzzing sound. The princess waves to her family, and Mina waves to Alana as the speeder slowly glides out of the courtyard.
The huge war room is a mass of glass enclosures, electronic wall displays, monitors, and computer stations. General Skywalker enters a control station, followed by a covey of military aides of various ranks. As the group hurry through the crowded room, men rise and salute the new arrivals. The general stops before a giant display of the galaxy. Small symbols flash on and off over various portions of the big board. The general studies it intently. SKYWALKER Montross! CAPTAIN MONTROSS, one of the general's aides, snaps to attention.
Sir! SKYWALKER What's the TQ on this? MONTROSS The last frigate to leave Granicus was at twenty-three forty, Sir. SKYWALKER Have any ships at all left the planet? (to another aide) Check with the Guild on NORTON THREE. MONTROSS At twenty-four hundred, a full battalion of stardestroyers left for what is projected to be ANCHORHEAD, or a nearby system. SKYWALKER And no word from Oxus. He should have reported by now. CAPTAIN PRUE! An older, academic looking aide, steps forward. PRUE Sir! SKYWALKER What do you make of this? PRUE A battalion is invasion force, but the Royal Galactic Kingdom controls that entire part of the galaxy. A revolution, maybe? At any rate, they're going in the wrong direction to be any trouble for us. The general ponders this for a few moments, then speaks almost to himself.
I don't know. It doesn't feel good. MONTROSS Put 'em on alert. A loud uproar is heard on the far side of the war room. Everyone turns to see a foreign dressed warrior pushing his way past several guards and war-room bureaucrats. The warrior, with his long hair tied in an odd bun on the top of his head, is Akira Valor. He is followed by his son, Justin, who rudely pushes the pesky bureaucrats out of the way. BUREAUCRATS It's restricted. You'll have to wait. (etc.) AKIRA Get out of my way, boy, before I grind you into the surface. (etc.) As the dauntless Akira approaches the general, the guards stop in bewilderment as General Skywalker rushes up to the warrior and embraces him. The two Dai warriors laugh jubilantly and slap one another, as the aides and bureaucrats look on in amazement. SKYWALKER Akira Valor - you old muscle-rat! What a sight! We heard that you had been executed. AKIRA So the Galactic Kingdom would have you believe. I've been in the KESSIL System. You remember little Justin. Akira puts his arms around his son, who has been making eyes at one of the cute young female aides. He bows before the general. SKYWALKER He takes after his mother! (they laugh) It's so good to see you.
It's wonderful to be with another Dai again. There are so few of us left. The cute aide goes back to her duties, flirting with Justin as she passes. The young warrior pinches her on the ass, which startles her, but she goes on like nothing has happened. SKYWALKER What a sight! The two Dai stand looking at one another, hardly believing the other is real. Finally, the general realizes his aides are standing around, gawking at the duo. SKYWALKER (to the aides) Wake up, gentlemen. You're on alert. Keep me posted on that battalion.
The general, Akira and Justin enter a small glass enclosed control office. They sit, and an awkward silence ensues as each man waits for the other to speak. AKIRA I've come for your help. SKYWALKER Anything you ask. You're a Dai brother. We're one. AKIRA My friend, we've been through much together. I've been through
much since we parted. I've lost much.
He's a good boy, Luke, and one hell of a fighter. The general looks down, somewhat embarrassed. He scratches his head, then smiles. SKYWALKER Old friend, you do me too much honor. I was never a match for you. Why don't you finish his training yourself? AKIRA I'm too old, Luke. I can't go on. You must finish it. SKYWALKER What kind of talk is this? You're not the old Valor I remember. Too old?!? Akira Valor suddenly ignites in a rage and swings his left forearm down with a mighty blow across the solid chrome desk the general is sitting at. The old Dai warrior's forearm cracks in two, spewing forth wires and many fine multicolored electronic components. The artificial limb flops lifelessly to Valor's side. The warrior rips open his tunic, revealing a plastic chest stuffed with flashing electronic parts. AKIRA (angrily) I'm not the same. There is nothing left but my head and right arm. I've lost too much, Luke. I'm dying. The general bows his head in sorrow for one of the greatest warriors in the galaxy and a dear friend. SKYWALKER I'm sorry... AKIRA I'm sorry. I keep losing control. I'm very tired. Take my son! The DAI NOGAS must survive. We must pass it on. Only a Dai can stop Son Hhat.
We're very old, Luke. A new generation of Dai must be started. Take him; teach him the way of the Dai Nogas. Captain Montross bursts into the office and somewhat excitedly salutes the general. MONTROSS Sir, we have picked up something! An asteroid, or solid comet moving away from the Anchorhead System.
The general rushes out of the control station and back to the giant galactic display. He is followed by Montross, Akira and Justin. SKYWALKER Are you sure it's not the battalion? MONTROSS A solid object. It's as big as our Third Moon. PRUE It's too large to be man-made, and it's too slow to be a comet. SKYWALKER Analysis? MONTROSS It's too far out. SKYWALKER I'll be with the king. Report as soon as you can get a reading on it. (turning to Akira's son) Captain Valor, from now on you stick close to me.
King Kayos moves his arm around Breha's waist as they stand on a balcony watching two giant twin suns in the green sky disappear behind a distant dune range. The general enters, rather in a rush, followed by the young Valor, who is now dressed in the white uniform of the Townowi star force. (He still wears the distinctive Kessilian hair knot.) They bow before the King. KAYOS (pointing to the suns) Aren't they beautiful, General? "Always and never the same." You're just in time for dinner. SKYWALKER I have come for other reasons. Could...? KAYOS Relax, General. We will discuss it, but over dinner. There are times, Luke, when I find you a bit too rigid. Is this your new disciple? Justin is ill at ease and bows again. JUSTIN Justin Valor, sir. KAYOS Where's your father? SKYWALKER He left for the spaceport at GORDON to visit an old friend, Han Solo, the UREALLIAN. KAYOS We are becoming quite a refuge. The group sit at a large table and food is brought in by servants. They eat. Justin is nervous and watches the general, to make sure he is being proper. SKYWALKER My Lord, several events have occurred which lead me to believe we are in imminent danger of attack. There is no longer time for discussion and debate. KAYOS What events? SKYWALKER Oxus, our best agent, has disappeared in the galactic capital. There is unusual military traffic in the S-4 sectors. KAYOS Unless you have direct, concrete proof of a pending attack, there is nothing I can do. SKYWALKER By the time we have proof, it may be too late. KAYOS Luke, I'm leaving tonight for AMSEL. I'm meeting with the full assembly first thing in the morning. I am not going to approve the Alliance Treaty, and I will get your defense measure approved. Just be patient. You will have the war code. SKYWALKER Tomorrow may be too late. My Lord, I need the war code now. We must get our forces into space.
But it must be done legally, with everyone's approval. Tomorrow you will have that. I doubt the New Galactic Kingdom would attack before receiving our answer. The separation of war powers is the one condition upon which you assumed command of our forces. You're a friend, Luke, and I trust you; but you're also an outlander who controls a great deal of power. I can't forsake my oath any more than you can. Just be patient. You will have the code tomorrow. Captain Montross enters the large chamber and bows before the King. MONTROSS I bring a report to General Skywalker, My Lord. KAYOS You may deliver it. MONTROSS Sir, the asteroid has disappeared from our scopes. There is no trace of it. SKYWALKER Were they able to analyze it? MONTROSS It never came within range, sir. The general rises, quickly followed by Captain Valor. GENERAL Excuse us, My Lord. We'd better get back. I will wait patiently for the approval. The general and Montross exit the chamber. Valor takes one last bite of his dinner, then dashes after his mentor.
The general sits rigidly facing the big galactic display board. Several aides and bureaucrats rush to and fro, ignoring the general. He is asleep. Captain Prue approaches the general and snaps to attention. The general's eyes open. SKYWALKER What are the results? PRUE Negative, Sir. SKYWALKER Are you sure? PRUE Absolutely. SKYWALKER It's just not possible. Something that size can't just disappear without a trace. Check it again. PRUE That's the tenth negative, Sir. SKYWALKER I said check it again. Captain Prue retreats to a computer station. The general looks around for Captain Valor. SKYWALKER Valor! Everyone near the general turns, but Valor doesn't show. SKYWALKER Where is that boy? Montross! Montross rushes up to the general and snaps to attention.
Page Captain Valor. Montross goes back to his station and a few moments later, Captain Valor is paged over the P.A. system. The general waits, watching the big board. Eventually, Justin stumbles out of an enclosed computer closet, fastening his pants and tucking in his tunic. A moment later, the cute female aide rather sheepishly exits the computer closet. She also is in the process of putting her uniform back together. Justin rushes up to the general and snaps to attention. The general lets him stand there for a moment, not acknow- ledging his presence; then, suddenly without warning and in one masterful flash motion, the general stands, grabs a small baton attached to his belt (which immediately ignites into a four-foot glowing lasersword) and swings at the young warrior's head. In an equally quick movement, Justin ignites his lasersword and blocks the general's blow. Everyone in the war room is surprised and startled. After a moment, they rush to the general. Justin and the general stand motionless for a few moments, with laser- swords locked in mid-air. Finally, the general grins and Justin hesitantly relaxes. They lower their swords and turn them off. SKYWALKER You are trained well, but remember, a Dai must be single-minded, a discipline your father obviously never learned, hence your existence. Clean yourself up. Discipline is essential. Your mind must follow the way of the Nogas. JUSTIN It won't happen again, sir. There are many new.... P.A. General Skywalker, white com. The general moves to a control station and picks up a phone. PHONE VOICE Sir, Captain Oxus has just been admitted to Med Vac.
What's his condition? PHONE VOICE No data, sir. SKYWALKER I'm on my way.
Captain Valor waits in an outer chamber as General Skywalker rushes into the Med Vac emergency room where several doctors are working on the prostrate Oxus. SKYWALKER What's his condition? Is he conscious? DOCTOR Partially. He'll be all right - a few bruises, primary exhaustion... Oxus thrashes around in a semi-conscious state. He sees the general. SKYWALKER What happened, boy? What's going on? OXUS (with difficulty) The Royal Starforce is already on its way, not far behind me. They're going to attack. SKYWALKER Are you sure? OXUS I have tapes. A giant space fortress... He struggles to give General Skywalker his ring.
As big as our Third Moon? OXUS Bigger. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. Sophisticated deflection systems - works in opposition to the suns. SKYWALKER Then they will show up on our screens at sunrise. They'll attack before that. The general rushes into the outer chamber where Captain Valor is waiting for him. SKYWALKER Take the fastest landspeeder to Chathos. Pick up Princess Zara - and only Princess Zara. Return by way of the Great Reef. Most speed. Valor exits and the general goes to an intercom and pushes several buttons. SKYWALKER Montross! MONTROSS Sir! SKYWALKER Full alert - everything! Get the Royal Family back here. MONTROSS The princess is at Chathos. There are no transports... SKYWALKER I've already sent Captain Valor for her! Contact the King, first priority. He's probably still en route to Amsel. Use the scan com. I'm on my way.
The war room is on full alert. Everyone is at attention waiting for the command that will put each of them into action. The general enters a communication center, followed by many aides. Captain Montross and the com aide salute. MONTROSS We're having a problem getting through, sir. There is a great deal of interference. PRUE It could be jamming. SKYWALKER Try a surface link through Amsel. The aides go back to the com-link system to try to get a line through to the King. PRUE We should be able to spot them at sunrise. That's not too far off. SKYWALKER They'll attack with sunrise. Until the King gives us the code to start the war computers, we'll just have to sit tight. PRUE All units are on alert, sir. SKYWALKER (to Montross) Have you made contact yet? (to himself) This is one hell of a way to run a war. PRUE Sir?
A landspeeder roars into a courtyard of the academy at
JUSTIN Forget the cases; we've no time. ZARA These are my things. They must... JUSTIN I said forget them, and hurry. ZARA Just who do you think you are? Valor grabs the princess by the arm, and hauls her to the speeder. Mina and the old women run after them. ZARA I will not be treated like this! You bring my things. My father will have your head (etc.) Zara struggles to break away from the young warrior's grasp, as he opens the door of the speeder. JUSTIN Settle down! When the door to the speeder is opened, Mina starts in, and Valor stops her. JUSTIN You must stay. Here, take the crest. Captain Valor rips the royal crest from the princess' neck, and hands it to the startled handmaiden. The old women gasp in horror. The princess starts hitting Captain Valor with little result.
Mina's not staying. I'm not leaving her. You can't... Valor punches her square on the jaw and knocks her cold. Mina is panic stricken, one of the old women faints, and another starts for Valor with a large staff. JUSTIN She'll be all right. I'm taking her to safety, as ordered. You will wear the crest and continue as before. The authority of Captain Valor's voice stops the old lady. He places the princess into the speeder, and maneuvers it out of the courtyard. Mina puts on the crest as the speeder races away from the academy.
Queen Breha, Oeta and Puck are escorted into a rest area of the war room. General Skywalker sits rigidly in a chair in the communications area, apparently asleep. MONTROSS We've made contact, sir! The general opens his eyes and takes the intercom mike. KAYOS What is it, General? SKYWALKER The Royal Starforce will attack on the rising of the sun. My agent made it back. I now have proof. I need the war code. KAYOS I'll relay it directly to the computer. Is Breha...? SKYWALKER The Royal Family is safe. Captain Valor has gone after Princess Zara. KAYOS I'm on my way back.
The small caravan of four speeders sits motionless on the vast red plains of Townowi. The King returns the intercom to the pilot and takes a small metallic card from around his neck and gives it to the co-pilot. KAYOS Send this sub-land, priority one. (to the pilot) Get us back to CALVAS immediately! The four speeders turn around and scream away in the direction from which they came. They pass a huge, ultra- sleek powerplow which is planting green fungus in endless furrows. Two clay-covered farmers riding atop the pon- derous machine watch the speeders disappear over the horizon. The twin suns peek over the distant hillside. and make their way into the vivid green sky. A bright object twinkling in early morning heavens catches the eye of the older of the two farmers and he brings the machine to a lumbering halt. The younger farmer also notices the object and stares into the green sky, shading his eyes to get a better view. Suddenly there is a huge, bright atomic flash on the horizon. A few moments later, a thunderous shaking, followed by high winds, tumbles the older farmer from his perch. A second flash on the opposite horizon brings another jolting earthquake, and the younger farmer col- lapses, terror frozen on his face.
Chaos - red scramble lights are flashing. Alert horns and attack buzzers create an unbelievable cacophony. Air warriors, with the distinctive circle and cross medallion on their white space suits, scramble out of the low concrete readyroom, grabbing helmets and space- packs as they race out of the door.
Thirty pilots and navigators dash in unison to a line of waiting two-man starships of the destroyer class. Ground crews scurry back and forth, loading last-minute armament and unlocking power couplings. PILOT LEADER, a rugged, handsome boy of twenty, gives his ground crew a signal that his is okay. He has a winning smile and a distinctive scar along the side of his face. His crew chief pats him on the back.
Knock them all the way back to Granicus. The canopy is closed and the powerful starship moves onto the runway. Other crewmen say good-bye to their pilots, some grinning and others kidding - all with a great deal of hidden emotion. The din of four dozen retrorockets cuts through the uproar, and fifteen silver spacecraft leave the runway and disappear into the morning cloud cover.
The general stands before a giant display of the Townowian solar system. Montross signals the general. MONTROSS They're away, sir. Fifteen from Gordon, twenty from Amsel. All other spaceports were destroyed. The King hasn't arrived yet. SKYWALKER Keep checking. Put the starship's intercom over the P.A. The general sits at one of the intercom panels and puts on a headphone. A row of monitors is before him. He turns to Montross. SKYWALKER Where are they?
The eerie reddish-yellow planet of Townowi slowly drifts into view from total eclipse. A small, bright speck, orbiting the planet, sparkles in the light of the twin suns. The six deadly starships settle ominously into the foreground, moving swiftly toward the orbiting speck. As the sleek starships move closer, the orbiting speck is revealed to be a gargantuan space fortress. The moon-sized satellite fortress dwarfs the approaching fighters. Every few moments, explosions create blinding flashes on the planet's surface, as the fortress bombards the planet with a fusillade of laser bolts.
Pilot Leader, in the first ship, signals to his navigator who sits in a small, isolated glass bubble to the rear of the craft. General Skywalker is seen on one of many monitors. A view of the space fortress is on another. The rest are filled with various computer readouts and displays. One of the other starships reports to Pilot Leader. DEVIL SIX (intercom) Look at the size of that thing! Hey, Coelo, I hope you remembered to bring your pop gun, 'cause I think we caught us a big one this time. PILOT LEADER Cut off, Devil Six. Stand by. SKYWALKER (monitor) It looks like they're still using the basic quad-tristation configuration. Use a "ranger defense." Concentrate on breath ports and lock areas. PILOT LEADER Affirmative base. Copy and transmit. Devil Two, check your rotation plates. DEVIL TWO Roger, Boss. We're getting a threshhold disturbance on gyro-three. SKYWALKER (monitor) Switch over, Five. Cover it! Devil pack, generate a spread six formation. May the force of others protect you. PILOT Settle in. Devil pack, stand by. Mark five, break off. Here we go!
Fuel pods are jettisoned. The half-dozen fighters break off into a powerline attack on the huge fortress. Multiple laser bolts streak from the starships, creating small explosions on the complex surface of the fort.
The chaos of battle echoes through the vast corridors of the fortress. Walls buckle and cave in, sucking debris and personnel into the vacuum of outer space. Alarm sirens scream as soldiers scramble to large turbo-powered laser gun emplacements. Sergeants yell orders through the smoke and confusion. Men and robots of various shapes and sizes run to their battle stations.
The monitors with pictures from the starships suddenly go blank. Technicians check channels as others in the war room silently listen to the action over the intercom. The general remains calm but concerned. PILOT LEADER (intercom) Tighten it up, Devil Two. Tighten it up. Watch those towers. DEVIL TWO Heavy fire, Boss, twenty-three degrees. PILOT LEADER I see it. Pull in. We're picking up some interference. DEVIL SIX Wow! I've never seen such fire power. PILOT LEADER Pull in, Devil Two. Pull in! DEVIL TWO I'm all right, Boss. I've got a target. DEVIL SIX There's too much action. Get out!
Break off...acknowledge. Devil Six, can you see Devil Two? DEVIL SIX I've lost him. There's a very heavy fire zone on this side. My radar's jammed. DEVIL FIVE He's gone....No, wait. There he is. Fin damage, but he's all right. A sigh of relief sweeps across the war room. The monitors flash on, then off again. DEVIL FOUR (intercom) Watch your back, Boss! Watch your back!!
The speedy little fighters dart back and forth across the soft underbelly of the fortress, leaving a trail of des- truction behind them. PILOT LEADER Converge on south axis point, point three nine four. It appears accessible. I'm going to map the surface. Devil Four, cover me. Pilot Leader and Devil Four dive in unison through a forest of radar domes, antennae, and gun towers. Devil Four fires into the protrusions as the two starships criss-cross the surface of the fortress. Suddenly, a dense barrage of laserfire erupts from a tower, catching Devil Four broadside. The spacecraft bursts into a million flaming pieces. Pilot Leader reacts to the loss of his wing man, but continues on his mission. 35. SUB-HALLWAY - ROYAL SPACE FORTRESS Constant explosions rock the interior of the fortress. Civilians, including women and children, scurry for safety in the panic-ridden hallways. Two construction robots, A-2 and C-3, are blown, slipping and sliding across the hallway floor into some freight canisters. Both robots
C-3 This is madness. We're going to be destroyed. I'm still not accustomed to space travel. A-2 The external bombardment does appear to be concentrated in this area. The structure has exceeded the normal stress quotient by point four, although there appears to be no immediate danger. C-3 No immediate danger! You're faulty. This is madness! A-2 gives C-3 a sheepish look and clings to a siderail for dear life, as debris flies through the hallway.
Devil Two, a young hotshot of about sixteen years, miraculously dives his ship through a virtual wall of laserfire, and blasts a huge radar disc into dust. Devil Two signals his navigator, who lets out a whooping cheer as the craft veers into a victory roll. PILOT LEADER Great moves, Devil Two. Re-group at point two, zero one. Coincide, Devil Six. SKYWALKER Devil One, your map projection shows a weak point at south portal: niner point six. Concentrate the attack on that point. Coordinate. PILOT LEADER I see it. It looks good.
DEVIL THREE I've got a... We're hit. We're hit! PILOT LEADER Eject...Eject. Babs, Babs, do you read? DEVIL THREE I'm okay. I can hold it. Clear me a little, Devil Five. Watch it! Watch it! Devil Three wobbles a little, then drops away sharply, plowing into a lasergun emplacement, causing a hideous series of chain reaction explosions.
A huge explosion rips a large hole in the ceiling of a subhallway. A-2 and C-3 are in a state of shock as they scramble through the rubble. There is a constant sound of creaking and snapping as the sections of the hallway resettle in the fortress superstructure. A-2 You're a mindless, useless philosopher. Come on! Let's go back to work; the system is all right. C-3 You overweight glob of grease. Quit following me. Get away! Get away! Suddenly, the hallway lurches, and a dead trooper falls through a gaping hole in the ceiling. The foot of a carcass is caught in the rubble and it hangs upside down, staring at the two robots. A-2 grabs C-3 and they cling to each other in terror. A-2 We're lost. We're destroyed.
The five troopers race through several hallways, and finally stop in front of an important-looking office complex. Two officers dismount and enter the complex. They pass through several heavily guarded doorways until they reach the main chamber. Seated behind a large cluttered desk, surrounded by generals and attaches, is Governor Horus. General Vader paces in front of a row of blank monitors. The two officers salute General Vader. FIRST OFFICER All com-link power is out. Twenty-two transformer sections have been destroyed. The situation is grave on all southern levels. Com-link communication should be repaired shortly. The officers salute, turn and leave the chamber. The general turns to Governor Horus, who looks a little worried. VADER Don't look so worried. Not even a Dai could penetrate this fortress. We've already wiped out most of their forces. HORUS If it goes on too long, we'll run over budget. When do the landings begin? VADER As soon as the attack has been broken: not long. A short, stocky attache salutes the general. ATTACHE Contamination has set in on quadrants B-5 and R-4. All sections are sealed.
We've lost two major power stations in the southern quadrants. That puts section 5-1 in serious trouble. The general turns away in controlled anger and embarrassment.
The general sits in a glass-enclosed computer station, watching the battle progress on several monitors. An officer enters and salutes the general. OFFICER Analysis reports those ZQ configurations are definitely power transformers. Everything in the southern sectors of the fortress is out. SKYWALKER I'm surprised they are still using external power units. It's a definite weak point. Concentrate on searching for the main crosslink transformer. The officer exits as Montross rushes in. MONTROSS The senate has voted to end the war. SKYWALKER They can't do anything without the King's approval, which gives us a little time. Have you been able to regain contact with the King? MONTROSS No, sir. All ground communications are jammed. SKYWALKER Send four men from third squad to meet the King and escort him back. Let me know before he arrives. Is
Captain Valor back with the princess? MONTROSS No, sir. They're long overdue. Pilot Leader checks in over the intercom. PILOT LEADER All right, base one, we're in position. An officer with headphones looks to the general. He signals to attack.
All four starships dive in formation toward a main transformer area flanked by several solar towers. PILOT LEADER Hold your fire until we're within point zero five four. Make it count. Several ack-ack lasers begin to open fire on the approaching spacecraft. The starships direct their fire at a large black transformer which when hit spurts bright blue and white electrical arcs. One of the starships (Devil Five) explodes and careens out of formation, leaving an erratic trail of smoke, before eventually crashing into a solar panel.
The impact of the exploding starship can be felt throughout the giant fortress. The tall gleaming C-3 races through several corridors, yelling at A-2, who struggles vainly to keep pace with his stubby mechanical feet. C-3 I don't care what you do, but I'm getting out. All the power's out. Those explosions are coming from the reactor section. This is the end. Abandon ship! A-2 Our work - we can't leave! It's desertion. It's not possible. It's not possible. C-3 Your programming is so limited. My first order is preservation. You stay. I'm going to eject before the whole thing goes up. C-3 breaks open the seal on an emergency lifepod. A red warning light begins to flash, and a low hum is heard. The lanky chrome android works his way into the cramped four-man craft. A-2 These lifepods aren't for us. It's not right! A new explosion, this time very close, sends dust and debris through the narrow passageway. Flames lick at the two robots. The runt-sized A-2 jumps into the lifepod. A-2 It's the end. Eject. Eject. The safety door snaps shut, and the pod ejects from the fortress.
The terrified androids in the lifepod speed away from the fortress and pass the attacking starships. DEVIL TWO Object approaching. Attack bearing. DEVIL FOUR It's a lifepod. Forget it. We've got... Devil Four is hit by lazerfire, and disintegrates, leaving a trail of flaming particles. The two remaining craft continue the assault. Devil Two and Pilot Leader watch the remains of Devil Four disappear. The general appears over one of the monitors.
Analysis indicates transformer code zero three is the main relay. Hit it, and the whole thing goes dead. PILOT LEADER We're on our way.
A row of monitors and the main overhead lights go on, and a trooper appears on one of the screens. TROOPER Internal relays operative. All power restored. All contaminated areas sealed. An officer appears on another monitor. OFFICER Only two enemy craft remain operative. We calculate victory by zero three hundred. General Vader switches to another monitor. VADER Alert the invasion forces. (turning to the governor) The planet is ours. A three-hour war. You expected longer. Dai or not, we've beaten him, and the culture is intact. HORUS A truly great prize for the kingdom. They have a treasure of biotic science. Genetics, cloning - they've added two hundred years to a lifespan. Remember, you must capture at least one member of the Royal Family alive. The Townowi family has ruled this system for ten thousand years. The people will follow no other. If the royal line is broken, there is a good chance the entire population will destroy themselves and their knowledge before submitting to our rule.
OFFICER (on monitor) We've received a message from the planet.
General Skywalker watches a giant computer display of the space fortress mapped by the starships. An aide approaches. AIDE Sir! The King's convoy has destroyed at Caldin. All the bodies were contaminated. SKYWALKER I will audience with the Queen. Who knows of this? AIDE Many. It came through civilian sources. SKYWALKER Confine Senator Sandage to his quarters. Use any pretext. Where is the senator now? Sandage and several other senators enter the computer station. SANDAGE Right here, General. It's over. We've already relayed peace terms to the kingdom, and they've been accepted. Your war has ended. The general is angry and stands pointing at the senators. They jump back, as if the general were pointing a gun at them. SKYWALKER Senator, this war isn't over. It's just begun. I take my commands from the Royal Family.
The Queen concurs. I have her written decree. It is to be SKYWALKER Not likely. SANDAGE Treason? Revolution? The people won't follow you, General, nor will your troops. I suggest you follow your orders. General Skywalker stands angrily pondering the situation. Sandage and the other senators are tense, a little afraid that he might cut them down on the spot. SANDAGE Well, General?
The reddish-yellow mass of Townowi seems to engulf the tiny lifepod containing the two fleeing androids, as it descends into the greenish atmosphere. A-2 It's desertion. They'll destroy us. How could this happen? C-3 That's funny. The damage doesn't look as bad from out here.
Pilot Leader and Devil Two make a second dive on the now smoldering transformer area. All firing from the fortress suddenly stops. Pilot Leader looks back to his navigator, who is equally puzzled. The two fighters continue to attack the now silent fortress. DEVIL TWO I don't get it. What do you think, Boss?
SKYWALKER (with difficulty) Base one to Devil Leader, scramble code niner. Break your attack and return to base. Repeat, break your attack. Confirm. PILOT LEADER They're hurt, sir, but they still have power. We should finish... SKYWALKER Break off. The war is over. Run on white lights. Get back here, Mace. We're going to need you. PILOT LEADER Confirmed base one. We're on our way. Did you copy, Devil Two? DEVIL TWO Roger, Boss. The two starfighters break off the attack and start back toward the planet. Without warning, the fort directs concentrated fire at the two starfighters. Devil Two instantly bursts into flames, then disintegrates. Pilot Leader's tail section is hit, and the ship pinwheels toward the planet. Blood covers Pilot Leader's immobile face. PILOT LEADER'S NAVIGATOR We're under fire. They're still shooting. I thought it was over. We're hit! We're hit! Pilot is dead.... Ejecting. The dead Pilot Leader is jettisoned free of the craft, but the navigator's eject panel is dead. He struggles with it, then bangs on the canopy to no avail. The navigator is still trapped in the craft when it explodes, leaving only a puff of pink smoke reflected in the rim light of the planet.
Pilot Leader's dead body drifts toward his arid mother-
General Skywalker sits alone, meditating in the deserted war room. Montross approaches the contemplative general. MONTROSS No sign of Captain Valor or the princess. There was much damage in that area. The Queen will see you at ten hundred. The general doesn't reply.
General Vader stands behind a row of men at computer control panels overlooking a huge assembly of troop, tanks, and transports. A commander reports to the general. COMMANDER All enemy craft destroyed. First and fifth division troops and equipment standing by. The general gives a sly smile of approval and takes a microphone from one of the computer technicians. He speaks to the troops and pilots waiting in their huge war machines for the invasion order. VADER The war is won. With the conquering of this system, we have ushered in a new millennium for the New Galactic Kingdom which will echo throughout the universe. Our reward is the knowledge this system possesses. This planet must be controlled with a minimum of force, but you must not think lightly of this enemy. They have exacted a heavy toll. Today you will make the kingdom complete. Do so with pride and care.
VADER Let the invasion begin.
KUROLAND, or "No-Man's Land," where the rugged desert mesas meet the foreboding dune sea. The two helpless astro robots kick up clouds of dust as they clumsily work their way across the desert coastline. The short A-2 struggles desperately to keep up with the long-legged C-3. A-2 It's not possible. We're not built for this. You're nothing more than a dim-witted, emotion brained intellectual. Why you were created is beyond my logic systems. Thanks to you, we're now deserters, and will probably be destroyed on sight. And on top of that, you're going the wrong way! All this filth is getting... The towering C-3 stops short and turns on the blabbering mechanical runt. C-3 I've had enough of you, you pragmatic, nearsighted scrap pile. You go your own way. He picks up the tiny robot and tosses him several feet into a large sand dune. C-3 starts off in the direction of the dune sea. A-2 struggles to his feet and shakes a metallic claw arm at his disappearing ex-partner. A-2 You'll be malfunctioning within a day. You're going the wrong way, but your way is always the wrong way. C-3 stops and yells to the smaller android.
And don't let me catch you following me, begging for help, because you won't get it from me. A-2's reply is a rather rude sound, which only an electronic person could make. He turns and trudges off in the opposite direction into the rocky desert mesas.
C-3, hot and tired, struggles up over the ridge of the dune, only to find more dunes, which seem to go on for endless miles. He looks back in the direction he came. C-3 You little malfunctioning twerp. This is all your fault. You tricked me into going this way, but you'll do no better! He sits in a huff of anger and frustration, knocking the sand from his joints.
A-2 stumbles through a narrow canyon until he climbs over a small boulder and sees before him a sight he first thinks is a mirage. Nestled in a rock formation is a deserted landspeeder. Once the little robot is convinced that he is alone, he approaches the battered speeder and begins to analyze it. He climbs into the pilot's seat and attempts to start the unfamiliar transport. He hears a sound and stops for a moment. He sees nothing, so he continues to fiddle with the control panel until the speeder lurches forward with a start, banging into a large rock. The stubby android is shaken, but neither he nor the speeder seems to be damaged. Shivers run down A-2's metal spine, and again he has an eerie feeling that he is being watched. He slowly looks around and sees a large man, Captain Valor, standing directly behind him. He is startled, then terrified. JUSTIN Where is your master? The little robot clicks and rattles, but doesn't speak.
Can't you speak? How do you relate your data? You're of Karollian manufacture. You should be able to talk. Are you damaged? Valor pokes at the machine but doesn't see any damage. A-2 eyes him suspiciously. The robot turns with a start and discovers a young girl, Princess Zara, has been standing next to him for some time. PRINCESS (sarcastically) Well, General, who's your friend? JUSTIN I don't know. He doesn't seem to be able to talk. Damaged, probably... Jettisoned from a damaged ship... PRINCESS What do you intend to do with it? JUSTIN We'll take it with us. Could be a storehouse of valuable information. Justin guides the android into the small luggage area behind the front seat, then hops into the driver's seat. PRINCESS I don't want to ride with that thing. I order you to destroy it immediately. JUSTIN Get in! We've got to hurry if we're going to get across the "dunehedge" by nightfall. You're coming, one way or the other. Will you join us peaceably? The princess reluctantly gets into the speeder, and it starts with a jolt.
The speeder flies along, a foot or so above the landscape. PRINCESS You are such a barbarian. I'll have my father cut you into little pieces when we get back...and I'll take pleasure in feeding you to the Gonthas, a little bit each day. I may save your eyes though. I'll have them petrified and made into a necklace. JUSTIN Your sweetness is only surpassed by your beauty. Just try to remember, I'm only following orders. PRINCESS To beat and abuse me? JUSTIN I'm afraid I've only learned one way to treat wild animals. A-2 thrashes about, trying to relieve the pressure on his cramped legs. PRINCESS You stay out of this.
C-3 struggles to the top of a large dune. He is dirty and hot. His plight seems hopeless. He searches the horizon for any sign of life. A glint of reflected light in the distance reveals an object speeding toward him. The chrome android waves frantically and yells at the approaching speeder. The sleek landspeeder races past him about a hundred yards away. He runs after it, screaming in desperation, until he stumbles and falls head over heels down an enormous sand dune. Silently, the speeder sweeps around in a circle and stops behind the immobile robot. Valor jumps out of the speeder and is quickly followed by A-2.
We're in a hurry, remember! If you're going to stop for every unfortunate along the way, we'll never get back. We're lucky you got the speeder running as it is. A-2 waddles up to his fallen partner and starts pulling on his leg, then runs up and starts pulling on his arm. A-2 Function! Function! It's me. Come on, function. VALOR Well, my little friend, you've found your tongue. A-2 We must help him. We've been lost. VALOR Where did you come from? The little robot runs around his fallen partner giving him small electric charges from his claw hand. C-3 shudders from head to toe, then regains consciousness. C-3 What happened? A-2 You're overheated. VALOR Where did you come from? A-2 We were jettisoned from six twenty-nine P.R. one. VALOR I'm unfamiliar with that ship. What type is it?
It's a class M station, not a conventional craft. C-3 then stands and shakes the young Dai's hand. C-3 I'm C-3, Human-Cyborg Relations. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. Captain valor and the two robots walk back to the speeder.
Both A-2 and C-3 are stuffed into the tiny luggage compartment. It is late in the day when the speeder rumbles to a stop in a small desert canyon surrounded by steep cliffs and broken boulders. JUSTIN We'll rest here. C-3 At last. The transport is welcome but my joints are frozen. Everyone climbs out of the low-slung speeder. Valor watches the two androids as they stretch their mechanical limbs. A-2 I've got a bad case of dust contamination. I can barely move. C-3 What a foresaken place this is. We seem to be made to suffer. It's our lot in life. Sir, could you tell...? C-3 turns and notices that Valor and the princess have disappeared. He looks all around. C-3 Where did they go? They've disappeared.
Maybe they were attacked. I sense danger!
Captain Valor and Princess Zara hurry through a maze of large boulders until they reach a sheer rock face. Valor looks around to see if they were followed. Suddenly a large section of the rock slides away revealing a well-lit corridor carved out of the rock. They enter and are greeted by two jubilant guards. Valor gives them some orders and points in the direction of the speeder. The secret rock door silently slides closed.
Captain Valor and the princess are greeted by General Skywalker and Montross. They bow before the princess. PRINCESS (angrily pointing at Valor) General, I want you to do something with this... this barbarian. Where's my father? GENERAL The King is dead, Your Highness. All anger suddenly drains from the princess. She almost PRINCESS My mother?... and brothers? GENERAL She's here. She's safe, so are your brothers. They're in the main chamber. Zara, now looking more like a frightened young girl than a vindictive princess, runs down the hallway toward the main chamber. She vainly attempts to hold back the tears.
The two puzzled androids sit on the landspeeder, pondering the disappearance of their saviour.
Do you suppose we're in danger? A-2 The logic of this environment escapes me. As night begins to fall, and the shadows begin to lengthen, the two robots begin to get a little edgy. The sound of approaching feet startles A-2, and he ducks behind his taller friend. Two guards approach the robots. GUARD You will remain calm, and you will remain here. C-3 Certainly. I'm C-3, Human Cyborg Relations. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. A-2 sits rather suspiciously behind his extroverted friend.
General Skywalker bows low before Princess Zara. She sits on
a raised platform, dressed in the royal robes of a planetary ruler.
The Queen sits off to one side on a QUEEN The senate has been corrupted. SKYWALKER They cannot rule without your wish. QUEEN I rule by marriage. With the King dead, I am not strong enough to stop them. Zara is now the true Queen. She must be protected. The line must
be preserved. I am placing the future of our people in your hands. You must deliver Zara and her brothers to the OPHUCHI System. They will be safe there. General, you must understand. I had no alternative but to condone an end to the hostilities. I deeply believe your campaign could have been successful, but there are things that... SKYWALKER I understand, Your Highness. QUEEN The chrome companies on Ophuchi have offered to supply you with the men and ships necessary to return Zara to the throne. SKYWALKER Can the chrome companies be trusted? QUEEN The price for their cooperation is high. It is waiting for you in Med Center blue. Guard it as you would the princess herself. No-one must know of this mission. There are those among the trusted who would wish us ill. Take only two of your best officers with you, the most loyal. May the force of others be with you. ZARA Mother, you must not stay. QUEEN I am too old for such a journey. The kingdom already controls the spaceport cities. You have a long way to travel. It won't be easy.
We will have to travel in disguise. I must have full command. No-one can suspect wealth or royal training. I fear the new Queen will not stand for this. ZARA Do not put words into my mouth. I will stand for what is necessary. The general simply smiles.
The general walks briskly through an isolated hallway, SKYWALKER How is Captain Oxus' recovery? MONTROSS Very good; he's up and around. SKYWALKER Fine! Have Oxus and...ah, Captain Valor report at zero three hundred. I want two converted transports, agricultural type, and two days' provisions, travel papers, weapons. Contact Han Solo at the Gordon spaceport. I'll talk to him...with speed! Montross turns and rushes down another hallway.
The general enters a stark white waiting area filled with scholarly looking gentlemen. An attendant greets General Skywalker and takes him into a small observation chamber overlooking a large operating theatre. An elderly doctor greets him. DOCTOR Good to see you, General. I'm afraid we're not quite ready yet. Thank God you'll be the one taking them, though.
An attendant brings in one of the scholars from the waiting area and places him on a large operating table surrounded by strange looking equipment. An ominous looking clamp is placed on the man's head. SKYWALKER DOCTOR Thirty-three of the greatest scientific minds in our system...A high price for freedom. SKYWALKER Thirty-three scientists! Transporting a group that size, undetected... I don't... DOCTOR Don't worry, General. All you'll be taking are their minds. The doctor moves over to a safe-like cabinet guarded by two attendants. The doctor gingerly picks up a small clear vial filled with gray fluid. It has a label which reads: Faubun, Astro-dynamics. In the background, the scholar on the operating table is undergoing a form of mechanized brain surgery. SKYWALKER "Bloodory's distillation?" DOCTOR Yes. It has been greatly perfected. The brain is condensed into five ounces of fluid. Cloning cell samples are included so that a structural duplicate of the scientist can be reproduced. When the duplicate child reaches the age of six, he or she begins a series of injections of the brain fluid. By the age of ten years, they have received all the knowledge and memory of an experienced scientist: an old mind in a young body. We have prepared a special shock belt to carry the vials.
In the background, the limp body of the scholar on the operating table is removed, and another scientist is escorted into the operating threatre. Dr. Bloodory, a portly doctor in his forties, enters the room and shakes hands with the general. DOCTOR General, this is Dr. Bloodory. He'll be making the trip with you. BLOODORY It's an honor to meet you, General. I'm sure I couldn't be in safer hands. SKYWALKER The chrome companies are exacting a high price indeed! Politics will be the ruin of us all. BLOODORY Careful. If we could rid ourselves of the politicians, generals would no longer be necessary. DOCTOR We should be ready by zero three hundred. The doctors exit, leaving the general alone to watch the huge machine extract another brain.
Governor Horus, General Vader walk down a boarding ramp to an observation deck overlooking the conquered city of Gordon. They are followed by a number of aides and officers from the royal fleet. Below them, air tanks and other military equipment and supplies are being unloaded. VADER Not much of a planet.
Darth, you've done well. Do you think you will have the Royal Family by nightfall? VADER An advance expedition is already on its way to their underground hideaway. They should reach it by nightfall, but only if this Count Sandage can be trusted. HORUS A man hungry for power can always be trusted... to betray those in power. I'm sure his information is correct.
The huge rock face of the canyon opens, and two shabby agricultural landspeeders are pushed into the late afternoon sun. A-2 and C-3 stand on the far side of the canyon with their guards watching in amazement. The general and Captain Valor walk behind the men pushing the landspeeder. SKYWALKER We'll take them with us. They know more about that fortress than any ten men. They will be very useful. JUSTIN Can they be trusted? SKYWALKER Loyalty can't be programmed. They can be trusted never to harm a living creature, and to always give accurate information as they know it, to anyone who asks. You just have to remember not to tell them anything that you don't want to fall into the wrong hands.
SKYWALKER Greetings. I'm Luke: Agricultural Engineering. We're going to be travelling together. You're going with us to help set up a hortastation on KANDALAR. C-3 shakes hands with the general. C-3 I'm C-3: Human Cyborg Relations. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. C-3 and the general both look down at A-2. C-3 gives the smaller android a little kick. A-2 A-2: Fusion Repair. SKYWALKER Load them into one of the speeders. Captain Oxus, walking with a slight limp, emerges from the underground fortress with the Royal Family. A small group of guards and aides are lined up, standing at attention. The two young princes, Oeta and Puck, hug and kiss their mother good-bye, then jump into the back of the larger four-man speeder. The princess bows before her mother, then embraces her. Tears roll down her cheeks. Her mother wipes them away. QUEEN You must learn strength. The princess turns and moves to the larger speeder where she is helped aboard by Captain Valor. PRINCESS (fuming) I don't need your help, thank you. She gives the general an angry look. SKYWALKER I'm afraid he's necessary.
SANDAGE Where are you going? What is this? In one quick movement the general moves between Sandage and the Queen. Oxus and Valor assume defensive positions in front of the princess and her brothers. QUEEN Zara and the boys are being taken to safety. It is my wish. SANDAGE The King has assured their safety. They must stay. QUEEN It is not my wish.... SANDAGE General, you've gone too far this time. (to the troops) Arrest him. Five troops start to move on the general, as Sandage draws his lazerpistol. Before anyone can complete his action, the general ignites his lazersword and cuts the senator in two. He drops to the ground in a heap, and the approaching troops stop in their tracks. QUEEN Stop this! The general, Valor, and Oxus replace their swords, and bow low to the Queen. All of the troops, senators, and aides do the same. The formalness of the occasion is broken when the Queen embraces the general. She then turns and embraces each of the captains. They are both flustered, and somewhat embarrassed.
May the force of others be with you.
The two speeders edge their way onto a bluff overlooking the hidden fortress canyon. They stop for one last reflective moment. Forced to leave their closest friends and relatives, the group is deeply moved. The two robots, for the most part, are puzzled. Suddenly, there is a huge atomic flash, followed by a loud rumble, and the entire canyon collapses into a large crater. The group quietly watches the dust settle. The hidden fortress and all its inhabitants have been destroyed. The general watches the princess, who appears to take it well. SKYWALKER It was the only way we could be safe from treachery.
The two sleek landspeeders glide effortlessly through the vast hills and valleys of the dune sea. At the base of the towering ridge, the four-man speeder stops. The smaller speeders, with Valor and the two robots, makes its way to the top of the ridge. Captain Valor stops the speeder just short of the top of the ridge. He gets out and continues the rest of the way on foot. The young captain peeks over the ridge into the canyon below. Muted sounds and large dust clouds rise from the canyon floor. Valor immediately ducks back behind the ridge with an amazed look on his face. He quickly returns to the speeder and picks up the intercom. JUSTIN Sir, you'd better take a look at this. But come easy. The four-man speeder starts with a crack and slowly moves up the side of the imposing dune. It stops next to the smaller speeder. The general and Oxus get out and make their way to the top of the ridge where they join Valor. Far in the distance, crossing the endless dune sea, is the royal invasion army. It is immense. A convoy of giant tanks, troop carriers, and supply ships stretch from horizon to horizon. Cavalry, mounted on giant dunebirds ride the line from one end of the convoy to the other. Hundreds of troops ride one-man jetsticks in precision
SKYWALKER They're coming from the spaceport at Anchorhead, which means they control everything between here and the spaceport at Gordon. JUSTIN Can we go around them? SKYWALKER No. We'll have to wait for them to pass. Captain Valor, see if you can monitor any of their communications on the comlink in the big speeder. Valor returns to the speeder. He collapses in the large speeder next to the princess and flips on the com-link radio, moving back and forth across the dial. PRINCESS Must you do that? Valor smiles rather sarcastically. JUSTIN Orders... The invasion force has cut us off. We'll probably be here for some time. You ought to stretch a bit. PRINCESS Is that a command, General? Maybe I feel like watching after my brothers. Valor looks back at the two sleeping boys. JUSTIN They're not going anywhere. They're asleep. PRINCESS I want to stay with them.
The King's old library has been converted into an office for General Vader. He is sitting behind his desk as Captain Dodona of the Lettow legions enters and salutes. The legionnaire is dressed in the fascist black and chrome uniform of the legendary Lettow One Hundred. The general returns his salute. VADER Welcome, Captain Dodona. Your exploits are legendary. I have long waited to meet you. If there is any way I can assist you, my entire command is at your bidding. DODONA I want a tie-in to your computer network, a control center, and communication access. VADER Right away! I'll also transfer all information we have on the general. His command post was destroyed, but we believe he is still alive. Do you really believe he's a Dai? DODONA If he was not a Dai I wouldn't be here.
The speeders make their way across the gray desert. It is dawn. The twin suns have yet to rise in the green sky. The speeders are coated with dust and grime, indicating that they have travelled far. The two captains drive through the night as everyone else sleeps. Valor calls Oxus on the intercom. JUSTIN How are your fuel packs? I'm reading minus four. OXUS I'm too low to transfer any.
SKYWALKER There is a fuel station fourteen degrees by two meters. The occupation force should have control of it by now, so hide your weapons, but keep them within reach.
A series of low concrete structures rise out of the desert. The speeders stop in front of an old weather-beaten block house. The rusted hulk of a landspeeder lies half-buried to one side of the building. Valor and Oxus jump out of the speeder and go into the block house.
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