FADE IN:

37. INT. U.S.S. AGINCOURT - BRIDGE - DAY

The warp starfield slows to normal space, and we see (on the viewscreen) a huge CLOUD of dust and debris, and dozens of DERELICT ALIEN SHIPS float around.

PARAN
Receiving over fifty distress calls… all garbled.  There’s tremendous interference in this area.

T’RESS
Sensors are reading heavy impact residue and massive clouds of particle dust and warp exhaust.

JAREDAN
A battle?

T’RESS
Very likely.  If so, it was widespread and sudden.

JAREDAN
Did they fight each other?

PARAN
Maybe.
(beat)
The ships are all of similar design– same internal pressure, same support systems.
(beat)
They’re probably all of the same race.

JAREDAN
So have we stumbled on a civil war?  Or are their attackers laying in wait somewhere?

KARA
We’ll need to investigate to narrow down the options, Captain.

JAREDAN
Agreed.
(to T’Ress)
How fresh are those readings, T’Ress?  When did this happen?

T’RESS
Spectral integrity indicates the residue originated in the last sixteen hours.

JAREDAN
Then this just happened.  We’re not looking at a graveyard or scrap holding area.
(turning, to T’Ress)
Scan for life signs, T’Ress.

T’RESS
Scanning, sir.

ELENA
Should I continue mapping, sir?

Jaredan winces.  He hadn’t thought of that.

JAREDAN
No, suspend mapping for now, Lt. Reyes.
(beat)
We need some perspective.
(to Hikaru)
Mr. Takani, determine the best course through the center of the field of ships. Move us in slowly.

KARA
You want us to just go right in there?

T’RESS
That may be unadvisable.

JAREDAN
Opinions?

T’RESS
Whatever damaged those ships may still be lurking nearby.

KARA
You said it yourself– this could be a trap.

KI
There could remain high-intensity residue from the explosions, possibly harmful to the propulsion systems.

Jaredan hadn’t considered any of those possibilities.  He rubs his chin, visibly weighing the options.  VIEW CHANGES to appropriate area as he issues orders.

JAREDAN
All right.
(beat, to T’Ress)
T’Ress, scan for any ships that may be hiding out there.

T’RESS
Aye, sir.

JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Commander, try to identify the ships we can see.  Catalog the derelicts.

KARA
Aye, sir.

JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Mr. Tor, bring the phasers on line.

PARAN
Aye, sir.

JAREDAN
(to Hikaru)
Mr. Takani, plot a course that’ll bring us around the field of ships.  Keep a distance of… at least 10,000 kilometers.

HIKARU
Aye, sir.

JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Commander, do you have any identification on those ships?

KARA
No, sir.  I’m not picking up any identification signals, and the instruments don’t recognize any emissions as familiar.

JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Open a broad hailing frequency, Lieutenant Tor.  I want to speak to as many of those ships as possible.

PARAN
Hailing frequency open, wide band.

JAREDAN
(trying to at least sound confident)
This is Captain Jaredan Aquino of the Federation science vessel Agincourt.  We are receiving your distress calls and stand ready to assist.  Please identify yourselves and detail your damage and casualties.

PARAN
Getting a response, sir.  Audio only…

JAREDAN
(doesn’t let him finish)
On speakers, then.

PARAN
(unsure)
Aye, sir, but…

The speakers crackle on and loud GIBBERISH fills the bridge.  After a few irritating seconds, Paran STOPS it.

PARAN (CONT’D)
It’s all like that, sir.

JAREDAN
What’s wrong with the universal translator?

KARA
If it doesn’t recognize a language, it reverts to the original, in case anyone speaks it.

They all look around at each other.  Nothing.

JAREDAN
(to Kara)
Begin broadcasting a universal greeting and offer of assistance, broad band.
(beat)
By the book, next comes…
(to T’Ress)
Commander, scan for life signs.

T’RESS
Scanning.
(beat)
Reading large numbers of low-level humanoid life signs… at least seventeen hundred.
(beat)
Reading minimal, but stable life support systems.  Repair efforts seem under way.

38. EXT. SPACE - DEBRIS FIELD AND DUST CLOUD (CGI)

The AGINCOURT sits a safe distance away from the derelicts.

A huge plume of blue fire erupts from a nearby ALIEN SHIP.  It’s wracked with another explosion, then is completely destroyed.  The FIRST IMPACT WAVE expands out from the ship, and just touches the AGINCOURT.

39. INT. U.S.S. AGINCOURT - BRIDGE - DAY

The BRIDGE ROCKS violently, throwing the crew around.  The OPS PANEL sparks, and Elena backs away, hands up.  Lots of noise.

JAREDAN
Lock those down, Reyes!

ELENA
(shaken)
I’m not touching that!

Kara heads forward.

KARA
(barely audible)
Oh, poor you.
(louder)
I’ve got it.

She reaches under the station and taps off the power to the damaged circuits.

ELENA
(whisper)
Amazon.

JAREDAN
What the hell did that?
(to Paran)
Scan for hostile ships.

PARAN
Reading no additional vessels.

JAREDAN
Then what destroyed them?

KARA
Eruptions are tracing back to pockets of space dust.

T’RESS
The phenomenon seems to be toxic, reacting with the drive systems of the unknown vessels.  The nearest ship attempted to reactivate its engines, and caused the explosion.

JAREDAN
(incredulous)
Then it’s their own engines?  That’s what destroyed this fleet?
(beat, turning to Ki)
What about our own systems?

KI
No adverse reaction to our impulse exhaust, captain.

Jaredan waits a second for more details, but there’s no more coming.

T’RESS
Their exhaust sequences read as markedly more rich than our own.  I believe it may be safe to navigate the area at impulse.

JAREDAN
Are you sure?

T’RESS
Negative.  It is simply a conclusion based upon available data–

JAREDAN
Good enough for me.
(to Kara)
Commander, keep trying to explain to them that we’re here to help.

Another SHAKE rocks the ship, but sounds and feels different.

JAREDAN (CONT’D)
That was no eruption.  It feels like somebody shot us.

PARAN
They’re firing on us!  They must think we fired on them!

JAREDAN
Then they don’t know what’s causing the damage.  Kara–

KARA
Still trying, Captain, but between the language gap and the interference…

PARAN
They’re firing again!

JAREDAN
(to Hikaru)
Evasive maneuvers!

HIKARU
(not immediately)
I think the controls were damaged–

40. EXT. SPACE - DEBRIS FIELD AND DUST CLOUD (CGI)

An alien ship fires, and the shot hits before they’ve moved an inch.

41. INT. U.S.S. AGINCOURT - BRIDGE - DAY

The BRIDGE SHAKES again.

ELENA
Reading attempts at repair from at least thirty ships.
(beat)
If they fire their propulsion systems, the entire system could go up like a firecracker.

JAREDAN
Understood.
(to Ki)
Mr. Talchos, how many of those ships can we tow at once?

KI
(maddeningly flat)
Four, perhaps five.

JAREDAN
I need an exact number!  Is it four or five?

KI
(after a few precious seconds)
Four.

JAREDAN
(to Paran)
Mr. Tor, pick the four closest ships and lock on tractor beams.  If we pull them out of this area, they can engage their engines without killing themselves.
(beat)
Maybe then they’ll get the idea–

KARA
Two more ships are firing.

The CEILING EXPLODES, cables, wires, fragments, etc., come spilling and tumbling down on them.  From this point on, the lighting is spotty and flickering, and every system is generally shaky.

JAREDAN
(starting to lose calm)
Get those ships under tow!

ELENA
The tractor beams are on, but the dust cloud is interfering with the target lock!

PARAN
They don’t understand that we’re trying to help them!

JENNIFER
We’re starting to log casualties!

JAREDAN
Astern, one quarter impulse, Mr. Takani.

HIKARU
Got it, quarter impulse, backing up.

JAREDAN
Just repeat the order!

Hikaru grumbles, but begins tapping away.

KI
The ships are resisting the tractor beams.

KARA
And powering up weapons again!

JAREDAN
How can I make them understand?  I don’t want to fire on them, but they’re firing on us.  Can we beam the survivors on board?

KARA
All seventeen hundred of them?

KI
That much transporter activity in succession would drain the impulse drive.

T’RESS
Also, the unstable nature of the space dust would make transport risky.

JAREDAN
Understood.
(to Paran)
Open hailing frequencies.

PARAN
We already tried–

JAREDAN
(desperately)
Try again, please.
(Paran nods)
This is Captain Aquino.  We are attempting to tow your ships out of the incendiary dust.  You are not under attack.  We do not wish to fire upon you.  Cease fire!  Repeat, you are not under attack– cease fire!

ELENA
It’s not working!  The program won’t let it work!

JAREDAN
We can not treat this like a program!

KARA
More damage!

JENNIFER
And more casualties!  Now logging deaths in the engineering sections.

JAREDAN
(shaking his head)
All right, if that’s the way it’s going to happen.
(to Paran)
Mr. Tor, target one of the tow ships’ weapons ports.

PARAN
You’re going to fire on them when you just said you wouldn’t?

JAREDAN
Right.  Phasers at half power.  Maybe they’ll understand we’re not trying to destroy them if we show them we can, but don’t.

PARAN
Aye, phasers locked.

JAREDAN
Fire!

42. EXT. SPACE - DEBRIS FIELD AND DUST CLOUD (CGI)

The AGINCOURT fires and strikes one ship, taking out a small section of its port aft quarter.

43. INT. U.S.S. AGINCOURT - BRIDGE - DAY

VIEW: CENTER and PORT AREAS

KI
Captain, the ship we fired upon is powering up.  They are igniting engines.

JAREDAN
Broadcast interstellar cease and desist!

PARAN
Broadcasting–

KARA
Too late!

44. EXT. SPACE - DEBRIS FIELD AND DUST CLOUD (CGI)

A blue plume erupts from the targeted ship, IGNITING pockets of space dust between the towed ships.

45. INT. U.S.S. AGINCOURT - BRIDGE - DAY

JAREDAN
Break and run!

PARAN
We can’t leave them!

JAREDAN
We can’t stay!
(to Kara)
Signal Starfleet Command for backup!

T’RESS
Sir, the shields!

JAREDAN
Raise shields!

Eruptions pop up all over the viewscreen, the ship bucking furiously.

JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(to Hikaru)
Hikaru, get us out of here!  Full impulse!

A huge BLUE FLASH fills the viewscreen, the BRIDGE SHUDDERS.  Warning lights, klaxons, sparking, flashing, etc., etc.  Then:

BLACK OUT.

As the NORMAL LIGHTS come back up, the Computer Voice ANNOUNCES:

COMPUTER VOICE (VO)
Program shutdown.  Your ship is destroyed.  You have sustained loss of all hands.  Scores will be posted at sixteen hundred hours.

OFF Gamma’s shell shocked reactions as we:

FADE OUT.

END ACT FOUR