FADE IN:

72. EXT. SPACE - EARTH ORBIT - U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - IN DRYDOCK

EXTERIOR SHOT of the SHIP, only partly covered by the DRYDOCK facility.

73. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - BRIDGE - DAY

VIEW: FORWARD AREA

Hikaru and Elena are at the FORWARD CONSOLES, getting used to them.

HIKARU
So?

ELENA
So what?

HIKARU
What do you think?  About all this?

ELENA
Honestly?
(lower)
I think we’re seriously over our heads here.  We can’t command a whole starship by ourselves!

HIKARU
But we’re not commanding the ship– he is.

ELENA
What’s your problem with Jaredan?

HIKARU
Maybe you didn’t notice, but he got us killed yesterday.

ELENA
Maybe you didn’t notice, but none of us were doing too well during the simulation.

T’Ress steps up beside them.

T’RESS
I have done some research into the subject.  Our score for the simulation was only five points lower than the Academy average for first missions.
(beat)
Bear in mind that we had less than four hours to prepare for the mission.

HIKARU
(nodding)
You’ve got a point.  Besides, I guess we can trust Jean-Luc Picard’s opinion of him.

CUT TO:

74. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - MAIN SICKBAY - DAY

The door to Sickbay opens, and Jennifer ENTERS.  The SIX MEDICAL CADETS present come to attention.

JENNIFER
(surprised)
At ease, folks, this is Sickbay, not the bridge.
(beat)
I’m Jennifer Decker…
(beat)
I suppose that should be Acting Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Decker, and I’ll be serving as Chief Medical Officer aboard the Endeavour.
(beat)
Who’s Head Nurse?

A slim MALE CADET steps forward and offers his hand.  His name is PETER CORRAN.

CORRAN
That’d be me– Peter Corran.

JENNIFER
(shaking hands)
Nice to meet you, Peter.
(beat)
I’ll get to learn everybody’s name soon enough.  Right now… Peter, I’d like the in-depth tour.  The rest of you, start compiling medical records information on the crew, a complete inventory, and anything else you think of that’ll help.  Got it?

The others nod, then everyone goes to work.

CUT TO:

75. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - MAIN TRANSPORTER ROOM - DAY

No one is present as the DOOR OPENS.  Picard is first inside, followed by Kara, then Jaredan.

PICARD
Now I leave the Endeavour in your capable hands, Captain.

KARA
Captain Picard, may I ask a question, sir?

PICARD
Yes, Commander?

KARA
Why us?

PICARD
(smiles)
Because I would’ve been in the same booth, with the same empty pitcher.

He steps onto the PAD.  Kara steps behind the TRANSPORTER CONTROLS.

JAREDAN
Thank you, sir.  We won’t disappoint you.

PICARD
See that you don’t.
(to Kara)
Energize.

CLOSE - ON CONTROL PANEL.

Kara slides her hand up, “pushing” the light bars.  Picard is enveloped by the TRANSPORTER EFFECT, then VANISHES.  Jaredan turns to Kara.

JAREDAN
Some day, huh?

CUT TO:

76. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - MAIN ENGINEERING - DAY

As is typical, things in MAIN ENGINEERING are bustling.  Another EIGHT CADETS mill around, getting things set.  Soon, Ki ENTERS.  As soon as the Cadets see, they come to attention.  Ki is taken aback.

KI
Ah… Good day to you all.

He turns to a WORKSTATION.  The Cadets look at each other in confusion.  One of them, SOPHIE RIYAL, the Assistant Chief Engineer, walks up behind Ki and clears his throat.  KI doesn’t respond, so Riyal taps Ki on the shoulder.

RIYAL
Excuse me, sir?

KI
(straightening)
How may I assist you, Cadet?

RIYAL
You are Acting Lieutenant Ki Talchos, aren’t you?

KI
That is correct.

RIYAL
I’m Sophie Riyal.  Assistant Chief Engineer.

KI
Ah.  I am pleased to make your acquaintance.

Ki is about to turn away.

RIYAL
Well, sir, we were expecting that you’d want to make some kind of inspection… or say some words… or something.

KI
(realizing)
I see.
(beat)
I would expect of you– of you all– to pursue two simple ideals: efficiency and excellence.  These are the hallmarks of a Starfleet engineer.
(beat)
An engineer is what I prefer to be, rather than a commanding officer.

He thinks.  Obviously, giving orders is not his forte.

KI (CONT’D)
Mr. Riyal, since I surmise you have been working on this system for more time than I, you will show me around the facility.
(beat)
The rest of you should begin compiling status reports on the ship’s systems.  Understood?

Ki looks to Riyal as if to ask, “How was that?”  Riyal and the other Cadets look much relieved.

CUT TO:

77. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - BRIDGE - DAY

The turbolift doors open, and Jaredan and Kara ENTER, to the sound of the BOSUN’S WHISTLE.  Stonn calls out.

STONN
Captain on the bridge!

The Cadets come to attention.

JAREDAN
As you were.
(to Stonn)
Mr. Stonn, Commander Lionetti and I will need the nickel tour of the bridge.

STONN
I’m sorry, Captain– “nickel tour”?

KARA
An archaic turn of phrase, Lieutenant.  You’ll find the Captain is an avid Earth historian.

JAREDAN
What I meant is that we need to familiarize ourselves with the ship in general, and the bridge systems in particular.

STONN
Of course, sir.

Stonn leads them towards the COMMAND AREA CONSOLES, and they all begin studying the instruments and panels.

CUT TO:

78. EXT. STARFLEET ACADEMY - ALPHA BUILDING - LATE AFTERNOON

Establishing shot.

79. INT. ALPHA BUILDING - MAIN ATRIUM - LATE AFTERNOON

Picard strolls into the building, only to run into Liat.

LIAT
Ah, Captain Picard.

PICARD
Captain Liat.

LIAT
Just getting back?

PICARD
(feigning)
I’m sorry?

LIAT
I understand you took out a Runabout earlier today.

PICARD
Ah, yes.  It was only a short trip to the Enterprise to oversee some of critical phases of the repair.

LIAT
Of course, of course.
(beat)
Perhaps you’d like to join me and my wife for dinner?  I know an excellent restaurant in New Orleans.

PICARD
I’m afraid I must decline, Captain Liat.  I’ll be dining with Admiral Brand tonight.

LIAT
I see.  Another time, then?

PICARD
Certainly.
(beat)
If you’ll excuse me?

LIAT
Of course.

They part ways.  Picard heads towards the turbolifts.

Liat steps up to a wall comm kiosk, looking very unhappy.

LIAT
(to computer)
Connect to Command School, Commandant’s Office.

COMPUTER VOICE (VO)
Connecting.  Stand by.

LIAT’S SECRETARY, a Yeoman, answers.

LIAT’S SECRETARY
(automatically)
Command School, Commandant’s Office.
(sees Liat, more formal)
Yes, Captain Liat?

LIAT
Contact Admiral Riemann at Spacedock.  I’ll be at the office in five minutes.  Tell the Admiral I have some important questions.

LIAT’S SECRETARY
Aye, sir.

The comm shuts off.  Liat stalks away.

CUT TO:

80. INT. ALPHA BRAVO - BRAND’S OFFICE - DAY

Brand is studying a PADD when her COMM BEEPS.

BRAND
(into comm)
Yes?

BRAND’S SECRETARY (VO)
(over comm)
Admiral, Captain Picard is here to see you.

BRAND
(into comm)
Send him in.

The door opens, and Picard ENTERS.  He takes a seat in front of the desk.

BRAND
(to Picard)
So it’s done, then?

PICARD
They’re on board the Endeavour, and the situation has been explained.
(beat)
As much as they’re cleared for, of course.
(beat)
They’re taking the shakedown cruise around the system, then reporting to Starbase 109.

BRAND
It should take them about a week for the entire trip, then.
(beat)
That area of space is a little close to the action, isn’t it?

PICARD
Close enough to remind them that they’re in the real world, not a simulator.

Brand sighs.

BRAND
Jean-Luc, are you absolutely positive this is the best course of action?

PICARD
You’re the one who pointed out the problem to me in the first place, Marta.
(beat)
We need Cadets we can count on.

BRAND
And you think you can count on Gamma Team?

PICARD
I’ve gone over their files.  They are the finest Cadets that have either yet to be– or will not be– approached by Red Squad.
(beat)
In fact, as a team, they’re better than a great many Red Squad Cadets.  Aquino and Lionetti alone are better than most Cadets, period.

BRAND
All right.  I trust your judgement.
(beat)
I just wish this wasn’t necessary.

PICARD
As do I.  But it is.  With luck, we will never need to use them against our own people.
(beat)
Besides that, I believe both Aquino and Lionetti will make exemplary officers in the future.  This program will only ensure that.

BRAND
I agree about those two.
(beat)
They remind me of a certain plebe I recall from my last year here…

PICARD
Perhaps.  It’s time for me to go.

BRAND
Signal me as soon as you’re ready to leave.

Picard nods, then EXITS.  Brand swivels her chair, and stares out of the window.

81. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - BRIDGE - AFTERNOON

Jaredan and Kara are conferring, standing beside their respective stations.  The XO’S STATION BEEPS, and Kara takes her seat.

KARA
Commander Talchos reports a green light in Main Engineering.
(beat)
That’s the last one.  We’re good to go.

JAREDAN
Thank you, Kara.

He steps beside the CAPTAIN’S CHAIR, but can’t quite bring himself to sit down yet.  He turns to the SIDE PANELS beside the chair, activating the PA.

82. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - SICKBAY - AFTERNOON

Jennifer and the rest of the Staff stop what they’re doing.

JAREDAN (VO)
(over comm)
Attention, all hands.  Repeat– attention, all hands.

83. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - BRIDGE - AFTERNOON

All activity has paused here, as well.

JAREDAN
(into comm)
This is…
(beat, the words strange)
This is the Captain.

84. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - MAIN ENGINEERING - AFTERNOON

Ki turns from his console, apparently to say something, but finding his entire Staff listening to the address.

JAREDAN
(over comm)
I’m sure that you’re all asking yourselves the same question I am:
(beat)
What am I doing here?

85. INT. U.S.S. ENDEAVOUR  - BRIDGE - AFTERNOON

As Jaredan continues, we move from reaction to reaction from Kara, Hikaru, Elena, and T’Ress on the Bridge, Jennifer and her Staff in Sickbay, Ki and his Staff in Engineering, and various other Endeavour Cadets in other parts of the ship.

JAREDAN
(into comm)
You’re saying, Why me?  Why here?  Why now?
(beat)
Rest assured that you are here because you are the finest Cadets that Starfleet Academy has to offer.  Not simply because of intelligence, capability or experience, but because of your dedication to the uniform you wear and to everything it stands for.
(beat)
Every member of this crew has been chosen to uphold the very ideals on which Starfleet was founded:
(beat)
the commitment to exploration; the defense of freedom; and the pursuit of truth.
(beat, gathering)
The why here is simpler.  We have been given the Endeavour because it is the most effective means for implementing our missions.  This is a Starfleet ship, but remember– we are Starfleet.
(beat)
The why now is the simplest of all.  We are here now because the call was given, and we have answered.

He stands directly in front of the Captain’s Chair.

JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(into comm)
So remember: trust your abilities, your instincts and your training.  They have brought you… here… now.

He SITS, taking the Captain’s Chair as if born to be there (which he pretty much was).

JAREDAN (CONT’D)
(into comm)
That is all.
(beat, meaningful)
Captain Aquino out.

FADE OUT.

END ACT EIGHT