Home: Teleplays
Previous Episode: Setting the Stage
Next Episode: The Human Factor
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. AUTOBOT HEADQUARTERS - MEDICAL BAY - CYBERTRON
Dr. Pilar lies sleeping on a bed, strapped up to an IV and a
number of monitoring machines. Separated by glass, Hot Rod
and First Aid watch.
HOT ROD
How is she?
FIRST AID
Physically, she should be back on
her feet in a day or so.
Psychologically... well, that's
harder to say.
HOT ROD
I know you'll do the best you can.
Hot Rod turns to EXIT.
INT. AUTOBOT HEADQUARTERS - CONTROL ROOM
Kup and Perceptor are looking at the readings of the data
disc taken from Pilar's shuttle. Hot Rod ENTERS to check on
them.
HOT ROD
What have you found?
KUP
You're not going to believe this.
HOT ROD
(deadpans)
That bad, huh.
KUP
Worse.
PERCEPTOR
The readings detected by Dr. Pilar
and her staff appear to be
emanations of chronal energy,
radiation spikes caused by temporal
flux. Given the amplitude and
modulation of these emissions --
HOT ROD
Long story short.
PERCEPTOR
These emissions are reminiscent of
a Quintesson chronosphere.
KUP
A time portal.
PERCEPTOR
The surrounding superstructure
appears to be millions of years old.
I would estimate that this edifice
dates back to the days of the
Quintesson Empire. According to
legend, these gateways would allow
one to travel into the past to any
specific point in history. They
materials involved in their
construction were supposedly so
rare and the structures themselves
so difficult to manufacture that
even the Quintessons were unable to
build more than a handful of them.
KUP
But now the Quints have found one
after all these years.
HOT ROD
The ability to go into the past...
KUP
You can imagine what kind of power
this represents, lad. They could
rewrite history, defeat us before
we even existed.
PERCEPTOR
These gateways were highly unstable.
Even the slightest miscalibration
of a single variable could have
disastrous repercussions throughout
the space-time continuum.
HOT ROD
The Decepticons attacked the
Devoron System after twenty stellar
cycles of peace when this thing was
discovered. We have to assume
they're planning to use this.
(beat)
And if they do, we have to stop
them, no matter the cost.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
-------------------------------------------------------
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
The Fortitude can be seen BURNING in space, its shields
down. The three Decepticon fighters have docked on its
underbelly and have boarding chutes attached to the
Fortitude.
INT. FORTITUDE - RECEIVING ROOM
We see Springer, Arcee, and the Aerialbots pinned down
behind cover, hiding from blistering laser BLASTS coming at
them. They occasionally rise up to return FIRE, but they
are pinned down and are being forced back.
ARCEE
The Decepticons have us pinned
down!
SPRINGER
And they just keep coming!
As we move across the room, we can see, at the other end,
Sixshot and the Combaticons have BROKEN in through the
Fortitude's docking doors, invading the Autobot flagship.
They continually FIRE at the Autobots, forcing them back.
VORTEX
Now this is the way to fight!
BRAWL
Smash! Crush! This is what Brawl
does best!
SIXSHOT
Destruction to all Autobots!
Fresh waves of Decepticons -- Triggerhappy, Runamuck,
Shrapnel -- continue to invade through the boarding chutes.
TRIGGERHAPPY
All right! This is what I call a
party!
Triggerhappy LAUGHS maniacally and SPRAYS the entire room
with laser fire aimlessly... its clamor ECHOES throughout
the metal halls.
SHRAPNEL
Music to my ears, ears!
SIXSHOT
Forward, Decepticons! Our day of
glory is at hand!
A blast from Sixshot HITS Arcee in the shoulder, dropping
him back.
SPRINGER
Arcee!
ARCEE
I'm all right.
SLINGSHOT
Come on! I'll give 'em the old
Aerialbot assault!
A laser blast just misses Slingshot's head, EXPLODING behind
him.
SPRINGER
It's gonna be an Aerialbot
annihilation if we don't find some
more cover.
ARCEE
There're too many of them! We have
to fall back!
INT. FORTITUDE - MAIN HALL
Springer, Arcee, and the Aerialbots ENTER, driven back from
the receiving room. But here in this larger room, there is
more space, for...
SPRINGER
We've got to try to even the odds
somehow. Aerialbots! Unite and
form Superion!
The five Aerialbots TRANSFORM and UNITE into Superion, who
FIRES his arm-mounted cannons at the entrance to the
receiving room.
The Decepticons BREAK through the doorway, but they cannot
cross the bottleneck threshold into the actual room while
being pinned down by Superion.
SIXSHOT
Fools! One should know when the
time of his death has come. No
Autobot is the equal of a
Decepticon.
(to Onslaught)
Combaticons! Transform into
Bruticus!
The Combaticons, in response, MERGE into the giant Bruticus.
Superion's equal in stature, Bruticus quickly takes the
FIGHT to him, allowing the other Decepticons to ENTER and
press their attack onwards.
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus are at the bridge controls,
trying to keep the ship together. Cliffjumper and Jazz are
at lower consoles.
A laser is CUTTING through the side wall, trying to BREAK
another Decepticon boarding chute in.
ULTRA MAGNUS
Prime... they're almost through.
OPTIMUS
What is the status of the humans'
station?
ULTRA MAGNUS
The main fighters have been
evacuated, but the station's senior
staff is still aboard trying to
cover their retreat.
The panel in front of Cliffjumper EXPLODES, sending him
FLYING backwards in a shower of sparks.
CLIFFJUMPER
And while we're trying to cover
them, we're getting slaughtered!
OPTIMUS
How much longer until all EDC
personnel evacuate the system?
ULTRA MAGNUS
(looks at his console)
Faireborn estimates another fifteen
cycles.
The wall where the Decepticons are cutting through begins to
crumble... chunks of metal COLLAPSE out of the wall onto the
floor.
CLIFFJUMPER
They're coming through!
(turns to Prime)
We gotta fight back. The Fortitude
can take those Deceptiturkeys'
ships on in a fair fight.
OPTIMUS
No, Cliffjumper. If we move out of
position, the Decepticons will
continue to target the humans' base.
We must stay here to cover the
humans as long as we can.
Another explosion ROCKS the ship. Cliffjumper is again
THROWN to the ground, and even Prime and Magnus lose their
footing.
CLIFFJUMPER
We're no good to anyone if the
entire ship explodes around us!
JAZZ
Yeah, man! Those Decepticons are
bad news! We have to take the
fight to them!
OPTIMUS
No! Our first priority is to
protect the humans. This isn't
their fight. Forty stellar cycles
ago, we brought this war to their
planet. Twenty stellar cycles ago,
we nearly led their world to
extinction.
(cold and clinical)
I will not let them get drawn in to
the death and destruction of our
war again. Primus help me... if it
takes every drop of energon on this
ship, I. Will. Not. Fail. Them.
Again.
At that moment, Superion comes CRASHING through the doorway
to the main hall, KNOCKED backwards to the ground. Bruticus
stares at Superion's prone form, triumphantly. Prime and
the Autobots turn to see Sixshot and his Decepticons on the
bridge, and dive for cover as they attack.
A second later, the wall behind them EXPLODES, as Dirge and
his entourage breaches the Fortitude's hull with their
boarding tube from the third Decepticon fighter.
CLIFFJUMPER
Well, Primus better deliver a
miracle, because it'll take every
drop of energon we've got to get
out of this one!
Surrounded on both sides, outnumbered, outgunned, and hemmed
in by Decepticon laser fire, the Autobots are trapped...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
-------------------------------------------------------
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
The Autobots are hemmed in, hiding behind chairs, consoles,
and other places to shield themselves from the Decepticons'
attack. Optimus is in front, with Ultra Magnus, Springer,
Arcee, Cliffjumper, Jazz, and the Aerialbots around. The
Decepticons are unleashing torrents of laser fire, which
ricochets throughout the room.
SPRINGER
Anyone got any witty last words?
CLIFFJUMPER
Yeah. I'm gonna make sure I take
all those Decepticrumbs down with
me.
SPRINGER
Yeah, I guess that's better than,
"I wish I had tried that chrome
plating at least once before I go."
Sixshot TRANSFORMS into his battle tank mode and FIRES off
two missiles, which EXPLODE, destroying the command chair
that Optimus was behind, knocking him backwards and leaving
him exposed.
ULTRA MAGNUS
Prime!
Ultra Magnus TRANSFORMS into car carrier mode and PLOWS into
Sixshot and his Decepticons, KNOCKING them aside as he tries
to cover Prime. Sixshot's blast goes awry, hitting the wall
and BLOWING it up instead of Prime.
EXT. SPACE - FORTITUDE
The explosion is visible on the outside, adding fresh flames
to the already smoldering hull of the Fortitude.
INT. PROXIMA STATION - LANDING BAY
Faireborn and Edwards are overseeing the departure of the
last evacuation shuttle, waiting as various EDC personnel
run into it. They can see the new explosions from within
the Fortitude.
Faireborn pauses for a moment, thinking. Then...
FAIREBORN
Colonel Edwards, take command of
the last shuttle. Rendezvous with
the rest of the fleet at the
fallback position.
She starts suiting up in a flight suit, walking towards one
of the few starfighters left in the landing bay.
EDWARDS
Wait... where are you going?
FAIREBORN
Unfinished business.
EDWARDS
Colonel...
(Faireborne finishes suiting
up and climbs in the cockpit)
Marissa... this is suicide.
FAIREBORN
If the Decepticons win here,
they'll just come after us again.
I have to make sure that that
doesn't happen. We can't keep
running forever. We can't give in
to fear. We have to make a stand.
(starts pre-ignition sequence)
You're in command 'til I get back.
(wry smile)
And trust me, I will be back to
resume my command.
EDWARDS
Colonel...
FAIREBORN
That's an order. Your first
priority is to protect the shuttle
and the rest of the evacuees.
(begins liftoff procedures)
Wish me luck.
Edwards watches as Faireborn's fighter takes off.
EDWARDS
(softly)
Good luck, Colonel.
(to the rest of the evacuees)
Come on, let's get going! Move it
out!
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
Faireborn's shuttle sweeps towards the Decepticon fighters
and STRAFES them with her laser cannons. She FIRES a few
warhead missiles, which EXPLODE on contact. Tied down to
the Fortitude, the Decepticon fighters cannot move and are
easy targets.
INT. THRUST'S FIGHTER
The ship ROCKS from the blasts. Thrust, sitting in the
command chair, is shaken up.
THRUST
(tapping console)
Thrust to Sixshot! We are under
attack!
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
THRUST (COMM VOICE)
One of the humans' vessels is
attacking us!
SIXSHOT
Deal with it!
THRUST (COMM VOICE)
With the boarding chute up, we're
tied to the Fortitude! We can't
maneuver!
SIXSHOT
You are Decepticons! You should be
able to crush one puny hum--
Taking advantage of the momentary distraction of the comm
channel, Ultra Magnus HURLS himself at Sixshot, knocking him
to the ground. They continue to brawl as Optimus murmurs to
himself...
OPTIMUS
Tied to the Fortitude...
INT. THRUST'S FIGHTER
THRUST
Blast that human's ship out of the
sky! Fire the null ray!
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
A barrage of null rays comes at Faireborn's fighter. One of
them HITS and sends the fighter spiraling out of control.
INT. FAIREBORN'S FIGHTER COCKPIT
All of the electronic systems in the cockpit FLARE up and
then disengage, as all of the power is drained from the
ship.
FAIREBORN
(struggling with the manual
controls and flight stick)
All electronic systems out... got
to... land...
(pressing a manual release)
Engaging docking clamps... only
going to get one chance at this...
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
Faireborn's shuttle, just riding on inertia, sweeps up near
the hull of the comparatively enormous Fortitude. It
struggles to maneuver ever closer to the hull as it
continues to spin out of control, and just barely latches on
to it with its docking clamps before shooting past the hull
into empty space.
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
The battle continues...
SPRINGER
(looking at a flashing
console)
The last EDC transport has been
evacuated.
CLIFFJUMPER
Great. Now let's get out of here.
SPRINGER
With the amount of damage the
Fortitude has taken, I don't know
how far we'd get.
OPTIMUS
No. We can't just keep falling
back. We have to hold the line.
Optimus goes over to the helm and LURCHES the ship forward.
The resultant thrust JERKS everyone a little off their feet.
On the viewscreen, everyone can see as the ship turns
towards the cold ice planet Proxima Five. It looms ever
closer, as it's clear the ship is speeding up.
SLINGSHOT
Hey, what are you doing?
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
The Fortitude is picking up speed, launching itself towards
Proxima Five. The three Decepticon fighters, still tethered
to the Fortitude by their boarding chutes, are being dragged
along for the ride.
As the Fortitude enters the atmosphere of the planet, it
starts heating up...
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
Flames lick through the hull breaches into the bridge,
engulfing the Decepticon position and causing more
confusion. The Decepticons, surrounded by this new
complication, are unable to mount an effective attack.
CLIFFJUMPER
Fire on deck!
SPRINGER
With those hull breaches and
without shields, this is going to
be one bumpy ride.
OPTIMUS
Let's just hope... it's as bad for
the Decepticons... as it is for
us...
A sudden jerk knocks Optimus away from the controls.
On the viewscreen, the Autobots can see the Fortitude
approach twin mountain peaks. A thin valley spans the
distance between them.
OPTIMUS
Jazz! The mountains...
JAZZ
(reaches the helm)
Way ahead of you, Prime!
EXT. PROXIMA FIVE
The Fortitude turns vertical and SLICES through the valley,
SCRAPING the mountains on either side with a horrible
crunch, but passing safely through them. The Decepticon
fighters, still tied by their boarding chutes, are THROWN
into the mountain peaks. The ships SMASHED, the boarding
chutes are ripped away as the fighters crumple and collapse
into the snow drifts at the mountains' base.
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
With the boarding chutes torn away, the Decepticon entrance
is now just open to the atmosphere, and the vacuum pulls at
everything in the bridge.
JAZZ
Hold on to something!
CLIFFJUMPER
Like what? The entire ship is
coming apart!
And sure enough, the hull is buckling under the pressure.
Sixshot sees this, and makes a leap towards the Autobots,
but the ship completely CRACKS in two. The rear half, with
the Decepticons, PLUMMETS to the icy ground below. The
front half, with the Autobots, continues with its forward
momentum on its downward course.
With the rear gone, the entire bridge now exposed to the
outside world.
JAZZ
We're going down!
EXT. PROXIMA FIVE
What's left of the Fortitude struggles mightily, before
finally CRASHING into the ground. Its momentum continues to
carry it forward, SCRAPING against the icy ground, before
finally COLLIDING with rock at the base of a cliff.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
-------------------------------------------------------
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EXT. PROXIMA FIVE - CLIFF (AUTOBOT BASE)
The remains of the Fortitude rest at the base of the
desolate cliff.
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
The Autobots are strewn across the ground. An eerie
silence. Then...
JAZZ
That was one rock and roll ride I
never wanna repeat!
The Autobots get up and look around. None of them seems
seriously damaged.
SPRINGER
Hey, you know what they say about
landings you can walk away from.
OPTIMUS
Damage report.
ULTRA MAGNUS
Everyone seems to be operational,
Prime.
SILVERBOLT
(respectful)
So much for the Fortitude. May she
rest in peace.
SLINGSHOT
(looking around at the
desolate landscape)
Whew... this is some planet you
picked out for us.
The Autobots walk out and look around at their new
surroundings.
OPTIMUS
The important thing is that without
their fighters, the Decepticons
won't be able to launch another
attack on the humans.
CLIFFJUMPER
And all it cost us was sacrificing
our only ride.
OPTIMUS
If it keeps the humans safe, so be
it.
ULTRA MAGNUS
(calling from outside)
Prime?
OPTIMUS
Yes?
Prime circles around the outside to see the spot on the hull
where Ultra Magnus is pointing. It is Faireborn's shuttle,
still clinging to the Fortitude's hull.
ULTRA MAGNUS
It seems we have a guest with us.
Prime's brows knit in worry.
EXT. PROXIMA FIVE - TWIN MOUNTAINS (DECEPTICON BASE)
The Decepticons scurry about the ruins of their fighters.
The Combaticons are inspecting damage, as Vortex reports
back to Sixshot.
VORTEX
Good luck repairing those scrap
heaps.
SIXSHOT
We must get our fighters
operational again!
ONSLAUGHT
Without materials or energon, on
this barren world of ice? Even the
Constructicons would need a hundred
stellar cycles to get those vessels
operational again.
SWINDLE
(sarcastically)
So much for your conquest of
humanity, huh, Sixshot?
Sixshot loses it. He GRABS Swindle by the throat, LIFTS him
off his feet, and THROWS him against the metal hull of the
ruined spaceship. He draws his gun and presses it against
Swindle's head.
SIXSHOT
Say that again, Swindle.
(no response)
I will have my victory. Optimus
Prime will pay for this indignation.
And all,
(looks at Swindle)
all who oppose me will feel my
wrath.
EXT. SPACE - CYBERTON
Establishing.
INT. AUTOBOT HEADQUARTERS - COMMUNICATIONS ROOM - CYBERTRON
Hot Rod goes up to Blaster, who is monitoring the
communications room.
HOT ROD
Blaster.
BLASTER
Hey, how's it going, Hot Rod my man.
HOT ROD
Any word from Prime yet?
BLASTER
Negative. Communications from the
Proxima System are deader than a...
(catches himself)
Well, they're not happening.
HOT ROD
Keep trying to raise Prime, Blaster.
I just spoke with Perceptor about
the gateway found in the Devoron
System.
(beat)
If it is what he says it is, Primus
help us all.
EXT. SPACE - RELENTLESS
Establishing.
INT. RELENTLESS - QUINTESSON ROOM
The three Quintessons are fervently examining records in the
Relentless' computer. The Predacons stand watch at the door
with weapons drawn and ready.
QUINTESSON A
We are receiving transmissions from
our base in the Calyx sector.
(reads the report)
Our Sharkticon drones have reported
that an Autobot raiding party has
successfully rescued the human
doctor.
QUINTESSON B
And retrieved the data readings
stored within her shuttle's memory
banks.
QUINTESSON C
Doubtlessly, by this time they have
discovered the true nature of the
gateway on Devoron Seven.
QUINTESSON B
Ninety-eight percent probability
that the Autobots will recognize
the extreme danger that the gate
possesses.
QUINTESSON C
Ninety-four percent probability
that the Autobots will utilize all
their resources to launch a
counteroffensive against our
position here in this system.
QUINTESSON A
Exactly as we anticipated.
The three Quintessons break into a sinister chuckle as we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
Home: Teleplays
Previous Episode: Setting the Stage
Next Episode: The Human Factor