248. Civil - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. DOME 3: NEW OREGON, THE AMERICAN VENUSIAN TERRITORIES - DAY


• The large dome houses a city of nearly a million people, the largest of its sister domes, the capital of the American territories on Venus.


• Thick, ground-hugging fog shroud the domes thick shell.


• A cluster of bright stars shines brightly through a patch in the clouds.


• GOVERNOR AMELIA MBEKI, a small figure against the massive dome, stands looking out of her office built into the wall of the dome, the structure's exterior glass wall serving a as a massive picture window looking out over the barren wasteland.


• INT. GOV. MBEKI'S OFFICE - DAY


• The governor's desk is covered with e-paper terraforming reports.


• A large American flag with 60 states hangs in the corner.


• The wall of the dome that serves as her window also serves as a large display.


• She brushes her fingers past the glass, transferring data to a file.


• There's a soft knock on the door.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Come in.


• ROGER, a tall man with spiky silver hair and a smart suit, bustles in.


• ROGER
• Governor, the President is on the line.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• He's going to ask us to stand with the Republic.


• ROGER
• Yes.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• What do you think, Roger?


• ROGER
• I know you think the Social Democrats overstepped their bounds in seceding. You have an advantage as an Independent.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Perhaps, but the Republic is their cute little euphemism for Theocracy. The Socials were right to stand up against that tyranny.


• ROGER
• Stay neutral, Governor; slip them a few National Guard regiments. I realize the citizens feel we should join the war, but their safety should come first. Let the Terrans solve their own issues; we're Venusians, no reason to get caught up.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• We're Americans first Roger. We have to stand up for these principals. We lose this fight and we enter a very dark place.


• ROGER
• You made your mind up a long time ago.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Yes.


• ROGER
• For what it's worth, I get it, and I'll support it, but I don't like it.


• Governor Mbeki nods.


• She touches the screen.


• The handsome face of PRESIDENT HENRY O'CONNOR appears on the display, larger-than-life.


• An American flag and a large flag displaying a blood-red crusader's cross stand behind him.


• PRESIDENT O'CONNOR
• Amelia! You kept me waiting there.


• Governor Mbeki nods.


• PRESIDENT O'CONNOR
• I'd hope it wouldn't come to this, but the war has spread to the Martian colonies. The Socials invaded two of the domed cities and are making a move on the Moon bases. Will you stand with us?


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• I'm sorry Mr. President, we stand with our sister blue states. You began this with the bombings of New York and Portland.


• The president's face darkens.


• PRESIDENT O'CONNOR
• They harbored subversives and heretics. Don't do this. You won't live long enough to regret it. Stay neutral and all I ask is that you hand over a few token heretics and loan us a few regiments of the Venusian Guard. Tell me what I can do for you.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• I'm sorry Mr. President, was there anything else?


• PRESIDENT O'CONNOR
• I see. Goodbye Amelia.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Mr. President.


• The transmission flickers off.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Send the Social Democrat's council a statement of support and promise them the troops they need.


• ROGER
• Consider it done.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Any update from the UN or NATO.


• ROGER
• NATO has two Behemoth class ships in orbit, but they've promised President O'Connor they will stay neutral. The UN is urging a quick, peaceful resolution.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• The Republic ships?


• Rogers touches his tiny earpiece.


• ROGER
• General Wills says they began heading for the atmosphere within the last minute.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Get the Guard ready. Send a message to the cities to prepare for an imminent attack.


• Roger bustles towards the door.


• ROGER
• Oh! The Canadian territories are unofficially offering several regiments to help.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Send Governor Beaumont my sincerest thanks.


• Roger leaves the room.


• Governor Mbeki touches the glass of the dome, staring out at the sky.


• The cluster of stars has grown much brighter.


• She touches her own earpiece.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• General, it's time. Are your ready? Good. I'll be joining you at the front. No, no General, the time for me sitting behind a desk is past.


• She walks to the door taking one look back at the landscape in front of her.


• INT. AIRLOCK 78 - DAY


• The governor stands at the airlock, surrounded by her SECRET SERVICE GUARDS.


• They are all heavily armed and suited in their military-grade environment suits.


• The governor slips on her helmet and a TECHNICIAN double checks her helmet.


• The tech nods, then snaps a crisp solute.


• The governor nods, then reaches for her arm, pulling the American flag patch off and flipping it upside down.


• Her secret service contingent follows suite.


• EXT. DOME 3: NEW OREGON, THE AMERICAN VENUSIAN TERRITORIES - DAY


• The dome shudders as a thick metal shield begins surround the glass dome, like an iris closing tight.


• In the distance, sunlight reflects off other domed cities taking similar precautions.


• There is a dull roar and the National Guard regiments pour from tunnels under the city onto the dusty surface.


• Soldiers riding in narrow, two-man attack-cycles fan out across the ground, racing for pre-determined positions.


• The distant rumble of attack ships entering the atmosphere shakes the ground.


• The governor's cycle reaches a small group of bubble-tents.


• The governor slips through the airlock, rifle in hand.


• INT. BEACHHEAD HQ - DAY


• The governor slips her helmet off, the soldiers in the tent snapping to attention in the dusty tent.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• At ease.


• GENERAL WILLS
• Ma'am, we expect them to make land-fall right here. I've pulled the heavy armor back to here. We have Patriots set up to counter nuclear strikes.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Do you think they will go nuclear?


• GENERAL WILLS
• They did against Hawai'i.


• The governor nods grimly.


• GENERAL WILLS
• I believe the troops are commanded by General Brofas. I served with him in the last Gulf war, right before we added the Iraqi states to the Union. He doesn't pull punches.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Neither will we.


• A PRIVATE looks up from her console.


• PRIVATE
• The battle group is entering range, sir.


• The general nods.


• PRIVATE
• They've gone nuclear sir. I report two launches. One towards New Oregon and the other towards Bushwick.


• GENERAL WILLS
• Let's see if those patriots do the trick.


• The private presses several buttons and the dome becomes transparent.


• Patriot missiles whiz through the thick clouds towards the nuclear weapons.


• Two flashes that burn through the clouds indicate the missiles have hit their marks.


• PRIVATE
• They'll be within range to launch troops in thirty seconds sir.


• The general turns to the Governor.


• GENERAL WILLS
• One more chance to stop this right now.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• No, we stand here.


• GENERAL WILLS
• Good. Commence fire at my command.


• A battleship rumbles through the sky above them, stretching for miles over the barren landscape.


• Hundreds of pods begin to disgorge themselves from the ship.


• More and more battleships fill the air, fighter planes diving from the upper atmosphere where large carriers sit, waiting.


• GENERAL WILLS
• Bravo and Charlie units, target pods. Alpha, target battleships. Fire at will.


• The ground opens up for miles around them as anti-aircraft artillery spins to life from under the ground.


• Rail guns begin firing up through the clouds and pods burst into flame.


• GENERAL WILLS
• Delta, move your attack-cycles into sectors 3 and 4, we hold them here.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• We have Canadian air units on covert loan. They're on standby.


• GENERAL WILLS
• They'll see action before the end of the day. We might be able to hold them off for a week. After that...


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• We'll cross that bridge when we slam into it.


• The heavy rail guns come to life, targeting a low flying battle cruiser.


• Venusian battle cycles race across the desert as newly landed Republic troops begin setting up their beachhead.


• The cruise explodes in the lower atmosphere.


• The general nods.


• GENERAL WILLS
• So it starts.


• The governor nods.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Good luck, General.


• The general nods.


• GENERAL WILLS
• You too, Governor.


• She slips her helmet back on, a suited agent quickly checking it.


• He nods and they exit the airlock.


• The general watches as the enter their attack-cycle.


• The governor's cycle, surrounded by secret service cycles, races off towards the battle.


• PRIVATE
• Sir, the 3rd Martian battle group has been dispatched to us. They've been in Mercury orbit. They should arrive within the week.


• GOVERNOR MBEKI
• Looks like we could have a fighting chance.


• PRIVATE
• Sir?


• The general waves his hand dismissively and stares back out at governor's contingent, now a tiny speck of dust minutes away from the heat of battle.


• He nods solemnly.


• FADE TO BLACK.