Title: Cold Resolve
Series: Picnic six
Writer: P E Leody
SYNOPIS:
Title: Cold Resolve
Writer: P E Leody
Series: PicnicSix
Synopsis:
PAGE 1
Caption: THE PLANET ABRAILLE.
Caption: DISTANT, ISOLATED, INHOSPITABLE.
Caption: A VERY BELOW ZERO SURFACE TEMPERATURES KEEPS THE PLANET IN A CONSTANT FROZEN STATE NO LIFE FORMS CAN SURVIVE HERE
Caption: POPULATION 2.
PAGE 2
MEUTH: JUST TELL ME YOU HAVE A DECENT REASON FOR BEING HERE. LIKE INORDINATE WEALTH OR A HIGHLY EXCLUSIVE ELITE PARTY
GAUCHE: WILL YOU STOP WHINGEING IF I DO?
MEUTH: NO
GAUCHE: THEN THERE'S ONE GOOD REASON
PAGE 3
MEUTH: I'M NOT NORMALLY ONE TO MOAN
GAUCHE: YEAH RIGHT
MEUTH: WE'RE SO PAST CIVILIZATION AND IT'S SO COLD HERE THE SUIT ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND HAVE SWITCHED TO CORPSE PRESERVER MODE
GAUCHE: YOUR'S SEEMS TO BE WORKING OK THEN
PAGE 4
GAUCHE: WE'RE HERE
MEUTH: WHERE, WE'RE STANDING ON A WHITE CROSS ON COMPACTED VIRGIN SNOW IN A BLIZZARD
MEUTH: THE ELECTRONIC TRACKERS BROKEN THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN ANYWHERE SPECIFIC
GAUCHE: WOULD I LIE TO YOU
MEUTH: GRATUITOUSLY
PAGE 5
MEUTH: HOW CAN YOU BE SURE WE'RE HERE?
GAUCHE: I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
MEUTH: YOU KNEW IT WAS LIKE THIS AND YOU VOLUNTARILY CAME BACK?
GAUCHE: I DIDN'T LEAVE HERE VOLUNTARILY SO I'LL CONSIDER IT EVEN
PAGE 6
GAUCHE: THERE'S A LOCKED HATCH HERE, OPEN IT GET ME THE ACCESS CODES FOR THE UNDERGROUND COMPLEX IT LEADS TO AND YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE GROVE
MEUTH: EASY.
MEUTH: THAT'S IT? 18 HOURS AS AN ICE CUBE JUST FOR 5 MINUTES WORK
GAUCHE: NO ONES KEEPING YOU HERE
MEUTH: IS IT WARMER INSIDER
GAUCHE: OH YES I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT
PAGE 7
Caption: A PLANET 75% WATER
Caption: A SIMPLE COMPOUND OF SIMPLE ATOMS. HELD TOGETHER BY A FORCE THAT HAS IT'S OWN CHAPTER IN SCIENCE
Caption: WATER THE UNIVERSAL SOLVENT THE ELIXIR. NOT THIS WATER IT'LL DRIVE YOU MAD.
PAGE 8
AMWHIST: INCOMING SHUTTLE WITH OFFICIAL CLEARANCE
TATE: YET THEM THROUGH THAT WILL BE THE NEW COMMANDER
AMWHIST: SKIPPED OVER YOU FOR PROMOTION AGAIN
TATE: SKIP, HOP JUMP, THESE WORDS ONLY HAVE MEANING IF YOU HAVE LEGS
PAGE 9
AMWHIST: SIR, WELCOME SIR
COMMANDER: AT EASE, I'M COMMANDER...
AMWHIST: BEST KEEP IT AT THAT SIR, CHAIN OF COMMAND SHOULD NOT ENCOURAGE FAMILIARITY
COMMANDER: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PREVIOUS COMMANDER
AMWHIST: OH THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY OUT OF THIS JOB SIR
PAGE 10
COMMANDER: I HAVE RECEIVED INTELLIGENCE THAT THE ROGUE UNIT WE SEEK HAS SURFACED
AMWHIST: IS THE SOURCE RELIABLE?
COMMANDER: CHECKED IT MYSELF, I'M NOT BEING TAKEN DOWN LIKE MY PREDECESSOR
AMWHIST: TAKEN DOWN SIR. YOU MISUNDERSTAND ALL PREVIOUS COMMANDERS HAVE BEEN PROMOTED OUT OF YOUR POSITION
PAGE 11
COMMANDER: ASSEMBLE YOUR ALPHA CUT TASK FORCE WE LEAVE AT ONCE TO LOCATE THE ROGUE UNIT
AMWHIST: SIR, THAT REQUEST HAS TO COME FROM THE HEADS OF OPS, TATE
COMMANDER: HER ABSENCE PUTS HER ON A CHARGE, CONSIDER IT NOW YOUR CALL
PAGE 12
TATE: MY WORK GOT YOUR PREDECESSOR PROMOTED OUT OF HERE THUS YOU PROMOTED INTO HERE. YOUR RESPONSE IS TO CHARGE ON ME
COMMANDER: YOU'RE LATE.
TATE: BEEN HERE AN HOUR BEFORE YOU.. IN THE WATER
COMMANDER: YOU WERE HARDLY IN COMMUNICATION RANGE
TATE: I HAD NOTHING TO SAY AND THE WATER CARRIED YOUR VOICE TO MOST OF THE PLANET
PAGE 13
AMWHIST: SIR PROTOCOL DICTATES ANY ACTION BASED ON GREY INFORMATION BE TREATED AS A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT
COMMANDER: YOU FEAR A TRAP? AND YOU HO TATE?
TATE: I BELIEVE GIVEN THE PROTAGONISTS A TRAP IS UNLIKELY COMMANDER
COMMANDER: PERHAPS YOU'RE GETTING SOFT
TATE: THEY'LL BE GETTING SOFT IF A TRAP IS ALL THEY CAN COME UP WITH
PAGE 14
COMMANDER: SO WE MEET AT LAST
MEUTH: GREAT
COMMANDER: YOU'RE A DIFFICULT ROGUE UNIT TO TRACK DOWN BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE OBVIOUSLY SINCE I'M HERE
GAUCHE: YOU'RE TATE'S NEW BOSS
COMMANDER: WITH YOUR CAPTURE NOT FOR LONG
GAUCHE: YOU BETTER READ THE SMALL PRINT ON THE INVITATION I SENT YOU
PAGE 15
COMMANDER: YOU INFORMED IN ON YOURSELF
MEUTH: YOU TOLD THEM, WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT THEM GATE CRASHING HERE FOR, WE SPEND OUR LIVES HIDING FROM
GAUCHE: I INVITED THEM SOLELY SO I COULD FORCE THEM TO LEAVE
PAGE 16
COMMANDER: SO WE ALL LEAVE
GAUCHE: NO YOU LEAVE WE STAY
MEUTH: ACTUALLY I'LL LEAVE TO
COMMANDER: WHY WOULD WE LEAVE WITHOUT YOU
GAUCHE: COS THIS DEADMAN'S HANDLE IS CONNECTED TO A NUCLEAR DEVICE
MEUTH: I CAN LEAVE THOUGH RIGHT
GAUCHE: THE SPEED YOU RUN AT YOU'LL NOT GET OUT OF THE BLAST RANGE
PAGE 17
COMMANDER: YOU WENT ROGUE TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR OWN LIFE AND YOU'RE GOING TO THROW IT AWAY JUST LIKE THAT
TATE: NO ONES GOING SOFT ROUND HERE, HE WON'T DO IT, NOT BECAUSE HE'S CAN'T BUT BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER PURPOSE
GAUCHE: IF YOU WERE A COMMANDER YOU'D BE A WORTH OPPONENT, BUT I'M NOT RESPECTING ANYONE OF YOUR RANK NO MATTER HOW INSIGHTFUL THEY ARE
PAGE 18
COMMANDER: TACTICAL ASSESSMENT IS THE EXPLOSION THE ROGUE IS HOLDING WILL SEVERELY DISTORT THIS PLANET AND HE'S CAPABLE OF DOING IT. SO WE FALL BACK
TATE: LET HIM DO IT
COMMANDER: YOU'D RISK YOUR LIFE ON THIS
TATE: BETTER BE CAUGHT IN THE ACTION RATHER THAN HAVING TO LISTEN TO HIS GLOATING AFTERWARDS
PAGE 19
COMMANDER: PULL THE STUMPS WE'LL RECONVENE AT THE BASE CAMP
MEUTH: YOU DID IT GAUCHE THEY'RE RETREATING
TATE: NOT ME
COMMANDER: FALL BACK TATE THAT'S AN ORDER, DON'T MAKE THIS PERSONAL
TATE: THIS IS WORSE THAN PERSONAL IT'S PROFESSIONAL
PAGE 20
TATE: WE STAY HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT
COMMANDER: THAT'S NOT YOUR DECISION
TATE: HE'LL NOT WANT TO BE REMEMBERED FOR TAKING OUT A HANDFUL IN HIS LAST BREATH
COMMANDER: TATE FALL OUT
TATE: THIS IS NOT HIS TIME, IT'S NOT ENOUGH OF A SPECTACLE
PAGE 21
MEUTH: THEY'VE GONE, WE SNEAKED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE UNDETECTED,
MEUTH: YOU THEN SENT THE ENEMY AN INVITATION TO WHICH THEY RSVPED
MEUTH: THEN YOU BARGAINED WITH OUR LIVES FOR THEM TO LEAVE
MEUTH: THERE ARE NOW A SAFE DISTANCE WHERE THEY CAN CALL OUR BLUFF
MEUTH: AND GLOAT ON OUR DESTRUCTION
GAUCHE: WELL YOU WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE PLAN WAS
PAGE 22
MEUTH: SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW
GAUCHE: YOU CAN GO AROUND SEEKING ATONEMENT FOR YOUR CRIMES
GAUCHE: OR YOU CAN SHUT UP WHILST I PLACE THIS DETONATING CHARGE SO WE CAN EVADE IT'S BLAST RADIUS
MEUTH: SO YOU DO INTEND TO SURVIVE THIS
GAUCHE: YES BUT YOUR WHINGEING IS MAKING THAT A LESS ATTRACTIVE OFFER
PAGE 23
MEUTH: I'LL JUST POKE AROUND
MEUTH: IF YOU NEED ME JUST CALL
GAUCHE: IF IT'S GETS TO THE STAGE WHERE I NEED YOU I WONT NEED TO SHOUT
MEUTH: AGAIN WITH THE FATALISM, YOU HAVE A PLAN, ARE YOU CONFIDENT YOU CAN COMPLETE IT
GAUCHE: CONFIDENT DOESN'T COME INTO IT, IT'S SO ASSURED IT'S BORING TO ATTEMPT IT
PAGE 24
MEUTH: IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S VALUABLE ASK THE COMPUTER
MEUTH: NISH I NEED ACCESS TO THIS TERMINAL
NISH: ITS HAS THE HIGHEST MILITARY CYPHER
MEUTH: CAN YOU DO IT
NISH: IT IS MY DUTY TO RAISE THE ETHICAL QUESTION
MEUTH: CONSIDER THAT I PRESSED OK ON THAT
NISH: IF YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT A VALUABLE COMPUTER ASK A DUMB TERMINAL
PAGE 25
MEUTH: INTERESTING A PLANET WITH THE THIS MUCH ICE FLOW IS NORMALLY RICH IN MINERALS
NISH: INITIAL SCANS SUB SURFACE SCANS AND COMPUTER RECORDS DISAGREE
MEUTH: SO WHICH ONE ONE'S CORRECT
NISH: THEY ARE BOTH CORRECT
PAGE 26
MEUTH: YOU SAID THEY DISAGREE
NISH: THEY DO
MEUTH: HOW CAN THEY AGREE AND DISAGREE?
NISH: THEY CAN AND DO IN THIS CASE
MEUTH: YOU CAN EITHER TELL ME NOW OR WE'LL DIE IN THE EXPLOSION AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GLOAT
NISH: THEY AGREE WITH EACH OTHER AND BOTH DISAGREE WITH YOU
PAGE 27
MEUTH: SO WHY HASN'T THE ICE FLOW TURNED THIS DESOLATE HOLE INTO MY PENSION FUND
NISH: FORMATION OF MINERALS REQUIRES MORE THAN PRESSURE AND INTENSE HEAT
MEUTH: NOT ANY OF THE ONES I MET
NISH: THE COMPUTER CYPHER BEEN REMOVED, PERMISSION TO BE EXCUSED
MEUTH: ONLY AFTER YOU STOP YANKING MY CHAIN
NISH: OK IF YOU INSIST, TIME IS THE MAJOR FACTOR NOT PRESENT IN THIS EQUATION, THIS PLANET IS ONLY RECENTLY BEEN COVERED IN ICE
PAGE 28
MEUTH: THERES ALWAYS SOME PREVIOUS OCCUPIERS FORGOTTEN STASH TO BE FOUND
MEUTH: AND WHERE ELSE BUT OH GREAT MILES OF UNDERGROUND CANYON
MEUTH: THIS IS NO RANDOM FEAT OF NATURE THIS PLANET HAS A VAST MAN MADE SUBSTRUCTURE
MEUTH: AND IT'S ALL BUNGED UP WITH ICE, EVERY PLACE WHERE YOU COULD GET WARM, FILED WITH ICE
PAGE 29
WRIGHT: MEUTH I'VE BEEN LOOKING OVER THE DATA NISH HAS FREED FOR YOU
MEUTH: DON'T BOTHER YOURSELF IT'S ALL BORING TECCHIE STUFF
WRIGHT: NOT SO BORING
MEUTH: I CAN HANDLE IT
WRIGHT: RELAX I'M NOT LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER
MEUTH: I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP WARM GAUCHE IS RUNNING THIS
WRIGHT: HE'S GOT TOO MANY SHOULDERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON
PAGE 30
WRIGHT: THE FREEZE TOOK OVER THE PLANET VERY SUDDENLY
WRIGHT: THERE WAS A HURRIED MASS EVACUATION EVERY ONE WAS CRAMMED INTO CRAFT
MEUTH: NO ROOM FOR POSSESSIONS
WRIGHT: NO THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THEM BEHIND
MEUTH: LEAVE THEM BEHIND.. ERH... ITS FREEZING HERE I'M GOING FOR A WALK TO WARM UP.
PAGE 31
TATE: WELL COMMANDER HOW SHOULD I RIGHT UP THE REPORT, SHALL I MENTION HOW YOU CAME BY THE TIP-OFF, BETTER NOT COLLUDING IS SUCH A HARD WORD TO SPELL.
COMMANDER: REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE VICTORS
TATE: SHALL I PUT INTO AFFECT PLAN B, IS THERE A PLAN B?, SHALL I COME UP WITH A PLAN B
PAGE 32
COMMANDER: AMWHIST?
TATE: AMWHIST?
AMWHIST: MAM, SIR PLAN B IS READY TO GO
TATE: COMMANDER
COMMANDER: RELAX TATE IT WAS A TRIVIAL TASK I DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER YOU WHILST YOU WEREN'T LOOKING UP SPELLINGS
PAGE 33
AMWHIST: STRIKE TEAM GO
TATE: HAVE YOU READ GAUCHE'S PROFILE
COMMANDER: THE USUAL GENIUS STUFF, UNPREDICTABLE INTROVERTED
TATE: SO YOU'VE READ THE WORDS DID YOU READ BETWEEN THE LINES?
COMMANDER: SUPPOSITION?
TATE: WELL LETS SUPPOSE WHAT'S IS NOTED AS INTROVERTED IS ACTUALLY HIM BEING A METICULOUS PLANNER AND BEING UNPREDICTABLE IS ACTUALLY THE OPPOSITE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT HE PLANNING.
COMMANDER: MERE TECHNICALITIES
TATE: WELL LETS GET SLIGHTLY MORE TECHNICAL. A ROGUE WITH NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY HOLDS A DEVICE THAT COULD ERADICATE A GOOD CHUNK OF THAT AUTHORITY AND YOU SENT THE AUTHORITY IN TO SORT IT OUT
PAGE 34
WRIGHT: GAUCHE ARE YOU THERE WE'VE DETECTED HOSTILES
GAUCHE: I'M BUSY
WRIGHT: THEN MAKE SOME FREE TIME, NISH'LL CLOSE THE GROVE IS SHE SENSES DANGER TO HERSELF THAT OUTWEIGHS YOUR USEFULNESS
GAUCHE: TELL THAT TO MEUTH YOU MIGHT FIND SOMEONE WHOSE MORE INTERESTED THAN ME
PAGE 35
MEUTH: GAUCHE, WRIGHT SAYS THEY'RE SENDING IN THE HEAVY HITTERS
GAUCHE: MORE LIKE THE CLOWNS
MEUTH: SO ARE WE ABOUT READY TO LEAVE
GAUCHE: YOU LOOK A LITTLE LIGHT HANDED TO BE LEAVING
MEUTH: MY LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN I CAN EVER CARRY
PAGE 36
GAUCHE: TIME TO GO
Sfx: KERBING
GUARD: TIME TO GO
PAGE 37
AMWHIST: COMMANDER THE RESULTS OF THE NUCLEAR DEVICE THE ROGUE UNIT HAD, IT FROM A DECOMMISSIONED STOCK
COMMANDER: DECOMMISSIONED THAT MEANS THERE'S NO MATCHED DETONATOR
AMWHIST: YOU COULD SET IT OFF THE OLD FASHIONED WAY A ROLLING CASCADE CHARGE
TATE: ISN'T THAT THE STRIKE FORCE'S MODE OF ENTRY?
PAGE 38
Caption: THE STRIKE FORCE ACTIVITY CREATES A MINOR CHAIN REACTION. WITHOUT ANY SYMPATHETIC MATERIALS TO RESONANT THIS WOULD PASS HARMLESSLY, BAR THE SHOCK WAVE OF CARNAGE. HOWEVER THIS TIME THERE'S A NUCLEAR DEVICE LEFT CARELESSLY AROUND. NOT NORMALLY USED DUE TO THEIR HUGE UNSPECIFIC LEAD. HOWEVER THIS TIME CARNAGE IS REQUIRED
PAGE 39
MEUTH: WE'RE BACK WE MADE IT BACK IN ONE PIECE
GAUCHE: I'D LIKE A SECOND OPINION
MEUTH: YES ONE PIECE
GAUCHE: A SECOND OPINION NOT THE SAME OPINION TWICE
MEUTH: FEEL THAT WARMTH
GAUCHE: YOU MAY HAVE GOT SUNSTROKE LEAVING THE PLANET
PAGE 40
AMWHIST: STRIKE FORCE HAS BEEN WIPED OUT SIR, THERE'S BEEN A GLOBAL NUCLEAR EVENT
COMMANDER: MY CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILIES
TATE: SHALL WE SEND IN THE TEAM RECLASSIFY THE PLANET'S THREAT
COMMANDER: IT DOESN'T POSE ANY THREAT NOW
TATE: NOW MORE THAN EVER
PAGE 41
MEUTH: WHY TRY TO BLOW UP A DESOLATE PLANET WITH HALF A NUCLEAR DEVICE
GAUCHE: IT WASN'T ALWAYS DESOLATE PLANET CENTURIES AGO IT WAS A RESEARCH STATION THEY HAD TO ICE IT TO KEEP THE SUPER NASTIES AT BAY
MEUTH: TELL ME WE ACTUALLY DESTROYED IT
WRIGHT: NO NOT EVEN CLOSE, THAT WASN'T THE PLAN THOUGH WAS IT GAUCHE
PAGE 42
Sfx: EXPLOSION
WRIGHT: GAUCHE WANTED TO RETURN THE PLANET BACK TO THE STATE WHERE THE RESEARCH STATION WAS KICKING OUT IT'S VENOM AGAIN
MEUTH: BUT THEY MUST HAVE SEALED IT FOR A GOOD REASON
WRIGHT: OH YES SURVIVAL OF LIFE IS A VERY GOOD REASON
MEUTH: HELL DOESN'T FREEZE OVER- NOT ON MY WATCH
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