A long time ago,
in a galaxy far, far away...
Star Wars
Knights of The Old Republic
Four thousand years before the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Republic verges on collapse. DARTH MALAK, last surviving apprentice of the DARK LORD REVAN, has unleashed an invincible Sith armada upon an unsuspecting republic, slaughtering all in his path.
Crushing all resistance, Malak's war of conquest has left the Jedi Order scattered and vulnerable as countless Knights fall in battle, and many more swear allegiance to the new Sith Master.
On the Outer Rim Planet of Felucia, a Republic captain by the name of SHAY MCKENDRICK engages the forces of Darth Malak in a desperate effort to halt the Sith's galactic domination…
PAN DOWN:
EXT – OUTER SPACE
The camera pans down to reveal an ongoing massive space battle. Cannons fire and blast, fighters form up into squadrons, making strafing runs on the starships. The sith ships block out a green planet, blockading it, and the Republic warships move forward.
INT – REPUBLIC WARSHIP
We zoom to a man sitting in a captain's chair, sitting forward and intent on the battle. He has dark brown hair and a goatee, wearing a flight suit.
[Woman's Voice, offscreen]
Taking heavy fire, sir.
[Pilot that the camera has focused on, Carth Onasi]
Divert all power from auxilary systems to shields and forward cannons. Kill the engines.
[Woman's Voice]
Yessir. A beat passes Sir, we have a Sith Man O' War ship directly ahead.
Carth bites his lower lip, then nods.
[Carth]
Focus fire on it. Kill all nonessential systems, send the spare power to the cannons. We kill it before it kills us.
EXT – OUTER SPACE
We see a massive explosion, consuming a republic frigate in a ball of fire, with shrapnel and scrap metal flying everywhere.
INT – REPUBLIC WARSHIP
The whole crew ducks their heads down.
[Crewmember #1]
DAMNIT!
[Crewmember #2]
Was that one of ours?!
[Crewmember #3]
That was Hammerhead! Repeat, we lost Hammerhead!
Carth puts a hand over his eyes, giving a heavy sigh and nods.
[Carth]
That's their planetary cannon. Divert power back to engines and get us moving. If we keep ourselves a moving target, they'll have a harder time of hitting us.
[Female Voice]
Aye aye.
[Carth]
We can't do anything about that cannon, but we have to take out that Man O' War before it takes us out. Just pray that the ground forces can take out that cannon before it tears apart the entire fleet.
EXT – FELUCIA SURFACE – DAY
The planet is an overgrown jungle, filled with bizarre and alien plants, fungi and animals, some of which look almost like rubber. Far removed from our world. As the sun shines down upon the battlefield, the plants look like glass.
Establishing shot of a massive, raging battle. Soldiers on both sides are falling every moment, screams of courage and terror are the only things louder than the gunfire. Soldiers are pinned by machine gun fire, Jedi are fighting desperately through waves of enemies only to be cut down, artillery and mortar fire are raining down upon republic troops. Acklays from the natural land come down upon the soldiers, ripping apart their line only to be brought down by rockets. An all-around hell.
The pan has brought into frame a Republic Soldier with lip scars and blood on his uniform in the midst of a heated firefight. Bullets rip through the soldier in front of him, as several Imperial Troops fall before him. Suddenly, a machine gun nest cuts through both the sith and soldiers in front of him a bullet grazing his side. He dives into the mud.
[The Soldier, Shay]
MG! Get down!
The soldiers behind him dive down and survive because of his warning. Shay rolls onto his back and pulls the pin on a grenade laying on his belt, waiting a second before throwing it. It explodes into a screen of smoke, and MG fire ceases while they wait on it. He sprints around them, ducking through the foliage to get a better view point. The MG team doesn't see him. He opens fire, killing the gunner and suppressing the other two men on the team. One of the soldiers that was behind him takes aim, the smoke now dispersing, and fires a rocket launcher right into the nest, taking them all out.
[Shay, moving up and clutching his wound]
Come on, lads. Let's go, let's go!
The soldiers jog to catch up to him, following close and reloading their weapons. Rocket launcher guy reloads his launcher before shouldering it, reaching for his rifle.
The camera pans up. You see what their objective is: a massive, ancient, slightly overgrown fortress, teeming with Imperial Soldiers. A massive Anti-Air cannon juts out of the fortress and into the air, firing briefly, the whole earth shaking under the sheer force.
They cut their way through another few Imperials, taking over a bunker located just outside of the castle. They put three rectangular shaped objects on the wall of the castle before retreating into the bunker. Shay reaches for his communicator, some of his men sit on the floor of the bunker while others keep watch.
[Shay, on his communicator]
Command, this is Captain McKendrick. Epsilon squad is in position and ready to commence with the assault at your signal.
[Voice on the radio]
Understood, Captain. Stand by for our signal, the other squads need to get into position.
[Shay]
Understood. (Pause) Permission to speak freely sir?
[Voice]
Granted.
[Shay]
(Sadly) I… we've lost too many good men in this assault. Make it count.
[Voice]
Understood, captain. We'll drive them out of here.
Shay turns back to his men. They are scared, fiddling with their riles, wiping mud from their uniforms, with one man even having his head hung in his hands.
[Shay]
Stay sharp. I don't want the Sith to catch us off balance, and we have to be ready to begin the assault at any moment.
The men nod, getting to it. They look down, worn, broken. Dirt and mud cover their uniforms. The man with his head in his hands looks up, but doesn't stand.
[Suicidal Marine]
We're not really going to try and take them all on, are we?
Shay looks at him, and closes his eyes a moment, thinking deeply. He is in pain. He's seen too many people get killed, too many good men get buried, and there's a good chance that they're not going home.
[Shay]
Orders are orders. Those cannons are blasting our blockade runners out of the sky. If we can't get them out of commission, we'll never get supplies through… or get the wounded out.
The marine stands, looking terrified, shaking, and faces off against Shay. His eyes are red and swollen.
[S.M]
We can't possibly take this position, captain! The republic sent an entire legion down here just three months ago, a whole 5,000, and I'd be surprised if we had 500 left anymore. We don't have the kind of manpower to take this kind of fortress.
Shay holds up a hand.
[Shay]
Settle down there, soldier. It's all going to be okay. Think about it this way: If we can capture those cannons, we can use them to smash their blockade, and then we'll have an easy way off this planet.
[S.M]
Gives out a sigh. Captain, I have nothing but respect for you. You've saved all of our backs a hundred times over, and without you we'd all have been killed within the first week. But this plan is suicide, we'll all be massacred if we go in there. We should look for another way out of here, a spaceport, a weak spot in their blockade… something, and let them have this damned planet.
[Shay]
There isn't going to be another way out of here, unless you're intent on leaving in a body bag. Those republic starships? The ones that are getting tossed about in the battle above us? Those are the only people that know we're here, the only people who care. They lose, get blown up? You're going to have to live the rest of your life on this hellhole. And I don't think that life will be terribly long, either.
The marine sighs again, and nods with a resigned look. He's going to die, one way or another, and he knows it.
[S.M]
As you say, sir. We'll follow you to the end.
He turns away, but is stopped by Shay's hand on his shoulder, turning him back.
[Shay]
Hey, hey. If we lose the will to win, we've already lost. I know how hard it is. Trust me, I know. The last few months here on Felucia have taken their toll, on all of us. We've gone days without eating or sleeping... Every single night we've laid in a filthy foxhole, prayin' the enemy won't slit our throats while we sleep. Every day we spent crawling through the mud and the dirt while plasma whistled all around. But this? This is different We take those cannons, we rip through their warships, and the Republic can pull us out. We take this point, we get out of here. But I need you to do this with me.
Shay holds the marine's gaze for a few tense seconds, and then the marine nods. He trusts Shay wholeheartedly, and there's no one in the galaxy he would rather follow to war. Shay is a natural leader, and his men know that following him is the only way to survive this.
EXT – OUTER SPACE
Fighters fly by the Man O' War Warship, only to be cut down by laser guns. We see the cannons of the warship, and see the sheer force behind them as they fire.
Camera cuts behind a republic frigate, and you see the sheer power of those cannons on the frigate where they hit on the port side. Metal and hull is sheered off, cannons are engulfed in a ball of fire. The ship starts to tip in the port side where it was hit, and it begins to fall out of orbit.
INT – REPUBLIC WARSHIP
There's chaos on the bridge, people are shouting and running frantically, people desperately pulling and pushing at various controls as they engage in this fierce battle against the Man O' War. A fire burns on the side of the bridge.
[Crewmember #1]
The Charity is falling out of orbit! We lost our frigate!
[Crewmember #2]
Engine number 3 is a ball of fire! Shut it down!
[Crewmember #3]
I'm trying! Controls are shot to hell!
[Crewmember #4]
Still no contact from Blue Squadron. We lost them.
[Crewmember #5]
Primary Life Support failing, switching to auxiliary. Motions over shoulder Someone get that fire out!
[Carth]
Keep us strafing, get out of their way. Deploy bombers to their short range sensors. We might be able to buy ourselves some time if we can blind them.
[Female Voice]
At once.
Carth rubs his eyes.
[Carth]
Come on, come on. Not here, not today.
EXT – FELUCIA SURFACE – DAYThe camera is on the inside of the Sith Fortress, focusing in particular on one segment of wall. A moment later, it explodes in a shower of concrete and fire. Several guards move to investigate, and are caught off balance by something throw through the smoke. Before they can dodge, the grenade explodes, consuming them all in it's path.
Through the smoke, Shay and his squadmates approach, rifles in hands.
[Shay]
Get to those MG nests! If we take them out, reinforcements can get through!
Sith droids and soldiers move to engage them. Rocket launcher dude blasts through the wave of droids and Shay throws a grenade before sprinting up the stairs.
We cut to a line of Republic soldiers, pinned down by machine gun fire. One sticks his head up a moment only to be cut down. Soldiers are stuck to the ground by the fire, faces forced into the mud. The camera focuses on a woman behind cover, with dark hair up in a ponytail and dark green Jedi Robes: Bastila Shan.
Very suddenly, the machine gun fire stops. Bastila holds up a communicator which crackles to life.
[Shay, on communicator]
This is Captain McKendrick. The Sith's MG nests are out of commission, all units move up. Quickly!
Bastila nods and ignites her double-bladed yellow lightsaber. She vaults over her cover and goes sprinting through the enemy lines, her lightsaber movements smooth and elegant, carving a path through their soldiers, never slowing her sprint.
Cut back to Shay's team, focusing in on the SM that he comforted earlier, mopping up remnants of the Sith forces. A sharp hiss comes from behind him, and he looks to it, his expression faltering immediately.
[S.M]
Oh… shit.
The camera cuts, and reveals five Sith standing behind him. They all wear black robes and have blood red lightsabers. One has a double lightsaber, one has a lightsaber in either hand, and the others all have one each.
SM lifts his rifle desperately and opens fire, each of the shots being blocked and one is then reflected, striking him in the chest, making him drop his rifle and fall in pain, rolling onto his side. One of the single lightsaber Sith approaches, smiling a little. SM crawls for his rifle, only for the Sith to kick it out of his way.
[Sith]
Cute. It thought it could hurt us. Turns on his Lightsaber This is what a real weapon looks like, cur. Beg, and you might feel it rather than more pain.
He steps forward, holding his lightsaber over SM menacingly. Before he can bring it down, a form tackles him to the ground. It's Shay, jamming his pistol into the Sith's chest and firing repeatedly into his chest. Getting up, he fires several shots at the other Sith until he's choked by the double-bladed lightsaber Sith, gasping for breath. The Sith goes over to the now death Sith, kicking at his robes, seeing him not moving.
[Sith #2]
Huh. Didn't think any of you soldier dogs could bring down one of us. Turns to Shay Sith respect power. If you want to tell me any last request… Turns on his lightsaber I'll make sure it gets done.
[Shay, still being choked]
L-l… ook… look me in the eyes… before you… finish it…
The Sith shrugs and approaches him, releasing the force choke to choke him personally, lifting him off the ground with his spare hand.
[Sith #2]
Very well. Let me be the last thing that you see, then.
Their eyes meet for a moment, Shay's dark brown meeting with the Sith's yellow. The Sith lifts his lightsaber to finish it, but Shay rips a knife from his belt and stabs him in the throat before he can. The Sith releases him, falling to the ground and grasping at the wound. He too dies at Shay's hand.
Shay is now on his hands and knees, gasping for air, and one of the remaining Sith electrocutes him. He screams in pain, and soon falls to the ground, smouldering. The third Sith goes running up to Shay, bringing down his lightsaber.
Before it makes contact with Shay, a yellow lightsaber stops it in it's path. Bastila stands there, having slid into position just in time to save him. The Sith looks over, bewildered, but she moves quickly and cuts him down before he can react. Now only one single saber and the one with two sabers remain. Realizing what they're up against, they leap into action.
The single-saber one does a reasonable job against Bastila, but it's clear that she's the better fighter. Conversely, the two-saber one does much better, meeting her as an equal in his neverending flurry of blades. The two of them are quite evenly matched and, if not for her double-saber, she would meet her end quite quickly under the three lightsabers arrayed against her. Still, her graceful and smooth movements that flow into one another make her an elegant and deadly warrior, able to stand against everything they can throw at her.
Soon enough, she brings down the single-saber one, slamming the hilt of her lightsaber into his face to stun him before stabbing him through the chest. But in doing so, she leaves herself vulnerable to the other, who unleashing a massive field of Force Lightning onto her (Sacrificed his comrade to gain the upper hand?)
Fighting through the pain, Bastila continues fighting, but is clearly losing now. He's as good as ever, unleashing a smooth and angry flurry of neverending strikes at her, but she's badly hurt and tired, unable to keep up.
Shay, still smouldering and hurt, blinks through the blurry pain, and sees Bastila fighting for her life. Groaning in agony, he rolls over and crawls for his pistol. Bastila continues fighting, but is being pressed up against a wall, and won't be able to keep up for long.
Shay aims his pistol, and fires, hitting the Sith in the back. He starts and shouts, dropping his guard a moment. Using the opportunity, Bastila cuts him down, then falling to her knees, gasping for breath. Several soldiers approach, some going over to Bastila, and others helping Shay and SM.
[Soldier]
Sir, we've taken the fortress. Their AA gun is silenced.
[Shay, gasping through blood]
Then get someone on it, use it to help our boys in orbit.
[Solder]
At once, sir. Salutes and heads off
Other soldiers start tending to Shay's wounds and he collapses.
EXT – OUTER SPACE
We see the Sith Man O' War engaging the Republic Warship, cannons clashing and blasting. Their cannons break through the shields of the Warship, blowing through the hull and sending scraps of metal flying. It's close to ending, here.
Just then, a massive shot takes the Man O' War off guard, smashing through the shield and blasting the hull, destroying all in it's path. The ground forces have pulled through.
INT – REPUBLIC WARSHIP
Carth looks up in amazement, standing a little.
[Crew member #1]
What was that?!
[Crew member #2]
That came from the planet!
[Crew member #3]
They pulled through! Ground team pulled through!
[Carth]
Divert all power to forward cannons! Open fire and rip them apart!
[Female voice]
With pleasure, sir.
EXT – OUTER SPACE
More shots come from the planet, ripping apart the Man O' War, and the Warship's guns roar to life. The Man O' War starts to go down, and is soon falling out of orbit and into the planet. The Warship continues firing even as it goes down, smashing the ship into pieces.
INT – REPUBLIC WARSHIP
[Crew]
Universal cheering
[Crew member #1]
We did it! Down they go!
[Crew member #2]
Yeah! That's how we do it!
[Carth]
Smiling Divert power to engines. Let's get out boys out of there.
[Female Voice]
At once. Let's get them home.
EXT – FELUCIA SURFACE – DAY
Shay is sitting against a wall. He's hurt and clutching his side, but awake and very much alive. Beside him sits the wounded SM.
[S.M]
I'm sorry I doubted you, Captain. Without you, we'd have never made it out of here with our sanity… or our lives. You… you saved our lives, you did. Again and again. A dozen… no, a hundred times over.
[Shay]
That's not necessary, soldier. I know how hard it gets. Trust me. We all made mistakes, get scared. It's part of the job. Just try not to lose your head next time, and it's all good. Understood?
He nods, and smiles at Shay. Bastila approaches after a moment.
[Bastila]
Looking at SM Excuse me, may I speak to your captain in private for a moment?
[S.M]
Of course, of course. He stands and salutes, Bastila taking his place on the floor
[Bastila]
I wanted to praise you, captain. You did an exceedingly good job today, and saved many lives with your actions.
Shay smiles and shakes his head.
[Shay]
It's not a big deal. All a part of the job.
[Bastila]
Humility is good, but you deserved a moment of pride for your actions. You saved many lives down there, my own included.
[Shay]
Smiles And here I thought you Jedi hated pride?
[Bastila]
Moments of pride can be a benefit, so long as they do not linger.
[Shay]
Well, thank you, General…
[Bastila]
Bastila. Bastila Shan.
[Shay]
Shan? Huh. I didn't know I was fighting with a legend, let alone getting praised by one.
[Bastila]
Oh, please. I am hardly a legend. And what is your name? I caught your rank, but not the name.
[Shay]
Captain Shay McKendrick, at your service.
[Bastila]
Surprised McKendrick? I… had heard of you before, didn't know you were serving here.
[Shay]
They're hearing about me all the way up at the top? Huh, guess I'm doing something right. Well, yeah, got sent here with the rest of the Corps.
A beat of silence.
[Bastila]
Listen, I'm being redeployed to be the captain of a republic Warship, by the name of the Endar Spire. I would feel more comfortable if someone like you were on board with me. Someone who's skills I've seen first-hand, someone who can lead soldiers and fight well. If you're interested...
[Shay]
A Warship, huh? Quite the promotion there. Well, it'll be hard to say goodbye to the boys down here, but that's a hard offer to turn down, and the situation is pretty handled here now that the Blockade Fleet is gone. Let me say my goodbyes, and then I'd be more than willing to come with you.
[Bastila]
Smiles just a little Wonderful. That's a great reassurance, Captain.
[Shay]
Please, just Shay.
[Bastila]
Shay it is, then. If you would call me Bastila.
[Shay]
It's a deal.