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INT. STEELTOWN – HALLS OF JUSTICE – GIDEON'S QUARTERS
Gideon's private apartment, luxuriously decorated and furnished. Gideon and Cobb sit at an ornate dining table. Gideon is taking breaths from a mask attached to a gas cylinder that contains some form of drug. A woman is preparing a meal in the kitchen.
GIDEON
I want those yellow bellied traitors dealt with. Cowardice in the face of the enemy will not be tolerated.
COBB
McCready's rounding them up now.
GIDEON
I want an example made of them, people have gotta learn. If we don't stand together this place will fall. "Special Treatment" for anyone who deserts under battle conditions.
COBB
What about the convoy? We gotta assume that Kenneally's been captured, if he's talked they know about the run. Maybe we should postpone it for a while.
Gideon contemplates for a minute before replying.
GIDEON
No, we're getting low on gasoline, it leaves as planned. If they know about it they're going to be watching this place, and they'll know whenever it leaves. They won't risk attacking whilst the convoy is in Tyranus' territory, so we double the escort, and post scouts close to obvious ambush sites. I'm going to put Rocatansky in charge of the convoy, if anyone can get it through, he will. Is the "special" cargo ready to go?
COBB
They're loading it now.
GIDEON
Just make damn sure it's locked down tight. I don't want Rocatansky to discover what he's transporting
COBB
He won't.
GIDEON
Alright, I've gotta go brief him. The convoy leaves on schedule.
They stand up to leave.
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INT. STEELTOWN - HALLS OF JUSTICE - GIDEON'S OFFICE – DAY
GIDEON
If there's no activity by nightfall, stand everybody down. I'm going to send out scouts tonight to watch 'em, if they make another move I want some warning.
BLACK
Will do, Chief. What are we gonna do about the fuel convoy?
GIDEON
It leaves as scheduled. You and Max are going to take it. You won't have any trouble on the outward run, the ambush will come on the return trip when the tankers are full. We'll double the escort and post patrols close to obvious ambush sites. I'm confident that you two will get it through.
MAX
How far is the run?
GIDEON
300 klicks, round trip. Port Sterling, the oilfields and refinery are under control of a warlord who calls himself General Tyranus. The city and oilfields are strongly fortified and well defended. Tyranus' territory is strictly neutral, he allows no conflict on his turf and all the local warlords observe this neutrality. No one wants to risk Tyranus slapping a trade embargo on 'em. I'll give you a rundown on the local region shortly. Is there anything you can tell us about the war? How many cities were hit? What's the state of the country past the radioactive zones?
MAX
There's not much I can tell you, The world died while I listened, food and water riots in all the major cities, and one by one the stations went off the air as the missiles fell. I think all the major population centres were hit along with industrial and military targets. I'm surprised Port Sterling wasn't taken out, the oilfields and refinery would have been a priority target.
GIDEON
Who can say why our little corner of the country was spared? A targeting fuck up maybe.
Gideon takes a map from a desk drawer, he unfolds it and puts it on his desk. It contains many handwritten notes and additions.
GIDEON
OK a bit of local history first. Once we lost contact with the rest of the country, we closed the town and built the barricade wall. The army detachments stationed here and at Port Sterling were called away to help fight the growing civil unrest up north and they took most of their equipment, fuel and supplies with them. We have been working hard to become as self sufficient as possible, most of the warehouses have been turned over to hydroponic food production and greenhouses, the factories have been retrofitted for producing crossbows and bolts. We're implementing alternative power sources, wind farms, solar power and methane as the oilfields will run dry sooner or later. The scavenger gangs are carrion eaters picking the last scraps of bloody flesh from the bones of the old world and when they've picked the carcass clean they'll turn on each other.
BLACK
The radioactive zones start 450 kms to the north and about 600 kms south. 150 klicks south is Port Sterling, Tyranus moved in and took over not long after the war.
GIDEON
250 k's northeast is the encampment of a warlord: The Humungus and his Dogs of War. He was a pro wrestler before the war and has adapted to his new role as a wasteland warrior exceptionally well. His crew are brutal savages, made up of scavenger gangs and wrecker crews. They tried to take the town 6 months ago, but we were too well fortified and we sent them packing. He would usually be a threat to a fuel convoy, but the scouts reported he has moved his crew east into the wasteland.
BLACK
About 200 k's north is Resurrection City, a bunch of religious cultists. It is under the control of The Redeemer, a whacko who believes he is the new Messiah. He's out of his head on drugs and spends most of his time broadcasting his "sermons". So far they haven't posed any threat.
Gideon switches on a radio set on his desk.
The radio crackles with static and clears, a deep voice issues forth a tirade.
THE REDEEMER V.O.
The world has undergone a trial by conflagration, Tribulation, Armageddon. Retribution for the transgressions of the Monopolist, the Profiteer and the Moneylender. For the machinations and subterfuge of the Propagandist and the Nepotist. For the perfidy and venality of the Legislator, the Diplomat and the Statesman.
Judgement on the False Hearted Sycophants who trample the weak, poor and underprivileged in the name of the self proclaimed Lords of the Earth. Woe unto those False Prophets who preach deceit and falsehood, those who hide the perversions of the Bishop and the Deacon and bear false witness in the Name of the Lord.
Damnation for the libations of the Drunkard, the Reveller and the Hedonist, for the debauchery and licentiousness of the Sybarite. A judgement on the Warmonger, the Opressor, the Janissaries of the Tyrant and the Bludgeon Man. For the brutalities of the Turnkey, the Judge and the Lawgiver. All have been brought low to wallow in the miasma of their corruption.
The Shadow of the Fiend darkens our skies, the Beast that stalks this wasted land is not yet satiated. All will prostrate themselves in obeisance to the true Lord and Saviour, or fall to the Sword of the Righteous in the Holy Crusade of the New Inquisition. Praise the true Messiah, the Redeemer of Man and his Kingdom on Earth, exalt the Holy Spirit that labours for your Redemption in this, the world's darkest hour…
GIDEON
Once he gets fired up he'll go on like this for hours.
He switches off the radio.
MAX
So, the only real threat to the convoy are the marauders who attacked today?
BLACK
And any other raiders who would rather steal fuel than trade for it.
MAX
Alright I'm in.
GIDEON
OK get your vehicles ready, you leave tomorrow morning at 0500.
BLACK
Gonna be just like the old days Max.
FADE OUT