ACT FIVE

48 – INT. MAIN MISSION

McKinley has returned to Main Mission. The Commander, Bergman and Verdeschi are around the Science console, watching the readings send back by the Eagles.

[McKinley]

"How is this possible ?"

[Bergman]

"The Mane Pulvis particles. We have never seen these particles before. If they contain more energy than we've theorized…"

[Verdeschi]

"What if they do now ? I'm no scientist, but because of the EMP, aren't there tons of electrons out there ? I'm mean, wasn't that was we were trying to do with the FTL-Drive, absorb energy ?"

[Bergman]

"The EM-Pulse is just that, a pulse, a burst. It's a temporary field increase. Unless…"[A look of worry flashes across his face]"Oh, Tony, you are a genius. If the Mane Pulvis particles soaked up the EMP like a sponge and the FTL-Drive then soaked up the particles…"

[Verdeschi]

"Doctor ?"

[Bergman]

"If the drive and its core got charged enough, the emergency systems would activate."

[McKinley]

"Refresh my memory…"

[Verdeschi]

"One of the most dangerous thing that could happen to Astro Probe Nine, is that the FTL-drive could run out of energy-slash-fuel will the drive is engaged. The ship would begin decelerating uncontrollably, the inertial dampers wouldn't be able to handle the change in speed and the whole crew would be killed by the forces."

[McKinley]

"That's why we installed solar panels, radiation convertors and all sorts of other…"[The quarter drops]"So, the hyper-charged particles triggered the safeties…"

[Bergman]

"And now we have one hour and twenty-seven minutes before the drive activates. Taking everything within the field with it. The problem is that the field won't be big enough to hold all of Alpha."

[Verdeschi]

"Which means we've come full circle. Because if Section 45 stays behind…"[Looks at Bergman]"Boom goes the Moon and Earth."

[McKinley]

"I can't believe I'm about to say this. But what if we take the drive to Section 45 and pull it into the black hole ?"

[Verdeschi]

"You want to extend the field to hold all of Alpha ? That's insane. The Mark Two wasn't designed for that. And even if it worked…"

[McKinley]

"I know. It's a death sentence for everybody on the Base. Alpha would rip itself apart during the jump. And the drive would burn out, leaving whatever survived stranded in deep space. But Earth would survive."[Turns to Bergman]"Can we do it ?"

[Bergman]

"Yes, but we'll have to hurry."

[McKinley]

"Tell Eagle Three to return to base at once. Colonel, tell maintenance to prepare Eagles Four and Five. I'll fly Eagle Four myself. Victor, go down to Section 45 and get the preparations going."

[Verdeschi]

"Yes, Commander."

[Bergman]

"We'll be ready when the FTL-Drive arrives."[McKinley leaves the room and Bergman turns to Verdeschi]"For the record, you were right, Tony. The problem is, he is right as well."

[Verdeschi]

"I know. We'd better get those Eagles ready."

49 – EXT. LUNAR SURFACE

Eagles Four and Five are taking off from one of the platforms. They fire their engines and head out at maximum speed.

50 – INT. SECTION 45

A huge metal sphere overseen by a small control room. The control room is the same as the observation dome of Area Two. There is a walkway going around the sphere. Between the two, it is clear that the sphere is several kilometers across.

Bergman is sitting behind one of the control consoles. He is changing settings and making calculations. His Commlock buzzes and he takes it out. Verdeschi is on the line.

[Bergman]

"Tony, how are things going up there ?"

[Verdeschi]

"Eagles Four and Five have arrived at the FTL-Drive. Eagle Three is now docking. And we've been re-routing power to open the emergency vent shaft. We should be done by the time Eagles Four and Five arrive back. I've triple-checked, but the math says that the FTL-Drive should fit. The problem is going to lowering it."

[Bergman]

"One crisis at a time, Tony. Tell Kano I've increased her security clearance and need her in Section 45. And have Koenig and Carter report to Main Mission."

[Verdeschi]

"Yes, doctor. Verdeschi out."

51 – EXT. LUNAR SURFACE

Eagles Four and Five are above the DTL-Drive. The once silver cylinder is now nearly completely black. Only the side facing away from where Area Two used to be is still silver. It is sitting on the slope of the crater that used to be Area Two.

The Eagles lower their magnets and attached them to the DTL-drive, before lifting the drive off the surface and heading back towards Alpha.

52 – INT. INFIRMARY

Russell is fixing Morrow's arm, while Koenig is putting her Commlock back on her belt. Carter is working on some papers, which we cannot see. Kano is not in the room.

[Koenig]

"Alan, you heard the man. We're needed in Main Mission."

[Carter]

"Right. I think I've got a way to get the FTL-drive down to Section 45."

[Koenig]

"Good."

The two of them walk out of the Infirmary. They step into an elevator. There are patches and fixes, which make it clear that the elevator has just been repaired. Koenig presses the button for Main Mission and the cart races up. After several moments, it stops and they step out. As they walk in, Carter takes out his Commlock.

[Carter]

"Carter to Kano."

[Kano – Over Commlock]

"Kano here."

[Carter]

"I've got a plan to get the FTL-Drive down to Section 45."[He relieves the Engineer, who leaves]"I'll input the math into Engineering One and transfer it from there."[Carter begins keying in his formulas]"I want to invert the gravity and use it as an elevator."

[Kano]

"That'll take some precision programming and expertise on gravity…"

[Carter]

"Good thing you're sitting next to the guy who invented artificial gravity, then. Carter out."

While Carter was talking to Kano, Koenig relieved Verdeschi at the Science console. This has allowed Verdeschi to move to the Security console.

[Carter]

"Putting that degree in astrophysics to use ?"

[Koenig]

"That's the plan."

53 – EXT. LUNAR SURFACE

Eagles Four and Five have arrived above the shaft. The lower the FTL-drive as far into the shaft as they can, then release it. The anti-gravity field catches it.

54 – INT. SECTION 45 CONTROL ROOM

Kano and Bergman are manning the two control consoles. They are watching the FTL-Drive, which is slowly being lowered to Section 45. McKinley, still wearing a flight suit, walks into the control room.

[McKinley]

"How are we looking, Doctor ?"

[Bergman]

"Captain Carter's idea is working. The FTL-Drive should be in place with twelve minutes to spare."

[McKinley]

"Can we wire it in it time ?"

[Kano]

"It'll be close."[Turns to McKinley]"I recommend we evacuate all the non-essential personnel right away. Just in case this goes peer shaped."

[McKinley]

"Do it."[McKinley nods and turns to Bergman]"Is it me, or is it extremely convenient that we just happen to know how to wire this thing into the black hole ?"

[Bergman]

"No, it's not you. But to answer your question, Mister Morrow and I came up with several contingency plans as part of the increased security measures for the FTL-Drive program. Wiring the FTL-Drive into the black hole was one of the more unlike ones, but we wrote it up anyway."

[McKinley]

"I'm glad you did. Now, as soon as the FTL-Drive reached the bottom of the shaft, I want you and Kano up in Main Mission. And I want the Engineers out of here as soon as they finish. I want everybody as far away from Section 45 when the FTL-Drive engages. Understood ?"

[Bergman]

"Understood, Commander."

McKinley leaves the room.

55 – INT. MAIN MISSION

McKinley is sitting at the Commander's station, Bergman and Koenig are manning Science, Kano and Morrow – Morrow with a bandage around his arm – are at Engineering, Verdeschi is at Security and Carter has moved to Recon. Russell enters the room as the countdown reaches two minutes.

[McKinley]

"How are things in the infirmary ?"

[Russell]

"Good, Doctor Mathias has everything under control. She was checking the Engineers from Section 45 when I left."

[McKinley]

"Excellent."

Russell sits down at the medical station. As the crew watches the countdown, Commissioner Simmons enters. McKinley ignores him.

[McKinley]

"Red Alert."[Bergman sounds the alert]"Close all emergency doors, bulkheads and shutters. Lock down all the elevators. Radiation and EM-shields at maximum."

[Kano]

"Doors, bulkheads and shutters closed."

[Morrow]

"Shields at maximum and elevators secured."

[McKinley]

"Alarm to silent mode, Mister Morrow."[Morrow nods and silences the alarm]"Here we go, people."

The clock continues to count down as the Main Mission crew watches in tense silence. It ticks past five seconds…

56 – EXT. LUNAR SURFACE

The camera hovers above the surface. In the middle of the screen is Moonbase Beta, surrounded by the eight Eagle landing platforms. A blinding light forms in the middle of the screen and expands outwards, until the screen is nothing but white. Then the light begins to fade. Where Moonbase Alpha used to be, is now nothing but a deep crater.

57 – EXT. SPACE

The black of space is broken by a bright flash of light. When it fades, Moonbase Alpha is its place. The top soil and all but two Eagle landing platforms are gone. Broken wreckage indicates where the platforms and their shafts used to be. Through the opening, we can see that Alpha herself has that a major beating. A caption is typed onto the screen:

TO BE CONTINUED…

FADE OUT