FADE IN:
EXT. LIANDRA - OMEGA DRAGA 5 LANDING SITE
Establishing shot. The CAMERA is above the Liandra at an angle that just allows the ship to be fully seen nessled amongst the trees.
INT. LIANDRA - CARGO BAY #2: TRAINING ROOM
The Cargo Bay has been converted into a Training Room. Several Judo Mats are strude about the room. Gymnastic equipment designed in a Minbari way also take up a percentage of the room. Several non-descript Minbari and Human Rangers are working several pieces of the equipment. The CAMERA sits on the wall opposite the entrance doors. On the nearest judo mat, Hadann and Tafeek are sparing with Minbari Fighting Staffs.
HADANN (Attacking)
You fight quite well.
Tafeek (Successfully blocking)
It's part of every Ranger's training.
HADANN (Attacking again)
I just did not expect a Political Officer and First Contact specialist to be
(Defending)
This good.
TAFEEK You'll find I am full of many suprises.
Hadann lunges his staff at Tafeek's legs. Tafeek's defense is timed too late and he is send falling to the floor backwards. Hadann stands triumphant over Tafeek and places the end of his staff in the face of Tafeek.
HADANN Good for a member of the Religious Caste at any rate.
TAFEEK And you fight with the fire of a warrior in your heart.
HADANN Thank you Tafeek. It is good too hear that. I feared I had lost my Warrior spirit whilst on that planet...
TAFEEK Fortunately I was not a part of that mission. I had been called away for important diplomatic matters on Minbar.
HADANN You didn't miss anything good Tafeek. I can assure you of that.
TAFEEK I have enjoyed sparring with you Hadann.
HADANN As have I Tafeek. I wish they would improve the facilities here though...
TAFEEK I have been aboard a Valen Class vessel currently in production, their practicing facilities are twice the size.
HADANN The size doesn't matter, as long as we've got the right equipment.
TAFEEK I will have a word with the Captain about that next time we put in for repairs.
Hadann and Tafeek head over to the exit of the Training Room. The CAMERA cuts to outside in the hall as the entrance doors open as Tafeek and Hadann approach,
INT. LIANDRA - CORRIDOR
HADANN Well I suppose I should be returning to the bridge. I did just tell Dulann I was going for a quick talk with Firell.
TAFEEK The Healer? Nothing seriously wrong I hope.
HADANN
Far from it actually. I wanted to collect my certificate that authorizes me to actively partake in Ranger Missions.
(beat)
The Captain wanted it before he would allow me to accompany him on missions.
INT. LIANDRA - BRIDGE
Dulann is in the Captain's chair. Kitaro is nowhere to be seen and Malcolm is stood next to the main console. Malcolm and Dulann end their conversation upon Hadann's entrance.
DULANN (Standing)
Hadann.
HADANN Apologies Dulann. Tafeek challenged me to a sparing match and I could not turn him down.
DULANN That is of little importance. There is something however,
We cut on the word "however" to,
INT. IPX HQ - BEDROOM 3
Na'Feel can be seen stood outside the room. Tirk and Martel are inside the bedroom. Tirk has thrown the bedclothes from the blood ridden bed to reveal the body of a Human female who has multiple large cuts along her arms and one to her throat.
TIRK What could do this?
MARTEL I don't imagine those drones could've done this.
NA'FEEL (Entering)
No. This is the work of something sentient. And evil with it.
(beat)
And something Centauri.
MARTEL Centauri? How can you be sure. I didn't even think IPX employed any Centauri.
NA'FEEL
I'm sure it's a Centauri Captain. Either that, or someone trained by their Intelligence Services.
(beat)
This a ritual killing. I have seen thousands of them on Narn. During the Centauri occupations if their Intelligence Agents thought you were harbouring members of the Resistance they would come into your home. Take the suspect for questioning and tortue and kill the rest of their family in this manor. The bodies however would not be usually left in this way. They would usually be taken outside the house and strung up. That is after the soldiers had raped any females.
TIRK Even my people have not done such things in centuries.
NA'FEEL That's the Centauri for you.
MARTEL
Let's not start pointing fingers in any case at the moment.
(beat)
As you said the bodies weren't taken outside. If this is a ritual killing the person doing this would surely want to be thorough?
NA'FEEL Perhaps he or she was interupted during the killing.
TIRK Those drones could have provided adequate distraction.
MARTEL Ok. Things may add up to us now. But we should collect more evidence before making any assessments. And this still doesn't answer several other questions we've got at the moment,
We cut to,
INT. LIANDRA - BRIDGE
The Liandra's crew has gathered on the bridge.
The CAMERA is sat the back of the bridge looking forward.
Martel is stood at the front, addressing the gathered Rangers. Dulann, Na'Feel, Hadann, Tafeek, Malcolm, Firell, Kitaro and Tirk are sitting around the main console and the rest of the room is filled almost to the brim with various Human and Minbari nondescript Rangers.
MARTEL (Counting as he says the numbers on his right hand)
Number One. Where has the rest of the IPX team disappeared to? We found only two bodies on the site.
(beat)
Number Two. What the hell are those drones...
Martel lowers his head.
MARTEL
Those drones that took Sarah.
(beat)
And where did they come from?
And Number Three. What was the great discovery that IPX reported to Ranger HQ that warranted our assignment here.
DULANN I have reread the orders from Ranger Command and they definately do not specify what the IPX team had found.
MARTEL Our priority must be finding Sarah and Ranger Clarkson who also disappeared at the hands of those drones.
Martel delws into his pocket and retrieves the relic.
MARTEL (Holding it above him)
I've had Firell analysis this. We are about to ascend to orbit in order to do a fully global scan. I believe this artifact may be made of the same metal. Now we know what is it will make it possible for us to locate those drones. And when we do that we'll be able to find our missing people.
EXT. LIANDRA
The Liandra fires up it's engines. The trees around it's landing site are blown back as the Liandra slowly lifts off. The ship heads upwards and we cut,
EXT. LIANDRA - OMEGA DRAGA 5 ORBIT
The Liandra comes up from the planet and takes a stationary stance in orbit with it's nose facing down towards the planet.
INT. LIANDRA - BRIDGE
The bridge has been cleared to essential personnel.
MARTEL Run the scans for metal objects matching this artifact.
KITARO It will take a moment Captain. I'll have to reconfigure the sensors only to sweep the surface of the planet. There is most likely natural deposits of this mineral underground... which could throw the sensors off if I don't recalibrate.
MARTEL Understood. Proceed when ready.
DULANN David.
MARTEL (Turning)
Yes Dulann?
DULANN How can we even be sure that these robots are made out of the same metal as that artifact you've found?
MARTEL Ranger Command told us that the IPX team had stumbled upon what they believed to be remnants of a Hand Colony. The advanced nature of those robots seems to support that theory. Meaning this was once a Hand colony, and it is doubtful a civilization would have excisted hear afterwards and therefore this artifact is probably made by the Hand and most likely out of the same material.
DULANN That's a lot of "most likelys" David.
MARTEL (Picking up the Relic)
I know, but it's something about this Artifact...
DULANN (Outstretching his hand)
May I?
Martel hands Dulann the relic. For a moment nothing happens.
DULANN (CONT'D)
Hmmm, well -
Dulann suddenly has somesort of mind attack. He holds his hand to his head and the CAMERA blurs to emphasize this attack happening.
MARTEL Dulann are you alright?
Dulann continues t hold his head and begins to yell in agony. After a few BEATS, with everyone on looking worriedly, Dulann falls to the ground and let's the relic slip out of his hand and hit the floor.
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
