Episode 1: Preludes of Space
Episode 1:Preludes of War
Narrator: In the late 20th Century,
Extraterrestrial invasion was a real threat. Led by mysterious forces, UFO
sightings became more and more frequent in Urban areas. As stories became life
threatening, it was decided that a new force would be needed to combat the alien
threat. This force would come to be known as X-COM
Since 1999, the X-COM
forces have been safegaurding Earth and its peoples from the ET threat. Now, in
the year 2063, man looks to the stars, and sees the new
frontier.
Colonization has been rapid, as human growth exceeds
expotiental numbers. Now the Mega-Corps of Earth have exteneded into the vast
dark realms of space.
Unfortunately, a new trend has begun in space,
that of Space Piracy. X-COM, not seeing any action for years since Teleth is now
in the works of security in space, not fighting the ET threat, but fighting the
policing rouge human forces.
ACT I
Narrator: The X-COM Carrier
Excalibur 1 defold from space, a fleet of Interceptors is launched as they come
upon Delta Station in the Zenaria Sector. The station, owned by a private
corprate section, is under attack by a pirating group nown as "The
Brotherhood."
Two X-COM fighters break off from the squads, taking a
better veiw. The two are pilots Lt. Tyler Reber and Lt. Kari
Willams.
Tyler: Well, this is great.. more Brotherhood
incursions.
Kari: Where do they get these fighters?
Tyler: Damn Marsec
will sell em to anyone, including Corps, Millitas, and Pirating
groups...
Kari: Hmm.. and the Earth Senate does nothing?
Tyler: Nah.. to
busy on the MegaCity project... hell, chances are they get reduced prices on
project purchases for allowing such things.
Kari: We should probally move in
and take action!
Tyler: Agreed! Lets Rock!
Narrator: Tyler and Kari
dive into the middle of the battle, as the X-COM ship Excalibur makes its way
into the thick of battle. On board, the captain looks out across the bridge. The
famous captain, descended from a famous X-COM base commander, watches as the
ships strike out agianst each other. Finnaly, Captain Kyle Rowell, son of
Commander Jake Rowell, speaks out to his first officer.
Captain Rowell:
Hmmm... my father allways said it was eaisar when we were fighting aliens
instead of ourselves.
Narrator: Standing besides Captain Rowell, is the
beuatful first officer, and wife to Kyle, Lauri Rowell.
Lauri: With the
aliens, we have a common goal, without them... we degrade to fighting ourselves,
and sometimes for no real reason.
Narrator: A young officer on board the
bridge, Lt. Commander Jenefier White, looks up from her station.
Lt.
White: Sir, Tyler and Kari have just engaged the pirates.
Narrator:
Infact, the two fighters dive into the battle, missiles firing as if they were
limitless. Explosions rock around the fighters, as the pirates begin to lose
ships.
Kari: Yahoo! The clavary has arrived!
Narrator: The rest of
the X-COM forces back off as the two pilots begin to cricle each other, firing
over each other, at the enemy ships, and hitting with perfect accuracy. On the
bridge however...
Captain Rowell (Angry): Tell them we want survivors...
not kills!
Lt. White: Trying to establish contact with
them.
Captain Rowell: Hurry!
Lt. White: What the
hell?
Captain Rowell: What is it Luteneant?
Lt. White: It's
music!
Lauri: Music?
Captain Rowell: Put it on the
speakers!
Lt White: Affirmative sir!
On the speakers comes out
loud Rock and Roll style music. (Ed Note. Dynamite Explosion form Macross
7.)
Captain Rowell: What the hell?
Lauri: Kyle, that isn't
helping... the Lt. pointed that out allready.
Captain Rowell: What do
thoes two think they are doing?
Lauri: I don't know... but I intend to
find out. Jenni... override their comm. systems and put me through.
Lt.
White: Yes sir!
Narrator: Lt. White types away, and disables the
communications console on their fighters and patches Commander Lauri Rowell over
the system.
Lauri (Comm): What do you two think you are
doing?
Narrator: Tyler Reber is suprised by the override on his system,
and tries hard to gather the strength back to respond.
Tyler: Uh
oh...
Lauri (Comm): Uh oh is right! What the hell are you doing? We want
prisoners, not corpses.
Tyler: Oh.. well.. can do!
Lauri: Oh....
it isn't now... report back to the ship... immediantly!
Kari: But we are
the best you've got... at least let us clean up the fight!
Captain Rowell
(Infuriated): Report back to the ship now. That is an order!
Kari and
Tyler at the same time: Yes sir!
Narrator: And thus the two pilots of the
X-COM Forces, break off and start to head back to the Carrier ship. The X-COM
forces clean up the battle, but a few fighters get away, and they aren't able to
secure any prisoners. Tyler and Kari are taken to the brig, awaiting the
debriefing from Captain Rowell.
Before he can go though, Lauri gives her own
debreifing.
Lauri: Kyle, don't go too hard. The two were doing what was
ordered. Even if they took it too far.
Captain Rowell: That's just it.
They took it too far. That's a lack of control. And that is a potential threat
to our operations, and our safety.
Lauri: Well, punish them, but don't go
too far. Teach them a lesson, don't waste this potential great skilled
pilots.
Captain Rowell: Their skill means nothing if it comes without
self control.
Lauri: Hmm... there was a time when skill, bravery, and
lack of self control was an admirade thing in the X-COM forces.
Captain
Rowell: This is not the Alien Wars! We are fighting humans, and it is a diffrent
situation. These forces of X-COM are nothing like the Earth Defenders of the
past.
Lauri: Oh really... I guess your an expert on these sorts of
things.
Captain Rowell: If you ever live through seeing an alien fortress
ship being destroyed... do tell me.
Narrator: And with that, Captain
Rowell takes off, hot from anger, and itching to talk to the two rouge pilots of
the X-COM Space Forces.
ACT II
Narrator: Meanwhile, across the
vastness of space, on a fringe world, a small colony spots an unfimilar
sight.
Base Officer 1: Come out here! Quick! To the balcony!
Base
Officer 2: What is it... (follows him out) What the hell?
Base Officer 1:
Commander, what is it?
Base Commander: I.. don't know.... bring up
sensors.
Base Officer 1: Sensors online. Tracking area, scanning for
object. Oh my... (Voice falls off)
Base Officer 2: An unidentified object? a
UFO?
Base Commander: Calm down! It might just be a new Pirate ship...
send out two Interceptors!
Narrator: The old terran Interceptor ships
from the Early 20th Centry are deployed, and begins to chase after the bright
flying object.
Pilot 1: Coming up on it fast. Its really bright.. wait...
something... ahha!
Narrator: The officers and the commander watch as
something hits the Interceptor and it exlodes. The second Interceptor comes into
range.
Pilot 2: I am starting to see it. Its real bright... shit.. its
firing at me!
Narrator: The Interceptor dodges the blasts as it gets in
closer. It fires, but misses the object.
Pilot 2: Coming up on it... damn
its fast! Can start to make it out... my god! Its a flying saucer... its a damn
flying sauc...
Narrator: The second Interceptor is destroyed, in a ball
of fire.
Base Officer 1: Shit... a flying saucer...
Base Officer
2: The aliens!
Base Commander: Calm down! Contact X-COMMAND on Earth
right away!
Base Officer 1: Aye sir. Contacting them now.
Base
Officer 2 (Hysterical): Look sir.. more are comming...
Narrator: The Base
Crew watches as more Alien Ships descend on the base, their olny hope.. is that
word gets to X-COM in time.
END of Act II
ACT
III
Narrator: Back on the Starship Excalibur, Captain Kyle Rowell walks
down to the detention brig, on board the ship. In the brig, are the two pilots,
Tyler Reber and Kari Willams.
Captain Rowell:
Attention!
Narrator: Both pilots stand up.
Captain Rowell: Tyler
J. Reber and Kari H. Williams, both of you, should relize the trouble you are
in. X-COM is not a militia. We are not here to rack up enemy kills.We are a
Security force, and no more. I don't know if you have noticed, but you aren't
flying agianst any aliens, but humans!
Tyler: Sir! The mission was to
nuetrelize the enemy.
Captain Rowell: Danmit Tyler, don't give me any of
that pusedo-army bullshit. Tyler, I put you on this ship, becuase your one of
the best damn pilots out there...
Tyler: I know, I know.. and I am wild
and reckless, and I need more discpline.. and..
Captain Rowell: Shut the
hell up and listen for a change!
Tyler: Yes sir!
Captain Rowell: I
didn't put you on this mission to be hunting down rouge pilots. Listen,
something is going to happen. These fools think the alien wars are over. I can
feel it. The alien meanace is far from over. We are gonna need the best pilots.
When you are unleashed upon the Sectiods, you could be an efficent pilot agianst
the xenophobic aliens. But not agianst humans! Do you understand what I am
saying?
Tyler: Yes sir!
Captain Rowell: Sure you do.. dismissed...
and one last thing, Kari.. quit hanging around Tyler, you was such a potentially
great officer.
Kari: Yes sir!
Narrator: Kyle Rowell watches as the
two pilots walk out, obviously not learning any lesson. Kyle decides to proceed
to the Observation Deck, where he is met by his wife, Lauri.
Lauri:
What's wrong Kyle?
Rowell: I remember, a long time ago, when my father
told me about the demise of X-COM. How it was decaying into the garbage men of
the future. The X-COM forces were dying. He wanted me to try to keep the leagacy
of X-COM alive...
He would board the Hyperion that day.. and I would see the
truth in it all.
Lauri: Oh..
Rowell: X-COM is being shelved
agian, and you know what, I know we are gonna run into the alien threat agian
some day. Humanity is spreading across the stars expotentially, and I don't know
if anyone remembers, but aliens are Extraterrestrial Life forms.. which means
they come from a planet other then Earth... and I don't think Mars was there
homeworld.
Lauri: Well, X-COM still exsists.. I mean.. look at us. We
control one of the most powerful carrier ships ever!
Rowell: Yeah, and
it's considered trivial.
Lauri: Oh honey.. what is it that you want...
publicity? Is that the X-COM way?
Rowell Laughs: No.. but at least we
should be doing work more important then cleaning up in pirate
battles.
Narrator: Suddenly an alert sound rings throughout the ship. The
Intercom burst with the voice of Lt. White.
Lt White: Red Alert, repeat,
Red Alert, Captain Rowell, report to the bridge.
Rowell: What the
hell?
Lauri: Come on Kyle!
End of ACT II
ACT
III
Narrator: Captain Rowell and crew gets settled on the bridge.
Rowell: Status!
Lt. White: Distress signal, an outpost says it is
under attack by extraterrestrial forces.
Lauri: What?
Rowell: Plot
a course imediately!
Lt. White: Allready plotted sir!
Rowell:
Good. Prepare Jump Drives for imediate fold, inform the flight decks to standby.
Lauri: Extraterrestrial.. it can't be..
Rowell: Damn.. I hate it
when I am right..
Narrator: Tyler and Kari enter the bridge of the
ship...
Lauri: Your not suppost to be here..
Tyler: So! I heard
the rumors.. is it true? Are we facing aliens?
Lt. White: Jump in 5..
4..
Rowell: We'll see in a moment..
Lt. White: 3.. 2... 1..
Jumping Space now!
Narrator: In a bright flash, the Excalibur burst into
light, jumping space, folding across, to reapear in a similar bright flash over
the orbit of a new world.
Lt. White: Jump Space sucseful.
Lauri:
Now getting reading.. oh my god.. the outpost.. the city.. it's been
destroyed...
Rowell: On screen.
Narrator: The main veiwer shows an
overhead veiw of a destroyed city, and the smoldering remains of a frontier
outpost. Gasps are heard throughout the bridge.
Lauri: Oh my
god...
Tyler <Sarcasticly>: They're back!
Narrator: The crew
looks on.. terror coursing through them. After a few seconds in awe of the
destruction, Captain Rowell regains his senses, and begins to take
action
Rowell:What are you all staring at? Stop jumping to conclusions,
and jump to battlestations. Kari, Tyler, you are now reinstated back to active
duty!
Tyler: That soon..
Kari:Laughs
Rowell: Don't you dare
clown around, get to your ships, and this time I expect better judgment on your
part, we have no idea what we are dealing with here.
Narrator:The two ace
pilots leave as Kyle Rowell orders the flight squadrons to prepare for
launch.
End of ACT III
ACT IV
Narrator: Two Avenger class dropships
are escorted by the Alpha Squadron, commanded by Tyler. The prototype fighter
exibit the fear felt by the squadron.
Tyler: So Captain, any clue as to
what we are fighting yet?
Rowell: Tyler, can't you see that I am busy,
use your owm judgement, and I trust you use it wisely. Rowell out!
Tyler
(mockingly): Yes sir..
Kari: Hmmm... the captain trusts us to use good
judgement...
Tyler: So, what song shall we fight to this
time...
Narrator: A signal breaks through, revealing Lauri
Rowell.
Lauri: None, got that?! You are getting your one chance to redeem
yourself. Do you relize that we may be the first to stumble on a new
threat.
Tyler: Are you saying.. this could be the work of the
aliens.
Lauri: Do you feel it? The fear...
Tyler: Uhh..
Lauri: That feeling is something X-COM soldiers have felt since the
beginning of the war. That feeling is Xenophobia. The fear of the unknown. You
can feel it coursing through you right now.. can't you?
Tyler: Uh..
mabye.. mabye it's the G-Forces...
Lauri: Don't kid yourself Tyler. Be
careful, and don't play around on this mission.
Tyler:
Roger!
Lauri: Commander Rowell, out!
Kari: Do you think it's
true?
Tyler: If it's got the Rowell's scared, I think it's time we got
serious.
Kari: You seem to be trusting of them.
Tyler: And with
good reason. Do you know who Captain Rowell is?
Kari: I know.. he's
someone famous... shessh.. he has a whole ship class named after
him.
Tyler: It's the begining of a family line. Captain Kyle Rowell is
the son of Commander Jake Rowell, that name ring a bell?
Kari: It sounds
familar.. I think I've heard it before in the news...
Tyler: You
should... he was the man who commanded the Avenger that assualted
Cydonia.
Kari: What?!? The Cydonian Assualt... the final battle of the
first war?!?
Tyler: That's right. Kyle's the son of Jake and Jenni
Rowell. The captain's a hell of a pilot. At least, in heavy ships, and
submarines... heck, I bet he could pilot a fighter as good as us if he
practiced...
Kari: For someone who gets in so much trouble with him, you
sound as if you've got a lot of respect for him.
Tyler: I do have respect
for him, even if we clash... perhaps it's an ego thing... Ya know he almost
didn't join X-COM, he told me the story one day...
Kari:
Really?
Tyler: Yeah.. you see.. in 2040, <Battle Alert Sound> uh
oh... activity from the surface..
Narrator: The aircraft try to get
closer in on the ground, in an attempt to mask their radar signal from possible
hostile craft.
Kari: When should we see a visual?
Tyler: Let's
hope when we see it.. it'll be friendly.. should be comming up in a few
moments.
Narrator: With Xenophobic fear, Kari responds.
Kari: You
know these Avengers are giving us away.
Tyler: I know, keep the
concentration on the field of vision ahead of us.
Narrator: Meanwhile, on
the bridge, the heartbeats and breaths of all the crew can be heard, as they
listen to the reports coming in. Softly, Lt. White speaks.
Lt. White:
Captain, Tyler reports possible hostiles ahead.
Narrator: With a stern,
emulated voice of command, Kyle Rowell turns to Lauri.
Rowell: Lauri, can
we get.. sensors on them?
Lauri: Affirmative sir, we are picking up
movement..
Narrator: Lt. White's headphone burst with sound, as she takes
them off. Captain Rowell heart nearly skips a beat before he shouts his next
commands.
Rowell: Lt. White, put it on main speakers.
Narrator:
Over the speakers they hear Tyler's voice, and images appear on the
screen.
Tyler: My god.. it's them.. alien spacecraft comming in... We are
preparing to engage them.
Narrator: The fear in Tyler's voice brought
fear to Kyle.
Rowell: So, the third alien war begins...
End of Act
IV
End of Episode 1
Narrator: Next time on Into the Void, Captain
Rowell and the crew of the Excaliber face off with the hostile threat, as the
opening acts of the new alien meanace begin. Next time on X-COM:Into the
Void!