Trouble On Tantum V

Episode Six

(Taken from the original 1985 Trouble on Tantum V Cine film shooting script by Jonathan Hicks)

Original draft 1985 NHP Cine films Script by Jonathan Hicks and Mark Newbold. Second draft by Paul Squire for NHP Whitestorm. Story by Mark Newbold and Jonathan Hicks

Revised edition edited and updated by Mark Newbold

Title Card: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

The Empire is dead – or is it? Remnants of the Empire remain in parts of the galaxy and are ready to regroup and attack the Alliance.

Meanwhile, above the forest moon of Endor a Rebel fighter orbits in search of danger. Its pilot the former smuggler Goah Galletti.

But only a few light years away the Imperial Stardestroyer Barbarian roars its way to the century moon in search of Rebel blood.

Goah – Home one, this is Burgundy Seven, completing sweep of sector NG-8, copy.

Home One – We copy Burgundy Seven. NG-8 is secure. What is your present position?

Goah – Point 079 on vector 5. There’s nothing unusual out here, just space junk and happy memories. (Checks targeting computer) Wait a second…I’m picking up a massive hyperspatial disturbance in sector NG-9.

Home One – Burgundy Seven, we’ve got that as an Imperial Stardestroyer, class one! Get out of there!

Goah – I don’t need to be told twice.

Galletti’s X-wing swings about just as the massive shape of the ISD Barbarian drops into the orbit of Endor and immediately dispatches a wing of TIE Fighters. The X-Wing swings and dives expertly, but just before he is assisted by a Rebel Cruiser and a flight of A-Wings he is hit by a lucky shot from the ISD.

Goah – Dammit, I’ve taken a hit…hyperdrive motivators are kicking in…(confused) what the hell?

Home One – Burgundy Seven, disengage hyperdrive unit or you’ll be a smudge on the forest floor.

Goah – Copy that Home One.

Despite his best efforts Goah’s hyperdrive motivator cannot be disengaged and the X-Wing swings about and blasts into hyperspace.

We see a Rebel Alliance X-Wing fighter enter from hyperspace and drop into the atmosphere on fire, crashing through trees and coming to rest in a wooded area. Galletti exits walks to the nose cone and pulls out a comm unit from the cargo compartment.

Goah – Where the hell am I? (Looks around) Sure looks like Endor…lets see. (Tests comm) Home One, this is Burgundy Seven. I’m on the forest moon. It was a messy landing, but I’ve made it in one piece. Do you copy? (No reply, just a crackle of static) Must be something-big happening up there. (Checks through his equipment and collects his belongings, just as he notices the fusion reactor smoking. He grabs his belongings and sprints).

Galletti sprints swiftly away but is not fast enough to avoid being caught in the explosion that rips his vehicle apart and knocks him to the floor.

Meanwhile, a troop of Rebel soldiers scouts the undergrowth for signs of the enemy.

Soldier 1 – Lieutenant Beyad?

Lt. Beyad – Yes Private?

Soldier 1 – Can you smell that sir? Corrosive, like burning fuel.

Lt. Beyad – (Sniffs the air) I can now Private. Lead the way.

The Rebel troops break into a jog and soon find the unconscious form of Galletti lying on the ground. Two of the troops lift him and begin to carry him.

Goah – Hey…what’s going on? (Weakly and drowsily)

Lt. Beyad – At ease, soldier.

On their way through the forest of Tantum V they can see through the trees the native inhabitants of the planet. One of them, a warrior known as Lo’Grai takes Goahs arm and helps hem with the dead weight. Soon, the pilot is being carried entirely by Tantums. Galletti begins to stir.

Lt. Beyad – Goah Galletti?

Goah – Yeah… how do you know that?

Lt. Beyad – We were told to expect your arrival sometime soon.

Goah – By who?

Lt. Beyad – That’s on a need to know basis – and you don’t need to know. Suffice to say you’re in safe hands.

Goah – (Sarcastically) Yippee. I feel better already.

Goah steadies himself on his feet, brushes down his orange flight suit and walks into the main tent with Lieutenant Beyad right behind him. He is greeted by the sight of Rebel General Soli seated at his desk.

Soli – Ah, Mister Galletti. Please, have a seat.

Goah – Thank you General.

Soli – How are you after your…incident?

Goah – Much better, sir.

Soli – Excellent. Then what I have to say won’t come as much of a shock.

Goah – Sir?

Soli – Effective immediately you are hereby stripped of rank and relieved of your duties in the Rebel Alliance.

Goah – (Somewhat surprised) May I ask why, sir?

Soli – (Squinting at Galletti) I think you know full well why. Let’s just say that a mysterious third party has requested your withdrawal from the services of the Alliance.

Goah – Well, I wouldn’t want to outstay my welcome, would I? (Stands and offers his hand) Thank you for giving me the chance to serve General.

Soli – (Standing and accepting the outstretched hand) Dismissed.

From the skies above Tantum V there can be heard the roar of retros, and from behind a thick cloud comes the Berone Sunrise.

Lt. Beyad – Clear skies Galletti. I hope you can make a life for yourself outside of the Alliance.

Goah – (Smiling) I’m sure I’ll manage.

The Sunrise lands and the ramp lowers, revealing Jan Lomona and his fiancée Frans Latka.

Jan – Good to see you Goah. Glann told me you’d be here.

Goah – Well, it’s about time. If I had to spend another second playing Mister Nice Guy with these Alliance types I think I’d have gone crazy. Ready to go?

Jan – Whenever you are.

The Berone Sunrise lifts off and heads away, staying low to the tree level to avoid the wing of X-Wings that are approaching the camp.

Goah – Where are we headed? Back to Amagad? I’ve got a lot to tell Glann when I get back.

Frans – No, first we’ve got to fly over to Wennicas. We’re doing a drop for Glann to Romanoe’s place. It’s pretty straightforward, it won’t take long.

Goah – I don’t believe that for a second.

Jan – It had better be straightforward, we’ve got to be back on Amagad in two days.

The Sunrise lands neatly in the large scrap littered yard of Romanoe’s temporary base of operations. Through the cockpit window, Goah, Jan and Frans can see Romanoe approach the ship.

Romanoe – Guys guys. How are you doing?

Jan – Fine Rom. I’ve got the cargo you wanted.

Romanoe – Great. I’ll have my load-lifters take it off the Sunrise. By the way, you haven’t forgotten about that little run out to Gista I mentioned to you?

Jan – (Shielding Romanoe away from Frans and Goah) Course not Rom…I just don’t want to advertise it, okay?

Rom – (Embarrassed) Oh, sorry Jan.