EXT. NIGHT - STARTOWN DISTRICT - REGINA
An officer of the Imperial Navy wearing the dirtside version of the class-B uniform (dirtside blues) with the rank of lieutenant commander steps out of a convenience store in the startown district, begins to walk down the street, he opens
a recently purchased cigarette pack, pulls out a cigarette, lights it, and is assaulted and killed by a gang that is wearing psionic shield helmets.
A shadowy figure whose face is unseen watches the murder of the Navy officer from a distance.
The GANG LEADER picks up the dead officer’s beret, trots up to the shadowy figure, and hands the beret to him.
INT. NIGHT - BEDROOM
The bedroom terminal of the apartment’s computer lights up and begins a morning wake-up call for NAVY LIEUTENANT SIR DENNIS STERLING.
COMPUTER
Good morning Lieutenant, it is 0500
hours local time, 1512 hours Imperial
Standard Navigational Time of (day) 122
(of year) 1089. You have a message from
Commander Svensen. You have a message
from your Mother.
Dennis throws one of his pillows and hits the bedroom terminal.
EXT. DAWN - IMPERIAL NAVY BASE - REGINA
People are doing their morning runs in a park-like area. Individually and in groups. Dennis passes a platoon of IMPERIAL MARINES who are running in the opposite direction. The Marines are led by a senior NCO in singing as they run.
MARINES
Left, left, left right left
Left, left, left right left
Two old ladies laying in a bed
One turned to the other and said
I want to be a three-aye Marine
I want to make the other sex scream
I want to go to Zho-dann!
Suit up, power up, check com-mo
Watch yourself and load am-mo
Sit down, strap in, seal cap-sule
Wait for drop and enjoy the view
Dennis sees a familiar looking woman in Marine exercise uniform running alone. He stops and watches her as she continues running.
INT. MORNING - HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - NEAR WINDOW
Seated near a window, Dennis is wearing his dirtside blues and is having breakfast with his MOTHER. Mother is confined to a wheelchair and cannot speak in the normal mode. She has to communicate psionically with others. A normal
eavesdropper would only hear Dennis’ side of the
conversation.
Mother makes a face as if she were asking a question.
DENNIS
I thought I saw Grace this morning.
Mother makes a face as if she were asking another question.
DENNIS
Yes, I would like to believe that.
Mother makes a face as if she were making a comment.
DENNIS
Minnie Hundinsel? Actually, I did sleep
with her.
Mother makes a face as if she were shocked to hear that.
DENNIS
Mom, everybody has slept with Minnie,
except Norris of course.
Mother, still shocked, makes a face as if she were asking a question.
DENNIS
Well, if you must know, it was the night
before I took off for Officer Candidate
School. I haven’t seen her since.
Dennis and Mother continue to eat in silence.
A bugle is being blown outside the building.
CUT TO:
EXT. MORNING
The bugle continues to be played as the black and gold banner of the Third Imperium is being raised on a flagpole. When the flag reaches the top the pole an Imperial Marine band begins to play the Anthem of the Third Imperium.
CUT TO:
INT. HOSPITAL CAFETERIA - NEAR WINDOW
Mother makes a face as if she were asking a question.
DENNIS
Yes, I do remember.
CUT TO:
INT. NIGHT - AUDITORIUM
A Seven-year old Dennis and his twin brother HARRY are part of a children’s choir singing the Anthem of the Third Imperium.
The parents of the children’s choir are in the audience.
Mother is in perfect health and is wearing the dress uniform of a lieutenant of the Imperial Navy. Dennis and Harry’s FATHER is sitting next to her in civilian attire.
CUT TO:
INT. HEADQUARTERS, IMPERIAL NAVY INTELLIGENCE
Dennis passes through a security checkpoint manned by Marines in the Imperial Navy Intelligence (INI) headquarters building. He then goes through an unmarked door into the anteroom of a cluster of offices. A PETTY OFFICER is seated
behind the receptionist desk. The petty officer speaks to Dennis.
PETTY OFFICER
Good morning Lieutenant.
Commander Svensen will see you
immediately, sir.
DENNIS (replying)
Thank you.
Sitting outside of the door to COMMANDER SVENSEN’S office is the woman that passed Dennis during the morning run. She is wearing the dirtside uniform of an Imperial Marine First
Lieutenant. Dennis opens the door and enters the office.
INT. COMMANDER SVENSEN’S OFFICE
Dennis steps to the front of the desk and snaps off a salute to the commander, a woman in her mid-forties.
DENNIS
Lieutenant Sterling reporting as ordered
ma’am.
The commander returns the salute and gestures toward one of the chairs in front of her desk.
SVENSEN
Please sit down.
Dennis sits in the chair.
SVENSEN
You know Lieutenant Commander Viande?
DENNIS
Yes, ma’am. How is Morty?
SVENSEN
He was found dead in the Startown
District this morning.
Dennis is stone-faced and silent.
SVENSEN
The provost marshal is handling the
investigation. Commander Viande was
scheduled to run a certification exam on
a new intelligence officer. I want you
to take his place.
DENNIS
Ma’am, that usually is a job for an oh-
four or higher.
Svensen opens a desk drawer, pulls out a set of insignia for a lieutenant commander.
SVENSEN
I’ve cleared this with the Subsector
Command.
Svensen places the set of insignia her desk directly in front of Dennis
SVENSEN
You are to be frocked as a lieutenant
commander.
Dennis picks up the insignia and examines them.
DENNIS
Well, I guess there isn’t a problem,
ma’am.
SVENSEN
Good.
Svensen touches an illuminated spot on the surface of her desk.
SVENSEN (to the intercom)
Chief, would you send in Lieutenant
Holland.
PETTY OFFICER (voice)
Aye, aye, ma’am.
With a sense of impending doom, Dennis stands up to meet First Lieutenant Grace Holland as she enters the office.
Grace confidently steps to the front of the desk and snaps off a salute to the commander.
GRACE
Lieutenant Holland reporting as ordered,
ma’am.
Svensen returns the salute and proceeds to introduce the two junior officers.
