Copyright 2000 --- Robert Baer Jr. The Space Rovers -- "The Quillian Gambit" DISCLAIMER Road Rovers characters, names, situations and the Road Rovers universe are the property of Warner Bros. I, nor this script/story are connected with Warner Bros. in any way, shape or form. This document may not be publicized or reproduced in any way, shape or form. It must remain fully intact and may not be altered in anyway. It is strictly used for not-for-profit entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. This story is written by Robert Baer Jr and the characters Fydo, Boomer, Rasputin, Saundra, Alexander, Grunt, Daisy, Abdullah, Bob, Cactus Jake, Marie, Francis, Calypso, Sheena, Bruno, Molly, Deborah, Orchid, Porta, Dot, Luigi, Sophia, Willfong, Lao Zi, Su Li, Claudia, Sno-wie, Numbia, Hojo, Shamansta, Derby and Poncho are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright pending, 1999 - 2000. The Space Rovers -- "The Quillian Gambit" The scene is a corridor on the Canius Minor. Persia is walking to the elevator with Fydo. PERSIA (smiles): Lt Commander, relax. This will be your first command on the nightshift, there's nothing to be nervous about. FYDO (worried): What if I goof up? What if a crisis happens? PERSIA (smiles): We're on a star charting mission Fydo. You've passed all of the leadership tests and Alexander himself gave you passing marks on your command situations he gave you. Don't worry, you'll be fine. FYDO (nods): I suppose you're right, Captain. PERSIA (pushes elevator button): Remember, I will be in my quarters in the event of an emergency. The elevator doors open, Persia and Fydo step inside, then the doors close. FYDO (looks up at Persia): Captain, I know you have read my mind, you know that I'm not really a hero... PERSIA (shakes head): Don't say that, Fydo. You have the heart of a hero, like when you saved those two children during our first encounter with the Lost Pack. Though it's true you've been a bit lucky at times, it's this very quality that makes you officer material. I would not have promoted you if I didn't believe you were capable of command. FYDO (smiles): Really, Captain? PERSIA (nods): Yes, Fydo. I knew there was something different, something unique about you the minute I saw you in the cargo bay the day we first left Earth. Have faith and confidence in yourself Lt Commander, I know that I do! (sternly): Now, two things to remember. First of all, understand and utilize the abilities and talents of your crew. Did you study the roster... FYDO (nods): Yes Captain! I must admit, I was very impressed with Calypso's newly discovered abitilies! Did you know in her vampire 'mode' she has the ability to teleport almost anywhere, generate balls of isonic energy and ... PERSIA (smiles): I see you have read your crew roster! Excellent! FYDO (concerned): What is the second most important thing to remember, Captain? PERSIA (sternly): Command is a serious responsibily, Fydo. Always do everything in your power to protect the lives of your crew. That is your primary duty, Lt Commander. The elevator doors open, Lao Zi shouts "Captain on the bridge". Standing at attention are the other members of the assigned nightshift crew. Claudia and Shamansta are at the helm console, Lao Zi is at the science officer's station. Calypso is at the communication console, Rasputin is at the weapons console, with Cactus Jake serving as First Mate. PERSIA (shouts): As you were! (turns to Fydo): This is your command now, Fydo, carry on! As Persia enters the elevator, Fydo slowly walks over and sits in the captain's chair. FYDO (turns to Lao Zi): Current status, Ensign LAO ZI (sternly): Lt Commander, we are currently traveling at one-half impulse power star charting an unnamed region of the Jurrassian Alliance border. All ships systems are functioning within their normal parameters. FYDO (turns to Claudia): Current course and heading, Ensign? CLAUDIA (smiles): We're on a northeastern course heading two two seven mark five darling.. er... I mean Lt Commander.. FYDO (smiles as he turns to Rasputin): Current weapons status? RASPUTIN (sternly); All laser turrents, torpedo launchers and force field generators are operating normally. FYDO (turns to Calypso): Communications, Leiutenant? CALYPSO (nods): All channels be open and clear mon! CACTUS JAKE (whispers to Fydo): Take it easy, buddy! We have eight more hours to go on this shift. Best just sit back and relax for now. Fydo nods and sits back in the captain's chair. The hours pass uneventfully, until... CALYPSO (turns to Fydo): Lt Commander! We be gettin' a distress call, very faint, can barely understand what day be sayin'... FYDO (turns to Lao Zi): Trace the message, Ensign, where is it coming from? LAO ZI (looking at monitor): Approximately one point five light years ago, in the Quiilian section of space CALYPSO (excited): Day say dere engines has ruptured. Situation be critical.. CACTUS JAKE (looks at Fydo): I suggest we wake the Captain, sir FYDO (sternly); There may not be time for that! One of our primary duties is to rescue. (nods); Ensign Claudia, plot a course for the damaged ship. Shamansta, engage at warp six! CLAUDIA (nods): Aye aye darling! Er... I mean sir! SHAMANSTA (giggles): Aye aye, sir! Soon, the Canius Minor arrives on the scene. The alien ship appears to be damaged, it's two back engines emitting sparks. LAO ZI (looks at monitor); There are no life signs aboard the vessel. FYDO (shocked); What? CALYPSO (turns to Fydo): Lt Commander, that distress signal be some sort of automaticed message.. FYDO (turns to Bob); We better get the Captain up here and ..... Suddenly, the Canius Minor shakes violently. Nearly every monitor goes dark and the lighted consoles flicker on and off. Emergency power activates, but the bridge is still very dark. General panic begins aboard the rest of the ship as crew members on all sections find their automatic doors and other systems 'frozen' FYDO (turns to Lao Zi): Report, Ensign! LAO ZI (looks at monitor); We have lost primary power, running on auxillary power only. There is some sort of power dampering field surrounding the ship. Nearly all shipwide systems except for life support are offline. RASPUTIN (frustrated): Weapons systems are offline! CALYPSO (looks at console): I've lost all subspace communications. I can give you ship to ship within a limited range, but even the onboard comm system is down. FYDO (excited); We must get the Captain up here! CACTUS JAKE (looks at monitor): She and nearly all of the other senior officers are locked in their cabins. FYDO (angry): So we can't even talk to the Captain? (furious): Who is doing this to us? LAO ZI (looks at monitor): Lt Commander, seven alien vessels decloaking all around us. CALYPSO (looks at console); One of dose vessels be calling us! FYDO (sternly): On front viewer.. Soon, the image of a beautiful humanoid female appears on the screen. She is dressed in battle armor, has snow white hair and orange skin. Beside her is another female, with a worried look on her face. DELTAMAR (laughs): Space Rovers! I am Deltamar, space pirate and mercenary! As you've already noticed, I have shut down your ship's vital systems. Surrender your ship to me and my crew, or we'll destroy you! VIXOR (looks at Deltamar): Deltamar, do you know WHO that is on the screen? FYDO (stands up): I am Lt Commander Fydo of the ... DELTAMAR (shocked): Fydo? (points): YOU are the mighty Fydo? Defender of Graum, the one who singlehandedly defeated the Inozomans and Milex? (laughs); But you're such a runt! VIXOR (scared): Please don't provoke him. There's no telling what may happen to us! FYDO (angry): I am in command now DELTAMAR (still laughing): Ok, mighty hero! I'll give you five of your earth minutes to prepare to surrender your ship. Your crew and ship will be a great prize to add to our collection! As the screen goes blank, the bridge crew gathers around Fydo. CACTUS JAKE (sternly); We can't give in to those varmits!! LAO ZI (nods): Lt Jake is correct, we cannot allow this ship to fall into enemy hands RASPUTIN (angry): If I could only get our weapons systems up... SHAMANSTA (turns to Fydo): What can we do? FYDO (brightens): I have it! Here is my plan.... The five minutes pass, Deltamar is back on the front viewing screen. DELTAMAR (smiles); So, Mister Hero, are you ready to surrender? FYDO (shakes head, big grin): Surrender? No way! You and your pirates are beginning to irritate me! DELTAMAR (laughs): You are in no position to threaten me, pooch! My ships have effectively shut down all of your weapons! You are defenseless and powerless! FYDO (evil grin): That's where you're wrong, Deltamar! VIXOR (shakes Deltamar): I told you! We better withdraw now! DELTAMAR (turns to Vixor): SHUT UP!! (points): There's nothing those lousy fur covered creatures can do! They are helpless! (turns back towards th view screen): We are well aware of your Space Rover tricks! I will not be fooled by the likes of you! FYDO (angry); This is NO trick! Do you have ANY idea why I am so feared in this galaxy? DELTAMAR (laughs): No, I don't see how anyone could fear such a pitiful looking being like you! FYDO (evil grin): Because of my psycho-kenetic powers! Take your fleet and leave now, or I'll be forced to destroy it! VIXOR (shaking): We must withdraw! This is Fydo we are talking about ... DELTAMAR (slaps Vixor, knocks her down): SILENCE!!! I do not believe you, runt! You are bluffing! FYDO (smiles widely); Ok, you asked for it! Fydo closes his eyes and lifts up his arms. Suddenly, an explosion rocks Deltamar's flagship. DELTAMAR (shouts): Vixor! What's going on? VIXOR (stands in front of a monitor): An internal explosion has taken place aboard our ship! Damage control teams are heading for .... wait.... (looking at monitor): Internal explosions are taking place on every one of our spaceships! DELTAMAR (screams): Explanation! VIXOR (shakes head): I have none, Deltamar! The Canius Minor's weapons systems are still offline, there's no way they could have done this... unless... DELTAMAR (shocked): Fydo was NOT bluffing! FYDO (opens his eyes): Consider that a warning, Deltamar! Either release my ship or I'll finish blasting your fleet! DELTAMAR (frightened): Ok, ok, you win! Stop your attack! LAO ZI (looking at monitor); The dampering field has been deactivated. Detlamar and her fleet have gone to warp. FYDO (stands proudly); So, they're gone, right? LAO ZI (nods): Affirmative! FYDO (smiles): Good! Fydo turns and then passes out on the floor. CLAUDIA (screams); FYDO!!! CACTUS JAKE (kneeling over him); EOOOWWWW WEEEEE! That was some acting job your husband did! SHAMANSTA (turns to Lao Zi): Hey Lao! You can turn off that illusion of Calypso now! She should be coming back here anytime now! Lao Zi nods and the Calypso 'image' disappears just as the REAL Calypso teleports back to the bridge. CALYPSO (smiles): Looks like we scared dem pirates away, yes? CACTUS JAKE (nods); We sure did little lady, thanks to you and your energy blasts! CALYPSO (shakes head): No, mon! It be Fydo's plan dat saved dis ship! (looks around): Where is he? LAO ZI (sternly): The 'hero' is on the floor, passed out.. RASPUTIN (smiles): Guess all the excitement was too much for him... The scene now shifts to Persia's office, thirty minutes later. Fydo, Cactus Jake and Calypso stand before Persia, Grunt and Whitey and listen to their account of their confrontation with Deltamar. PERSIA (nods): So, you used a bit of trickery to get those space pirates to flee, correct? FYDO (nods): Yes, Captain. CALYPSO (smiles): It be a bit fun for ol' Calypso to test her new powers like dat! WHITEY (upset): Your actions were inappropriate, Lt Commander. Have you not read the Space Rover Command Manual... GRUNT (interrupting); GRRRRRRRRRRRR GROWL!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! PERSIA (nods): I agree, Grunt. Your plan, Fydo, though a bit unconventional, worked perfectly. You all showed great innovation and creativity. You made the best of a difficult situation. I am very proud of you all. Dismissed. WHITEY (growls): With all due respect, Captain, I disagree! PERSIA (upset): Would you have prefered our surrender? Would you have rather had Fydo activate the self-destruct sequence? WHITEY (angry): He had no right to act on his own! PERSIA (shouts): All of us were trapped in our quarters, Commander! GRUNT (nods): GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! WHITEY (sternly): Alright, I have voiced my opinion, may I return to the bridge now? PERSIA (nods): Permission granted... (watches Whitey leave): He's a good man, but sometimes you just can't do things 'by the book' all the time. GRUNT (nods): GRRRRRRRRRRRRR! PERSIA (smiles): Fydo has made quite a transformation, from a bumbling chaffeur to a highly decorated officer with a reputation over half the galaxy. I am so proud of him! The scene switches to Fydo & Claudia's quarters. The two are getting ready for bed. FYDO (shaking): I don't know if I'll be able to sleep! CLAUDIA (smiles): I'm so proud of you, darling! Once more, you've saved our lives! FYDO (frowns): Did I just get lucky again? Face it, I'm not exactly ... CLAUDIA (interrupting): Luck? No way! You created a plan! You gave out orders, for Calypso to teleport from ship to ship and blast, for Lao Zi to create an illusion to take her place, that took skill, not luck! FYDO (nods); I suppose you're right, dear. CLAUDIA (proudly): My husband! A legend in space history! (holds Fydo closely): Let me kiss a legend! The two share a long passionate kiss as the lights go out. --------------------------------------------------------------