The Due Process

The Due Process

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"The Due Process"Written By: Terrell T. HimmelheberAdapted from an original Teleplay for "Enterprise" series. Copyright © 11-10-2001

TEASER

--The NX-01 Enterprise is cruising through space at a leisurely warp 2.7, about half her maximum speed.... --On the Bridge, it's "business as usual". (Normal Enterprise, get it?) All the Bridge "Principles" (If you don't know them by now, you soon will.) are manning their prospective, respective stations, except for the "loosely" Commanding Officer, (He fancies himself more an explorer than a military man.) Captain Jonathan Archer. He is standing behind the beautiful, but cold T'Pol. with his hands joined behind his back, smiling. He is ogling, and leering at the butt of the unsuspecting Vulcan, as she is bent over in front of him, peering into her sensor-scope... The nervously anxious Helmsman, Ensign Travis Mayweather, the Afro-American "Space Boomer", (Born and raised in space on his parents freighter.) is tapping his fingers on the Navigational panel, when he finally can't contain himself any longer. He shakes his head, turns toward Archer, and says, "Captain? Are you sure you don't want me to increase our speed to . . . (he thinks) at least warp three? Archer is rocking back and forth on his heels and toes (not taking his eyes off T'Pol's rear end,) day-dreaming. He says, "No, no . . . I want to take full advantage of this rare opportunity! . . . " . . . The light from the sensor-scope shines on T'Pol's face in a rectangular shape, and 'we' can 'see' past her (continuously) as the gawking Archer continues saying, ". . . I mean , it's not every day we come across a region of space that even the Vulcans haven't charted, and are 'afraid' to explore," teasing T'Pol. Even though this annoys her, she calmly talks back toward Archer without looking away from the sensor readings, and (in a Vulcan way) sarcastically says, "Captain . . . may I 'remind' you that 'fear' is an 'emotion'?. . . There is a 'logical' reason the Vulcans will not . . . 'explore' here. . . " But Archer interrupts her. She reminded him of his annoyance with her, and he (in a Human way) says, "Yeah, yeah! . . . Now we know all about the Vulcan ship that was lost out here. . .after we decided to explore it!. . . (He scowls) Thanks again, for being so 'forthcoming'!" Her face is unchanged. She is oblivious to his true intent, and she responds saying, "You are . . . welcome, Captain," back behind her. This enrages him, (There is no joy in tossing a dart of sarcasm when it misses the board, and bounces back to poke you!) and he draws his foot back in a motion 'as if' he's going to kick her butt, instead of admiring it! At that moment T'Pol sees something on her scope, and urgently says, "Captain! . . . (He 'straightens up', suddenly, with an 'I got caught' expression!) . . . There is a large unidentified vessel approaching on an intercept course," without looking up from her scope. Archer appears frightened, quickly turns to walk toward his chair, and out of 'view' as he barks out orders, saying, "Full stop! Polarize Hull-plating! Arm all Weapon systems! Hoshi, hail them!. . . RED ALERT!" The lights dim, and the Klaxon sounds as T'Pol (in a Vulcan way) smirks, and under her breath, sarcastically says, "Who is afraid, now, Captain?" while intently gazing into her scope! . . . ACT ONE - - 'We' can 'see' the Bridge (continuous) is dimly lit. Red warning lights flash, and the Klaxon blares. As Archer is sitting in his chair, he pivots toward Hoshi Sato, the very pretty, demure Asian Communications Officer and Linguistics expert - genius, (and 'secretly' bi-sexual) and says, "Any response to our hails, yet, Ensign?!". . . Hoshi is listening to her ear-piece, fearfully. She turns toward Archer, and says, "No sir! . . . No response!" with terror. . . . T'Pol is still (logically) riveted to her sensor-scope as she yells back, over the noise, saying, "Captain! The ship has dropped out of warp, and is stationary , one-thousand kilometers off our bow! . . . We are being scanned, sir!" . . . Archer urgently says, "Put it up on the Main Viewscreen!". . . 'Our' 'P.O.V.' (Point Of View) is from behind Archer, 'O.T.S.' (Over The Shoulder) on the blank Main Viewscreen at the front of the Bridge. The Viewscreen snaps on, revealing the strange-looking ship floating directly ahead, and aimed menacingly at them, motionless in space! . . . Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, the British Tactical / Security Officer, a weapons expert / enthusiast, ("trigger-happy / bomb nut" - who is secretly gay, not that it matters.) and rigidly militaristic ("regular army") is monitoring his tactical sensors, and says, "It doesn't match anything in our database, sir! . . . (He sees something!) Oh, bloody-hell! They're powering their weapons! Shall I? . . . " But archer commandingly interrupts him, firmly, saying, "Steady, Lieutenant! . . . Hoshi, open a comm-link, activate the U.T. (universal translator), and patch it through to me, here!" She shyly nods yes, turns away to operate some controls, and then turns back, and says, "Go ahead, sir!" Archer ponders a moment, then pushes the button on the arm of his chair, and says, "Attention, alien vessel! This is the Earth's exploration vessel, Enterprise. . . (silence) Please respond. . . (more silence) We were just in the neighborhood, and thought we'd stop by, and say, 'Hello'. . . ( still silence) We mean you no harm, but we will defend ourselves!" T'Pol looks up from her sensor scope, and condescendingly says, "Perhaps, sir, they do not wish to communicate? . . . Logic would dictate . . . " Archer grows frustrated, and ancrily interrupts her saying, "Take your Vulcan logic, and stuff it!". . . T'Pol raises an eyebrow, but before she can turn back to her sensor scope . . . The alien vessel (on viewscreen) fires a glowing, growing ball of energy, and quickly turns away to accelerate off the edge of the viewscreen, out of sight. Before anyone can say "Look out!", the ship is rocked by the impact, and the viewscreen goes blank. The Bridge crew are tossed around, and several panels explode, shoot sparks, and catch fire. Archer rights himself in his chair, and says, "Damage control! Lieutenant Reed grabs a fire extinguisher off the wall, and starts putting out the fires. "Helmsman, Set a pursuit course! Maximum speed!" Travis operates the helm controls as he says, "Aye, sir! . . . Warp 5.2 . . . Mark!" Sub Commander T'Pol, (an honorary title, as she is "on loan" and, not technically part of Starfleet), the Vulcan (that says it all!) Science Officer is peering into her scope. (T'Pol's "Science" specialty, since "First Contact", is her life-long study of "Humans", and her "control group" is the Archer family. She has "surreptitiously" been watching Archer all his life. That is her secret assignment from the Vulcan "royal family", . . . her family! Enough said?) She looks up from her scope, turns to Archer, and says, "Captain, I scanned several humanoid life-forms, 'superior' weapons, and superior technology onboard their vessel! . . .Logic dictates that we not pursue them, but rather avoid a conflict, sir!" Archer is very angry, (and frightened) and says, "These people are probably responsible for the destruction of the Vulcan ship! . . . And would someone please shut that noise off!" Reed, back at his station nods yes, and silences the alarm. "Thanks, Malcolm. . . Besides, T'Pol, they fired on us without cause! I want to find out why!" "Perhaps, sir, they 'thought' they had a . . . 'cause'? . . . We 'invade' their space with weapons ready, and then you threatened . . . 'reprisals', and 'yelled' at me while still on the open channel, demonstrating . . . 'hostility', sir . . . If I were them, and not 'in control of my emotions', I might do the same as they did," T'Pol sarcastically offers. "Yeah? . . . (He thinks) Maybe, since they had contact with the Vulcans already, . . when I mentioned your 'damnable Vulcan logic' they 'assumed' we were Vulcans, eh?" "That is . . . (she thinks) 'unlikely', sir." Hoshi is listening to her "ear-piece", and interrupts their "banter" to say, "Captain! I'm picking up a . . . 'distress call'? . . .No! They're calling for reinforcements, sir!" Immediately, Travis (in front of Archer) says, "Sir! . . . We're gaining on them, but they're headed straight for a gas nebula!" Archer thinks a moment, then says, "Weapons status?" Lieutenant Reed checks his systems, then says, "Our Phase-cannons were 'disabled' by the blast from the alien ship, sir! . . . We do have our torpedoes, though!" With a hint of desperation, Archer says, "Quickly! Target their engines, and weapons systems only , and fire!" - - There is a huge, multi-colored gas nebula in the far distance. Then, the alien ship can be 'seen' between it, and the Enterprise. A string of nine (in sets of three) brilliantly glowing torpedoes shoot out from Enterprise, and race toward the ship ahead of her! - - 'We' can 'see' (from a closer P.O.V.) the alien ship. The nine torpedoes streak into 'view' (from behind 'us'), and impact with an "invisible bubble" around the ship, to harmlessly explode! They momentarily "light-up" the shields, at the points of contact, caused by power fluctuations! - - Back on the Enterprise Bridge, T'Pol is continuously monitoring the sensors. "Impact! . . . They have some form of 'energy barrier' surrounding their vessel, sir. It absorbed the explosions, . . . No effect, . . . They are now entering the nebula, sir." Archer angrily pounds his fist down on the arm of his chair once, and says, "Damn! . . . Travis, slow to one-quarter Impulse! . . . T'Pol, keep scanning for them! I don't want to lose them, now!" T'Pol looks into her scope, and says, "The nebula is blocking our sensors, sir, . . . (She looks up from the scope, and sarcastically continues.) We have 'lost' them, Captain!" "Damn!" he says, with grave disappointment! --Later, Archer is thinking silently. Then he resignedly says, "Well, they only came out long enough to disable our Warp engines, and ducked back into the nebula! I don't get it!" Lieutenant Reed is thinking, then he says, "Perhaps they're waiting for those blasted reinforcements, sir? " Archer gets an idea, and says, "Malcolm, program a single torpedo to 'follow' the last known course of that ship into the nebula, and explode in the proximity of their vessel. Let's flush them out of there." Reed, knowingly, says, "I see, . . . just like a 'depth charge'." "'Depth charge', Lieutenant?" Archer questions. As he is programming the torpedo, Reed explains, reflectively, saying, "Aye, sir, . . . It's the name of an old Earth naval explosive device! . . . The 'surface' vessels would drop 'it' into the water, set to explode at a certain depth, to disable, or drive an 'underwater' vessel to the surface, sir." T'Pol was listening, and cautioning, says, "I 'would' recommend against this 'course of action', sir. . . It 'could' ignite the gasses in the nebula. . . We 'should' issue a precautionary message. . . " Reed interrupts her by urgently saying, "I 'would' recommend 'against' that, sir! . . . They 'could' alter their position, or come out after us! They do 'out-gun' us! . . . Sir?" Archer doesn't answer. He is deep in thought, pondering the dilemma. Then, the elevator doors open, and Commander (second in command, and Archer's personal friend, since after the Academy) Charles "Trip" Tucker, the southern born, and raised Chief Engineer, enters the Bridge, coming up from Engineering. Archer turns, and says, "Well, Trip? How are those Warp engines?" Trip's expression is glum as he shakes his head; walking to his station, and says, "The Warp engines are shot! The Impulse engines are bein' held together with spit and duct tape, John! They won't last!" T'Pol is confused (what's new?) by his colorful metaphors, and says, "Mister Tucker? We knew the Warp engines were 'shot' by the alien vessel, and it is not surprising the Impulse engines will not 'last', with such inferior materials, and haphazard repairmanship . . . " Trip interrupts her, insulted, and angrily says, "I'd like to see y'all do any better!" Hoshi snickers, understanding the "miscommunication", and Archer smiles as he begins to understand, and says, "Never mind, T'Pol, . . . We know you did your best down there, Trip! . . ." He stops, and thinks a while, weighing his options. Then, with new resolve, he says, "Helmsman, set a reverse course back the way we came at maximum Impulse, just 'in case' they do come out after us! . . . " Travis shrugs his shoulder, and turns back to the Navigational panel as Trip and T'Pol "shoot daggers" at each other with their eyes! ". . . Tactical? . . ." Reed nods. " . . . fire!" Lieutenant Reed excitedly says, "Aye, sir! Launching torpedo . . . mark!" and he pushes the button. Archer says, "Helmsman?! Get us out of here, now!" Travis cringes as he starts the imperiled Impulse engine's drive sequence, and says, "Aye, sir! . . . One-quarter, . . . half, . . . three-. . . quarter . . . Impulse" . . . and the ship begins to buffet, and rumble under the strain! T'Pol is peering into her scope continuously as she says, "Captain; the torpedo has entered the nebula. . . . The explosion has ignited the gasses in the nebula. . . . There is a large 'shock wave' approaching! . . . " Archer urgently leans forward, and says, "Travis? . . . Can we out-run it?!" He is struggling with the Helm controls, and ambivalently stammering says, "I'm . . . not . . . sure? . . . No, sir! . . . Impact in . . . five seconds. Mark!" Archer pushes a button on, and then grabs both arms of his chair, and yells saying, "All hands! Brace for impact! Full power to the . . . " but before he can finish, the ship is jolted! The lights fail, and several panels explode! Smoke plumes rise into the air, and fill the room, with toxic fumes! Archer yells, "Damage control, report!" Reed is coughing (as is everyone, except T'Pol.) as he yells in a panic saying, "Weapons are off-line! Hull plating is damaged, but no breaches, sir!" Hoshi frantically whimpers saying, "Communications aren't working either, sir!" Trip, frustrated, and scared says, "Propulsion systems are down! The environmental controls, I think, are inoperative, John! . . . We're dead in space!" T'Pol is still gazing into her scope, (the only thing on the Bridge that still works, and isn't burning!) and oblivious to his metaphor (again) says, "That is not 'entirely' accurate, Captain; . . . Life support is failing on the Bridge, only! . . . I am detecting several vessels, similar to the one we just destroyed, on multiple intercept vectors, sir! . . . We are surrounded!. . . " She looks up toward Archer with imperativeness. . . "Captain, we are being scanned!" Archer looks around at the dark, broken, and burning Bridge. The smoke stings his eyes and lungs. He almost can't see his coughing, choking crew! He says, "All Bridge personnel evacuate, now!" The crew start to stumble through the dark, blinding, smoke-filled room toward the elevator, coughing fiercely, but the elevator doors won't open! As they reach the elevator, one by one, they all start vanishing in patterns of swirling, multi-colored lights, with humming, whirring/whistling noises! They're being transported, one by one off the Bridge! Archer stumbles toward the vanishing crewmen, coughing! He is the last person left when he shouts, saying, "Hey! What in the h -. . . " and he disappears. - - Instantly, 'we' are in a long hallway. At the far end is a plain, metallic door, and several open doorways line the left side of the white, sterile corridor. . . . 'Our' 'P.O.V.' is from the corridor into the plain, white, and empty compartment that is second from the end nearest the metallic door. There's several "lights" that line the inside edge of the open doorway. Inside the "cell", Archer "materializes" in the same manner (transported) he, and the others disappeared off the Bridge. He continues what he was saying, ". . . -ell is going on here?!" He looks around startled, sees the open doorway, and hurriedly walks towards it (and 'us') to exit! He comes in contact with the "force field" across the doorway, temporarily "lighting it up," and is thrown back onto his butt! He is stunned, and yells out in pain saying, "Oooowwww! . . . What in the hell was that?!" T'Pol, inside her #1 "cell" nearest the end of the corridor (cell block) with the metallic door, hears Archer next-door, and with a "grasp of the obvious", says, "We have been transported into 'cells', on one of the alien vessels, sir. . . .The doorways are 'blocked' by . . . ( thinks) 'energy fields', . . . I would not . . . (thinks) 'recommend' coming in contact with them. . . . We have been captured, Captain." as she stoically stands near the opening of her cell, speaking loudly (to be heard), out into the empty hallway! Archer (in cell #2) is standing back up, rubbing his aching head, and shouts through the doorway saying, "Is everyone else here, and are you O.K.?!" Reed, in his # 3 cell, yells back saying, "I bloody-well am, sir!" Hoshi, in her # 4 cell, looking terrified says, "I'm okay, too, Captain!" Travis, in his # 5 cell, leans "near" the doorway, looks to his left down the empty corridor, and says, "Same here, sir!" Trip, in his # 6 cell, standing near the open doorway, yells out saying, "I'm waaaaay the hell down here, John! . . ." Trip (being an engineer) slowly reaches out, to gingerly touch the force-field, curiously "testing" it. The field "fluxes" where he touches it, and rapidly (mild shock) pulls his hand back, and says, "Ow! . . . T'pol's right! . . . 'This" is some kind'a energy field!. . . (He looks at the lights on the edge of the doorway.) These lights, here, must be the . . . (thinks) field emitters!" Suddenly, the metallic door at the far end of the corridor rattles (unlocks), opens with a squeak, and a human-looking man, dressed in a strange-looking uniform (about Archer's age) enters the "cell-block", and loudly announces, angrily saying, "I am the Captain of this ship!. . . You have been captured, and are being transported to our home-world, to stand trial for the crimes of 'Destroying our military/police ship,' and the 'Murder of it's Captain, and crew'!. . . Who is the leader here?!" Archer (#2 cell) yells out to the others saying, "Don't say anything, but your names, ranks, and ship's duties! O.K.?" T'pol (#1 cell) hears this, and unknowingly "blows it" by saying, "Yes, Captain." Archer winces in anguish, and thinks, "Doh!" Then he angrily yells saying, "Thanks a lot, T'Pol!" and he shakes his head in disgust! T'Pol can be 'heard' saying, "You are most welcome, Captain," obliviously from the cell next-door, and Archer cringes, as she unwittingly gives away who the leader is, again! "Oh, boy," he says in disbelief! . . .