BACK

DARTH SHUND:
My ship is now on course to that trade convoy.

DARTH VENGEANCE:
Good... Make sure you are not detected when you get there. I sense there is someone else besides that fighter pilot who may pose a challenge to you.

DARTH SHUND:
Is it another pilot, my lord?

DARTH VENGEANCE:
It is... The only difference between him and that other one is that this pilot doesn’t know he’s gifted with the Force.

DARTH SHUND:
I will kill him before he finds out, Master.

EXT. SITH SPACECRAFT—SPACE (FX)

BLUE ELECTRICAL BOLTS appear around the Sith Spacecraft as its cloaking shield is activated. The invisible ship continues its journey towards the trade convoy.

EXT. SPACE—TRADE CONVOY (FX)

The FOUR starfighters of KYLE, DACK, DEV C’LLARA, and CORPORAL RISON exit from the docking bay of the Hawkeye. A few seconds later, the REMAINING SIX spacecraft comprising Lancer Squadron join up to begin the patrol around the trade convoy.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

DEV C’LLARA:
(Adjusting controls on his flight panel)
You know… I was thinking, sir. If we nail that attacker the minute he shows up… do you think the General will let us go home early?

KYLE:
That’s if we nail that attacker.
(Sighs)
Plus, the General might make us stay here afterwards in case another one shows up.

DEV C’LLARA:
Let’s hope we’re facing only one, then.

A brief pause.

KYLE:
So Jake... Tell me more about this Jedi stuff.

RYDER:
(frowning)
You’re a Jedi, Corporal?

RISON:
Like I said...not an official one, just an apprentice who’s in training.

DACK:
Apprentice. Who’s your Master, anyway?

RISON:
Well... I don’t really have a master, yet. Master Windu is looking for someone who has time to teach me in the field.

KYLE:
The field?

DEV C’LLARA:
I think he means an actual mission, Commander.

RISON:
Exactly, lieutenant. Since I can’t practice what I’ve learned at the Jedi Temple... I decided to join other things I’m interested in.

DACK:
Those other things include Lancer Squadron, I presume?

RISON:
You’re right on the mark. What better way to show my love of flying than to join a fighter group.

KYLE:
(smiles)
Yeah, nothing beats that. Why Lancer Squadron, though?

RISON:
I don’t know... Maybe it’s because there’s a nice beat to the name.

KYLE:
(nods in response)
Oh.

MAVER’SS then looks down at his flight console as one of his other wingmen, FLIGHT OFFICER ELIS CORDOVA, contacts him via comlink.

KYLE:
What is it?

CORDOVA:
Sir, we’re getting a transmission from Damosse. I think it’s the General.

KYLE:
Thanks, Elis.

KYLE presses a console button to switch frequencies in order to talk to the GENERAL.

KYLE:
What’s up, General?

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER BASE—OPERATION CENTER

WILKES:
Kyle, Sergeant Duncan contacted me right now. He told me about the identity of our attacker.

KYLE:
(through comlink)
Corporal Rison mentioned it. How he knew the identity, I have no idea.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

WILKES:
(through comlink)
That’s okay. All that matters is that we know what we’re up against.

BRYCE:
(standing next to Wilkes)
That convoy is going to need all the help it can get, Maver’ss. Especially now.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER BASE—OPERATION CENTER

KYLE:
Why now?

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

BRYCE:
(through comlink)
Because we’ve just detected an unknown ship entering your area. It disappeared right before we could identify it.

KYLE:
It must have a cloaking shield.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER BASE—OPERATION CENTER

WILKES:
If that spacecraft’s trajectory was correctly plotted out, it should be arriving at the convoy within a few minutes.

A brief pause in the conversation.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

KYLE:
(pressing buttons to arm his weapons)
I guess that means my squadron should arm our weapons now.

WILKES:
Do that immediately, Commander. If that ship hasn’t detected you yet, also activate your cloaking shields.
(Static begins to fill the comlink)
That should give… element… surprise… when…

The transmission goes dead.

KYLE:
(tapping his earphones)
General?
(He waits for a response)
General? Do you copy?

Nothing but static fills the comlink. KYLE changes the frequency to see if he can contact his own WINGMEN.

KYLE:
Lancer Squadron, are you there?

DACK:
We’re here, Commander. What’s up?

KYLE:
I’ve lost contact with the base. My transmission was jammed.

INT. SITH SPACECRAFT—COCKPIT—SPACE

RISON:
(V.O.)
Is was that Sith Lord.

The CORPORAL’S dialogue carries over to this scene of DARTH SHUND targeting a ship in Lancer Squadron.

KYLE:
(has an alert expression on his face)
Activate your cloaking shields. That oughta give us time to—

KYLE is cut off as CORDOVA’S D-12, which is next to the COMMANDER’S fighter, explodes outside his cockpit.

EXT. SPACE—LANCER SQUADRON (FX)

An outer view of the same D-12 exploding near KYLE’S fighter.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

Another shot of KYLE as he squints at the explosion.

KYLE:
What the...?

The next shot of that is RISON turning to look at the BLAST and then turning his head back forward.

RISON:
We’ve lost Elis.

KYLE:
(a low, bitter tone to himself)
Blast it. Everyone, go into evasive maneuvers!

DEV C’LLARA:
(preparing to turn his control stick)
Roger that, si—

LIEUTENANT C’LLARA’S cockpit is SUDDENLY ENGULFED IN A BLAST.

EXT. SPACE—LANCER SQUADRON (FX)

An outer view of C’LLARA’S D-12 erupting in an EXPLOSION.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

A shot of KYLE as he quickly presses a button activating his cloaking shield.

EXT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—SPACE (FX)

KYLE turns his spacecraft—which quickly went into cloaking mode—just as a pair of red laser bolts fired from the invisible Sith Spacecraft narrowly misses the D-12 fighter.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

KYLE looks outside his canopy as more laser bolts DART BY his invisible spacecraft.

INT. SITH SPACECRAFT—COCKPIT—SPACE

A view of DARTH SHUND in his pilot seat as continues to fire away at Lancer Squadron.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

FLIGHT OFFICER JANSON RYDER scans the surrounding environment to locate the Sith Spacecraft.

RYDER:
Where is it?

EXT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—SPACE (FX)

JANSON’S D-12 fighter is TORN APART in a brilliant explosion after it is hit by the Sith Spacecraft. The next shot is of another D-12 getting DESTROYED just as it is about to activate its cloaking shield.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

DACK’S ship is in CLOAKING MODE.

DACK:
We’ve already lost four of our men, Commander. I think we should fall back.

KYLE:
(an anxious tone in his voice)
I think so too. Continue going evasive, I’ll contact Urbina for help.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—BRIDGE

CAPTAIN URBINA watches the AMBUSH through the main bridge window. An OFFICER walks up to him to report on Lancer Squadron’s predicament.

OFFICER:
They’ve already lost four of their pilots, Captain... Should I activate the turbolasers?

URBINA:
(shakes his head)
What’s the use if we can’t see where that attacker is?

OFFICER:
Then I’ll contact Maver’ss to guide him back in—

URBINA:
(cuts off the Officer)
No. I want you to jam the radio frequency, instead. I don’t want that attacker to eavesdrop on our communications.

OFFICER:
But what about those pilots, sir?

URBINA:
There’s nothing we can do, Lieutenant. Lancer Squadron is on its own... Let’s hope for the best.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

MAVER’SS has a contemplative look on his face while piloting his D-12.

KYLE:
Corporal, Sith Lords are guided by the Force...right?

RISON:
By the dark side, that is. Why?

KYLE:
Can you sense his presence?

RISON:
I can... But his ship is going too fast for me to target him.

KYLE:
We’ll have to wait for him to dock with a trade ship, then.

DACK:
Do you think that’s wise, Kyle?

RISON:
We’re putting those commandos in danger if we do that, sir.

KYLE:
We have no other choice...

KYLE then looks outside his canopy at a D-12 flying on his starboard side. Trying to go into cloaking mode, it is DESTROYED by the Sith Spacecraft.

KYLE:
...We’re down to only five men, now.

INT. SITH SPACECRAFT—COCKPIT—SPACE

DARTH SHUND now presses a series of buttons on his flight console as he begins to dock with the Trade Ship Hawkeye.

EXT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—DOCKING PORT—SPACE (FX)

A view of the upper docking port on the Trade Ship Hawkeye. The Sith Spacecraft cannot be seen since it is still in cloaking mode.

INT. SITH SPACECRAFT—COCKPIT—SPACE

A shot of DARTH SHUND as he continues to lower his spacecraft onto the trade ship’s hull.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—COMMANDO LIVING QUARTERS

SERGEANT DUNCAN and his COMMANDOS listen intently as the Sith Spacecraft continues to descend onto the trade ship. They then hear a CLANGING SOUND as DARTH SHUND finally connects his ship to the larger vessel.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
(to his commandos)
Looks like it’s up to us, men. Arm yourselves.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

KYLE scans the outside of his D-12 for the Sith Spacecraft.

KYLE:
Do you see him anywhere?

DACK:
No. He must have stopped his attack and left.

RISON:
He stopped his attack but he sure didn’t leave, Captain.

DACK:
Why do you say that?

RISON:
I can still feel his presence... Near Captain Urbina’s trade ship.

A brief pause.

KYLE:
Begin your landing cycle... We’re heading back to the Hawkeye.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—BRIDGE

An OFFICER walks up to CAPTAIN URBINA.

OFFICER #2:
Sir, that unknown ship has docked with us.

URBINA:
What are those commandos doing about it?

OFFICER #2:
They blacked out the hallway lights leading to the upper docking port.

URBINA:
That oughta give them the element of surprise.
(Turns to face another officer)
Send security officers to give them support.

OFFICER #3:
Yes sir.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HALLWAY

SERGEANT DUNCAN and his COMMANDOS, wearing INFRARED SCOPES (but not yet putting it near their eyes) and armor, get into a battle pose inside the DARKENED hallway. URBINA’S SECURITY OFFICERS get into a battle position behind the COMMANDOS.

EVERYONE waits for the SITH LORD to enter the trade ship. They hear a loud HUMMING SOUND on the other side of the docking port.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
(to his commandos)
Get back... He’s setting explosives.

The COMMANDOS and SECURITY OFFICERS step backwards in response.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
Lower your scopes on my mark.
(The commandos put one hand near the infrared scopes)
Ready...

A few seconds later, the docking hatch EXPLODES. A DARK FIGURE is seen dropping into the hallway. A red-bladed lightsaber is in the DARK FIGURE’S hand.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
...Now!

The COMMANDOS quickly lower their infrared scopes onto their eyes. The SECURITY OFFICERS immediately point their weapon at the SITH LORD.

SENTRY #1:
Fire!

The SECURITY OFFICERS begin firing at the SITH LORD, with SERGEANT DUNCAN and his COMMANDOS following suit a few seconds later. DARTH SHUND advances forward against the TROOPS, using his lightsaber to deflect the laser bolts away from him.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—BRIDGE

CAPTAIN URBINA and several of his OFFICERS watch the battle on a viewing screen.

OFFICER:
Our officers won’t stand a chance against this warrior, Captain.

URBINA:
Contact the main security chief. Tell him to order his troops to back away in case that attacker gets too close to them.

OFFICER:
Yes, sir.

The OFFICER walks to a nearby comm station.

OFFICER #2:
What about those commandos?

The CAPTAIN is silent for a few seconds.

URBINA:
They’re the Sergeant’s responsibility, not mines.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HALLWAY

A COMMANDO falls backward after being hit by a laser bolt deflected by DARTH SHUND’S lightsaber. The SECURITY GUARDS and SERGEANT DUNCAN’S TROOPS slowly retreat as the SITH LORD fiercely fights back against them.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—BRIDGE

CAPTAIN URBINA and his OFFICERS continue to watch the battle on a viewing screen.

OFFICER #2:
This attacker is relentless.

CAPTAIN URBINA nods when the RADAR OFFICER calls out to him.

RADAR OFFICER:
Excuse me, Captain...

URBINA turns to face the RADAR OFFICER.

RADAR OFFICER:
...We’ve picked up something on radar.

URBINA:
(frowning as he walks up to the Radar Officer)
What is it?

RADAR OFFICER:
It looks like a fighter squadron. Six spacecraft… Heading this way.

URBINA:
(looking at the radar screen)
They’re Magistrate starfighters. Lieutenant?

OFFICER:
Yes, sir?

URBINA:
Activate the turbolasers.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HANGAR BAY—SPACE (FX)

DACK, KYLE, CORPORAL RISON, LANCER EIGHT and LANCER TEN enter the Hawkeye’s docking bay. Before they touch down, they deactivate their cloaking shields. After landing, the FIVE PILOTS quickly head for the hangar exit.

KYLE:
Can you sense where that attacker’s located?

RISON:
Sure, he’s in the upper part of the ship... Near the docking port.

The FIVE PILOTS head down a corridor towards a stairway leading to the upper part of the trade ship.

EXT. SPACE—TRADE CONVOY (FX)

A view of ZARTHAN’S squadron as it heads for URBINA’S trade convoy.

INT. MAGISTRATE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

ZARTHAN:
There it is. Arm your weapons.

WINGMAN #1:
Sir, I’m picking up nothing but five starfighters inside one of those ships.

ZARTHAN:
Let’s have a look-see.

EXT. SPACE—TRADE CONVOY (FX)

ZARTHAN’S squadron flies closer to URBINA’S trade convoy. Right when the fighters pass over the Hawkeye, a turbolaser battery pops up from its hiding place on board the trade ship and opens fire. One of the Magistrate fighters is destroyed.

INT. MAGISTRATE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

WINGMAN #1:
(Squinting from the explosion)
Why are they attacking us?

ZARTHAN:
Perhaps it’s because we didn’t properly introduce ourselves.
(Puts his finger on the trigger) Return fire!

EXT. SPACE—TRADE CONVOY (FX)

After putting their S-foils in attack position, the Magistrate fighters open fire on the trade convoy. It is the Hawkeye that is receiving the most bombardment.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—STAIRWAY

KYLE and his FOUR WINGMEN run up the stairway when the Hawkeye suddenly shakes violently.

DACK:
What was that?

KYLE:
Looks like we’ve fallen under attack.

RISON:
I sense something, Commander. There are more ships out in space.

The Hawkeye jolts once more from ZARTHAN’S attack.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HALLWAY

DARTH SHUND ceases his assault as the trade ship continues to shake violently. As the SITH LORD shuts down his lightsaber, a COMMANDO sneaks up and prepares to make a move on the ATTACKER. In response, DARTH SHUND extends one of his arms forward, using the Force to lift the COMMANDO and knock him against a wall. The SITH LORD then heads for a nearby stairway.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—STAIRWAY

KYLE continues to run up the stairway when he notices that the CORPORAL comes to a halt.

KYLE:
What’s wrong?

RISON:
(raising his hand as if to silence Kyle)
He’s heading down these stairs.

DACK:
Who is?

RISON:
Our intruder.

KYLE and his WINGMEN have an ALERT LOOK on their faces as they gaze up the stairway. The next scene is that of DARTH SHUND as he paces down the hallway and then comes to sudden halt, himself. The SITH LORD re-ignites his lightsaber.

RISON:
(a trance-like look on his face)
He took out his weapon.

KYLE:
Well then, let’s take out ours.

The FIGHTER PILOTS take out blasters from their jumpsuits. After igniting his lightsaber, DARTH SHUND begins making his way down the stairs again. KYLE and his WINGMAN have their weapons trained at the staircase in front of them when the CLOAKED WARRIOR suddenly comes into view.

RISON:
(to Kyle while staring at Darth Shund)
After a thousand years, they finally make a comeback.

KYLE looks at the CORPORAL and then back towards the SITH LORD. DARTH SHUND gets into a battle position in front of the group of PILOTS.

EXT. SPACE—TRADE CONVOY (FX)

A Magistrate fighter launches a missile at the Trade Ship Hawkeye. The projectile immediately explodes upon impact with the hull.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—STAIRWAY

With the ship shaking violently again, DARTH SHUND uses the confusion to leap over the FOUR PILOTS and land behind them. With his lightsaber already drawn, he cuts down LANCER EIGHT and TEN with a single stroke. DACK, KYLE, and JAKE open fire on the SITH LORD, but their laser bolts are effortlessly blocked with SHUND’S lightsaber.
The SITH LORD forces the THREE REMAINING PILOTS to head upstairs.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HALLWAY

SERGEANT DUNCAN and his COMMANDOS are looking for the SITH LORD when they spot KYLE and his TWO REMAINING WINGMEN emerge from the stairway. As the SERGEANT approaches them, he also spots the SITH LORD enter the hallway as well. The WARRIOR is too busy deflecting laser bolts being fired at him from the THREE PILOTS.
RISON fires two laser bolts at DARTH SHUND when the SITH LORD deflects the two beams and causes them to ricochet back to the CORPORAL. One laser bolt hits him on the side of his torso while the other hits him near his chest. RISON instantly falls to the ground.

KYLE:
Corporal!

KYLE kneels down to assess his WINGMAN’S wound.

RISON:
(grimacing)
Forget about me... Commander...

KYLE:
(attempting to drag the Corporal away from Darth Shund)
Captain, help me!

DACK helps the COMMANDER in pulling the CORPORAL away from the advancing SITH LORD.

RISON:
I’m not... going to make it... sir...

KYLE:
Don’t say that—

RISON:
If you survive... go to Coruscant... and tell the Jedi... about this Sith Lord.

KYLE:
(nods)
I promise.

RISON dies. KYLE, with an angry look on his face, stands up and backs away from the CORPORAL’S body. The SITH LORD steps over RISON’S body as he continues to approach the PILOTS and the COMMANDOS.
Reaching the corner of a wall, KYLE hides behind it for shelter, and begins firing madly at the SITH LORD. DARTH SHUND tries to deflect all the bolts coming from KYLE himself, but the laser fire overwhelms the WARRIOR... causing one of the bolts to pass by his blade and hit him on the side of his right shoulder.
The SITH LORD, wounded, uses one arm to cover the wound while using the other arm to control his lightsaber. He then leaps over the COMMANDOS and heads for the upper docking port. With one powerful jump, the SITH LORD leaps back into the docking hatch.

The COMMANDOS quickly run underneath the docking port to fire into the hatch, but the SITH LORD had already closed the airlock of his spacecraft to prevent the laser fire from getting through.

EXT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—DOCKING PORT—SPACE (FX)

The Sith Spacecraft—its cloaking shield deactivated—detaches from the Hawkeye and flies away from the convoy.

INT. MAGISTRATE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

ZARTHAN immediately spots DARTH SHUND’S spacecraft.

ZARTHAN:
There it is... Open fire!

EXT. SITH SPACECRAFT—SPACE (FX)

DARTH SHUND performs evasive maneuvers as salvos of missiles and laser bolts fly around his vehicle. A few seconds later, the Sith Spacecraft disappears into hyperspace.

INT. MAGISTRATE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT—SPACE

ZARTHAN stops firing after the SITH LORD escapes.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HALLWAY

DACK, the SENTRIES, SERGEANT DUNCAN, and his COMMANDOS gather around RISON’S body as KYLE removes the military identification tag from around RISON’S neck.

DACK:
What are we gonna do now, Commander?

KYLE:
We head back to base... and brief the General on this.

SENTRY #1:
You two are the only pilots who survived?

KYLE:
(Sighs)
Yea.
(He stands up from the Corporal’s body)
At least we did our duty. We’ve protected your convoy, and now it’s time to go home. (Turns to face Dack) Captain… Remove the tags from the other bodies.

DACK:
Yes, sir.

DACK heads down the stairway as KYLE walks past SENTRY #1.

SENTRY #1:
(while watching the two Damosse officers walk away)
What a day.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—URBINA’S QUARTER

CAPTAIN URBINA is standing in front of the hologram of DARTH VENGEANCE.

DARTH VENGEANCE:
So what’s the word on those commandos?

URBINA:
Not that many casualties, my lord... But your apprentice did kill that fighter pilot you were talking about.

DARTH VENGEANCE:
What about the other one?

URBINA:
He survived. It was actually this pilot who forced Lord Shund to make his escape from my convoy.

The CAPTAIN notices a deadly expression on the SITH LORD’S hooded face.

DARTH VENGEANCE:
No one forces a Sith Lord to escape. What’s the name of this pilot?

URBINA:
Kyle Maver’ss, my lord.

DARTH VENGEANCE:
Maver’ss. Where is he now?

URBINA:
He is heading back to Damosse. Should I force him to stay here?

DARTH VENGEANCE:
No… This may be the challenge I’ve been looking for.

URBINA:
He’s not a Jedi, though.

DARTH VENGEANCE:
He’s an exception. Let this Maver’ss go back to wherever he came from. A moving target is much more satisfying to kill than a stationary one.

URBINA:
Yes, my lord.

INT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HANGAR BAY—SPACE (FX)

KYLE and DACK are putting their belongings back onto their D-12’s while the COMMANDOS begin to board their ships. Before he enters his ship, SERGEANT DUNCAN walks over to the COMMANDER’S spacecraft.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
You know... From what we’ve been through, the General is bound to give us some time-off.

KYLE:
He better. There’s no other time I can go to Coruscant.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
(frowning)
Why are you going to Coruscant?

KYLE:
To talk to the Jedi Council. Jake wanted me to inform them that a Sith Lord was behind this attack.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
So there’s no time for mourning the loss of your other wingmen, hah?

KYLE pauses in what he is doing.

KYLE:
I’m keeping a promise I gave to the Corporal before he died. If I had to make a promise to Janson or my other wingmen... I would’ve tried to keep those, too.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
I guess so. Well, we have to be back at the base within four hours... So I don’t know about you but I’m leaving.

KYLE:
Okay. Have a safe trip back, Sergeant.

SERGEANT:
You too, Commander.

The SERGEANT nods and heads back to the Commando Ship. DACK walks over to the COMMANDER’S fighter a few seconds later.

DACK:
I’m done packing my stuff. You all set?

KYLE:
(Sighs)
I sure am. Let’s head back home.

DACK nods as he walks back to his fighter. KYLE then steps into the cockpit of his. Putting his helmet on, the COMMANDER begins to power up his spacecraft.

EXT. TRADE SHIP HAWKEYE—HANGAR BAY—SPACE (FX)

A shot of the Commando Ships and the TWO REMAINING D-12’s as they exit from the Hawkeye’s docking bay. The strike team then makes its way back to Damosse.

EXT. MAGISTRATE SPACE DOCK—SPACE (FX)

A view of the Main Dock as ship activity takes place around its perimeters.

INT. MAIN DOCK—ZYRA’S QUARTERS

ZYRA is looking outside his cabin window when the videocom built into his table beeps. ZYRA walks to the table to switch on the screen. It is the Main Dock COMMANDER.

COMMANDER:
Sir, we’re getting a coded transmission from Rondalla. Should I forward it?

ZYRA:
Yes... Do that, Commander.

The GENERAL hears a beeping sound as the COMMANDER sends the transmission over to ZYRA’S CABIN.

ZYRA:
This is General Zyra speaking.

It is ABRAS-KLAHR, the ZABRAK SPY.

KLAHR:
General, this is Klahr. I just wanted to tell you I got the item you’re looking for.

ZYRA:
Excellent, excellent. I see the plan worked, then.

KLAHR:
It did. Without Zarthan’s presence I was able to tap into the main computer without difficulty. They only had one security guard watching over the place.

ZYRA:
A major mistake on their part. You did a job well done, Klahr… So where’s this cloning facility located?

KLAHR:
In the Exxol System. The assassins should reach that planet within a few days.

ZYRA:
(a sinister smile on his face)
Good.

KLAHR:
When do you want to leave?

ZYRA:
Right away. Every minute we save can be used to make Dark Intrigue even more satisfying to our interests. We’ll meet at the Command Base near Turkana.

KLAHR:
Very well, then… I’ll talk to you later.

ZYRA nods as the videocom goes blank. The GENERAL then presses a button to switch on the intercom speaker that’s also built into his table.

COMMANDER:
Yes, sir?

ZYRA:
Commander, prepare my transport. I need to make an errand.

EXT. STARFIGHTER SQUADRON—SPACE (FX)

A view of ZARTHAN’S squadron as it cruises in deep space.

INT. MAGISTRATE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT

ZARTHAN looks at the BARON’S hologram on his flight console.

BARON:
So you’ve located that Sith Lord?

ZARTHAN:
I did, Your Highness. Unfortunately, he escaped.

BARON:
That’s okay. The head of that trade convoy can tell us his whereabouts.

ZARTHAN:
That captain destroyed one of my wingmen. Such a deed warrants death on his part.

BARON:
You can kill him once we do away with that Sith Lord. In the meantime, return to those trade ships and conduct an interrogation. Understood?

ZARTHAN:
Yes, Your Highness.

BARON:
I will be expecting a report later on.

The BARON’S hologram disappears.

ZARTHAN:
(pressing a button to re-establish contact with his wingmen)
Change course, squadron… We’re heading back to that convoy.

EXT. STRIKE TEAM—SPACE (FX)

A view of the Commando Ships and the two D-12’s as they head back to the greenish world of Damosse.

INT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER—COCKPIT

GROUND CONTROLLERS at the Damosse starfighter base contact MAVER’SS via comlink.

GROUND CONTROL:
Lancer One, this is Ground Control. You have been cleared to land.

KYLE:
Roger that, Ground Control.
(Ground Control then signs off; Kyle makes a sigh afterwards)
Home, sweet home.

EXT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER BASE—DAY (FX)

A shot of the Strike Team as it touches down on the concrete landing pad in the base.

EXT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER BASE—LANDING PAD—DAY

GENERAL WILKES, MAJOR BRYCE and several of the GENERAL’S ASSISTANTS walk over to the Commando Ships and D-12’s. SERGEANT DUNCAN, his TROOPS, KYLE, and DACK are still unpacking their supplies.

WILKES:
Welcome back, officers... I’m sorry about what happened during the mission.

SERGEANT DUNCAN:
It’s okay, General. None of us were expecting it would turn out the way it did.

The GENERAL turns to face KYLE.

WILKES:
What about you, Commander? You all right?

KYLE: Yea... I’m okay. I sure can’t wait to get that time-off, though.

WILKES:
You deserve it. I apologize that your squadron sustained heavy casualties.

KYLE:
(nods)
Well, at least we stopped that attacker from hitting the convoy itself... Even though we don’t know if he’s gonna return or not.

BRYCE:
That’s out of our hands now. Those trade ships are no longer in our territory... So it’s up to another system to do something about it.

DACK:
Let’s hope they have better luck than we did.

EXT. DAMOSSE STARFIGHTER BASE—VIEWPOINT—EVENING

KYLE is on a hill staring down at the starfighter base when JANNA walks up behind him.

JANNA:
Hey, Kyle.

KYLE turns around and smiles. He then walks up to his WIFE to hug and kiss her.

KYLE:
Hi, Janna... I didn’t expect to see you so soon.

JANNA:
I didn’t expect to see you so soon, either.
(She touches Kyle’s cheek)
Are you okay?

KYLE:
(nods)
Yeah, I’m just a little shaken up. Where’s Edron?

JANNA:
My parents came over to our house. They’re taking care of him.

KYLE:
Good.
(Sighs)
Well, the memorial is starting in an hour... I think we better get going.

KYLE grabs a hold of JANNA’S hand as they both walk down the hill. JANNA is looking at her HUSBAND’S face this whole time.

JANNA:
So are you off-duty after this? Don’t tell me the General has more things for you to do.

KYLE:
Don’t worry, I don’t... You’ll be pleased to know that we are gonna be traveling to Coruscant for our little trip.

JANNA:
Why?

KYLE:
(He puts his arm around Janna’s shoulder)
I’ll tell you about it later on.

JANNA:
(smiles)
I can’t wait.

KYLE smiles back at his WIFE. In the next shot, the CAMERA IS BEHIND the COUPLE as they continue to make their way down the hill.

EXT. FIGHTER BASE MEMORIAL GROUNDS—BEACH SHORE—NIGHT

The GENERAL, KYLE, JANNA, DACK, SERGEANT DUNCAN, and OTHER OFFICERS gather around a pit in the ground. ONE OF THE OFFICERS throws the identification tags of the PILOTS of Lancer Squadron (who were killed in action) as well as that of the FALLEN COMMANDOS into the opening.
GENERAL WILKES steps forward to give a few words.

WILKES:
Well… Most of the time I’d give long speeches just to make a point. But right now, I’m a man of few words. All I can say is... These troops did not die in vain. They performed what was asked of them in their mission, and they carried it out honorably.

A shot of JANNA as she turns to look at KYLE.

WILKES:
If any of you want to pay your respects... You may do it now.

KYLE stands where he is for a few seconds. He then walks forward. JANNA watches him as he does so.

KYLE:
I came here to express gratitude for those who perished doing their job. Just like what the General said, they performed their mission honorably. We will never be able to thank them enough for that.

The GENERAL listens with an intent look on his face.

KYLE:
If it wasn’t for one of my wingmen in particular, we wouldn’t have known what we were up against in this mission.

DACK frowns as he continues to listen to KYLE’S eulogy.

KYLE:
I made a promise to that wingmen before he died... that what he did for my squadron...warning us of a threat that would have killed my entire squadron...wasn’t going to be for nothing. I’m going to keep that promise.

KYLE steps back to where he was standing earlier.

WILKES:
Is there anyone else who wants to pay respect?

EVERYONE remains silent as they are in a contemplative mood. The GENERAL turns to summon an OFFICER carrying a TORCH.

WILKES:
Captain...

The CAPTAIN steps forward to LIGHT the pit with the flame of his torch. Everyone watches as the tags of the DECEASED PILOTS and COMMANDOS are engulfed in the inferno.
While KYLE is staring at the fire, JANNA turns to look at him.

JANNA:
(in a low voice)
So is this why we’re going to Coruscant? You made a promise to one of your wingman?

KYLE:
(smiles as he rest a hand on one of her shoulders)
Are you against it, sweetheart?

JANNA:
No… I think it’s noble of you.

KYLE smiles once more at his wife. The TWO then look on as the flame continues to burn inside the pit.

INT. MAVER’SS HOMESTEAD—MAIN BEDROOM—DAY

JANNA and KYLE are packing their belongings for the Coruscant trip.

KYLE:
You almost set, honey?

JANNA:
Pretty much... I’m still packing Edron’s stuff.

KYLE:
(smiles)
That’s good.

BOTH of them are still packing when JANNA’S MOM walks into the room with a comlink in her hand.

JANNA’S MOM:
Excuse me, Kyle... You have a call.

KYLE walks up to JANNA’S MOM to get the comlink.

KYLE:
Thank you, Mom.
(Speaking into the comlink)
Maver’ss speaking.

It is DACK. He is at the Starfighter Base.

DACK:
Kyle, this is Dack. Are you and Janna done packing?

KYLE:
We’re almost done. Why?

DACK:
Just wondering. So you’re really going to the Jedi Temple, hah?

CLICK ON SCRIPT4 TO CONTINUE