DRAFT
“The Last Garrison”
By James E. Egner II
This is a fan film
based in the Star Wars
universe. The film take place just after the events of “The Return of the
Jedi” just as the Empire is falling apart.
These events transpire around a small 25 man stormtrooper unit stationed on a forgotten
base on planet Agon III, used for supplies and fuel for the Imperial Star
Fleet. This base is old, and in need of repair. Much of its fortress structure is
suffering from the high corrosion of the watery world. Since most of the Imperial forces were
moved to fight the Rebels at Endor, Agon and its base have become isolated and
vulnerable to frequent attacks by Rebel forces.
The leader of the
Stormtroopers, a veteran of many conflicts is only know by his Stormtrooper ID code: TK560. He holds the rank of Sergeant, has been a
trooper most of his adult life and has been in many battles. TK560 has done a
lot of things in the name of the Emperor that he is not proud of, but has a
sense of honesty, decency, and loyalty. He does not question orders, but he
does sometimes question the ones
giving them. He was on assignment
to Mos Eisley, and was helpless to stop the Millennium Falcon from escaping. He considers this current
guard detail as a sort of disciplinary action for not catching the Pirate Han
Solo, and his treacherous cargo.
His bone white armor
is damaged from his many battles. His helmet has moss and algae from Argon’s
damp climate, as does most of the old soldiers under TK560’s command. He
carries the standard weapon of the Imperial ground forces the E-11 blaster. His unique identifying feature is the many
dents and dings in the armor, and his belt has a few bluish/gray boxes instead of
the all white ones. In addition his knee armor has been modified, and he sports
a waterproof camouflage cloak when the weather gets bad. TK560 has some special
talents, he holds a medic rating, and is an improvised munitions expert. This
is important to show, later on in the film. We know nothing about his facial
features, or if he is one of the “new clones”.
The second in
command is another Trooper called TK091. His ID is very low, which means he has been a trooper longer
than TK560, and plays the part of the old wise but grizzled Corporal. He is
TK560’s confidant and council. They are best friends that have seen many
battles. His inability to rise higher than Corporal in rank is due to a fight
with an officer over an order to kill some unarmed civilians in his youth. His
record is spotless, but he dislikes officers. His armor shows a lot of evidence
of “close calls” and his chest armor has a serious blaster hole in it. His
black body glove is faded and brown. He has a problem with his right shoulder bell,
and he takes it off from time to time. This is considered a serious offense,
but TK560 understands why he does it, and allows this behavior to continue. He
has a good trusting nature about him.
TK883 Is a younger version of TK560. He respects
TK560 and TK091. His armor is really dirt and muddy. He spends a lot of time
underwater. His armor shows it. He carries a larger heavy blaster The DLT-19. He has a sense of humor. TK560 likes him,
but is sometimes put off by his jokes, and pranks. He and TK091 respect each
other but don’t always get along. The two hold the same rank of Corporal. TK883
wears a backpack that contains among other things, mines, grenades, and extra
ammo/parts for the big gun. He likes the Agon III climate. He also sports a DL-44 blaster. This relic from a previous
conflict, he claims to have “picked it off a dead Rebel” He hopes to someday
become an officer. He is high spirited, and not yet jaded by the battered life
of trooper.
Trooper TK1863 is one of the “hot shot” young troopers that
yearns for combat. He is a reinforcement for the station. His armor is neat and
clean. TK560 and the other “dirty” troopers call him “HiNos” short for “High
numbers” A derogatory slang for a new recruit. He tows the party line, and is
the poster-boy for Imperial propaganda.
Trooper TK1911 is one of the “hot shot” young troopers that
yearns for combat. He is a reinforcement for the station. His armor is neat and
clean. TK560 and the other “dirty” troopers call him “HiNos” For “High numbers”
A derogatory slang for new recruit.
There are other
almost nameless “fodder” troopers that we get to kill off during the film, but
these five are the main characters in the story.
On the Rebel side,
there aren’t really any characters to fall in love with. In this film, we are
seeing the Star Wars
conflict from the jaded eyes of the Stormtrooper. The Rebels are the
enemy. This is a story of sympathy
for the stromtrooper.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Supply
Station on Agon III is exposed and vulnerable to attack from the
Rebel Alliance. The Empire knows this. The Emperor however recalled most of the
forces to Endor, and left only a skeleton crew to guard the vast outreaches of
the Empire. Agon III is on the Outer Rim, and is a frequent target of Rebel
raids. Until now it has been fairly well guarded and defended. The tide of the Galactic
Civil War has turned against
the Empire.
The last supply
carrier left the spaceport some months ago. Rumors claim the Imperial
Fleet was all but destroyed at Endor.
No official confirmation was ever sent to Agon III. Our group of
troopers contends the war is still on, and with the last batch of new recruits
eager to fight, this small band of troopers will defend the Station until the
last man.
Many adventures
await the stormtroopers. The setting is close to the shoreline of a great
inland sea. Home of the diagona ‘trash compactor monster’, and here the diagona
are large and numerous. Many souls have been lost to these monsters. The
Stormtroopers get attacked from time to time and this makes entry into the
water, very dangerous.
The station is old.
The jungle has overtaken most of it. Only the parts of the station that are
high on the cliffs escape from the encroaching jungle. The structures are
mostly stone and concrete, with some rusting metal shown.
The Rebels have
managed to land a transport ship, and an unknown number of Rebel Fleet Troopers
have arrived. They are organized, and methodical. In a previous battle, the
Rebels have managed to push the troopers back to the cliffs.
The Rebels are
supported by a small squadron of X-wing fighters. These snub-fighters have
proven helpful to the Rebels in scraffing ground targets, and recon. Some of
these fighters have been disabled on the ground, but still, several remain a threat
from the sky.
Lost in the vast
partially flooded ruins of the station, are relics from previous Imperial
arsenals. Rusting away we see proto-scout walkers, troop carries, and other
ships and vehicles that can be recognized from the prequels. None are in
working order. All are entombed in the underground semi-flooded vaults of the
station.
Rumor has it, the
body of a slain Jedi can be seen trapped in one of these vaults.
Much like the
Mothman Air Force Base, better known as the ‘airplane graveyard’, this station
really only serves as a reminder of the past.
There are many secret
surrounding the Station. Rumors claim the Empire has, in its possession, an
ultimate “revenge weapon” and it has been hidden away in this remote base. None
of the surviving leadership knows the truth. The Rebels too have heard this
rumor. If true, both the Empire and the Rebel Alliance would want this for
themselves.
As a supply and
fueling station for the Imperial Star Fleet, this station represents a sort of
last in a long supply line. The Rebels need the station as much as the Empire.
A grave secret is
know by the stormtroopers. The station is all but empty of any relevant needed
supplies or fuel. What is left is unknown.
END Back story
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Opening Scene:
Title Scroll:
STAR WARS
“The Last Garrison”
The Galactic Civil War is over. The Rebel
Alliance has won. The surviving Imperial forces are scattered throughout the
galaxy in a futile effort to regroup.
On a remote planet a small Imperial
Garrison wait for reinforcements with order to hold the supply base and keep it
from falling into the hands of the Rebellion…
[storyboard]
Camera pans down
through the stars to a distant planet; a watery world, much like our own. We
hear the engine roar of a ship, and the familiar triangle of the underside of a
Star Destroyer fly’s overhead.
[storyboard]
But something is not
right. There are terrible impact craters and blaster marks on the ship. As it
slowly passes the camera, we seen the back end of the ship. The 3 main engines
are usually seen glowing bright, but we see one working, one flickering, and
one completely out.
[storyboard]
It is obvious this
ship has seen a lot of action.
The bridge is in
near chaos. Crewmen are seen feverously working to keep the ship flying.
[storyboard]
The Star Destroyer
captain, like the German U-boat commander from the movie Das-Boot, is busy
giving orders, and keeping everything organized. Broken pipes and debris litter
the bridge, there are many walking wounded. Lots of activity, and everyone is
busy.
In the
communications section, we see a communications operator trying to maintain a
holographic broadcast with someone at the planet’s base. The signal is weak
with lots of distortion.
[storyboard]
Communications Operator:
“…Say again, your transmission is being
jammed.”
Hologram:
“I repeat… We need reinforcements. Unknown
number of Rebels are now attacking the base. Our troop strength is down to 25…”
The captain
approaches the radio transmission and is concerned about what is being said.
Captain:
“What is the status of the supply base?”
Hologram:
“A Rebel transport landed a few hours ago… five
Hundreds, maybe a thousand or so men...
Mostly infantry, with a squadron of X-wings. We managed to take a few of them
out along with the transport, but… We are out manned 50 to one.
The transmission
fades almost away, and we can see the trooper firing his weapon. [storyboard]
The signal is really
bad.
Captain:
“We are 21 hours away, and will send a shuttle as soon as we can launch from our hangar bay. Hold your position, we will pick you up.” Under his breath, as if speaking to himself, “I just hope we’re not too late.”
Cut to:
Star filled space,
and a ‘beauty pass’ of the crippled star ship. We can see the planet in the distance, and pauses. [storyboard]
Fade:
Scene: Planet
Surface
The camera pans
across a jungle landscape. Ruins can be seen in the distance. The sounds of the
jungle are heard. [storyboard]
The camera pans down
into the jungle. We see smoke. We hear the sounds of war.
[storyboard]
On a cliff, we see
movement. 2 Stormtrooper are battling their way across a platform. One trooper
get hit and goes down. The other trooper looks at his fallen comrade. Laser bolts
flash by, and this trooper falls back. It’s the same trooper we saw in the
hologram. Smoke is heavy. Then an explosion, and the roar of an X-wing can be
heard. [storyboard]
Fade:
Scene: Big gun,
and character intros
The camera pans up
from low to the ground, moving across a battlefield. Littered with debris, abandoned
weapons and the bodies of the dead. Explosions can be heard. The ground is
scorched. Smoke fills the air. In a makeshift foxhole, several troopers are
laying in the muddy soil. One pokes his head up and scans the tree line with
his electro-binoculars. He sees movement. A few bolts from an off screen
shooter blaze over his head.
[storyboard]
TK091:
“Keep that head down, mister!”
Tk560:
“Looks like we have some more moving in on
us.”
TK091:
“Can ya tell how many?”
TK560:
“Not sure, maybe a hundred.” He fastens his
electro-binoculars to his belt.
“Maybe more.”
The situation is
dire as the troopers look around for the enemy. These troopers are dirty,
bloodied, and tired.
EDIT: We need to add some human interest to the characters here. Under consideration, is, the old TK091 complains about his shoulder, and messes with that section of armor. A comment regarding his age by TK560, and together they laugh.
From off screen, we
hear some movement. TK560 and TK091 aim their weapons, ready to blast whoever,
or whatever it might be…
[storyboard]
TK883:
“Don’t shoot! Its just me.” He slides into
the foxhole.
Transport is on it’s way. 21 hours at least.
Do you think these Rebels will try another attack, Sergeant?”
TK883 readies his
heavy DL-19 blaster. He is the trooper we saw earlier sending the message.
The veteran troops
look at one another then to the new trooper, and nods.
TK560:
“Where is your partner?”
TK883:
“He didn’t make it.” Spoken in a sad tone.
The troopers say
nothing more. But the looks they give one another tells the story. The loss of
this trooper can be felt and seen. Together this tiny 4 man group was close
nit, and had seen many campaigns together. Now, the loss of this unnamed
soldier hits the veterans hard. If nothing else, his death strengthens the
fighting resolve of the others.
Time passes. We see
the troopers moving about in the muddy foxhole. Laser blasts fly over head from
time to time.
The laser bolts
stop. The troopers, like instinct in some predators, take up defensive
positions in the foxhole. [storyboard]
TK560 presses a
series of buttons on his electro-binoculars. He then holds it up over his head
and points it towards the source of the laser bolts. In a sort of hand-held
video-camera move he scans the shoreline for the enemy by remote. A sort of poor-mans periscope.
[storyboard]
After looking at the
shoreline footage, TK560 turns to TK883…
TK560:
“Get that big gun ready.” He then looks at
TK091
“They’re on the move.”
Suddenly the three
troopers stand up and begin to lay down some serious firepower. The smaller
E-11 blaster that TK560 and TK091 carry are fierce, but nothing like the sight
of the big DL-19. TK883, holding that big gun at his hip begins to blast away,
on full automatic. [Think scene from Predator with the mini-gun] A near constant stream of
firepower flows from that big gun. After a few seconds. The returning fire
ceases. The three survey their handy work. Satisfied they thwarted the Rebel
advance, they slip back into the foxhole. [storyboard]
TK091:
“You really opened that thing up!”
TK883:
“I removed the plasma limiter.”
TK091:
“You did what?!”
Bitterly, TK091 takes the DL-19 from TK883’s hand. He begins to examine the modified weapon.
TK091:
“Its not designed to deliver that much energy.
You’ll burn the motivator…” he says angerly.
TK560:
“Its ok. I approved the adjustments. We might
need the extra firepower.” He pauses to scan the tree line. “I think those
Rebel scum will think twice before hitting us again!”
Darkness falls. The
sounds of the water world begin to resonate. Strange creatures making strange
sounds. Something plops in the water. Hiss and screeches of all forms of life
begin to sound. The surface of the water is glass smooth. [storyboard]
The camera pans from
a low angle across the water. Just then some bubbles break the surface.
[storyboard]
In a slow deliberate
motion three bone white armored figures slowly rise from the murky water.
[think special forces Vietnam or the nazi-zombies for Shock Waves] Holding their weapons drawn, ready to fire.
[storyboard]
The three figures
make their way down the shoreline, to the foxhole. Stealth and silent. These
troopers are the new recruits returning from a recon mission.
[storyboard]
In the moonlight,
TK1863: softly speaks.
TK1863:
“We have a report, Sergeant.”
TK560: is studying
something on a hand scanner. He slowly acknowledges the troopers. Finally he
quietly speaks.
TK560:
“Go ahead, HiNo. Report.” [storyboard]
TK1863:
“The communication tower is gone. Looks like
we managed to ground 4 of their ship, 3 X-wing class fighters, and their
transport… but they still have 3 fighters, and a fair amount of small arms
support. I think the bas…”
TK560: Lowers the
scanning device, turns to TK1863 and asks
TK560:
“What do you mean, gone?”
TK1863:
“You know that big explosion we heard right after
they attacked? Well, that must have been the communication tower. The tower is
no longer there, sir. Its just gone.”
TK1911:
“We’re not calling anyone for back-up. Are
we? Sergeant.” Spoken in a defeated tone.
TK560:
“No backup to call. How many men do we have
left ‘oh-nine-one’?
He has confidence in
his voice, even though it’s a show for the new recruits.
TK091:
“18 troopers scattered in 4 locations.
TK1243, and TK1519 are MIA, and believed dead. Their bio-readouts are not
responding. One of those creatures, maybe.”
Almost speaking to
himself:
TK560:
“18 men.”
The desperate
situation begins to sink in on the troopers. Standing, he affixes his data scanner to his belt, and
turning to TK091
TK560:
“Corporal, assemble the men.” [storyboard]
Daylight. A
beautiful clear blue sky. We can
hear a sonic boom. Something is breaking the sound barrier. It gets closer. Two
of our troopers are on guard duty, scanning the sky. Could it be the Imperial
shuttle?
[storyboard]
Just then an
explosion! Dirt and debris falls into the
reinforced bunker. The roar of an X-wing can be heard. Circling.
[storyboard]
TK883:
“He’s comin’ ‘round for another pass!”
Tk091:
“Don’shoot. Make him think we’re out of
firepower.” Get ‘em to come in nice and low…” [storyboard]
The X-wing makes a
second pass. This time really blasting the bunker, and the surrounding areas.
Trees fall, smoke fills the air. The ground shakes. [storyboard]
TK091:
“Hold your fire.”
The X-wing makes a
third pass. This time, tree top level.
TK091:
“Ok, get ‘em!”
The two troopers
open up fire on the X-wing. Several more troopers arrive and start shooting at
the X-wing too. The pilot tries to avoid the incoming barrage. He banks hard. [storyboard]
TK889 moves out of
the bunker into an open field, to get a better shot at the X-wing. He is joined
bt TK091. As the fighter flies directly overhead, [storyboard] they blast the underside of the X-wing.
Shattering the armor, and blowing out the port side engines. Smoke begins to
bellow from the damaged engines.
[storyboard]
Fuel begins to burn.
The back of the fighter is on fire. The X-wing is going down. The pilot tries
to land the fighter and the X-wing disappears over the tree line.
[storyboard]
A crash, and a small explosion can be heard. Then, a plume of
smoke in the distance some 500 meters.
[storyboard]
TK091:
“Good shot. Now, take 2 men and make sure
he’s dead.”
Out of breath, and
scared, the trooper pauses. He is safe from the monster.
TK883:
“We lost Tk1911, and TK… oh, the new guy.”
We hear static. The
comm. system must have been out of range or damaged.
TK883:
“Sergeant, do you hear me?”
More static. He taps
the ear of his helmet.
The trooper looks
around, trying to get a sense of where he is, and where he just came from. His
motions tell us he considers heading back to the base camp. He is about to
start back when he notices some metal laying on the ground. It is part of the
X-wing.
[storyboard]
He decides to stay
and look for the pilot.
Reverse viewpoint,
as seen from the pilot’s POV. We see the trooper in the distance, searching. The
Camera zooming out, we see the familiar profile of an X-wing pilot lurking in
the shadows of a large tree. The trooper is heading his way. The pilot move out
of frame, and we are left with the trooper approaching.
[storyboard]
As the trooper makes
his way through the jungle, we see the remains of a trail. A long forgotten
network of roads that connected the different parts of the base together. The
jungle had overgrown most of it, but here and there, some remainants that
proved civilization had been here. [storyboard]
The trooper draws
near. The X-wing pilot, is pretty banged up from his crash. Mixed in with the
foliage, we see parts of his ship. The canopy. Part of a wing. Some smoldering
metal parts that must have been part of an engine. Smoke from a fire set from
the burning fuel can be seen in the distance. [storyboard]
The X-wing pilot
reaches for his blaster. His holster is empty. The blaster is lost. A look of
desperation comes over his face. He then begins to look around for a weapon to
use against his armored foe. He finds a metal piece of conduit. He can use it
as a club.
[storyboard]
The trooper is
looking at the debris, searching for the body of a dead X-wing pilot, not
really expecting a live one. [storyboard]
From out of camera,
the X-wing pilot attacks! The trooper deflects his blows. A hand-to-hand combat
is on.
[storyboard]
The X-wing pilot’s
orange jumpsuit is torn, missing a sleeve and a glove. A series of advances, swings,
and a few good hits on that trooper body armor, and it looks like the X-wing
pilot just might win.
[storyboard]
The trooper is
deflecting the hits, and finally catches the metal club.
[storyboard]
The pilot punches
the trooper in the armor chest. Ouch! [storyboard]
The trooper stands
there, and punches the pilot in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.
[storyboard]
Now it’s time for
the pilot to take a beating. He scrambles, and falls to the ground with each
strike. The pilot begins to retreat.
[storyboard]
The pilot makes his
way down the path, and across a foot bridge. The trooper takes his thermal
detonator off his belt, sets a timer on its control pad, and lobs it like a
hand grenade.
[storyboard]
As the pilot is
running away, a fierce fireball explodes sending debris, and knocking the
trooper to the ground. No sign of the X-wing pilot.
[storyboard]
The remaining
troopers are hold up in a makeshift bunker. This bunker leads down to the
water’s edge. In front, there is a massive open field, and is the setting for
the final assault.
[storyboard]
From an overhead POV
we can see the defenses, and in the distance, the rebel troopers are massing.
[storyboard]
The fireball that
was TK883’s thermal detonator can be seen.
[storyboard]
Did Tk883 make it?
Yes! This cat has nine lives.
Fade to black.
Scene: The
flooded vaults
EDIT: [This is still in the early stages of development]
Out numbered, and out gunned, TK560 decides to lead a few of his troops into a hidden passageway to the storage vaults. To try and find any weapons that might prove useful. Many of these massive vaults are flooded, and the supplies are ruined.
As the
troopers creep into the damp, mossy darkness, you get the sense that the vaults
are mazes. The troopers pass some vintage relics from the Prequels. The AT-ST
scout walkers, and some other equipment, sinking and rusting away in these
underground tombs.
The cooridors
are lit only by the faintest green light. Troopers can see in the dark. The
mood is dark, like that of a giant cave. In the vaults, the troopers meet a
small recon party of Rebels. They are raiding something. We don’t know what.
A firefight
ensues. Lots of dodging fire, blasting and jumping with guns. None of the
Rebels survive, and one trooper is injured. The group makes it back, with some
bad intel. The Fuel is gone. The supplies are wasted. TK560 orders none of them
to reveal this information.
[most of this
will have to be shot with a matte painting, and filmed in the dark]
A strange calm comes
over the moonlit watery planets creatures. Tk883 awakens his leader.
TK883:
“Sir, we have all the men here.” He whispers.
TK560 follows his
subordinate down to the water’s edge. There in a cove near a fallen tree he sees
his puny band of Imperial Troopers. Beyond is a dense jungle, and on the other
side, a field. Big enough to land a shuttle. This is the evacuation point.
[storyboard]
TK560:
“Men. We have a problem. We are a fighting
force of 13. The Rebels now have…” he pauses to look at the scanning device. “…
well, let’s say in the thousands.” TK560 hands the scanner to TK091. [storyboard]
The troopers look at
each other in unsure what to do.
TK560:
“A Shuttle is on it’s way, but we will have
to hold this position long enough for them to get.”
He pauses. This
group is pretty raggedy looking. Well armed, and all with combat experience. He
wonders how many will make it to the shuttle. Holding the data scanner up…
TK560:
“Information on this data scanner will help the fleet. We have to get this back to the Imperial command.” [storyboard]
TK560:
“Short range communication is still works,
but calling the ship without a comm. tower means they will have to find us.”
He pauses. Collects
his thoughts and continues.
TK560:
“This is going to be a hard fight. 40 to one.
Not very good odds. So, we have a choice. We can surrender, and hope they don’t
shoot us for just being Imperial Stormtroopers.”
The group of
troopers, like an angry mob, declares not to give up.
[storyboard]
Tk560:
“We could fall back into the jungle, and run
away and hide.”
Again the troopers
respond like an angry mob. Declare
to never run away!
TK560:
“…or we could stand and fight; and take as
many of those Rebel scum with us as we can.”
The mood of the
troopers is uplifted with the defiant stand. Yes the troopers declare we will
fight to the last breath. [storyboard]
TK560:
“Well, alright then. Men, this is what we’re
going to do…”
EDIT: Still in
the works.
The final battle begins much like what we
saw in Battan!. As a look out is watching the tree line for enemy movement, we
see the bushes move closer.
A fierce
battle rages. The troopers are holding their own against the massive Rebel
ground forces. There is a lot of smoke, explosions, and the air is thick with
laser bolts. Some troopers get hit and die. Some are only wounded. Tk091 get
shot in the leg and in the shoulder. But he still fights.
The troopers
had a plan, use the thermal detonators to be exploded by remote control. And
they planted them in different locations. A sort of picket line. As the enemy
moved across the lines, they are blown.
The action is tense, and bodies mount up. The Rebel Fleet Troopers are mowed down carnage is everywhere. The landscape looks less like the jungle planet, and more like the surface of the moon.
Smoke fills the air,
and for a moment; the battle seems won! Incoming laser bolts stop. The Rebels
are no where to be seen. TK560 still has 9 men fighting! TK560 takes his
electro-binoculars off his belt and surveys the battlefield. Hoards of dead Rebels
can been seen. Something catches his eye. Straining to see what it is, he
stands up just a bit. Too much…
POV from a hidden
Rebel sniper, taking aim at TK560. [storyboard]
A laser bolt hits
TK560 in the abdomen.
[storyboard]
The wound is pretty bad.
He is bleeding. He falls back into the foxhole holding his side..
TK091 and TK883 rush
to his aid. There is little that can be done.
[storyboard]
TK560 tells them
another wave is moving in. To get ready.
Then, a cackle from
the comm.. system.
Shuttle pilot flying
the shuttle. The shuttle has been busy fighting with the remaining X-wings, but
is going to attempt a landing.
TK560 realizes there
is hope to save some of his men and orders Tk883 to take the remaining
troopers, and to fall back to the shuttle.
The injured TK091
and TK560 will stay behind.
TK560 orders Tk883
to take the data recorder, and with order to get this to the ship commander.
[storyboard]
TK883 wants to stay
and fight, and for the first time considers disobeying orders in an effort to
save the lives of his friends. After some heated words, and a pep-talk from the
injured Tk560, Tk560 turns command of the remaining men over to him.
[storyboard]
TK560:
“Get these boys to safety… Don’t worry about
us. Get the scanner back to Fleet, and save yourself. We aren’t mobile. We’ll
just slow you down. We’re done for.”
TK883 takes the bloody data scanner, give
TK560 his big gun, and orders the remaining men to fall back to the field where
the shuttle will land. It’s going to be a running fight all the way back to the
shuttle if they don’t leave now. Tk883 turns and leaves. Knowing this is the
last time he will see his friends.
[storyboard]
We see the two
mortally wounded soldiers, preparing for the next wave of attacks. They watch
as TK883 leaves them behind.
Suddenly the air is
full of laser bolts, and the Rebels mount their final assault. The battle
rages. TK560 and Tk091 fight with valor.
[storyboard]
Leaning on dead bodies,
unable to stand, TK091, with blasters in both hands, blast away at the
approaching army. [storyboard]
The air is thick
with laser bolts, and Tk091 is hit again. He is still fighting.
[storyboard]
He is hit again. And
again, and again. He is dead. [storyboard]
Meanwhile TK560 is
firing the big DL-19 heavy blaster on full auto.
[storyboard]
The blood from his
wound runs down his side.
[storyboard]
Laser bolts fill the
air. He gets hit in the thigh. And fall to his knees.
[storyboard]
And tries to stand
on his good leg. His gun is still blazing. The enemy approaches.
[storyboard]
Cut to TK883 making
his way through the jungle to the landing field. The sounds of war can be heard
in the air. [storyboard]
TK883:
“Com’on! You can do it.”
One of the other
soldiers says, the sergeant is really giving them hell.
[storyboard]
Suddenly, just when
you think TK560 is invincible. The gun sounds stop. The jungle is quiet. The
group pause. [storyboard]
One of the men wants
to go back. TK883 stops him. Tells him these are their orders. The group head
into the jungle towards the ship.
Fade to black.
From the clear blue
sky a familiar looking shuttle makes it’s way to the landing field. It’s wings
fold up, and it settles to the ground.
[storyboard]
The rear ramp opens.
And two shuttle crew members disembark with weapons drawn.
[storyboard]
POV over the
crewmember’s shoulder, he can see the tree line, a few hundred yards away, the
sound of war can be heard. A few laser bolts make its way through the tree and
strike the field.
[storyboard]
Some troopers are
seen moving from the trees. Two are carrying third one; an arm around each shoulder dragging his bleeding
leg.
[storyboard]
They make their way
to the shuttle. The sounds of blasters in the jungle and smoke can be seen.
Finally, a figure with is back to the shuttle emerges from the trees and smoke,
firing into the jungle with reckless abandonment.
[storyboard]
It is TK883. His
armor has a few more blaster marks on it since the last time we saw him. His
armor and backpack are really dirty . His bicep had been hit and was bleeding.
He is the last one
to make it to the shuttle.
[storyboard]
Crewmember:
“Where here to EVAC the garrison.” He yells
over the roar of the idle engines. “Where are the rest…” [storyboard]
TK883, sitting down
on the shuttle’s bench seat.
[storyboard]
TK883:
“We’re all that’s left.”
The crewmembers face
says it all. He was expecting to pick up a couple dozen men. Not four.
[storyboard]
The shuttle takes
off. It’s a bumpy ride. The shuttle is shot at from the ground.
[storyboard]
TK883 looks back to
the ground where his friends were. A solitary look.
[storyboard]
Fade to black.
Scene: On the
Star Destroyer
The shuttle arrives
in the hangar of the Star Destroyer. [storyboard]
Many workmen can be seen rigging
repairs. The injured trooper is removed from the shuttle on a medical gurney,
as the raggedy survivors make their way across the hangar. [storyboard]
Past some shiny
clean stormtroopers. They exchange looks, but say nothing.
[storyboard]
TK883 destination,
the bridge. He has important information for the captain.
On the bridge, it is
still hectic. The captain is busy issuing order to his command staff. The
dirty, and bloodied TK883 approaches. The captain’s back is to TK883. [storyboard]
The Captain unaware
TK883 is standing there continues to give orders.
Finally he turns and
sees the pitiful looking trooper. [storyboard]
Captain:
“Yes, what is it Corporal?”
TK883:
“Sir, here are the data files my sergeant
felt was important for you to have.”
The captain takes
the bloody data scanner. Looking at the condition of TK883, and then at the
dirty and bloody scanner. [storyboard]
Captain:
“Thank you corporal.”
He reviews the
information. For a moment you are not sure what his emotions are. Finally he
sighs.
Captain:
“Lieutenant, can we make a hyperspace jump?”
Lieutenant:
“Sir?” Puzzled by this request.
Captain:
“This base hasn’t enough fuel or supplies to
fill a space cruiser.”
The captain turns
and looks at TK883. [storyboard]
Captain:
“Your men. How many did we rescue?”
TK883:
“Four.”
The captain takes a
deep breath. We can tell by his demeanor that news was not what he expected. A
garrison reduced to 4 men.
Captain:
“Have your men go clean up, and get some rest.
You look like you deserve it.”
The End.