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Rome Wars: A New Pope (Part 12)
EXT. SPACE - GULAG STAR TRENCH[Three NS-wing fighters move in formation down the Gulag Star trench.]
Mowgli: Baloo, can you see them from where you are?
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo looks down at the Gulag Star surface below.]
Baloo: No sign of any… wait!
INT. MOWGLI’S COCKPIT
[Mowgli looks up and sees the Callistan fighters.]
Baloo: (over headset) Coming in point three-five.
Mowgli: I see them.
EXT. SURFACE OF THE GULAG STAR
[Three CPP fighters, Plus Nova Imperii flanked by two wingmen, dive in a tight formation. The sun reflects off their dominate solar fins as they loop toward the Gulag Star’s surface.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[A Priest pulls his targeting device in front of his eyes and makes several adjustments.]
A Priest: I’m in range.
EXT. SURFACE OF THE GULAG STAR
[A Priest’s NS-wing moves up the Gulag Star trench.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
A Priest: Target’s coming up!
[Red Leader looks at his computer target readout screen. He then looks into his targeting device.]
A Priest: Just hold them off for a few seconds.
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii adjusts his control lever and dives on the NS-wing fighters.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Close up formation.
EXT. GULAG STAR TRENCH
[The three CPP fighters move in formation across the Gulag Star surface.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[A Priest lines up his target on the targeting device cross hairs.]
EXT. SURFACE OF THE GULAG STAR
[Plus Nova Imperii and his wingmen zoom down the trench.]
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii rapidly approaches the two NS-wings of Mowgli and Baloo. Plus Nova Imperii’s laser cannon flashes below the view of the front porthole. The NS-wings show in the center of Plus Nova Imperii’s computer screen.]
EXT. SPACE
[Another NS-wing fighter is hit by Plus Nova Imperii’s laserfire, and it explodes into flames against the trench.]
INT. MOWGLI’S COCKPIT
[Mowgli works at his controls furiously, trying to avoid Plus Nova Imperii’s fighter behind him.]
Mowgli: You’d better let her loose.
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[A Priest is concentrating on his targeting device.]
A Priest: Almost there!
INT. MOWGLI’S COCKPIT.
[Mowgli panics.]
Mowgli: I can’t hold them!
EXT. SURFACE OF THE GULAG STAR
[Plus Nova Imperii and his wingmen whip through the trench in pursuit of the Bluecrownite fighters.]
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii cooly pushes the fire button on his control stick.]
INT. MOWGLI’S COCKPIT
[Darth Imperii’s well-aimed laserfire proves to be unavoidable, and strikes Mowgli’s ship. Mowgli screams in anguish and pain.]
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[Mowgli’s ship explodes and bursts into flames.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[Grimly, A Priest takes careful aim and watches his computer targeting device, which shows the target lined up in the cross hairs, and fires.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
A Priest: It’s away!
INT. GULAG STAR
[An armed Callistan tsartrooper is knocked to the floor from the attack explosion. Other troopers scurrying about the corridors are knocked against the wall and lose their balance.]
INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM
[The Gold Mines and the others stare at the computer screen.]
Baloo: (over speaker) It’s a hit!
A Priest: (over speaker) Negative.
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[A Priest looks back at the receding Gulag Star. Tiny explosions are visible in the distance.]
A Priest: Negative! It didn’t go in. It just impacted on the surface.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR - CPP FIGHTER
[Darth Imperii peels off in pursuit as A Priest’s NS-wing passes the Gulag Star horizon.]
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii swings his ship around for the next kill.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
Baloo: (over headset) A Priest, we’re right above you. Turn to point…
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo tries to spot A Priest. He looks down at the Gulag Star surface.]
Baloo: …oh-five; we’ll cover for you.
A Priest: (over headset) Stay there…
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[A wary Priest looks about nervously.]
A Priest: …I just lost my starboard engine.
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo looks excitedly toward A Priest’s NS-wing.]
A Priest: (over headset) Get set to make your attack run.
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii’s gloved hands make contact with the control sticks, and he presses their firing buttons.]
INT. A PRIEST’S COCKPIT
[A Priest fights to gain control of his ship.]
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[Laserbolts are flung from Plus Nova Imperii’s CPP fighter, connecting with A Priest’s Bluecrownite NS-wing fighter. A Priest buys it, creating a tremendous explosion far below. He screams and is destroyed.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo looks out the window of his NS-wing at the explosion far below. For the first time, he feels the helplessness of his situation.]
INT. GULAG STAR
[Grand Moff Mathuvan Union casts a sinister eye at the computer screen.]
Gulag Star Intercom Voice: Bluecrownite base, one minute and closing.
INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM
[Time Clock and Princess The Gold Mines, with NAIS beside them, listen intently to the talk between the pilots. The room is grim after A Priest’s death. Princess The Gold Mines nervously paces the room.]
Baloo: (over speaker) Monog, SCPF, let’s close it up. We’re going in. We’re going in full throttle.
INT. SCPF’S COCKPIT
[The horizon twists as SCPF begins to pull out.]
SCPF: Right with you, boss.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[The two NS-wings peel off against a background of stars and dive toward the Gulag Star.]
INT. MONGO’S COCKPIT
Mongo: Baloo, at that speed will you be able to pull out in time?
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Baloo: It’ll be just like Beggar’s Canyon back home.
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[The three NS-wings move in, unleashing a barrage of laserfire. Laserbolts are returned from the Gulag Star.]
INT. MONGO’S COCKPIT
[Baloo’s lifelong friend struggles with his controls.]
Mongo: We’ll stay back far enough to cover you.
INT. BALOO'S COCKPIT
[Flak and laserbolts flash outside Baloo’s cockpit window.]
SCPF: (over headset) My scope shows the tower, but I can’t see the exhaust port! Are you sure the computer can hit it?
EXT. GULAG STAR - GUN EMPLACEMENTS
[The Gulag Star laser cannon slowly rotates as it shoots laserbolts.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo looks around for the Callistan CPP fighters. He thinks for a moment and then moves his targeting device into position.]
Baloo: Watch yourself! Increase speed full throttle!
INT. SCPF’S COCKPIT
[SCPF looks excitedly for any sign of the CPP fighters.]
SCPF: What about the tower?
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Baloo: You worry about those fighters! I’ll worry about the tower!
EXT. GULAG STAR SURFACE
[Baloo’s NS-wing streaks through the trench, firing lasers.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo breaks into a nervous sweat as the laserfire is returned, knicking one of his wings close to the engine.]
Baloo: (to KOE) KOE... that, that stabilizer’s broken loose again! See if you can’t lock it down!
EXT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER
[KOE works to repair the damages. The canyon wall rushes by in the background, making his delicate task seem even more precarious.]
EXT. GULAG STAR
[Two laser cannons are firing on the Blucrownite fighters.]
INT. SCPF’S COCKPIT
[SCPF looks up and sees the CPP ships.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo’s targeting device marks off the distance to the target.]
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[Plus Nova Imperii and his wingmen zoom closer.]
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii adjusts his controls and fires laserbolts at two NS-wings flying down the trench. He scores a direct hit on SCPF.]
INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM
[The Gold Mines and the others are grouped around the computer board.]
SCPF: (over speaker) I’m hit! I can’t stay with you.
Baloo: (over speaker) Get clear, SCPF.
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
Baloo: You can’t do any more good back there!
INT. SCPF’S COCKPIT
SCPF: Sorry!
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[SCPF pulls his crippled NS-wing back away from the battle.]
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii watches the escape but issues a command to his wingmen.]
Plus Nova Imperii: Let him go! Stay on the leader!
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[Baloo’s NS-wing speeds down the trench; the three CPP fighters, still in perfect unbroken formation, tail close behind.]
INT. MONGO’S COCKPIT
[Mongo looks around at the CPP fighters. He is worried.]
Mongo: Hurry, Baloo, they’re coming in much faster this time. I can’t hold them!
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[The three CPP fighters move ever closer, closing in on Baloo and Mongo.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER - COCKPIT
[Baloo looks back anxiously at little KOE.]
Baloo: KOE, try and increase the power!
EXT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER
[Ignoring the bumpy ride, flak, and lasers, a beeping KOE struggles to increase the power, his dome turning from side to side.]
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[Stealthily, the CPP formation creeps closer.]
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii adjusts his control stick.]
INT. MONGO’S COCKPIT
[Mongo looks around at the CPP fighters.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING FIGHTER
[Baloo looks into his targeting device. He moves it away for a moment and ponders its use. He looks back into the computer targeter.]
Mongo: (over headset) Hurry up, Baloo!
EXT. SPACE AROUND THE GULAG STAR
[Plus Nova Imperii and his wingmen race through the Gulag Star trench. Mongo moves in to cover for Baloo, but Plus Nova Imperii gains on him.]
INT. MONGO’S COCKPIT
[Mongo sees the CPP fighter aiming at him.]
Mongo: Wait!
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii squeezes the fire button on his controls.]
INT. MONGO’S COCKPIT
[Mongo’s cockpit explodes around him, lighting him in red.]
EXT. SURFACE OF THE GULAG STAR
[Mongo’s ship bursts into a million flaming bits and scatters across the surface.]
INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM
[The Gold Mines and the others stare at the computer board.]
INT. BALOO'S NS-WING COCKPIT
[Baloo is stunned by Mongo’s death. His eyes are watering, but his anger is also growing.]
INT. GULAG STAR - CONTROL ROOM
[Grand Moff Mathuvan Union watches the projected target screen with satisfaction.]
Gulag Star Intercom Voice: Bluecrownite base, thirty seconds and closing.
INT. DARTH IMPERII’S COCKPIT
[Plus Nova Imperii takes aim on Baloo and talks to the wingmen.]
Plus Nova Imperii: I’m on the leader.
EXT. SURFACE OF THE GULAG STAR - BALOO'S SHIP
[Baloo’s ship streaks through the trench of the Gulag Star.]
INT. MASSASSI OUTPOST - WAR ROOM
[Princess The Gold Mines returns her general’s worried and doubtful glances with solid, grim determination. NAIS seems nervous.]
NAIS: Hang on, KOE!