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!