[Cargo
Module 4]
(Two men are throwing an oval ball between each
other in the reduced gravity.)
KEENE: Hauled down in the corner of the end zone. Touchdown!
RYAN: Like to see you make that catch with the gravity plating at Earth
sea level.
KEENE: I doubt you could throw the ball ten metres on Earth.
RYAN: One more reason not to go.
KEENE: Did you find out what was causing that vibration in module two?
RYAN: The cargo handlers at Jupiter Station. They didn't balance the
load. Shaw and I, we, er, we trimmed it out.
KEENE: Keep an eye on it. (There's a judder.)
VOICE [OC]: Bridge to Captain Keene. We're under attack, sir. It's the
Nausicaans.
KEENE: Drop out of warp. Charge the plasma cannon. (Another hit and we
see the alien ship strafing the cargo hauler.)
[Archer's quarters]
(Archer is woken by the comm. signal.) ARCHER: Archer.
CREWMAN [OC]: Sorry to disturb you sir, but I have an incoming
transmission from Starfleet Command. It's Admiral Forrest.
ARCHER: Put him through.
CREWMAN [OC]: Yes, sir.
ARCHER: Admiral. Good to see you.
FORREST [on monitor]: You too, Jon, what I can make out.
ARCHER: We're getting ready to deploy the first subspace amplifier.
Should clear up reception a bit.
FORREST [on monitor]: Whatever you have to do to keep those reports
coming. The scans of that comet were incredible.
ARCHER: Something tells me you didn't call at four in the morning to
talk about comets.
FORREST [on monitor]: I hate to do this to you Jon, but we're turning
you around.
ARCHER: Sir?
FORREST [on monitor]: We picked up an automated distress signal from a
cargo freighter, the ECS Fortunate. The nearest Starfleet vessel is
three weeks away at its maximum warp, but you could be there in a day
and a half.
ARCHER: What's the problem?
FORREST [on monitor]: We're not sure. They're not responding to hails.
I'd like you to check this out. Give them any assistance they need.
ARCHER: We're on our way.
FORREST [on monitor]: Forrest out.
ARCHER: I think our day's going to start a little early. (Porthos wags
his tail.)
[Situation room]
T'POL: The Earth cargo ship Fortunate. Y-class
freighter, maximum speed warp one point eight. Crew complement twenty
three.
TRAVIS: Not counting newborn babies.
ARCHER: Ensign?
TRAVIS: I grew up on a J-class, a little smaller but the same basic
design, and one thing I can tell you is that at warp one point eight
you've got a lot of time on your hands between ports. That's how my
parents wound up with me.
T'POL: Do you have any helpful information on this vessel beyond its
recreational activities?
REED: For example, what kind of weapons they carry.
TRAVIS: Well, typically nothing more than a low-yield plasma cannon,
but most freight haulers would've upgraded the first chance they got.
REED: Why is that?
TRAVIS: Think about it. You're a dozen light years from home with
twenty kilotons of dilithium ore in your hold, armed with nothing but a
pop-gun for shooting oncoming meteors. What would you do?
[Bridge]
(the Fortunate is on the viewscreen)
REED: I'm reading hull damage. Their warp reactor's offline and most of
their primary systems are down.
ARCHER: Any other ships in the region.
T'POL: None, Captain.
ARCHER: Open a channel. Fortunate, this is Captain Jonathan Archer of
the Starship Enterprise. Fortunate, please respond.
HOSHI: Their comm. systems may be down.
T'POL: I'm reading twenty four biosigns.
ARCHER: Have Doctor Phlox meet us in the Launch bay.
[Shuttlepod]
ARCHER: Easy does it. There's a lot of debris out
here.
TRAVIS: Aye sir.
REED: Some of it doesn't appear to be from the Fortunate.
PHLOX: On the bright side, I'm only picking up inorganic material. No
bodies.
REED: The main hatch is damaged. No chance we'll get a positive seal.
TRAVIS: There should be an auxiliary hatch on the port side.
[Corridor]
(After docking, the group are met by four men.)
ARCHER: Permission to come aboard.
RYAN: Granted. I'm Matthew Ryan, first officer.
ARCHER: Jonathan Archer, Captain of the Enterprise. Sorry we couldn't
meet under better circumstances. What happened here?
RYAN: Nausicaans. They tried to board us. We managed to fight them off
but not before we took a few bruises.
ARCHER: Nausicaans?
TRAVIS: Pirates, sir. They've been attacking freighters in this sector
for years. My parents had a run-in with them once. They were lucky to
come out of it alive.
RYAN: Your parents ran freight?
TRAVIS: Still do. An old J-class, the Horizon.
ARCHER: I've got repair teams standing by. What can we do?
RYAN: Oh, we can handle this ourselves, Captain, but thank you.
REED: If you didn't need our help, why did you send out a distress
call?
RYAN: One of our younger crewmembers panicked, hit the emergency
beacon. With our comm. down we had no way to tell Starfleet to ignore
it.
ARCHER: Where's your Captain?
RYAN: He was wounded in the attack. I'm in command until he's back on
his feet. I'm sorry we took valuable time away from your mission.
PHLOX: Mister Ryan, I'm a physician. If your Captain or anyone else is
hurt, it wouldn't be right for me to leave without seeing them.
TRAVIS: He's got a lot more experience than any freighter medic I know.
ARCHER: We've come an awfully long way. It would be a shame to turn
around without lending a hand.
[Fortunate Infirmary]
RYAN: Is he going to die?
PHLOX: Not any time soon. The Nausicaan weapon disrupted his neural
pathways. I've started him on a cortical regeneration but it'll take
some time.
RYAN: How long?
PHLOX: Two days, maybe three.
ARCHER: Since we have to stick around, we might as well help you get
your ship up and running.
RYAN: That's all right.
ARCHER: I understand you're used to doing things on your own, but we're
here. Use us. We might be able to upgrade your hull plating, your
weapons. Couldn't hurt the next time you run into these Nausicaans. The
sooner you're back at warp, the sooner that cargo you're hauling gets
to where it's supposed to go.
[Cargo module four]
SHAW: You're letting them send over more people?
RYAN: A few engineers, that's all.
SHAW: We can't have people crawling all over the place.
RYAN: We'll keep them where they're supposed to be.
SHAW: And what if they find him?
RYAN: What do you want me to do, throw him off the ship? (A group of
men are concealed behind some containers, standing over a Nausicaan who
has been beaten up.) RYAN: Anything? Keep at it. I want those codes.
[Corridor]
(Travis examines a piece of equipment.) TRAVIS: Trip'll get
a kick out of this, it's older than he is. The Quartermaster won't have
anything like it but Engineering should be able to make one for you.
RYAN: We've got our own machine shop.
TRAVIS: I'm sure your guys have their hands full. We're happy to do it.
RYAN: That's a transporter. (He gazes at the alcove.)
TRAVIS: Enterprise came with all the trimmings.
RYAN: I've read about them. Have you been through it?
TRAVIS: Not yet. Most of the crew is afraid, but I'm kind of curious to
try it out.
RYAN: They say that for a split second you can actually feel yourself
in both places at once.
TRAVIS: Why do you think I want to try it.
RYAN: So you were on the Horizon? (They start walking again.)
TRAVIS: I was born on her, halfway between
Draylax and Vega Colony.
RYAN: How do your parents feel about you leaving?
TRAVIS: I've still got my sister and her husband aboard the Horizon,
but I know my dad expected me to take over at some point.
RYAN: Then why'd you leave?
TRAVIS: I had to figure out where I wanted to spend the rest of my
life, and I was pretty sure it wasn't on the Draylax - Vega run.
Besides, the Horizon didn't have transporters to play with.
[Engineering]
TUCKER: These valve seals are shot. We'll have to
synthesise some new ones. Give me about forty minutes. If you want, our
resident boomer here can give you a tour.
RYAN: Thanks. I've already seen most of the ship.
TUCKER: You missed the best part. The only warp five engine in the
fleet.
RYAN: I've heard about it.
TUCKER: Once they get installed in the next generation of freighters
it'll change a whole lot of things.
TRAVIS: Even with a warp three engine you'd be able to cut a five year
cargo run down to six months.
RYAN: Warp one point eight works just fine for us. Any faster and
there'd be no time to enjoy the trip.
[Mess hall]
TRAVIS: Save room for dessert, home made
ice-cream.
RYAN: You eat this well all the time?
TRAVIS: Chef's the best in Starfleet. I heard the Captain had to call
in a lot of favours to get him on board. It's good you stayed away from
the resequenced meat loaf. They still haven't gotten that right.
RYAN: Resequenced? This tastes real.
TRAVIS: That's because it is.
RYAN: You know the last time I had a steak? Eighteen months ago. All
we've got left now are hydroponics and nutri-paks.
TRAVIS: I remember those. What did we used to call them?
BOTH: Mystery meals.
TRAVIS: My dad was a pretty good cook. He could do magical things with
those nutri-paks.
RYAN: When it was someone's birthday my mother would bake a cake. We
knew batter than to ask what it was made of.
TRAVIS: Didn't stop you from eating it.
RYAN: Oh, no way.
TRAVIS: Your parents on the Fortunate?
RYAN: No. They were on the North Star. (Gloom descends.)
TRAVIS: Were you on board?
RYAN: Yeah, I was one of the survivors. I went to the Fortunate after
that.
TRAVIS: I'm sorry.
RYAN: Running freight is dangerous.
TRAVIS: You ever think about doing something else?
RYAN: You mean join Starfleet?
TRAVIS: The food's not bad.
RYAN: Was this premeditated? Buy me lunch and give me the recruiting
pitch?
TRAVIS: No, but you've spent more time in space than most Starfleet
Captains. There are three more NX class ships on the drawing boards.
They're going to need experienced people.
RYAN: If Starfleet gets all the good crews, who does that leave to run
the freighters?
TRAVIS: Don't worry, not everybody's going to go.
RYAN: You did.
TRAVIS: You think leaving the Horizon was easy for me? That I just took
off because I got tired of the food? That ship was my home.
RYAN: So why'd you leave it? Why did you abandon your family.
TRAVIS: Being in Starfleet is the best thing that ever happened to me.
My parents weren't happy I left, but they respected my decision.
RYAN: Did they? Or were they just saying what you wanted to hear so you
wouldn't feel guilty. Commander Tucker should be done with my valve
assembly by now. Thanks for lunch.
[Fortunate Corridor]
(Two boys run past the workers.)
BOY: Come on.
T'POL: Why is power being rerouted from internal sensors to the weapons
systems?
SHAW: Maybe you didn't notice. We were in a battle.
T'POL: The battle is over. I'll remove the bypass.
SHAW: That's all right. You can just leave them.
(Using her scanner, T'Pol discovers a girl hiding in an access port.)
BOY: Ready or not, here I come. Have you seen Nadine?
SHAW: No.
BOY: Have you seen Nadine?
T'POL: I'm sorry, I don't know which child is named Nadine. (The boy runs
off. T'Pol lets the girl out.)
NADINE: Thanks.
T'POL: I just told him the truth.
[Ready room]
T'POL [OC]: T'Pol to Archer.
ARCHER: Go ahead.
T'POL [OC]: The repairs are almost finished, Captain.
ARCHER: Acknowledged.
T'POL [OC]: But there is something I need to speak to you about, in
private.
(later)
ARCHER: Those engine parts Mister Tucker gave you working out okay?
RYAN: Some of the connections were off by a few microns, but they
should be fine.
ARCHER: Good. Doctor Phlox tells me Captain Keene's condition is
improving.
RYAN: Well he's still unconscious but the burns are healing, thanks to
your doctor.
ARCHER: Anything else we can do?
RYAN: Thanks, but we're anxious to get underway. Goodbye, Captain.
ARCHER: There's one other question I'd like to ask you. Are there only
humans on board your ship?
RYAN: I think one of the kids has a Teneebian skunk as a pet, if that's
what you mean.
T'POL: It isn't.
ARCHER: T'Pol's scanner picked up a Nausicaan biosign.
RYAN: Are you saying we've got a stowaway?
ARCHER: You know that's not what we're saying. Why don't you tell us
what's going on over there.
RYAN: Well, what are you talking about?
T'POL: My bioscans indicated this Nausicaan was injured.
RYAN: Okay. Not that it's any of your business, but there is a
Nausicaan aboard. He's my prisoner.
ARCHER: What gives you the right to take prisoners?
RYAN: They have been attacking our ship for months, stealing our cargo.
They nearly killed my Captain. Now what gives them the right to do
that?
ARCHER: I want to see him.
RYAN: And what would you do? Take him back to Nausicaa? They'd probably
give him a medal.
ARCHER: What do you plan to do with him?
RYAN: That is my business. Starfleet doesn't have any jurisdiction over
what goes on aboard my ship.
ARCHER: You're right, but there is one thing I do have jurisdiction
over. Archer to Tucker.
TUCKER [OC]: Go ahead, Captain.
ARCHER: I want you to remove all the spare parts and equipment you
installed on the Fortunate.
TUCKER [OC]: Sir?
ARCHER: You heard me, Trip.
RYAN: You wouldn't do that.
ARCHER: Watch me.
[Cargo Module 8]
RYAN: He's in there.
ARCHER: Where?
RYAN: He's tied up over there.
T'POL: I'm reading one biosign, but it's not Nausicaan.
(It's Shaw with a rifle. Ryan picks up a pistol too.)
ARCHER: Don't do this.
(Reed fires the first shot, but misses Ryan.)
REED: Get down.
PHLOX: Under the circumstances, I defer to your experience. (Archer also has a phase pistol.)
ARCHER: Ryan! You're making a big mistake.
(to Reed, sotto) Go. (Reed fires before they both move to try and
flank the pair. Ryan fires at the bulkhead above T'Pol before leaving
the module and sealing the door.)
T'POL: Captain, there's a breach.
ARCHER: Ryan! (There's a jolt.)
REED: What was that?
(The module gently floats away from the freighter.)
[Bridge]
(The viewscreen is showing it happening.)
TUCKER: What the hell's going on over there?
HOSHI: There are four biosigns on the module. It's the away team.
TUCKER: Tucker to Captain Archer.
[Cargo Module 8]
TUCKER [OC]: Are you all right?
ARCHER: We're fine. I don't want the Fortunate leaving.
[Bridge]
TUCKER: Understood. Hail them.
HOSHI: No response.
TRAVIS: They're charging weapons.
TUCKER: Polarise the hull plating.
[Cargo Module 8]
T'POL: The Fortunate has fired its weapons.
ARCHER: Trip, report.
TUCKER [OC]: They're getting a little trigger-happy, sir. Stand by.
Load starboard tubes three and four. Target their engines.
TRAVIS [OC]: Aye, sir.
[Bridge]
TRAVIS: They're jettisoning our pod. Their warp
drive's coming online.
TUCKER: Fire. (But the little blue streak doesn't get there in time.)
[Cargo Module 8]
TUCKER [OC]: Enterprise to Archer.
ARCHER: How're you doing, Trip?
TUCKER [OC]: We're okay, sir. We didn't take too much damage, but the
Fortunate just went to warp.
ARCHER: Follow them.
T'POL: Captain, considering our rate of decompression, I'd suggest
Enterprise retrieve us as quickly as possible.
ARCHER: Belay that, Trip. Send a shuttlepod over here to pick us up.
We've sprung a leak.
TUCKER [OC]: On our way.
[Situation room]
REED: We're trying to track their warp trail, but
their plasma cannon knocked out our long range sensors.
ARCHER: How long till they're back online?
T'POL: Mister Tucker says at least four hours.
TRAVIS: We don't know where they are, but we know who they're looking
for. The Nausicaans. Ryan's after revenge, sir.
T'POL: A very primitive emotion, but it would explain his irrational
behaviour.
TRAVIS: It's rational to him. Those pirates attacked his ship. That's
his family. If we want to find the Fortunate, we need to find the
Nausicaans.
[Cargo Module 4]
RYAN: The frequencies.
NAUSICAAN: You're not very skilled at interrogation. I could give you
some lessons.
RYAN: (kicking him in the chest) Give me the frequencies.
NAUSICAAN: You know my shipmates will come for me.
RYAN: I'm counting on it.
[Fortunate corridor]
RYAN: That wasn't so difficult, was it.
SHAW: You nearly killed him.
RYAN: Remodulate the weapons.
SHAW: What about the Nausicaan?
RYAN: Keep him locked up. We might still need him.
SHAW: We've got what we wanted. Let's just get him off the ship.
RYAN: How?
SHAW: An escape pod.
RYAN: So his friends can pick him up and he can tell them to change
their shield modulations? What was the point of all this?
SHAW: I've been asking myself the same question. We've always dealt
with the Nausicaans without taking hostages or beating information out
of them.
RYAN: If we don't show them that we're serious, they're never going to
leave us alone.
SHAW: How would the Captain want us to handle this?
RYAN: I'm responsible for this ship now, and I need to know that you
are going to help me do whatever it takes to protect her. (Shaw nods.)
RYAN: We've taken enough casualties. It's time we started inflicting some of
our own.
Captain's starlog, supplemental. We've picked up a
faint warp trail that could be the Fortunate, but we don't know for
sure until our long range sensors are back online.
[Engineering]
TUCKER: Anything?
TRAVIS: No. Try bypassing circuit L-47.
CREWMAN: Aye, sir.
TUCKER: I don't know what's going on with that guy. I can understand
taking on those pirates. I probably would have done the same thing. But
firing on a Starfleet vessel? He's got a lot more than pirates to worry
about now.
TRAVIS: Never thought I'd see a Y-class running from any ship I was on.
When I was growing up on the Horizon, anything that happened on board
you handles yourself. If someone on the crew got into a fight, you just
worked it out. You took care of your own. If Starfleet suddenly showed
up and told my father what he could and couldn't do on his own ship?
TUCKER: Things are changing. Ryan's going to have to figure that out.
TRAVIS: Maybe he already has and he just doesn't like it.
TUCKER: Got it. Sensors are back online.
[Ready room]
ARCHER: Come in.
TRAVIS: Do you have a minute, sir?
ARCHER: I think I can squeeze you in. (Archer gestures for him to sit.) ARCHER: What's
on your mind, Travis?
TRAVIS: Permission to speak freely, sir?
ARCHER: Any time.
TRAVIS: I'm worried that we're not handling the situation the right
way.
ARCHER: Go on.
TRAVIS: You know I'd never question your orders.
ARCHER: You served on one of those freighters. I want to hear your
opinion.
TRAVIS: Maybe Ryan's right. Maybe this isn't any of our business. If he
doesn't want our help, why force it on him.
ARCHER: So you think we should just let Ryan take on the Nausicaans?
TRAVIS: Don't underestimate a freighter crew, sir. My father never ran
into any trouble he couldn't handle himself, Nausicaans included.
ARCHER: So what happens to the Nausicaans?
TRAVIS: Sir?
ARCHER: Suppose Ryan finds the ship that attacked him. Maybe it's been
damaged and the Fortunate is more than a match for them. What do you
think Ryan'll do?
TRAVIS: He'd probably try to blow them out of the sky.
ARCHER: I don't know about you, Travis, but that doesn't sit right with
me. Human beings have a code of behaviour that applies whether they're
Starfleet officers or space boomers, and it isn't driven by revenge.
Just because someone isn't born on Earth doesn't make him any less
human.
TRAVIS: You're right, sir. I suppose I should understand that more than
anyone.
ARCHER: Any other orders of mine you'd like to question?
TRAVIS: Not today, sir. Thank you, sir.
[Fortunate Bridge]
RYAN: Are you sure?
SHAW: I've seen that hull signature enough times.
RYAN: The new shield frequencies?
SHAW: Loaded and standing by.
RYAN: Bring the cannons online, drop out of warp.
SHAW: They're just sitting there, a hundred kilometres ahead near a
small asteroid.
RYAN: Put it on the viewer. (A little ship makes a dash.) RYAN: They've seen
us. Lay in an intercept course. Full impulse.
SHAW: We're closing. Twenty kilometres. They're firing. The hull
plating is holding.
RYAN: Can you get a weapons lock?
SHAW: We're out of range. (Another hit.)
RYAN: Then get us into range.
SHAW: Ten kilometres, nine. Cannons locked on target.
RYAN: Return fire.
SHAW: They've gone behind the asteroid. I've lost the lock.
(As Fortunate pursues, we see that the asteroid is a docking port and
facility for lots of Nausicaan ships.)
RYAN: This must be where they offload stolen cargo.
SHAW: I'm getting us out of here.
RYAN: Hold your course.
SHAW: Ryan!
RYAN: We still have their shield frequencies. Lock weapons on the first
ship and fire. (Four hits.) RYAN: Again.
SHAW: No effect.
RYAN: Are you sure you programmed the right frequencies?
SHAW: I used the ones he gave us.
(Other ships undock and start attacking Fortunate.)
RYAN: Go to warp!
SHAW: The reactor is offline.
RYAN: Full impulse, then. Hull plating to maximum. (Another big hit and
explosions.)
SHAW: We've lost impulse. They're hailing us.
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: Our scans show you have one of our crewmen
aboard. I assume you're here to return him.
RYAN: He's our prisoner.
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: He won't be for long.
(a jolt and an alarm sounding)
SHAW: They've latched onto us.
[Bridge]
T'POL: Captain, long range sensors are detecting
weapons fire.
ARCHER: Who's doing the shooting?
REED: It's difficult to be sure at this distance, sir. Looks like some
kind of plasma discharge. I can't rule out our boomer friends.
ARCHER: Lay in a course.
TRAVIS: Aye, sir.
[Fortunate Bridge]
SHAW: They're in the access corridor, section D.
RYAN: How many?
SHAW: Three.
RYAN: Pass out weapons.
SHAW: We know what they're after. Why not just let them have
him>
RYAN: We fought them off before, we can do it again.
SHAW: It was one ship, not three.
RYAN: Weapons.
[Section D corridor]
(Ryan opens fire on the Nausicaans and a shooting
match ensues. A crewman is hit.)
SHAW: We should pull back. (They retreat into a cargo module and the
Nausicaans try to cut in.)
[Bridge]
REED: It's the Fortunate, sir, and three smaller
ships.
T'POL: Nausicaans.
ARCHER: Polarise the hull plating. Drop us out of warp. Are we in
range?
HOSHI: Two hundred thousand kilometres ahead.
ARCHER: Put it up. (Two small ships circling the Fortunate.)
T'POL: There are four Nausicaan biosigns on board the Fortunate and I'm
detecting weapon discharges.
ARCHER: Hail the Nausicaans.
HOSHI: Which ship, sir?
ARCHER: Lets see who answers.
[Cargo Module 4]
(The men are holed up with their prisoner as the
Nausicaans try to cut through the door.)
SHAW: We'd better get him to the infirmary.
RYAN: He's going to be okay.
NAUSICAAN: I told you they'd come for me.
RYAN: Shut up.
[Bridge]
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: We're involved in a
rescue operation.
ARCHER: There's a lot of firing going on for a rescue.
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: We want our crewman back.
TRAVIS: He wouldn't be there if you hadn't attacked them in the first
place.
ARCHER: Perhaps we have an opportunity here to improve relations
between your people and mine.
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: We're happy with our relations the way
they are.
ARCHER: I have a proposal for you. We'll get your man back and then
you'll let the Fortunate continue on her way.
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: You're facing three of my ships. We are
not interested in your proposals.
ARCHER: We've scanned your ships. Mister Reed.
REED: Fore and aft plasma cannons. I doubt those shields of theirs
would hold up to our torpedoes.
ARCHER: You're not sneaking up on an old freighter this time. This is
an NX Class Starship. Take a good look, because you'll be seeing more
of them. Now, you can reconsider my offer or you can take your chances.
NAUSICAAN 2 [on viewscreen]: If you think you can convince them to
return our crewman, do it quickly. Otherwise we'll be forced to take
our chances.
[Cargo Module 4]
(The Nausicaans break through the door, and the
shooting starts again.)
ARCHER [OC]: Enterprise to Ryan. This is Jonathan Archer. We're ten
thousand metres off your starboard bow. I know you can hear me. Why
don't you think about what's best for your crew and let us help you?
RYAN: What a relief. Starfleet's come to save the day.
ARCHER [OC]: I've spoken
[Bridge]
ARCHER: To the Nausicaan Captain. He's willing to
let the Fortunate go if you turn over his crewman.
[Cargo Module 4]
RYAN: What, and you believe him? You believe
they're just going to let us fly away?
ARCHER [OC]: I've got an armoury of torpedoes that will make sure they
do.
RYAN: What about next time, when another freighter gets jumped
[Bridge]
RYAN [OC]: In the middle of nowhere. What then?
ARCHER: You've got a chance to stop this before anyone else gets hurt.
RYAN [OC]: I'm dealing with them the only way they understand.
REED: One of the Nausicaan ships has locked weapons on us, sir.
ARCHER: This has gone on long enough. Now you're putting my crew in
danger. Release that hostage.
[Cargo Module 4]
RYAN: He's my prisoner, and I'm going to handle
[Bridge]
RYAN [OC]: This in my way.
TRAVIS: What are you going to do, kill him?
RYAN [OC]: Oh, you again.
TRAVIS: Sir, with your permission. You think killing one of them is
going to accomplish anything?
[Cargo Module 4]
RYAN: What, your Captain decide a little boomer to
boomer talk would persuade me?
TRAVIS [OC]: Just shut up and listen to me. I don't give a damn about
you any more.
[Bridge]
TRAVIS: I'm just thinking about my family.
RYAN [OC]: What have they got to do with this?
TRAVIS: What's going to happen to the next freighter that runs into the
Nausicaans? What if it's the Horizon and they have to pay the price for
your
[Cargo Module 4]
TRAVIS [OC]: Stubborn stupidity.
RYAN: I'm doing this for them.
[Bridge]
TRAVIS: The hell you are! This isn't about
protecting cargo ships.
RYAN [OC]: That is just what it's about.
TRAVIS: Don't kid yourself into thinking you're doing this for some
greater good. This is about revenge, nothing else.
REED: The Nausicaan ships are firing, sir.
ARCHER: Return fire. Starboard tubes three and four.
TRAVIS: You don't like me because I left the Horizon to join Starfleet.
You're afraid that if more people do that there won't be anyone left to
run the freighters. Maybe you're right
[Cargo Module 4]
TRAVIS [OC]: Maybe not. But if you don't let your
hostage go
[Bridge]
TRAVIS: The Nausicaans are going to kill you and
your crew.
ARCHER: Port tubes one and two, fire.
TRAVIS: And then there'll be twenty three fewer people out there to run
those freighters.
[Cargo Module 4]
TRAVIS [OC]: No maybes. (Ryan hauls the Nausicaan to his feet.)
RYAN: Hold your fire! Take him.
(The Nausicaans leave, quickly.)
[Bridge]
REED: The Nausicaans are powering down their
weapons. They're moving off, sir.
[Fortunate Infirmary]
ARCHER: Need a hand? (Keene eases himself off the bed.)
KEENE: Just a little stiff. Thank your
doctor for me. I've got some Drilaxian whisky stashed away, if you'd
like to join me.
ARCHER: I'm on duty.
KEENE: Too bad. If you've never had it, you're missing one of the
galaxy's real pleasures. I'm reducing Mister Ryan's rank to Able
Crewman. He gets to spend the rest of the trip purging hydraulic pumps.
ARCHER: If you think he's going to be a problem, we could take him back
to Earth.
KEENE: No, we take care of our own. Besides, that would leave me a man
short.
ARCHER: Understood.
KEENE: I made him my first officer because I trusted him with my ship.
It's going to take him quite a while to earn that back.
ARCHER: His intentions were good, but someone should teach him to
accept help when it's offered.
KEENE: The ones that grew up out here feel they have some special
claim, that this particular stretch of space is theirs. They see
another ship within ten light years, they get jumpy.
ARCHER: They're going to be seeing a lot more ships than they're used
to.
KEENE: The ships get faster. It's progress, I suppose. My family's been
on the Fortunate for three generations. Now, I'm going to need at least
a warp three engine to stay in business.
ARCHER: Maybe that's not so bad. At warp three, help's a lot closer
than before. You won't have to go it alone.
KEENE: Going it alone's all I've ever done, and for some of us it's the
reason we're out here. A chance to prove ourselves.
ARCHER: I think you've already done that.
KEENE: Well, we'll adapt, we always have, but things just won't be the
same. (They shake hands.)
ARCHER: Good luck.
KEENE: Sure you won't join me for that drink?
ARCHER: Thanks, but my crew's anxious to get underway. Next time.
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