Against the Odds

AGAINST THE ODDS

(working title)

Idea date 5/16/1999

By Ryan B. Foss

EXT. OPEN SPACE

In a wide field of stars a small star is moving slowly, blinking in and out as it reflects light. The moving star approaches and is eventually revealed to be a PHOENIX attack spacecraft. The PHOENIX is the last surviving ship of a fleet of craft belonging to a dying race of humans.

EXT. SPACE, DEBRIS FILLED AREA

A large amount of debris floats in space, slowly moving out and away from a focus of explosions. The debris is the remains of the rest of the PHOENIX'S fleet.

EXT. SPACE, FLEET OF ENEMY DESTROYERS

Gathered in a distant orbit from a planet, a group of destroyers float ominously. A yellow star shines brightly illuminating them.

INT. BIRDGE OF ENEMY FLEET COMMAND DESTROYER

Seated in front of glowing control panels and various computer and holographic equipment, an ENSIGN looks at a display showing battle results. He is scanning the debris looking for remains. A transparent glass screen flashes, and a diagram of the PHOENIX appears. The diagram emphasizes the PHOENIX weapon systems, a (two?) large particle cannon mounted at an angle for flying close to large ships, and a small guided dart gun.

The ENSIGN turns in his chair and says, "Sir, all ships destroyed except for one Phoenix class attack craft."

The ship CAPTAIN, an older man with graying hair, responds, "What is its configuration?"

ENSIGN: "Large ship attack configuration sir."

CAPTAIN: "Is it retreating?"

ENSIGN: "No sir, it is closing in and we have no escorts."

The captain responds "Destroy it!" He turns and starts to leave the bridge, his dark cape swinging with his motion. He pauses, and while looking over his shoulder says "Whatever the cost!" He leaves.

EXT. OPEN SPACE

A field of stars is disrupted by laser fire. The PHOENIX, using the yellow star's brightness behind it, is closing in on the destroyer fleet, nimbly avoiding the laser blasts. The destroyer's weapon systems are not well designed for destroying small craft, and their escorts of fighter/defense craft are gone.

INT. PHOENIX COCKPIT

The PILOT of the PHOENIX sits in a small cockpit, surrounded by many glowing panels and holographic displays. Laser blasts can be seen flying past the ship through the windows. The laser blasts, as well as the cockpit panels, reflect on the PILOT'S helmet. The pilot looks at a panel to the side, then twists and swings the flight stick causing the PHOENIX to spin quickly on its axis and change direction quickly. A laser blast soon erupts through the space where the PHOENIX was. A holographic panel glows with information regarding the DESTROYERS' gun systems, tracking the aiming and firing status. With this information, the PILOT can dodge the laser blasts with ease. The PHOENIX rapidly approaches one of the closest destroyers, moving in to fly in close to the ships exterior hull.

EXT. DESTROYER 1 HULL

The PHOENIX swings in quickly to the DESTROYER 1'S hull, gliding over its surface quickly and closely. The laser blasts stop allowing the PILOT to arm the angled particle cannon and begin firing. The projectiles impact the ship's hull and disapear, exploding only moments after the PHOENIX has passed. The PHOENIX continues this action along the length of the hull, firing at least five shots. DESTROYER 1's hull surges with explosions as the PHOENIX retreats from the wounded ship. DESTROYER 1 becomes WONDED DESTROYER. The PHOENIX banks slightly and dodges laser blasts when they start again, then heads toward DESTROYER 2, sweeping in towards the hull.

INT. BIRDGE OF ENEMY FLEET COMMAND DESTROYER

The ENSIGN moves rapidly analyzing the battle against his single foe. He places his finger on the lit translucent screen and slides it to the edge. A diagram of a missile appears. The ENSIGN touches the missile with his finger, then touches and highlights one of four squares on the far left. A 4x8 grid appears next to the highlighted square. The upper selects the top left grid square, highlighting it with a circle. The words

"MISSLE 1 ENGAGED, AQUIRING TARGET…"

flash on the bottom of the screen. After a few seconds and various commands, the words change to

"TARGET AQUIRED, WARHEAD ARMED, FIRE WHEN READY. TRACKING…"

EXT. SPACE

The PHOENIX pulls away from DESTROYER 2 as it explodes violently, breaking its hull in two. Laser blasts begin again, but the PHOENIX dodges expertly.

INT. BIRDGE OF ENEMY FLEET COMMAND DESTROYER

The ENSIGN smacks his palm onto a panel, reaches back to the translucent screen displaying the missile and presses a glowing square icon. The words change to

"MISSILE LAUNCH."

EXT. COMMAND DESTROYER HULL

The COMMAND DETROYER'S hull stretches out into space. Many large doors reside on the DESTROYER'S hull. One of these doors slams open, revealing a circular hollow cylinder. The cylinder begins to glow orange. MISSILE #1 erupts from the cylinder and zooms away from the DESTROYER. Painted on the missile's cylindrical surface are the words

"MISSLE 001"

INT. PHOENIX COCKPIT

A warning light illuminates the cockpit inside the PHOENIX. The PIOLOT twists his head quickly to read a holographic display. He realizes that a missile has been fired and begins to flee. A map of the surrounding space fills one of his screens displaying himself, the destroyers, and the incoming missile. He pulls the flight stick violently causing the PHOENIX to twist and turn almost entirely around, but maintains some of the spaceship's momentum. He kicks the throttle to full and heads toward a nearby destroyer, DESTROYER 3, hoping to avoid the missile, or even cause the missile to impact a destroyer.

EXT. SPACE, MISSILE 1

MISSILE #1 spins and twists tracking the PHOENIX. It begins to gain on the PHOENIX.

EXT. SPACE, PHOENIX

The PHOENIX begins to fire guided darts. The brightly glowing darts streak forward from the launcher and arc away. PHOENIX stops firing and twists and tucks quickly, barely dodging a burst of simultaneous laser blasts.

EXT. SPACE, MISSILE 1

MISSILE #1 continues its path toward the PHOENIX as the glowing darts streak past it in wide arcs. The missile continues without flinching.

EXT. SPACE, WOUNDED DESTROYER

The destroyers' cease-fire as the PHOENIX approaches WOUNDED DESTROYER, MISSILE #1 follows close behind. The PHOENIX changes its orientation while keeping its momentum, and passes within feet of the WOUNDED DESTROYER'S damaged hull. As PHOENIX rounds the cusp of the hull, it fires the main back thruster and disappears behind the WOUNDED DESTROYER. MISSILE #1 heads toward the damaged hull, but pulls up before impacting. It swings wide and must perform a wide arc to re-acquire its target.

EXT. ASTEROID FIELD

The PHOENIX approaches a small band of floating rocks, entering it at full speed. Small rocks swing wildly past and PHOENIX slows and spins, avoiding various larger rocks. MISSILE #1 enters the asteroids seconds later, spinning and twisting to avoid a large asteroid while still pursuing its target.

INT. PHOENIX COCKPIT

The PILOT works rapidly, his cockpit aglow with warnings and flashing lights. His display panels string vast amounts of data past them as others track rocks and estimate trajectories. He twists the flight stick.

EXT. ASTEROID FIELD

The PHOENIX spins on its horizontal axis, tips slightly and moves to dodge a small spinning rock. MISSILE #1 approaches quickly, dodging the same fast moving rock. As the PHOENIX approaches a larger asteroid, it twists and turns, keeping its momentum but orientating it so that it is upside down relative to the approaching asteroid. The PHOENIX then thrusts its bottom engines to skim the back surface of the large rock. It quickly equalizes its trajectory by firing its top engines while simultaneously firing its main thrusters. MISSILE #1 turns and closes in on the PHOENIX as the large asteroid moves closer.

EXT. SPACE, VIEW OF ASTEROID FIELD

A number of asteroids and rocks are sillouetted against a spherical orange explosion. The explosion fades.

EXT. ASTEROID FIELD

Small rocks fly past the PHOENIX. Some debris hit making it shake and bounce, but inflict no noticeable damage. The PHOENIX leaves the asteroid field as the explosion completely fades away.

EXT. SPACE, DESTROYERS

The remaining destroyers begin firing their lasers again. Dozens of blasts streak though space, aiming at a dot of light.

EXT. SPACE, PHOENIX

The PHOENIX tips and moves sideways as laser blasts crisscross behind it. PHOENIX moves in toward the WOUNDED DESTROYER.

EXT. WOUNDED DESTROYER'S HULL

Only one side of the WOUNDED DESTROYER'S hull is damages, and the PHOENIX comes in close to the other. It streaks over the hull surface firing a few shots from its large weapon. It pulls away quickly as the WOUNDED DESTROYER explodes in a popping fashion.

INT. BIRDGE OF ENEMY FLEET COMMAND DESTROYER

The ENSIGN is working on the translucent screen again. He puts his finger on the grid, highlighting the second square below the black one he chose before. He doesn't pull his finger away, but pulls it down the screen, lighting the entire column of the grid. Each grid square is highlighted with a glowing circle.

INT. PHOENIX COCKPIT

The PILOT is startled when his entire cockpit explodes with warnings. The cockpit lights up red, and his panels all flash warning messages. He starts to react.

EXT. COMMAND DESTROYER HULL

Streaks of thin smoke extend from bays of open missile cylinders. A nearby door opens, revealing another cylinder, from which a missile is launched. Another door opens a moment later, and another missile is launched. This process continues as each closed door opens. Eventually the last launcher opens and its missile is fired. Painted on the missile's cylindrical surface are the words

"MISSLE 032"

EXT. OPEN SPACE

The PHOENIX rockets through the vacuum away from the destroyers and missiles, heading toward the asteroid field again. The group of missiles follows it closely behind, and is gaining.

EXT. SPACE, ASTEROID FIELD

Small rocks spin slowly on the edge of the asteroid field as the PHOENIX enters it. The PHOENIX, traveling at top speed, has trouble dodging the smaller rocks and is banged around. A missile detonates at the edge of the field, but the PHOENIX is deep enough into the cloud of rocks to avoid it. Other missiles begin entering the asteroid field. The PHOENIX dodges, twists, spins, dives, swings, thrusts, to avoid collisions with large rock, going deeper and deeper into the denser part of the asteroid field. Another missile explodes.

EXT. SPACE, VIEW OF ASTEROID FIELD

Many asteroids are silhouetted against a spherical explosion, but before the explosion fades, another starts. Soon, explosions begin to spring from one another, brilliantly illuminated the asteroids. After the dozens of explosions fade, the scene settles.

EXT. SPACE, REMAINING DESTROYERS

Rubble surrounds the remaining destroyers as they float effortlessly in the vacuum of space.

INT. BIRDGE OF ENEMY FLEET COMMAND DESTROYER

The ENSIGN closes the missile console.

EXT. SPACE, VIEW OF ASTEROID FIELD

The asteroid field blocks the view of the stars. A dot of light emerges from the field.

EXT. OPEN SPACE

The PHOENIX survived the attack of missiles, but is lightly damaged and charred. It heads towards the remaining destroyers.

CUT OUT WITH THE PHOENIX FLYING DIRECTLY INTO THE CAMERA

CUT TO BLACK

THE END

CREDITS

ADDITIONAL STORYLINE POSSIBILITY

Captain whispers something to a young, dark haired woman. She runs down a hallway and puts on a space suit. Doors open on the destroyer and she exits, behind her are two dozen robots. The robots are mainly used for repairs, but they also have small rifles. The woman leads the robots to defend the destroyers. The PHOENIX uses its guided darts to destroy many of the robots as it flies past the destoryers. The darts pucture the robots, slashing through them. The darts fly past the woman, but she dodges.