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"DISPATCHES FROM THE ROMULAN WAR"

DISPATCH 5

“Tragedy Strikes Starfleet Command”

A fan produced full cast audio book episode by

Kirok of L’Stok

Save Enterprise Campaign FINAL DIRECTOR'S SCRIPT

TrekUnited December 30, 2007http://www.trekunited.com/community/index.php?showforum=104 © 2007 Save Enterprise

All rights reserved.

[email protected]

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Save Enterprise Campaign; TrekUnited - http://www.trekunited.com

"DISPATCHES FROM THE ROMULAN WAR"

Dispatch 5

“Tragedy Strikes Starfleet Command”

CAST

LARRY NEMECEK AS JAMES L. ANDERSON 45; Bio: Editor of the Santa RosaChronicle, Santa Rosa, New Mexico, a small town newspaper; Voice type: An accent would give this interest, could be anything from Ivy Leagueto Texan, but delivery is more important - mature, jaded, Easily moved

to anger

JEFF ROBINSON AS ADMIRAL GARRETT BLACK Late fifties, Commander,

Starfleet. Voice Type: In command, decisive, tough, carved out ofstone.

CREW

ENSIGN EDWARDS The head of Save Enterprise & Project manager ofthe "Dispatches From The Romulan War" (DRW) FanFiction project (ie the Content)

DEREK KESSLER TrekUnited handle, Captain Hair, author, editor ofthe "Dispatches From The Romulan War" (DRW) FanFiction project, the head of News & Forum Managerof TrekUnited,

KIROK OF L'STOK Author of this episode, director of the "DispatchesFrom The Romulan War" (DRW) PodBook project, Moderator of TrekUnited Fan Productions Forums andProducer of The Twelve Trek days of Christmas<http://12daysxmas.thunderdownunder.org/

MERODI Sound editor of the "Dispatches From The Romulan War" (DRW) PodBook project

ARIC HUTFLES Cover artist of the "Dispatches From The Romulan War" (DRW) PodBook project.<http://www.comicspace.com/aric/>

Any questions or comments contact Kirok of L'Stok by posting or PM onTrekUnited or

Email [email protected]

Yahoo chat kirok01

MSN chat [email protected] Skype kirok_of_lstok

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DRW; Tragedy Strikes Starfleet Command Script DRW-2.1.2


of the man. At close to two metres tall with

broad shoulders and a face only a mother couldlove, you feel at once intimidated and yetimpressed.

1 JAMES L. ANDERSON: We met in his “office” at StarfleetHeadquarters which was actually little morethan a cubicle off the situation room thatkeeps track of the whereabouts and movements ofevery known ship - civil and military,coalition and otherwise - within theCoalition’s area of influence. After the usual pleasantries and a quick sound check of mytranscriber, the admiral cut straight to thechase.

PRODUCTION NOTE:From this point we are listening to an interview made inthe office … this is suggested by a subtle degradation inthe sound quality, perhaps a tiny bit of ambient noise, ora difference in the reverb or tone

2 ADMIRAL BLACK: Mr Anderson, I’m glad to finally meet you. Iread your editorial and I wanted theopportunity to set a few things straight forthe public record. You seem to doubt the

sincerity of my condolences?

3 JAMES L. ANDERSON: I’m flattered that you read it but that’s notwhat I said, Admiral, nor was that the

intention.

4 ADMIRAL BLACK: But that is what you were insinuating, wasn’tit?

5 JAMES L. ANDERSON: Admiral, with all due respect, you are renowned

as a hard man. They say you weren’t born, youwere chiseled out of stone! You’ll forgive me

if I find your touching sentiment to be alittle out of character

6 ADMIRAL BLACK: You think that being a man means you can’t showrespect for the fallen? I’m sorry, Mr Anderson,that was uncalled for, please go ahead.

7 JAMES L. ANDERSON: Thank you. I’ve been doing some checking andfound that everyone stationed on Salem One washand-picked by your office. Does that not make

you feel just a little responsible for their

deaths?

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1 ADMIRAL BLACK: You’re right on both counts, Mr Anderson, it is

part of the burden of command that any singledecision that I make could either save lives orcould cause the death of thousands, millions!Starfleet Command had to be certain that the

best personnel were picked for the job. I am confident that each one of those men and womenon Salem One acquitted themselves gallantly.

2 JAMES L. ANDERSON: But nevertheless the fact remains that it wasyour name on the transfer orders that sentevery one of them to their deaths.

3 ADMIRAL BLACK: The construction and manning of Salem OneStation was of primary importance to thesecurity of the Coalition of Planets such that

I could not delegate any decision regarding it.Being a member of Starfleet is a high-risk job.Every plan we make is covered by risk management measures to try to ensure safety butwhen you are dealing with the unknown as we do

on a daily basis, there are no guarantees. Theloss of Salem One Station was neither more norless of a chance than other Starfleet personneltake with any and every mission that they

undertake. However, just as I could notdelegate the decision of who went to Salem One

and who didn’t, I cannot, and will not now,dodge the responsibility for my actions. I havetendered my resignation to the Prime Minister but he has so far refused to accept it.

4 ADMIRAL BLACK: Mr Anderson, my feelings over Salem One reach

far deeper than you can ever imagine. Take alook at the casualty list for Salem One on thisPADD. What is the name, second from the top of

this list?

5 JAMES L. ANDERSON: Captain Nathan P. Ridley, Executive Officer,Starfleet.

6 ADMIRAL BLACK: Captain Ridley was a fine officer, a good

friend and my eldest son by my first marriage.

7 JAMES L. ANDERSON: (TOTALLY SHOCKED, FLUSTERS) Admiral!

8 ADMIRAL BLACK: (VOICE DRAINED OF EMOTION) Against all advice I married a girl from my home town during my lastyear in Academy. Gloria was never cut out to be

a ‘fleet wife', the long missions, the stressof not knowing if she would see me again. It

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lasted three years and ended in a messy

divorce. She never forgave me or Starfleet and moved to the east coast, changing her name. Inever knew that she was carrying my child atthe time and Nathan was registered under her

maiden name. She did everything she could tostop Nathan from going into Starfleet but … hegets his stubborn streak from me I suppose

1 ADMIRAL BLACK: Of course, when Nate registered his applicationto Starfleet Academy, his DNA dogtag struck upa red light in Internal Affairs that was bumpedupstairs to the top brass. You have to realisethat by this time I was in the senior planningstaff for the Warp Five Project and it couldhave caused a major conflict of interest.

Commodore Forrest did the best he could for us, but it boiled down to either Nathan being easedout of Starfleet or we were to have no contactin our service careers. The job was half done

for them anyway, since Gloria had never toldhim his father’s real name, fabricating somestory about him dying when Nate was a child.

2 ADMIRAL BLACK: Gentlemen, not a day goes by that I don't

regret the decision I made then. Each year itwas harder to think of a way of breaking the

circle, the lie that stood between us. Natescraped through his academy theory and excelledin command, never the less there was no prouderfather at that graduation day than I. Every posting, every report, every commendation – I

knew every detail of his life yet could not bea part of it.

3 ADMIRAL BLACK: Once Nate won his first command and was

promoted to captain I could no longer avoid him and I had to create a working relationship with

him as if we were just acquaintances. That wastwo years ago and from that point on, we struck

up a friendship. I could now share in his life.(PAUSE, HE IS LOST IN HIS MEMORIES)

4 ADMIRAL BLACK: Chiselled out of rock! (HUNF)

5 ADMIRAL BLACK: (BEAT, BUSINESSLIKE) I commissioned twoindependent reports for recommendations as to postings for Salem One … and Nate’s name was atthe top of both of them. The last I saw of him

was on the night he shipped out. As we parted I

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felt the same urge that I always felt, to ask

him to stay a while because I had something totell him but as always I told myself (BEAT)later. It was always (PAUSE) later.

1 ADMIRAL BLACK: (GRINDS OUT) I have seen courage gentlemen. Ihave seen men selflessly give their lives to protect their comrades. I have three citationsfor bravery and yet (BEAT,BITTERLY) I judge myself the greatest coward alive today.

2 ADMIRAL BLACK: (PAUSE, BUSINESSLIKE) Mr Anderson, thisinterview is ended. I would like you to askyour colleagues in the news media to respect my privacy.

3 ADMIRAL BLACK: Oh, (BEAT, CONTINUES LIGHTLY) and in answer toyour editorial, I agree. No parent should losea child. I hope you will now not doubt mysincerity when I tell you that (FIRMLY) everydecision I have made and will make in thefuture will be to bring about a speedy end tothis conflict. Unfortunately I fear that many more sons and daughters, husbands and fathers,will pay the supreme sacrifice before it isended.

4 ADMIRAL BLACK: Now if you will excuse me gentlemen I wouldlike five minutes to compose myself before theevening's situation briefing. Thank you

PRODUCTION NOTE:The interview is finished, we go back to studio qualitysound, Anderson is summing up

5 JAMES L. ANDERSON: I take it upon myself to offer the condolences

of the people of Santa Rosa to the admiral andhis family and I sincerely apologise if my

words have caused him any anguish.

6 JAMES L. ANDERSON: As I left his office, the admiral had turned tolook from his office window, out over SanFrancisco Bay. In that moment he looked like hewas indeed carved out of stone, standing

rigidly 'at ease', shoulders back, handsclasped behind him, jaw set, expressionless.

7 JAMES L. ANDERSON: Admiral Garrett Black would do well to heed the

words of comfort that he, himself has offered.

8 JAMES L. ANDERSON: (BEAT) You are not alone.

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1. MUSIC: [B-1] DRW THEME--UP. Establish. FINISH.

2 LARRY NEMECEK: Dispatches From The Romulan War is a productionof Save Enterprise, the campaign to return Star

Trek: Enterprise to the screen! This episodewas written by Kirok of L'Stok and was read byLarry Nemecek as James L. Anderson and JeffRobinson as Admiral Black.

3 LARRY NEMECEK: This is a fan-produced audio drama, madeavailable for free, and is in no way associatedwith Paramount Pictures or CBS Corporation whoown the copyrights for Star Trek and all

related products. Any attempt to sell, rent orotherwise make a profit from this production

should be reported to the copyright owners fortheir action.

THE END.

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DRW; Tragedy Strikes Starfleet Command Script DRW-2.1


Writer’s notes for “Tragedy Strikes Starfleet Command”

SPECIFIC NOTES: Anderson is all set for a fight, for an aggressive interview where hewill have to drag the facts out of his subject. He is too experienced

though to be drawn into arguments and pulls the interview back to whathe sees as the pivotal point – the Admiral is responsible for thedeaths of Salem One. When he is told that Ridley is Black’s son he istotally thrown off balance – literally struck dumb. Perhaps knowing

that his subject was doing a good enough job without his questions? Anderson’s epilogue is part apology, part observation, part pity.

Admiral Black starts off aggressively, he is not the type of person to

accept implied rebuke idly. The continued hammering home that he isresponsible for who lived and who died cuts deep but instead ofrunning away from his guilt, he admits it. Is the interview because he

knows that eventually Nate’s identity will leak out or is it acatharsis for him to get it out of his system? Although he see’shimself as a moral coward for not acknowledging his son, in fact heacting bravely by honouring him. Black is always in control: usually businesslike, but also his own worst critic. He’s a tragic figure, a

reverse Oedipus – a man who has caused his own son’s death. K

GENERAL NOTES:I have relied heavily on Tony Pelermo's excruciatingly detailed

tutorials on his website: Sparx Audio Adventures<http://www.ruyasonic.com/> where I also got the MSWord template for

this script. See also the LibriVox Wiki<http://librivox.org/wiki/moin.cgi/>

As a full cast audio book we are placing ourselves halfway between thenarrated audio book and the performed audio drama - I'm hoping we canretain the advantages of each. From "The Art and Science of Audio BookProduction" I get the definition that "Ideally, narration istranslating the written word to the spoken word in a way that is asconsistent as possible with the intent of the author. At the least, itis translating the written word to the spoken word in a way that is

intelligent and agreeable to the listener. ... The late William ArthurDeacon, Toronto literary critic, tried to make himself "into a panel

of glass through which the reader could see the book as if he held itin his own hands."

This is why I have specifically asked the authors to give theirdirection on how they think the part should be delivered. I hope youdon't think of this as infringing on your artistic licence, it is merely meant to help your delivery bring to life the lines that theauthor originally heard in their head.

Because of our format as news media "despatches", the news-reader

takes on the part of the narrator. Normally the narrator would adjusthis or her voice to suite the character they were reading the dialogue

for however by casting different people for the different parts, this

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DRW; Tragedy Strikes Starfleet Command Script DRW-2.1


allows us to truly have a different person for each character. I hope

this gives you the opportunity to sink into the role better.

Star Trek resources that might help you get an idea of the production...

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Earth-Romulan_War http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Station_Salem-One

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorian http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Andorian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_%28Star_Trek%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulan

I would also like to extend an invitation to join us on TrekUnitedwhere you can keep in touch with the members about the PodBook project<http://www.trekunited.com/community/index.php?showtopic=15036&st=40>keep up abreast with discussion about Star Trek fan productions orjust hang out and enjoy our friendly, non-aggressive atmosphere.

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