EXT. ALDERAAN, BATTLE FIELD - CONTINUOUS
In the absence of bombardment, the Jedi rally -- reforming
their ranks, cutting off the flow of clones into the city.
They are able to beat back another wave, but, out from the
lingering smoke, emerges another. A few Jedi exchange weary,
uncertain glances.
INT. INFINITY LANCE, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Anakin scans his surroundings. The density of enemy fighters
has greatly diminished, and for the most part Republic star
fighters have them under control.
He watches as the Falling Star speeds toward's Faal's
destroyer.
ANAKIN
Got anything for me to do?
KENOBI (O.S.)
We must seize the momentum. We're
sending the frigates to assault
their command ship. Join the
attack.
ANAKIN
You bet, master.
Anakin banks and accelerates toward Rohn's ship.
INT. ALDERAAN CASTLE, COMMAND CENTER - CONTINUOUS
Kenobi's eyes are grave.
KENOBI
But be careful, Anakin. The
commander of that ship is strong
with the Dark Side.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
Even as Anakin joins a formation of frigates, the Falling
Star approaches its prey.
INT. FALLING STAR, HANGAR BAY - CONTINUOUS
Kitch, Contana, and the Alien Gunners strap on weapons and
grenades.
KITCH
We drop directly into the bridge.
Take it, hold it long enough to do
the job, and get out. Quick and
clean, got it?
Aye's from the crew as the gear up.
KITCH (CONT'D)
(into comms)
Manx, are we close?
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Manx is close enough to the bridge or Faal's ship to make out
the crew, gesticulating frantically.
MANX
I'd say so.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The Star evades incoming fire from the destroyer as it rushes
the bridge and alights atop it. A boarding tube descends from
the hull.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Manx bolts out of her chair and exits the cockpit.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch and the crew unroll cords from winches and latch them
to their belts. They assemble around a circular lock in the
floor. Kitch holds a blaster rifle.
Manx charges in, grabs a cord of her own, latches in, and
Kitch tosses her the rifle.
MANX
Well, what are we waiting for?
Kitch hits a switch and the lock opens.
INT. FAAL'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
A circle is burned instantly into the ceiling, and then a
blast blows open a hole.
A surprised clone crew watches as a few thermal detonators
drop through the breach and skitter across the floor. A
moment, and then a scramble for cover.
BOOM. BOOM, BaBOOM.
In the immediate aftermath of the detonations, Kitch and his
crew drop in on their lines and open fire.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The Infinity Lance falls into formation with the Republic
frigates en route to Rohn's destroyer -- itself flanked by
smaller dark destroyers.
INT. REPUBLIC FRIGATE, HELM - CONTINUOUS
A frigate captain hails Anakin from his command chair, a
faint smile on her lips.
FRIGATE CAPTAIN
It looks like we have a fighter
escort.
A few of the frigate crew laugh good-naturedly.
INT. INFINITY LANCE, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Anakin looks earnest.
ANAKIN
Skywalker here in the Infinity
Lance, reporting for duty.
INT. REPUBLIC FRIGATE, HELM - CONTINUOUS
The captain looks a little confused.
FRIGATE CAPTAIN
(to her XO)
Sounds like a boy.
(into comms)
On whose orders?
ANAKIN (O.S.)
Under direct orders from General
Kenobi, ma'am.
A pause as the captain looks even more confused.
ANAKIN (O.S.) (CONT'D)
(his pride audible)
I'm his apprentice. Jedi apprentice
ma'am.
INT. INFINITY LANCE, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Anakin considers whether to continue.
ANAKIN
And if I may offer a report. Those
shields are tough. Real tough. I
think the thrusters are exposed,
but I don't really see her running
for it anyway, you know what I
mean? Ma'am?
INT. REPUBLIC FRIGATE, HELM - CONTINUOUS
FRIGATE CAPTAIN
(a bit taken aback)
Roger that. Good hunting.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The frigates converge on Rohn's ship.
INT. ROHN'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
A clone officer straightens his back.
CLONE OFFICER
Commander, we have a squadron of
frigates inbound.
ROHN
Launch reserve fighters and divert
all surplus power to shields. Now
we test this ship's mettle.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The frigates take positions in range of the destroyer --
several rows of heavy Republic firepower, but still dwarfed
by Rohn's dreadnought.
Dozens of enemy AA turrets open up on the Republic ships, and
the frigates return the light fire.
INT. REPUBLIC FRIGATE, HELM - CONTINUOUS
The captain's eyes are hard.
FRIGATE CAPTAIN
Fire.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The frigates let loose their big guns. A mighty barrage
peppers Rohn's destroyer, but no damage is visible.
INT. INFINITY LANCE, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Anakin looks uncertain. He steels himself and dives in.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The Lance banks and rolls into a strafing run, above the
plane of his comrades. Anakin fires the particle beam,
dragging it across the hull of Rohn's ship. It doesn't
penetrate.
INT. INFINITY LANCE, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Anakin looks over his shoulder.
ANAKIN
Not good. Let's try another pass.
But, as he swings about he sees a squadron of enemy fighters
pouring out of the destroyer.
ANAKIN (CONT'D)
How many does he have in there?
INT. FAAL'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
In a room full of clone corpses, Kitch takes the helm, while
Alda and one of the gunners work on sealing the hatch to the
bridge. Manx and Gunner Three have taken up positions behind
consoles, blasters trained at the hatch.
A small column of clones double-times it toward the bridge,
but Manx and Gunner Three fell them before they make it in --
Manx dropping the last one late enough that his momentum
carries his body through the hatch.
Alda gives her a look over his shoulder.
ALDA
Cutting it a little close, aren't
we?
MANX
(raising an eyebrow)
Then shut the door already.
Kitch swings the ship about, the cloner sliding into view and
landing dead center.
KITCH
Here's hoping they repaired that
cannon.
Kitch flips a switch.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The giant cannon emerges from the destroyer's hull.
INT. FAAL'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Kitch laughs.
KITCH
I like it a whole lot better from
over here. Alda, would you like the
honor?
ALDA
Give me a few more seconds.
KITCH
(smiling)
Sorry.
He fires the cannon.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The blast from the cannon is truly epic, a huge, brilliant
bolt of energy blazing across the distance from the destroyer
to the cloner.
It's a direct hit, and a series of explosions erupt across
the cloner's hull, but the damage is less than catastrophic.
Manx watches over her shoulder. She looks quizzically at
Kitch, who shrugs.
KITCH
Guess we would have made it.
MANX
Don't tell Heph. He was very proud.
Alda and the gunner seal the hatch. Alda slaps some
explosives on it -- a booby trap -- and approaches Kitch.
ALDA
So, I guess it's Plan B.
KITCH
My favorite plan.
Kitch locks in the destroyer's heading and sets thrust to
maximum. He and his crew head back to the breach and reattach
their lines. Kitch hits a button on his belt, and the winches
pull them all up and out.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The Republic frigates hold formation, even as they are
swarmed by clone fighters. Swivel guns track the bogeys as
best they can, but between the fighters and Rohn's destroyer
the losses begin to mount.
And worst of all, the frigate's fire is still not
penetrating.
The Infinity Lance really does constitute a one-man fighter
escort, though. It seems to be everywhere all at once, lasing
through clone ships with abandon.
INT. ROHN'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Rohn looks pleased, as he views a holographic representation
of the action.
ROHN
And soon their fleet will be so
much dust. Our clones will travel
to the surface unopposed, the
planetary shield will fall again,
and the Jedi will be swept away
like vermin by a flood.
CLONE OFFICER
Commander! Lord Faal's ship!
ROHN
What about it?
Rohn replaces the hologram of his ship with that of Faal's
and its surroundings. He can see what's happening.
ROHN (CONT'D)
No.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The Falling Star detaches from the destroyer and thrusts to a
safe distance.
INT. FALLING STAR, COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS
Kitch grins widely as he and Manx pilot to safety.
MANX
I knew you were disappointed the
first time around. You love a good
crash.
KITCH
But not from the front row. And not
without my first mate.
Kitch winks at her and starts flipping switches.
MANX
What are you doing, Cap?
KITCH
Autopilot.
MANX
There's a war on in case you
haven't noticed.
KITCH
It's just for a second.
Kitch unstraps and holds out a hand.
INT. ROHN'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Rohn turns from the hologram to the viewing panel. He can see
the impending disaster with his own eyes. It won't be long
now.
ROHN
(into comms)
Open it! Or I will open you.
INT. FAAL'S SHIP, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
A unit of clones works to unseal the hatch to the bridge.
CLONE SOLDIER
(into comms)
We have it now.
A clone subordinate activates the door control. The hiss of
the opening hatch is followed by an explosion.
Those closest to the hatch are incinerated, but the clone
with the communicator and a few others survive. They stagger
to their feet and take the bridge.
INT. FAAL'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
It's too late. The cloner looms very large in the viewing
panel.
INT. ROHN'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Rohn quivers with rage, his eyes red and moist. He stares at
his ships in horror. They collide in a brilliant flash.
INT. FALLING STAR, AFT VIEWING DECK - CONTINUOUS
The crew is assembled, Manx and Kitch side by side, the
explosion framed perfectly before them.
The crew laughs, hoots, hugs. Alda pats his eep on the head.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The explosion continues, awesome to behold. Clone transports
too near the blast are engulfed.
INT. FALLING STAR, PASSAGEWAY - CONTINUOUS
Kitch and Manx head back toward the cockpit, Kitch's comm in
hand.
KITCH
Captain Kitch reporting. Scratch
one command ship and one cloner.
INT. ALDERAAN CASTLE, COMMAND CENTER - CONTINUOUS
Applause all around, as the two ships vanish from the
holographic battle map.
LEORE
Copy that, Captain. Well done!
KENOBI
Bloody amazing!
ELSPET
We're going to win aren't we?
ORGANA
I think so, my love.
KENOBI
(into comms)
I owe you one, my friend.
KITCH (O.S.)
One?! You cheap son of a gundark.
Laughter all around, but Mothma's eyes drift to the window,
and Kenobi's follow.
MOTHMA
Won, but not over.
KENOBI
No.
INT. ROHN'S SHIP, BRIDGE - CONTINUOUS
Rohn turns his back to the viewing panel, and marches toward
the exit.
CLONE OFFICER
Orders, commander?!
ROHN
(still walking)
We are lost. Kill as many as you
can. I must report our defeat.
CLONE OFFICER
Commander?
ROHN
Kill, and then die. That is all.
Rohn passes through a hatch and off the bridge.
EXT. ALDERAAN, CAPITAL CITY - CONTINUOUS
The fighting in the city is chaotic. Republic troops arrive
from the same direction as the clones. There is no order or
clear objective other than survival.
The handmaiden and her family continue to hold their
apartment, firing from windows. On the street below, a clone
rocket team readies their heavy shoulder-mounted weapon and
takes aim.
INT. HANDMAIDEN'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
The handmaiden's father sees the plasma bazooka pointed in
their direction.
HANDMAIDEN'S FATHER
Get back. Everybody back!
He turns from the window, but it is too late. He, his wife,
and one of their sons are caught in the blast.
The handmaiden and her other brother, firing from a different
window are knocked back and dazed, debris falling around
them.
Stunned and woozy, the handmaiden surveys the corpses of her
family. He brother finds his feet and rushes the gaping hole
in the wall, blaster in hand.
The handmaiden screams for him, but he ignores her... and is
dropped by blaster fire.
EXT. ALDERAAN, CAPITAL CITY - CONTINUOUS
Odo Luff glances back at the ruins of the handmaiden's
apartment -- more casualties.
The rocket team takes aim at another nest, but as the
projectile leaves the launcher, Luff stops it mid-air with a
wave of his hand and flings it back at them. They are killed
instantly.
Luff quickly ducks behind a building, taking a moment while
he is out of the line of fire. He puts fingers to his temple.
ODO (V.O.)
Obi Wan, I don't know how much more
we can take.
INT. ALDERAAN CASTLE, COMMAND CENTER - CONTINUOUS
Obi Wan is watching the field of battle. The battle rages on,
but the stream of clones into the city, past the trenches,
has been stemmed.
KENOBI (V.O.)
Stand firm, Odo. There will be no
more reinforcements, so stay alive
and save as many as you can,
because it is only a matter of
time.
EXT. SPACE, OFF ALDERAAN - CONTINUOUS
The frigates continue their fruitless assault on Rohn's ship,
and one more of them succumbs to enemy fire.
INT. REPUBLIC FRIGATE, HELM - CONTINUOUS
The captain grips the arms of her chair.
FRIGATE CAPTAIN
Analytics. Report!
REPUBLIC TECH OFFICER
There's a weak point, at the shield
generator itself -- sort of like a
funnel emanating from that single
point. Readying visual.
A hologram appears in front of the captain's chair. An energy
field surrounds Rohn's ship, but it originates from a tiny
spot atop the ship, about midway down the length of it. It
looks kind of like a navel.
FRIGATE CAPTAIN
Damn, that's small.
In the viewing panel a pair of fighters materialize, heading
straight for the helm in kamikaze run. The captain winces in
anticipation.
Suddenly, the Infinity Lance appears and destroys the clone
fighters with a sweep of its particle beam.
FRIGATE CAPTAIN (CONT'D)
Skywalker!