Episode Transcript
Rogue Tyger
“Cat and Mouse,” Part 2
INTRODUCTION
HOST
Welcome to Jabberwocky Audio Theater.
RATING ANNOUNCER
The following audio theater is rated AD-G for general audiences.
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
In the distant reaches of space, a lone ship plunges deep into the unknown. Her crew?
REG MACORUM
Reg Macorum, ship’s captain.
GRAINNE
Grainne Kochowa, pilot.
ENLING
Shen Enling, ship’s doctor.
TORMAR
Tormar, engineer.
AIDAN
Aidan Vosky, mechanic.
ANNOUNCER
Confronted by an old enemy at the edge of a nebula, Captain Macorum must decide to fight or flee.
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents Rogue Tyger. Tonight’s episode: “Cat and Mouse,” part two.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD BRIDGE AMBIENT)
REG MACORUM
Grainne, has the FTL cooled down enough for another jump? All we need is a quick hop into the nebula from here.
GRAINNE
Already on it, captain.
SOUND: FTL DRIVE SPINNING UP
AIDAN
Jochi must know we’ll do that.
GRAINNE
I agree with Aidan. Sylvia wouldn’t let him grandstand unless they had a plan.
REG MACORUM
True, but —
SOUND: GRAVITY WAVE PULSE
SOUND: SHIP RATTLE
NALINI
Oh!
AIDAN
Princess!
TINKER
She is unharmed, Aidan Vosky. You may remain seated.
SOUND: GRAVITY WAVE PULSE
SOUND: SHIP RATTLE
NALINI
What is that!?
REG MACORUM
It’s trouble.
(BEAT)
Grainne, how’s the FTL drive?
GRAINNE
Knocked out.
NALINI
Knocked out!?
TINKER
Based on the acoustic signature, there is a ninety-two percent probability we are receiving pulses from multiple gravity well generators.
NALINI
But those are illegal.
SOUND: GRAVITY WAVE PULSE
SOUND: SHIP RATTLE
REG MACORUM
These people aren’t exactly law-abiding, your highness.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
NALINI
(SOTTO VOCE)
How could these mercenaries get such devices?
AIDAN
(SOTTO VOCE)
I — I don’t know. They’re pretty resourceful.
REG MACORUM
Tormar, what’s the state of the engines?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Main engines and thrusters are functioning correctly. However, I assume you know the FTL drive must be re-started.
GRAINNE
I’ve come to that sad realization, Tormar.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
You have all the engine power you need, Pilot Kochowa.
NALINI
Then we can get clear of this… gravity field?
TINKER
It is an artificial gravity well, your highness. Since they are most likely using several generators, it may take time to get the ship far enough away to jump.
GRAINNE
We won’t have time.
AIDAN
What do you see?
REG MACORUM
Zeno crates. Three of them, coming right for us.
NALINI
Zeno crates?
AIDAN
Our old friends.
TINKER
The Zenocrate Cartel, your highness. We believe they are in the employ of House Xinwei-Moore.
NALINI
And you know them?
REG MACORUM
Sure, that’s Captain Dubash and her ship Arjuna, Captain Kramer and the Argosy close behind and see that scary-looking one?
AIDAN
The silver-grey one with the three nacelles that look like claws?
REG MACORUM
Yup. That’s the Kestrel, Captain Cifuentes’ boat.
GRAINNE
Course, captain?
REG MACORUM
The quickest route into the nebula. See there?
GRAINNE
Yes, but the Argosy can cut us off.
REG MACORUM
We’ll work on that.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Tormar, did you and Vosky get the missile launchers working after the crash?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Yes, captain, but the auto-loader mechanism is… inconsistent.
REG MACORUM
I’m sending him down to help you now. We’re going to need a full spread in three minutes.
(BEAT)
Aidan?
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
AIDAN
I’m there.
SOUND: AIRLOCK OPENS
SOUND: AIRLOCK CLOSES
REG MACORUM
Your highness, you may wish to wait below decks for your safety.
NALINI
My place is here until this crisis has passed.
REG MACORUM
(SIGHS)
Well, you better sit down or hold on then.
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS
GRAINNE
Coming about.
REG MACORUM
All ahead full.
SOUND: MAIN ENGINE BURN
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME FADES IN
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(SILVER STAR BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME FADES OUT
RIKKEN
The Tyger’s running.
JOCHI BORTAY
Ha! Figured they would. Won’t help them any.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Reg Macorum may be arrogant, Mister Bortay, but he’s no fool. We shouldn’t be either.
JOCHI BORTAY
Yes, captain.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Rikken, are they trying to clear the pulse generators or heading for the nebula?
RIKKEN
The nebula, ma’am.
JOCHI BORTAY
They haven’t had time to locate the generators, let alone figure out how to outrun them. We placed them far enough apart.
RIKKEN
But if they reach the nebula —
JOCHI BORTAY
They won’t. Kramer’s going to cut them off. Besides, even if they do slip into the nebula, they’re not going anywhere. We have generators all around it.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Still, that would be a delay. Open a channel.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
JOCHI BORTAY
Open.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Reg, leaving so soon? We haven’t had a chance to speak.
REG MACORUM
(RADIO FILTER)
Sylvia, this is a surprise, I thought you were leaving the diplomacy to Jochi.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Well, he did work very hard to organize this gathering, so I wasn’t going to deny him his surprise, but you and I still have several things to discuss.
REG MACORUM
(RADIO FILTER)
Just you? Won’t the other captains be jealous? Dubash can’t be happy taking orders from you.
SYLVIA MALABAR
It’s sweet that you remember your old comrades. Why don’t you heave to before Captain Kramer needs to alter your paint job?
REG MACORUM
(RADIO FILTER)
I hate to leave this reunion, but I’m afraid we really must be going. Tyger out.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
RIKKEN
Kramer’s asking if he’s free to fire.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Yes, but we need them alive — at least for the time being. No kill shots.
MUSIC: SHORT TRANSITION BUMPER
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD TYGER BRIDGE AMBIENT)
TINKER
Captain Macorum, I estimate the opposing vessel, this Argosy will be in firing range in forty seconds.
REG MACORUM
That’s pretty much my guess as well.
NALINI
Well… what are we doing?
GRAINNE
Keeping our nose at the approaching ship.
REG MACORUM
Kramer’s going to want to wound us, take out our engines, but he can’t get a good shot at this angle.
NALINI
So why doesn’t he maneuver to get a good angle?
REG MACORUM
Oh he will. He’ll try and wait until the last moment, hoping we can’t counter.
(BEAT)
You never met Captain Kramer, did you, Grainne?
GRAINNE
No, but you said he likes to pilot himself — doesn’t want anyone else to damage his ship.
TINKER
So Pilot Kochowa predicts she can outmaneuver Captain Kramer. And your position near the chaff controls suggests an additional tactic.
REG MACORUM
Oh, it’s all part of the same ploy. Grainne will do a barrel roll while I release chaff to cover where he thinks we’re moving. And —
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Tormar, how are the missiles?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Four ready to go, Captain.
AIDAN
(INTERCOM)
And four more shortly after, if you want.
REG MACORUM
That’s better than I hoped. Keep the channel open.
GRAINNE
He’s going to make his move any moment now.
REG MACORUM
I’ll release chaff on your mark, Grainne.
GRAINNE
All right, steady… Barrel Roll Now!
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS
REG MACORUM
Releasing chaff!
SOUND: CHAFF RELEASE
NALINI
Oh!
REG MACORUM
Tormar, fire!
SOUND: MISSILE LAUNCH (X 4)
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Missiles away.
AIDAN
(INTERCOM)
Reloading!
REG MACORUM
That got his attention.
GRAINNE
He’s altering course, releasing countermeasures…
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
SOUND: MUFFLED DISTANT EXPLOSION
NALINI
Did it work?
REG MACORUM
Not as well as I’d like.
TINKER
The Argosy is still dangerously close.
REG MACORUM
We’re working on it.
GRAINNE
(MORE TO HERSELF)
He’s not a bad pilot.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Missile tubes reloaded, captain.
REG MACORUM
Excellent. Grainne?
GRAINNE
Ready.
(BEAT)
Prepare for another roll, your highness.
NALINI
(STILL CATCHING HER BREATH)
Okay.
REG MACORUM
All right, sensors and engine if you can, Tormar.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
We will do our best.
REG MACORUM
All right, Grainne, Tormar… engines and missiles on my mark.
(PAUSE)
Mark!
SOUND: MISSILE LAUNCH (X 4)
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Missiles away!
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS
GRAINNE
Rolling
SOUND: CHAFF RELEASE
REG MACORUM
And chaff is away.
GRAINNE
He’s trying to evade — No! He’s breaking off.
TINKER
The other ship, the Kestrel, is coming in to shield the Argosy.
GRAINNE
We have our opening.
REG MACORUM
Punch it.
SOUND: MAIN ENGINE BURN
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
SOUND: MUFFLED DISTANT EXPLOSION (FIREWORKS?)
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
SOUND: DISTANT CHAFF
TINKER
The Kestrel has a considerable anti-missile defense system.
SOUND: DISTANT, NASTIER SOUNDING EXPLOSION
REG MACORUM
You’re right, three out of four missiles isn’t bad.
NALINI
You knew this would happen. Somehow you knew.
REG MACORUM
I know these captains. Kramer didn’t want his paint job ruined and Cifuentes is always happy to come in as the cavalry.
GRAINNE
Letting us enter the nebula in three… two… one. We’re good.
NALINI
Are we safe?
TINKER
There is a 70 percent chance the ships could track us if they entered the nebula now, however I predict Pilot Kochowa will alter course, diminishing that possibility by 10 percent every five seconds.
GRAINNE
Which I have already done.
REG MACORUM
In other words, we’re safe.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
SOUND: ALERT SOUND
REG MACORUM
Good job everyone. We’re safe in the nebula for the time being.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Well that’s peachy. I’m okay too, thanks for asking.
REG MACORUM
Ah, doctor…
GRAINNE
Oh, Enling, I’m so sorry, we didn’t —
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
No, you all didn’t. Look, I appreciate how maneuverable the Tyger is, but I’d just as soon not break my nose again.
(BEAT)
Now since we’re apparently not all about to die, I’ll let it slide.
GRAINNE
There’s no danger of dying. We’re quite safe in here.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
So do we have any plan on how to get out?
NALINI
Yes, captain, how are we going to escape?
REG MACORUM
One problem at a time, your highness.
(BEAT)
We need to figure out how many ships they have… and how many of those generators.
(BEAT)
At the moment, I don’t know how we’re going to escape.
MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Rogue Tyger, episode twenty-two, “Cat and Mouse,” part two of five.
(BEAT)
Rogue Tyger is a production of Jabberwocky Audio Theater in association with Arlington Independent Media and was transcribed in Deepest Springfield.
(BEAT)
Tonight’s episode featured the vocal talents of Brooks Tegler, Erin Goldstein, Nick DePinto, Sophia Medley, William R. Coughlan, Phil Amico, Yasmin Tuazon, Bjorn Munson, and Carol McCaffrey.
(BEAT)
Music was composed by John Maestri and arranged by Jason Chmiola, with final sound mixing by William R. Coughlan.
(BEAT)
And the episode was written and directed by Bjorn Munson.
(BEAT)
Visit our website, jabber audio dot com, for full show notes about all our wonderful cast and crew and other informative details.
(BEAT)
This is William R. Coughlan, reminding you to join us next time for more Rogue Tyger.
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC ENDS
CONCLUSION
HOST
Hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Text © Bjorn Munson, under license to Jabberwocky Audio Theater. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.