Episode Transcript
Rogue Tyger
“Cat and Mouse,” Part 5
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
Will the Tyger escape before they are completely surrounded by the ships of the Zenocrate Cartel?
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents Rogue Tyger. Tonight’s episode: “Cat and Mouse,” part five.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD TYGER BRIDGE AMBIENT)
REG MACORUM
How much time do we have, Grainne?
GRAINNE
One hour. Maybe two if one of their captains does something stupid.
REG MACORUM
Possible.
(PAUSE)
To think it could end here.
GRAINNE
Don’t start saying that sort of thing, captain.
REG MACORUM
Are you going to tell me you don’t see your path ending here?
GRAINNE
Would you believe me if I did?
REG MACORUM
Well, no.
(BEAT)
As I remember, your people say no path ever truly ends.
GRAINNE
So you were listening.
REG MACORUM
I have my moments.
(BEAT)
I’m afraid this isn’t one of them. All I see now is a nasty, whimpering end.
GRAINNE
Tormar said that he and Tinker have improved the guidance systems on our remaining missiles.
REG MACORUM
We could end the whimper with a bang, but no. That won’t get us through that net of ships to say nothing of those gravity pulse generators.
GRAINNE
At least you can’t hear them.
(BEAT)
Even this deep in the nebula, I can still hear them ever so slightly against the hull.
REG MACORUM
I didn’t realize. That must be maddening.
GRAINNE
It is. Usually I enjoy listening to the Tyger and all her sounds, her subtle harmonies, but —
(GASPS)
Oh!
REG MACORUM
Grainne, what is it?
GRAINNE
Captain, would it help if I told you I’ve found the signal they’re tracking us with?
REG MACORUM
It might. You’re sure?
GRAINNE
Hold on.
(PAUSE – LISTENING)
Oh yes. It’s very ingenious. The signal is almost entirely masked by regular shipboard sounds. I don’t think your ears will pick it up.
REG MACORUM
But Arang Pelaiyu ears will. Or enemy ships who know what to listen for.
GRAINNE
I just realized I’ve been hearing the signal noise for days. I thought it was part of Tyger not being well. After all, she’s been through a lot the past few weeks and that crash a couple days ago didn’t help.
REG MACORUM
It gave us the princess and our current load of troubles.
GRAINNE
And the signal, Captain. That what I realized. I didn’t hear the signal until Princess Nalini came on board. And somehow, in the past few hours, it’s gotten louder.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Enling.
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Yes, captain?
REG MACORUM
You in sick bay?
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Yes, why?
REG MACORUM
Get Nalini up there. I don’t care what story you make up, but I need her there now.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
TYGER SICK BAY
(STANDARD SICK BAY AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
NALINI
But I don’t understand why you need to examine me now.
ENLING
There’s a very compelling reason. Medical reason, that —
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR OPENING
ENLING
That the captain will explain now.
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR CLOSING
REG MACORUM
Ah, your highness.
ENLING
I’m examining her because…
REG MACORUM
You may be… bugged your highness.
NALINI
Bugged!? A princess is not “bugged.”
ENLING
I have to admit she’s got a point captain.
REG MACORUM
I understand it is unlikely , but Grainne has narrowed the signal down to when you came on board, princess. Now ordinarily, I might think someone would place a tracker with your luggage, but as you came on board without any…
NALINI
The Chagatai Seal.
ENLING
Excuse me?
NALINI
See this amulet? It has the Chagatai Seal, the great seal of the House of Clarke-Timurin. This added inscription here means the holder of this amulet is a princess of the House of Clarke-Timurin.
ENLING
I think we’ve established you’re a princess, your princess-ship.
REG MACORUM
(NOT NOW)
Doctor.
NALINI
Don’t you see? This is the one object I would make sure to have in my possession at all times. What better place to put a tracking device?
ENLING
Are you telling me the amulet is bugged?
NALINI
I’m saying you can help me find out.
ENLING
Well, we might be able to use the microscope in the lab, but that’s more for biological specimens…
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR OPENING
TINKER
Your highness, are you all right? I heard the doctor summon you.
ENLING
Ah, shortcut! Tinker, you have excellent vision don’t you?
TINKER
What do you mean?
ENLING
Does this amulet secretly hold a tracking device allowing enemy ships to, say, find us and kill us?
NALINI
It’s the Chagatai Seal, Tinker.
TINKER
This is not the great seal, your highness.
NALINI
What?
TINKER
Now that I examine it closely, I detect minute imperfections on a microscopic level. It is a copy.
REG MACORUM
And do you see a bug?
TINKER
Yes, there is a very small transponder. How did you come to suspect this?
ENLING
It was a team effort, Tinker. Let’s just destroy it.
NALINI
No wait!
(BEAT)
Captain, would this be of more use as a false trail?
REG MACORUM
It may, your highness, it may.
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME FADES IN
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(STANDARD SILVER STAR BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME FADES OUT
SYLVIA MALABAR
How much longer, Mister Bortay?
JOCHI BORTAY
Twenty minutes at most, captain.
SYLVIA MALABAR
What’s their position?
SOUND: COMPUTER BEEP
JOCHI BORTAY
The Kestrel has slowly pushed them to the bottom of the nebula here.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Excellent. The Tyger can either make a futile run at the gravity pulse generators or be surrounded by our ships.
SOUND: COMPUTER ALERT
JOCHI BORTAY
They’re changing course.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Where?
JOCHI BORTAY
Back deeper into the nebula.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Too little too late, Captain Macorum.
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD TYGER BRIDGE AMBIENT)
REG MACORUM
Easy on the acceleration, Aidan, the drone shouldn’t move faster than the Tyger can.
AIDAN
Yes sir. I’m just trying to match some of Grainne’s moves.
GRAINNE
I appreciate the effort.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Enling, are you and Nalini safely strapped in?
ENLING
(INTERCOM)
Yes, thanks for asking this time.
NALINI
(INTERCOM)
Are you sure Tinker will be all right, Captain?
REG MACORUM
He’s the one who suggested he do a spacewalk to place the missiles, princess. His shielding should mask him from any of their sensors.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
GRAINNE
Speaking of which, they should be in position.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Tormar, Tinker. How are we looking?
TINKER
(RADIO FILTER)
All four missiles are in position. You may retract the tether.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Retracting.
REG MACORUM
Now Tormar, you’re sure these can fire remotely?
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Yes, captain. They will impact the one sentry ship and the gravity generator before they can react.
REG MACORUM
All right, we only have a couple minutes before all the zeno crates realize the ship they’re closing in on is a drone.
TINKER
(RADIO FILTER)
I am back on board.
REG MACORUM
Grainne, are you ready?
GRAINNE
Absolutely.
REG MACORUM
All ahead full.
SOUND: MAIN ENGINE BURN
GRAINNE
On course.
AIDAN
I think they’re beginning to realize there’s another ship.
REG MACORUM
Tormar, fire all missiles.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Firing!
SOUND: DISTANT MISSILE FIRE (X2)
SOUND: DISTANT MISSILE FIRE
SOUND: DISTANT MISSILE FIRE
REG MACORUM
Looks good.
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
GRAINNE
That’s the generator
SOUND: DISTANT, NASTIER SOUNDING EXPLOSION
REG MACORUM
That’s the ship.
(BEAT)
Uh, Aidan, you don’t need to keep piloting the drone. Just let it go.
AIDAN
Oh, sorry.
TORMAR
(INTERCOM)
Pilot Kochowa, try the FTL drive now.
GRAINNE
Thank you, Tormar.
SOUND: FTL DRIVE SPINNING UP
AIDAN
That’s nice to hear.
GRAINNE
I have missed that sound.
REG MACORUM
Jump when you’re ready, Grainne.
GRAINNE
My pleasure.
SOUND: FTL DRIVE ENGAGES
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME FADES IN
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(SAME AS BEFORE)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME FADES OUT
JOCHI BORTAY
I don’t believe it. No. That’s not possible.
RIKKEN
Order pursuit, Captain?
SYLVIA MALABAR
Pursuit? With most of our ships in the nebula, unable to jump because of our own gravity pulse generators?
JOCHI BORTAY
I’m shutting down the generators.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Too little too late.
(BEAT)
One of these days, Captain Macorum, your luck will run out. Your luck will run out and I will be there.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES IN
TYGER OBSERVATION CUPOLA
(STANDARD TIGER AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC FADES OUT
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR OPENING
AIDAN
You’re sure this is okay. I, um, don’t want Tinker to be concerned.
NALINI
No, I convinced him to do a diagnostic after doing his spacewalk.
SOUND: BULKHEAD DOOR CLOSING
AIDAN
Okay, well, here we are. The observation deck. Well, I guess it’s too small for a “deck,” but still: no end of stars in every direction.
NALINI
I had no idea this was here.
AIDAN
Oh, they haven’t used it on the Tyger in ages, but for this type of ship, a Wessex survey cruiser, this was vital.
NALINI
For astrogation? Surely they had adequate instruments in the bridge, even in those days.
AIDAN
Oh no, not for work — to get away from everyone. The rest of the crew.
NALINI
Get away from — there’s only five of you. Aren’t there?
AIDAN
On the Tyger, yeah, but back in the old days… You know those big cargo holds?
NALINI
Yes?
AIDAN
In Wessex days, that was all people, weapons, and specimens.
NALINI
How many people?
AIDAN
Fifty.
NALINI
Fifty people lived on this ship?
AIDAN
Oh, that was the maximum. It usually wasn’t that many.
NALINI
Then how many?
AIDAN
“Only” thirty-seven.
NALINI
(PAUSE, LAUGHS)
I see. So a crewman could come up here…
AIDAN
And be lost in the starscape. An astrogation watch was a divine gift.
MUSIC: ROMANTIC THEME BEGINS, SOFTLY
NALINI
Looking into the divine.
AIDAN
“Across the stars, across the span Are treasures yet unknown by man
Are tales to learn, are songs to sing, Of what the future yet may bring.”
NALINI
What do you want the future to bring, Aidan?
AIDAN
So many things. I don’t know.
NALINI
You don’t want to “sail the sea of stars divine?”
AIDAN
Wait, you’ve heard that before — You’ve read Borellio?
NALINI
I thought everyone did.
AIDAN
I don’t know what you’ve read.
(BEAT)
I don’t know your world, Nalini.
NALINI
That doesn’t matter. We’re not on anyone’s world right now. It’s just you, me, and all the stars in the sky.
MUSIC: ROMANTIC THEME ENDS
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Rogue Tyger, episode twenty-five, “Cat and Mouse,” part five 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, Yasmin Tuazon, Sophia Medley, William R. Coughlan, Carol McCaffrey, Bjorn Munson, Nick DePinto, and Phil Amico.
(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 fantastic cast and crew and other absorbing details about the worlds of the Imperium.
(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.