Episode Transcript
Rogue Tyger
“The End Run,” Part 3
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 fights for survival. 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
While the Tyger remains in the Hrageddor system, most of the crew — hidden aboard a Coutharian vessel — have landed covertly on Acheron. Will they be able to escort Princess Nalini al-Zamin to safety?
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents Rogue Tyger. Tonight’s episode: “The End Run,” part three.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
VERMILLION SKY CARGO HOLD
(USE TYGER CARGO HOLD AMBIENT)
ENLING
Well, it was a long trip, but at least it was smooth.
AIDAN
I wish I could have seen the landing. I can only imagine how this spaceport dwarfs the one on Haapsalu.
ENLING
There’s plenty to see here, Aidan. We have time.
SOUND: METAL DOOR OPENING
TORMAR
Captain Mintha has her crew elsewhere. It is time to move.
ENLING
Good to see you too, Tormar.
TORMAR
The diplomats and the other crew should not see the princess.
NALINI
It is important that they have deniabiity, doctor.
ENLING
Of course.
TORMAR
Six-five-one, were you able to contact your House?
TINKER
No, the message appears to have been intercepted. I do not know if it was decoded.
ENLING
So, no backup?
NALINI
Not necessarily. I sent a pre-arranged message to Lady Shohreh.
AIDAN
Right. Isn’t she your, um, minder?
NALINI
(COLDLY)
She is someone I trust.
(BEAT)
To an outsider, it will look like an innocent query from a caterer. However, she will know we are on Acheron and will be looking for us.
ENLING
So, we have backup?
NALINI
Well, maybe not for several hours.
TORMAR
We must move before then.
ENLING
So, no chance this Lady Shohreh will get your people to mount a rescue?
NALINI
(SHARP)
She does not know where to look and as Tinker said: our communications are being intercepted.
AIDAN
All right, so we power up the skimmer?
TORMAR
Perhaps not, Mechanic Vosky.
NALINI
Perhaps not?
TORMAR
There is a problem, your highness.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
SPACEPORT – DAY
(GRAND MARKET WALLA IN BACKGROUND)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC OUT
AIDAN
(WONDER)
Oh my.
ENLING
Oh no.
TORMAR
Yes.
AIDAN
Those crowds!
(BEAT)
Is it like this every day on Acheron?
ENLING
Not every day. Every fifth day. Market day.
(BEAT)
I didn’t think.
TINKER
I did anticipate the market crowds would aid our exit from the spaceport. However, I did not estimate this crowd density.
ENLING
You’re right, this is bigger than I remember.
AIDAN
Who are those people? Is that some kind of march?
TINKER
This does not appear to be regular market day activity.
NALINI
They’re petitioners to the Emperor. They make a ceremonial procession through the city to the palace of Trantor above there.
TINKER
Please stay in the shadows, your highness. We do not want you seen.
NALINI
Sorry, Tinker.
ENLING
Then today is Mandja-makan: a high feast day. The Emperor must have declared it in the past decaday or so.
AIDAN
So the Emperor just sits up there in his palace, and declares festivals on a whim?
ENLING
Oh, all sorts of oficial reasons are given. Mount Merbabu erupts. Solar flares. In truth, it’s usually in response to some political pressure — he needs to remind people he’s great.
(BEAT)
Yeah, basically it’s a whim.
TINKER
It is a highly irregular event that is statistically unlikely. However, it would explain the crowd density.
TORMAR
I do not understand. Captain Mintha did not mention this.
ENLING
I doubt your Captain Mintha knows such odd human customs. We also didn’t tell her any of our plan.
TINKER
I should have been anticipated this event.
ENLING
Enough with the robot guilt. I’m guessing none of us has been tapping into the news feeds for current events between rescuing princesses and fleeing through nebulae.
NALINI
The doctor is right Tinker, Mandja-makan is rarely reported much outside of the Acheron system. After all, it only affects one city on one planet for a little less than a day.
AIDAN
Wait, that whole complex up there is the palace? That’s like a whole city onto itself.
NALINI
(DISGUSTED)
You never saw pictures of Trantor in school?
ENLING
Okay, let’s focus on our options.
TORMAR
I do not think the skimmer will be able to get through these crowds easily or quickly.
ENLING
We can go over.
NALINI
This is not the frontier, doctor.
TINKER
We do not have clearance to operate a vehicle above street level.
ENLING
Thank you, Tinker.
(BEAT)
Princess.
TINKER
It may also attract undue attention.
AIDAN
What about sneaking out into the crowd?
TORMAR
I do not sneak.
TINKER
We cannot ensure the princess’ safety. I have already scanned several known Xinwei agents in the crowd.
ENLING
I guess your theory of double agents in your House is correct, huh?
TINKER
Their presence supports that assumption.
(TO NALINI)
Your highness, it is now almost certain enemy agents are secretly working for Clarke-Timurin.
NALINI
Then we should assume Xinwei decoded the message and knows we are here.
TORMAR
We must choose an action course soon.
TINKER
Engineer Tormar is right. Captain Mintha’s cargo will not be inspected due to her diplomatic status, but we cannot stay at the port unnoticed.
NALINI
We mentioned the skimmer in our message. If Xinwei has decoded it, perhaps we can use the skimmer to create a false trail.
AIDAN
You mean after all the work we put into it, we’re not going to use the skimmer!?
NALINI
There are more important things than some machine!
ENLING
Present company excluded, Tinker.
NALINI
Yes.
ENLING
Besides, Aidan. We are using it.
(TO TORMAR)
Assuming you can show some Mintha or someone else how to pilot it.
TINKER
Engineer Tormar, I predict the skimmer will afford a distraction.
TORMAR
I can ask some of Vermillion Sky’s crew to move it to our embassy.
NALINI
That should occupy some of the cursed Xinwei agents.
ENLING
Okay, so we’re not going over the crowds or through them. Are we supposed to go under them?
TINKER
Yes.
ENLING
Oh no.
NALINI
You don’t mean—?
SEWERS
(ECHO-PRONE SEWER AMBIENT)
SOUND: FEET SPLASHING
ENLING
I should never have given him the idea.
(BEAT)
So, how are you enjoying the scenic capital of all the Imperium, Aidan?
AIDAN
I’m not seeing so much as smelling. Ugh. I wonder how many things died in this muck.
TORMAR
There are definite toxins in the water, but there are some nutrients as well.
AIDAN
(WHA—?)
How would you know that?
ENLING
He, uh, has special nerve-endings in his toenails.
AIDAN
Wait a minute, Tormar: you’re barefoot!?
TORMAR
My trunks are perfectly adequate.
AIDAN
I always thought those extra leathery things were boots.
TORMAR
Such encumbrances are for humans.
ENLING
I’ll remind you of that next time you’re in a spacesuit.
TINKER
Please stop movement and cease speaking for the moment.
(PAUSE)
ENLING
(SOFTER)
Are we being followed?
TINKER
(SOFTER)
That is what I am assessing.
(PAUSE)
It does not appear so at this time.
ENLING
What’s the likelihood anyone will look down here?
TINKER
The probability is low, but the danger still exists.
AIDAN
And we’re just going to hope they’re close enough for Tinker to use those blades of his?
ENLING
Oh, I’m sorry Aidan, I forgot.
SOUND: METAL GEAR RUSTLE
ENLING
While you were busy getting the medical supplies, I made sure we all had blasters.
AIDAN
You’re all armed?
NALINI
It would be foolish not to be.
AIDAN
So, we don’t carry guns when we’re going onto a mysterious wreck in the middle of nowhere, but we pack heat when we land on a major coreworld city crawling with security?
TORMAR
Maybe we did not trust you to carry a firearm, Vosky.
ENLING
Oh, hush. Here you go Aidan.
SOUND: GEAR TOSS
SOUND: GEAR CATCH
AIDAN
Well, better late than never. Is this even charged?
SOUND: GUN POWER UP
ENLING
Hey! Point it down.
AIDAN
Sorry. I’ll take that as a yes.
TINKER
Are you all right to continue, your highness? Is the pressure suit keeping you dry?
NALINI
Yes, it just doesn’t fit well, so I can’t move very fast.
AIDAN
I’m sorry, I tried to fit one of our spares as best I could.
NALINI
You should have tried harder.
TINKER
We should continue down this tunnel for another twenty minutes.
ENLING
What I wouldn’t give to be with Reg and Grainne on the Tyger right now.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC OUT
GRAINNE
Do you suppose they’re safe?
REG MACORUM
I don’t know, Grainne. They should have landed by now. It won’t be easy getting away from the spaceport unnoticed.
GRAINNE
Easier then sitting here as if we were a fat drundle waiting to be picked off by a burlywog.
REG MACORUM
Well, we’re as ready as we’re going to be. Though I don’t think we can pull this off if we attract too many more vultures.
SOUND: COMPUTER BEEP
GRAINNE
Captain, a new ship just jumped in.
REG MACORUM
Big vulture? Small vulture?
GRAINNE
Lead vulture. It’s the Silver Star.
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME IN
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(STANDARD SILVER STAR BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME OUT
JOCHI BORTAY
There she is, Captain. That’s the Tyger. Looks like the reports about the engine were right.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Yes, Mister Bortay, she’s not so proud now with a broken FTL… limping around this junkyard, wondering why its cries for help have gone unnoticed.
JOCHI BORTAY
No chance of that captain. Kramer was on the scene first and he intercepted all the Tyger’s messages.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Good, good. The Cee-Tees aren’t coming to save them. No nebula to hide in. It ends today, Reg. Your luck has run out.
(BEAT)
Signal all ships: move in.
MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Rogue Tyger, episode twenty-eight, “The End Run,” part three 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 Phil Amico, Yasmin Tuazon, Nick DePinto, Sophia Medley, William R. Coughlan, Erin Goldstein, Brooks Tegler, 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 talented cast and crew and other interesting 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.