Episode Transcript
Rogue Tyger
“The End Run,” Part 4
INTRODUCTION
HOST
Welcome to Jabberwocky Audio Theater.
RATING ANNOUNCER
The following audio theater is rated AD-PG, so parental guidance is suggested.
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
In space, amid the wrecks of hundreds of past space battles, the Tyger faces an enemy armada. Beneath the Imperial capital on Acheron, the remaining crew try to get Princess Nalini to safety.
(BEAT)
Jabberwocky Audio Theater presents Rogue Tyger. Tonight’s episode: “The End Run,” part four.
MUSIC: THEME MUSIC ENDS
SEWERS
(SEWER AMBIENT)
SOUND: FEET SPLASHING
AIDAN
I hate to say it, but I’m almost getting used to the smell.
ENLING
You’re better than I. We should have taken the helmets along with the suits. Ugh.
NALINI
How much further, Tinker?
TINKER
Not too far, your highness. We should turn right at this T-Intersection, and then straight along that tunnel until we reach the Ducal apartments.
AIDAN
Apartments? I thought this was like an embassy or compound or something.
ENLING
We are. But you see, the Great Houses can’t call their little palaces ‘palaces’ in the shadow of the imperial palace, can they? Hence ‘apartments.’
TINKER
That is the proper term, doctor.
TORMAR
Everyone quiet!
SOUND: FEET SPLASHING
TINKER
What do you observe, Engineer Tormar?
TORMAR
Should there be maintenance workers there?
TINKER
That is highly improbable.
NALINI
Especially during a feast day such as this.
AIDAN
Well, what if a sewer line breaks? Nothing would ruin your feast day like smelling this —
TINKER
(ALARM)
Your highness!
ENLING
Look out!
SOUND: BLASTER FIRE
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC OUT
GRAINNE
I count six ships closing, Captain.
REG MACORUM
Hmm, they’re all Zenocrate. The Xinwei ships are keeping a perimeter.
GRAINNE
I suppose we should retreat.
REG MACORUM
Take us down into the wrecks, Grainne.
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME IN
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(STANDARD BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME OUT
JOCHI BORTAY
I knew he’d run.
(BEAT)
The Tyger’s trying to dive into the wrecks, captain.
SYLVIA MALABAR
It will do them no good, Mister Bortay. Let me know when we’re in range with the particle cannon.
JOCHI BORTAY
But — Aren’t we going to take them alive? Rikken is standing by with the boarding party.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Rikken will get her payback. I’m not about to stand between anyone and their revenge. We should be able to cripple and board the Tyger. But this game has gone on far too long. It ends today, one way or another.
JOCHI BORTAY
Won’t Xinwei-Moore be unhappy if they don’t get the princess in one piece?
SYLVIA MALABAR
I’ll make sure they get a piece. Frankly, I think they’ve grown tired of the affair. Possibly of the Zenocrate Cartel.
(BEAT)
In fact, make sure our ships have firing solutions on all the Xinwei ‘freighters’ just in case.
JOCHI BORTAY
As you wish.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
SEWERS
(SAME AMBIENT AS BEFORE PLUS BLASTERS)
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING (X2)
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING (X2)
ENLING
Well, I think we’ve established they’re not maintenance workers.
TORMAR
They have a good position.
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING
AIDAN
Can we get around them?
TINKER
Difficult. Any maneuver would take time.
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING (X3)
REDBACK
(DISTANT)
Ugnh!
ENLING
Well, there’s sure to be more goons if we stick around here much longer.
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING (X2)
TORMAR
The doctor is right, we should move soon.
NALINI
We could go to our cultural center.
TINKER
Your highness, that is unlikely to be safe.
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING (X2)
ENLING
It has to be safer than here.
NALINI
Also, we can be sure to get a secure message to my father.
TINKER
That is true.
NALINI
And if I am not mistaken, we could get there in less than ten minutes.
ENLING
I am liking this plan more and more.
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING (X2)
TINKER
There is a problem with the plan.
ENLING
Which is?
TINKER
These “goons” as you call them cannot know where we have gone.
TORMAR
They must be delayed.
TINKER
Correct.
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING (X2)
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING
AIDAN
You mean some of us need to cover the princess’ escape.
TINKER
We should only spare one. The rest should go with the princess. I am the most capable alone. I will stay.
NALINI
Tinker, no!
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING
ENLING
Tinker, you’re fast, but you’re not blaster proof.
TINKER
My alloys are resistant. I predict I can hold them off for at least half an hour.
NALINI
Tinker, no. You’re supposed to protect me. You can’t leave me again.
TINKER
I am sorry, your highness. My first duty is to your father and he ordered that I keep you safe.
NALINI
Not like this.
TORMAR
I would concur.
TINKER
I — trust this crew will keep you safe, your highness.
(BEAT)
This is the best way.
AIDAN
Well, no. I mean, maybe not.
ENLING
You have an idea?
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING (X2)
AIDAN
Well, I mean I’ve been trying to think of something but it’s not easy with all the blaster fire.
ENLING
Spit it out Aidan.
AIDAN
Those pipes there are under tremendous pressure, right?
TORMAR
Yes.
AIDAN
So if we were to shoot them just right, we could create a wall of steam in front of them.
NALINI
Them?
AIDAN
Those guys! The goons.
ENLING
You’ve been watching too many tri-vids.
TINKER
Hitting the pipe ‘just right’ is statistically unlikely.
AIDAN
Yeah, but I bet you could do it Mister “I’m actually a military robot, but no one wants to mention it.”
(PAUSE)
TINKER
Provide covering fire and I will attempt it.
SOUND: GUN POWER UP
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING (X2)
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING (X3)
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING
ENLING
Any time now, Tinker!
SOUND: DISTANT BLASTER FIRING (X2)
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING (X2)
TINKER
Ah.
SOUND: BLASTER FIRING
SOUND: METAL ON PIPE
SOUND: STEAM WHOOSH REDBACK # 2
[Wilhelm Scream]
GOON
(DISTANT)
Fall back!
TINKER
That was unexpected.
TORMAR
Let us move!
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD BRIDGE AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC OUT
GRAINNE
The Zenocrate ships are almost in weapons range, Captain.
REG MACORUM
Just hold on a little longer. We want to make sure they’re surrounded.
SOUND: SPACE CANNON FIRES NEARBY
GRAINNE
I’d feel better if we weren’t the only target.
REG MACORUM
All right, signal the fleet.
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME IN
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(SAME AMBIENT AS BEFORE)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME OUT
JOCHI BORTAY
Almost in range…
(BEAT)
Wha—? I don’t believe it. He’s coming about.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Makes no difference to me. Fire when ready Mister Bortay.
JOCHI BORTAY
Well, Macorum, you want to present me with a bridge shot, I will oblige. Steady… steady…
SOUND: WAVE GUN FIRING
SOUND: MASSIVE EXPLOSION
(KLAXON IN)
SYLVIA MALABAR
Report!
JOCHI BORTAY
(SHAKEN)
I don’t know, I —
(BEAT)
Multiple ship readings, forward, port, aft, starboard.
SOUND: RUMBLE
SYLVIA MALABAR
That’s ship debris. Is it the Tyger?
JOCHI BORTAY
No. The explosion came from behind us.
(BEAT)
I think we just lost the Argosy.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
(KLAXON OUT)
SYLVIA MALABAR
The Tyger doesn’t have that firepower. That would take a wave gun or a mag cannon… Bring us about — and where are those enemy ships?
JOCHI BORTAY
This can’t be right. The readings are coming from the wrecks. Do you see them, captain? They’re all around us.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Twenty ships or more… They must have been waiting this whole time. So you have yourself a fleet, Reg.
JOCHI BORTAY
But they’re ancient. That star cruiser there must be seven hundred years old.
SOUND: WAVE GUN FIRING
SOUND: MASSIVE EXPLOSION
SOUND: RUMBLE
SYLVIA MALABAR
They had wave guns seven hundred years ago!
(BEAT)
Dammit Mister Bortay, the particle cannon is charged, isn’t it?
JOCHI BORTAY
Yes.
SYLVIA MALABAR
Fire at will.
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD TYGER AMBIENT)
SOUND: PARTICLE CANNON FIRING
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC OUT
REG MACORUM
That was close.
GRAINNE
We’ll need a new paint job when this is all over.
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
REG MACORUM
There! That Xinwei cutter. Hold course.
GRAINNE
Okay, but make it fast.
REG MACORUM
Firing solution…
(BEAT)
Good! Firing.
SOUND: MISSILE LAUNCH (X2)
GRAINNE
Hang on!
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
SOUND: MISSILE LAUNCH (X2)
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
REG MACORUM
Beautiful.
GRAINNE
You might want to make those missiles last. Vic only gave us so many.
SOUND: HAIL SOUND
REG MACORUM
Ha! Here he is. Maybe we can ask him for more.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
REG MACORUM
Vic! How’s the battle treating you?
VIC RATHA
(RADIO FILTER)
You are mad, Captain. You know that? To think you could take on this many ships?
REG MACORUM
What ships? Half the Xinwei ships jumped away when they realized they had a real fight on their hands.
VIC RATHA
(RADIO FILTER)
But the ones that remain are fighting like demons.
(BEAT)
And your old ship, the Silver Star? It’s taken out three ships by itself.
REG MACORUM
Let ‘em follow us and you flank ‘em.
(BEAT)
We’re beating them Vic. We’re beating them. We outnumber them now. They’re losing and they know it.
VIC RATHA
(RADIO FILTER)
That makes them rabid dogs. Very dangerous. I’m a city bloke, Reg. I don’t do wild animals.
REG MACORUM
Ha! Get Captain Almajan to give you a shot of arrack and let’s finish this. Macorum out.
SOUND: SWITCH CLICK
GRAINNE
Silver Star is making a run at us.
REG MACORUM
Captain Malabar does like her revenge. Well, today Sylvia, it’s going to cost you.
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME IN
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
SOUND: MISSILE LAUNCH (X2)
SILVER STAR BRIDGE
(AMBIENT AS BEFORE)
MUSIC: SILVER STAR THEME OUT
SOUND: SPARKS AND EXPLOSION
SYLVIA MALABAR
Report!
JOCHI BORTAY
We’ve lost the particle cannon.
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
SYLVIA MALABAR
So, it does end today.
(BEAT)
Bortay, get us out of here before we join the skeletons.
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
JOCHI BORTAY
Trying.
SOUND: IMPACT ALERT
JOCHI BORTAY
Missile inbound!
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
SOUND: CHAFF SOUND
SOUND: CHAFF SOUND
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
SOUND: ENGINE THRUSTERS FIRING
SYLVIA MALABAR
Well done. There’s a hole in their line.
JOCHI BORTAY
I see it.
SOUND: FTL DRIVE SPINS UP
JOCHI BORTAY
We can’t go back to Zenocrate after this.
SYLVIA MALABAR
No, we can’t. Plot a course for the frontier.
JOCHI BORTAY
The monits you have hidden on Sycorax?
SYLVIA MALABAR
And other places. You should always plan for contingencies.
(BEAT)
Patience, Mister Bortay. There are new fortunes to be made.
SOUND: FTL DRIVE ENGAGES
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC IN
TYGER BRIDGE
(STANDARD TYGER AMBIENT)
MUSIC: TRANSITION MUSIC OUT
SOUND: DISTANT EXPLOSION
GRAINNE
Don’t look now, Captain, but we might be winning.
REG MACORUM
(GRINS)
We’re definitely not losing.
(BEAT)
I only hope it’s worth it. I hope everyone on Acheron is safe.
MUSIC: CLIFFHANGER MUSIC CUE
ANNOUNCERLAND
MUSIC: CLOSING MUSIC BEGINS
ANNOUNCER
You’ve been listening to Rogue Tyger, episode twenty-nine, “The End Run,” part four 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 Nick DePinto, Yasmin Tuazon, Sophia Medley, William R. Coughlan, Phil Amico, Erin Goldstein, Brooks Tegler, Bjorn Munson, Carol McCaffrey, Neil Conway, and Francis Abbey.
(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 fabulous cast and crew and other intriguing 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.