Chapter Text
Fortitude
A STAR TREK FAN SCRIPT
“From the Moment of Birth”
Volume 1, Chapter 12
Issue #012
Written by Sebastian Mercier
Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan script is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made script intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.
CHARACTERS
CAPTAIN XERIUS CRETAK, COMMANDER KETHYK CH’VROLOC, DOCTOR RETAN STADI, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SANOK JOLET, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TALER JOLET, LIEUTENANT GAAVRA GREKRAL, LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE KIVAL HAROL, COUNSELOR ESAS FORTITUDE (fan casting- Elijah Kelley)
ENSIGN MARDAN BROK, ENSIGN LORGH
AMBASSADOR PREX, RELK ONEL, AIDE ERRO, GRELEK KEER, CAPTAIN FRARIGAR
PART 1
EXT. OUTER SPACE – USS FORTITUDE (ESTABLISHING) (VFX)
travels at high warp.
INT. USS FORTITUDE – MESS HALL – NIGHT
Outside windows, stars FLASH BY.
Dinnertime. CREW dining and in queue. At counter ENSIGN MARDAN BROK and ATTENDANTS serve PLATES of FATTOUSH SALAD and BOWLS of two pasta dishes (RIGATONI IN TOMATO-BASIL SAUCE and FUNGILLI).
LIEUTENANT GAAVRA GREKRAL and LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE KIVAL HAROL are at front of queue. They receive salad and fungilli from Brok, put on TRAYS, unenthusiastically look at latter.
GREKRAL
What exactly does “fungilli” mean?
BROK
Mushroom “fusilli”. Fusilli is the type of pasta. Crewman D’Amato’s request. I’d advise the wejwa’ (wedge-WAH).
Grekral and Harol each take a KLINGON-LANGUAGE-LABELLED JAR from ARRAY on counter and liberally DOUSE pasta, then take FORKS.
HAROL
You could have tried harder to establish a general “Pasta Night” instead of “Short” and “Long” Pasta Nights. Then you could have disguised Tellarite linguine as human and we could eat it every month.
BROK
Need I remind you I have my other duties?
GREKRAL
Thank you, Brok.
BROK
(nods, to queue)
Next!
Grekral and Harol take trays to drinks dispenser and GET MUGS OF ROOIBOS TEA, then go to their table. Beat. Neither make to eat.
GREKRAL
…We know it’ll be better than it was before Brok.
HAROL
But we don’t know how terrible it was then.
GREKRAL
We can add more wejwa’.
HAROL
I don’t want to have to add more. I want the ship’s humans to want to eat non-human food more frequently than human food.
GREKRAL
At least they haven’t ousted us completely.
HAROL
Only because Brok has to be “reasonable”, otherwise they’ll complain to the Captain again and we would have to eat it every day. Imagine. Instead of “Human Food Day”, “Non-Human Food Day”.
GREKRAL
(distracted by prospect, shudder)
Cooked food for every dish. Dessert with each, composed of ninety percent sugar. Mealtimes devolving into what even Kumar would frown upon. At least he had some idea of balance.
(spurred)
We can’t endure this. We need to create a formal agreement with clearly-defined parameters so our cultures are no longer suppressed. …Each dish should be vetted by a council represented by each of Fortitude’s races.
HAROL
Then trialed shipwide before added to the rotation.
GREKRAL
Of course.
HAROL
The process will be lengthy.
GREKRAL
All the better.
HAROL
There will be significant contention.
GREKRAL
(pride)
I’m the best debater on the ship, and likely within a nine-light-year radius. I will not be defeated. I can’t be. We’ll succeed, no matter what. We will begin by assessing this dish.
She eats a forkful. Harol follows suit. Beat as they chew. Beat. Grimaces. They simultaneously gulp tea.
GREKRAL
(offended distaste)
As if humans drank bojnoggi (bodge-NOGG-geye) and were “inspired” to create a dish. If not made by a chef of Brok’s competence, worthy of provoking war.
HAROL
More wejwa’?
GREKRAL
More wejwa’.
They take bowls to counter, add wejwa’, return to table.
GREKRAL (cont’d)
At least tomorrow morning we’ll have decent food. Orion tea with Orion spices and Orion toast with Orion spices smothered with Orion wing-slugs with Orion spices.
HAROL
(mm, yum)
Dining with a lush green planet below. …I haven’t been since my homegoing star sail. Hopefully the Captain approves my air-breathing request.
GREKRAL
Hopefully we discover exactly who it is we’ll be transporting to that conference and know who to blame for this nine-point-six. I don’t like the strain the engines are under.
HAROL
Neither do I. The helm felt worried when I left it.
Concerned beat as both think of Fortitude’s health. Beat.
HAROL (cont’d)
…It isn’t the Boslic delegation. Vorima (voor-EEM-ah) said Captain Rionoj (REE-oh-nohj) mentioned they were rendezvousing with the Kobheerians’ vessel.
GREKRAL
What was the Kobheerian delegation doing all the way near the Boslia System?
HAROL
Diplomatic business with the Romulans, she assessed. The Boslics recently associated with them as well- the Furyk (fuu-RICK) received word a flock of wakak (WACK-ack) was sent to their head of government. She doesn’t know what the exchange was.
GREKRAL
It could be the Yridians, unless the Acamarians are also attending. They wouldn’t miss the opportunity for trade discussion during the journey.
HAROL
Starbase Twenty-Four sent word this afternoon that they suspect the Xarantine have established a trade outpost on the edge of the Hromi Cluster. They could be rendezvousing.
GREKRAL
Depending on current relations, possibly with Klingon representatives. They could have made a deal to claim a system together.
HAROL
Quite possible. Mila (MEEL-ah) said one of his unit members told him their cousin recently noticed a slight increase in subspace communications within a nine-light-year radius of the area. But, of course, that could mean any number of things.
GREKRAL
Naturally.
Beat as both think deeply.
CAPTAIN XERIUS CRETAK (O.S.)
Lieutenant Harol.
Grekral and Harol jump.
Cut to Cretak, standing behind Harol.
Harol stands, straightens uniform.
HAROL
Captain. Yes. Is everything all right?
CRETAK
Sit.
(Harol sits)
I have approved your air-breathing request.
HAROL
Oh. Thank you, Captain.
Cretak inclines head.
CRETAK
Lieutenant Grekral.
GREKRAL
Captain.
(pause)
Do we know who it is we’re collecting tomorrow?
CRETAK
We don’t.
With this, he departs for the queue.
Grekral and Harol look slightly abashed.
GREKRAL
This conference business really isn’t any of ours.
HAROL
No. And we’ll find out tomorrow, in any case.
They share a nod, take forkfuls of fungilli, consider.
GREKRAL
Slightly better.
HAROL
As if humans with a measure of training in non-human cuisines drank bojnoggi and were “inspired” to create a dish.
GREKRAL
An accurate summation.
HAROL
Why, thank you.
She catches sight of her reflection in her fork, attempts to properly view it. Grekral smiles.
EXT. OUTER SPACE – ORION (ESTABLISHING) (VFX)
FORTITUDE ORBITS the planet. One SMALL ORION SHIP PRECEDES; one FOLLOWS.
CRETAK (V.O.)
Captain’s Log, Stardate 82055.7 (Friday 21 January 2405, approx. 1000 hours). Three Earth-hours ago, Fortitude arrived at Orion after one day prior being tasked with the collection of a diplomatic delegation by virtue of being the nearest suitable vessel. The delegation is to be transported to a conference between representatives of non-Federation worlds; our involvement is a favor to Cardassia’s Castellan Garak. After transporting the delegation to Tau-One Eridani, Fortitude will resume course to Starbase One-Three-Six. We await their arrival.
INT. USS FORTITUDE – BRIDGE – DAY
Cretak, Harol, COMMANDER KETHYK CH’VROLOC, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SANOK JOLET, and B.G. CREW at stations. DOCTOR RETAN STADI sits to Cretak’s left. Cretak, Ch’Vroloc, Stadi, and Sanok wear dress uniform, the shoulder pads of Cretak’s bigger than they were last. All sans Cretak, Stadi, and Sanok are bored.
CH’VROLOC
We arrived three Earth-hours ago after twenty-one at high warp. The least this delegation could do is rendezvous on time.
CRETAK
This gives the engines time to rest.
Careful not to crease his uniform he reaches for his WATER BOTTLE, sips.
BEEP from Security/Tactical. Sanok looks.
SANOK
Captain, the delegation has requested permission to transport (trans-PORT) directly to the Bridge.
CRETAK
From where?
As if in answer, on the viewscreen we see the DECLOAKING of a VESSEL. It’s a BREEN CHEL GRETT-CLASS WARSHIP.
All look to Cretak. He replaces water bottle, face impassive. Three long beats. One gets the impression he’s taking his time not out of indecision but in order to irritate the Breen. Beat.
CRETAK (cont’d)
I suppose it would be prudent to request verification. …Do so, Commander.
Sanok DOES. Three long beats. BEEP.
SANOK
Verification from Castellan Garak transmitted in conjunction with original request bearing signature of Admiral Panok.
(scanning BEEP)
Authenticity verified.
Three long beats.
CRETAK
Reply in the affirmative, Commander. Lower shields.
He, Ch’Vroloc, and Stadi stand. Three long beats.
MATERIALIZATION of four BREEN, over two meters tall, intimidating, armed with DISRUPTORS and BLADED WEAPONS. Two (guards, one in a civilian suit and other grelek-rank military) carry LUGGAGE and have two of each weapon; the third wears a formal civilian suit and is heavily pregnant; the fourth wears a relk-rank military suit.
Third Breen steps forward, first a half-step behind.
AMBASSADOR PREX
(STATIC) [greeting and introduction]
CRETAK
(polite)
Ambassador Prex (PRECKS), I am Captain Cretak. On behalf of Starfleet and the Federation, I express willingness and gratitude at our task. It is an honor to transport your delegation; we appreciate the gesture of the Confederacy and hope it will be a step toward further relations between our peoples.
PREX
(STATIC) [introducing others]
Cretak inclines his head to the relk, others.
CRETAK
Relk (RELLK) Onel (oh-NELL). Aide Erro (ERR-oh). Grelek (GRELL-eck) Keer (KEER).
(to Prex)
Allow me to introduce First Officer Ch’Vroloc, Chief Medical Officer Stadi, and Security Chief Sanok.
Ch’Vroloc, Stadi, and Sanok incline heads in turn.
PREX
(STATIC) [regarding Stadi]
Stadi looks to Cretak, who nods. Stadi addresses Prex.
STADI
No, Ambassador. I give you my word I won’t. In any case, I have no obstetric qualifications other than routine training.
Prex doesn’t acknowledge this. Readdresses Cretak.
PREX
(STATIC) [enquiry]
CRETAK
No. We had previously arranged to trade here; however, our arrival was scheduled several days from now. The requested supplies are yet to be delivered.
RELK ONEL
(STATIC) [enquiry]
CRETAK
Once the supplies have been delivered and Fortitude is cleared to depart, Relk.
ONEL
(STATIC) [enquiry]
CRETAK
Yes.
He gestures to Ch’Vroloc. Ch’Vroloc goes to chair, works at armrest console. Beat. Beat. BEEP. Ch’Vroloc stands, addresses Onel.
CH’VROLOC
The supplies are prepared, Relk.
PREX
(STATIC) [enquiry]
Ch’Vroloc looks to Cretak, who nods. Ch’Vroloc presses his combadge.
CH’VROLOC
Bridge to Cargo Bay 2. Stand by for permission to receive supplies.
Sanok works at station. BEEP.
SANOK
Request from surface to transport supplies approved.
CH’VROLOC
(into combadge)
Cargo Bay, receive supplies. Bridge out.
CRETAK
Commander Sanok, request permission to depart. Commander Ch’Vroloc, notify Engineering to prepare for departure. Warp 8 within one third-hour.
CH’VROLOC & SANOK
Aye, Captain.
CRETAK
(to Prex)
Ambassador, Doctor Stadi and myself will accompany your party to your accommodations.
PREX
(STATIC) [acknowledgment]
Cretak gestures to turbolift; he, Stadi, and delegation approach. Delegates enter first; Cretak and Stadi follow.
INT. USS FORTITUDE – TURBOLIFT – CONTINUOUS
All turn to doors.
CRETAK
Deck 6.
Turbolift MOVES.
Silence from occupants. Beat.
Slight flicker of alertness from Stadi. He looks sideways to Cretak. Cretak’s expression is neutral and he doesn’t look back.
Off Cretak, face not revealing whatever Stadi picked up…
END OF PART 1