* Message forwarded by andrew gulovsen, 3:635/503

 Original Message Follows:

    Area : REC.ARTS.SF.TV
   Dated : 16 Nov 93  18:05:47
    From : ruth{at}alexandria.lib.utah.edu, 3:632/400{at}fidonet
      To : All
 Subject : Pt 1/3: Blake's Seven Transcript Time Squad
 ---
From: ruth{at}alexandria.lib.utah.edu (RUTH HANSON)
Organization: Marriott Library, University of Utah

4.  Time Squad
by Terry Nation

(c)1977 by the British Broadcasting Corporation.  Series created
by Terry Nation.  This is a complete dialogue transcript for
research purposes and is not for sale under any circumstances.
Format (c)1993 by Micky DuPree and Ruth Hanson.

Dramatis Personae

Roj Blake
Jenna Stannis
Kerr Avon
Cally
Vila Restal
Olag Gan
Zen
Alien 1
Alien 2
Alien 3

[Exterior.  Liberator moves through a star field]

[Interior.  Liberator flight deck. Blake is at the main pilot's
console.  Jenna is beside him.  Gan, Vila and Avon are at their
usual flight positions.]

BLAKE:    (manipulates controls) Check.

JENNA:    Right, one more time. Cut primaries, reverse thrust.

BLAKE:    Check.

JENNA:    Stabilize and trim back to stationary.

BLAKE:     Check.

JENNA:    (to Avon) Negative anti-gravs. (Avon presses buttons)
          Compensate for orbital drift and hold. (points to
          button)  Hold.

BLAKE:    All confirmed.

JENNA:    Good.

BLAKE:    Right.  Let's check with the expert.  Zen, report
          status.

ZEN:      Liberator is stationary and is stabilized in an anti-
          orbital posture.

VILA:     Whatever that means.

BLAKE:    It means we got it right.

JENNA:    Together we can fly this ship manually.

GAN:      I think we make a good team.

AVON:     Well, hurray for us.

VILA:     What's eating you now?

AVON:     I'm just wondering how long we're going to live to
          enjoy our new found skills.

BLAKE:    Zen, three sixty degree survey. Put etheric detector
          beams on maximum.  Report any space vehicles within
          range.  Vila, put visual survey on the screen.

ZEN:      Negative on all systems.  There are no space vehicles
          within detector range.

JENNA:    We've lost them.

VILA:     So much for federation pursuit ships.

GAN:      At least we know we can outrun them.

VILA:     Outrun them, in this we can out stroll them.

AVON:     Don't get too relaxed about it.  They'll keep on
          coming.

VILA:     We have the whole universe to hide in.

BLAKE:    Except that we're not going to hide.  Very soon now the
          Federation ships will know exactly where we are.  Or at
          least where we've been.

VILA:     I don't follow you.

AVON:     Oh, but you do.  And that's the problem.

BLAKE:    Up until now we've only been a minor irritation to the
          Federation.  I think it's about time we hurt them.

JENNA:    I don't like the sound of that.

AVON:     Neither do I.  I thought it was agreed we wouldn't do
          anything without discussing it thoroughly.

BLAKE:    True.  It was also agreed that anybody could opt out at
          any time.  Just tell me when you want to leave.

AVON:     Oh, I will.  But in the meantime I think we have a
          right to know what it is you're planning.

BLAKE:    Zen, set a course for Saurian Major, speed standard by
          two.

ZEN:      Speed and course confirmed.

AVON:     That falls a little short of my idea of a thorough
          discussion.

GAN:      We can talk and travel.  We're safer on the move.

AVON:     Another one who's prepared to let Blake do his thinking
          for him.

BLAKE:    Enough, Avon.

VILA:     Saurian Major?

BLAKE:    Zen, visual star sector four two point six one.  It's
          there, on the edge of the system.  One of the early
          self-governing colonies subsequently annexed by the
          Federation.  When the settlers declared their
          independence again, the Federation crushed them with
          typical efficiency.

JENNA:    How typical?

BLAKE:    Half the population were butchered.  The other half
          were rounded up and transported to frontier planets.  A
          few managed to escape to the hills and form guerilla
          bands.

VILA:     Why are we going there, though?  I mean I feel for
          them.  But we've got problems of our own.

BLAKE:    They've built a vast transceiver complex there.  All
          Federation signals and navigation controls are beamed
          into Saurian Major, boosted and redirected.  It's a
          vital nerve center in the Federation space control
          system.   Destroy that, and you blind, deafen and
          silence them.  That's what we're going to do.

AVON:     A blow for freedom.

GAN:      Yes, our freedom.  For a clever man you're not very
          bright.  Deaf, dumb and blind how are they going to
          catch us?

AVON:     I'm sure Blake will manage it somehow.

[Exterior.  Liberator moves through a star field]

[Interior.  Liberator flight deck.  Jenna is at one of the flight
positions.  Blake is dozing on the forward seating.  A steady
beeping noise is heard.]

JENNA:    Blake.

BLAKE:    (half asleep) Hmm.

JENNA:    Are there any artificial satellites on our course?

BLAKE:    I don't know, I'll check.  (presses a variety of
          controls on the console next to him.) Well, none to be
          seen.  Are you getting something?

JENNA:    Yes, something.

BLAKE:    How long has it been registering?

JENNA:    Couple of minutes.  Signal's getting stronger.

BLAKE:    Zen, visual detector scan and computer analysis on grid
          one one five, please.

ZEN:      The signal is mechanical.  It emanates from a space
          projectile of unidentified origin.  Translator units
          categorize the signal as a distress call.

BLAKE:    Estimate the projectile's speed and course.

ZEN:      No indication of motive power.  The projectile's
          movement is only subject to space drift and orbital
          influence.

JENNA:    If they've lost power, they're in real trouble.

BLAKE:    We don't have much option then, do we?  (to Zen) How
          far away are they?

ZEN:      One million seventy three thousand spacials and
          closing.

BLAKE:    Well, re-program course and speed to rendezvous with
          the projectile.  Lock off on one hundred spacials.

ZEN:      Speed and course confirmed.

BLAKE:    You better tell the others.

JENNA:    All right. (walks toward the passage off Liberator
          flight deck, then stops)

BLAKE:    Problem?

JENNA:    Putting out a false distress signal. It's a trick used
          by space pirates.

BLAKE:    Well then, we'll have to be careful.

JENNA:    I'll get the others. (Jenna leaves Liberator flight
          deck)

[Exterior.  Liberator still under way]

[Interior.  Liberator flight deck.  Entire crew is present]

AVON:     There's nothing coming back except the same distress
          call.  It must be on a mechanical repeater.

BLAKE:    Do you recognize the type?

AVON:     No.  Primitive.  Too small to sustain a full life
          support system by the look of it.

JENNA:    Doesn't seem to be any heavy armament.

BLAKE:    Could be a high speed transporter.

JENNA:    To transport what?

VILA:     Do we care?

JENNA:    (slight laugh)  Getting nervous?

VILA:     No, I've been nervous all along.  I do not like the
          look of that thing.

BLAKE:    Zen, have the sensors picked up any sign of life?

ZEN:      No information can be given.

BLAKE:    That is not what I asked.  I want to teleport across
          there.

ZEN:      There is room.

BLAKE:    And life support?

ZEN:      There is life support for a (pause) limited (pause)
          period.

BLAKE:    I'll go and take a look then.

JENNA:    I'll come with you.

BLAKE:    Avon.

[Blake and Jenna leave the Liberator flight deck]

ZEN:      (with difficulty) It is in... in... in...

AVON:     I'll have to overhaul that (pause) thing.

ZEN:      (drawn out) ...sane.

[Avon leaves Liberator flight deck]

GAN:      I wonder.  It's almost as if Zen has a limiter.

VILA:     A limiter?

GAN:      Something that stops him from helping us too much.  Or
          maybe it's someone who stops him.

VILA:     Gan, if you're trying to scare me, you're succeeding.

[Exterior. Liberator approaches the alien craft.]

[Interior. Liberator teleport room.  Avon is at the console.
Blake and Jenna are preparing for teleport]

BLAKE:    Let's see just how precise you can be.

AVON:     Are you sure you can trust me?

BLAKE:    For as long as we're useful to each other.  We'll keep
          the voice channels open.  (to Avon) All set?

AVON:     Ready.

BLAKE:    Sure?

AVON:     As I'll ever be.

BLAKE:    (to Jenna) All right?

JENNA:    (nods)

BLAKE:    Right.  Put us across.

[Avon teleports Jenna and Blake]

[Interior of the alien projectile.  Blake and Jenna materialize.
The interior is cramped.  There are three oblong containers
visible, taking up most of the available space.  To the rear is a
hatch to another compartment]

BLAKE:    More by luck than judgment.

JENNA:    Ah, don't tell him that.

BLAKE:    (into communicator)  Thank you, Avon.   (to Jenna) You
          ever seen anything like this before?

JENNA:    No.

BLAKE:    (examines the lock on the rear compartment, then moves
          forward) Well?

JENNA:    Controls are very basic.  Just enough instruments to
          make a safe landing.  Everything's manual.

BLAKE:    Why put manual controls in an unmanned craft?  What's
          that?

JENNA:    Distress relay.  Probably cuts in automatically when a
          major fault develops.  Ah, here it is.

BLAKE:    What?

JENNA:    The fault.  Circuit tracer.  There's a malfunction
          reading on the auto-navs.  That's what must have
          activated the cut outs on the propulsion units.

BLAKE:    Well, that explains why they're drifting.  But you
          don't put circuit tracers in an unmanned craft.  There
          must have been a crew on board.

JENNA:    Well, the locks on the inner hatch are still secure.
          (indicates rear compartment) What about this one here?

BLAKE:    It's locked.

JENNA:    So if there was a crew ....

BLAKE:    They're still here.  (Opens the outer cover on one of
          the containers.  There is a male alien in it)

JENNA:    Blake, look.  Look at his eyes.   He's alive.  (They
          bend over and look into the container.  Blake touches
          the outside surface of the unit and draws his hand back
          quickly.) What is it?

BLAKE:    It's cold, it almost took the skin off my fingers.

JENNA:    That's it.  This is the same process they used
          centuries ago on the early deep space flights.  They
          subjected their crew to extremely low temperatures to
          suspend the aging process.  This is a cryogenic
          capsule.

BLAKE:    (Opens the outer cover on the other cryogenic capsules.
          One of the occupants is dead; the other, alive.)
          There's not much we can do for them here.  Re-animation
          will be a slow process.

JENNA:    We can't just leave them here.

BLAKE:    Yeah, we'll worry about that when we get back.  Our air
          is running out, in case you hadn't noticed.

JENNA:    I hadn't wanted to worry you.

BLAKE:    (Into communicator) Avon, do you read?

AVON:     (v.o.) I hear you.

BLAKE:    Bring us back. (Pause) (v.o.) Bring us back.

[Interior. Liberator teleport area.  Avon is at the console.  Gan
is there]

AVON:     I can't.  The teleport control is burnt out.

[Vila enters Liberator teleport area]

JENNA:    What did you do?

AVON:     (v.o.) Not a thing.  It blew all by itself.

BLAKE:    (v.o.)Can you repair it?

AVON:     No need.  There is an automatic repair system and it's
          working.

BLAKE:    (v.o.) How long?

AVON:     I don't know.

BLAKE:    (v.o.) Why not?

AVON:     Zen won't tell us.

BLAKE:    Our air is running out.

AVON:     (v.o.) Yes, I was afraid of that.  How long?

BLAKE:    Minutes.  Get Zen to maneuver the ship 'round and bring
          the entire projectile on board.

AVON:     I'd already thought of that.  Zen refuses to do it.

BLAKE:    (v.o.) Then you'll have to.

AVON:     That's very chancy, Blake.  If Liberator so much a
          nudges that ship--

BLAKE:    (v.o.) Then you'd better get it right.

AVON:     (To Vila and Gan) Shall we get on with it?

[All three exit to Liberator flight deck]

[Interior. Alien projectile]

BLAKE:    Why didn't Zen warn us?

JENNA:    I think he tried to.

BLAKE:    I'm sorry.

JENNA:    I'm all right.


[Interior.  Liberator flight deck.  Avon is at the main pilot's
console; Vila at the flight position to his left, Gan to his
right]

AVON:     Lock the inner hatches, positive pressure.

VILA:     Locked.

AVON:     Equalize the lower hold pressure.

GAN:      Equalized.

AVON:     Open the main locks.

[Exterior.  View of Liberator hold opening]

AVON:     Visual.  (A view of space from the interior of the hold
          is displayed on the main viewscreen.)

VILA:     Ramp fully open.

AVON:     Good.  Moving to line up.  Right lateral, minimum
          power.

VILA:     Too much.  You're overshooting.

AVON:     Left lateral.  That's enough.  Hold.

VILA:     Square on.

AVON:     Give me a fall line projection.  Good.  We're aligned
          and we're ready to go.   Do you two know what you have
          to do?

GAN:      Uh huh.

AVON:     I hope so.  Commencing docking procedure (pause) now.

[Interior.   Alien projectile]

BLAKE:    He's taking his time.

JENNA:    It's delicate maneuver.  He'll get there.

BLAKE:    I'm breathless with anticipation.

JENNA:    (laughs)

[Exterior.  Liberator moves closer to alien projectile]

[Interior.  Liberator flight deck]

AVON:     That's very good.  Gently.  Easy.  Easy. Good.
          Alignment is exact.

[Exterior.  Projectile veers out of alignment with Liberator]

--- Squish/386 v1.10 BETA/5a