Logline: Commander Idaria Lacroix is shattered when half her crew vanishes after a massive space phenomenon devastates their station. Now she and her crew must explore the tumultuous depths of uncharted space at their doorstep and navigate tenuous political relationships in order to find answers and their missing personnel — and might just end up saving the universe.
EXT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262
We hear WHITE NOISE/SILENCE.
We see a field of construction DEBRIS and a small PLANET through a visual disturbance akin to heat rippling in the air. Bright, colorful nebula-like clouds present as a barrier between the SPACE STATION and the PLANET, continuing in each direction as far as we can see.
The SPACE STATION looks like half the electricity is malfunctioning.
INT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262 - VARIOUS CORRIDORS
More WHITE NOISE/SILENCE.
The corridors are empty with a haunting ambience. Some lights and panels flicker, sparking, but there does not appear to be any serious damage to the SPACE STATION visible to the naked eye.
INT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262 - COMMANDER'S READY ROOM
The WHITE NOISE/SILENCE intensifies, then ceases.
COMMANDER IDARIA LACROIX braces both her palms on her desk. Her head bowed, the view screen in front of her highlights the very tips of the planes of her face.
ADMIRAL S'KARA (ON VIEWSCREEN)
How many did you lose?
COMMANDER LACROIX
(hesitates, defeated)
All of them.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262
It's THREE YEARS LATER. A SPACE SHIP approaches.
INT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262 - CONTINUOUS
PERSONNEL are walking through pristine corridors. An ENGINEERING TEAM works at a PANEL along the wall. MAJOR CYNX TALON rounds a corner, walking toward us, holding a CAFETERIA TRAY. She continues confident strides and greets passers-by.
CYNX's EARPIECE chimes and her free hand taps it.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
ETA is less than 15 seconds, C.
COMMANDER LACROIX (O.S.)
Stellar. I'm going to need to run back to my quarters. I left my -
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Already got it.
(to Transporter Attendant)
Yes, Alpha Ops. Thank you.
(to Commander Lacroix)
Less than 15 seconds, C. Talon out.
CYNX taps her comm and the ATTENDANT taps the transporter screen. A bright cylinder of light fills the space and when it disappears CYNX is gone.
INT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262 - COMMANDER'S READY ROOM
COMMANDER LACROIX sits at her desk strewn with physical and digital files. She's shuffling and organizing them, pausing every so often to consider an item on one, or to correct a little something on another.
Outside, CYNX waves her wrist before the CONSOLE of the READY ROOM's door and, with a chime, it slides open and lets her in.
CYNX stops short just inside of the doorway, eyeing the COMMANDER's desk.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
You had one job, C! One job!
COMMANDER LACROIX
(still working)
I know, I know. Use it against me later to get a raise.
CYNX scoffs and approaches the desk, wedging the tray down in front of COMMANDER LACROIX.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Alright, eat something while I fix ... this — whatever this is.
COMMANDER LACROIX
This is just fine, thank you.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Yeah, yeah. Tell it to Admiral S'kara.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(too sweetly)
Well, I won't have to, now will I?
(beat)
Besides, my capability isn't dictated
by the neatness of my cravat.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
(fixing said cravat)
You keep telling yourself that, C.
Image is part of the job.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(scoffs, sipping a cup of tea)
It took them three years to
get out here but I'm supposed to
show up perfectly sparkling like
nothing ever happened.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
(fixing Commander Lacroix's hair)
Yep.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(bites into a croissant)
How're Jayden's hands?
MAJOR CYNX TALON
He won't be shaking any today, but the
shock didn't addle his brain.
(mutters)
Any more than it already is.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(grinning)
Cynx ...
CYNX finishes with COMMANDER LACROIX's hair and helps organize the files on the desk.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Yes, I know – best behavior and all that.
COMMANDER LACROIX catches CYNX's arm and hugs it to still the other woman.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Yes, you know.
(beat)
I depend on you too much,
sometimes, don't I?
CYNX leans down to speak closer to COMMANDER LACROIX's ear.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
I'm your second-in-command. It's my job.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Ah, right. I always forget that part.
They laugh and resume their respective activities. COMMANDER LACROIX finishes the croissant and picks at a few of the other options on the tray before standing up. She smooths down her uniform and looks up as the doorway chimes and slides open.
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK enters. She nods deeply to COMMANDER LACROIX.
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
Commander, the envoy's ship has docked and
they're disembarking as we speak.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Excellent, Lieutenant. At ease, Shay.
(looking to Cynx)
Ready?
MAJOR CYNX TALON
You're asking me?!
(to Shay)
Is Jayden meeting us at the airlock?
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
He's supposed to be.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(to Cynx)
You said you had my—?
CYNX pulls a SMALL TUBE from her inside breast pocket and hands it over. COMMANDER LACROIX swiftly applies the lip balm and stows the tube in her uniform pocket. She exits the READY ROOM and begins to walk down the hallway. CYNX and SHAY follow in her footsteps. After a few moments, CYNX begins to fuss about something on SHAY's uniform. The two mutter between one another and begin swatting back and forth.
COMMANDER LACROIX (CONT'D)
(not missing a beat)
Don't make me come back there.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
(together)
Yes, C.
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
(together)
Aye, Commander.
The three turn a corner and finally reach the junction of the airlock. DOCTOR JAYDEN TALON approaches from another corridor. Both of JAYDEN's hands are heavily BANDAGED. The group pauses in front of the airlock, watching as the room behind it re-pressurizes. JAYDEN gives COMMANDER LACROIX a deep nod.
DOCTOR JAYDEN TALON
Good afternoon, Commander.
(to the rest)
All right, then?
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Eh, shut up you wank.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Not now, Cynx.
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
(looking at Jayden's hands)
Shouldn't we be asking you that?
DOCTOR JAYDEN TALON
I'd rather not talk about it.
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
What good is a doctor without hands?
DOCTOR JAYDEN TALON
I do have a brain, you know.
The airlock doors open with a hissing whoosh!, mist filtering through the opening and slowly dissipating.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Admiral—
COMMANDER LACROIX cuts herself short as she sees that Admiral S'kara is not leading the group. She reins in her surprise.
COMMANDER LACROIX (CONT'D)
Ambassador Keaton. It is a pleasure to see you.
(quickly looking over the rest of the group)
I didn't realize that Admiral S'kara wasn't attending.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
(smirks)
I did.
(gestures at the corridors)
Shall we? Lead the way to the conference room.
We shall debrief and begin right away.
COMMANDER LACROIX slowly turns, making brief eye contact with CYNX before the three of them parted so that COMMANDER LACROIX could show them all the way.
INT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262 - CONFERENCE ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
AMBASSADOR KEATON is sitting at the head of a long, highly polished white TABLE. A circular TRAY lays in the middle holding a glass PITCHER of ICE WATER and a dozen CUPS. One wall of the room is nothing but floor-to-ceiling windows showing the expanse of space outside. If one angles themselves right, they can see the ANOMALY and, through it, the DEBRIS FIELD and small PLANET. All seems just as unchanged as the day of the phenomenon.
The rest of the crew is seated around the table. COMMANDER LACROIX is sitting in the middle of one of the long sides. Her back is to the windows and she regards the CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER setting up a viewscreen. The CHIEF ENGINEER and CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER have also joined them. ADMIRAL S'KARA soon appears on the viewscreen. They stand to greet her as one.
ADMIRAL S'KARA
At ease, all.
Everyone takes their seats. JAYDEN leans over to the CHIEF ENGINEER sitting next to him and murmurs, waving his bandaged hands. The CHIEF ENGINEER pours JAYDEN a glass of water.
ADMIRAL S'KARA (CONT'D)
Commander Lacroix, I wish to extend my deepest apologies for being unable to join you there in person.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Understood, Admiral. I believe Major Talon sent over a copy of the briefing file?
ADMIRAL S'KARA
(nodding)
She did.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
Excellent. Let's begin, then.
AMBASSADOR KEATON opens the digital file folder in front of her and pulls out one of the digital pages.
AMBASSADOR KEATON (CONT'D)
Now ... we've all read the reports from
U.C. date 34792-105, the day that ... well ...
COMMANDER LACROIX
The day of the phenomenon that took over half our crew.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
Indeed. Commander Lacroix, would you
indulge us and go over what happened one more time?
COMMANDER LACROIX
I don't understand. If you've read all the reports ...
AMBASSADOR KEATON
Just recount it briefly for us.
(gestures between herself and Admiral S'kara)
For the record.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Is this some sort of hearing?
AMBASSADOR KEATON turns a poisonous smile to CYNX.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
Of course not. Not officially anyway ...
ADMIRAL S'KARA
(clears her throat)
It will help us all refresh our memories.
Commander Lacroix, if you please ...
COMMANDER LACROIX
Of course, Admiral.
COMMANDER LACROIX stands from her chair and paces along the window wall, hands clasped behind her back.
COMMANDER LACROIX (CONT'D)
As stated in the reports, we were
set to move on from terraforming
enough land for a settlement to
cleansing the atmosphere.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
I thought this planet's atmosphere had been cleared as habitable?
COMMANDER LACROIX
(regards Ambassador Keaton)
It was. But the terraforming disturbed
gases, sediment, and ores which,
once released into the air, created a
toxic environment.
(looks out the windows)
The atmosphere cleansing was
necessary — especially if we
were to keep to the prescribed
timetable. Everything that day
appeared normal. Work was approaching
its end, and suddenly there was a
soundless ... a soundless ... blast.
It shook the entire space station. Knocked
communications out for a while.
Knocked a lot of things out. We didn't
even realize there were problems
with the crew off-station at first.
Once communications were back up,
we tried to check in with them — but nothing.
(beat)
At first, we thought they weren't
able to repair their own communication
gear. They weren't exactly equipped
for that sort of thing. But as we got back to
Alpha Ops and examined the work area
we discovered the anomaly.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
(lifting one digital page to reference another)
The nebula veil?
COMMANDER LACROIX
That's what we've been calling it, yes.
COMMANDER LACROIX turns from looking out the window and takes her seat again.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
(nodding)
And did you send over rescue shuttles?
CYNX's fist hits the table.
MAJOR CYNX TALON
Of course we did!
Under the table, COMMANDER LACROIX uses her heel to step on the toe of CYNX's boot.
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
What Major Talon means to say is
that we sent over a rescue effort once
some initial tests were done on the veil.
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Once the rescue shuttle passed through the anomaly
we could no longer communicate. And they never returned.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(to Admiral S'kara)
We have no evidence that any
of our crew are dead. Though
once we realized no one was
returning, that they had seemingly disappeared
into the anomaly, it didn't seem ethical
to order another team through the nebula veil.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
Yet, another team did go, didn't they?
LIEUTENANT SHAY'LA BLACK
There were several volunteers to
try again. They took our most fortified shuttle.
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
We were able to maintain contact
until they were nearly all the way
through the veil, sending back some
readings about the anomaly.
But then they were cut off just like the
others had, and disappeared.
COMMANDER LACROIX
None of them - the terraforming
crews, the rescue shuttles, or any
of the people – have contacted us or been seen since.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
How do you answer for this?
COMMANDER LACROIX takes a thoughtful pause and regards AMBASSADOR KEATON with a level, unintimidated gaze.
COMMANDER LACROIX
My answer is to more closely
study the anomaly. My answer
is to request support from Central
Command in the form of updated ships,
technology, and materials so we can
continue the search.
(beat)
My answer is to do everything
in my power to rescue the missing
crew members of this station.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
And all that will come as a great
expense to Central Command, yes?
There is a heavy silence. CYNX sits on her hands to contain herself.
COMMANDER LACROIX
I admit I hadn't calculated the expenses of the support we need.
ADMIRAL S'KARA
We'll give you as much support as we are able, Commander Lacroix.
COMMANDER LACROIX
(looking at Ambassador Keaton)
Thank you, Admiral.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
How do you plan to deploy these resources?
COMMANDER LACROIX looks to the CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER and nods, indicating for them to speak.
CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER
We've been studying the phenomenon
and its effects. Doctor Talon
can attest to an illness as one of its
initial after-effects. We have collected
samples of the debris at the very
edges of the veil. We've launched two
probes without much successful feedback.
(beat)
They disappeared.
(beat)
The resources we're requesting
would give us what we need to
expand our research and fortify
the station. We are, as you know,
on outermost edges of Central Command's
explored space.
ADMIRAL S'KARA
You are indeed in a more vulnerable
position than many of the other
posts. But I understand your first
initial contact experience has gone
quite well for you. I want to hear
more about this new planet and
its people.
COMMANDER LACROIX
The My'Ci are a very honorable
and helpful people. The nebula veil
has hurt them as well, cutting
them off from several of their
stronger allies. We trade technology
and fighting tactics for fresh
produce. and even some basic
medical supplies.
(beat, she faintly smiles)
We've even been able to get
some of our own seeds to
sprout on their planet. They've
grown particularly fond of tomatoes.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
What exactly have you told them about our security and military tactics?
COMMANDER LACROIX
Hardly anything at all. It's all very basic self-defense.
AMBASSADOR KEATON
They could simply be attempting
to gain your trust before launching
their own attacks on Central
Command. I want to meet them.
COMMANDER LACROIX and CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER exchange a concerned look.
COMMANDER LACROIX
They are a very formal and private
people. Their society is made
up of strict protocols. It would be
highly damaging to the relationship
we've built with the My'Ci if we
bring a stranger to their homeland.
ADMIRAL S'KARA
The Council has generally agreed that
since Ambassador Keaton is now at the
station, you no longer have to
act as Ambassador, Commander.
COMMANDER LACROIX
Admiral, with all due respect, Ambassador Keaton
knows nothing of their ways.
ADMIRAL S'KARA gathers and taps a slim stack of papers against her desk.
ADMIRAL S'KARA
Teach her.
Everyone falls silent. AMBASSADOR KEATON has a smug smile on her face.
CUT TO:
INT. H.A.L.O. SPACE STATION #262 - CORRIDOR OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM