EXT. SPACE – INTRO
Pitch black view of space. It is deafeningly silent. A freckle of bluish white light cuts through the darkness as the camera slowly zooms in on the glimmer as it increases in size. Haunting high pitched strings crescendo. A pillar shaped space ship comes into view…
INT. SPACE SHIP – BARRACKS – PLAYER'S QUARTERS
Camera centers on PLAYER'S closed eyes as they dart open and the music ends on a staccato note.
[HOVERING ROBOT]
"Ah! Finally awake I see. Come on now, no time to waste!"
Player is prompted to enter his/her name and gender.
The sleeping PLAYER comes into view with a noticeably frustrated [HOVERING ROBOT] floating overhead.
[HOVERING ROBOT]
"It is time for your meeting with the board, PLAYER. They will not tolerate another tardy entrance, even from the son/daughter of the HEAD OF COUNCIL."
The PLAYER shoo's [HOVERING ROBOT] away and pulls the sheets over his/her head.
Metallic prongs spring from the circular orb body of [HOVERING ROBOT] and pull the sheets off of PLAYER.
[HOVERING ROBOT]
"This is no time for indolence. The fate of [PLANET] is resting on the decision of council and time is of the essence! Your father wants you to succeed him as HEAD OF COUNCIL and will not start the meeting without you in attendance."
PLAYER reluctantly gets out of bed. The camera moves into first-person view and the player is free to roam around the room. Next to the bed is an antique desk from the 2000's. On the desk are text books which the player can examine. The first books reads "[DEONTOLOGIST MANIFESTO]. The author of the book is [HEAD OF COUNCIL]. The second book reads "[UTILITARIANS Vs. DEONTOLOGISTS]." The third book is an Earth military combat training manual with illustrations of combat maneuvers. On the side of PLAYER's bed are a set of interactive controls for the holographic communications display.
IF the PLAYER interacts with the controls, the display is turned on and the holoTV displays the news.
[NEWS CHANNEL]
[FEMALE ANCHOR]:
"…[UTILITARIAN] faction leader claims the people of Earth have been indoctrinated and brainwashed by the [DEONTOLOGISTS] to believe they can co-habit [ALIEN PLANET] with the [NATIVES] peacefully in the long term. Here is an excerpt of what [UTILITARIAN LEADER] had to say":
"[HEAD OF COUNCIL] wants you to believe we can co-exist with the [NATIVE] people. He relies on an antiquated ideology of morality in a time where Earthlings are starving to death on their own planet and killing each other at alarming rates. As our resources dwindle to dust, [HEAD OF COUNCIL] wastes precious time negotiating with a people who do not want to help us… A people who have long ago shunned us from the rest of the universe. If we do not act right now, and take what is rightfully ours, humanity as we know it will cease to exist! The time for talking has passed. If you are with me, you will do what is necessary to ensure survival in this dimension!"
[FEMALE ANCHOR]:
"The battle for the survival of mankind continues as the leaders of each party attempt to convince Earth of the best course of action: warfare or diplomacy."
[MALE ANCHOR]:
"What a dire situation, [FEMALE ANCHOR]. In other news, neo-pop singer Pos X has been arrested again. The star's latest arrest comes after allegedly handing out doses of the notorious club drug "Euphoria." He was bailed out and posted this message to his iLog almost immediately":
"My fans. The fascists are trying to put me away again, this time for enlightening people to the truth. The fact is, my music is more powerful than any drug, but those who chose to use EUPHORIA find their eyes opened to a new dimension of truth that both the [UTILITARIANS] and [DEONTOLOGISTS] fail to see. The key to our survival is not with brute military force or with political sanctions, but with LOVE. Can't you see what's going on, people?! They're trying to lock me up for spreading love!! But what these fascists don't get is that they can put Pos X under the jail, but they can't stop LOVE from spreading!!!"
The [NEWS CHANNEL] repeats in a loop.
IF the PLAYER attempts to leave the room before getting dressed [HOVERING ROBOT] is cued:
[HOVERING ROBOT]:
"While time IS of the essence, sir/ma'am, the council still observes traditional manners of…ahem…clothing."
On the far side of the room are a row of lockers. In locker number 1, PLAYER sees and can examine a military grade rifle and combat knife, but cannot pick them up yet. Locker number 2 has civilian clothes, either for a male of female depending on the player's gender preference. When the player opens locker number 3 he/she eyes a white uniform with the [DEONTOLOGIST] symbol displayed on the arm. The screen fades to black and the sound of clothing being put on his heard.
A voice is heard on the intercom.
[INTERCOM ANNOUNCER]:
"PLAYER, please report to the lower deck for the council meeting."
[HOVERING ROBOT]:
"Oh dear…we must hurry, PLAYER! Your father will not be pleased with my performance in keeping you up to task!"
INT. SPACE SHIP HALLWAY
Marching drums fade in as PLAYER enters the hallway, followed by a section of woodwinds playing a lingering melody and trumpets providing a sense of grandeur.
Opening credits fade in and out from the right side of the screen.
As PLAYER walks through the metallic framework of the hallway, he/she is greeted by crew members:
CREW MEMBER 1, OPERATING AN ELECTRIC PANEL IN THE HALLWAY:
"Good morning, PLAYER! Your father and the rest of the council are waiting for you in the command center. Better not keep him waiting, you know how he gets about tardiness."
CREW MEMBER 2, LEANING AGAINST WALL SMOKING A CIGARETTE:
"Did you hear what that bastard had to say this time? It was on [NEWS CHANNEL]. He's trying to incite a rebellion. God help us all."
PLAYER comes to a door and interacts with it to open it.
INT. SPACE SHIP LOBBY
[HOVERING BOT]:
"This way, PLAYER. We must not delay the meeting any further!"
The lobby is in stark contrast to the grays of the hallway before it, peppered with an assortment of Earth's plants. Overhead lights give off an artificial sunlight quality. The lobby is alive with activity, as crew members converse and children play. The holoTV plays a loop of the benefits of [NATIVE] planet.
As PLAYER walks across the lobby, the camera pans over to the left side window revealing space and the [NATIVE] planet.
[HOVERING BOT]:
"Ah! [NATIVE] planet. Beautiful, yes?"
PLAYER'S sight remains on the planet, the screen moves up and down in a slow nodding motion. [NATIVE] planet is an array of vast blue oceans, lush green forestry and deep yellow from the lights of the cities.
PLAYER may talk with the crew members in the lobby:
CREW MEMBER 3, STARING AT [NATIVE] PLANET:
"They say Earth used to look like that. Hard to imagine it now."
CREW MEMBER 4, TYPING ON HOLOPHONE:
"If the [DEONTOLOGISTS] succeed, this will be the most prominent and beneficial exchange of culture and science in the known universe!"
CHILD 1, PLAYING:
"My mom says [NATIVE] planet has lots and lots of cool toys!"
HOLOTV INFORMATION CHANNEL:
"…resources such as water, soil and oxygen remain untainted and plentiful on [NATIVE] planet. The planet consists of more than 70 percent water, compared to Earth's 30 percent, of which the majority is consumable. The other 30 percent of [NATIVE] planet is rich in natural vegetation and solar powered mega cities that co-exist with nature, rather than go against it…"
CREW MEMBER 5, WATCHING THE HOLOTV:
"Look at all that water! Can you believe the [NATIVE'S] actually just give it away? Don't cost nothing! I'm gonna drink so much when I get there that I'll be pissing out my ears!"
PLAYER must go up the stairs at the far end of the lobby and interact with the command center door. Once in the command center, a cut scene is prompted:
[HEAD OF COUNCIL]:
"Good of you to join us, PLAYER."
COUNCIL MEMBER:
"Can we begin? That is, if it's alright with you, PLAYER. Time is not exactly something we have the luxury of these days."
[HEAD OF COUNCIL]:
"Let's get straight into it then, shall we?
[Aside to PLAYER] Observe carefully, soon this command will become your responsibility.
As I'm sure you are all aware, the [UTILITARIAN] leader has increased his belligerence and advocacy of violence toward the [DEONTOLOGISTS] in the past several months. His movement is picking up momentum with disenfranchised Earthlings growing impatient with negotiations with the [NATIVES]. The Earth doesn't have much life left, but neither will our species if we do not delicately handle this transition into the new world."
COUNCIL MEMBER 2:
"Movement? More like damning us all!"
Council mumbles in agreement
[HEAD OF COUNCIL]:
"Which is exactly why we must seal negotiations today. There's no telling what [UTILITARIAN] sympathizers will resort to if the action is delayed any further."
An explosion rips through the wall of the command center, opening a vacuum of space ripping through the room. The alarm blares and the lights dim to flashing red. Several council members are sucked into the blackness of space.
[HEAD OF COUNCIL]:
"The emergency shutter doors! Get to the switch, PLAYER!"
PLAYER resumes control and must navigate to the emergency shutter door switch. The camera sways with panicky motion and movement controls are temporarily reversed. PLAYER interacts with the switch to seal the hole in the command center.
[HEAD OF COUNCIL], INJURED FROM BLAST:
"Those [UTILITARIAN]…bastards….[gasps for breath]…they don't know…what they've done! PLAYER, you're…our only hope… take this."
RECEIVED [HEAD OF COUNCIL'S LETTER]
[HEAD OF COUNCIL]:
"Get to the lifeboat….you must survive!"