Bucky O' Hare
In
The Finest Hour Of Commander Dogstar
By Andrew Norris

SCENE ONE
The Righteous Indignation, in orbit of Canis II 
As the frigate moves itself into orbit, JENNY and BUCKY begin to scan 
the surrounding area.

JENNY: Are you certain that this is the place where we tracked that 
mercenary?

BUCKY: Well, according to the security guards after they came to, they 
said that the mercenary who hit them was a dog. Having attached a 
tracker to him, this is the best place to start. 

JENNY: But surely it could've been a disguise. 

BUCKY: Maybe, but I'm taking no chances. 

On a radar screen, the tracker shows up behind the ship, and a small, 
one-seater spacecraft hoves into view, with the skull-and-crossbones of 
a dog carved onto the one side. BUCKY activates his intercom to speak 
to the pilot. 

BUCKY: Byron Mann, this is Captain Bucky O' Hare of the UAC. You are 
under arrest for the sabotage of. S.P.A.C.E. installations, as well as 
aiding and abetting the Toads. 

BYRON: (Sinister voice, from ship) I think not, Captain.

A large energy blast hits the engines of the Righteous, as she suddenly 
spirals out of control and into space. With alarms screeching and 
sirens blaring, BUCKY tries to gain control of the ship as JENNY has 
been knocked unconscious. The Righteous spins wildly into the abyss, 
until several magnetic grappling hooks catch the ship. Looking out of 
his window, BUCKY, now bleeding from the forehead, notices the XL6 
towing them back to Genus. 

SCENE TWO
Watership Hospital
BUCKY is in bed with his left leg in plaster, and his face bandaged and 
bruised. With him are FRITZ, DOGSTAR and a SQUIRREL DOCTOR. 

FRITZ: You took quite a shock there, Captain. It's a good thing I had 
XL6 on standby. 

BUCKY: Indeed, Chairman. I feel pretty foolish just sitting around when 
there's a war to fight. 

FRITZ: Bucky, I'm giving you an order to stay here and recuperate. 

As they exit the ward, FRITZ addresses the DOCTOR.

FRITZ: How is his condition, Doctor Kenner?

KENNER: (Low-Pitched voice) He'll live. First Mate Jenny was a little 
luckier. 

He looks into a ward with the door ajar adjacent to BUCKY'S in the 
corridor, where JENNY is asleep on the bed.

KENNER: Had it not been for her armour, she would've been even worse. 

DOGSTAR: What about the others?

KENNER: I've checked up on Gunner Deadeye Duck, and he's fine besides a 
few bruises. The same can be said for Mr. Bruiser. Both are free to go 
this afternoon. 

FRITZ: (Smiles) Fine! Is there a private room where I can talk to 
Commander Dogstar?

DOCTOR KENNER nods, and points to an empty ward down the corridor. As 
DOCTOR KENNER continues with his work, FRITZ and DOGSTAR move into the 
empty ward and close the door.

DOGSTAR: (Worried) Is there something wrong, Chairman?

FRITZ: There is indeed, Commander. I need to speak to you about this 
assignment. 

He pulls a newspaper clip from his pocket, showing a looted safe laden 
with radioactive symbols.

DOGSTAR: The. S.P.A.C.E. Radiation Laboratory?

FRITZ: (Frowns) Yes, it was looted a few days ago of a rare chemical 
called Phosanium, a rare chemical that can be used to supercharge maser 
beams. The Toads will pay through the nose to receive the smallest 
amount so it can be mass-produced and added to their technology.

DOGSTAR: Oh, and how did Bucky get involved in this?

FRITZ: The guards at the laboratory identified the thief as Byron Mann, 
a mercenary from Canis II. 

Upon hearing the words "Byron Mann", DOGSTAR flinches.

FRITZ: (Continued) It is obvious by the damage that Byron has tested 
the Phosanium on his own armament, and we must stop him before he can 
use it against us. 

DOGSTAR: And where do I find him?

FRITZ: Our informers have traced him as far as Oceanus 7. We believe he 
may be working undercover on the coastal defences. If you can flush him 
out of there before he can sell of the Phosanium, then everything will 
be fine. Now get going. 

DOGSTAR walks out of the ward and out of the hospital, with a worried 
look on his face.

SCENE THREE
The Indefatigable, Out In Space
The frigate has just left Genus' atmosphere en route to Oceanus 7. LT. 
WOLF is at the controls.

WOLF: This is the Indefatigable to Genus Control, we have left Genus' 
atmosphere and are now heading towards Oceanus 7. 

NASS: (On radio) This is Genus Control, message received and understood, 
out.

LT. WOLF notices that DOGSTAR appears to be taking no notice of what is 
going on around him. 

WOLF: (Concerned) Are you all right, sir?

DOGSTAR doesn't answer. 

WOLF: Sir!

DOGSTAR springs back to life all of a sudden.

DOGSTAR: Hmm? Ah, yes! I'm fine, Wolf. Are we on course?

WOLF: Yes, sir. Holding steady as she goes.

DOGSTAR: Good, good. Keep her on course.

WOLF: Yes, sir.

DOGSTAR: (Thinks) < I wonder if I should tell him. > 

SCENE FOUR
Watership Hospital
JENNY and BUCKY are both reading magazines in their different rooms, 
but BUCKY throws his to the ground in frustration. 

BUCKY: (Irritated) I feel stupid just sitting here when that toad-lover 
is still out there!

JENNY: (Calls over to him) Calm down, Bucky. Dogstar is on it, and 
he'll let us know if anything happens.

BUCKY: Great! There's a war going on out there and I'm stuck in a 
hospital bed! I'm getting out of here!

He tries to stand up as he gets out of bed, but finds it painful to 
walk as one of his feet are in plaster. BUCKY tries to walk but trips 
and falls. JENNY presses a buzzer by her bed.

JENNY: (Sighs) I'll call the nurse.

SCENE FIVE
Oceanus 7
The ocean planet now has an artificial island set up away from the 
rejuvenation springs as seen before. Several oil-brown submarines are 
docked, each numbered and named "SKYDIVER 4, SKYDIVER 7" etc. On the 
front of each submarine is a one-man fighter aircraft used for air 
attacks. The Indefatigable is seen flying overhead before it lands on a 
small heliport, where a white HARE wrapped in a concealing blue cape 
and a skin-tight black suit is waiting to greet them. The HARE has to 
glaring green eyes and a small spell gem attached to her forehead. She 
holds a hand out to greet DOGSTAR as he and his crew disembark. 

HARE: (Feminine Voice) Greetings, Commander. I am Vice-Admiral Samantha 
Raven, the head of planetary defence on Oceanus 7. 

DOGSTAR: (Shakes hand) Greetings, Admiral. I take it you already know 
about Byron Mann?

RAVEN: (Nods once) I was told prior to your arrival. I have recalled 
all Skydiver submarines and soon we shall be ready to interrogate all 
crews at the briefing room downstairs.

DOGSTAR: It is possible that Byron is wearing a disguise, so I'm having 
my Android Second Class set up an X-Ray machine in the room. 

RAVEN: I'm sorry, but I feel that the machinery might make the crews a 
little jumpy.

RUMBLEBEE: (Stepping out of ship) I beg to differ, bzz, bzz. Humble 
android second class is X-Ray device, bzz, bzz. 

RAVEN: Well, we do have our own androids here, so that should be OK. 

DOGSTAR: Good! Now, are all crews here?

RAVEN: All except Skydiver 8. 

LT. WOLF notices a submarine approaching nearby.

WOLF: Is that it?

RAVEN: (Looks at sub) Yes. I will be waiting in the Briefing Room for 
the enquiry to begin. 

As she exits, LT. WOLF, DOGSTAR and PITSTOP PETE all go to greet 
Skydiver 8. As she docks on a metallic jetty below the heliport, the 
crew disembark. They are A DOG NAVIGATOR, A BADGER HELMSMAN, A PANTHER 
ENGINEER and A RAT CAPTAIN, who tries to prevent himself from being 
seen by DOGSTAR. DOGSTAR gets suspicious, and follows the crew into the 
Briefing Room. 

SCENE SIX
Watership Hospital
BUCKY is lying in bed in a huff. There is a knock on the door and 
DOCTOR KENNER walks in. 

BUCKY: Anything I can help you with, Doctor?

KENNER: You have a visitor. 

He walks out, and COLONEL RAUL MEW walks in. He greets BUCKY with a 
bright smile, and takes a seat.

RAUL: So, how are you Captain?

BUCKY: (Miserably) If I wasn't stuck here, Colonel, I'd be fine!

RAUL: Now, Bucky, you know full well that there are other people 
besides you who are fighting this war. You've been on patrol since you 
joined up without one request for leave since you graduated at Graham. 
One day in bed won't do anyone harm!

BUCKY: While the Toads could be plotting an invasion of some 
defenceless planet! I don't think so! Plus, what about Willy, he'll 
probably be craving action!

RAUL: I'm sure Willy has enough troubles on his own planet without 
having to put up with this! Now, you'll stay here until you're well 
enough again, and that's an order!

BUCKY: (Gloomily) Yes, Colonel.

RAUL walks out, while BUCKY sulks.

SCENE SEVEN
The Briefing Room, Oceanus 7
VICE-ADMIRAL RAVEN is consulting all Skydiver crews. All are mammals, 
wearing smart cream uniforms with the UAC emblem sewn onto the chest. 
RAVEN particularly keeps her eye on the crew from Skydiver 8, 
particularly the RAT CAPTAIN, who is shaking with fear.

RAVEN: (Looking at crowd) There is a traitor among you, and don't think 
that I cannot weed him out. 

Some of the crowd mutter in surprise. 

RAVEN: One of you happens to be one of the most-wanted mercenaries this 
side of the Aniverse. And I know you can hear me, Byron Mann!

The entire crowd gasps, and the RAT CAPTAIN cowers in fear. Meanwhile, 
hidden behind the stage, the crew of the Indefatigable are watching the 
presentation whilst RUMBLEBEE scans the audience with his eyes. 

DOGSTAR: (Whispers) Anything yet, old bean?

RUMBLEBEE: Negative, bzz, bzz. Will continue x-ray scanning, bzz, bzz.

DIGGER: I don't like the look of the Skydiver 8 crew. They stick out 
like sore digits.

PETE: Yup.

DOGSTAR: Rumblebee, have you scanned them yet? 

RUMBLEBEE: Negative, bzz, bzz. Will scan crew now, bzz, bzz.

He moves to look at the crew of Skydiver 8, and a slight ping indicates 
that he's found something. 

RUMBLEBEE: Byron Mann is one of the Skydiver 8 crew, bzz, bzz.

DIGGER: I knew he was one of them!

WOLF: Wouldn't surprise me if it were that shaky captain. 

DOGSTAR: (Thinks) < I'm afraid you're very wrong, my lad. > 

Out on stage, VICE-ADMIRAL RAVEN is still giving her speech, when she 
receives a message via a hidden transmitter in her ear.

WOLF: (Over transmitter) He's one of the crew assigned to Skydiver 8, 
send them into the next room. 

RAVEN: (Calmer) Now, to try and find out which one of you actually is 
Byron, I plan to have you all interrogated one sub at a time. Escaping 
is futile, as I've informed security to deny you all access to any 
other facilities here until we've weeded Byron out. Now, would the crew 
of Skydiver 8 kindly make their way into the next room? 

They do so, but the RAT CAPTAIN begins to whimper. As they are led 
through, the door slams shut behind them. Waiting for them are the crew 
of the Indefatigable. THE RAT CAPTAIN immediately puts his hands up, 
quivering all over.

DOGSTAR: All right lads, we know that one of you is Byron Mann, and we 
are placing all of you under arrest until we can make a more elaborate 
scan.

RAT CAPTAIN: (High-pitched voice) Please! You're making a big mistake! 

THE BADGER HELMSMAN frowns angrily.

BADGER: (Sinister voice) Shut up, Captain.

RAT CAPTAIN: B...but Byron, I...

BADGER: I said SHUT UP!

He fires a maser at the RAT CAPTAIN, who dies almost instantly. THE 
BADGER HELMSMAN pulls off his mask to reveal that he is BYRON MANN. THE 
PANTHER ENGINEER and DOG NAVIGATOR are horrified. BYRON smiles 
sinisterly at DOGSTAR.

BYRON: Did you miss me, big brother?

DOGSTAR: (Snarls) The only thing I miss is my vengeance after all 
you've done to me! 

BYRON: Dry up, Sirius! You're too old to even throw a stick!
THE PANTHER ENGINEER tries to grab BYRON, but is grabbed by the arm and 
held at gunpoint. 

PANTHER ENGINEER: (Middle-pitched voice) You traitor! 

BYRON: Shut up! Any of you make any moves and I'll blow his brains out!

They both move off, jumping out of a window and into a band of security 
guards. BYRON shoves THE PANTHER ENGINEER into the security guards, 
dodging maser fire and leaps onto Skydiver 2 before closing the hatch. 
The masers bounce off the hull as it moves off. Outside, VICE-ADMIRAL 
RAVEN, DOGSTAR, WOLF, DIGGER, RUMBLEBEE, PITSTOP PETE and the crews of 
all Skydiver submarines are watching as the renegade sub moves out to 
sea.

RUMBLEBEE: (Alarmingly) Danger! Bzz, bzz! If Phosanium makes contact 
with water, nuclear explosion shall occur! Bzz, bzz!

DIGGER: We must stop him before he tries to contact the Toads! If they 
get their hands on it, they'll be invincible!

WOLF: It's a grave decision. Either crash him and put the emergency 
water supplies in jeopardy, or capture him and put the Aniverse at risk. 

RAVEN: If everyone follows my lead, neither will happen. Follow me.

RUMBLEBEE, PITSTOP PETE, DIGGER, WOLF and DOGSTAR follow her up to 
Skydiver 1, parked on a private jetty on the other side of the island. 
They all clamber in and VICE-ADMIRAL RAVEN sets the machine into life. 

RAVEN: (Typing keys) Brace yourself! We're submerging!

The submarine slowly sinks into the depths in hot pursuit of Skydiver 2. 
Meanwhile, LT. WOLF is speaking to DOGSTAR.

WOLF: Forgive me if I am out of line sir, but are you related to Byron 
Mann?

DOGSTAR: (Exasperated sigh) I'm afraid so, and our past together is not 
a pleasant one. He always played pranks and tried to blame me. He often 
succeeded, as I was the elder brother. Then, when we both graduated out 
of Graham, he became jealous when I was offered the rank of Commander. 
I reckon he may actually be doing this as a payback. 

RAVEN: The pair of you stop whimpering, we're gaining on Skydiver 2. 
Commander, I think it best if you speak to Byron as you're one of his 
relations. 

DOGSTAR sighs, and grabs the microphone. 

DOGSTAR: (Into microphone) Byron, this has gone far enough! Surrender 
now and you shall be spared!

BYRON: (Laughs over radio) Ha! Don't make me laugh, Sirius! You know 
that you can't touch me with this Phosanium on board! You take a single 
shot and bye-bye Oceanus 7! Toad Air Marshal will be pleased with me!

DOGSTAR: But Toad Air-Marshal will just kill you once you hand over the 
Phosanium! We are here for you, Byron, why are doing this? Why are you 
going against your own people?

BYRON: Because, *Commander*, I have been offered the rank of Commodore 
in the Toad Forces, a rank higher than you ever dreamed of! 

DOGSTAR: You're doing this for a measly rank?!

BYRON: Yes! To prove that I can be better than my older brother, and 
that you, Sirius, are a washed up old battleship who couldn't even stop 
a clock!

As Skydiver 2 starts to race away, RAVENS' spell-gem glows, and she 
chants a spell out to herself.

RAVEN: Decora, Seaslem, Exquiltior, redur!

The spell brings BYRON MANN into Skydiver 1 with the Phosanium. DOGSTAR 
and BYRON begin to wrestle as LT. WOLF snatches the Phosanium away and 
hands it to VICE-ADMIRAL SAMANTHA RAVEN. It isn't until PITSTOP PETE 
hits BYRON hard on the head when RUMBLEBEE can handcuff BYRON securely. 
As he is taken to the brig, DOGSTAR looks at RAVEN in astonishment. 

DOGSTAR: You wield magic, my girl?
RAVEN: I'm from the Occultas Galaxy; all mammals from there learn the 
arts of the occult. Yet we are seconded only by the Alderbarrens. 

DOGSTAR: So, how were you able to transport Byron to here? 

RAVEN: A magician never reveals her secrets.

She gives a slight smile before returning to the bridge. DOGSTAR'S 
curiosity gets the better of him, however.

DOGSTAR: (To himself) Decora, Seaslem, Exquiltior, redur!

The fur on his hands instantly catches fire after chanting the words, 
much to RAVEN'S amusement. 

SCENE EIGHT
Watership Hospital, the next day
DR. KENNER is checking up on BUCKY, who is back in his uniform and 
standing on his two feet. 

KENNER: Well, Captain. You appear as fit as a fiddle, and you and First 
Mate Jenny are free to go. 

BUCKY: (Shakes hand) Thank you very much, Doctor!

KENNER: My pleasure. While you're at it, there's a patient in Ward 9 
who wishes to see you. 

A little confused by the request, BUCKY makes his way down to Ward 9, 
where DOGSTAR is lying in bed with both his hands bandaged up. 

BUCKY: (Laughs) So you bumped into Vice-Admiral Raven, I see?

DOGSTAR: I take it that I am not the first to try Occultas magic?

BUCKY: Nope. In fact, you're actually the 7th! Congratulations anyway 
on catching Byron. 

DOGSTAR: (Sighs) It's a shame that younger brothers can be so annoying.

BUCKY: Can't they just? Well done, Commander. You get some sleep. 

As BUCKY walks off, DOGSTAR tries the spell once more.

DOGSTAR: Decora, Seaslem, Exquiltior, redur!

Immediately, his bed snaps backwards, sandwiching DOGSTAR between the 
mattress. 

DOGSTAR: (Grumbling) I hate you, Raven. Hate you!

THE END