“NewCom”

By Andrew Norris


PROLOGUE

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union experimented in all fields of 
science for a technology that would allow them to compete against the 
NATO countries.


Scientists such as biologist Trofim Lysenko and physicist Sergei 
Korolev were pushed viciously by their communist masters for an 
invention far better than the existing rocket technology.


Eventually, Korolev developed the new technology in his laboratory, 
which was codenamed "Operation: NewCom" (shortened from "New 
Communism"), but it was proven to be far too dangerous, even by Cold 
War standards. 


This is the story of what became of the technology after it was 
abandoned by the Soviets years ago...


SCENE ONE - Genus Control Centre, Genus, night.

CORPORAL RICHARD NASS has logged off from his computer terminal and 
stretches his arms. Getting up, he reaches for his tin helmet as he 
prepares to go off-duty.


NASS: (to himself) Another day, another simoleon.


He calls the elevator, which arrives in a few minutes. BANQUO, the 
steam-powered robot, exits from the elevator just as NASS steps in.


NASS: She's all yours, Banquo, I'm done for the day.


BANQUO: (salutes) Sure thing, corporal, hope you have a good night!


The elevator descends, and BANQUO sits down at NASS' desk. Using a 
small extendable aerial built into his right palm, BANQUO plugs himself 
into the system and sets to work. Within minutes, he detects something, 
and examines the screens. A missile, unpowered, is drifting towards the 
satellite defence system.


BANQUO: Weird.


He scans the missile for weapons or any signs of life. The result shows 
nothing but circuitory, which puzzles BANQUO even more.


BANQUO: Very weird. (activates radio) Genus Control calling all ships 
within the Beta Quadrant. We have an unidentified object over Genus. It 
is unarmed, but requires further investigation. Are there any ships who 
can deal, over?


BUCKY: This is the Righteous Indignation, Genus Control. We're 
returning to Genus now, so we'll take a look at your mystery object, 
over.


BANQUO: Roger that, Righteous, we'll keep an eye on things here.


SCENE TWO - Over Genus, space

The Toad Croaker, carrying BUCKY and WILLY, approaches the missile, 
which was once painted black-and-white, but has since begun to rust. 
WILLY doesn't recognise it immediately as they approach.


BUCKY: That sure is a strange sight.


WILLY: Yeah, it looks really antiquated compared to most of the Toad 
ships.


BUCKY: (raises an eyebrow) Who says that it's from the Toads? But 
still, you're right, Willy. Whatever this was, it's pretty primitive. 
(points to exhaust) Run on fossil fuels, too.


They move closer to examine the markings, which are faded and scarcely 
readable said for the rust.


BUCKY: Sure doesn't look like any language I know.


WILLY: Maybe it's an old relic that's just emerged from out of nowhere, 
like the Marie Celeste.


BUCKY: Well, we'll probably know a lot more once we get it on the 
ground, and let the techs at Genus Control have a good look at it.


JENNY: (over intercom) What's the deal, Bucky?


BUCKY: (into intercom) We're bringing it in, Jenny. I'll feel a lot 
safer when I can find somebody who knows just what the hell this thing 
is.


The Toad Croaker shifts slightly to attach a rope. Neither BUCKY nor 
WILLY notice the faded letters on the missile's hull: CCCP


SCENE THREE - Genus Control Centre, Genus

Several crews are waiting on the ground for the Righteous Indignation 
to land. A large detachment of the Bomb Disposal Unit has been 
dispatched, and have a transporter waiting to take the missile away for 
testing. JENNY delicately lowers the frigate slowly, as crews prepare 
to detach the missile from it. Amongst them, a SERGEANT is barking 
orders to the troops.


SERGEANT: Keep the lines steady! Standby for immediate changeover!


A staff car draws up, and FLEET-ADMIRAL RYGAR BLADE alights, surveying 
the scene. BANQUO arrives from the Control Tower and salutes RYGAR upon 
seeing him.


RYGAR: (gestures to missile) Is that the projectile that was discovered 
in orbit?


BANQUO: That's right, sir. Both our scans and a thorough search by 
Captain O'Hare have indicated that there are no explosives aboard.


RYGAR: It's a good thing you still called out the Bomb Disposal team, 
though. Not all weapons need explosives to cause havoc.


The missile is successfully loaded safely onto the Transporter, and the 
soldiers set to work holding it down. The ropes connecting the missile 
to the Righteous Indignation are cut, and the frigate moves away to 
land nearby. BUCKY and JENNY alight, saluting upon seeing RYGAR, who 
returns the gesture.


RYGAR: Good job, captain. Once it's analysed, perhaps we'll know who 
sent it.


JENNY: It doesn't look anything like Mammal or Toad technology to me, 
sir. It just looks so primitive.


RYGAR: I agree, but primitive or not, missiles just don't turn up on 
our back yard for no apparent reason. (pause) We might as well get some 
rest. It's been a hard day for us all.


BUCKY, JENNY and RYGAR part company, just as the Transporter is on it's 
way to the Bomb Disposal HQ.


SCENE FOUR - A Toad Mothership, somewhere in space

A conference of officers is underway in a large, darkened boardroom. 
Among those present around the circular table include TOAD AIR MARSHAL, 
CAPTAIN SMATA, COMMANDER CREELEVARD VALJTHOU, TOAD FIELD MARSHAL and 
MAJOR PADD. The head of the meeting appears to be the TOAD AIR MARSHAL.


AIR MARSHAL: ...and it seems that the missile was picked up by the 
Mammals when it entered Genusian orbit. After that, we lost track of 
it.


SMATA: That's as maybe, Air Marshal, but we still don't know who sent 
the missile or what were it's contents.


CREELEVARD: (calmly) The x-ray scans showed only machinery, nothing 
more.


SMATA: (turns his head) I know that, commander, but what sort of 
machinery was it? Your plates only show circuits and wires, not what it 
really was.


AIR MARSHAL: What the machinery did or not is immaterial, captain. All 
we do know is that it resembled a primitive guided-missile, but no 
warhead was placed inside.


PADD: Perhaps, Air Marshal, the warhead became detached sometime in 
it's flight? (gestures with hands) My theory is: The missile was 
launched, it flew off-course, and floated in space for sometime, during 
which a comet or something knocked away the warhead and took the 
missile further off-course!


CREELEVARD: (nods once) It is possible, Major. There are signs of 
damage on the missile, but the scans did not show a compartment for any 
explosive charge.


AIR MARSHAL: (groans) We'll come back to that, later. THe next question 
is who sent it? We all definitely know that it's not one of ours and 
it's definitely not a Mammalian weapon.


FIELD MARSHAL: Perhaps it was launched by those nomadic commies before 
we destroyed their mothership?


SMATA: (scoffs) Even those degenerate outcasts never used fossil fuels!


PADD: Perhaps it was constructed by the Menkrites during the era of 
Dash Daring?


AIR MARSHAL: (scratches his chin) Maybe, Major, it looked rusty enough. 
(clears throat) But let us say here and now that, if the missile was 
only a fluke, then we shan't bother ourselves about it further. It's 
too much of a headache trying to get all of these suggestions together. 
(pause) Let the mammals toy with their little plastic spacemen.


ALL: (in unison) Agreed.


They leave the room one by one, going about their business. TOAD AIR 
MARSHAL flips a file onto the table, which spills the contents 
everywhere, showing photographs, scans etc. of the missile over Genus.


SCENE FIVE - UAC Admiralty, Genus, the next day

RYGAR is on the videophone to the SERGEANT seen earlier. The SERGEANT 
is in his own office at the Bomb Disposal HQ, presumably in a remote 
part of Genus.


RYGAR: Did the Transporter arrive safely, sergeant?


SERGEANT: Yes, sir. We arrived last night without hassle, and we took 
the projectile down to our main laboratory.


RYGAR: Have you found out anything since then?


SERGEANT: (shakes his head) No more than we do now, sir. We opened it 
up, and there was quite a bit of machinery inside, but we...


The videophone suddenly turns to static, and RYGAR presses a few 
buttons, thinking it to be interference. After a while, he calls his 
SECRETARY over the intercom.


RYGAR: (into intercom) Why have I been disconnected from the Disposal 
HQ, Miss Finch?


SECRETARY: (over radio) You haven't, sir. The line's still open and 
it's working fine.


RYGAR'S face blackens with worry. He pauses before speaking again.


RYGAR: Whoever's on duty, get them sent out there immediately!


SECRETARY: Yes, sir.


RYGAR severs the intercom link, and prepares an alka-selzer for himself 
with the aid of a water-cooler outside the office.


RYGAR: (mumbles to himself) I just pray that the problem isn't as big 
as I think it is.


SCENE SIX - A secret location, Genus

BUCKY arrives with JENNY on a large armoured car. The large camouflaged 
building of the Bomb Disposal unit is still standing, but it's roof has 
been ripped open from the inside, and several trees surrounding the 
location have been felled. BUCKY and JENNY survey the damage with 
concerned looks.


JENNY: Oh my stars! (to Bucky) What do you think happened here?


BUCKY: I dunno, Jenny, but I'll bet you ten simoleons that our mystery 
package was behind it.


JENNY: You mean it exploded?!


BUCKY: (doubtfully) I doubt it. If it did detonate, why was only the 
roof blown off?


JENNY cocks her head as if to say "yes", but remains quiet. The two 
approach on foot, and as they get nearer, they notice several large 
mounds of earth around the fallen trees, like molehills arranged in a 
footprint formation.


JENNY: (examining the mounds) What in the name of the Grand Artificer 
are these?


BUCKY doesn't answer, but looks over the mounds himselfs. As he does 
so, several of the trees part, revealing an enormous, half-rusted mecha 
that stands ten feet high, and is smothered in faded red painting with 
a red-star motif on it's "head". It's hands are two gigantic, 
mechanical claws, and it's feet are small domes that form the mounds as 
footsteps.


BUCKY: (roars) JENNY! WATCH OUT!


JENNY and BUCKY move back, firing masers at the mecha. The damage is 
only minor, succeeding in only singing the paintwork. Both of them try 
to run back to the armoured car, but the mecha steps over it, crushing 
it into scrap metal with ease. BUCKY and JENNY take cover among the 
ruined trees as they try to get out of the mecha's sight.


BUCKY: (low voice) A mecha! Pretty ancient one, too!


JENNY: (murmurs) But how did it get here, and who activated it?


SCENE SEVEN - Morphea

MIRAGE is sat on her throne inside the Sphinx, watching the Mecha with 
glee. She punches the air in righteous fury when she sees JENNY and 
BUCKY hiding in the foliage.


MIRAGE: (laughs evilly) Yes! The great Master Jenny cornered like her 
little rabbit boyfriend! This has to be my best idea yet!


ANDREW watches from a distance at what is happening, and frowns.


ANDREW: You seem so certain that you'll win this time, don't you?


MIRAGE: (acidly) Of course I will! I brought NewCom out of the Orion 
Nebula to destroy them! (grins sinisterly) Yes, those little lefties 
could be very conniving indeed.


ANDREW: Just don't put all of your eggs into one basket. Something is 
bound to turn up.


SCENE EIGHT - Genus

The fight is not going at all well. Despite losing an arm, the mecha is 
still holding fast. BUCKY and JENNY have been forced from their hiding 
place, and are now running around the mecha to try and think of an 
idea.


BUCKY: (shouts) Why can't we have one day of the week where this kind 
of thing doesn't happen?


The remaining arm of the mecha picks up BUCKY, and tries to squeeze him 
like an insect. Seeing that BUCKY is in peril, JENNY leaps onto the 
back of the mecha, and tears open an inspection hatch.


JENNY: (grumbles) The things I do for you, Bucky!


Using her powers, JENNY scans the circuits of the mecha until she 
finally pinpoints the core of the monster. Just as BUCKY looks as if he 
is about to explode, JENNY uses her powers to destroy the mecha's 
workings. She grabs BUCKY and leaps off, just as the mecha crashes down 
on top of the armoured car.


JENNY: (sighs relievedly) Are you OK?


BUCKY: (breathlessly) I've lost some trapped wind I never knew I had, 
but I'm fine. (looks at mecha) Guess we'll never figure out who sent 
that thing.


JENNY: No, but it's been destroyed, and those Bomb Disposal people have 
got their revenge.


BUCKY: (smirks) A bit strong for you, Jenny. (serious tone) But I'd 
still like to know who'd be mad enough to send a psychotic robot to 
Genus in an antiquated missile.


SCENE NINE - Morphea

MIRAGE is incensed with rage over her defeat, and growls angrily at the 
crystal ball, slashing it with her claws. As she wipes away a few 
trickles of blood from her fingers, ANDREW watches with a grin on his 
face.


ANDREW: (grins) I'm not one to brag, but I did tell you not to speak 
too soon.


MIRAGE: (hisses furiously) Shut up! I'll show you that nice-guys always 
finish last, even if it kills me! Evil will prevail! And when it does, 
you and your furry little friends will be the first against the wall!


THE END