Earth: Final Conflict (1997–2002): Season 5, Episode 14 - The Art of War - full transcript

Tate is captured and Juda is injured in an attack on a military facility. Renee makes a deal with Tate to release him. He returns with Juda's body, which they study to learn why it did not regenerate.

Previously on Gene Roddenberry's
Earth Final Conflict

- Nothing could have survived that nuclear strike.
- Then who the hell beamed up the Atavus?

Welcome aboard.
We have much to discuss.

This human did saved us Howlyn.

And he does appear to want
to be our... adviser,

- our friend?
- What exactly do you want?

I can be your means
to control that planet down there,

control humanity.

You're not without skill,

but your services are no longer required.

I disagree!



Such a courageous gesture should be
enough to earn you our alliance,

and affection.

You are worth keeping human.

Forgive my cold shoulder Miss Palmer,

but I'm not used to civilian
looking over it,

especially during a covered operation.

It's understandable, Lieutenant.

You are here as
the President's alien expert, period.

And as such, I reserve the right
to board the mothership with your unit.

Permission denied.

Well, I'm not asking
your permission, Lieutenant.

If you've a problem with that,
you can call your CO...

or the White House.

Look, Miss Palmer,



when this proton scatter weapon
takes down the mothership aft shields,

- we'll be heading into the unknown.
- No, you will.

I know the layout, up there,
you don't.

I know the enemy,
you don't.

And I think your men
would stand a much better chance

if you use all the resources
at your disposal including myself.

Grab yourself a flak jacket,
you're joining me on point.

But if you think for one minute that you can
assume tactical command of this operation...

Cover me!

Tate!

- Take out the weapon system!
- Cover me!

Boss... wait.

Juda!
Get away!

What happened?

We destroyed the weapon
but we encountered a furious resistance.

Her wound's not healing,
regenerating. Why?

an alien species known as the Taelons

came to Earth with a promise of peace.

They lied...

Their true agenda was to dominate us.

After years of struggle
the Taelons have perished

leaving more aggressive beings
in their wake,

the Atavus.

Synchro / Transcript: Team Trad EFC

My name is Renée Palmer.

My mission is to stop this new species
from dominating our planet.

This is Earth Final Conflict.

Season 5 Episode 14

Her vitals are dropping and cross the board.

She's bleeding internally.

You...

you did this to her.

You,

- put her in harm's way.
- No.

You failed.

The weapon was destroyed.

That was the objective.

He's not to blame Howlyn.

For every one of us that falls,
one billion of yours will.

Easier said than done Howlyn.

Look what just happened
to your team of elite hybrid soldiers.

They were eviscerated,

by an handful of Army Rangers.

Cigar? Cigarette?

Tip for an early furlough?

- I don't smoke, or play bargain.
- Neither do I.

- Gee, just not my day, is it?
- I'd say.

Your mentor leaving you high and dry.

So much for loyalty.

Well, loyalty has its price.

- At least mine does anyway.
- Not interested.

- Why not?
- Because you're a scum, Tate.

You think only cream rises to the top?

Come on,

just give me another chance
to redeem myself here.

All you've got to do is put me
in that portal over there.

You send me back to the mother ship.

Alright?
I'll toss *** and blast my way out the jam,

and I send you back some intel.

Shield codes, why not?

Not happening.

Look... Palmer.

Your prize weapon's toast.

You're back to square one.

And you need somebody, a non-hybrid
working on the inside.

I'm your man.

And all I ask for return is...

full immunity,
for my misplaced loyalty,

a new ID
and some travelling doll.

So what do you think?

Aren't you just the one telling me to
utilize all the resources at my disposal?

The clock's ticking people,
longer I go missing.

Alright Tate, here's the deal.

Lt Micheals will contact the Pentagon and
I'll place a call to Director Urick, but...

you better come up with something
stellar within the next twenty four hours,

or your mug shot will be posted right next to
Sandy's on a FBI stand most wanted, got it?

It's good to be warned.

Sandoval!

Sandoval!

What is happening to me?

You're dying Juda.

Your stored life force is not triggering
your sense of regeneration.

In fact, it's quite the opposite.

Help me.

I've got Taelon core energy inside me,

- if I transfer it to your...
- Taelon energy is toxic to an Atavus.

But at small doses, it could be
bio-compatible, even healing.

We got to try it Juda.
It's the only thing that can save you.

Do it.

Boss...

you stud.

Tate?

Yeah, I still up and go and living.

No hug?

No.

Yeah, not a good day for you either, huh?

Juda, Juda, Juda...

You know well all the bang, ***
don't you sweet heart?

Find Sandoval.

Stellar enough for you?

Sandoval!

The traitor has hidden.

Juda flat line two minutes ago.

We've a time lock
on when her vitals stopped.

Shut it off.

Shut it off!

What did you do to her, Sandoval?

I thought my Taelon core energy
could heal her.

- You killed her.
- No.

I tried to save her.

Then why has your loyal servant Tate,

have taken her from this vessel?

We don't know why her wounds
wouldn't regenerate.

She had plenty of life force
flowing through her veins,

but she could have still been
susceptible to an Earth base virus.

Your point?

I had Tate, take Juda's body
down to a secure medical facility.

After her sudden demise

I didn't wanna risk a possible viral
*** among the rest of the Atavus.

You think you can ply me
with your spontaneous logic, Sandoval?

I can smell your fear.

- I know you murdered her.
- No, I did not!

- Then why should I believe you?
- Because I loved her!

Loved her more than you.

Spare me your sentiment, Sandoval.

I want nothing more from you,

other than an proven way
to subjugate your species.

There is no way.

- Not without risking your own.
- Is that so?

Bring him to the chair.

I'm told my Taelon descendants

use this device to probe
the deeper recesses of the human mind.

The answer to human annihilation
is hiding in there, Sandoval.

We just have to dig deep and find it.

Share with me

everything you know,

willingly.

What you can tell me

about Cyber Viral Implants?

The CVIs were Taelon organisms
implanted into human brains.

They were supposed
to suppress the human free will,

and force loyalty to the Taelons.

Da'an required that all Companion protectors,
be implanted with CVIs.

Every relationship,

every emotion, every memory

was manipulated
to insure obedience to the Taelons.

The CVI program was supervised
by Dr Julian Belman.

She implanted a non-functioning CVI
to Da'an's protector William Boone

who became the leader of the resistance.

**

I'm sorry he's dead.

***

- We will never be...
- across...

What went wrong?

They were only effective temporarily.

Human free will eventually overcame
all CVI program.

You even realize that!

Even my own,

breaks when I rebelled against Da'an.

Make no mistake or I will kill you.

All I want is my freedom, Boone.

Back off!

So,

the Taelons couldn't override
human free will.

What about manipulate the memories?

We can make your species believe
anything we desire.

Can't we?

Yes, for a time.

We transferred memories from one person
to an other so that the person believed

those memories were their own.

The resistance leader, Liam Kincaid,

received the memories of a war hero
who lost his legs during combat.

My legs!

Oh God, no, not my legs!

Kincaid was haunted by the believe
that he had lost his own legs.

But our power of reason prevails.

We were able to distinguish
real memories from false ones.

And we are no longer affected
by artificial memories.

Then Kincaid ultimately destroyed
the memory transfer apparatus.

You offer me nothing but failure.

If you don't like the answers,
don't ask the questions.

The Taelons,

they tried to attack the human from within.

A waste of time.

Why not breed vicious alien organisms
to exterminate humanity?

They tried that too.

We bred lethal alien parasites that
borrowed their way into the human body.

Once inside they attacked their human host.

Liam!

What's happening?

Then again human ingenuity prevailed.

They created an antidote
that destroyed the parasite.

Obviously,

you underestimate the resourcefulness
of the human will.

And you underestimate mine!

Don't you understand the significance here?
This is the first time an Atavus

- hasn't able to regenerate.
- Which is precisely the reason

it is vital for my people to get this body
to Bethesda for autopsy.

I know the naval surgeons are first rate,
they are.

But they don't have any experience
with Atavus physiology.

Then let me guess,

you know someone that does.

And I'd like to avoid
all the bureaucratic red tape.

And I would like to avoid a court martial.
It has to be a military pathologist.

He is a veteran of the SI wars.

Still in the army reserve.
Have you ever heard of the Dr Paul Rogers?

- "Brown star" right?
- And two "Purple Hearts".

He's been working with me,
studying the Atavus around the clock.

Listen,

all I'm asking for,
a first look privileges.

On two conditions.

I travel with the body at the all times.
And if I don't like what I see,

I reserve the right to terminate this
exercise and take full custody of the alien.

Fine.

But the location I have in mind
is for your eyes only, agreed?

Agreed.

- I realize you're sticking on the edge here.
- You have no idea.

This is insane.

Humans kill each other every single day
without any provocation.

I will alter human physiology,
and create human warriors bent

on killing their own kind.

I already tried it.

- What do they see?
- The enemy.

Our mutual enemy.

But in the end

human loyalty...

for its own species prevailed
over its taste of self-destruction.

You give me nothing!

Revive him.

The mind probe has induced a cardio trauma.

- I don't think he's able to take any more.
- He'll take what I'll give him.

And if he dies before I get what I need...

You die.

Good.

We resume questioning.

Howlyn.

I'm here to serve you,

but if you proceed with the interrogation
at this point Mr Sandoval will expire.

Weak...

despicable species.

Give him what he needs.
Fortify him.

We'll begin another session...

soon.

In the meantime...

bring me the Taelon.

Would you mind observing from a distance Lt,
you're compromising the sterile field.

- So what? The subject is dead, right?
- Yes the subject is dead,

but various organisms within her are not.
Namely, potential alien viruses,

bacteria, parasites,

- meaning that they're *** our situation.
- Come on Doc.

The Lt is still wearing his flak jacket,

why don't you leave him scrub up and...

give you a hand?

Yes, why not.

Bone saw.

Are you not the embodiment
of all surviving Taelons?

The collective consciousness, yes.

- And direct descendant of Atavus?
- As well.

Yet you refused to help me.

My species, your forefathers.

Your savage nature inspires neither loyalty,
nor kinship, Howlyn.

Rather something more along the lines
of abject revulsion.

We need to feed.

How else do we just survive on this planet?

Perhaps you chose the wrong planet
to try and survive on.

- The wrong species to prey upon.
- No.

We came, we conquered,

we were forced into stasis.

Now we wake to find ourselves
overwhelm with human vermin

intent on our annihilation.

It's time to bring them to their knees.

- And you are looking for my counsel.
- It's not a choice Taelon.

Your threats are meaningless

and unnecessary.
I'm not only willing, but anxious

to share my experiences.

- Why are you being so cooperative?
- As stated,

I carry inside me the collective experience
of both all Taelons and Jaridians.

By sharing those experiences,

you will finally understand
that humanity cannot be conquered.

That your only prudent course of action
will be to leave Earth.

And in doing so,
I will have fulfilled my greatest destiny.

You are fool to think these humans
can chase me from my planet.

And you're a fool,
for underestimating their resilience.

You expect me to touch you?

- I'm repelled by Taelon energy.
- Not if I acquiesce.

Do you wish to gain
the knowledge you seek?

To begin with

your creation of Atavus-Human hybrids
is doomed to failure, as was our attempt.

One more step,

and I kill them all.

Put the gun down.

I swear I'll use this.

Human physiology is highly resistant
to a coupling with an alien species.

Especially one that is determined
to subjugate the human component.

Despite our best efforts
to prolong their lives

all the hybrids ultimately perished.

Here the results show that her

regenerative powers have diminished,
but I can't pinpoint exactly why.

Well then, maybe my people can.

- Prepare the body for transfer.
- Wait.

Are you sure you've done
every test you can think of?

Yes.

Unless we drain the life force

- from her body to study it.
- No, wait a second.

I want assurances that no detrimental
effect will come to this corpse

that will prevent my people
from examine it later.

Sorry Lt, but under the lexicon
of alien there are no guarantees.

Come on, do you want abandon ship now?
I was just beginning to like you.

Does that mean you'll stand behind me
when they'll try to throw my butt in a brig?

Alright then Doctor.

Let's give it a go.

You harvested a substance on the planet,

that made you stronger.

It was called Kryss.

It was manufactured inside the human body
and then extracted for our use.

Maybe I can...

- What to the hell...?
- work to restore our regenerative powers.

Unlikely. Even if the humans
had not destroyed our crops

our increasing dependence
on Kryss weakened us.

There's no wonder
the humans dominated you.

Your Taelon physical form
could never stand up in battle.

We compensated for that inadequacy
by transferring Taelon consciousness

into human vessels.
The benefits were effective.

But ultimately short lived.

The human hosts were unwilling to sustain
an alien life force in their bodies.

Sniper.
Sniper! Everyone down!

Eventually the humans expelled the alien
life force from their consciousness.

You, Taelons were always afraid of.

But Jaridians...

They're infinitely more powerful.

And their weaponry is highly advanced.

You can't tell me that humans
dominated them as well.

Liam! Look out!

It will take more than sheer power

and sophisticated armouries
to defeat this species.

The humans triumphed over the Jaridians
and their feared arsenal.

Well,

we are not Taelon

or Jaridian.

Humanity has never faced
an enemy like the Atavus.

They have not.

But they have faced...
Ha'gel.

Ha'gel was a member of a species
known as the Kimera.

The Kimera have the power to inhabit
the bodies of human beings.

Ha'gel believed that humanity
was to be protected

and thus considered himself
an enemy of the Taelons.

He evaded our capture by moving
from one human body to another.

The last body he inhabited...

- Where is he?
- Inside this dumpster.

- was that of Ronald Sandoval.
- Alright, give me a hand here.

We don't have to do this, Ha'gel!

The Taelons are my enemy.

I'm fighting against them like you.

Ha'gel was then killed in a shoot out
with William Boone.

Surely you must now understand

the futility of continuing
your war against humanity.

Why?

Because a succession

of lesser species has been defeated?

I will not leave this planet,

until I bring humanity to its knees.

You have learned nothing.

You are a primitive

salvage, ancestral cast-off
of a once noble species.

And your intransigence will surely doom
your surviving brethren to extinction.

Nice work, Paul.

Yeah, nice work.

What the hell's going on here, Doc?

- Do something, Rogers!
- There's nothing I can do.

My God...

I hope you'll find something
valuable in there.

Because it's not just my ass
that's gonna be in a sling.

The ship!

If we divert all the ship's remain power

to the weapon systems, we can launch one

massive strike.

It won't work.

The mother ship controls
can only be activated by a Taelon.

We'll have to bypass the ship's directive.

This isn't an ordinary ship, Howlyn.

All navigation and power sources
are completely shut down.

We're under Earth's gravitational pull.

- Revert to conventional drives.
- Zo'or...

we're entering Earth atmosphere.

We're in free fall.

The only non-Taelon that was able
to command the mother ship,

was a companion protector named Malley.

His CVI implant malfunctioned,
causing the mother ship to see him as Taelon.

- So the mother ship can be fooled.
- Not for long.

Look out! Get down!

What's happening?

I'm not your enemy.

I think the mother ship is reading him
as Taelon anymore.

He's treated like a virus.

If I had Malley's CVI implanted,
I too can control the mother ship.

Where is he buried?

He was ejected into space.

I know you, Sandoval.

You wouldn't let an opportunity
like this slip through your hands.

If someone had the foresight...

to hold on to Malley's damaged CVI...

Where is it?

Tell me, or you die.

You kill me...

You kill my memories.

Then you'll never find that CVI.

- This is it.
- What?

The inability of the Atavus to regenerate

is directly related to their
consumption of our life force.

By feeding on us,
they're truly weakening themselves?

How is that for irony?

Apparently our life force has become somehow
tainted over the past several thousand years.

It's nowhere near as purest when our

unevolved ancestors were
the Atavus' prime food source.

We've been steadily polluting our bodies

and our environment
early since the industrial revolution.

So we better equipped to withstand
a contamination on the Atavus.

For the moment.

It's a real window of opportunity here,
but we've got to...

hit them hard now,
when we still have the advantage.

How long before Malley's CVI's functional?

It's designed to integrate into
your neuro pathways immediately.

Greetings, Lee'or.

Divert all remaining power
the weapon systems.

Order confirmed.

We have a critical situation, sir.
I'm transmitting our readings.

Good, we've got 'em.

The mother ship...

She's powering up her weapon system.

It'll be fully operational in...

two minutes.

- Greetings, Ra'jel.
- Detail your current activity.

- Weapon system activating.
- Terminate the order.

Termination of this order requires consent
by two or more members of the Synod.

- Which Taelon activated the weapons?
- Lee'or.

- Lee'or is dead.
- Negative.

- Lee'or is currently stationed on the bridge.
- I request a visual authentication.

Execute a full energy anatomy scan
to confirm the identity of Lee'or.

Notify me the second the President
is secured in the bunker.

The weapons come online.

There must be a damn thing
we can do to stop them.

Weapon system's currently online.

Activation countdown commence
in ten, nine...

eight, seven,
weapons activation in five, four...

three, two, one...

weapons activation aborted.
Authorization nullified.

No!

It's powering down

I don't understand.

This must be our lucky day.

Who aborted my command?

System operations.

Scanning revealed a darkness
in your energy anatomy

that could not possibly be of Taelon origin.

Conclusion: Attempted subterfuge.
Therefore...

this vessel will revert back to stasis mode
and continue in its pre-assigned orbit.

- Well, we touched a bullet today.
- Yes, we did.

- Thank you, Paul.
- Thanks, Renée.

- Thank you Doctor.
- Goodbye.

Well, knowing that the Atavus are vulnerable.
It should be a task ***

I wanna thank you...
Miss Palmer.

It's Renée.

Renée.

Keep in touch.

I will.

You read the situation wrong
from the beginning, Howlyn.

- I was never disloyal to you.
- It's irrelevant.

The only way you can help me now,
is to find me a means to defeat humanity.

- And it's not on this ship.
- Look,

sending me back to Earth is
tantamount to killing me.

I'm public enemy number on down there.

- With orders to be arrested, or shot on sight.
- I don't care.

You want sanctuary...

You bring me the means
to dominate your species.

_^^^^_
( O . O )
( o )