The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances (17 page)

4. KING BEN

ADAR BALI’NH HAS GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO USE HIS WARLINERS TO ASSIST OUR EXPLORERS.

[LINK]

THE HUMAN RACE HAS ALWAYS HAD ITS SHARE OF RESOURCEFUL VISIONARIES.

PAGE 18

Full page “background” overlaid with four regular panels and text blocks

FULL PAGE BACKGROUND

The King addresses the crowd. We can see him in the upper right hand corner on his balcony, and the sweeping vista of the crowd covers the rest of the page. The other four panels and the text blocks are overlaid on dead spots in the image. (Perhaps need to fade the color somewhat to accommodate this.)

1. KING BEN

WE CELEBRATE THESE BRAVE PIONEERS WHO WILL INVESTIGATE HABITABLE PLANETS IN THE ILDIRAN DATABASE . . .

[LINK]

. . . AND FIND CANDIDATE WORLDS FOR COLONIZATION.

TEXT BLOCK

MADELEINE ROBINSON IS A SINGLE MOTHER WITH TWO SONS, DEREK AND JACOB—AND NOTHING TO LOSE. HER HUSBAND WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON A LOADING DOCK—HIS OWN FAULT—WHICH CAUSED THE DEATHS OF TWO BYSTANDERS.

TEXT BLOCK

IN THE LEGAL AFTERMATH, MADELEINE AND HER FAMILY LOST EVERYTHING. THEY NEED SOME WAY TO GET ON THEIR FEET AGAIN, TO MAKE A NEW START.

PANEL 1

A strong single mother, MADELEINE ROBINSON, and her two sons—JACOB (13) and DEREK (18). Madeleine may be a mother, but she’s still very attractive—think Michelle Pfeiffer. Jacob is a spunky kid, and Derek is a teen heartthrob, like young Luke Skywalker in the first STAR WARS. Looking harried, carrying baggage, the three of them are boarding the Ildiran warliner.

2. DEREK

I WISH WE HAD MORE EQUIPMENT TO BRING ALONG.

3. MADELEINE

WE’LL MAKE DO, DEREK. THIS IS ALL WE HAVE. . . .

PANEL 2

TZ, the Robinson’s small household compy, looks cute as he hauls an overstuffed duffel; maybe a few objects, clothes, tools, are poking out of pockets and zippers.

4. TZ

I AM READY FOR ANOTHER LOAD, MADELEINE.

PANEL 3

Derek and his little brother stowing their stuff on bunks, in cabinets inside their assigned chamber onboard the warliner.

5. DEREK

JACOB, FIT THIS ON YOUR SIDE.

PANEL 4

Madeleine, looking uncertain but hopeful, sits on her own bunk, thinking.

TEXT BLOCK

WITH A LAST NAME LIKE
ROBINSON
, THEY ARE DESTINED TO EXPLORE “DESERT ISLANDS” IN SPACE.

PAGE 19

Full page “background” overlaid with three regular panels and text blocks

FULL PAGE BACKGROUND

Covering the top of the page is a large Ildiran warliner, resting where it has landed. People are streaming aboard. Uniformed Ildirans are helping them.

Speech bubbles are the King, continuing to deliver his address. (We don’t see him in the panel, but we know he’s the one giving the speech.)

1. KING

THE ILDIRANS RECENTLY PICKED UP REFUGEES OF THE GENERATION SHIP
KANAKA
, WHOSE NEW COLONY FAILED LAST YEAR.

2. KING

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE
KANAKA
COLONISTS HAVE ENTERED INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ILDIRANS. . .

3. KING

. . . AGREEING TO OPERATE SEVERAL
SKYMINES
—HUGE FLOATING FACTORIES THAT DISTILL STARDRIVE FUEL FROM THE ATMOSPHERES OF GAS-GIANT PLANETS.

TEXT BLOCK (
NOT
KING’S DIALOG)

THE
KANAKA
WAS EARTH’S LAST GENERATION SHIP.
DESPITE INFERIOR WORKMANSHIP AND MINIMAL SUPPLIES, THE RESOURCEFUL COLONISTS MANAGED TO SURVIVE THEIR LONG JOURNEY.

TEXT BLOCK

WHEN THE ILDIRAN SOLAR NAVY TRANSPORTED THE
KANAKA
TO THE PLANET IAWA, THE COLONISTS HOPED THEIR TROUBLES WERE FINALLY OVER.
BUT A BLIGHT WIPED OUT THEIR CROPS, AND THEY WERE FORCED INTO SPACE AGAIN . . . WANDERING, CLUTCHING AT ANY STRAW.

TEXT BLOCK

BY NOW, THESE PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED TO THRIVE UNDER ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP AND RETURN TO EARTH.
CLAN LEADER
COREY KELLUM
NEGOTIATES HIS WAY INTO A LUCRATIVE ILDIRAN BUSINESS DEAL, HOPING TO TAKE OVER EVENTUALLY.

PANEL 1

We meet COREY KELLUM and some of the people who will become Roamers, already on board. They are dressed colorfully and distinctively, different from the other humans we have seen so far. These people are based on gypsies. Corey is something of a dashing rogue, think Han Solo. Corey looks down, smiling, at several Roamer children playing games on the deck.

4. COREY

YOU SURE NONE OF YOU WANTS TO GET OFF HERE ON EARTH?

[LINK]

WE’VE ALREADY BEEN IN SPACE A PRETTY LONG TIME!

5. KID

I WANT TO GO TO A SKYMINE! I WANT TO LIVE IN THE CLOUDS!

PANEL 2

Several Roamer engineers are intently studying skymine blueprints. One set (given to them by the Ildirans) is neat and precise; the engineers, though, are sketching their own ideas and modifications on tattered scraps of paper. (We will see these engineers quite a bit later on.)

6. ENGINEER 1

SHIZZ
! THE ILDIRANS HAVEN’T MODIFIED THESE THINGS IN CENTURIES!

7. ENGINEER 2

WE CAN COME UP WITH A TRICK OR TWO. AFTER ALL, WE SURVIVED ON THE
KANAKA
FOR ALL THOSE YEARS!

PANEL 3

Looking very pleased, Corey Kellum puts his arms around the shoulders of the engineers, congratulating them, encouraging them.

8. COREY

ILDIRANS MIGHT NOT BE KNOWN FOR INNOVATION—BUT
WE ARE
! IF WE RUN THOSE SKYMINES EFFICIENTLY, WE’LL HAVE OURSELVES A DANDY ECONOMIC NICHE.

9. ENGINEER 1

WE CAN DO IT, COREY.

PAGE 20

Ten panels

PANEL 1

King Ben, expansive, grinning, making his naïve announcement.

1. KING BEN

EARTH WILL BENEFIT BY JOINING THE ILDIRAN EMPIRE!

2. KING BEN

THE HANSEATIC LEAGUE CAN PROFIT FROM A DIRECT ALLIANCE—

PANEL 2

Malcolm Stannis looks up in sudden surprise. (If you can fit this into the panel, show him standing with other cronies.)

3. STANNIS

THAT WASN’T IN THE SCRIPT WE GAVE THE KING!

PANEL 3

Stannis runs full tilt, desperate to stop the disaster from happening.

4. STANNIS

CUT THE SOUND SYSTEM!

PANEL 4

Stannis yells over his shoulder. (Possibly combine this with Panel 3.)

5. STANNIS

SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE THE KING GETS US INTO ANY MORE TROUBLE!

PANEL 5

Stannis drags the King away from the balcony, smiling reassuringly to the huge audience.

6. STANNIS

LET ME
ASSIST
YOU AWAY FROM THE BALCONY, KING BEN. WE HAVE SOME . . . TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES!

7. STANNIS

THE KING ISN’T FEELING WELL ENOUGH TO COMPLETE HIS SPEECH. IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED.

PANEL 6

In the chamber, Stannis chews out a meek-looking King Ben.

8. STANNIS

WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?

9. KING BEN

SORRY, MALCOLM . . . I DON’T LIKE HOW EVERYTHING’S CHANGED, THE ADDED RESPONSIBILITY I SUDDENLY HAVE.

PANEL 7

King hangs his head, making excuses.

10. KING BEN

I’M JUST AN ACTOR AND A SPOKESMAN, IN CHARGE OF PARADES AND GIVING OUT AWARDS.

[LINK]

THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR ME!

PANEL 8

In a weird contrast (like a kid chastising his father), young yuppie Malcolm Stannis scolds the old, pudgy King and sends him off to his room.

11. KING BEN

BUT . . .
WOULDN’T
IT BE BEST IF HUMANS JOINED THE ILDIRAN EMPIRE?

12. STANNIS

OH, GO TO BED, WHERE YOU CAN “REST AND RECUPERATE.” LET ME TRY TO FIX THIS MESS!

PANEL 9

Stannis, very upset, stands talking with his Hansa cronies.

13. STANNIS

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE KING. WE CAN’T LET THAT OLD FOOL DO ANY MORE DAMAGE.

PANEL 10

Small inset. Stannis is furious.

14. STANNIS

I WILL NOT STAND BY AND SEE OUR POWER STRIPPED AWAY.

PAGE 21

Seven panels

PANEL 1

The graceful and magnificent Ildiran warliner in space.

PANEL 2

Mess hall scene, crowded with human passengers and refugees of various stripes. At one end of a big table sit Madeleine Robinson and her two sons; Corey Kellum and some scruffy-looking Roamer engineers on the other end of the table. In the background, Ildiran soldiers are eating at their own table. Madeleine raises an alien forklike utensil as she eats and talks at the same time.

1. MADELEINE

. . . SO I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT. BUT THE HANSA PAYS A HEFTY BOUNTY FOR ANY LIKELY COLONY WORLDS WE MAP OUT.

2. COREY

MY CLAN WOULD RATHER BE RUNNING OUR OWN BUSINESS . . . EVEN AN ALIEN FACTORY.

[LINK]

WE’LL FIGURE OUT THOSE OLD ILDIRAN SKYMINES . . . MAYBE MAKE AN IMPROVEMENT OR TWO —

PANEL 3

Impressive and imposing, Adar Bali’nh stands before the Robinsons at the mess table, startling Madeleine.

3. ADAR BALI’NH

WE HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION, MADELEINE ROBINSON.

4. MADELEINE

ALREADY? WE’VE GOT TO GATHER OUR EQUIPMENT!

PANELS 4, 5, 6

Three small panels showing the Robinsons scrambling to get ready. Derek grabs a package from a locker, Madeleine hands supplies to young Jacob, the compy TZ is humorously overloaded with things.

5. DEREK

THAT ILDIRAN STARDRIVE SURE IS FAST!

PANEL 7

The family and TZ hurry to their borrowed Ildiran shuttle in the warliner’s docking bay.

6. MADELEINE

HERE’S OUR SHUTTLE. THE ADAR SAYS IT HAS A STANDARD CONFIGURATION—

7. DEREK

DON’T WORRY, MOM. I CAN FLY IT.

PAGE 22

Seven panels

PANEL 1

Adar Bali’nh stands before the shuttle, giving Madeleine her last instructions and a bit of advice.

1. ADAR BALI’NH

OLD ILDIRAN SURVEYORS NAMED THE PLANET
LLARO
. I HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH ALL THE DATA IN OUR RECORDS. NOT MUCH, I’M AFRAID.

2. MADELEINE

WE’LL FIND OUT WHAT THERE IS TO KNOW. THAT’S WHY THE HANSA SENT US.

PANEL 2

Close-up of Adar Bali’nh.

3. ADAR BALI’NH

BE CAREFUL. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED BY WHAT YOU FIND.

[LINK]

LLARO WAS ONCE A HOME TO THE
KLIKISS
.

PANEL 3

Madeleine, surprised and skeptical, put her hands on her hips.

4. MADELEINE

I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE ILDIRAN EMPIRE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER INTELLIGENT RACE?

PANEL 4

Adar Bali’nh, profile.

5. ADAR BALI’NH

NOT ANOTHER
LIVING
RACE.

PANEL 5

Impatient, Jacob pops out of the shuttle doorway, signaling for his mother to hurry up.

6. JACOB

COME
ON
, MOM!

PANEL 6

The shuttle launches from the warliner.

PANEL 7

In the pilot seat, Derek is grinning as he flies, loving it.

7. DEREK

SEE, I TOLD YOU. THIS SHUTTLE IS AS EASY AS PILOTING A HOVERCAR BACK ON EARTH . . .

[LINK]

. . . ONLY THERE’S NOT AS MUCH TRAFFIC.

PAGE 23

Three panels

PANEL 1

The shuttle zooms down to Llaro, an arid-looking world.

1. SHIP

THE WARLINER WILL BE BACK TO PICK US UP IN SEVEN WEEKS. UNTIL THEN, WE’RE ON OUR OWN. . . .

PANEL 2

Jacob, the younger boy, sits in the bunk area near TZ, looking bored.

2. JACOB

IT’LL PROBABLY BE BORING . . . RIGHT, TZ?

PANEL 3

Gorgeous spectacular panel, 3/4 of the page: The shuttle, small in the pink and lavender sky, approaches a set of awesome alien ruins. They look like a cross between New York skyscrapers and organic giant termite mounds in the African savannah. Lots of windows and openings, giving them a hivelike appearance. The ground itself is covered with dry, thorny grasses. No roads are visible between the mounds. Everything is obviously abandoned and starting to fall into disrepair, like a ghost city. Very mysterious and creepy.

3. SHIP

NO . . . I DON’T THINK IT’LL BE BORING.

PAGE 24

Across the top, purple band with white letters: DAYM.

Four panels

PANEL 1

The ornate warliner approaches the pastel gas-giant planet of DAYM. The planet is huge and swirling, all bands of clouds, surrounded by a necklace of moons. For a different perspective, the warliner approaches from the lower left corner. Dialog balloons come from the ship, two speakers, Adar Bali’nh and Corey Kellum.

1. CAPTION (BALI’NH)

“APPROACHING DAYM, COREY KELLUM. PLEASE PREPARE YOUR PEOPLE TO TAKE OVER THE SKYMINING OPERATIONS.”

2. CAPTION (COREY)

“JUST LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT PLANET . . . AND ALL THOSE CLOUDS, JUST WAITING TO BE CONVERTED INTO STARDRIVE FUEL.”

3. CAPTION (BALI’NH)

“WE ILDIRANS CALL OUR FUEL EKTI.”

4. CAPTION (COREY)

WHATEVER.

PANEL 2

Inside the warliner’s command nucleus Adar Bali’nh stands on his control platform (something a bit more alien-looking than Captain Kirk’s chair). In the air he looks at a projected grid-sphere of the planet, showing prominent geometric marks that indicate the positions of Daym’s three large skymines. Corey Kellum and his engineers stand just inside the command nucleus, listening to the Adar.

5. ADAR BALI’NH

THREE LARGE SKYMINING FACILITIES ON DAYM. ILDIRANS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THEM PROFITABLE.

6. COREY KELLUM

THAT’S BECAUSE YOU CREW THEM WITH TEN TIMES AS MANY PERSONNEL AS NECESSARY. WE CAN DO IT WITH FAR FEWER PEOPLE.

7. ADAR BALI’NH

ILDIRANS DRAW STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. WE ARE NOT A SOLITARY RACE.

8. COREY KELLUM

SUIT YOURSELVES.

PANEL 3

Corey Kellum, half body shot, looking ready for anything. One of his engineers stands beside him.

9. COREY KELLUM

THIS IS A NEW START FOR THE
KANAKA
REFUGEES.

10. ENGINEER

LET’S JUST HOPE IT TURNS OUT BETTER THAN OUR COLONY ON IAWA. . . .

PANEL 4