The Saga of Seven Suns: Veiled Alliances (19 page)

PANEL 1

Just inside the room, Malcolm picks up a luscious-looking treat on a picked-over tray of goodies. We get the impression that this kid is being pampered, maybe bribed by so many treats.

1. MALCOLM

SO, GEORGE, ARE WE TREATING YOU WELL ENOUGH HERE?

2. MALCOLM

ARE YOU CONVINCED THAT THE HANSA IS OFFERING YOU A BETTER LIFE?

PANEL 2

The kid suddenly brightens, pointing to the compy.

3. GEORGE

HEY, YOU’RE OX —THE ILDIRANS JUST BROUGHT YOU BACK FROM THE
PEARY
!

PANEL 3

OX close-up, nodding.

4. OX

YES, AND NOW I WILL BE YOUR TEACHER.

PANEL 4

Malcolm, looking completely in control, lounges against the side of the door.

5. MALCOLM

YOU WILL BE THE NEXT KING OF THE HANSA, GEORGE.

[LINK]

YOU MUST LISTEN TO ME AT ALL TIMES.

PANEL 5

The kid sits fidgeting, looking halfway between relieved and scared out of his wits.

6. MALCOLM (OUT OF PANEL)

THERE ARE MORE REWARDS THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE . . . BUT ALSO TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITIES.

PANEL 6

Malcolm, with his back to us, stands in the door, backing out and ready to leave. OX and the kid will stay in the room to begin their lessons.

7. MALCOLM

NONE OF THIS IS A GAME, GEORGE.

8. MALCOLM

WE MUST ALWAYS BE PREPARED.

PAGE 36

Across the top, brown band with white letters: DOBRO.

Five panels

PANEL 1

Big panel. The cluster of Ildiran warliners surrounding the
Burton
escorts it to the planet Dobro. The planet is earthlike, with oceans and clouds, but the land masses are dryer and browner.

1. SHIP (CHRYSTA)

THE
BURTON
IS ON ITS LAST LEGS, BUT WE’LL MAKE IT TO THE PLANET DOBRO . . .

2. SHIP

. . . THANKS TO A LITTLE ASSIST FROM OUR NEW ILDIRAN FRIENDS.

PANEL 2

Chrysta Logan is sitting in the
Burton
’s command chair, looking smug, queen of the world — a far cry from the last time we saw her huddled in the brig.

3. CHRYSTA

ALWAYS HAVE FAITH IN YOUR CAPTAIN.

4. CHRYSTA

NOBODY
ON BOARD THIS SHIP IS BETTER QUALIFIED TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEMS.

PANEL 3

Small panel, like an inset (placed opposite the similar panel 5 . . . see sketch). Close-up of Chrysta, looking defiant, even somewhat sarcastic.

5. CHRYSTA

WE’RE CERTAINLY LUCKY THE SOLAR NAVY CAME ALONG WHEN THEY DID . . .

PANEL 4

Pulling back, we see the rest of the
Burton
’s bridge crew (we recognize some familiar faces from the howling mob in the mutiny). All of them look somewhat uncomfortable, kids caught doing something naughty and wishing they could take it back.

6. CHRYSTA

. . . AREN’T WE, CREW?

PANEL 5

Small panel showing a nervous and ill-looking Dario Ramirez, clearly guilty and uncertain of his position. Looks like he’s just swallowed a sea urchin and only has vinegar to wash it down with.

7. DARIO

WHATEVER YOU SAY, CAPTAIN.

8. DARIO

I CAN’T WAIT FOR US ALL TO START OVER ON DOBRO.

PAGE 37

Six panels.

PANEL 1

The handsome Dobro Designate (leader of the colony and son of the Mage-Imperator) watches the shuttles landing from the warliners and the
Burton
. Dobro is flat and relatively dry, like California’s Central Valley or, hey!, Winnipeg. A line of grassy hills cuts off the horizon, but much of the landscape is a checkerboard of crops. (Perhaps the Designate is talking with an advisor as they both watch the ships land.)

1. DESIGNATE

WE HAVE ROOM FOR MORE COLONISTS. DOBRO CAN SUPPORT A MUCH LARGER POPULATION.

2. DESIGNATE

THESE HUMANS INTRIGUE ME.

PANEL 2

The Designate meets Chrysta Logan. (She’s formal now, but there’s going to be a spark between them in a few pages.) The Designate has animal magnetism, looking alien but compellingly attractive — more human than Adar Bali’nh, and MUCH more attractive than the burly Ildiran soldiers.

3. DESIGNATE

CAPTAIN CHRYSTA LOGAN? I AM THE DOBRO DESIGNATE, ONE OF THE MAGE-IMPERATOR’S SONS.

[LINK]

THE WELFARE OF THIS COLONY IS IN MY HANDS.

4. CHRYSTA

ALL MY PEOPLE ABOARD THE
BURTON
ARE IN YOUR DEBT, DESIGNATE.

PANEL 3

The Designate leads Chrysta and some members of the bridge crew, including Dario Ramirez, on a VIP procession through the streets of the weird colony. Not an extravagant or opulent place — Dobro is more like Nebraska, not New York City — but the architecture is clearly not Earth-normal. Behind them marches an honor guard of Ildiran Solar Navy soldiers.

5. DESIGNATE

AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR COLONY IS SMALL.

6. CHRYSTA

LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD DO WELL WITH AN INFUSION OF HUMAN COLONISTS.

7. DESIGNATE

YES. IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. . . .

PANEL 4

Dario raises his hand, eager to help out and earn his place.

1. DARIO

I’LL GO ORGANIZE THE SETUP OF OUR PREFABS AND COLONY BASICS, CAPTAIN!

PANEL 5

Dario runs off to run the errand.

2. DARIO

DON’T WORRY ABOUT A THING—YOU CAN COUNT ON ME.

PANEL 6

Chrysta looks after him, grumbling quietly to herself. Obviously, it’s going to be a cold day in hell before everything’s all right between them.

3. CHRYSTA

IF YOU THINK I’D CONSIDER TRUSTING YOU EVER AGAIN, MR. RAMIREZ, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN.

PAGE 38

Five panels

PANEL 1

Big, colorful panel. A very busy work site as the Burton inhabitants go through the hard work of setting up a “human town” on the outskirts of the Ildiran colony. Identical-looking prefab buildings are erected in rows (though they are new, they look a bit battered and patched . . . the
Burton
was on its last legs by the time the Ildirans found them). People are bustling around, clearing streets, laying down grids, all kinds of busy work.

If dialog is needed, use standard “construction site” banter:

WHO TAUGHT YOU TO LAY DOWN A STREET GRID LIKE THAT?

IT’S THE STANDARD PLAN FROM THE
BURTON
’S COMPUTERS!

HEY, WE NEED MORE CONCRETE FOAM OVER HERE!

WHERE DOES THIS GO?

PANEL 2

Up in space, a swarm of cargo ships and shuttles emerges from the emptying
Burton
. We recognize Earth-design vessels as well as Ildiran shuttles. They are stripping out every last scrap of supplies and possessions from the old generation ship.

1. SHUTTLE 1

HOW MANY MORE TRIPS DO YOU THINK IT’S GONNA TAKE?

2. SHUTTLE 2

FIVE MORE, AND WE’LL HAVE THE
BURTON
STRIPPED DOWN TO ITS LAST CRUMB AND PAPERCLIP.

PANEL 3

Chrysta explains to the Designate about their hard times and all the austerity measures. The Designate, looking very pleasant, smiles at Chrysta, offering help.

3. CHRYSTA

AFTER 146 YEARS, OUR SHIP HAS FEW SUPPLIES LEFT.

4. CHRYSTA

MUCH OF OUR VITAL SEED STOCK WAS CONSUMED BY STARVING PASSENGERS, AND WE HAD TO IMPOSE HARSH RATIONING.

5. DESIGNATE

THE DOBRO COLONY HAS SUFFICIENT RESERVES . . .

PANEL 4

A group of Ildiran soldiers (or maybe Dobro colony workers, if artist wants to design a slightly different breed of Ildiran) comes carrying crates of supplies, just released from Dobro’s stockpiles.

6. DESIGNATE (OUT OF PANEL)

ALLOW ME TO OFFER SOME OF OUR RESOURCES.

PANEL 5

The Designate, smiling and charming, asks Chrysta to dine with him, and she smiles back, surprised and pleased.

7. DESIGNATE

I SENSE THAT WE CAN BENEFIT MUCH FROM EACH OTHER.

[LINK

WOULD YOU CARE TO DINE WITH ME, CAPTAIN LOGAN?

8. CHRYSTA

I THINK YOU’D BETTER CALL ME CHRYSTA . . .

PAGE 39

Seven panels

PANEL 1

Big panel showing the Designate’s residence under a starlit sky. Lots of lights on, glowing orbs and lanterns outside as well as inside, but our focus is on one high window, the Designate’s main dining chambers.

1. DESIGNATE (NOT SEEN)

CERTAINLY, CHRYSTA, HUMAN CULTURE HAS MUCH TO OFFER DOBRO.

[LINK]

OUR TWO RACES CAN WORK WELL TOGETHER.

PANEL 2

Inside that chamber, Chrysta and the Designate are sitting alone at a table full of exotic foods and dishes.

2. CHRYSTA

A CLOSE ALLIANCE WITH YOU, DESIGNATE, WOULD CEMENT MY OWN POWER AMONG THE CREW AND MAKE OUR NEW TOWN STRONG AND STABLE.

PANEL 3

Chrysta, close-up, happy with possibilities, considering them with a business eye. (She’s not an airhead.)

3. CHRYSTA

BEFORE THE ILDIRAN WARLINERS FOUND THE
BURTON
, WE HAD SOME . . . TENSE MOMENTS ON BOARD.

PANEL 4

The Designate stands at the window, looking out at all the city lights of his colony.

4. DESIGNATE

FOR MYSELF, A UNION WITH THE
BURTON
’S CAPTAIN COULD JOIN THE HUMANS AND ILDIRANS IN A PROFITABLE VENTURE.

PANEL 5

Chrysta and the Designate, their face close, obviously attracted—this reminds me of the
Gone with the Wind
poster shot.

5. CHRYSTA

OF COURSE, IT MUST BE A MARRIAGE OF FORMALITY ONLY.

6. DESIGNATE

YES . . . A SIMPLE BUREAUCRATIC ALLIANCE.

PANEL 6

Close-up, their weirdly shaped alien goblets clink together in a toast.

PANEL 7

Close-up, their hands touching romantically.

PAGE 40

Eight panels

PANEL 1

The big construction site of “human town”. It’s well underway now, with permanent structures half finished, some of the prefabs modified and expanded with porches, balconies, etc. Dialog is from two random workers beside a new building.

1. CAPTION

MONTHS LATER . . .

2. WORKER 1

THREE NEW HOUSES TODAY . . .

3. WORKER 2

LOOKS LIKE WE CAN CONVERT ANOTHER COMMUNAL DWELLING INTO A STOREHOUSE.

PANEL 2

Small shot, human kids playing in the town.

PANEL 3

Workers hammering (or something more futuristic) the construction. Humans and Ildirans working side by side.

PANEL 4

Chrysta stands at the doorway to the Designate’s residence, raising her hand to knock. She’s gathering her courage.

4. CHRYSTA (MUTTERING)

I’VE PUT THIS OFF LONG ENOUGH.

PANEL 5

When the Designate greets her, they embrace passionately.

5. DESIGNATE

CHRYSTA!

PANEL 6

He can see she is deeply troubled, looks into her eyes, wondering what the concern is.

6. CHRYSTA

WE HAVE A PROBLEM . . .

[LINK]

. . . OR AN
OPPORTUNITY
.

PANEL 7

Chrysta close-up, worried. No dialog.

PANEL 8

Chrysta close-up.

7. CHRYSTA

I’M PREGNANT WITH YOUR CHILD.

PAGE 41

Across the top, orange-gold band with white letters: ILDIRA.

Four panels

PANEL 1

A sweeping spectacular shot of bustling Ildira and the Prism Palace. See the cover painting for HIDDEN EMPIRE.

1. CAPTION

THE PRISM PALACE . . .

2. CAPTION

THE MAGE-IMPERATOR’S GRAND RESIDENCE UNDER THE SEVEN SUNS OF ILDIRA.

PANEL 2

On a crystalline rooftop landing platform, the Dobro Designate emerges from his graceful shuttle (make this one look fancier than the military and cargo shuttles we’ve seen before . . . this is like a diplomatic limo.) In the right foreground stands the Prime Designate, even more handsome and charismatic than his younger brother the Dobro Designate.

3. DOBRO DESIGNATE

PRIME DESIGNATE CYROC’H!

4. CYROC’H

WELCOME BACK TO ILDIRA, BROTHER. YOU CAN BASK IN ILDIRA’S BRIGHT LIGHT. YOU’VE SPENT TOO LONG IN DOBRO’S DIM SUNSHINE.

PANEL 3

Seen from a distance, the two walk down a weird corridor, bathed in light from lots of stained-glass windows, crystal panels, etc.

5. DOBRO DESIGNATE

DOBRO IS MY HOME, CYROC’H, DESPITE ITS FAILINGS . . .

6. DOBRO DESIGNATE

AND MUCH HAS CHANGED IN RECENT MONTHS, SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF THE HUMANS.

7. CYROC’H

THE MAGE-IMPERATOR ALREADY SEES AND FEELS EVERYTHING IN OUR EMPIRE.

[LINK]

EVEN SO, FATHER WILL BE GLAD TO HEAR YOUR REPORT.

PANEL 4

In his military uniform, Adar Bali’nh stands waiting for them at the entrance to the skysphere throne hall.

8. ADAR BALI’NH

WELCOME, DESIGNATE.

9. ADAR BALI’NH

THE MAGE-IMPERATOR IS EAGER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE
BURTON
REFUGEES.

PAGE 42

Three panels

PANEL 1

Big panel, the three men enter the skysphere throne hall, where sits the Mage-Imperator beneath a misty projected Big-Brother image of his head high above.

1. MAGE-IMPERATOR

I HAVE RECEIVED YOUR REPORT FROM DOBRO, MY SON.

2. MAGE-IMPERATOR

I ALREADY KNOW OF YOUR HUMAN LOVER AND THE CHILD. . . .

3. DOBRO DESIGNATE

YES, FATHER. SURPRISING, IS IT NOT?

[LINK]

AGAINST ALL OUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATIONS, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ILDIRANS AND HUMANS TO
INTERBREED
.

4. CYROC’H

OUR RACE IS . . . VERY FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE.

PANEL 2

The fat Mage-Imperator reclines in his hovering womblike chrysalis chair.

5. MAGE-IMPERATOR

FOR MANY GENERATIONS, BREEDING EXPERIMENTS HAVE BEEN UNDER WAY TO DEVELOP NEW KITHS WITH NEW PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES AND MENTAL ABILITIES.

PANEL 3

Close-up of the pudgy Mage-Imperator, like a fat Buddha or ancient Chinese demigod.

5. MAGE-IMPERATOR

EVENTUALLY, WE MAY NEED A
WEAPON
.

PAGE 43

Five panels