Battletech: Planet's Fall

The title was 'Here be Dragons' a sweet sad story about a colony ship of the early Terran Hegemony on their way through the unknown territories, coupled with fantasy and horror elements. A bold mix of genres that unfortunately didn't find much appeal among the general public, but is considered a lonely pearl among those who know it.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:27 pm

Snip

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:45 pm

Richard's fashion was similar, jogging pants and a black t-shirt with the inscription "Full Metal Warrior", a gift he had once received from one of his siblings. When Yori knocked, he peeked through the peephole, smiled and opened the door, "Heyho! Ready to analyze my film choice?" he asked with a smile

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:54 pm

Nodding firmly
"Good evening Richard, you look nice."
She takes a full moment to stop, read his shirt and nod again before continuing.
"I am reasonably confident in your selection, but it is important to confirm these things."
She rises onto her tiptoes to peck him on the cheek before entering and mentally cataloguing all the assembled snacks and drinks. It must have met her standards since she then moved to sit primly on the couch, straight backed and hands folded, trying to work out if the distance to the screen was right.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:17 am

He smiled, closed the door and looked first at Yori and then at the TV. He walked over to it, ready to adjust it, "Like that or should I move it?" he asked.

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:25 am

Yori has picked up the movie box and is reading the synopsis intensely
"Would you be able to move it 5 centimeters closer? It will reduce my eyestrain significantly."
Pause
"This film seems promising, I have never heard of it before."

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 7:48 am

He pushed the TV forward a bit "Good like this?" he asked, looking over at Yori, "The movie is a bit older, originally from the Free World league and has had a hard time finding its way into the Commenwealth. My dad was a movie nut and he had praised it to the skies back in the day," he said, laughing, "He kept bugging my mom until she got him the movie."

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:15 am

Richard laughed, "When it comes to collecting obscure things and having way too much knowledge about them? Then yes" a warm smile came to his lips, "A movie night like this reminds me a bit of the old days and I look forward to spending it with you." He stood up, walked over from the TV to Yori, and held out his hand to take the movie, "I hope you will like it".

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:46 am

"Then I am honoured to be a part of your tradition."
Yori's lips twitch up as she hands the move over.

"And if I do not, at least I will have the company."

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:17 am

He smiled, gave her a kiss on the forehead, took the film, went back to the TV, turned it on and put the film in. After that he took care of the candles, turned off the light and sat down so that the left half of his body was facing Yori. Finally, he opened two beers and put them on the table.

"Ready?" he asked

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 10:27 am

In the dark it's hard to tell if the lieutenant went a little pink at the kiss, but she does wiggle to rest comfortably against Richard's left side.

"Indeed. Let us commence holonight!"

The opening soundtrack started slowly. The camera opened with a long tracking shot of a huge colony ship resting over Terra, dozens of smaller transport ships docked and undocked from the ship one by one, the design was entirely fictional, but very impressive and perhaps possible at the height of the SLDF. The camera moved around the hull of the ship, capturing the bustle that was taking place around the ship well, until the camera takes a swing and moves inside the ship. Inside, several hundred people could be seen gradually entering the ship known as the Grand Ark. The camera moved closer and closer to a young woman in uniform on a kind of railing looking at the coming passengers, next to her an old man who could generally be called a 'sea dog'. The two talked about the destination of the trip, a distant star with the name Eden.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:00 pm

He hold her tight and pressed "Play" on the remote.

The opening soundtrack started slowly. The camera opened with a long tracking shot of a huge colony ship resting over Terra, dozens of smaller transport ships docked and undocked from the ship one by one, the design was entirely fictional, but very impressive and perhaps possible at the height of the SLDF. The camera moved around the hull of the ship, capturing the bustle that was taking place around the ship well, until the camera takes a swing and moves inside the ship. Inside, several hundred people could be seen gradually entering the ship known as the Grand Ark. The camera moved closer and closer to a young woman in uniform on a kind of railing looking at the coming passengers, next to her an old man who could generally be called a 'sea dog'. The two talked about the destination of the trip, a distant star with the name Eden.

----
Want to take turns telling this story? i thought about a mix of Treasure Planet, Titan A.E and a bit of the Thing

The woman expresses her hopes and dreams to leave behind the poverty of Terra and prove themselves on Eden while the eldery sea dog merely chuckles. After a few moments an older foppish man, clearly some kind of scholar arrives. A friend to the young woman he provides some background on Eden. It's said to be a true paradise world with breathable air and rich resources. The Sea Dog scoffs saying nothing is so easy.

The camera zooms out as the music swells, the colony ship begins its journey! But now the theme includes a few ominous notes, will everything be so simple?

A camera aperture indicated that some time had passed since the opening scene. The mood in the ship was still good, the journey was going well so far, our protagonist, whose name was Eva Morgenstern, was walking through a larger area that was used as a distribution center for food and other resources. She talked a little with the inhabitants of the ship and gave a small exposition about how life was on the ship. Some of the residents complained about the narrow corridors or sleeping quarters, others complained that they could hear too much of the other residents' "activities" through the air shafts connected to each room. The scene seemed peaceful until two soldiers ran frantically through the scene, as it seemed they were heading for the ship's hangar, which was reserved for the scout ships that occasionally fetched raw materials from meteroids or non-ideal planets.

Eva looks like she wants to follow the soldiers, but just as she's about to investigate the old sea dog grabs her and pulls her back as a door slams down. Dimly an automated voice can be heard repeating 'quarantine....breach. quarantine.....breech.'

Eva protests she wants to see what's happened but the veteran is firm, leave such things to the professionals.

Meanwhile in the fop's cabin we see him reading a report from the latest resupply run, although we cannot see the text his growing look of horror is clear enough. Then the camera cuts back to the hangar....empty.

The automatic transmission of the robot voice was suddenly interrupted and the voice of the captain could be heard, but this was something,... strange: "Crew and colonists please remain calm, a false alarm has been triggered, all systems are nominal. I repeat, crew and colonists please remain calm, a false alarm has been triggered, all systems are nominal."

The sea dog held Eva by the forearm and pulled her along, he was on his way to his quarters, "Something is wrong here" he said in a gruff voice.

Richard Winter wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 10, 2022 7:47 am

Snip

"But the captain-"
"Captain O'Brian's a panicky sort, once saw him nearly jump out his own skin when a door slammed. He ain't the sort to just compose himself on the spot."
The two descend deep into the bowel's of the ship where the crew decks are. The sound team has mixed in distance screams and running...or are they just the background sounds of a great ship underway?

Meanwhile there's a knock at the fop's door and a monotone voice. "Captain wants to see you..."

Yori grabs some peanuts for herself, the exact same number as Richard.

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 10, 2022 8:28 am

Snip

The old man turned white as a sheet and didn't react, but suddenly the door shook and the monotone voice came through the door like an invisible force "The Captain just wants to make sure you're alright, open the door Proffesor Pietro", the shaking got stronger by the second and the camera zoomed in more and more on the door until it took up the whole screen, while the monotone voice kept repeating the sentence. The camera panned to the professor who had sat down in one of the corners, pressing his head between his knees and swaying back and forth. The audio slowly went from shaking to an eerie silence. The Proffesor slowly got up again and slowly crept to the door from where suddenly a loud knock combined with the gruff voice of the sea bear "Proff are you there?!"

"Wh- who is-"
"It's Hannegan"
"And Eva!"
"Was...was that you before?"
We cut to the corridor, it's dark now, almost running on emergency power, the two exchange a look.
"Was what before?"
"N-nothing."

Not wishing to get bogged down in exposition, the director tries to keep things flowing. The ensuing scene of the Professor explaining the readings from the latest planet the resupply stopped at are intercut with scenes all over the ship of quiet devastation. Food left on plates, taps left running and the distant sounds of terror. But still, not sight of what is actually causing all of this.

"Wait Proff, you're saying that they found something...alive down there?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."
"But what exactly is it."
"The data is incomplete! It's like nothing we've ever-"
Then, that knocking on the door again and the same voice: "Professor...."