" What is it, Captain?" " Trouble." "Give me your report." "It's a Jaridian probe." "The computer estimates impact somewhere along the eastern seaboard of North America." " Power up all weapons systems." " We're not in a position to fire." "We're on the wrong side of the moon, plus this probe is approaching too fast." "Then alert our Washington embassy." "Activate your weapons and lock them onto the target coordinates we're transmitting to you now." "I have concerns, Zo'or." "We will deal with the humans' delicate sensibilities after the threat has been eliminated." "Subtitled by Axarion" "They are the Companions." "Aliens come to Earth on a mission of peace." "Their true mission, the secrets they hide, forever alter humanity." "Caught in the struggle between these Taelon Companions and the Human Resistance is Liam Kincaid." "A man who is more than human." "The mysteries of his past hold the key to Earth's future and the fate of mankind." "On Earth Final Conflict." "What is the status of the probe?" "I'm running an impact analysis right now." "Zo'or, President Thompson's on the data stream." "President Thompson." "To what do I owe the pleasure?" "This is not a social call, Zo'or, what the hell is going on up there?" "Be assured that we have the situation well under control." "Under control?" "NORAD has gone Defcon 3." "Your embassy claims it's firing at asteroids, and I have 50 calls from concerned congressmen to return." "This is very bad timing." "Might I remind you that the elections are in a few days." "Please, calm yourself, Mr. President." "The asteroid you speak of was actually a Jaridian probe." "You may tell your constituents that the embassy merely took appropriate steps to protect the interests of both humans and Taelons alike." "A Jaridian probe?" " Why wasn't I informed?" " There was no time." "Concern yourself with winning your re-election, Mr. President." "The Jaridian threat is my concern." "The probe, or what's left of it, has crashed in a rural area just outside of Washington." "You coordinate our efforts here." "I'll lead a team to the crash site." "What's going on?" "The Taelon embassy just brought down a Jaridian probe." "Lili's sending the coordinates to the wreckage now." "Yes, Da'an." "We destroyed a Jaridian probe approaching the Earth a few moments ago." "That explains the fireworks." "Zo'or has dispatched Agent Sandoval to track down the wreckage." "I would like you to be there when he finds it." "I'm on it." "Take every precaution, Liam." "The probe could still pose a great danger." "I'll be careful." "The opportunity that we've been waiting for." "A chance to get to the Jaridian weapon technology." "Yeah, or get ourselves killed." "No, no, no." "I've repaired the field dampener since the last time we used it." "I'm pretty sure we can control the probe." " Oh, pretty sure?" " One way to find out." "You in?" "Let's get the gear in your shuttle." "It's here somewhere." "Pay dirt." "A little worse for wear, but beggars can't be choosers." "Could it still be active?" "That's where Augur's area of expertise comes in, right, Augur?" "Yeah." "The field dampening projectors should inhibit the probe's power matrix." "Once it's on, the probe is harmless." "Glad to hear it." "Let's do it." "Make sure it's tight." "Good." "Here we go." "Okay, everyone, stand back, here we go." "So far so good." "The field's penetrating." "Stabilizing..." "Yes!" "Well, that's it?" "The field dampeners functioning perfectly." "The probe is inactive." "Sometimes I amaze even me." "Get down!" "Dammit!" "Get this thing out of here, I'll divert Sandoval." "We'll meet you at the rendezvous." "See those trees?" "Go give us some covering fire." "Use the shuttle to flush them out." "Major, what are you doing here?" "Da'an sent me." "I got here a few minutes ago, I was looking for the crash site when someone opened fire on me." "How did the Resistance get here so quickly?" "We're cut off from my shuttle, but we can outflank them if we move in that direction." "Right." "Take point." "We'll bring Zo'or the probe, and some Resistance troublemakers." "Looks like your troublemakers had other plans." "I'm always impressed, Major, on how you have an explanation for everything." "Especially when things go wrong." "Nothing in the woods yielded any useful information." "By the time we reached Major Kincaid's shuttle, the Resistance and the probe were gone." "This is unacceptable, Agent Sandoval." "I expect more from you." "I demand results, not excuses." "The Resistance will not be defeated until I am given the necessary authority to act openly and..." "Just find the probe, and should you run into any resistance, terminate it!" "As you wish Zo'or." "As for your authority, that is a situation soon to be rectified." "Nice neighborhood." " The rent's cheap." " Any activity?" "Still sleeping like a baby." "You know, as much as I'd like to take all the credit, it did take a pretty big hit from the embassy's weapons." "I'm gonna need to get it to a proper lab to determine the viability of the memory core." "Reverse engineering some Jaridian technology might go a long way toward levelling the playing field." "Oh yeah!" "Advanced weaponry, the cloaking device, DNA replication." "The Taelons will never know what hit them." "Freeze!" "Drop your weapons!" "Now!" "Do it." "Put your hands on the table." "You know, the oscillations from fluorescent lamps can cause" " Anything from migraines to cataracts." " Stow it!" "The Colonel will be here any minute." "What is this place?" "It doesn't look like a Taelon facility." "Welcome to Mount Weather." "Ms. Cook, I hope you find your accommodations here comfortable." "Ms. Cook?" "You have me confused with someone else." "You're looking at the latest incarnation of the artist formerly known as Madonna." "That's cute." "But no." "Ms. Julia Cook, born in Westchester, New York." "Attended Sara Lawrence College, majored in philosophy, until you dropped out." "Tell me something, Ms. Cook." " Was he really worth it?" " Hey!" "What kind of scam are you running?" "Scams are more your area of expertise, Augur." "Computer expert, art collector." "Oh, you believe you're motivated merely by profit, but you find yourself more and more involved with the Resistance, which makes me realize you're more idealistic than you'll admit, even to yourself." "Okay, so you know so much about us, who are you?" "Liam Neville Kincaid." "Capt. William Boone's Lieutenant during the SI War." "Before then, Kincaid participated in the invasion of Taiwan, where faulty intelligence landed his unit smack in the middle of a very nasty ambush." "The entire platoon, save for Liam and Boone, was wiped out." "Boone returned to the States, and Kincaid chose to do something a little different." "Such as?" "He was offered a new assignment." "A unique opportunity to really be all that he could be." "Officially, he was declared missing in action." "Unofficially, he joined Operation Dark Night." "I've never heard of that." "It wouldn't be very top secret if you had then, would it?" "The program was initiated by certain high ranking officials in the government." "Individuals who wanted to make sure there was a backup plan for humanity, in case the Taelons weren't as peaceful as they claimed." "This is crazy." "What is this guy talking about?" "Who the hell are you?" "If you had been paying attention, I already told you." "I am Liam Neville Kincaid, and this is Operation Dark Night." "So the question is..." "Who is he?" "What's going on?" "!" "He's lying, right?" "Liam?" "Liam!" "Any progress in locating the probe or in reaching Major Kincaid?" "I said I'd inform you if I found out anything." "Your attitude continually surprises..." "No, no..." " Make that irritates me." " I'm very sorry you feel that way." "Lines are being drawn, Captain." "It's important that each of us know exactly where we stand." "I know where I stand, and I have a pretty good idea where you stand." "Do you, Captain?" "We are approaching a very important crossroad in our history." "There are those, both humans and Taelons, who do not see the bigger picture." "The future, as it has been planned, and as it will be." "Well, I chart my own course, Sandoval." "I plan my own future, and the last time I checked, my loyalties were supposed to be with the Taelons." "Believe what you will, Captain, but in truth, your future depends not only on the Taelons, but on my continued good graces." "Is that a threat?" "No." "Just a piece of friendly advice." "Support me, Captain, for if I should stumble, you just might be the one that breaks my fall." "Well, this is certainly unexpected." "To say the least." "Since we're clear on my background," "Let's discuss yours." "Though, there's not much to discuss up until about seven months ago." "Then you suddenly appear, claim my name, and quickly become, not only the North American Companion's protector, but the leader of the Resistance as well." "What did I have for breakfast this morning?" "I'm more interested in your relationship with Da'an." "Why does he trust you, when you're so heavily involved in the Resistance activities?" "Well, you're the man with all the answers." "But not to the question that counts." "Who are you, and where are your loyalties?" "What is it you want to hear, Colonel?" "Huh?" "Who do you answer to?" "Maybe you're working for the Taelons." "Let me tell you something about me and my men." "We have been underground since the day the Taelons arrived." "We have given up everything." "Careers, friends, even families." "All to ensure the future of our world." "That is not semantics, that is fact." "So don't you ever question my motives!" "You can trust me, Colonel." "Release me and I'll prove it." "You're not going to do anything, until you tell me who you really are." "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, and there's no way" " you could even verify it." " Try me." "My identity isn't important right now." "The important thing is the Jaridian probe." "You don't know what the hell you're dealing with." "Will you let us help you?" "Okay, fine, don't listen to somebody who's already been up to his elbows inside one of these things." " I know what I'm doing." " Whatever." "You two should learn to play nicely together." "You might learn something from each other." " Certainly not fashion sense." " Oh, is that so, Mr. Sprockets?" "!" "Augur!" "Speaking of fashion sense, are these really necessary?" "For the time being, yes." "Yours would be linked together, but you'll be needing your hands." "Well, what makes you think I'm going to continue helping you?" "If you've been telling the truth, it means we're on the same side, and we both want the same thing." "To find a way to use the probe's technology against the Taelons." "Besides, you're not one to walk away from a challenge are you?" "Okay, fine, I'm in for now." "But Liam and Julia, I don't work without them." "Agreed." "For now." "Let's see if you're as good as you think you are." "So the joke's on me." "They showed me your files." "Augur falsified your identity." "I can explain." "We're all ears, Major Kincaid." "Speak for yourself, Colonel." "I for one don't want to hear it." "Captain Marquette." "Da'an, you just about gave me a heart attack." "Forgive me." "You seem lost her job." "Losing it with my work is more like it." " Your progress is slow?" " Glacial is an adjective I'd use." "I see." "Have you heard from Major Kincaid?" "You sent him to look for the probe, didn't you?" "I did, but I have not heard from him since." "I haven't either." "Have you asked Zo'or?" "Zo'or is not always as forthcoming as I would desire." "The Taelons are always talking about the Commonality, but I think you keep more secrets than humans do." "The conflict with the Jaridians has divided us, forcing us to create allegiances, develop agendas." "It is a complex and confusing time for my species." "Zo'or's agenda is all too clear." "I sometimes wish my perception of events was so uncomplicated." "You try to keep an open mind." "Zo'or is an extremist, and he only sees things in black and white." "But Zo'or's clarity of purpose does seem to engender loyalty, both amongst my species, and yours." "It is a skill I appear to lack." "Forgive my interruptions, Captain." "Da'an." "You're wrong about Zo'or." "His power is based on fear, not loyalty." "If I hear anything about Major Kincaid, you're gonna be the first to know." "We think we found a way to access the probe's memory archives without activating any of its other systems." "Bettis?" "When Augur suggested we manually re-rout its defensive subroutines, I was skeptical." "But the simulations check out." "We'll need to drop the dampening field to establish a proper data link." "Set up a line of fire, just in case." "Okay." "Here goes nothing." "Maintaining shunt capacitors at maximum." "All systems green." "I think we did it." "Augur." "Tell me it's supposed to do that." " It's a weapon, open fire!" " Take cover!" "Get down!" " I've gotta get the field back up!" " Make it quick!" "Cease fire, cease fire!" "Liam!" "Liam, can you hear me?" "Come on, up, up, up." " Remind me not to do that again." " Alright, take it easy, take it easy." "Everything's okay for the moment." " What happened?" " That's what I'd like to know." " What did you do to it?" " I was trying to protect Augur." " It shut itself down." " Just like that, huh?" " You got any more tricks up your sleeve?" " I hope so." "We're gonna need all the tricks we can get before this is over." "As far as the three of you are concerned, this is over." "Okay, listen, everybody, just calm down." "Something went wrong, now the field is back up." "We'll just run the simulations again." "Simulations?" "What happened to all your real life experiences?" "Hey, if it wasn't for us, that thing would be running around loose" " And you'd all be dead." " Maybe that was the plan." "The probe didn't display any weapons until you got your hands on it." "Oh, this is crazy, you asked me for help." "You're the one who said we're on the same side, right?" " Maybe I was wrong." " Look," "We're dealing with technology more advanced than even the Taelons possess." "The Resistance studied a probe for months without learning its secrets." "How convenient for the Taelons." "Oh, now you're saying we're working with the Taelons?" "Just exploring possibilities." "Hey, listen, you're still gonna need our help." "I mean, I don't know how long that field's gonna hold up now that the probe's active." "It doesn't have to be this way." "I'm afraid it does, Major Kincaid, or whatever your name is." "Put them in the brig." " What's that?" " It's my lucky calculator." "A little primitive, I know, but I needed to crunch some numbers." "I was serious about that field not holding up." "At least you have something to do." "Yeah, so do you." "You can tell me a story about who it is that you really are." "I don't even care if it's true, but at least do me the courtesy of making it sound convincing." "I don't want to keep secrets from you." "But this one is just too dangerous." "Secrets always come at a high price." "This one has cost you my trust, and I just hope that it was worth it." "Why is my background so important to you?" "You had a life before the Taelons arrived." "Are you the same person now?" "Is anyone?" "I've worked along side you for months now, fighting for the same things you're fighting for." "Isn't that what's really important?" "So you're not gonna tell me, right?" "I can't." "Hey, kiss and make up, guys." "I think I've just found a way to save our necks." "Guys?" "Status." "Augur was right, the field dampener is failing." "There's nothing I can do to stop it." "Alright, seal up this area and move everyone up one level." "I'll get the prisoners." "Go, go!" "Grab what you can, we're probably not coming back." " What's happening?" " The probe." "We gotta get off this level." " Finally decided to trust us?" " I don't have a choice." " You were right about the damper." " Nobody listens to Augur." "Save it, hotshot." "Let's go, let's go!" "Come, come!" "Move it, move it, move it!" "Let's go!" "I need that feed yesterday, Bettis." "Bettis!" "Got it." "It replicated Augur?" "It must have got a sample of my DNA while I was working on it." "A single skin cell is all it takes." "Does it have your knowledge, your skills?" "No, probably not, I hope not." "Looks like the probe was too damaged to complete the replication process, but the last probe we encountered came with some pretty impressive skills of its own." "Like cutting through steel doors?" "It's not steel." "It's cutting through double reinforced titanium doors like it was soft butter." " How long till it breaks through?" " At this rate?" "Minutes." "And its more advanced programs are barely functioning." "Once it's able to replicate repairs, it'll be able to cut through something like that in seconds." "We can't let it leave this facility." "How do you suggest we stop it?" "Augur, down in the brig you came up with something." "You were bugging us!" "I like this guy." "Okay, now the Taelons have been trying to reverse engineer the probes, just as we have." "Now, if they've cracked the command codes, we might be able to control it." "Where are you gonna get the Taelon command codes?" "Will a global work down here?" "What are you doing?" "Well, it appears I'm doing your job." "I've been working nonstop to locate this probe since it made ground fall." "And I'm disappointed by your lack of results." "Tell me, Captain, why haven't you tried isolating the probe's harmonic signature?" "With all the noise pollution in the Earth's atmosphere, that could take weeks, or even months to filter out all the background noise." "Unless you narrow the frequency bands to focus your search." "I programmed in the search parameters for you." "I suggest you begin." "I expect results, Captain." "Harmonic signature..." "I was afraid you'd figure that one out." " Lili, we need your help." " Where are you?" "Augur, Julia and I are trapped underground with the probe." "It's activated, and we're running out of ideas." "I need any of the command codes the Taelons have deciphered." "Sandoval's put me in charge of locating the probe." "He's already suspecting that I'm stalling." "How am I supposed to break into the mother ship database?" "Without those codes we're dead, Lili." "This is a surprise, Captain Marquette." "I said you'd be the first to know if I heard from Liam." "Well, I heard from him, and he needs your help." "What can I do?" "I need access to the mother ship mainframe." "For what purpose?" "To download whatever commands you have on the Jaridian probes." " Liam is in possession of the probe?" " More like it's in possession of him." "That's why he needs your help." "You realize the enormity of what you are asking me to do?" "Yes, I do." "As I'm sure you realize the enormous risk that I am taking by coming here." "You are asking me to betray my own species!" "Every day, you, me, Liam, all of mankind are being betrayed by Zo'or." "I'm asking you to do what you know is right, to help Liam." " Your Friend!" " Please understand." "I cannot do what you ask of me." "Then give me access to your data stream, and I'll get the information myself." "If it comes down to it, tell Zo'or that you did not have a choice!" "I will answer to my own conscience." "Based on the tensile strength of the barricades it's destroying," "I'd say our friend here is going stronger by the minute." "That's great." "We're trapped down here like rats in a maze." "It's not over yet." "This facility was originally built as a nuclear war command bunker." "There must be another way to seal off the lower levels." "Team 3, flood Level 6 with water and collapse the tunnels leading to Level 5." "Your friend on the mother ship had better come through." "We're running out of levels." "Using resonant harmonics, I was able to locate a signal." " I believe it's from the probe." " Indeed." "But that is a mountain." " Mt." "Weather to be exact." " Which is?" "Rumors circulated years ago about secret government installations, built during the Cold War." "Places where top officials would be wist away to during a nuclear attack." "Then you believe the American government has the probe." "So it appears." "You know, this would go a lot faster if you would help me." "Dammit." "Come on." "President Thompson." "I have recently come into possession of some very disturbing information." "The remains of the Jaridian probe we seek are being held in a military installation outside Washington." "That's impossible." "We supported you because we thought that you were a leader." "That you wielded the power and authority to control your people." "If we misread the situation, perhaps we should explore other options in the upcoming election." "I have authorized no action on the part of the U.S. Military with regard to the probe." "Interesting." "Then a faction within your own military is committing acts of treason." "I promise you, I will get to the bottom of this." "Yes." "Perhaps, a round of hearings would be in order, and in a year or two you could publish a report." "Or, may I suggest that you authorize FBI Special Agent Sandoval to investigate." "No, I prefer to go through proper military channels." "This is a delicate matter." "There could be repercussions." "Did not you remind me only yesterday that the elections draw near?" "We must take action now." "Very well." "I'm sure you know best how to handle this." "I'll authorize Agent Sandoval to look into it." "Now, Agent Sandoval, you have all the authority you require." "Finally!" "Augur, I've got the information you need, I'm transmitting it right now." "Alright, Lili!" "Colonel, the probe's breaking through." "We're running out of time." "Well, you'll just have to buy me a little bit more, that's all." "Is Liam still alive?" "For the moment." "You must return to the mother ship, Lili." "I'm sure you've been missed by now." "If Agent Sandoval demands an explanation for your absence, you may tell him truthfully that I have been discussing" "Major Kincaid's disappearance with you." "Come on, just a couple more steps." "I'll see you in Hell!" "Go, go!" "Sorry, Colonel, we just hit it with an RPG, that didn't even slow it down!" "I'll send backup." "Level 2, Section 6." "The probe broke our last line of defense." "It's headed our way." "Gentlemen?" "We have good news and bad news." "The Taelon records show that all the probes they've encountered have a primary function routine." "Now, I think that we can access that function using a harmonic resonance transfer of command codes." "And the bad news?" "Now, we can rig his global to deliver the command codes, but with the probe's communication array damaged, the transmission's got to be line of sight." "Somebody needs to go face-to-face with the replicant?" "I'll take it in." " No, I will." " This is my decision, Major." "Then make the right one." "I have the most experience with these things." "And if this is about trust, you know your way around this facility." "If I fail, you have to get everybody out alive." "And I need to trust you to do that." " You guys still with me?" " We're here." "The probe's straight ahead about 30 meters." "Here we go." "I'm transmitting the codes." "What's going on down there, Liam?" "I'm not sure." "The replicant is just... standing here." "I think it worked." "I have a message of great importance to both our species." "We wish to communicate directly with you and share our knowledge of how we can together defeat the Taelons." "Provide me with a data link, and I will download the equations necessary for you to build a transmitter capable of reaching us." "Guys," "I think it wants to talk." "You know, I don't think it meant to attack us." "It's a messenger probe." "But when the embassy damaged its higher functions, it went into survival mode." "Now that we've repaired it, I think it's ready to talk." "If this truly is an offer of assistance from the Jaridians, the tide could really swing in our favor." "So let's see what he has to say, shall we?" "I bring you a message from the Jaridian empire." "We are aware that the Taelons have arrived on your world, as we too soon shall arrive." "In preparation for the meeting of our two races, we have provided in this probe's memory detailed technical specifications for an advanced communication device." "The future depends on our cooperation." "It's downloading into the global." "Warning, perimeter security breach on Level 1." "Colonel, fall back to Level 2!" "We'll hold them as long as we can, but I recommend we get the hell out of Dodge!" "My men are on retreat, we have to get out of here." " Just a few more minutes." " No, we go now." "What about the probe?" "We can't let the Taelons get a hold of it." " We'll have to destroy it." " The schematics are still downloading." "Destroy it now, and we got nothing." "If the Taelons get the replicant, they'll find out the Jaridians are trying to strike a deal with us." "Liam's right, we've got no choice." "This place is wired with a nuclear destruct device." "I'm starting the countdown now." " Nukes?" "!" "You're gonna fry us?" " They're low-yield tactical." "The blast doors in the escape tunnels should protect us." "Anything inside is toast." "We'll continue downloading until the last moment." " This is the final moment!" " Come on, Augur!" " Get out of here!" " Detonation in 30 seconds." "Detonation in 20 seconds." "Come on, let's go!" "10." "9." "8." "7." "6." "5." "4." "3." "2." "1." "Agent Sandoval, am I glad to see you." "They were holding me hostage, trying to get information about the probe." "The probe..." " Could it have survived?" " À nuke?" "No way." "It's amazing I made it out in one piece." "Yes, amazing." "You must know how to get out of these things." "We're down to the final equations." "Only we had more time, we'd be able to communicate with the Jaridians." "Can't you just piece together what's missing?" "No, no." "That would take too long." "I wouldn't worry about it, Augur." "Bettis says we'll have the equations in a few months, and a transmitter able to reach the Jaridians not long after." "A few months?" "There's no way!" "Glad I caught you." "I just wanted to say thanks." "Keep the name, Major." "Just make sure you put it to good use." "You're gonna be okay?" "I will be." "This is the first time I've been outside the complex in four years." " Are you kidding?" " Part of the deal." "That's a pretty high price to pay." "What price can you put on the future?" "But, I do envy you though, and the life that you have, not the life that used to be mine." "Since you have my name, Major, let me give you a little advice." "Take advantage of every opportunity you can." "Be it a chance to subvert the Taelons, or to just enjoy a nice walk in the park." "I will." "Your sacrifice won't be in vain." "What are you gonna do, now that the Taelons have put you out of business?" "Maybe we brought you to Mt." "Weather, not because it was our only base, but because it was the one we could most afford to lose." "Subtitled by Axarion"