crystal.
BI ZHEN HAN
Do not lie to me, Mr. President. We know
that you conducted a military operation
at Microcore headquarters. You must have
found this data crystal, or at least
determined the technology that was used
to launch this most unusual spacecraft.
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
We found no such crystal. Nor did we find
any data concerning the spacecraft.
BI ZHEN HAN
We consider the technology behind this
spacecraft to be a potential weapon
against the people of China. It would be
impossible to defend against something
traveling at that speed. Did you at least
talk to the boy?
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
The boy, his wife, and his brother were
all offworld when we conducted the
search. We weren't able to question any
of them.
BI ZHEN HAN
That is unfortunate. You do realize that
it was the cooperation of our people
aboard The Himalia who made this
information accessible to your
government, yes?
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
I realize that.
BI ZHEN HAN
We detected the signal of 2018 too, Mr.
President. We are aware that your so-
called Super Spiders match the image from
the alien transmission. Have you been
able to eliminate that threat?
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
We're dealing with the situation.
BI ZHEN HAN
From the reports I've read, only one has
actually been killed.
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
There may have only been one.
BI ZHEN HAN
Their webs continue to be discovered. Why
do you continue to anger me with your
lies, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
As I told you-
BI ZHEN HAN
No more excuses. We know you possess this
alien technology. Your country has been
infiltrated by hostile beings from
another world.
He picks up a red phone.
BI ZHEN HAN (CONT’D)
I see no other choice. The threat posed
by the United States must be eliminated
once and for all. Your reign of power
ends today. Explain this to your people.
He speaks into the phone.
BI ZHEN HAN (CONT’D)
Launch all weapons targeted for the
United States.
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
Are you insane? We'll have no choice but
to launch a counter-strike.
BI ZHEN HAN
We can shoot down your missiles. Can you
shoot down ours?
The President severs the link.
He picks up a red phone to NORAD.
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
What's the situation down there?
NORAD (V.O.)
We've got multiple launch detections from
inside China, Mr. President. Just a
moment...North Korea is also launching
missiles. China actual approaching
ninety. North Korea actual at seventeen,
eighteen... The Red List confirms that
nukes are among them. Do you authorize a
counter-strike, Mr. President?
PRESIDENT SILVERSPOON
It looks like we have no choice. Launch
everything that's pointed at China and
North Korea.
NORAD
Yes, Mr. President. Transmitting Priority
Alpha Code to all stations. Authorize
full scale China, full scale North Korea,
and Defense Batteries active.
EXT. AMERICAN SOUTHWEST - DAY
Missile silo doors open. ICBM's thunder skyward.
EXT. WESTERN ALASKA - DAY
Eight ICBM's approach from the north.
A satellite-based laser destroys one of them.
Interceptor missiles from a distant ship destroy two more.
Land-based interceptor missiles launch by the hundreds.
Another ICBM is destroyed.
Four ICBM's slip through.
One of them races south.
The other three race in a southeast direction.
EXT. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DAY
A group of friends are drinking from a bottle atop the famous HOLLYWOOD sign.
A brilliant flash of light fades to a mushroom cloud rising from downtown L.A.
Moments later, a shock wave obliterates the Hollywood sign.
EXT. STATUE OF LIBERTY - NEW YORK - DAY
A Chinese family is snapping pictures from the statue's crown.
A brilliant flash of light blinds them before the statue is obliterated.
EXT. THE WHITE HOUSE - WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY
The President of the United States comes running out onto the south lawn, looking skyward in horror.
A brilliant flash of light blinds him before The White House is obliterated.
EXT. CAPE CANAVERAL - DAY
A readied space plane sits upright on the launchpad.
A brilliant flash of light envelopes the area.
EXT. MICROCORE - DAY
Conventional missiles rain down.
A mushroom cloud can be seen rising far to the north.
EXT. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DAY
The city is completely destroyed. Days-old fires smolder amid the ruins.
Hundreds of Kek are picking through the rubble, retrieving, cocooning, and then stacking human corpses into piles.
EXT. MARS - DAY
The crew is assembled outside the landing shell.
YING
I just got off the link with Microcore
Earth Command.
ROSEGARDEN
It's about time. Did they forget we were
out here?
YING
I've got good news and terrible news. The
good news is that the habitat wheel has
been repaired.
ROSEGARDEN
And the terrible news?
YING
The United States has been attacked.
GERT
Oh my god.
YING
China and North Korea launched a nuclear
strike against the United States eighteen
months ago. That's why we lost contact as
soon as we arrived.
SETH
How bad?
YING
American casualties are estimated at
fifty million.
BIX
Were we able to retaliate?
YING
The U.S. counterstrike killed an
estimated two hundred million Chinese and
North Koreans.
ROSEGARDEN
You're telling us that while we've been
toiling away on Mars, a nuclear war broke
out on Earth that's killed a quarter
billion people? Are you serious?
YING
I'm afraid I am, Colonel. Most of the
nukes were intercepted but we lost New
York, L.A., D.C., and Cape Canaveral.
ROSEGARDEN
Any other breaking news, Commander?
YING
Unfortunately, yes. Apparently, the
Chinese are firing on all ships
descending into North American airspace.
Also, they've been jamming all signals to
and from the moon and Mars. That's why we
haven't been able to pick up so much as a
radio station out here. If the situation
hasn't been diffused by the time we get
home, we may have to wait it out on THE
PURGATORY.
SETH
Well, if you're going to be stuck in
Earth orbit, that's the place to be. At
least they've got a bar and a pool.
BIX
The Purgatory is a retirement community.
Why wouldn't they send us to Underworld?
YING
Underworld is currently under quarantine.
I don't know any more than that. We'll
just have to see what happens when we
arrive back in Earth space.