Beyond The Sun (The New Voyages episode)

Beyond The Sun is the 3rd episode of Star Trek: The New Voyages Season 1.
==Plot==
A routine rescue mission places Starfleet in a moral quandary between faith and science that is too difficult for one crewmember to ignore. 
==Script Chapters==
===Teaser===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION SPACE
An unknown vessel approaches the sun as the U.S.S. Enterprise approaches the vessel.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE
Transparent viewer shows the vessel's aft section as Captain Branson is standing behind the helm and navigational station.
CAPT. BRANSON [to com]: Unknown vessel this is John Branson Captain of the Federation Starship U.S.S. Enterprise we're responding to your distress call.
He turns to Lieutenant Smith who has two fingers on her ear piece.
LTJG. SMITH: No response sir.
Captain Branson walks in front of the helm and navigational station.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: I wonder why they don't respond?
Captain Branson crosses his arms.
CAPT. BRANSON [sighs]: I'm not sure Z but we need to find out who's onboard T'Lar bio-signs?
T'Lar scans the vessel.
LTJG. T'LAR: Bio-signs are at least 23 onboard.
Captain Branson then walks over to Lieutenant Mason at tactical.
CAPT. BRANSON: Can we disable their engines?
Lieutenant Mason checks his tactical console.
LTJG. MASON: No their impulse engines are too narrow we could breach the hull.
T'Lar reports.
LTJG. T'LAR: The vessel is less advance then we are.
Captain Branson turns to T'Lar.
CAPT. BRANSON: Can we beam an away team onto the ship?
LTJG. T'LAR: Its possible sir.
He goes to the Captain's chair and activates the com.
CAPT. BRANSON (to com): Branson to Williams meet me and Doctor Carlson in the transporter room we're going over there.
LT. WILLIAMS (com voice): Aye, sir
Captain Branson goes to the lift.
CAPT. BRANSON: You've got the bridge Z.
Commander Ivanova goes to the Captain's chair as Captain Branson enters the lift.
CUT TO:
INT-ALIEN VESSEL/MAIN AREA
Four transporter beams show up and Captain Branson, Lieutenant T'Lar, Lieutenant Williams, and Doctor Carlson materialized, as Lieutenant Commander Williams goes to the station.
CAPT. BRANSON: Status Doc?
DR. CARLSON [re: medical tricorder]: They're in some sort of hibernation.
Captain Branson walks over to Lieutenant Williams.
CAPT. BRANSON: Steph what can we do?
LT. WILLIAMS: We can set their impulse engines on a feed back pulse that will push them from the star.
CAPT. BRANSON: Do it.
She inputs commands into the console and the ship rocks.
EXT-FEDERATION SPACE
The vessel bounces off the star as its deflectors graze it.
INT-ALIEN VESSEL MAIN COMPARTMENT
CAPT. BRANSON: Great work Steph.
LT. WILLIAMS: Thanks.
PRIEST (annoyed): WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, AND WHY HAVE YOU STOPPED US FROM REACHING THE PLACE OF PERFECTION!
Camera pushes in on boarding party.
[END OF TEASER, FADE OUT, STARTING CREDITS]
===Act 1===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION SPACE
[EPISODE NOTES: OPENING CREDITS FALL OVER OPENING SCENES]
CAPT. BRANSON'S (voice over): Captain's Log Stardate 7856.3, After answering a distress call from an alien vessel we've seem to stumble upon a group of reglious people heading for the sun
Enterprise is next to the Pilgrim vessel.
INT-PILGRIM VESSEL MAIN COMPARTMENT
Doctor Carlson is scanning the others.
PRIEST: WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOARD MY VESSEL!
CAPT. BRANSON: I'm John Branson Captain of the Federation Starship USS Enterprise, we represent the United Federation of Planets. This is my Chief Engineer Lieutenant Stephanie Williams, Chief Medical Officer Doctor Steven Carlson, and my Chief Science Officer Lieutenant T'Lar, we're responding to your distress call and are here to assist you.
PRIEST: That's impossible I would never send a distress call.
CAPT. BRANSON: According to my Chief Communications Officer we received a distress call from this vessel.
PRIEST: No, that's impossible I'd never send a distress call.
Lieutenant Williams gets annoyed and she walks over to him.
LT. WILLIAMS: Come here take a look at this.
She leads him over to the console.
PRIEST: What am I looking at?
LT. WILLIAMS: Your com logs it shows that you sent a distress call.
PRIEST: But I we would never call for help I we were on our way to the valley of perfection.
P'TAR (off screen): I sent a distress call.
They turn to face a young woman.
PRIEST (shocked): P'Tar you sent a distress call.
P'TAR (nods): Yes I did.
PRIEST: But why?
P'TAR: I don't believe in the belief of a paradise.
LT. WILLIAMS: What are you saying?
P'TAR: They think that the sun will deliver them to a wonderful place that will set them free.
LT. WILLIAMS: The only thing you'd come out as is very crispy bacon like its been in the oven for way too long.
CAPT. BRANSON: Lieutenant.
PRIEST: I am her father and her mentor.
P'TAR: I request asylum.
Everyone is shocked by this.
CAPT. BRANSON (to com): Away Team to Enterprise we've got a bit of a situation here contact Starfleet Command get me Fleet Captain Pike on subspace, I suggest we go over to my ship so we can discuss this further.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA [com voice]: Aye, sir
Lieutenant Williams is working on the console.
P'TAR: You sure know alot.
LT. WILLIAMS (Smiles): Thanks I'm the chief engineer on the Enterprise.
P'TAR: Your Starship what is it like on your vessel?
LT. WILLIAMS: Nice big and very advance but this isn't much advance as she is, if you stick around you would be able to see it more.
P'TAR: You think the Captain would allow me to stay.
LT. WILLIAMS: Yeah.
P'Tar looks at her as Williams turns to her.
[END OF ACT ONE, FADE OUT]
===Act 2===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION SPACE
Enterprise is next to the Pilgrim vessel.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM
Captain Branson, Commander lvanova, Lieutenant Mason, Lieutenant Smith, Ensign Carlson, Lieutenant Williams and Lieutenant T'Lar are around the table as well as the Priest and one of his followers and his daughter.
CAPT. BRANSON: Now let's start with why should we allow you to continue to your destination.
PRIEST: I'm only here to convince my daughter that she's making a huge mistake.
P'TAR: No I'm not father its you that's making a huge mistake.
Captain Branson raises his hand.
CAPT. BRANSON: Whoa calm down everyone Minister Starfleet takes requests like this very seriously and always has taken requests like this seriously, judging from what I've seen I don't blame her for wanting asylum but I'd like to hear both sides of this story why were you and your people heading towards one of the most dangerous objects in the galaxy?
PRIEST (sighs): For many generations my people have lived in the cold and the darkness, until the star appeared to us it opened our eyes to the world warmed our hearts. And lit a path to the place of perfection, a place my people have been determined to reach for nearly a hundred years.
CAPT. BRANSON: I see and your ship is the first on this journey?
PRIEST: Yes its one of twenty vessel.
LT. WILLIAMS: Then why take your 15 year old daughter with you on this fact finding mission!
PRIEST: I wanted her to see what her grandfather believed in but I see that I was wrong.
P'TAR: Father you can't honestly think that this will set our people free of what they're lives were back then.
CAPT. BRANSON: Whoa let's discuss this peacefully before it gets violent, Minister what you call the valley of perfection we call it the sun it provides a source of light and heat and provides life to many planets in the universe.
The religious group looks at John in surprise.
PRIEST: There are other valleys of perfection?
CAPT. BRANSON: Yeah there is many.
LT. WILLIAMS: Captain these ships are very old and could break apart from the stress of the gravitational effects of the sun we can't allow them to.
CAPT. BRANSON: Lieutenant you're dismissed.
Lieutenant Williams leaves the briefing room.
CAPT. BRANSON: Minister we have a directive that prevents us from interfering with the development of other species that aren't warp capable, or are in a major conflict with another species unless it effects the entire galaxy. But your daughter asking for asylum has really put me in a difficult position that I must say is really tough for me right now to decide on what we can do here.
PRIEST: You're going to allow my daughter to remain here onboard this ship?
Before John can speak P'Tar speaks up.
P'TAR: Father please don't do this to our people we have so much to live for you have so much to live for...
The priest cuts his own daughter off.
PRIEST: I've made my choice and I see you've made yours and you can see that I am very disappointed in you.
They leave as the security guards escort them out of the briefing room and to the transporter room to be beamed back to their vessel.
P'TAR: That's it you're just going to let them die?
CAPT. BRANSON: As I explained to them we have a directive that prevents us from stopping them but I've not made my choice yet on what to do those.
P'Tar is saddened as John looks at her.
CAPT. BRANSON: We'll assign you some guest quarters and give you a hot meal Doctor show P'Tar to her quarters.
DR. CARLSON (nods): Aye, sir.
He gets up and escorts P'Tar out of the ready room as the rest look at each other.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: Can't believe that these people are willing to kill themselves to find the valley of perfection.
CAPT. BRANSON: Its the hand we've been dealt with Z.
Then the com activates.
BRIDGE OFFICER (com voice): Bridge to Captain
Branson activates the com panel on the table.
CAPT. BRANSON (to com): Branson here go ahead.
BRIDGE OFFICER (com voice): Fleet Captain Pike is on subspace
CAPT. BRANSON (to com): Patch it to my ready room.
Fleet Captain Pike appears on the wall monitor.
FLT CAPT. PIKE [monitor]: You put us in a tough spot John
CAPT. BRANSON: I know but the father is very ticked off that we stopped them from reaching the sun.
FLT CAPT. PIKE (Monitor): What is the situation so far
CAPT. BRANSON (Sighs): Calm at the moment Doctor Carlson is showing the girl around the ship I'm taking it slow at the moment I've spoken to the father a bit while he and his group were onboard, the Prime Directive is in effect isn't it sir?
Fleet Captain Pike leans forward.
FLT CAPT. PIKE [monitor]: If asylum has been requested the Prime Directive is rescinded as well as when you rescued them
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: Sir, they want to return to their vessel and enter the sun.
FLT CAPT. PIKE [monitor]: Allow them to go
CAPT. BRANSON (Sighs): I don't like it Chris.
FLT CAPT. PIKE (Monitor): I know John but we must respect the Prime Directive at all cost Kirk out
Transmission ends as Captain Branson thinks.
CUT TO:
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE DECK NINE CORRIDOR
Steven is giving P'Tar a tour of the Enterprise.
DR. CARLSON: She's got twenty-three decks, crew complement four hundred and thirty she has a speed of warp 7 with an emergency speed of warp eight and she's got duatronic systems powering her.
P'TAR: Duatronics my people studied it for awhile now but nothing has come of it.
DR. CARLSON: If you stick around I can show you how it works.
Then Stephanie shows up.
LT. WILLIAMS: Hey Steven I can take it from here.
DR. CARLSON: Alright if you decide to stay I could use you in Sickbay.
She nods and Steven leaves.
LT. WILLIAMS: So I hear the Captain is currently speaking with Fleet Captain Christopher Pike about how we can handle this situation.
P'TAR: My father and those 12 people are going to die aren't they?
LT. WILLIAMS: If the Captain can prevent it then they'll live out the rest of their lives.
Com activates.
CAPT. BRANSON [com voice]: Lieutenant Williams report to my ready room
LT. WILLIAMS [to com]: On my way sir Ensign can you show her to the guest quarters.
P'Tar follows the Ensign as Williams heads to the ready room.
INT-USS ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM
Branson is standing in front of the table as his senior staff are still reeling from Pike's orders.
DR. CARLSON: Captain these people will die when they enter the sun?
CAPT. BRANSON: I am aware of that.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: And Starfleet Command is alright with this.
CAPT. BRANSON: Fleet Captain Pike wants to preserve the Prime Directive.
LTJG. MASON: We can't just sit here and watch them die.
CAPT. BRANSON: The decision has been made Williams you'll make sure that your modifications didn't damage their impulse engines.
LT. WILLIAMS (Nods): Yes, sir.
CAPT. BRANSON: Dismissed.
Everyone leaves except for Lieutenant Williams.
LT. WILLIAMS: Permission to speak sir?
CAPT. BRANSON: Granted.
LT. WILLIAMS: We're going to allow them to die just because they think that the sun is a way to a garden of Eden its not its a burning ball of fire and it will evaporate them, and their being led by a crazy nut who thinks that he's taking them.
CAPT. BRANSON: LIEUTENANT! On this ship you will uphold the principles of this vessel and the Prime Directive I hear your concerns I really do but the Prime Directive comes into effect now and we must uphold it do you understand?
LT. WILLIAMS: Aye, sir.
She leaves the ready room as Captain Branson faces the window.
[END OF ACT TWO, FADE OUT]
===Act 3===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION SPACE
Enterprise is next to the Pilgrim vessel.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE GUEST QUARTERS
Doors chimed.
P'TAR: Come in
Doors opened and Lieutenant Williams enters.
P'TAR: Lieutenant Williams.
LT. WILLIAMS: P'Tar I'm sorry but the Captain has come to the decision to allow them to depart for the sun we have something called a Prime Directive that prevents us from getting in the way of a alien race that's less advance then we are, after what happened in both 2151 and 2152 President Archer came up with the Prime Directive cause of what he experience when he was the first Starfleet Captain to go into deep space.
P'Tar isn't happy about what she's hearing.
P'TAR: Then my father and those 12 people will die for nothing.
LT. WILLIAMS: But at least you're alive.
P'TAR: Thank you Lieutenant I'd like to be alone now so I can pray for my father.
Williams leaves her quarters.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE JACK & STEPHANIE'S QUARTERS
Stephanie is looking out the window at the stars as Jack enters from being on an extra shift on the Bridge.
JACK (Sighs): Sorry honey had an extra shift on the bridge wanted to do a maintance check on the forward phaser banks.
Stephanie still staring out at the stars.
JACK: Steph?
STEPHANIE: Hm? Oh sorry Jack I've got my mind on something else right now.
JACK: Does this have to do with P'Tar and her father's group?
STEPHANIE (Nods): Yeah.
He sits next to her.
JACK: Steph we've got to follow the Captain's orders and that's not to get involved anymore then we're already are.
STEPHANIE: P'Tar thinks that Starfleet is like her father's group.
JACK: Come on Steph the Captain needs to get back on course.
They kiss.
CUT TO:
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN ENGINEERING
Lieutenant Williams is getting some of her gear to head over to the alien vessel to check to see if their engines were damage from her upgrades.
LT. WILLIAMS: Harris take command I'll be on the alien vessel to check on the alien vessel to get them underway.
LTJG. PAYNE: Aye, Lieutenant
Lieutenant Williams leaves.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE DECK 11 CORRIDOR
Commander Williams heads to the turbo-lift to head to the transporter room when Commander Ivanova shows up.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: Heading to the alien vessel.
LT. WILLIAMS: Yes, the Captain wants me to check up on their impulse systems to make sure that my modifications didn't mess their engines up.
They stopped.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: I know how you feel Steph but we've got to respect the Prime Directive.
LT. WILLIAMS: I know Commander.
The lift doors opened and she enters and the lift closes.
[END OF ACT THREE, FADE OUT]
===Act 4===
FADE IN
EXT-FEDERATION SPACE
Enterprise is at distance of 2.5 kilometers from the Pilgrim vessel but remains in transporter range.
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE MAIN BRIDGE
LTJG. SMITH: The rest of the engineering team has beamed aboard we're waiting on Commander Williams to beam back to the ship.
CAPT. BRANSON: Very well then when she beams back I'll make a speech ship-wide.
Zhasa turns to him.
LTCMDR. IVANOVA: You alright John?
CAPT. BRANSON (sighs): No Z I'm not I'm being forced to sit by and watch people die.
LTJG. MITCHELL: That's the prime directive for you sir.
CAPT. BRANSON: True.
CUT TO:
INT-PILGRIM VESSEL MAIN COMPARTMENT
Lieutenant Williams walks over to the main console as one of the reglious people points her out to the main priest.
PRIEST: What are you doing here?
LT. WILLIAMS: The Captain wants me to make sure that your engines aren't damaged from the modifications I made to them when we beamed aboard to save you from dying.
PRIEST: Haven't you done enough?
LT. WILLIAMS: DO YOU WANT TO GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING OR NOT!
PRIEST: Proceed but never come back here.
LT. WILLIAMS: Believe me I don't want to be on here anymore then I want to be.
The main Priest walks back to the group and they start praying unknown to them Lieutenant Williams gets out her tricorder and hacks into the main computer and connects the navigational computer to the Enterprise's navigational computer, and she closes it and gets her gear and opens her communicator as it beeps.
LT. WILLIAMS (to com): Williams to Enterprise beam me up.
Lieutenant Williams dematerializes.
[END OF ACT FOUR, FADE OUT]
===Act 5===
FADE IN
EXT-WARP TUNNEL
Enterprise heads to the nearest Starbase.
CAPT. BRANSON'S (voice over): Captain's Log Supplemental, We're on course for Starbase Six to drop off P'Tar where she'll be sent to Earth for a chance at a new life and might join Starfleet, as for me I've got something to taken care of
INT-U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM/SITUATION ROOM
Lieutenant Williams enters the ready room as Captain Branson is looking out at the stars.
LT. WILLIAMS: You wanted to see me sir?
CAPT. BRANSON: Yes have a seat Steph.
She sits in the chair in front of the desk as Captain Branson sits in the chair behind the desk.
CAPT. BRANSON: As we left I had T'Lar use the long range scanners to keep track of the pilgrim ship.
LT. WILLIAMS: I see and did they make it to the sun?
CAPT. BRANSON: You tell me.
LT. WILLIAMS (confused): Sir?
CAPT. BRANSON: The computer detected an unauthorized uplink between the pilgrim ship and the Enterprise's navigational computer, and person responsible didn't even bother to cover their tracks.
Lieutenant Williams remains silent.
CAPT. BRANSON: Why did you do it?
LT. WILLIAMS (sighs): I couldn't let those people die.
CAPT. BRANSON: That wasn't your choice to make Steph, you violated the prime directive when you did that do you know what Starfleet Command will do when they find out what happened they'll demand your reassignment to a Starbase where careers go to die Steph! And given the current condition of their vessel it will take them at least twenty years to get back home.
LT. WILLIAMS: At least their alive and well.
CAPT. BRANSON: And when they get back home if they do get back home they have battlegroup of these vessels ready to launch, how is this to stop the next ship or the next fleet of ships from doing this Steph?
LT. WILLIAMS: I did what I thought was right sir.
CAPT. BRANSON (sighs): At the time for you but not the long-term effects your actions will have on them and their culture Steph this is the one thing that you did will have on their belief of this great perfection, perhaps if they saw what the sun did to the first ship they would of taken a step back and rethink this entire thing Steph.
LT. WILLIAMS: We don't know that John.
CAPT. BRANSON: No we don't we don't know alot about their situation, which is why I didn't act on the lack of information that we had on them.
Stephanie gets up.
LT. WILLIAMS: You didn't act at all!
CAPT. BRANSON: What did you want me to do put a phaser to their heads and say please come this way so we can re-educate them on the meaning of life?
LT. WILLIAMS: I needed to restore P'Tar's faith in Starfleet, if I didn't she would of gotten back on that vessel and died with the rest of them.
CAPT. BRANSON: Restore her faith in Starfleet or in you.
LT. WILLIAMS: Both sir.
Captain Branson walks over to Commander Williams as she snaps to attention.
CAPT. BRANSON: You violated my direct orders.
LT. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
CAPT. BRANSON: You violated the protocols that govern this crew.
LT. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
CAPT. BRANSON: I don't have the luxury of throwing you in the brig for the rest of this voyage. I need you. I need every person on this ship. But I want you to know how very deeply you have disappointed me. If there are any further transgressions, even a minor one, you will no longer be an officer on this crew. Is that clear?
LT. WILLIAMS: Yes, sir.
CAPT. BRANSON: Dismissed.
She leaves the ready room as Captain Branson looks out the window at the star field streaking by.
EXT-WARP TUNNEL
The Enterprise is at high warp.
[END OF ACT FIVE, FADE OUT, ENDING CREDITS]
==Cast==
===Starring===
*Jarvis Davidson as Captain John Branson
*Felecia Linkous as Lieutenant Commander Zhasa Ivanova
===Also Starring===
*Kevin Regan as Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack Mason
*Ferne Myers as Lieutenant Stephanie Williams
*Blake Waymire as Lieutenant Junior Grade Tyson Mitchell
*Sadie Brickhouse as Lieutenant Junior Grade Julia Smith
*Jacob Elliot as Doctor Steven Carlson
*Delena "Dee" Lusk as Ensign Kara Carlson
*Becky Elliot as Lieutenant Junior Grade T'Lar
===Guest Stars===
*TBA as Nurse Christine Chapel
*TBA as Lieutenant Samuel Kirk
*TBA as Transporter Chief Kayla Mackenzie
*TBA as Lieutenant Junior Grade Harris Payne
===Special Guest Stars===
*TBA as Fleet Captain Christopher Pike
*TBA as The Pastor
*TBA as P'Tar
*TBA as Pilgrim #1
*TBA as Pilgrim #2
*TBA as Pilgrim #3
==Trivia Notes==
===Background Information===
*A Prime Directive story.
*A Lieutenant Williams focus episode.