ZOIDS ASTRAY ACT 028

 ACT 028: CHELONIA – MORNING

Two days have passed since the meeting. Teams have been formed and dispatched to their assigned positions for the next phase.

Neku, Inu, Danny, and a small crew work on setting explosives along the valley walls.

Nyssa leads a team of long-range Zoids to intercept.

Clair works with the Librarian, Nicholla, and Irie, searching for someone who can bond with and pilot the City Zoid, Chelonia.

Everyone has a job. Everyone moves with purpose.

EXT. VALLEY – MORNING

Neku watches as a pair of Gurantulas dig into the valley walls, preparing holes for the explosives. Danny checks his slate, confirming positions.

Inu sits in the Fire Fox, clawing loose earth out of sight so Virodahaka won’t notice the trap.

NEKU (sighs loudly)
Why, Danny… why?

DANNY (glancing up from his slate)
Why what, Neku?

NEKU (frowning)
Why are we stuck here instead of on the front line with Nyssa?

DANNY (grinning)
Because your Zoids are close-combat. We’ve been over this — we don’t know if that thing can hit with those tendrils. Long-range Zoids are the ones slowing it down.

INU (laughing over comms)
Stop sulking. We’ve all got jobs.

A deep roar rolls through the valley. They glance up to see the Whale King returning to Chelonia, flanked by Salamanders and smaller aerial Zoids.

DANNY (shielding his eyes with a hand)
Oop… looks like Brandt’s back. Wonder how many people took him up on the offer.

INU (confused)
Was it optional?

DANNY (laughs)
Not really. But you know people.

---

EXT. THE RED PLAINS – MORNING

Nyssa sits in the Dark Sabre, her monitors tracking Virodahaka’s hulking form on the horizon. Its three necks whip back and forth, the bulbous heads swinging like spiked flails. Her Zoids optics feed her data her eyes can’t yet see.

NYSSA (under her breath)
Ugly-arsed Zoid…

PILOT (over comms)
Sorry, Chief? Missed that.

NYSSA (smiling faintly)
Never mind. I’ve got visual confirmation — two clicks out, one o’clock.

PILOTS (over comms)
Confirmed.

NYSSA
Bring the Cannon Tortoises about. Lock on and prepare for mortar fire.

PILOTS (over comms)
Confirmed.

PILOT (over comms, uneasy)
What the hell is that thing? It’s massive…

NYSSA
That’s the bad guy. No heroics. We’re here to slow it down, then get clear.

She switches to a private channel and takes a steadying breath.

NYSSA (softly)
Hey, you.

NEKU (over comms)
Hey… you okay?

NYSSA
I’m sorry, Neku. I’ve been a—

NEKU (cutting in)
Save it. We can kiss and make up later — after this is done.

NYSSA (smiles)
Love you, girl.

NEKU (over comms)
Love you too. Please be careful.

NYSSA
You know me.

NEKU (dryly)
Exactly. See you soon. Neku out.

The Dark Sabre turns toward the approaching threat. Weapons systems whir to life, running pre-combat checks.

Beside her, a Red Horn holds position, its cannons trained on the horizon. Behind them, four Cannon Tortoises lock their legs into the ground, mortars angled high. Farther back, two Gunsnipers stand ready.

Nyssa’s eyes scan her HUD — all positions set.

NYSSA (stern)
Alright, team. As soon as that thing steps into range, we open fire. I want everyone going home. If it gets ugly, we pull back.

She tightens her grip on the controls, heart pounding.

NYSSA (shouting)
Let’s do this!

---

EXT. VALLEY – MORNING

With the explosives buried, the massive spider Zoids lumber away, heading back to the city to assist with the limb excavation.
Danny circles his Savinga, tapping away at his slate, checking the remote feeds.

DANNY (relief in his voice)
OK, all good. I’ve set up a series of drones, five hundred meters apart. I can bounce the signal through them without worrying about Viro blocking it.

He glances up, catching Neku mid-conversation over comms. He can’t hear her words, but he smiles — hoping whatever’s broken can still be fixed.

CLAIR (over comms)
Danny, are Neku and Inu with you?

DANNY (confused)
They are, yeah. Everything OK?

CLAIR (over comms)
We need them at the Core. They’re on the list.

Danny’s eyes widen. He knows what “the list” means. He waves both arms, getting the fox pilots’ attention.

DANNY (shouting)
Neku! Inu! They need you back at the Core — Bond testing!

NEKU
Neku out.
(to Danny)
Bond testing?

INU (realising)
Mum… she used to work maintenance.

NEKU (sighs)
Ughhh… OK. Tell Clair we’re en route — twenty minutes.

A series of deafening explosions thunder in the distance. The ground trembles beneath them. All eyes turn toward the Red Plains.

DANNY (concerned)
It’s started. You’d better hurry. We’ll finish up here, then use the Savinga and Double Sworders to get to safety.

The two Zoids turn and bolt, engines roaring, heading back toward Chelonia.

The Foxes race across the valley floor, leaving trails of dust in their wake. Behind them, the distant horizon flashes with light as muffled explosions roll through the air. The sound of war is getting closer.