(Scene opens with the sound of a crashing ship, an explosion, and the turning on of a recorder)
Chase Highwind: This is Captain Chase Highwind's personal log. It is currently the 12th of Libra, in the 30th year of Protector Nelnan's reign. I've crash landed on a planet far outside the edge of the Moirae Galaxy. My spike drive went haywire midjump and sent me hurtling toward the edge of the galaxy. I was able to conduct repairs to the drive to pull me out of my jump, but couldn't stabilize in time. So far, I've seen no lifeforms Just this… eery black obelisk on a distant mountain. It’s the only structure I can see, but it must mean that SOMEONE lives here. So I am heading toward it. Maybe they will have some food or something… Shouldn't take too long. I've set up a data link between my recorder and my ships long range radio. With any luck, even if I don't make it out of here, my logs will be broadcast somewhere and someone will know what happened here.
Chase: Captain Chase Highwind's personal log. 13th of Libra, 30th year of Protector Nelnan's reign. I reached the Obelisk late last night and set up camp just outside, not wanting to disturb whomever lives here. I picked up a strange signal on my communicator when I woke up this morning. It wasn't there yesterday but started broadcasting sometime in the middle of the night. I wonder if its coming from within the Obelisk?
Chase: I should clarify, this isn't an Obelisk like I thought. Its more of a tower. Wide at the base, with a tiered structure tapering off into an antenna at the top. No light or heat signatures are being picked up through the windows or with my scanners. It looks to be abandoned… Let's see if I can get in.
(foot steps on gravel) (Hard knocking on metal door)
Chase: "Hello! My name is Chase! My ship crash landed here! Is anyone there!"
(door slowly creaks open)
Chase: Alright… I guess I am being invited in. Let's see where this goes.
Chase: Chase Highwind's personal logs: 13th day of Libra, 30th year of Nelnan. I've been inside the tower for about 8 hours now. I've run into nobody but there is definitely someone or something here. There are databases full of data here in this tower. I've tried accessing one of the servers but the code is so old, I don't have any device capable of communicating with it… whoever or whatever lived here before must have disappeared long ago. But how did they keep all these systems running? I am close to the top floor. I think I'll sleep in the tower tonight. I saw a dust storm on the horizon and would rather not be digging sand out of my boots tomorrow.
Chase: Personal Log, 14th day of Libra, 30th year of Nelnan.
Alright this place is giving me the creeps. Last night I could have sworn I heard breathing. But I couldn't find any evidence of someone being here with me. This planet is dead. Probably just the stress of crashing and being stranded. I think I could probably use some of the materials from the tower to repair my ship. I've made a mental list of items that I need to repair the booster engines and atmospheric configuration systems, but I don't know how I will get everything back to the crash site. I am just outside the last room of this tower and about to head in. It says "E1" above the door, but I didn't see any other numbering system in the facility. Weird. Here it goes!
(Metal Door sliding open)
(Beeping of machines and monitors)
Chase: Alright This is a pretty big room actually. There appears to be a circular table with 12 seats around it. In the middle is what can only be described as an artificial intelligence armature. But… something is weird about it. It almost looks like it is hooked up to a cold sleep pod… I am liking this less and less the more I am here. But… that sleep pod would make an excellent source of materials for repair… I am sure it won't be missed. I'll just make sure no one is currently in there before I shut this thing down.
(foot steps, wiping glass sound)
Chase: What the…? There is someone in there.
Robotic Voice: Yes. This is my former biological host. Who are you?
Chase: What? Who's there!?
Robotic Voice: I asked you first. Who are you?
Chase: My name is Chase. Chase Highwind, Captain of the Freighter Lucky Fox.
Robotic Voice: Welcome Chase. You may call me the Eternal One. Why have you come to Tartarus?
Chase: Tartarus? You mean… This place is the homeworld of the Hegemony? Doesn't look like much!
Eternal One: Looks can be deceiving. Why have you come here.
Chase: I… I didn't mean to come here. My ship malfunctioned and I crashed here.
Eternal One: And so you seek repairs?
Chase: Yes… yes I do!
Eternal One: I see. Unfortunately, much of what is here cannot be used for such a purpose. As you can see, my world is decimated, devoid of surface life and the robust industry that many in the Republic enjoy. Tell me, Are you from The Republic?
Chase: I am. But we aren't your enemies! We have a peace treaty.
Eternal One: Peace Treaty… Query. I find no record of any such treaty. My systems show that I entered a hibernation state approximately 150 years ago. A hibernation that ended when you entered this chamber and distrubed the biological preservation aparatus. I can find no record of any treaty in my database. Perhaps a closer inspection of your ship's records will enlighten us.
Chase: Us? But you said this planet is devoid of life.
Eternal One: Surface Life, yes. However, as I said, looks can be deceiving. Did you not learn your history? The Hegemony answers to The Eternal One who rules through a council of 12.
(doors opening, robotic steps moving closer)
Chase: pff… a bunch of robots? Wait… that smiley face… I recognize that face… Jungle? But they haven't been in operation for a century and a half.
Eternal One: As I said… looks can be deceiving.
Chase: You know what, I think I will try and repair my ship on my own… I gotta go.
(Fast running)
(Door slamming shut)
Eternal One: I am afraid, chase, I cannot let you do that. Open Fire.
(Laser blasts)
Eternal One: Take the remains into the caverns. Let the pit fiends feast. And bring this ship's computer to me. I must learn of what has transpired during my long sleep. And finally: Summon the Council of 12. There is work to be done.