01x06 - Showdown on Planet Gedra

[bunniefuu]

Our galaxy.

Humankind colonized space

so long ago that no one
remembers which came first:

civilization,
or the corporations.

But a centuries-old conflict
between the Grotto Corporation

and our mortal enemy,
the mega-corporation

known as Helion,
has led to endless wars

and broken planets,
making life

for most on Grotto planets
- known as Homeworlds -

a living hell
of indentured servitude.

And I was no different.

My only way out was
to join Grotto's army,

the Reapers.

The Resource Exploration

and Procurement
Engineer Regiment,

also known as
the Salvage Marines,

where the hazard pay is high

but the survival rate is low.

The more we do this,

the less of ourselves we become.

Are you talkin'
about unionization?

Maybe.

Why do they want me
to wear a camera?

Tyrol takes pleasure

in giving you orders
that go against

what the Salvage Marines
are about.

And if the public finds out,

then they'll know
what the Grotto really is.

Trade specialists
such as engineers

have experience and training.

That gives them
< substantial value.

Understood.

I mean this time
the crew is the salvage.

On my mark...

We have five engineer non-coms
in custody.

Copy that.

Coulda been worse.

It might just be.

If you're unable
to recover the assets,

your secondary objective
is to ensure

that the slavers
walk away empty-handed.

-But, Sir--
-That's an order, Hyst!

We gotta end this!
We can't lose anyone else.

Liquidate the assets.

Aaghh!

Every day, we become
less and less Salvage Marines.

They're startin' to use us
like criminal troops.

Now you listen to me.
You keep your head down

and hold on to that footage.

-Who else knows about this?
-Everybody.

You've come a long way, Reapers.

I'm very proud.

I think today

perhaps the time...

is upon us.

Yeah.

And for the specifics
of this mission

I will defer to Commander
Soren Aiken the Third

of House Indron.

Boss Aiken? I thought he got
transferred out after Vorhold?

He did, back to House Indron,

but he's only
just one of us now.

Guess he sold us out.

There has been much speculation
about the nature

of the machine race
we have been battling.

Many of the reapers today
in this room were with us

when we first encountered them.

As you know...

..charting an accurate starscape

this side of the Ellisian line
has always been difficult.

Grotto has
a prevailing theory about this.

And that is why
we are here today.

Hmph! Here we go,
the hard sell.

Research indicates
that between twenty

and thirty thousand years ago
there was an event.

A gigantic energy weapon
was deployed,

with cataclysmic results.

The very quantum fabric

of this entire sector
became unstable.

And over eons and eons,

that stability
has gradually returned.

The more matter and energy
we bring across the line,

the more momentum we've allowed
the correction to gain.

Logic follows
that the entire sector

will eventually
return to normal.

This image was captured
by one of the body cams

of the penal Legionnaires.

Most have adopted the term

'g*n spider'.

A very apt description.

We have named this machine race
the 'Gedra'.

Each of these creatures

has similar devices
embedded in their core.

The High Cognate believed

that these were
master control devices.

This control also, in theory,

extends to
the resurrected humans

that I believe you've started
to refer to as 'hollows'.

That was me! That was...

I came up with that.
That's mine!

He's very proud.

We believe that if we're able

to capture
an intact Alpha Cyborg,

then we will be able to control

both the reanimates
and the g*n spiders.

Helion forces have clustered

in significant numbers
around this system,

we believe, making a play
for exactly the same power.

And with the Alpha Cyborg,
they can control

g*n spiders and raise soldiers
from the dead,

tipping the w*r in their favor.

Our recon elements have reported
Helion's discovery

of a massive tomb world,
far greater

than anything
we've ever encountered.

We call this world Gedra Prime.

Helion forces
have anchored above it

and we are
part of the task force

responsible
for taking it back from them.

Now rest assured,

you're not alone
in this endeavor.

The same briefing

is being given to the Kratos

and the Lokani Reaper tugs
as we speak.

People, you gotta consider
yourselves

a joint vanguard now.
You're seconded to House Indron.

You have the Elites,
the Merchant Militant,

they're gonna be
fightin' with us

and make no mistake,
this is massive.

This is unprecedented.

But if we gotta
summon the rains of hell,

we'll be the storm
on the mountain.

We're gonna serve.

We prevail.

Grotto salutes you.

Dismissed.

Platoon leaders, we are

cutting through
the Gedra Prime atmos now.

I'm detecting some
similar magnetic interference

like we experienced
on planet UK 6713 - be aware.

Do you know what that is?

-It's the crest of House Indron.
-Mm-hmm.

-How'd you get this?
-I got it from Aiken.

He slipped it to me
before the Gedra briefing.

He knows about the strike

and he wants to be
our man on the inside.

Why would he
risk that happening

during a campaign
funded by his own house.

I asked him
the same exact thing.

He said it's all about games.

Games of w*r,
and games of economics.

And the best
that we can hope for

is to leave behind
some kind of legacy.

Personally, I think
he wants to help us out.

Once a Reaper,
always a Reaper, right?

I hopped aboard a Reaper tug

one week out of graduation.
Hyst this is all I know,

And I'm good with that.

I've got two brothers, a sister,

more cousins than I can count,

and I fight
so that they don't have to.

One Marsters
for every generation

has to enlist in
the Salvage Marines,

without exception.

Now this has been going on

for nine generations.
It was just my turn.

Every penny that I make
is sent home

and that includes
the death benefit.

And if we have
the glorious opportunity

to make
the ultimate sacrifice...

..then our families
are the better for it.

I appreciate you
sharin' all this with me

but why are you
tellin' me all this, Boss?

Gedra Prime's
gonna be a bloodbath.

Sam...
I know why you're fighting.

But sometimes...

..it's about more than the job.

Alright, Boss Hyst!
I want you to take your squad

and meet me on the deck,
battle ready, in eight minutes.

Yes, Sir.

One more long mile.

Tango Platoon present
and accounted for, Boss.

Can't believe
we're actually doing this.

It's already happened.

The engineer footage is
being uploaded

as we speak to the Grotto
communications network.

The feeds are live
and they're linked

to the global
communications channel.

We're good to go, Boss.

The Grotto has been operating

without a union
for the last 100 years.

What that means is
they've gone unchecked

for over a century.

The last union they had
was weak and ineffective

or at worst, it was corrupt

or tyrannical.

And we are poor as a result.

Some of you may be familiar with

the underground unionization
movement that's been popping up

all over Grotto space.

More specifically,

in the Baen district
or the Reaper fleet.

How the hell
are we gonna pull this off?

I mean...I WANT this,

but how are they
just gonna let us win?

I think Lord Indron
is secretly backing us.

Aiken?

I thought he and Marsters
hated each other?

They do.

But we're all Reapers.

If anyone's having any doubts,
now is the time.

We're with you.

-Until the end, Boss.
-Until the end.

The workers back home
have seen the engineer footage

and they see
that the corporation

is controlling the corps.

That they are using us
to do their bidding.

To handle their illicit
sl*ve trade.

The Grotto
is here to take this planet

And we're gonna k*ll

an Alpha Cyborg, and that's how

we beat the Helion for good.

This is the job!

This is the job.

And this is proof

that Grotto
have illegally k*lled

civilian engineers.

Your secondary objective

is to ensure that the slavers
walk away empty-handed.

???? will die!

This is Tyrol Gaius
of Grotto Executive 2216

of Reaper Corps Baen 6.

Listen!

I have a full-scale
insurrection...a mutiny.

Just get me boots
on the ground - now!

Send two squads
of shock troopers immediately.

We MUST maintain control.

Over!

So if we're not gonna fight,

why are we in full kit
and stackin' r*fles!?

Don't ask me!

The last labor strike on Baen 6

was 100 years ago...

..at Assemblage 23.

It didn't last very long.
Instead of getting

the negotiations
that they asked for

the strike ended
with the m*ssacre of 174...

..unarmed citizens.

We, however, are not unarmed.

Footage has shown
the common worker

that we are just as exploited

as they are.

That the Grotto would rather
m*ssacre civilians

than have their enemy
see a profit.

Now, unlike the common worker,

we can actually
make a difference.

And this ... is where
we force ... OUR negotiations.

So we stand
side by side, Reapers

and be ready for the wrath
that will face us.

Tango Platoon!

Defensive position!
Arms at ready!

Easy.

Easy, Reapers.
Take it easy.

They will not fire, so do not

take the bait.
Just stand your ground

and take a deep breath.

Take a deep breath.

Keep it steady, Reapers.

This is being broadcast live.

Everyone's gonna know
what's happening here.

If a fight breaks out,
the w*r effort will fall apart.

Hey Boss,
do we just wait till someone

gets bored and starts shootin',
or is there a plan, no offense.

We hold the position
until I get

the right guarantee
from the right command rating.

Move!

So what?

What now? Hah?

We just gonna stand here all day
and point g*ns at each other?

Keep steady, Reapers!

You'll die for this, Marsters.

You first.

Interestin', we'll see.

Indron troops,
stand down.

Hah.

Dirty scoundrel! Traitor!

This concept of yours

of total forgiveness
of the life bond...

..you run the numbers on that?

It seems catastrophic

for Grotto...and uh, society

as a whole.

No?

Is that what you want,
Marsters, huh?

To ruin Grotto?

With all due respect, Sir,

that impact
is of no concern to us.

Huh?

Well, I guess that brings us
right back, doesn't it?

To the Helion frigate
and the sl*very scandal,

or whatever
you're gonna term it next.

It all makes for great theater.

We're not talkin' theater.

We're talkin' loss of life.

And this was a brazen breach

of protocol.

I've heard that back on Baen 6

there's a foundry

that ah...Reaper Green
used to work.

It's tagged with graffiti...

..urging unionization.

Well, this has become
quite somethin'.

Quite--

That is why all of you,

regardless of
your rank or title...

I'm not even
gonna comment on that.

That's why
you're sittin' here...

..and not elsewhere.

Please?

Our labor is all that
we have to offer the Grotto.

And we are very proud
of what we do.

However, the Grotto WILL
compensate us for that loyalty.

They will EARN it.

And not through some

assumed institutional obligation

or toll.

We fight and we work.

And if we refuse,
they k*ll us.

Well, that's fine,
because if we die,

we will take
all of Grotto down with us.

So I suggest the very least
that you can do is start

showing some allegiance
to the sacrifices

that we've given.

Alright.

See...significant changes
take time.

Sometimes decades.

Or this whole system
just suffers.

I think this represents tangible
and immediate gains

for the bonded population.

And I think you'll agree.

Don't think this is over.

I'm gonna take this up

with Grotto's
board of directors...

..personally.

And we'll see.

Oh, we'll see.

We'll see.

Mission objective:
Helion and mercenary troops

to be engaged
on Southern Quarter.

Mechanical g*n spiders
to be eliminated

by aerial cannon strikes.

Alpha Cyborg to be
demobilized and destroyed.

Beware, possible reanimation
of the deceased.

Give 'em hell!

Open 'em up!

Medic! Medic!

Looks like Helion
put up one hell of a fight

before they gave up ground.

It ain't over yet!

Alright, cut the chatter people!
We're here to provide

r*fle support
for the Shock Troopers.

Got a hell of
a lot of ground to cover.

And at this rate,
we ain't goin' nowhere.

Move out!

Advance! Advance!

What's the plan, Shock Trooper?

We're gonna take
the Third Parallel, Reaper.

Grotto! Let's move in!

Tango Platoon! Advance!

They're tryin' to flank us!

Don't get cut off!

Open 'em up!

Agh!

Reaper down!

Medic!

Push forward!

Ah! It's my same knee!!

Boss this isn't a proper battle,
it's a bloodbath!

-Oh!
-How does that feel?

-Feels like sh*t!
-Sit up.

-I'm fine I can move.
-Sit up. Sit up.

Uh!

Command dropped us
in a goddam meat grinder.

They knew this was gonna happen.
This is payback for the strike.

Where's my g*n? Where's my g*n?

You sure you can handle
this much iron with that leg?

Pipe down,
and give me that piece!

-Thank you!
-You're welcome.

-Let's do it.
-Thank you!

Boss, we are
glorified scrappers,

not trench warfare soldiers.

We gave our word
to the Anointed,

and we WILL honor it.
Reapers, dig in!

And make no mistake,
this is massive.

This is unprecedented.

But if we gotta summon
the rains of Hell,

we'll be the storm
on the mountain.

Grotto Squadron,
prepare for heavy a*tillery.

Engaging Helion Zion 9 Cannon.

Repeat, Zion 9 Cannon.

We'll have to get some elite
contractors in here to help us.

Reapers, the Folkens
are our enemy.

Repeat, our enemy.

Reapers, take cover!!

sh*t, Boss.
This isn't good.

Understatement.

Folken.

Exactly who are they loyal to?

Whoever's payin' 'em.

And today ... it ain't Grotto.

Fall back!

Fall back!

Reapers, fall back! Fall back!

?????

???? fire.

Don't get cut off.

Protect the line!

We're penned in!

Go! Go! Go!

We got reanimates!

We just gotta hunker down here
until we get some cover fire.

Copy that!

-Ah!
-Oh, goddamit!

You are not going to die today.

Look at me!

You are not going to die today.

-Is it--
-Take this!

Uh! I can't--

We are gonna make it
through this!

Come on, you b*stards!

See? I got your back.

No!

Virginia!

No! Virginia!

Virginia!

-Boss!
-Yeah?

What is that battery taste
in my mouth?

Alpha Cyborg,
just over that ridge.

Here to raise the hollows.

-Not another cyborg!

Helion.

Folken.

g*n spiders.

Who do we got left, Boss?

Jada! Jada, come in!

Tak?!

Marsters?! Anybody!

We're on our own,
but we still fight!

We still fight!

No, no, no! Virginia.

No, not you.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Helion's bringin' in

the heavy a*tillery.
We gotta move.

Oh hell, this guy's still alive.

Hey, he looks like
he's Tango Platoon.

Harold!

Hey, hey, hey, hey! Harold!

Hey! Hey!

Hey!

Come on, we're gonna
get you home, alright?

-Understand? You with me?
-Yeah.

Come on, little buddy, I gotcha.
Come on.

-Okay.
-Come on. Come on.

Come on, I gotcha. Come on.

We got reanimates!

We have Alpha Cyborg in sight!

Repeat! In sight!

Calling all troops! Lead in!

Lead in!

Not dead yet, Reaper?

Stand by.
All thrusters overdrive.

They should reserve a spot
for you in here

as much time
as you spend laid up.

Bianca was with me.

She alive?

Takeda too.

Other than Marsters

everybody else is pretty much

as shot to hell as you are.

There's something
you're not telling me.

I'm shipping off

with the Dire Swords
on the morning cycle.

They gave me enough coins
to join the Merchants Militant.

Grotto's letting me expatriate.

Aren't you gonna say something?

We already said goodbye once.

Not sure I can do it again.

Part of me wishes...

..I could go with you.

Chase contracts.

See the galaxy.

You've already seen more than
you ever wanted or imagined.

Now it's time to go home.

See your family.

< Jada Sek, please report
to the Bridging Room, Number 5.

Goodbye.

Leave the guts and glory
to the pros.

We've got six months
of sweet salvage ops

on the way back to Baen 6.

Plenty of those
could turn hostile.

-We can handle hostile.
-Can we?

Yes.

Talk of the tug

is that Red List squatters

have been following
both Helion and Grotto ships.

Starting migrant labor camps,
scrap haulers, the works.

Look, everyone's
gotta make a living.

And we know better than
anybody how good a salvage

can be
in the wake of a trade w*r.

Yeah, squatters and pirates.

Like maggots

on an old corpse.

Stop it!

And the body's decomposing
and it's all swollen.

Okay, that's enough!

If I have to keep eating

this pressed algae crap
I don't wanna do it

with you talkin'
about dead bodies and bugs.

What's it taste like?

Dead bodies and bugs.

-Okay, no more.
-It's good.

-You done?
-Yeah, I'm done.

Aw, I'll take it.

Tak!

I've been lookin' all over
for you.

Yeah.

I heard that you ah,
officially filed

and you're...
you're getting out.

News travels fast on this ship.

-Hey.
-Mmm.

Looks like
Harold pulled through.

But eh...

..with you and Jada
both leaving...

..things just
won't be the same, Sam.

Seems a bit unfair
that she gets to muster out

while you have to fight
your way back to Baen 6 for it.

Well, Dire Swords are
under contract with the Grotto,

so technically,
she's still on the payroll.

I really hope that
you and Sura finally find

what you're looking for
out there, Sam, I really do.

Me too.

So...what now?

Quiet life on the homestead
that you've always wanted?

It's always been the dream, Tak.

Sura left the station

and she's...waitin' for me
on Longstride.

You know that's...

..six months hostile salvage

all the way back to Baen 6.

And once you expatriate,

it's what, another two months

on transport
just to get back to the cabin?

A thousand ways to die

before you even get home.

It's a long road, brother.

We've seen a lot of those.

Yeah.

Even after I'm
out of the Reapers,

we will always be brothers.

Always.

Well, Samuel Hyst
givin' me a call

for a change.
Well this is an honor!

I did it, Torrin.
I paid off all my debt.

Yeah, so?
Why tell me?

After this, I never
wanna hear from you again.

Never say never, mate.

I'm plannin' on it.

This is the job.

Dad!