Started watching the Timi Superman Cartoons tonight. Missed them when I was in college and med school (the first half before the PhD).
Most of the recent recitations of the Kryptonian Apocalypse that starts the tale involve the machine called Brainiac.
Sometimes he is invented by the Kryptonians.
Sometimes he is sold to them by another race.
He is usually granted a great deal of power as a guardian of the people.
And he fails.
Thus is our plight.
More cultural refs below the fold.
Brainiac is granted more credence than the scientists, the politicians ... because he is the amalgam of their information. How could it all go wrong?
Because he doesn't just take their facts into account. He plays on their fears and blindnesses.
They keep hoping that the naysayers like Jor-El are wrong about the planet's destruction.
Sometimes, Krypton dies because of a bomb placed in its core long ago.
Sometimes, it ages.
Sometimes, its sun explodes.
Sometimes, the Kryptonians OR BRAINIAC HIMSELF drill too deeply.
In fact, sometimes Brainiac deliberately destroys Krypton, like some destroyer of worlds interested only in acquiring more cultures.
Most everyone on the planet refuses to believe that destruction is imminent. It's too difficult to plan. The options are grim. The options are expensive. It's easier to play down the earthquakes. And that's what Brainiac plays off of.
That's our media. That's our PR government. And the elected officials, whether they openly aid Brainiac or just cower in fear of him, help him. They can't be brave enough to change the people's minds.
The scientists try, but their findings don't get wide play. Or when they are, the implications are downplayed.
We have a massive problem. Not the ripping open of the globe, but a massive shift in its atmosphere. We cannot ignore the signs. The earthquakes didn't cause the explosion of Krypton ... they just warned of it.
And then, what to make of Granite Shadow? The plan this weekend to "stage" an "exercise" to deal with "domestic terrorists" in a time of "extended national emergency"?
For that, I go to my other favorite sci-fi.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY: Master Windu, may I interrupt? General Kenobi has made contact with General Grievous, and we
have begun our attack.
MACE WlNDU: Thank you, Commander. Anakin, deliver this report to the Chancellor. His reaction will give us a clue to his
intentions.
ANAKIN: Yes, Master.
ANAKIN leaves the room. COMMANDER CODY's hologram disappears.
MACE WINDU: I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The dark side of the Force surrounds the Chancellor.
Kl-ADI-MUNDI: If he does not give up his emergency powers after the destruction of Grievous, then he should be removed from
office.
MACE WiNDU: That could be a dangerous move ... the Jedi Council would have to take control of the Senate in order to secure a peaceful transition . . .
Kl-ADI-MUNDI: . . . and replace the Congress with Senators who are not filled with greed and corruption.
YODA: To a dark place this line of thought will carry us. Hmmmmm. . . . great care we must take.
It is important to remember that the Jedi ACTUALLY consider treason against the Senate as a remedy to the Chancellor's evil. So, then, many citizens of the Republic see it as completely reasonable when ...
128 INT. CORUSCANT-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE-EARLY EVENING
MACE arrives with THREE JEDI to arrest PALPATINE.
PALPATINE: Master Windu. I take it General Grievous has been destroyed then. I must say, you're here sooner than expected.
MACE WINDU: In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor.
MACE WINDU and the other JEDI ignite their lightsabers.
PALPATINE: Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?
MACE: The Senate will decide your fate.
PALPATINE: (burst of anger) I am the Senate!
MACE: Not yet!
PALPATINE stands, a laser sword appears out of his cloak sleeve, and he spins toward the JEDI.
PALPATINE: It's treason, then.
A close shot of PALPATINE as the fight begins. Close shots of THREE JEDI getting cut down by PALPATINE. PALPATINE and MACE continue to fight.
Jedi Master MACE WINDU and the Sith Lord fight their way down the hallway and into the main office area. PALPATINE is able to use the Force to slam MACE against the wall, but he recovers before the Chancellor can cut him down.
ANAKIN lands his speeder, jumps out, and runs down a long corridor toward the Chancellor's office.
In the heat of battle, MACE cuts the window behind the Chancellor's desk, and it crashes away. MACE is forced out onto the ledge, which is twenty stories up. They fight over the precipice. ANAKIN arrives to see PALPATINE and MACE fighting.
They stop as MACE forces PALPATINE to drop his sword. PALPATINE and MACE start yelling at each other.
MACE WINDU: You are under arrest, My Lord.
PALPATINE: Anakin! I told you it would come to this. I was right. The Jedi are taking over.
MACE WlNDU: You old fool. The oppression of the Sith will never return. Your plot to regain control of the Republic is over . . . you have lost . . .
PALPATINE: No! No! You will die!
PALPATINE raises his hands, and lightning bolts shoot out. They are blocked by MACE's lightsaber. PALPATINE is pushed back against the window sill.
PALPATINE: He is a traitor, Anakin.
MACE WlNDU: He's the traitor. Stop him!
PALPATINE: Come to your senses, boy. The Jedi are in revolt. They will betray you, just as they betrayed me.
MACE WlNDU: Aarrrrggghhhhh . . .
PALPATINE: You are not one of them, Anakin. Don't let him kill me.
MACE WlNDU: Aarrrrggghhhhh . . .
PALPATINE: I am your pathway to power. I have the power to save the one you love. You must choose. You must stop him.
MACE WlNDU: Don't listen to him, Anakin.
PALPATINE: Help me! Don't let him kill me. I can't hold on any longer. Ahhhhhhh . . . ahhhhhhh . . . ahhhhhhh . . .
MACE pushes PALPATINE out to the edge of the ledge. As the Jedi moves closer, the bolts from Palpatine's hands begin to arch back on him. The Chancellor's face begins to twist and distort. His eyes become yellow as he struggles to intensify his powers.
PALPATINE: I can't ... I give up. Help me. I am weak ... I am too weak. Don't kill me. I give up. I'm dying. I can't hold on any longer.
MACE WlNDU: You Sith disease. I am going to end this once and for all.
ANAKIN: You can't kill him, Master. He must stand trial.
MACE WlNDU: He has too much control of the Senate and the Courts. He is too dangerous to be kept alive.
PALPATINE: I'm too weak. Don't kill me. Please.
ANAKIN: It is not the Jedi way . . .
MACE raises his sword to kill the CHANCELLOR.
ANAKIN: (continuing) He must live . . .
PALPATINE: Please don't, please don't . . .
ANAKIN: I need him . . .
PALPATINE: Please don't . . .
ANAKIN: NO!!!
Just as MACE is about to slash PALPATINE, ANAKIN steps in and cuts off the Jedi's hand holding the lightsaber.
As MACE stares at ANAKIN in shock, PALPATINE springs to life.
The full force of Palpatine's powerful Bolts blasts MACE. He attempts to deflect them with his one good hand, but the force is too great. As blue rays engulf his body, he is flung out the window and falls twenty stories to his death. No more screams. No more moans. PALPATINE lowers his arm.
PALPATINE: Power! Unlimited power!
His face has changed into a horrible mask of evil. ANAKIN looks on in horror. PALPATINE cackles.
ANAKIN: What have I done?
The people of this nation will not easily allow men who they believe protect them and their way of life to face the consequences of their crimes. Not even when the evil is as plain as day. Especially when it's easier to hide in the illusion of safety. Especially when the righteous have also lost their way in the process. When the choice is between justice and constitution, the people will rightly choose the constitution and allow evil to gain a further foothold.
And then ... the backlash will be swift. The Republic will never be the same.
130 INT. CORUSCANT-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE-EVENING
PALPATINE is putting on his dark cloak: he is now fully DARTH SIDIOUS.
PALPATINE: Because the Council did not trust you, my young apprentice, I believe you are the only Jedi with no knowledge of this plot. When the Jedi learn what has transpired here, they will kill us, along with all the Senators.
ANAKIN: I agree. The Jedi's next move will be against the Senate.
PALPATINE: Every single Jedi, including your friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, is now an enemy of the Republic. You understand that, don't you?
ANAKIN: I understand, Master.
PALPATINE: We must move quickly. The Jedi are relentless; if they are not all destroyed, it will be civil war without end. First, I want you to go to the Jedi Temple. We will catch them off balance. Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy. Only then will you be strong enough with the dark side to save Padme.
ANAKIN: What about the other Jedi spread across the galaxy?
PALPATINE: Their betrayal will be dealt with. After you have killed all the Jedi in the Temple, go to the Mustafar system. Wipe out Viceroy Gunray and the other Separatist leaders. Once more, the Sith will rule the galaxy, and we shall have peace.
131 INT. CORUSCANT-JEDI TEMPLE ENTRY-NIGHT
ANAKIN goes to the Jedi Temple with a battalion of Clone Troopers.
132 EXT. UTAPAU-TENTH LEVEL-LANDIXG PLATFORM-DAY
The battle between the CLONES and the DROIDS rages throughout the sinkhole. OBI-WAN rides up to CLONE COMMANDER CODY.
OBI-WAN: Commander, contact your troops. Tell them to move to the higher levels.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY: Very good, sir.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY starts to move away, then remembers something and returns to OBI-WAN.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY: (continuing) Oh, by the way, I think you'll be needing this.
He hands OBI-WAN his lightsaber, and the LIZARD rears up.
OBI-WAN: Thank you, Cody, (smiling) Now let's get a move on. We've got a battle to win here.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY: Yes, sir!
OBI-WAN and the LIZARD ride off down the wall of the giant sinkhole.
The battle rages throughout the city. CLONE COMMANDER CODY (2224,) takes out his comlink and listens to the HOLOGRAM OF DARTH SIDIOUS as, far below, OBI-WAN can been seen battling DROIDS on a landing platform.
DARTH SlDIOUS: Commander Cody, the time has come. Execute Order Sixty-Six.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY: It will be done, My Lord.
The HOLOGRAM disappears, and CLONE COMMANDER CODY gestures to a nearby Clone Trooper.
CLONE COMMANDER CODY: Blast him!
The battle rages all around OBI-WAN. DROIDS and CLONES are everywhere. OBI-WAN is riding on a LIZARD, cutting down DROIDS as he races across the battlefield. Suddenly a volley of laser blasts from behind him knocks him and his LIZARD off the wall of the sinkhole. He looks around just in time to see his CLONE TROOPS are firing on him.
OBI-WAN falls hundreds of feet to the bottom of the water-filled sinkhole.
133 EXT. MYGEETO-DAWN
The sky slowly awakens on the crystal world of Mygeeto. A battle rages. Clone troops battle the droid armies across a long bridge. KI-ADI-MUNDi uses his light saber to deflect enemy fire. CLONE COMMANDER BACARA (1138) exits a Gunship near the entrance to the city. He rallies his TROOPS to attack the city, then gets a message on his comlink. He stops and moves to one side as a HOLOGRAM OF DARTH SIDIOUS appears on the comlink in the palm of his hand. He moves further into the shadows.
DARTH SlDIOUS: Commander 1138 . . .
CLONE COMMANDER BACARA: Yes, sir.
DARTH SlDIOUS: The time has come. Execute Order Sixty-Six.
CLONE COMMANDER BACARA: It will be done, My Lord.
DARTH SIDIOUS fades, and the CLONE COMMANDER snaps the comlink closed and looks to the main plaza of the city, where KI-ADI-MUNDI is leading the charge. The clones stop. KI-ADI-MUNDI turns around and is blasted by clone fire. He's killed before he can defend himself.
134 EXT. FELUCIA-FOREST-DAY
A column of CLONE WALKERS marches across the forest floor. The STRANGE CALLS of the alien forest creatures of FELUCIA suddenly stop. The Jedi AAYLA SECURA and her CLONE TROOPS brace for an ambush.
AAYLA: Steady. . . . steady . . .
They all look around for signs of the enemy. CLONE COMMANDER BLY moves up behind the Jedi.
AAYLA: (continuing) Bly, do you think they're Droids?
BLY: No.
BLY blasts AAYLA in the back. The OTHER CLONES fire on her as she hits the ground.
Another Jedi, BARRISS OFFEE, is cutting down a patrol of DROIDS when a CLONE WALKING TANK and SEVEN CLONE TROOPERS round a corner and blast the Jedi away.
135 EXT. KASHYYYK-MEETING HALL-DAY
YODA drops his gimer stick, clutches his chest, and rests against a wall.
136 EXT. KASHYYYK-EDGE OF VILIAGE-DAY
The battle appears to be over. WOOKIEES stack destroyed Droids while CLONES assess the damage to their equipment. A Jedi, LUMINARA UNDULI, talks with EIGHT CLONE OFFICERS standing in a circle around her. Suddenly they reveal their hidden pistols and blast her before she can react.
The Jedi QUINLAN VOS is riding on top of a CLONE TURBO TANK. The main cannon of a second tank slowly swings to point right at him and a COUPLE OF CLONES.
The cannon fires, and QUINLAN VOS and the CLONES disappear in a huge EXPLOSION.
137 INT. CATO NEIMOIDIA-COCKPIT CLONE FIGHTER-DAY
The CLONE PILOT watches a hologram of DARTH SIDIOUS.
DARTH SIDIOUS: Execute Order Sixty-Six.
CLONE PILOT: It will be done, My Lord.
138 INT. CATO NEIMOIDIA-JEDI STARFIGHTER-DAY
PLO KOON heads his ship toward a battle on a landing platform.
PLO KOON: There they are. Land on the nearest platform.
139 EXT. CATO XEIMOIDIA-JEDI STARFIGHTER-DAY
The FOUR CLONE PILOTS with PLO KOON drop back and blast him out of the sky.
140 EXT. SALEUCAMI-FOREST
Three Speeder Bikes race through the forest. A Jedi, STASS ALLIE is in the lead. The TWO CLONES following her drop back and blast her, causing her to crash in a huge EXPLOSION.
141 INT. CORUSCANT-CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE-NIGHT
DARTH SIDIOUS stands alone in his private office, illuminated only from a hologram projector beam from above. A small HOLOGRAM OF COMMANDER GREE stands in front of him.
CLONE COMMANDER GREE: Yes, My Lord.
DABTH SIDIOUS: The time has come. Execute Order Sixty-Six.
142 EXT. KASHYYYK-MEETING HALL BALCONY-DAY
A vista of waterways, high green mesas, and giant tree cities serves as a backdrop for the fierce battle, CLONES AND WOOKIEES against TRADE FEDERATION DROID ARMIES, with treaded tank-like vehicles. CLONE COMMANDER GREE holds his comlink.
CLONE COMMANDER GREE: It will be done, My Lord.
CLONE COMMANDER GREE snaps his comlink shut.
YODA watches from the balcony. The battle rages as CLONES and WOOKIEES attack DROIDS coming across the water on CORPORATE ALLIANCE TANK DROIDS. CHEWBACCA and TARFFUL stand on either side of the Jedi Master as he watches the battle below. CLONE COMMANDER GREE and ONE OFFICER walk onto the balcony toward YODA. YODA stands looking over the battlefield below. When they are close enough, the CLONES reveal their weapons and fire.
But faster than the CLONES can reveal their weapons, YODA ignites his lightsaber, leaps in the air, and beheads both CLONES. CHEWBACCA and TARFFUL fire their weapons as more CLONES enter the hall. The Wookiees call out to YODA to follow them. CHEWBACCA picks YODA up and carries him away.
143 EXT. CORUSCANT-JEDI TEMPLE-NIGHT
A JEDI is surrounded and gunned down by CLONE TROOPERS.
Granite Shadow is coming. Sunlight might stop it peacefully.