China and North Korea launched a nuclear
strike against the United States eighteen
months ago. That's why we lost contact as
soon as we arrived.
SETH
How bad?
YING
American casualties are estimated at
fifty million.
BIX
Were we able to retaliate?
YING
The U.S. counterstrike killed an
estimated two hundred million Chinese and
North Koreans.
ROSEGARDEN
You're telling us that while we've been
toiling away on Mars, a nuclear war broke
out on Earth that's killed a quarter
billion people? Are you serious?
YING
I'm afraid I am, Colonel. Most of the
nukes were intercepted but we lost New
York, L.A., D.C., and Cape Canaveral.
ROSEGARDEN
Any other breaking news, Commander?
YING
Unfortunately, yes. Apparently, the
Chinese are firing on all ships
descending into North American airspace.
Also, they've been jamming all signals to
and from the moon and Mars. That's why we
haven't been able to pick up so much as a
radio station out here. If the situation
hasn't been diffused by the time we get
home, we may have to wait it out on THE
PURGATORY.
SETH
Well, if you're going to be stuck in
Earth orbit, that's the place to be. At
least they've got a bar and a pool.
BIX
The Purgatory is a retirement community.
Why wouldn't they send us to Underworld?
YING
Underworld is currently under quarantine.
I don't know any more than that. We'll
just have to see what happens when we
arrive back in Earth space.
The crew begins packing up equipment, preparing for the journey back to Earth.
EXT. MSS PURGATORY - EARTH ORBIT
The Microcore Space Station Purgatory is a haphazard assemblage of modules and solar panels of various shapes and sizes. Numerous antennae and receiving dishes protrude from the station's outer fringes.
The Hellas docks with the station.
INT. COMMAND CENTER - MSS PURGATORY
A red light turns to green beside an airlock.
The airlock hatch opens.
The entire Hellas crew is inside. They enter the command center.
CAPTAIN PAUL AVERY introduces himself to Commander Ying. He grimaces at Jeremy's name tag.
AVERY
Mr. Jeremy Ash himself. Cecil's new
mystery man, returning from Mars just as
one of these so-called Super Spiders
crawls through my goddamned window. What
