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Discovery of a Signal: An intercepted signal coming from the Moon is a classic, high-stakes science fiction
trigger, a compelling event that triggers this (fictional) mission to the
Moon.
The NASA/ESA angle: This is an ambiguous signal—perhaps complex, repeating patterns similar to the fictional "DNA-style" signals sometimes theorized in other contexts, that are only initially picked up by a deep-space network or a specific lunar-observing mission. The ambiguity necessitates a manned mission to investigate.
HAL and the ARK's Role: Our idea of HAL and the ARK being the only entities with the data and computing power to decode or properly survey the signal's source is
cinematic gold. This creates a reliance on the specialized crew and technology, justifying their central role in the mission.
Evidence of Life: The discovery of evidence of other life on the Moon is a monumental event that would instantly trigger a high-priority mission.
The Nature of the Find: This might not be a living organism, but a biosignature—perhaps an unexpected concentration of organic molecules, fossils in an ice sample from a permanently shadowed crater, or a unique biological byproduct found by a robotic lander or rover (like the kind used in current Mars or icy moon exploration proposals).
All of these possibilities are for John Storm to discover and interpret.
HAL and the ARK's Role: If the discovery is a subtle anomaly in vast datasets (e.g., spectral analysis of lunar dust or ice), the advanced data processing capabilities of HAL and the ARK would be crucial for initial identification and later, for guiding the human investigation on the lunar surface. This adds a layer of mystery and technical necessity.
THE
EXILE OF ELIAS VANCE - THE MEETING AT THE EDGE OF THE WATER
Scene: “REDEMPTION PROTOCOL”
INT. VANCE’S MARINE COMPOSITES SHOP – DAY
Salt-stained windows filter pale light into a cluttered, diesel-scented workspace. Tools hang like forgotten relics. A faded photo of the ODYSSEY VI launch vehicle sits beside a yellowed newspaper clipping:
FAILURE TO LAUNCH: SIX LIVES LOST NASA Engineer Elias Vance Blamed for Oversight
DR. ELIAS VANCE (50s), weathered and haunted, wipes grease from his hands as he eyes the only client in the room.
ANYA SHARMA (30s) stands poised in a charcoal suit, her presence surgical against the backdrop of industrial decay.
VANCE
You haven’t touched your coffee.
SHARMA
I prefer tea. And I prefer speed, Dr. Vance. I won’t waste your time.
She slides a tablet across the desk. On-screen: a sleek, futuristic trimaran—carbon fiber and polished aluminum.
VANCE (softly)
The
Elizabeth
Swann... Fastest thing on the water.
SHARMA
And I want you to make it the fastest thing off the water.
Vance leans back. The chair groans.
VANCE
You want to strap rockets to a sailboat? That’s insane.
SHARMA
It’s genius. No red tape. No oversight. Just engineering. That’s what you miss, isn’t it?
Vance zooms in on the schematic. His fingers tremble slightly.
VANCE
What kind of budget?
SHARMA
Blank cheque. Within reason.
Beat. Vance studies her, the weight of two years of failure pressing against the offer.
VANCE
And this has to do with John
Storm?
SHARMA (smiling)
He’s the key. His ship. His AI. His obsession.
She taps the tablet. A new schematic appears—HAL and the
CYBERCORE
GENETICA.
VANCE (reading)
Real-time structural tolerance in femtoseconds...
SHARMA
We leave Earth orbit in 180 days.
She slides a thick NDA across the desk.
SHARMA (leaning in)
And did I mention The ARK?
VANCE
The ARK?
SHARMA
Storm’s DNA library. It doesn’t just store genetic code—it recreates it. Bio-fabrication. Terraforming. Sampling
alien DNA. It’s the blueprint for life.
Vance straightens, the engineer in him awakened.
VANCE
So it’s not just storage. It’s feedstock.
SHARMA
Exactly. And then... there’s the signal.
VANCE
Signal?
She taps the NDA.
SHARMA
A faint broadcast. Repetitive. Attached to it... an outline. Suggestive of—
Vance signs. The pen scratches across the paper like a blade cutting through the past.
VANCE
Now tell me. What is the outline suggestive of?
Sharma’s eyes flicker with something between fear and wonder.
SHARMA (whispers)
A structure. Not natural. Not ours. And it’s waiting on the Moon.
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SCENE/CHAPTER
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DESCRIPTION
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FIRST
ACT
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SCENE
1
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The Exile of Elias Vance
- Once a rising star at NASA, Dr. Elias Vance is haunted by a launch failure that cost lives and credibility. Now, in the shadows of aerospace exile, he’s approached by Anya Sharma with a radical proposition: convert a racing trimaran into a spacefaring vessel.
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SCENE
2
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The Elizabeth Swann Reborn
- The Swann’s transformation begins. Ceramic hull tiles, solar wings, and hydrogen fuel cells are reimagined for orbital survival. Vance’s engineering brilliance collides with the ship’s aquatic past in a daring fusion of sea and space.
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CHAPTER
3
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Hydrocarbon Horizon
- Vance unveils his propulsion concept: retrofitting the Swann’s LH tanks with LOX boosters. The audacity of civilian infrastructure
re-purposed for space flight sparks controversy—and
admiration, leaked to the Media.
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CHAPTER
4
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NASA’s Reluctant Embrace
- Under political pressure and scientific curiosity, NASA agrees to partner. Captain Kai Li is assigned as oversight. The tension between institutional caution and civilian innovation
simmers, amid media glare.
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CHAPTER
5
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Ares Corp Awakens
- Marcus Thorne, CEO of Ares Corp, suspects ulterior motives behind the mission. He launches a disinformation campaign and covert sabotage, branding the Swann a rogue vessel.
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CHAPTER
6
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Countdown
on the Coast
- A re-purposed offshore platform becomes the launch site. As final checks are made, the crew—Vance, Li, and bio-specialist Lena Hadid—brace for a launch that could redefine space travel or end in catastrophe.
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CHAPTER
7
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Launch,
Fire and Separation
- The Swann roars skyward. LOX boosters detach in a violent ballet. Ares drones capture every moment, hoping for failure. Against all odds, the Swann enters translunar trajectory.
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SECOND
ACT
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CHAPTER
8
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The First Silence
- Earth fades into a crescent. The crew confronts the vastness of space—and the fragility of their vessel. The mission enters its most uncertain phase.
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CHAPTER
9
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Deep Space and Doubt
- Alarms blare. Systems falter. Vance improvises repairs with civilian tools. Tensions rise as the crew questions their survival—and the ethics of their mission.
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CHAPTER
10
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Lunar Ballet
- Using solar radiation pressure, the Swann fine-tunes its orbit. The landing gear, designed for one use only, is deployed. The Moon awaits.
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CHAPTER
11
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Crater of Origins
- The Swann touches down in an ancient crater. Its geology may hold secrets older than Earth itself. The crew prepares for the DNA
survey.
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CHAPTER
12
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ARK DNA
- Lena Hadid’s rover uncovers a non-terrestrial DNA structure. It’s complex, alien, and unlike anything from Earth or Mars. The panspermia theory is vindicated.
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CHAPTER
13
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Thorne’s Gambit
- Ares Corp confirms the Swann’s location. Thorne dispatches a disguised drone—armed and autonomous—to intercept or destroy the vessel.
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CHAPTER
14
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The Message Home
- The crew races to transmit the ARK DNA data to Earth. As the crater’s atmosphere shifts, they realize they’re not alone—or not safe.
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THIRD
ACT
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CHAPTER
15
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The Drone’s Shadow
- The Ares drone closes in. Vance devises a desperate escape: jettisoning tanks, rerouting fuel, and initiating a high-speed burn. The Swann barely evades destruction.
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CHAPTER
16
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The Long Glide
- With fuel depleted, the Swann becomes a glider. Its ceramic hull and solar wings must carry it home. Every maneuver is life or death.
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CHAPTER
17
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Earthbound Spectacle
- The world watches. Media debates rage. NASA scrambles to prepare for landing. Partial ARK DNA data ignites global scientific frenzy.
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CHAPTER
18
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Descent Through Fire
- Re-entry begins. Wind shear and turbulence threaten disaster. The Swann’s hull smokes. The crew fights to keep control.
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CHAPTER
19
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Razor’s Edge
- The Swann streaks toward Kennedy Space Center. The landing gear must hold. The tires scream. The runway ends in seconds.
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CHAPTER
20
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The Hatch Opens
- The Swann skids to a halt. The hatch creaks open. The crew emerges—exhausted, triumphant, and bearing proof of life beyond Earth.
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CHAPTER
21
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A New Age Begins
- Thorne is arrested. Captain Li’s evidence exposes Ares Corp’s sabotage. Dr. Hadid presents the full ARK DNA. Humanity’s understanding of life—and its place in the cosmos—shifts forever.
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