qwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop !sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'() *+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwer ty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"# $%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,n SOLAR QUICKSAND mqwerty iop!

sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty i op!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&' ()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmq werty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop! Episode 1: "Storm Front" sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()* +,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwert y iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"# $%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,n mrty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!s d"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+ ,nmqwerty iop!sd"#$%&'()*+,nmqwerty
A radio play by Ben Wilson S.C.E.N.E. The Otter Limits

SOLAR QUICKSAND EPISODE 1: STORM FRONT Characters: Regina Ikara: Meth !ica" an! stan! ##ish$ Ikara is a %ar c rres& n!ent %h 's seen t ()ch %ar )t in the h (e"an!$ *)t the recent Odessa assign(ent (a+ &r ,i!e esca&e # r the + )ng *)rea)cratThe Ca&tain: L )!$ & (& )s an! *r)tish$ The Ca&tain &re#ers the & %er # his tit"e ,er an+ #irst r "ast na(eCast r Finh k: Na,igat r # the " %est c"ass$ Finh k is ( re "ike"+ t (ake . kes e,en %hi"e the % r"! is #a""ing a&art than t sta+ at his stati n an! take r!ersScientists /1 an! /0: t% scientists #r ( the recent"+ assigne! science tea($ these scientists are e,en ( re 1#ish )t # %ater1 than ( st # the cre%Narrat r: Like the 1C ntr " 2 ice1 #r ( The Outer Limits$ 1The Ra!i Ann )ncer1 %i"" c")e the a)!ience in n Solar Quicksand *+ *eginning an! en!ing each ra!i sh % e&is !e333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 INTRO 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 SETTIN4: 5SOLAR QUICKSAND6 MUSIC: 1The(e #r ( Solar Quicksand17eerie *)t tri)(&hant ()sic$ &erha&s a there(in r 1singing sa%1$ r s (ething 8 4enera" 9ackgr )n! M)sic 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333

RADIO ANNOUNCER: 1S "ar Q)icksan!1 takes &"ace in its %n a"ternate % r"! %ith a &ec)"iar set # &h+sics )ni:)e t its )ni,erse- A #antas+ st r+ set n * ar! the s)*(arine Odessa te""s the ta"e # &e &"e #"eeing #r ( a " sing %ar an! !+st &iaRADIO ANNOUNCER: Pitte! against an insect ene(+ %h se & %er can s(ite cities in a sing"e * )n!$ these &e &"e$ inc")!ing the !isi"")si ne! %ar c rres& n!ent Ikara ;PRONUNCIATION: E- A-RA< %h se &ast is ha)nte! *+ se,era" !e#eats$ ha,e retreate! ,ia a (ass s)*(arine e= !)s #r ( c n:)ere! "an!s ra,age! *+ ( nsters int )ncharte! %aters %here !ee&er (+steries (a+ ")rkRADIO ANNOUNCER: Un#a>e! *+ the t ta" !estr)cti n # ci,i"i>ati n$ The Ca&tain c ((an!s the " ne"+ shi& int a (i"itar+ e=&eri(ent that (a+ t)rn the ti!e # the %ar in their #a, r sh )"! the tria" r)ns # te"e& rting Odessa &r ,e s)ccess#)"- ? %e,er$ the res)"ts # the test %i"" cata&)"t the cre% int an )n!isc ,ere! c )ntr+7INTO 1SOLAR QUICKSAND1@ ACUE S!ORTER "ERSION O# T!E T!E$E SON%B

333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 SETTIN4: 4RAND SU9MARINE O&ESSA SOUND EFFECTS: a:)atic$ ca,ern )s$ "ike Star Trek's rigina" Enter(rise *ri!ge *)t )n!er%aterSCENE 1 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 IKARA: Cto sel)C The air a* )t the s( k+ ca*in %as tense as the e"ectric "ights !ance! a(i! the c ns "es an! c ntr "s *e# re the ner, )s cre%- In their #aces$ the+ see(e! rea!+ # r the % rst an! e=&ecte! as ()ch gi,en the e,ents # the %ar- I st ! ## in a c rner$ &r (&ting (+ "! 1!etache! *ser,er1 stat)sAINSERT *UTTON+,!IR SOUN& E##ECTSB T?E CAPTAIN: Di,e@

AINSERT $ORE *UTTON+,!IR SOUN& E##ECTS- #OLLO,E& *. &EEP-SEA &ESCENT SOUN& E##ECTB IKARA: Cto sel)C ? %e,er$ #ar #r ( 1!etache!$1 the Odessa !escen!e! t the greatest !e&th I e,er kne% an! I ha! neg"ecte! the han!Drai"ings- AINSERT STU$*LIN% SOUN& E##ECTB This %as (+ #irst assign(ent n * ar! a s)*(arineT?E CAPTAIN: Ah$ Ikara@ These !escents are the "east # + )r tr )*"es- E ) %i"" s n get )se!

t the ( ti ns # the sea@ C/oes into orator0 s(eech-mode C The %ar (a+ ha,e !ri,en )s #r ( the "an!$ *)t %e str)gg"e nF Fin!ing ne% %a+s t s)r,i,e- S)r,i,e$ an! #ight 7 Ccut o)) 10 IkaraC IKARA: Cinterru(ts in a matter o) )act toneC IG( %e"" a%are # the %ar- E,er+ ne is- Es&ecia""+ in the "! c )ntr+F AINSERT EC!O E##ECT OR $USICAL CUE &ENOTIN% #LAS!*AC TO PASTB FLAS?9ACK SCENE 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 IKARA: Es(eciall0 in the old countr0$ %hen I % rke! )t in the h (e"an! # r the state ne%s ser,ice- AINSERT SENTI$ENTAL 2345S CIT. SOUN&-E##ECTSB In th se !a+s$ I !e"i,ere! the ne%s a#ter it %as c"eare! *+ the 1state1 t the 1#ree &ress1 in e,er+ &r ,ince # the h (e"an!? %e,er$ 1h (e"an!1 *eca(e an anti:)ate! ter( %hen the #irst ne%s&a&ers s&)n ## the &ress !e&icting " nes (e h r!es gna%ing ## sk+scra&er s&ires- AINSERT SOUN&S O# INSECTS %NA,IN%B In the se&iaDtinte! ne%sree"s #r ( Ministr+ ?Q$ a cit+ sk+"ine %as "e,e"e! in a

sing)"ar ( ti n- AINSERT SOUN& E##ECT O# ATO$IC TESTIN%B O)r scientists st)!ie! the scenes #ra(eD# rD#ra(e- AREPEAT SOUN& E##ECTB Cdramatic (auseC Since then$ I ser,e! n se,era" (i"itar+ ca(&aigns c ,ering the ne%s- 9e# re the #" !s$ I re(e(*er stan!ing *+ %ith #atig)e! ar(ies n the ta""est ( )ntain Dae!a")s- AINSERT ,IN& SOUN&-E##ECTSB A (akeshi#t airshi& %as sent ,er the r)ine! cit+- On * ar! %as a ra!i *"asting a &eace treat+ that )r scientists &res)(a*"+ t)ne! t the ene(+'s strange clicker-clackD "ang)age- AINSERT INSECT C!ATTER ,IT! &ECREASIN% "OLU$E IN&ICATIN% $O"IN% A,A.B E,er+ ne %as :)iet asi!e #r ( the ra!i an! the !)"" th)!s # c ""a&sing *)i"!ings- ? %e,er$ as the *a"" n reache! that t %ering si"h )ette n the h ri> n's e!ge--AINSERT E6PLOSION SOUN& E##ECT T!AT RE"ER*ERATES *AC TO T!E PRESENT B 9ACK TO SCENE 1 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 SETTIN4: 4RAND SU9MARINE O&ESSA SOUND EFFECTS: c"ickerDc"ack # "! 1HIJsD1HKJs c (&)ters T?E CAPTAIN: Cde7ectedC Ah$ %e""$ in that case$ IG"" c)t the intr !)ct r+ s&eeches an! get right t the heart # the (atterAINSERT PISTON SOUN& E##ECT+SU*$ARINE ACOUSTICSB T?E CAPTAIN: Cdramatic (auseC IG( s)re + )G,e rea! ,er the #i"es #r ( high c ((an!- On Pr .ect Mirage$ +esL

IKARA: Cs(eakin/ as i) memori8edC The e=&eri(ent t !r & a shi& #r ( ne & int in s&ace t an therIKARA: CINTERNAL $ONOLO%UEC It c )"! re, ")ti ni>e the %ar@ P)t an en! t )r retreat

7 5The March t the Sea6 7 as s (e # the re& rters ca""e! it- Things could t)rn ar )n!- Eet$ itGs ne,er *een trie!T?E CAPTAIN: 9i/norin/ I ARA:s inner thou/hts and on )ull-1lo;n s(eech modeC Me %i"" s n regain )r h (e"an!s " st in the %ar@ The Odessa %i"" *e & ise! an! &ri(e! # r ,ict r+

%ith the he"& # this ne% %ea& n@ AINSERT SOUN& E##ECTS O# SILENCE *RO EN *. $IL&+POLITE <%OL#= CLAPPIN% B SCENE 0 SETTIN4: SU9MARINE MESS ?ALL SOUND EFFECTS: ra(*)ncti )s "a)ghterNchatter$ g"ass c"inks$ *asic ca#eteria ac )stics IKARA: Cto sel)C O## in Odessa's (ess ha""$ I %as ins&ecting the (ea" # the !a+ n (+ (eta" tra+: * i"e! sea%ee!- A #ine catch$ I'( s)re- ?ar& ne! t a # rk$ it see(s ( re e!i*"e than the

s(a"" (ass # 1)n(eat1 "ingering in the ther c rner- It can "inger there )nti" the en! # the %ar # r a"" I care- E,er+ ne e"se %as he"&ing the(se",es t %ar rati ns- S)* stan!ar! # !- Mhat

%asn't 1s)* stan!ar!1 %ere the &aintings !i("+ "it acr ss the %a""s that a&&arent"+ (a!e )& # r the "ack # %in! %s- Each ne he"! a sea ( nster # s (e kin! *r )ght t "i#e *+ &aintDstr kesPerha&s Odessa %i"" enc )nter s (e a" ng )r r )te--- It % )"! (ake # r terri#ic a!,ent)re-- I re(e(*er the "! ta"es &asse! a* )t n h % the &e &"e # (+ &r ,ince %ere s)re t chart 1?ere There 9e M nsters1 a&&r &riate"+ n (a&s- Ma+*e I sh )"! take )& the tra!iti n again--- Cdri)tsC

FIN?OOK: Cinterru(ts internal monolo/ueC ?e+$ arenGt + ) OdessaGs ne% Mar C rres& n!entL IKARA: Ees$ that is (e- Regina Ikara$ *+DtheD%a+- A$O"IN% C!AIR SOUN&-E##ECT IN&ICATIN% STAN&IN% UPB FIN?OOK: Na,igat r Cast r Finh k- AINSERT $ETAL SOUN& E##ECTS IN&ICATI"E O#

EATIN% #RO$ A TIN-CANB S F ? %Gs the %ar g ing *ack at h (eL IKARA: Cdisa((ointed+de7ectedC N t g #" !e!L FIN?OOK: I (eant *esi!es thatIKARA: Oh$ %e""$ thereGs n t ()ch e"seFIN?OOK: C/lumC Eeah$ + )Gre right- Ccontem(lati>e (auseC Things .)st ha,enGt *een g ing the %a+ the+ sh )"! a#ter %e # )n! )t the+ can c ntr " the cean- Cas i) makin/ a 7okeC T %eGre in a s)*(arine$ h)hL IKARA: It c )"! *e % rseFIN?OOK: ?(&h- AINSERT $ORE $ETAL CONTAINER+UTENSIL+EATIN% SOUN& E##ECTS #RO$ #IN!OO - CUE SCRAPIN% TRA. SOUN& E##ECTB Oh$ he+@ E )Gre here *eca)se # MirageL ? %G"" that % rk )tL IKARA: Cdramatic (auseNsi/hC The higherD)&s ha,e a " t ri!ing n Mirage$ *)t itGs a risk+ en!ea, rF an! c st"+- ThereGs s (e science tea(s n * ar! han!"ing the !etai"s- N t (e &ers na""+- IG( ,er+ ()ch in the !ark$ !es&ite (+ state ne%s stat)s- IG( .)st assigne! t rec r! e,er+thing an! re"a+ e,er+thing *ack t ?Q- Q)ite #rank"+$ I ha,e n i!ea %hat %i"" ha&&en *)t then thatGs the %a+ the %arGs a"%a+s *een "ike- ItGs a"" r n thing at this & int*a! !- E ) !i!nGt hear a* )t h % the ca&ita" cities g t

FIN?OOK: I g)essF SCENE O SETTIN4: UNEART?LE DESERT MORLD SOUND EFFECTS: h %"ing %in!s$ (isce""ane )s s )n!s # cre% ()tteringNscattering a* )t IKARA: Cto sel)C The res)"ts # Pr .ect Mirage ##ere! ( re :)esti ns than ans%ers- A#ter the (achinati ns # the e=&eri(ent & %ere! ! %n t a !)"" & %!erD*")e$ the resi!)a" #ree #a"" #ee"ing see(e! t "ast ae ns- A#ter ()ch na)sea$ the cre% st)(*"e! )t # Odessa- I t k the chance t !istance (+se"# #r ( the rest an! t k in the strange ,ista that "a+ *e# re (e: great ceans # san! s&rea!ing in a"" !irecti ns %hi"e s&in!"+ s&ires # s)nken ( )ntain &eaks interr)&te! the en!"ess stretch- Atte(&ting a sh t$ AINSERT CA$ERA SOUN&-E##ECTB I n tice! the "ens ca& ha! (e"te! the ca(era sh)t- Deci!ing against ( re ! c)(entati n$ I n tice! the Odessa %as sinking s" %"+ int the san!s itse"#--- AINSERT !OUR%LASS SAN& SOUN&E##ECTSB T?E CAPTAIN: AINSERT SOUN& E##ECTS O# !ATC!+&OOR *EIN% UNSEALE& AN& !O,LIN% ,IN&S %REETIN% T!E CAPTAINB 4 !> ks@ Cdramatic (ause to take in the >ie; un1ekno;nst to the listenerC Mhere in the *"a>es has Mirage !e"i,ere! )sL FIN?OOK: Cinterru(tin/ contem(lati>e (auseC F ?ereT?E CAPTAIN: C(er(le?edC Right$ %e""F Dis(isse!$ Na,igat rFIN?OOK: C(roudC A"" in a !a+Gs % rk- ARESU$E TIN CAN SCRAPIN% SOUN&-E##ECTSB IKARA: Cinner monolo/ueC I %atche! #r ( a#ar as the science tea( h)rrie! )t a"" the instr)(ents that ha!n't (e"te! !)ring the strange transit$ inc")!ing the Ca&tain's rna(enta"

1c ((an! thr ne-1 9eca)se # the Ca&tain's c nstant heck"ing # the science tea( an! (+ ina*i"it+ t (e!iate an+ s rt # c (&r (ise$ a (a. rit+ # the cre% t k t %an!er")st e=&" ring the ne% "an!- I en!e! )& taking the t & & siti n at & the gra+ s)*(arine %hich %as & inte! at a s"ight ang"e in the san!--- *)t n t s s"ight t (ake a c"i(* nigh i(& ssi*"e- Fr ( (+ ,antage$ I n tice! Finh k kicking the can he e(&tie! ear"ier- AINSERT #AINT CAN- IC IN% SOUN&-

E##ECTB ?e s)re ! es " ,e sea%ee!--- The thers !is&erse! a* )t the *"in!ing san!s "ike *")e )ni# r(e! ants- Perha&s the+'"" reach agree(ent an! *)i"! a *")e anthi""- Either %a+$ %e're " stPerha&s %hi"e the %ar %as *eing " st at h (e$ %e can *)i"! again a ne% h (e here- Perha&s--SCENE I SETTIN4: UNEART?LE DESERT MORLD ;9EEOND T?E 4RAND SU9MARINE O&ESSA< SOUND EFFECTS: rec r!ing s )n!s$ h %"ing %in!s$ ()ttering$ tr)!ging$ instr)(enta"s # scienti#ic instr)(ents T?E CAPTAIN: AINSERT AU&IO RECOR&IN% SOUN& E##ECTSB Ca&tainGs L g: Eear 11 in the Ong ing Mar- IG( (aking a n te here: h)ge s)ccess- Pr .ect Mirage !e"i,ere! )s )t # the c (*at # the #iring "ine an! int the #r+ing &an # this *"iss#)" A*+ss- Quite ;here is an+ neGs g)essF S (e%here &ast the Charte! LineL At "east$ a%a+ #r ( the t+rann+ # the giant insects )s)r&ing the h (e"an!s right#)""+ O*sc)raGs- Me %i"" res)(e (i"itar+ (ane),ers as s n as %e

achie,e c (()nicati ns %ith ?igh C ((an! an! )r &resent c r!inates- P)!ging #r ( the ge gra&h+ # these (e!!"es (e ( )ntains$ the Odessa "an!e! &ast 9e""a! nna an!F Cinterru(ted 10 #inhook9

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FIN?OOK: AINSERT IC E& CAN SOUN& E##ECTB IG( the na,igat rT?E CAPTAIN: Caudi1le /rum1leC Q)ite right$ Cast r- Na,igate a%a+FIN?OOK: AINSERT $EC!ANICAL-SOUN&IN% ,!IRS AN& *EEP-*OOPSB On it- C1rin/s )orth a hi/h-technical do;sin/ rod de>ice ;hich ;ould ordinaril0 1e (ointless on 1oard a su1marineC T?E CAPTAIN: Csus(iciousC That in#erna" c ntra&ti n %i"" !i,ine )r &"ace$ %i"" itL AINSERT SOUN& E##ECT O# A TELESCREEN SCRA$*LIN% ONB FIN?OOK: O# c )rse- AINSERT &IALIN% AN& $ORE *UTTON SOUN& E##ECTSB It %i""SCIENTIST /1: The D %ser %i"" &ick )& n the in,isi*"e "e+ "ines crissDcr ssing the sk+- The "ines ra!iate #r ( the e"e(enta"s # the "an! an! the !e,ice %i"" track a charte! (a& that (atches- F Me h &eT?E CAPTAIN: C/runtC Me""$ kn %ing + )$ Finh ?(($ C(ause sur>e0in/ science teamC + )@ SCIENTIST /0: C/roanC T?E CAPTAIN: I %ant a"" # + ) t sca"e ne # these )ng !"+ ( )ntains an! get ( re in# r(ati n n )r sit)ati n- IG"" check + )r &r gress #r ( ne # the cann n t)rrets n the O*ser,ati n Deck- An+ hint # ins)* r!inati n %i"" *e (et %ith (+ ren!iti n # the 9att"e Anthe( # O*sc)ra- Mith cann n #ireSCIENTIST /1: 9)t$ Ca&tain$ the Odessa is sinking int the san!sF T?E CAPTAIN: The %ar a%aits- Dis(isse!SCENE K k$ IG"" assign an ther scientist t + )r tea(-

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SETTIN4: 9ACK AT 9ASE CAMP ;OUTSIDE T?E 4RAND SU9MARINE O&ESSA< SOUND EFFECTS: sa(e as "ast scene *)t "ess tr)!ging FIN?OOK: Ce?haustedC MeGre *ack- AINSERT SOUN& E##ECTS O# &O,SER &.IN%B SCIENTIST /1: AINSERT !URRIE& ,AL IN%+CARR.IN% SOUN&-E##ECTSB Ca&tain$ there a&&ears t *e ancient %ritings car,e! )t # this ( )ntainGs &eakF C(ause sho;in/ ca(tain: @<?ere an! there=A9 T?E CAPTAIN: Cinner thou/hts9 L ks "ike a &inDti& &enci" & intF The kin! that *reaks easi"+ )n!er &ress)re- Creturn to s(oken thou/htsC An!L SCIENTIST /0: Me""$ the #)rther %e !ig the ( re in# r(ati n %e #in!SCIENTIST /1: An! %eGre n t archae " gists n r "ing)ists &er seSCIENTIST /0: 9)t in sh rt: acc r!ing t the inscri&ti ns$ %e see( t *eF Cdramatic (auseC On the s)r#ace # the s)n- This is the s )rce # a"" "ight- It t)rns )t a"" )r !ee&"+ he"! the ries n c s( " g+ %ere !rea!#)""+ inc rrectSCIENTIST /1: Somethin/ ()st ha,e %hiske! )s ## the s)r#ace # )r % r"! %hen the shi& c n,erte! t &)re "ight$ *)t %e canGt te"" .)st %hatAONE LAST SOUN& E##ECT O# T!E !O,LIN% ,IN&S O# T!E BSOLAR QUIC SAN&B *E#ORE7B AINSERT &RA$ATIC+A&"ENTUROUS $USICB

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RADIO ANNOUNCER: 9in old-time radio st0leC T *e c ntin)e! inF SOLAR QUICKSAND@ Part II 3333333333333333333333333333TO39E3CONTINUED333333333333333333333333 RADIO ANNOUNCER: AINSERT CRE&ITSB