The history of racing in space goes back many years. Before the development of the
Manchausin Drive, races were held in the sole system using primitive spacecraft.
With the construction of the FTL craft, the scale of the races expanded. Eventually,
competitions that descended down from them continue to take place throughout the
galaxy. Spaceship development factories and their subsidiary companies risk losing
prestige by sinking funds into corporate ships, while unknown privateers enter their
own ships, trusting in their abilities. Whether they're corporate or private, pilots
in the race are all shooting for the same goal. The fame and glory bestowed on the
winner. It spurs them on in these dangerous races. These races have become well
known for the difficulty of their courses, not to mention the speed involved. Year
after year, many ships continue to participate. But the ultimate glory's given to the
one who overcomes all of these obstacles.
// The Outlaw Star is finally at Heiphong.
Space Port Guy: Attention. This is space port control tower in Heiphong. Outlaw Star,
I have you on my beacon.
Gene: Yes, we finally made it to Heiphong.
Jim: Since Heiphong's such a big place, aren't the port fees gonna cost us an awful
lot of money?
Gene: Yeah, whatever, it will work out.
// They are on a subway.
Jim: Wow, this place is pretty cool.
Gene: C'mon, don't get so excited, it's embarrassing.
Jim: I can't help it.
Jim and Gene: Oh...
Gene: Man o man, Heiphong's a big city alright.
Jim: Yeah.
Suzuka: So Gene, where do you plan on going to from here?
Gene: To the offices of the space race here in Heiphong.
Suzuka: Space race office?
Gene: That’s right, we're gonna enter the Outlaw Star in the space race.
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Gathering For the Space Race
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// In the office...
Claire: Alright , now the Heiphong Space Race is open to everyone. The entry fee may
be paid by business or an individual, either way is fine. And the ship's class doesn't
matter either. If you'd still like to enter, I recommend you do now.
Gene: There's one more thing I'd like to know. If it would be possible, I'd like to
get some more information about the other ships that are competing.
Claire: I'm sorry, according to the rules, you're not allowed to investigate the
other ships.
Gene: But I'm only interested in one other ship.
Claire: Well, I'm not allowed to tell you that sir.
Gene: Are you sure you can't?
Claire: Yes sir.
Gene: Okay, well in that case there's one other thing I'd like to know.
Claire: What would that be?
Gene: I'd really like your phone number.
Jim: Oh...
Claire: If I'm not mistaken, I think you already have this office's phone number.
Gene: Oh I see, since you put it that way, I guess I'll just call the office when
the race is over. In the meantime, would you mind doing me a favor? Tell us what we
need to do now.
Claire: Just fill in the necessary items on these forms. Our staff will conduct a
simple on board check in before the race begins.
Gene: And anything else?
Claire: Yes sir. You must deposit into an assigned account 150000 wong as your entry
fee.
Gene: I'm sorry, how much did you say?
Claire: 150000 wong. That of course includes the insurance.
Gene: Open to everyone?! Yeah right, c'mon lady, even if you win the race you don't
take home a single wong. What private pilot has that kind of money?
Jim: That is the stupidest thing I ever heard of.
Claire: When participants can't afford it they simply find themselves a sponsor.
Jim: Find a sponsor?
Claire: That’s right. The Heiphong Space Race is regarded as a highly effective
advertising approach by which many businesses have found they increased their sales.
However...
Gene: Yeah? What now?
Claire: Just so you'd know, it might be difficult for someone entering the first
time to find a sponsor.
Gene: I know! Thanks for nothing! Just you watch us lady, we're gonna enter this
darn race and we're gonna win! I'm not really sure how though.
// Later, as they eat at a local diner...
Jim: Just forget about it. I don't think we'll come up with the 150000 no matter what
we do.
Gene: There are 2 reasons why we gotta fly in the space race. First, we gotta promote
our name. Because if we don't the big jobs are never gonna come our way.
Jim: You mean use it to kinda advertise us? Still what good is the race if we don't
make any money?
Gene: The second reason is MacDougal. I heard his ship is here now.
Jim: What are you kidding? The MacDougal Brothers are gonna enter the race?
Gene: I'm not sure. I don’t' have any definite proof but I thought I saw one that
looked like his on the news when they showed all the ships entering the port.
Jim: Are you sure it was really them?
Gene: I don't think I can forget that ship. And I’m gonna enter this race to make
sure they don't forget me.
Jim: Okay, so now I know we are. But how are we gonna do it?
Gene: Hey, what do you think?
Suzuka: I believe in the expression neither a borrower nor a lender be. I left 3 wong,
which was my part of the bill.
// Suzuka leaves.
Gene: Wait a minute, where are you going?
Suzuka: I haven't the slightest bit of interest in space racing and there’s nothing
else here at the moment that needs my help. But don't worry, once the race is over
I'll be in touch with you again.
Gene: Hey, don't bother.
Melfina: You sure about that?
Gene: I don't care, she can do what she wants.
Jim: So now what are we supposed to do?
Gene: I guess we're gonna have to go see our friend.
Jim: What? Uh oh.
// At Fred's...
Fred: My my, Gene and Jim. It must be fate that has brought us together again.
Gene: Actually, I'm surprised to find you here at your place. I thought other people
always ran your divine headquarters.
Fred: If there’s a god of business he's certainly watching over me.
Gene: We came here strictly for business Fred. C'mon, I already explained this to
you on the phone.
Fred: Okay, alright, stop joking. I'll be glad to sponsor you.
Gene: Really?
Jim: Yeah!
Fred: Its good advertising, even for us. We'll handle all your expenses if you finish
in the money.
Gene: What’s this in the money? Is that when you finish in the top 3?
Fred: That’s right. But if you finish 4th or lower you'll owe me even more money.
Jim: You see, what did I tell ya Gene?
Gene: Stop, its alright Jim. Okay, that’s fine. With expenses it will come to about
400000 wong so please have it ready for us.
Fred: Don't worry, I've been ready for a long time. Hm.
// He brings out a rack with a sheet over it.
Gene: What’s that supposed to be?
// Fred takes off the jacket revealing a very weird looking costume.
Fred: When you're in the winners circle you'll wear this. This way everyone will get
a chance to see you in it. It will be worth the 400000 and bring me such joy to my
heart that I did it.
Jim: You're not gonna go through with this, are ya?
Gene: Yeah, like we have any other choice.
Jim: Fred, Melfina's not gonna have to wear that thing, is she?
Fred: Gene, you shouldn't bring Melfina here, it wouldn't be good. This place is much
too conspicuous.
Melfina: Oh.
Gene: What’s going on here, what do you know about this?
Fred: Oh, not too much really. Only that the Kai pirates have been looking all over
the place for you and are making a special effort to find Melfina.
Gene: Oh, are you going to betray us and try to sell us out?
Fred: Of course not. Continuing to do business with you proves to be much more
profitable.
Gene: We're not gonna let you down Fred.
Fred: Good. Now lets see what you're made of.
Gene: We'll see ya later. I hope you have a good time watching the race.
Fred: When does the race start?
Gene: Not long, 30 hours from now. We need to get going, we got a lot to do. Take it
easy, Fred.
// On the way out...
Guard: You better not screw this up, I'm counting on you.
Gene: Well well, what a shock. I never thought I'd see the day when you were cheering
me on.
// In space...
Control Tower Guy: Outlaw Star control tower here. Negative return now confirmed.
Gene: This is the Outlaw Star here. Yes, negative return is clear.
Gilliam: Planetary launches should always run as smooth as this. Big cities always
have the best capabilities.
Jim: yeah, but it costs so much to park and we were only there for half a day.
Gene: You can't do anything without money here in Heiphong Jim, but if you're willing
to spend a little you can find just about anything that you can think of.
Melfina: Now displaying route to designated star position.
Gene: I gotcha.
Gilliam: Proceed immediately to start position.
Gene: Hey Gilliam, do you have any detailed maps of the Heiphong area?
Gilliam: Yes I do. My library is on par of that with a space force cruiser.
Gene: Good, go ahead and get them ready. We're gonna be needing them for the race.
Gilliam: Really, what race would that be? And by the way Gene, you still haven't
explained to me why Suzuka didn't come along this trip with you.
Gene: Don't worry, I'll explain the whole plan to you later.
// At the dock, Gene looks around.
Gene: I don't see MacDougal's ship anywhere.
Jim: You can tell all of that from here?
Gene: Believe me, if he was here I'd know it.
Jim: I think its kinda creepy here. (Yawn).
Gene: Hey listen, why don't we go check out that pre-race party that’s going on now?
Jim: Mmmm... I'm there.
// On the way...
Jim: We left Melfina on the ship you know. You sure she's okay?
Gene: I'm just worried about what Fred said. And since she preferred to stay behind,
I figured that was best.
Jim: Maybe we should bring her back some cake from the party, I'm sure she'd really
like that.
// On the Outlaw Star...
Melfina: Gilliam, I'd like to make a request to access Heiphong's largest data bank
if you will please.
Gilliam: The most likely one would be Dialo University. Just give me an extra moment
Melfina. And what specific topic are you interested in finding out about?
Melfina: The subject is myself.
Gilliam: Yourself? What exactly do you mean by that?
Melfina: I'd like some information to find about who I really am. Why was I created
at all. I want to know why.
Gilliam: Melfina dear, in my world thinking about one's self isn't permitted at all.
But I can truly sympathize with how you're feeling right now. And I will do all that
I can to help you.
Melfina: Thank you Gilliam.
// At the party...
Speaker: The Heiphong Space Race has now reached its 13th year, and has become a
truly hospicious event with our largest field ever. This year, it consists of 13
corporate ships and 29 private ships that have entered the competition.
Gene: I wonder if he's here somewhere.
Speaker: The fact that there are 40 ships participating in this race merely for the
honor of winning is a true testament to its popularity.
Jim: Looking around won't do you any good, you don't know what he looks like.
Gene: So, I can still look.
Jim: C'mon, Gene, we paid big bucks to be in this race so lets at least get our money's
worth. Check it out, don't you wanna try a little? Hm?
Gene: Yeah, alright.
// Gene walks up to a waitress that looks oddly familiar.
Gene: Ah. Hm? Ah?
Aisha: Meow?
Gene: Um.... hi.
Aisha: Yaah! I finally found you, Gene Starwind!
---------------
Eye catch
---------------
Gene: Um... Hi.
Aisha: I found you! I found you! I found you! I finally found you!
Gene: Okay... What are you doing, Aisha?
Aisha: This is divine guidance from the god of Ctarl. Thank you god of Ctarl, I can
hardly believe it! Even though I had absolutely no money, I was determined to track
you down and so I hitchhiked all the way across space.
Jim: You hitchhiked all the way across space to get here?
Aisha: Yes, and it was hard. I went to where the ships were stationed and when I got
there they made me do all this heavy labor. I dreamt it and dreamt it and wound up
here on Heiphong and was so grateful to get this waitress job to earn just enough to
eat. And just as I was paying myself who would show up both you? (laughs) Well well,
who knew we would be running into each other again so soon?
Gene: Man, I can't believe what bad luck we have.
Jim: This is ridiculous.
Aisha: Hey you 2, stop your babbling, I'm the one in control here.
Boss: Aisha!
Aisha: Huh?
Boss: Behave yourself.
Aisha: Ah... These 2 creeps, I mean gentlemen, were bothering me and I had to take
care of myself.
Boss: That’s enough, we'll talk later.
Aisha is dragged away.
Aisha: Stop! Let go of me, let go!
Boss: If you cause anymore trouble here Aisha, you're not gonna get paid!
Aisha: Oh...
Boss: I'm very sorry about that gentlemen.
Gene: Hey, that’s okay, really its no big deal.
// Back on the Outlaw Star...
Gilliam: I'm afraid there weren't enough leads for me to get any information for you
Melfina.
Melfina: That’s alright, thank you for trying.
Gilliam: We could try checking out the pirates through the space forces, but I think
that’s also gonna be very difficult.
Melfina: Its okay, you don't have to worry Gilliam. I didn't think I'd find out
everything there is to know about me right away.
Gilliam: Very well, I am sure that we will find a good lead eventually Melfina.
Melfina: Me too. Gene promised me one day that I would find out.
Gilliam: Oh did he? Well speaking of the devil, I believe he's coming through the
door right now.
Jim: We're back! Hey guess what Melfina, we brought you a surprise!
Melfina: Just for me?
Jim: Mm hm.
Gene: Now listen Melfina, we need to resupply the ship, make a maintenance check,
and get some rest cause we start in 12 hours.
Melfina: Okay.
Gilliam: We start for where?
// Later...
Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, the start of the 13th Annual Heiphong Space Race is
about to begin. Participating ships have come from all over and are now assembling
at the starting point. Which team will win the wreath of victory in the Heiphong
Space Race?
Gene: We leave here from Heiphong 4 and head to the third planet, Heiphong 3.
Jim: They say that its a binary planet. Man, they sure picked a nasty place to put
that checkpoint.
Gene: Oh, it gets much worse after that. Next, its the 5th planet, and then an orbit
around that gaseous nebula and then we pass through the asteroid belt.
Jim: It says that you can use the checkpoint at either the first or the second planet.
Melfina: The course using the second planet takes longer, but the course for the first
planet is kinda risky.
Gene: I like it already. Then we turn around and head back to Heiphong. The trip
totals 1.6 billion kilometers.
Gilliam: We're in this race so we may as well win, Gene!
Gene: Alright, well its good to see you psyched.
Gilliam: That’s because no ship is even gonna come close to beating out the Outlaw
Star.
Gene: You know it, now lets show them what the Outlaw Star is really made of.
(thinking) I'm gonna hunt you down MacDougal.
Jim: Gene, this will be all for nothing if we don't finish in the top 3.
Gene: Don't worry about that.
Jim: Alright, whatever you say. But if we finish in the top 3, that’s 400000 wong
minus the entry fee then we get 200000 left for us. (laughs)
Announcer: The ships will start one at a time in 2 minute intervals. The first ship
is approaching the starting gate. The Blue Continental, a private vessel that
competed in the last 6 races, piloted by Ernest Blue.
Melfina: All systems are normal, the output of all engines is normal.
Gene: We're number 26 in the line up, so relax, it will take a while.
Announcer: Ship number 7 in today's competition is unique. The Noburi Nueiro will be
driven today by Mr. Nubaso Kunono. He's here on business from Ctarl-Ctarl.
Gene: Hey, he said that’s a Ctarl-Ctarl ship.
Jim: Oh yeah?
// On the ship...
Pilot: Officer Aisha, how would you like us to run this space race, like we normally
do, or perhaps some other way.
Aisha: Until I give an order, do what you want, but always remember to think of my
orders as the same as the empire's orders.
Pilot: Right.
Aisha: Just you watch my dear friends.
Pilot: Well, I'm going now Officer Aisha.
// They start.
Melfina: Newton Reactor and gravity cycle unit are now coming online.
Announcer: Well it looks like he made it after all, and just in time. The El Dorado
arrived late, but now the ship has managed to find its place in the starting lineup.
// MacDougal's ship shows up.
Gene: Huh? Oh...
Announcer: The El Dorado, which placed fifth last year, is a favorite this year. Her
captain is Harry Williams.
Gene: Harry Williams? Does that mean its not MacDougal?
// On the ship...
Harry: Hey I'm sorry I'm late, I got caught in an ether current storm on my way over
to the race.
Technician: The El Dorado is scheduled to start in 7 minutes. Can you get yourself
ready to go by then?
Harry: Sure.
Technician: Alright, good luck Mr. Williams.
// He leaves.
Leo: Hey Harry, there's a transmission that’s coming in. Says he's on the Outlaw Star.
Harry: I don't know that ship. Its about time we got started, just drop that for now.
Gene: Darn, he won't answer.
Race Official: Outlaw Star, the open channel at the starting point is for official
use only.
Announcer: Attention, the El Dorado is headed for the starting gate.
Gene: Lets fire off the engines, I'm gonna close in on that ship.
Gilliam: The officials will stop us most certainly.
Jim: Gene, now take it easy, don't do anything crazy. You don't know who's ship that
is for sure.
Gene: Ugh... Yeah, I guess you're right about that. Its a long race, but I'll get
my chance to find out for sure.
Announcer: El Dorado, its time to start.
Harry: Okay Leo, go ahead and cut loose.
Leo: Yeah hah!
// The El Dorado starts. Suzuka is in a casino, the race is on a television.
Announcer: Following the Bonaparte, sponsored by the Penelope Corporation, is the
Outlaw Star, a private vessel competing for the first time. Her captain is Gene
Starwind.
// Outlaw Star starts going. An odd looking man watches in the dock.
Gwen: that ship looks very familiar.
Man: Is there something bothering you, Professor Khan?
Gwen: Oh no, its was nothing, nothing at all. Thank you for asking. It'll be alright.
No doubt about it, that’s ship's the XGP15A2. But what’s it doing here?
// Meanwhile...
Race Official: This is your final check, are you ready?
Gene: All systems green.
Race Official: Outlaw Star, its time to start.
Gene: Ready to launch.
// The Outlaw Star launches and begins the race.
Melfina: 230 million kilometers to Heiphong 3. ETA is approximately 1000 hours.
Gilliam: Please leave control of the auto pilot to me.
Jim: Nail any slowpokes who slow us down, okay?
Gilliam: You bet I will.
// Later...
Announcer: It has been 14 hours since the race began. And the fastest ships have
reached the first checkpoint. The Bonaparte is in the lead, and are passing the
checkpoint one after another.
// At Fred's place...
Guard: What do we think is keeping our friend Gene?
Fred: Patience, remember they started in the middle of the pack.
// On the ship...
Melfina: I'll match orbital velocity with Heiphong 3.
Gene: Man, that’s so incredible.
Jim: And the checkpoint indicators say... Oh man, its right in the middle.
Gilliam: Other ships are increasing their plane of revolution. It appears to be much
more difficult than we thought.
Melfina: I can project 2 routes to take. We can pass through vertically in relation
to the plane of revolution...
Jim: Right, that’s what the other ships are doing.
Melfina: The other way is to time the revolutions of the planets. Then, you would
fly straight through the checkpoint like so.
Gene: Okay, which is faster?
Gilliam: Going through vertically is probably safer. Then we won't have to go across
the planet's orbit.
Gene: So which way is faster?
Melfina: Going straight through.
Gene: Okay then, its final then, we're going straight through.
Gilliam: Wait, there are too many factors including the influence of the planet's
gravity, their magnetism, and their orbital velocity.
Gene: Look, its just like jumping rope, except we're skipping planets. We're gonna
make it, lets get going. Lets do it!
// They start heading in.
Gilliam: Just a moment. When the planets of Heiphong 3 get close, a tidal effect
will take place, then causing sporadic waves to be dispersed.
Jim: What kind of waves, you mean like in the ocean.
Gilliam: If you classify it, it would be a metal.
Gene: What, I don't see anything.
Melfina: We've now entered the area between the 2 planets.
Gene: We're gonna go straight through it, c'mon. Uh...
Jim: erh...
Gene: What the heck, what’s that?
Gilliam: There's trouble; a massive object appears to be closing in from the first
planet. Hold on tight.
Gene: Wait a second, what are you saying Gilliam?
Gilliam: Its probably a wave...
// The wave approaches.
Gene: Ah... how do I get out?
Gilliam: There is no way out.
Gene: No way?
Jim: Gene! The checkpoint, I think its gonna be swallowed up!
To Be Continued...
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--------------------
Preview:
I finally caught you, MacDougal. That guy thinks he's so cool because he's good
looking. But under those good looks, he's not to be trusted. That’s the problem
with kids these days, I'm telling ya. Then, to make matters worse, that’s hysterical
cat girl comes over here in the middle of the race! Is this exciting or what? The
Outlaw Star is racing ahead to win. Next time on Outlaw Star, Adrift in Subspace.
You better get ready!
