The Expanse Wiki
Register
Advertisement
The Expanse Wiki

CQB is the fourth episode in the first season of The Expanse. It premiered on December 15, 2015 online and on December 29, 2015.

Synopsis

Holden and crew are caught in the middle of a desperate battle, as mysterious warships attack and board the Donnager. As he pursues Julie Mao, Miller’s partner, Havelock, goes missing.

Recap

On Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala is trying to get a ship to the Donnager to rescue the Canterbury survivors that have been taken prisoner by the Martian Navy. She lies on the roof of her Westchester home with her grandson, gazing at the stars, worried about the future of Earth, Mars, the Belt … and perhaps the entire solar system.

At Tycho Station, we meet Fred Johnson, the head of operations on the construction of a massive ship known as the Nauvoo, which will send a group of Mormons on a 100-year voyage. The Mormon representative with him hints at rumblings that Johnson should be replaced due to his ties to the OPA, though after delivering some not-so-subtle threats, Johnson manages to keep his position. As he asks the Mormons to get off the ship so his crew can continue with calibration work, Johnson gets on his radio and demands an update on the Donnager …

On board the Donnager, Captain Yao thinks the mystery ship that's still fast approaching is coming for Naomi, whom she and Lopez believe is OPA. Captain Yao insists that Mars had nothing to do with destroying the Canterbury and tells Holden to recant his statement. Holden refuses.

The approaching ship breaks apart into several smaller vessels and fires torpedoes. Blue battle lights warn Alex, Naomi, Amos and Shed to strap in and prepare for a bumpy ride ...

Captain Yao is unfazed, confident in the defensive and offensive capabilities of the mighty Donnager. However, the ship's PDC cannons aren't very effective against the attacker's advanced weaponry. The Donnager takes a beating, forced to switch to short-range rail guns to hopefully finish the job.

The Donnager's main drive goes out, causing the interior of the ship to temporarily lose gravity. This freaks out Alex, whom Shed tries to help by offering some of his cinnamon sticks … one final act of kindness before the medic is suddenly decapitated by gunfire that punches through the ship. Hindered by the lack of gravity, Naomi, Amos and Alex still manage to plug the holes.

As the main drive kicks back in, the survivors are disturbed by the sight of Shed's blood splashing down upon his headless corpse … and by the fact that they only have a few more minutes of air left in their holding cell. Alex takes a sedative so he won't use up much oxygen, trusting Amos to carry him when the time comes to evacuate.

The Donnager is bested by the mystery vessel in CQB (Close Quarter Battle). As Holden recognizes the ship as similar to the one that destroyed the Cant and theorizes that whoever is attacking them is trying to frame Mars for everything, the Donnager prepares to be boarded by the attackers. Captain Yao orders Lopez to get Holden off the ship so he can testify to all these events.

En route to their escape shuttle, Holden and his Martian escorts are attacked by mystery soldiers, armed with advanced weaponry and faceplates that obscure their features. Several members on both sides are killed in the battle, and one of the wounded mystery soldiers dies before Lopez can get him to talk.

Lopez suspects these attackers are also responsible for what happened at Phoebe Station. After Holden inquires, Lopez explains that the Donnager was dispatched to Phoebe Station after it went silent for several weeks, where they found everyone on board incinerated and all computer cores destroyed. Somebody was covering something up … but who, and what?


Meanwhile, at Ceres Station, the coroner of Ceres identifies the corpse of Julie Mao's hot date, Nightbandit31, as Bizi Betiko, according to his electronic ID. Miller visits Bizi's apartment building, where he finds a Slingshot Club, practitioners of an illegal extreme sport in which homemade one-person crafts 'slingshot' around the gravity wells of planets and other celestial bodies. Miller is surprised to find that the soon-to-be-doomed Slingshotter, whose progress is currently being monitored on the screen, is identified as Bizi Betiko.

So if that's Bizi Betiko … who's the stiff in the morgue?

Back at the morgue, Miller repeatedly scans the body of Nightbandit31 and comes up with a different identification every time. Octavia Muss says the stiff has an ID Spoofer Mod, an implant used to hide one's true identity. Upon further investigation, Octavia discovers that the body also has an implanted memory crypt, which Miller crudely extricates. Octavia scans the device and finds government documents, claiming the stiff was a "data broker." But what data was he brokering?

As Octavia leaves the morgue, Miller once again tries to contact Havelock, who's gone missing after the rioting on Ceres. However, it would appear that Miller's partner isn't dead - the Brothel Madam finds him severely wounded but very much alive after being impaled through the chest on a spike.[1]

Lopez and Holden rescue Naomi, Amos and Alex, with Lopez demanding they all testify that Mars had nothing to do with the Canterbury's destruction. After a desperate run for the hangar bay, they manage to make it aboard the small attack ship Tachi before Captain Yao scuttles the Donnager. Lopez authorizes fully operational access to those on board before he dies. The mighty Martian warship self-destructs as the Tachi blasts off with a groggy Alex at the helm.

Cast

Main

Guest Starring

Co-Starring


Transcript

Coroner [01:31.17]: (LAUGHS) Sorry to keep you waiting, we've been busier than usual.
Coroner [01:35.05]: Still getting intakes from all over the Medina, even from Uptown.
$. [01:39.51]: (CLEARS THROAT)
Coroner [01:41.97]: You know what the average life expectancy on Earth is?
Miller [01:44.77]: No.
Coroner [01:45.85]: 123 years. It's even better on Mars.
Coroner [01:48.19]: You know what it is on Ceres? 68.
Coroner [01:51.65]: And with the recent unpleasantness, that average is only going down.
Miller [01:57.03]: What?
Coroner [01:58.16]: Nothing. I'm sure you're younger than you look.
Coroner [02:08.13]: Stiff's ID is Bizi Betiko.
Coroner [02:10.67]: You know, there is no religious directive on file, so, okay if I recycle him?
Coroner [02:14.46]: Factory on 39 needs some fertilizer.
Miller [02:16.76]: Not yet.

Amos [02:30.02]: I'd like to know what the hell Holden is discussing with the Captain right now.
Shed [02:33.44]: For all we know, he could be working out a deal.
Naomi [02:35.40]: Yeah, for himself.

Holden [02:40.45]: The only thing I see here is an incoming ship.
Holden [02:44.45]: One you can't even identify.
Holden [02:47.58]: How do you know they're coming for Naomi?
Yao [02:50.29]: We don't. It's a guess.
Holden [02:52.88]: And you're just guessing Naomi's OPA, too.
Lopez [2:55.59]: We both know that's better than a guess.
Lopez [2:58.72]: She is the best liar amongst all of you, by far.
Lopez [03:02.01]: And she is hiding something. You can sense that, too.
Holden [3:06.43]: I don't believe she's a terrorist and even if she was, I'm not blaming her for the Canterbury.
Yao [03:11.77]: You blamed it on us.
Holden [3:12.90]: We found Martian naval tech in the beacon that lured us to the Scopuli, and then you showed up.
Yao [03:17.28]: We had nothing to do with the Canterbury but, because of you, Earth thinks we destroyed it. Some people are calling it an act of war.
Yao [03:26.54]: You need to recant.
Lopez [03:26.54]: Blame Nagata. True or not, it will change the narrative until cooler heads prevail and figure out what really happened.
Holden [3:36.30]: I won't do it. There's some kind of game being played here.
Holden [3:40.22]: Maybe someone wants a war, I don't know but, if you really do want to stop it, then let us go and then we talk.
Weapons Officer [03:45.72]: Captain, inbound vessel approaching defense perimeter. One minute to contact.
Yao [03:49.23]: Hail them.
Sensor/Comms Officer [3:49.23]: Frequencies open.
Yao [03:51.14]: Unidentified vessel, this is Captain Theresa Yao, of the MCRN Donnager. This is your final warning. If you maintain your present course you will be fired upon.
Sensor/Comms Officer [4:00.82]: [HIGH-PITCHED BUZZING]They're jamming us.
Weapons Officer [4:17.00]: Multiple fast movers detected!
Sensor/Comms Officer [04:18.63]: More than one ship. I count six bandits.
Weapons Officer [4:23.76]: Missile launch alert.
Yao [4:24.85]: Sound general quarters. All hands, battle stations.
Yao [04:27.10]: Prepare to return fire.
$. [04:30.48]: (ALARM BEEPING)

Naomi [04:32.19]: What's happening?
Alex [04:32.19]: That's battle mode lighting. Must be a drill.
Shed [4:38.32]: (FIRING)Okay, what's that?
Alex [04:40.74]: It sounds like torpedoes being fired.
Amos [04:44.66]: Sounds like a lot of torpedoes.
Alex [04:46.28]: I don't think it's a drill.
Shed [04:49.20]: Maybe, we should get strapped in.
Naomi [04:51.20]: Good idea.

Weapons Officer [05:11.06]: Torpedoes are away! Guidance lock on all targets.
$. [05:15.27]: [indistinct chatter]...Let's get ribbons on mark two and three
Yao [05:20.73]: Well, whoever they are, and whatever they've come to do, it's just become a suicide mission.
Yao [05:26.78]: They started this fight, and we're going to finish it.
[05:31.50]: [THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

Souther [05:43.92]: We can't tell who they're fighting.
Souther [05:45.93]: There's massive LADAR and Radar jamming,
Souther [05:48.30]: we can't resolve the drive signatures or make any visual IDs.
Avasarala [5:51.01]: They took our people hostage. We have to get a ship there.
Souther [05:54.94]: The Orinoco's en route at best possible speed, but they're still two days out.
Avasarala [05:58.19]: It'll all be over by then. Somebody has a new fleet of warships.
Souther [06:02.82]: I concur. Any idea who it might be?
Avasarala [06:06.36]: Not yet. Keep me apprised.

Arjun [06:10.12]: [*READING*]While I was so young, I was wiser than they thought
Arjun [06:13.66]: [*READING*]"Dear, dear," says I, "punishment is death."
Arjun [06:16.62]: [*READING*]"Aye," says he, "if they can get hands on me."

Man #1 [06:25.13]: Incoming targets at 15...
Man #2 [06:26.88]: Let's get an additional readout on this...
Yao [06:31.89]: You look nervous.
Holden [06:33.72]: I get that way when missiles are flying at me.
Yao [06:37.64]: Don't worry. It's nothing our guns can't handle.
Yao [06:40.86]: I take it you didn't see much action in the UN Navy?
Holden [06:43.40]: That was a good thing.
Yao [06:43.40]: Not for soldiers.
Yao [6:47.61]: The only combat most of my officers have seen is in simulators.
Yao [6:51.74]: Fortunately, I got to spend three years cleansing the Belt of pirates who were poaching terraforming supplies intended for Mars.
Yao [7:00.50]: I'm sure they weren't all bad people but, sometimes you have to kill to preserve.
Yao [07:03.34]:
Woman #1 [7:06.21]: [On PA]Captain Yao, you're needed on Comms deck two.
Woman #2 [07:08.22]: PDCs ready?
Weapons Officer [07:08.22]: All arrays are online and standing by.

Grandson [07:24.73]: Appa says you shouldn't be on the roof.
Avasarala [07:28.03]: And you should?
Grandson [07:41.25]: They're nothing to be scared of, you know. They're just little rocks that burn up in the sky.
Avasarala [07:46.05]: They're not always so little.
Grandson [07:49.55]: You mean like the one that killed the dinosaurs?
Avasarala [07:53.05]: Uh-huh.
Grandson [07:55.06]: Okay, that rock was big but, that hardly ever happens. Like winning the lottery.
Avasarala [8:04.06]: I worry about people who throw rocks.
Grandson [08:07.73]: [(SCOFFS)]Nobody could throw rocks that big.
Grandson [08:10.40]: It just happens, sometimes, because, you know, gravity.
Avasarala [08:14.57]: Hmm.
Grandson [08:16.53]: Come in and play.
Avasarala [08:20.91]: I'll come and put you to bed.
Grandson [08:22.92]: [(SIGHS)]You're no fun.

$. [08:32.09]: (BEEPING)
Lopez [08:33.93]: May I ask you a question?
Lopez [08:37.60]: Do you miss Earth?
Holden [08:39.77]: If I did, I'd go back.
Lopez [08:43.10]: My great-uncle emigrated from Earth.
Lopez [08:46.31]: He missed it terribly.
Lopez [08:48.44]: He used to tell me stories when I was a little boy about these endless blue skies, free air everywhere. Open water all the way to the horizon.
Lopez [08:59.95]: He told me that someday we would make Mars just like that.
Lopez [09:03.83]: When you spend your whole life living under a dome, even the idea of an ocean seems impossible to imagine.
Lopez [09:14.93]: I could never understand your people.
Lopez [09:17.47]: Why, when the universe had bestowed so much upon you, you seemed to care so little for it.
Holden [09:22.18]: Wrecking things is what Earthers do best.
Holden [09:26.60]: Martians, too, by the look of your ship.
Lopez [09:29.61]: We are nothing like you.
Lopez [09:32.24]: The only things Earthers care about is government handouts. Free food, free water, free drugs so that you can forget the aimless lives you lead.
Lopez [09:40.99]: You're short-sighted and selfish, and it will destroy you.
Weapons Officer [09:45.46]: Incoming torpedoes in PDC range, one minute.
Lopez [09:50.63]: Earth is over, Mr. Holden. My only hope is that we can bring Mars to life before you destroy that, too.
Yao [09:59.76]: Secure the prisoner.
$. [10:01.31]: Yes, sir.
$. [10:04.52]: Get in the chair.
$. [10:09.98]: Come on.
Lopez [10:12.57]: I hope you enjoy the show.
Yao [10:16.49]: Lock PDCs and engage.
Weapons Officer [10:19.20]: PDCs are go.
Weapons Officer [10:31.88]: Splash one! Five more to go.
$. [10:35.67]: (ALARM BEEPING)
Yao [10:38.05]: ls there a problem?
Sensor/Comms Officer [10:39.22]: No, sir, it's just their torps' guidance systems are really good.
Sensor/Comms Officer [10:42.56]: Better than anything we ever simmed against. They're pushing our PDCs to the limit.
$. [10:51.65]: MAN: Impact on main reactor housing.
Weapons Officer [10:53.73]: Captain, enemy ships are now inside guided missile range.
Weapons Officer [10:56.07]: Torpedoes will no longer be effective.
Yao [10:57.70]: Enough of this. Bring up the rail guns. Let's finish this and go home.
Weapons Officer [11:00.57]: Aye, sir. Diverting power to rail guns.
$. [11:11.63]: (INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT OVER PA)

Miller [11:34.23]: I'm looking for Bizi Betiko.
Wasted Girl [11:36.44]: You're not gonna to find him here.
Miller [11:40.15]: Why you pensa?
Wasted Girl [11:41.99]: Why you pensa?
Miller [11:44.62]: Why you pensa?
Wasted Girl [11:44.62]: Why you pensa?
(LAUGHS)
Miller [11:47.54]: This is his place, right?
Wasted Girl [11:47.54]: Soya, dat it is.

$. [11:55.71]: (CLUB MUSIC PLAYING)
$. [12:17.40]: (INDISTINCT CHATTER)
$. [12:22.70]: Which puts me at 29 days,
$. [12:25.62]: seven hours and 13 minutes
$. [12:28.58]: of pura, unpowered flight.
$. [12:31.50]: (LAUGHS)
$. [12:33.25]: I carve it up around the big-gas, then load up more spin...
$. [12:36.67]: Romanov. ...going 'round the Ringer.
$. [12:39.96]: It's only three-million clicks of hard vacuum
$. [12:44.51]: to hit a bull's-eye smaller than a mosquito's ass
$. [12:49.02]: and fly my way into the record books.
Miller [12:53.31]: Slingshot club.
$. [12:54.60]: Yeah. Oh, for entertainment purposes only, sasa ke.
$. [12:58.07]: No license required.
Miller [12:59.61]: Ah, I don't give a crap about that.
$. [12:59.61]: Huh?
$. [13:02.15]: Wanna bet, ke? Action good tonight.
$. [13:04.95]: (COUGHING)
Miller [13:06.03]: All right, listen up! Star Helix.
Miller [13:09.74]: I'm looking for a girl.
Miller [13:12.41]: Oh. Her name's Julie, she was a pilot.
Miller [13:16.21]: She might've come to Bizi to charter a ship? Oh.
$. [13:22.55]: Here. (GRUNTS)
Miller [13:24.63]: Hey, assholes. Bizi Betiko is dead.
$. [13:27.72]: (ALL LAUGHING)
$. [13:30.81]: He ain't dead yet, copeng. He be out there.
$. [13:35.65]: That Bizi Betiko!
Bizi [13:38.56]: Watch the way it's done...
$. [13:50.16]: (CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)
$. [13:59.09]: (LAUGHING)
Sabaka!
$. [14:00.96]: (CHEERING)
$. [14:03.76]: ALL: (CHANTING)
Bizi, Bizi, Bizi, Bizi!
$. [14:08.34]: Come on, come on, come on.
$. [14:11.47]: Come on, come on, come on.
$. [14:14.02]: Come on, come on, come on. (CHANTING CONTINUES)
$. [14:19.44]: (CROWD EXCLAIMING)
$. [14:23.53]: Now he dead.
$. [14:24.78]: (LAUGHING) Should've bet. Should've bet.

Fred [14:38.08]: The Nauvoo's engines have all been tested and certified,
Fred [14:41.13]: and we've been able to continue laying down the hull at the same time.
Fred [14:44.84]: Which means, everything is proceeding on schedule and on budget, which I'm sure you're pleased to hear.
Mormon Elder [14:50.93]: Mr. Johnson. The Latter Day Saints took a considerable risk hiring you to build the Nauvoo.
Fred [14:57.48]: I know. Tycho spins up asteroids.
Fred [15:01.11]: We don't build ships, not till now but, trust me. It'll be a ship no one will ever forget.
Mormon Elder [15:07.53]: That's not what I meant. I meant you.
Mormon Elder [15:09.66]: There have been rumblings that you should be replaced as Head of Operations for the project.
Fred [15:25.00]: Why is that?
Mormon Elder [15:27.34]: Your ties to the OPA have been making a number of Elders in the general authorities uncomfortable, particularly in light of the recent events in the Belt.
Fred [15:34.47]: The OPA is only interested in human rights and jobs for all Belters.
Mormon Elder [15:40.44]: And fomenting riots on Ceres and inflaming passions in the wake of the Canterbury. (EXHALES)
Fred [15:45.07]: The history of organized religion isn't exactly strife-free.
Mormon Elder [15:48.95]: [*sighs*]I've been asked to request a new Head of Operations.
Fred [15:55.37]: Of course. If that's what you want.
Fred [15:58.62]: ...but, I'd be remiss if I didn't remind you that, without me, you're going to have a very difficult time retaining the most skilled Belters for your project. I mean the ones who build for reliability.
Fred [16:10.84]: You're about to send your best and brightest Mormons on a hundred-year voyage to a new world around a new sun. Who knows what tragic malfunctions might occur along the way?
Fred [16:26.69]: So who'd you have in mind?
Mormon Elder [16:33.57]: We're still weighing our options.
Mormon Elder [16:36.87]: For now, uh, please just continue along, as before.
Fred [16:41.66]: Great.
Fred [16:45.92]: We have some calibration work to do on the Nauvoo's sensor arrays so,...
Fred [16:49.92]: I'm going to need you to get all your people off the ship and I'll let you know when we're done.
Fred [17:26.46]: We're good to go.
Fred [17:29.25]: Get all the Mormons off the ship and get those sensors pointed toward the Donnager.
Fred [17:34.47]: I need a full report, now.

[17:47.98]: [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[17:49.73]: [THUDDING]
Weapons Officer [17:51.65]: They've got rail guns, too. I've never seen them on ships this size.

Alex [17:56.45]: Shit. I think they're diverting power to the rail guns.
Alex [18:01.29]: That means we're in CQB.
Shed [18:02.66]: What the hell is CQB?
Alex [18:03]: Close quarter battle.
Alex [18:04.75]: Who would be insane enough to take on the Donnager in CQB?
[18:08.17]: [THUDDING]

Holden [18:10.04]: God damn it, let me out of this chair!
Holden [18:12.17]: I don't need to be here. Put me back with my people.
Yao [18:14.47]: Keep him quiet or gag him. I want IDs. We need to know their capabilities.
Sensor/Comms Officer [18:18.34]: I'm sorry, sir, but there's nothing matching their profile in MCRN or UN records.
Yao [18:22.01]: Isolate each vessel. I want detailed imagery and drive signatures on every one of them.
Woman [18:26.14]: [voice over PA]Captain to DC-4.
Holden [18:33.48]: I've seen a ship like that before.
Weapons Officer [18:38.86]: Splash three and four!
$. [18:41.33]: [GRUNTS]
Sensor/Comms Officer [18:42.74]: Lieutenant, the main drive is overloading. We have to shut it down.

Shed [18:52.13]: Uh, guys...
Naomi [18:53.34]: [*sighs*]Drive's out.
Alex [18:55.72]: Good,... No, this ain't good at all.
Amos [18:57.68]: You know, for a bad-ass Mickie Navy boy, you're a pretty whiny little bitch.
Alex [19:00.55]: I was just a transport pilot, you yahoo! You understand?
Alex [19:03.39]: I wasn't trained for this shit!
Alex [19:05.10]: I was a glorified bus driver, okay? You satisfied?
Alex [19:08.56]: Jesus.
Alex [19:09.77]: Oh, man, this is not supposed to be happening.
Shed [19:11.81]: Shh, hey, Alex.
Alex [19:11.81]: No,no,no,no,no,no!
Shed [19:14.28]: Hey,hey,hey,hey! Look what I got.
Shed [19:18.07]: Huh?
Shed [19:19.70]: Everything's going to be okay, okay?
Shed [19:22.07]: This is going to calm you right down.
Shed [19:25.37]: Trust me, we're all going to be just...
[19:27.20]: [CLANGS]
Naomi [19:57.65]: We need to plug the holes!
[19:59.45]: [AIR WHOOSHING]
[21:17.36]: [THUDDING]

$. [21:27.20]: (ENGINE REVVING)
$. [21:37.96]: WOMAN: Rail gun one is down, master caution is lit.
$. [21:39.88]: (SCREAMS)
$. [21:44.22]: MAN: Man down! Medics to CIC.
$. [21:53.77]: You said you've seen this ship before.
$. [21:55.81]: One just like it blew up the Canterbury.
$. [22:00.11]: MAN: Can we get security to the hull, please.
$. [22:02.32]: They stopped firing. Why? MAN:
Confirm massive hull damage.
$. [22:15.41]: (EXPLODING)
$. [22:17.08]: (GROANS)
$. [22:18.75]: Breaching pods on deck. We're being boarded.
$. [22:20.75]: Captain, this man has something to tell you. Not now, Lieutenant.
Holden [22:22.88]: The ships you're fighting are just like the ones that blew up the Canterbury.
Holden [22:27.09]: Whoever's responsible for this is trying to frame Mars for everything.
Yao [22:34.43]: Lopez, I want you to get Mr. Holden off of this ship
Yao [22:38.02]: and safely back to MCRN Command.
Yao [22:40.40]: He's the only person who can directly testify to this.
Lopez [22:42.94]: Understood, sir. Take him.
Holden [22:44.61]: Hold on. I'm not going anywhere without my shipmates.
$. [22:47.95]: Get him in his suit!
Yao [22:57.75]: Make sure you get this off with him.

$. [23:09.72]: The air rushed out of holes on both sides of the room,
$. [23:11.76]: which means we're surrounded by a hard vacuum.
$. [23:13.72]: We're trapped.
$. [23:15.06]: (EXPLODING) Maybe... Maybe we can force the door.
Naomi [23:17.89]: Mars builds too well, you know that. Damn it!
$. [23:19.81]: We'd still be screwed because we don't have our pressure suits.
$. [23:24.32]: Atmosphere systems are still out.
$. [23:26.82]: I figure we have maybe 20 minutes of air left.
$. [23:28.99]: Crap!
$. [23:33.08]: What're you doing?
Naomi [23:35.24]: Sedative.
Naomi [23:36.75]: There's enough here to take one of us out, which will slow down their breathing and cut down our oxygen use.
$. [23:39.71]:
Naomi [23:41.79]: Maybe buy us a little more extra time. For what?
$. [23:44.30]: You think someone's going to come and get us?
$. [23:45.67]: We don't have comms, we can't call for help. Do you got a better plan?
Naomi [23:49.17]: It's my idea. I'll take the shot.
Amos [23:50.72]: No! We need you conscious.
Alex [23:52.85]: He's an Earther, he uses the most air. He should do it!
Amos [23:55.56]: I can carry you. You can't carry me.
$. [24:00.14]: Damn it.
Alex [24:11.57]: I wanna wake up.
$. [24:39.89]: (sesame)
$. [24:41.73]: (GASPS)
Amos [25:06.50]: I want to say thank you.
Amos [25:10.21]: You know, for helping me all those times you did.
Amos [25:19.64]: You're a good person.
Naomi [25:24.23]: I could've been better.
$. [25:26.27]: (THUDDING)
$. [25:29.36]: (EXHALES)
Naomi [25:30.61]: I didn't even get to say goodbye.
Amos [25:35.66]: To who?
Naomi [25:39.33]: It doesn't matter.
$. [25:41.37]: (GASPS)
$. [25:46.17]: (BREATHING NERVOUSLY)

$. [26:08.86]: You know what really chaps my ass?
$. [26:10.57]: The fact that I'm here protecting some lousy Earth taker while my ship's getting pounded and my buddies are dying.
Holden [26:15.20]: Then why don't you go help them and let me go help mine.
$. [26:17.70]: We have our orders. Duty means something on Mars.
$. [26:20.66]: I'd be happy to let you go. I heard you and your friends were responsible for Phoebe.
Holden [26:24.46]: I know nothing about Phoebe. Why don't you just ask him?
$. [26:27.00]: (EXPLOSION)
Grimes [26:33.30]: Fall back and cover!
Lopez [26:34.38]: Holden! Get back and stay back! And stay down!
$. [26:59.87]: Holden, stop! God damn it, Holden! Get back here!

Muss [27:16.67]: Okay, I'm here. What's so important that I had to drop everything and come to this hell hole?
Miller [27:21.01]: Recognize this guy?
Muss [27:21.01]: Yeah. The stiff you found in the Square. I heard it was a murder.
Miller [27:23.72]: Look at this.
Muss [27:27.94]: Great, you found his ID. That's how it's supposed to work.
Miller [27:30.60]: It's not him, see.
Miller [27:32.36]: Every time I sample the guy, I get a different ID, comes up with a face that looks like it could be a match.
Muss [27:36.94]: Huh.
Muss [27:38.57]: Your stiff's got a lot of implants.
Muss [27:40.41]: I bet he has an ID spoofer mod.
Muss [27:42.83]: They're designed to spin cops, waste their time chasing down false leads.
Muss [27:46.08]: The only guys who really use them are crooks.
Muss [27:47.91]: Successful ones. They're not cheap.
Miller [27:49.54]: You are way more of a gear-head than I ever was. Can you help me ID him?
Muss [27:52.96]: Miller, you have a partner for this kind of stuff.
Miller [27:55.75]: No, I tried Havelock. He didn't want to be found. I've done the same from time to time.
Miller [28:04.47]: Please?
Muss [28:07.27]: Well, if he has a spoofer, then he's probably got a bunch of other shady shit in him.
Muss [28:12.77]: Standard inner-ear mike, spinal stabilizer, pancreatic pump, run of the mill, for the sedentary.
Muss [28:22.49]: Ha! He's got a memory crypt in his calf.
Miller [28:27.62]: [CLAPS]Let's take it out.
Muss [28:29.25]: I'll get the Coroner.
Miller [28:32.29]: No.That guy talks too much.
Miller [28:41.22]: Here we go.
$. [28:47.26]: (BEEPING)
$. [29:03.45]: (BEEP S)
$. [29:06.87]: Damn it.(CLEARS THROAT)
Miller [29:09.29]: Well, it's not like I'm hurting the guy.
$. [29:18.42]: There.
$. [29:20.34]: Bingo.
Muss [29:35.06]: Content's encrypted, obviously. But, judging by the file names, these are government records.
$. [29:37.27]:
$. [29:39.52]: Okay.
$. [29:40.78]: Customs documents, corporate R&D...
$. [29:44.03]: This guy was a data broker.
$. [29:45.82]: Oh.
$. [29:47.03]: Well, whatever he brokered,
$. [29:50.37]: must have been important enough to get him killed.
Muss [29:52.58]: What're you not telling me?
Miller [29:52.58]: Nothing.
Muss [29:55.83]: Miller.
Miller [29:59.67]: It's better if you don't know.
Muss [30:01.88]: I don't need you to protect me.
Miller [30:03.34]: I'm not protecting you.
$. [30:05.72]: (LAUGHS)
I...
Muss [30:07.30]: I hate it when you do this.
$. [30:14.73]: Thanks.
Miller [30:17.31]: Havelock.
$. [30:18.77]: (HAND TERMINAL RINGING)
Come on.
$. [30:21.32]: (BEEP S)
Miller [30:22.61]: All right. Leave him a message.
Miller [30:26.49]: Hey, look, um...
Miller [30:28.82]: I don't care if you're up to your whatever in whoever,
$. [30:31.58]: but when you come up for air,
$. [30:33.37]: I'm gonna need you to cover for me with Shaddid, okay?
$. [30:36.21]: I can't give you any details, but just use your imagination, all right?
$. [30:40.96]: I know you can be a devious son of a bitch when you want to be.
$. [30:44.13]: I'd do the same for you.

Brothel Madam [30:53.77]: (GASPS)
Brothel Madam [30:55.60]: Oh shit! Shit! I'll get help!
Brothel Madam [30:59.90]: Somebody help! This officer needs help!
$. [31:03.57]: (GASPING)
Help me!
$. [31:35.97]: (THUDDING)
$. [31:37.73]: (DISTANT GUNFIRE)
$. [32:07.80]: (AIR WHOOSHING)
$. [32:12.39]: (PANTING)
$. [32:13.85]: Let go. Don't make me shoot you.
$. [32:17.02]: You won't.
$. [32:20.81]: (GUN FIRING)
(GRUNTS)
$. [32:26.19]: (PANTING)
Grimes [32:29.86]: His weapon is keyed to his armor, he couldn't have fired it.
Grimes [32:33.45]: You're welcome.
Dookie [32:34.53]: Mole's dead, asshole.
Holden [32:39.70]: I'm sorry, I really am. But I won't testify to anything
$. [32:45.04]: unless you help me get my friends off this ship.
Lopez [32:47.17]: Shut up. I want to speak to him.
Grimes [32:47.17]: Yes, sir.
$. [32:51.22]: He doesn't look like any OPA grunt I've ever seen. Tech is way too advanced.
$. [32:56.05]: (BEEPING)
Yours.
$. [33:01.73]: Who are you working for? Why did you destroy the Canterbury?
$. [33:06.69]: Phoebe Station. Were you there?
$. [33:09.23]: You were. What happened?
$. [33:13.20]: Listen to me very carefully. If you want medical attention, you start speaking now.
Boarder [33:16.83]: We'll all be dead soon enough.
Holden [33:26.08]: Let's go. Please. You have to help me get my friends. You wouldn't leave one of yours behind.
Holden [33:30.17]:
$. [33:31.80]: We're Marines. We've sworn to die for each other if we have to.
$. [33:35.76]: You barely know those other people.
$. [33:37.35]: They're only here because of me.
Holden [33:41.73]: I'll make you a deal.

$. [33:45.15]: (BEEP S)
Holden [33:56.95]: Oh, Shed.
Naomi [34:00.24]: [COUGHING]
$. [34:04.79]: Hey, are you okay?
(COUGHS)
$. [34:07.83]: (GASPS FOR BREATH AND COUGHS)
$. [34:09.75]: You came back?
$. [34:11.80]: Of course I did.
$. [34:12.88]: The deal is this.
$. [34:14.97]: You will all testify that Mars had nothing to do
$. [34:17.47]: with theCanterbury's destruction.
$. [34:19.60]: Suit up fast, the air seal is temporary. We have to move.
Holden [34:23.93]: What's wrong with Alex? AMOS:
He took one for the team.
Amos [34:27.31]: I'll carry him.
$. [34:33.03]: (COUGHS)
Amos [34:34.40]: Come on, buddy. We gotta suit up.
Lopez [34:41.58]: We can't get pinned down again, we need a clear route to the hangar bay.
Grimes [34:45.54]: I'm trying, sir, but our ship is crawling with scumbags.
Holden [34:48.38]: Lopez.
Holden [34:51.80]: Listen.
Holden [34:53.46]: We've all lost people we care about. And I don't even have a clue as to why.
Holden [34:57.68]: But I keep hearing about Phoebe Station.
Holden [34:59.59]: And if we're all going to die because of it,
Holden [35:01.14]: can't you at least tell me what the hell happened there?
Lopez [35:05.02]: Donnager was dispatched to Phoebe Station after she went silent for several weeks.
Holden [35:09.65]: Why?
$. [35:11.11]: We still don't know.
$. [35:13.36]: Everyone on board was dead. Their bodies were incinerated.
$. [35:16.86]: We found them re-frozen to the walls of the ice tunnels.
$. [35:19.70]: We thought it was a fire or a chemical spill,
$. [35:21.37]: but then we discovered that all the computer cores were destroyed.
$. [35:24.37]: You mean someone did it deliberately?
$. [35:27.04]: They were covering something up.
$. [35:29.96]: Like what? I don't know.
$. [35:32.21]: (BEEPING)
$. [35:36.38]: Jesus.
$. [35:42.51]: What happened?
Lopez [35:44.43]: The Captain has set Condition Zero. She's going to scuttle the ship.

$. [35:53.06]: (RATTLING)
$. [35:57.24]: MAN: Hull breach, deck four, critical.
$. [35:59.57]: Boarders are converging on engineering, aux, CIC and the bridge.
$. [36:03.53]: Has the ready standby left the hangar bay?
$. [36:05.08]: MAN: Negative, sir. It's still there.
$. [36:15.88]: Captain. Not yet.
Yao [36:18.26]: This has to count for something.

Dookie [36:27.39]: Dookie ready.
Grimes [36:28.98]: Grimes in position.
Holden [36:40.82]: Mag boots off. Move as fast as you can.
$. [36:45.70]: Everybody on my mark. Standby for cover fire.
$. [36:48.62]: Uh-huh.
$. [36:50.12]: Hey, hey! Don't you quit on me.
$. [36:53.88]: All right.
Naomi [36:56.04]: Ready?
Lopez [36:58.21]: GO!
$. [37:07.26]: (GUNSHOTS)
$. [37:10.02]: (SCREAMS)
$. [37:18.40]: (GRUNTS)
$. [37:32.37]: (SCREAMS IN PAIN)
$. [37:33.50]: Go!
$. [37:44.55]: (GRUNTS)
$. [37:51.52]: (GASPING)
$. [37:54.10]: (PANTING)
$. [38:00.86]: (GROANING)
$. [38:04.57]: (GRUNTING)
$. [38:11.20]: (GROANING)
$. [38:23.42]: (GROANS)
$. [38:35.89]: (GROANS)
$. [38:42.61]: What the hell are we supposed to do now?
$. [38:49.99]: What about the others?
Lopez [38:51.33]: They're gone.
We have to dust off now.
$. [39:00.92]: (SCREAMS IN PAIN)
Lopez [39:09.93]: I'm not a pilot. Someone else needs to fly.
Alex [39:18.19]: What? Whoa!
Holden [39:18.19]: Go. Go!
Lopez [39:25.44]: Authorize full operational control of all systems for everyone now on board.
$. [39:30.82]: (GRUNTS)
Alex [39:32.78]: Boss, I don't think I'm in any condition to...
Holden [39:34.62]: Get us out of here!
Alex [39:34.62]: You got it.
Alex [39:41.08]: I need some juice.
$. [39:48.30]: (EXHALES)
Alex [39:53.51]: Okay, sweetheart, be gentle with me.
Alex [39:57.77]: This is my first time.
$. [40:09.36]: (GUNS FIRING)
$. [40:33.85]: (GRUNTS) Sorry.
Lopez [40:43.52]: Evasive maneuvers. Max burn.
Lopez [40:46.90]: Do not let anyone stay on our tail.
Alex [40:49.32]: You got it, Hoss. I mean... Yes, sir.
Lopez [40:58.37]: It would've been nice to see an ocean on Mars.

$. [41:17.72]: MAN: The Tachi is away.
Sir.
$. [41:20.06]: Captain, this door won't hold much longer.
Yao [41:24.31]: I didn't think we could lose.
$. [41:37.49]: (EXPLODING)

$. [41:50.96]: (ALEX EXCLAIMS)
$. [41:52.22]: I'm doing it. I'm doing it.
$. [41:55.64]: Son of a bitch!
$. [41:58.64]: (LAUGHING)


Media

Notes

  • As with so many other cases, the production spelled the character name for the data broker and slingshotter differently in different occasions. "Bizi Betiko" in props while "Bizi Bitiko" in closing credits.
  • A slight production error is visible if the Scuttle Procedures for the Donnager are read carefully. The procedures specify two keys to be "turned". The actually used props simply insert into the consoles and serve as biometric fingerprint readers, so no turning happens.

Trivia

  • The title of the episode "CQB" is an acronym which means "Close Quarters Battle".
  • The person who portrays Fred Johnson, Chad L. Coleman, actually served in the US Army
  • Following the airing of "The Big Empty", Syfy released this episode and "Remember the Cant" online in advance of their respective airdates.
  • 'Slingshotting' wasn't introduced until the third book, Abaddon's Gate.[2]
    TheExpanse gallery 104FunFacts 02
  • 'Slingshotting' is an illegal extreme sport. The ships are homemade one-person craft that fly through space using only a single thrust of the engine and a carefully plotted course. They compete by 'slingshotting' around the gravity wells of planets and other celestial bodies. Glory awaits those who survive. [2]
  • 'Bizi Betiko' means live forever in Basque language.
    TheExpanse gallery 104FunFacts 07
  • The point defense cannons (PDC) on the ships are based on modern systems used on seagoing naval ships. Because ships in The Expanse do not have energy shields, they are the only defense against guided weapons like torpedoes. [2]
  • The railguns fired by the Donnager and its attackers use a charged plasma to extend the effective length of the gun, increasing projectile velocity. [2]
  • The Command Information Center (CIC) on the Donnager is a smaller compartment inside a much larger one. The idea is that critical ship functions are separated into self-sealing sections of the ship in case the ship is breached, allowing the ship to keep functioning even with large areas in vacuum. [2]
    TheExpanse gallery 104FunFacts 06
  • In September 2017, it was noted that credits shown for streamed episodes on Amazon Instant Video were revised to include more stunt performer credits especially those stunt performers supporting major roles. Also added were stunt wire team credits. This appears on the Ultra HD stream, amazon.com/dp/B01N0SMDTT .

References

Cast credits on-screen

External links

Advertisement