| The McQueen Factor |
| ". . . All I get is an odd feeling that this is either a beginning . . . or an end." |
The Brass are gathered in a Conference Room aboard the Saratoga, listening to Secretary General Diane Hayden announcing on worldwide broadcast that peace negotiations are underway.
McQueen stands to the side, watching the monitor, as does each man at the table.
The Brass now have no other option but to allow the talks to commence, even though they don't know if the peace initiative is legitimate, or simply a ploy.
"If it were only human, I could look it in the eye. I could get some kind of feeling, a hunch, anything to tell me if this was the truth or a lie," the Admiral offers helplessly to no one in particular, almost as if willing the others to understand what he's trying to say.
Stenner glances around, looking for someone to offer an opinion, and his gaze falls on McQueen, a man the Admiral obviously has faith in when it comes to dealing with the enemy. "Colonel . . .?" He appeals to McQueen when no one else steps up with any answers for him.
"I understand what you're saying, Sir," McQueen responds quietly, turning to look directly at Stenner. "Even with an AI, I get a sense of the enemy. But as I look at that thing, all I get is an odd feeling that this is either a beginning . . . or an end."
What is McQueen thinking as he listens to Hayden and Stenner? There's something ominous, even portentous hanging in the air, but no one seems willing to bring it out in the open. |
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"Let's see if they know about each other." |
McQueen and Ross are on the bridge when Ross sneezes violently.
"Bless you, Sir," McQueen responds absently, as he reviews a report.
Suddenly a group of enemy ships appears on the lidar, 250 KMSK's from the Saratoga, but it simply holds its position and makes no threatening moves.
"They're probably just keeping an eye on the peace talks," suggests McQueen.
"If that Chig in the hold isn't a sanctioned envoy," Ross counters, "that enemy battle group out there may not know a damned thing about any peace talks."
"Let's see if they know about each other," replies McQueen consideringly.
At Ross' request, Colonel Rabwin questions the enemy visitor, and arranges a demonstration as proof of its validity. He provides the information he's been given to Ross and McQueen, and then transmits a code provided by the Chig Ambassador to the alien fleet.
"It's for real," Rabwin announces after the enemy ships change locations in response. |
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"Well, I'll find a quiet place, alone, and ask forgiveness for the lives I've taken." |
The Wildcards are in their quarters hiding beneath their pillows, seeking refuge from Hawkes' aggressive flatulence.
"That cabbage was good, wasn't it Hawkes?" McQueen asks humorously as he enters the room.
"It's an In-Vitro thing," protests Hawkes laughingly.
"I wanted to bring you up to date," McQueen continues seriously. "Looks like the envoy's legit. Each side will now present each other with a list of criteria to be met before negotiations can begin . . . including a list of Tellus and Vesta Colony prisoners. It looks good."
McQueen knows how important finding Kylen Celina is to West. This may be why he chose to come by and personally tell them what he knows so far.
"Sir, you saw it," Damphousse tells McQueen. "What does a Chig look like?"
"Admiral Stenner doesn't want it talked about, so I won't," McQueen replies.
"Colonel, what'll you do if the war's over?" asks Wang.
"Well, I'll find a quiet place, alone, and ask forgiveness for the lives I've taken. Then I'll pull out the accordion, get naked and polka around the flight deck."
"Pray for war," Vansen responds drily and McQueen hides a smile.
McQueen's initial reply to Wang's question is both personal and poignant, and yet he ends his remark with a wisecrack. It's hard to imagine McQueen contemplating, much less doing, anything so silly, so why does he say it? Is he trying to lighten the mood? Is he attempting to deflect any questions his squad might ask about the first part of his answer? Maybe it's just his dry sense of humor coming out in response to the relief they all must feel at the idea that the war might actually be over.
"Did you know Coop's sentence is up?" asks Damphousse.
"I can go home," adds Hawkes.
"To what?" asks McQueen cruelly, before turning to leave the room.
Again McQueen has coldly pointed out to Hawkes how alone he is in the world. Does he do it to protect Hawkes? Is he forcing Hawkes to remember who and what he is? Or is McQueen simply voicing what he himself must feel, since like the younger In-Vitro, he has no home or family to return to either. |
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"I can look in a dog's eyes and know if it's going to bite me." |
McQueen and the Wildcards have congregated in the Rec Room when a crewman posts a list of the colonial prisoners. Nathan West hesitates a moment, then rises and walks over to the board to read the list, finding Kylen Celina's name there. His tense expression gives way to one of relief.
"Way to go, West," says Wang.
"Alright!" adds Hawkes.
McQueen smiles warmly in support.
"Colonel, is this really going to happen?" asks West.
"As soon as E. Allen Wayne arrives, talks'll begin, prisoners are going to . . ."
"No, I don't mean those details, " West interrupts impatiently. "The Chig down in the hold, you've seen it. What's your feeling, is this a lie?"
Wang moves over to sit right next to McQueen, who glances at him, and looks distinctly uncomfortable, as if his personal space has been invaded. However, Wang is oblivious to his commander's displeasure, and after a moment McQueen moves on.
"So far it's intentions are honorable," he begins, "but I don't know, West. There's something about it."
McQueen has indicated before that the Admiral has ordered silence in regard to their alien guest, and he seems to be trying to answer his squad's questions without giving anything away. Yet, the more he says, the more he seems to need to say.
"Sir, I need to know," West says intently.
McQueen hesitates, and then turns to lean forward, almost conspiratorially, as if afraid others might overhear his comments.
"I get a lot from a person, looking into their eyes. Hell, even an animal. I can look in a dog's eyes and know if it's going to bite me. But this Chig . . . It's eyes are so black . . . empty, yet brilliant."
The 58th exchange guilty glances.
"Sir, what'd the rest of it look like?" Wang asks. "We won't say nothing."
McQueen hesitates again, as if trying to decide how much he can reveal without compromising his orders.
"Almost a human-shaped head, whitish-pink skin . . . gills," McQueen continues at last, motioning toward the side of his neck.
"Does it have a protruding lower jaw?" Vansen asks.
"Who told you?" McQueen asks in surprise, and Vansen immediately looks ill.
"Colonel, I need to see it," she tells him urgently.
McQueen leads Vansen into the Conference Room, and switches on the view screen which has been set up to monitor the Chig pilot. Vansen stares at it in horror.
"We told it," she informs McQueen starkly.
"Told it what?" he asks, completely confused now. "How could you . . . ?"
"On Anvil, we believed it to be the last of a species that would be destroyed by Operation Roundhammer, and we told it. The enemy knows our battle plans." |
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"Sir, to atone, may I volunteer the 58th to monitor enemy troop movements." |
McQueen and the Wildcards stand in a line, at attention, being royally chewed out by Admiral Stenner.
"Imagine if on the morning of June 6, 1944, we give the Nazis a call advising them that the Allies would be landing on Omaha Beach. You people are supposed to be the best there is. What the hell were you thinking?" he accuses disgustedly.
"Sir," Vansen offers, "We believed an encounter with an unknown extraterrestrial form to be the sole remaining . . ."
"I don't care what you thought," the Admiral cuts in. "There's no excuse for what you've done."
Ross and General Alcott both feel that it at least explains the enemy's motive for talking peace - they're either afraid they'll be beaten, or they're stalling to gain time for their troops to return to Anvil. The two men debate whether it would be better to strike now and keep things on their own terms.
"Sir, to atone, may I volunteer the 58th to monitor enemy troop movements?" McQueen addresses the Admiral in an effort to salvage the situation.
"You people don't know the enemy when you see it. No! Request denied," the Admiral responds angrily. "You are out of this war . . . !"
"Admiral," Ross attempts to intervene, "this squadron is the finest . . ."
". . . pending further disciplinary action," the Admiral continues as if Ross hadn't spoken. "Now get out of my sight!"
The Admiral glares at each of them as they file silently from the room in disgrace.
There's really nothing either McQueen or Ross can say, because there truly is no excuse for what the 58th has done. Perhaps as men they can understand the compassion the squad showed to an unarmed alien civilian, but militarily it was a dreadful error in judgment. But regardless of the shock and anger each man must feel about the Earth Forces battle plan being revealed to the enemy, they both stand up for the squadron, protective to the end. |
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"Get some rest, Sir." |
McQueen and the 58th have assembled in the squad's quarters, when Ross comes in.
"Ten-hut!" orders West.
"As you were . . ." Ross advises as the group comes to attention. "Colonel, the lab coats tell me because of this cold, my attendance at the peace talks could potentially endanger the enemy." Ross sighs heavily. "My request to Admiral Stenner, who remains furious, is that you attend as representative of the Saratoga. He acquiesced pending your physical and a green light from the docs."
"I'd be proud, Sir," McQueen replies, obviously taken aback at this turn of events.
"My whole life I have dreamed of being a part of such an historic occasion, and now to be sidelined because of a damned cold . . ." Ross' disappointment is palpable.
McQueen is at a loss how to respond to his commander, his friend.
"Get some rest, Sir," he says finally, awkwardly . . . inadequately.
Ross and McQueen simply stare at each other, as something strange moves through each man's expression. Are they both having some sort of premonition that something might go wrong? Or could it be that neither man is able to offer the support to the other that they clearly wish they could. It seems as though Ross might speak, but the moment passes and he only nods and turns to leave. |
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"Transmit the code provided by the Ambassador." |
McQueen, the Admiral, E. Allen Wayne of Aerotech and others are gathered in a room adjoining the atmospheric chamber where the alien pilot is being held. He is clearly visible through a large glass wall.
"Our intent is peace through understanding," a synthesized voice intones, relaying the alien's words through his hand-held translating device.
"Gentlemen, Ambassador," begins McQueen, addressing the group. "It has been predetermined that at this time, the surviving Tellus and Vesta colonists who've all been transferred safely to an ISSAPC and are holding on Celestial Body 2064R, would be granted permission to return to the Saratoga."
"Agreed," responds the alien.
"Conference Room to Command Center?" radios McQueen. "Transmit the code provided by the Ambassador."
"Roger that," the radio operator replies. "ISSAPC 'Homeward Bound' confirms takeoff. The colonists are on their way."
"Thank you, Ambassador," McQueen conveys formally.
Wayne and the alien ambassador get into a heated discussion regarding the attacks on Tellus and Vesta. The enemy accuses Aerotech of knowing about their existence, and makes the startling revelation that their own race also originated on Earth. It appears Wayne knows that this bombshell has made an impression on the other members of the delegation. Unwilling to let Aerotech lose the advantages it's gained by allowing the war to continue, Wayne gets to his feet and moves to stand just in front of the glass enclosure. He goes on the offensive to divert attention from the alien's allegations, and verbally threatens and goads the enemy until finally the creature lunges forward, breaks the glass and attacks Wayne.
The room immediately fills with the poisonous gas which provided a breathable atmosphere for the alien, leaving McQueen and the others choking and gasping for air. The Ambassador pulls a knife on Wayne as the two continue to struggle. McQueen, though impaired by the noxious fumes, nevertheless reaches a collapsed sentry and takes his sidearm, bringing the weapon to bear on the enemy. The Chig, seeing McQueen's actions, pulls the horn on its chest plate, detonating a powerful explosive charge.
When the smoke begins to clear, bodies lie motionless, and presumably dead, on the floor of the room. McQueen is seated on the floor, back against the wall, his right hand groping for the support of a nearby railing. He is trembling, and appears to be in shock. It's soon apparent why, as his right leg from the knee down is gone, blown off by the explosion. |
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"How did this happen?" |
Ross rushes into the corridor, in his undershirt, looking angry and bewildered.
"How did this happen?" he asks. "Who is responsible?"
"We're investigating that, Sir," responds a female crewman.
"Answer my question! How did it get a bomb in there? Who's responsible?" he asks again. "Who is responsible?"
He can only stare helplessly as McQueen is carried out of the area on a stretcher. |
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"No, it should not have been you. It shouldn't be me . . . but it is." |
Crewman are preparing to load McQueen onto an ISSAPC, so he can be flown back to Earth for medical care. Ross, Hawkes and West move to his side.
"Vansen, Wang, Damphousse?" McQueen asks groggily, evidently aware that his squad was sent to retrieve the colonists, and that three of them did not return.
Ross looks away, unable to answer or meet McQueen's eyes. McQueen's own eyes close in pain at this news.
"Ty . . ." he begins, obviously wracked with guilt at what has happened to his friend. He gives McQueen's hands an awkward pat.
"No, it should not have been you," McQueen insists, cutting off his friend's words, his voice slurred, sounding drugged. "It shouldn't be me . . . but it is."
"At least you'll be going home," Ross offers bracingly, trying to sound encouraging. The Commodore is obviously rattled and unable to think of anything else to say, knowing how little meaning the word "home" would have for an In-Vitro like McQueen.
McQueen's eyes search out Cooper's, but Hawkes looks away, as the words "To what . . .?" must echo eerily, tragically in his mind. McQueen says nothing, but the bleak, empty expression on his face speaks volumes. Ross can no longer control his emotions, and must turn away.
"West . . ." McQueen calls out weakly. When West has drawn close, McQueen hands over Kylen's ID tag.
Hawkes can't bear to watch anymore, and is obviously unable to say goodbye as McQueen is carried aboard the ISSAPC. |
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"I lost my mother and father on the same day." |
West and Hawkes return to the Wildcards' quarters, apparently the only two surviving members of their squad. West lies down on Wang's bunk and Hawkes on Vansen's.
"Now I know how she felt her whole life," Hawkes tells West sadly. "I lost my mother and father on the same day." |
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| Who is T. C. McQueen? |
McQueen is a man who constantly struggles with his emotions, and how to express them. In spite of this, however, he seems to understand the feelings and emotions of others, even if he does not always understand his own. If the war is really over, McQueen knows that he will be the one left behind, waiting for the next one. Nevertheless, he recognizes how important this news will be to his "kids", and as soon as it's confirmed that peace talks will proceed, he immediately lets his squad know as much as he's allowed to share. He makes a particular point to reassure West that the release of the Vesta and Tellus colonists is one of the conditions that must be met before talks can begin.
McQueen's love for his "kids" is unconditional, just like a parent's, and like a parent he continues to stick up for them and protect them as best he can, regardless of what they've done. Even after the 58th admit that they may have given their battle plans away to the enemy, McQueen doesn't chastise them, although he has to be angry and disappointed that his own squad was responsible for this mess.
He may have been trying to understand their compassion, and perhaps he might even have had similar humanitarian impulses, given the same circumstances. McQueen is someone who tends to put others first, whether it's people in general, or his own "kids", but we can be sure that he would never have given away confidential military information. And we know he would never condone jeopardizing the mission, risking millions of lives for the sake of one.
Although McQueen knows that killing the enemy to protect others is an unfortunate but necessary fact of war, he has not allowed himself to become hardened enough to kill without regret. He values life so highly, that he confesses his first act if the war were really over, would be to express contrition for the lives he's been forced to take.
As much progress as McQueen has obviously made, he still has difficulty expressing emotional support to others, even when they are close, personal friends. When Commodore Ross is devastated by the fact that he will miss out on the historic occasion the peace negotiations represent, he looks to McQueen for understanding. As fond of Ross as McQueen undoubtedly is, he can offer very little in the way of meaningful comfort to his friend in pain. Still trapped in his emotional void, McQueen can only advise Ross to "get some rest."
McQueen's relationship with Commodore Ross is a close one of long standing, as we've seen over and over. The Commodore is the one person McQueen seems to be comfortable enough with to discuss his feelings for his "kids." While McQueen has always been somewhat guarded, he has been able to open up to Ross in a way he probably never has with anyone else in his life.
It is Ross who lets everyone around him know exactly how he feels, continually wearing his heart on his sleeve. And yet, though grievously wounded, McQueen is the one to assure Ross that he mustn't feel guilty. It's quite a step for McQueen to reach out this way, to finally be the one to offer comfort.
Even when he's in shock and likely pumped full of drugs, McQueen's thoughts are for his squad. After he asks about his missing pilots, he can't express the pain their loss causes him, but he clearly feels it deeply.
Knowing that Kylen Celina's ID tag has become a symbol of hope and unity for the 58th Squadron, McQueen now returns it to West. He must either have always kept the tag with him, or else he had the presence of mind to collect it before he was transferred to the loading bay. Does he mean it to continue to be a sign of hope? Is he afraid he might never see West again? Whatever the reason, it's a poignant moment that further illustrates McQueen's growth as a human being.
With Wang, Vansen and Damphousse missing, and presumed killed in action, and McQueen seriously injured and on his way back to Earth, Hawkes and West are alone. Hawkes, by admitting that he's lost both his mother and father on the same day, confirms something we've known all along. McQueen has been the parent, the mentor the young In-Vitro so desperately needed, but now he's alone once more.
For McQueen, the Marine Corps has become an extended-family of sorts, though it's certainly not as close as the personal bond he has formed with the 58th. And although he hasn't received the promotions to which he is clearly entitled considering his war record, the Corps is his home - it's all he has. Except for his former wife, the 58th is the only real family McQueen's ever had, and most of them are gone. Since he's been injured, and his squad decimated, what will happen to him now? As McQueen so callously pointed out to Hawkes, what do either of them have to return to on Earth?
McQueen's future seems uncertain, both as a man and as a Marine, as fate and the fortunes of war have dealt him what might well be a crippling blow. What twist of fate led McQueen to place a statue of a one-legged soldier on the desk in his quarters . . . a statue which now ironically, tragically represents what McQueen himself has become.
Life has been harsh for McQueen from the beginning, but up to now he hasn't let it embitter him. No matter what insults he's suffered, no matter what obstacles have been thrown in his path, he has persevered and overcome them. He's always found a way to remain useful, to have a purpose, but will this be one hurdle too many? What destiny lies ahead for this wounded, yet still valiant warrior? |
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