[SAMUEL HYST] Our galaxy - humankind
colonized space so long ago
that no one remembers which came first - civilization
or the corporations.
But a centuries-old conflict between the Grotto corporation
and our mortal enemy - the mega corporation
known as Helion -
has led to endless wars and broken planets,
making life for most on Grotto planets, known as homeworlds,
a living hell of indentured servitude.
And I was no different.
My only way out was to join Grotto's army - the Reapers.
The Resource Exploration And Procurement Engineer Regiment.
Also known as the Salvage Marines.
Where the hazard pay is high
but the survival rate is low.
[THUNDER CLAP]
♪ ♪ ♪
Sam! You with me?
You're holding up the line. Again!
You're gonna get us both written up.
Hey, sorry. It won't happen again.
You do know this is my last chance, right?
Can't afford to lose this job.
You hate this job, just as much as I do.
Hell, most days even more.
It ain't that bad. Shift's almost done.
Hit the bar on the way home?
I gotta do something first. I'll catch you there later.
Okay, big time. I have no life!
[KELKIS' Hologram] We have a job
and, people,
when you provide a service to the
Grotto corporation,
you are the hope, you are the light, you are the magic.
People, you just came here...
with your bodies and your minds
and your commitment and your faith.
You are the sustenance of this mission.
You are the life, blood, sustenance of my mission,
which means if you are ever down in the cold, cold ground,
Grotto is down in the cold, cold ground.
[ROBOTIC VOICE OVER P.A.] Yvonne White.
Recruitment will see you now.
[KELKIS CONTINUES] ..you want to rectify?
Hop on a Reaper tug and run the numbers.
People, this is a lock. This is prepaid.
This is guaranteed.
This is the Grotto Corporation. You wanna be a Reaper marine?
You sign up.
[VOICE OVER P.A.] Samuel Hyst.
Recruitment will see you now.
[KELKIS] ..this is the job!
I can't hear you!
Look, it's not terribly uncommon for somebody in your situation
to become frustrated with their lot in life.
I get it.
You think that this was a career
I wanted for myself?
I've crunched the numbers. And at my current rate,
I'll never be able to pay off my
life debt.
I'll just... pass it on to my kid.
Like my father did to me.
That's just how these things tend to go,
Mr Hyst.
You mentioned something to me once.
You said, regardless of my aptitude test,
there was always another way.
If I was willing to take the risk.
Reaper.
Son, that window closed years ago.
There are no middle-aged men just starting out
in Salvage Marines.
Why does the Grotto care?
Dead at 25, dead at 45? What difference
does it make?
To your wife and kid? Plenty.
They're the reason I'm here!
I wish you luck, Mr Hyst.
People, when you provide a service to
the Grotto Corporation,
you are the hope, you are the light, you are
the magic, you are the...
Hey Stinger! What gives?
Two more!
[MUSIC PLAYING IN BAR]
For Hyst. And Takeda.
What's this?
Some kind of joke?
Don't tell me... the anointed one's propaganda
finally got you duped?
Sura's pregnant.
Okay!
You just signed your own death
sentence.
Then sign it with me. Come on, it's only
a matter of time
before you wind up in one of those
labor colonies anyway.
Your speeches could use some work.
Could it be worse than what
we're doing now?
Yeah, man. I think it can.
I think it could be way, way worse.
Do you even realize what's out there, Sam?
Mercs... pirates... monsters!
Don't believe everything you hear
from off-worlders.
Do you ever stop to think why it pays so well?
How they justify it?
Most people...
never come back.
That's the whole point actually.
[PENSIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
Sam?
Sorry I'm late. I got caught up
at the bar with Tak.
Oh, that's fine.
[CHUCKLES]
Can you believe it's been 10 years
since that photo of you?
No... No, I can't.
I also can't believe you used
that antique camera
you put together with all those old parts!
[LAUGHS] I first saw you through the lens
of that antique camera.
It brought us together. I could never get rid
of either of you!
What's wrong?
Sura...
we need to talk.
Sura, please come out?
I really think we should finish talking about this.
[SURA] What's there to talk about?
Sounds like you already decided for the three of us.
Come on, Sam! At least
turn off the damn light if you're gonna barge in!
Nothing's been decided. If you tell me to stay,
we'll stay.
Do you know, we need this?
You know the debt my father left me.
It's an endless cycle. I...
I want our son to know a better
world than this.
And I want our son to know his father!
He will, in time.
Not if you don't come back.
I love you. I wouldn't
change these past 10 years for anything.
But we need this.
Won't have to work the food lines anymore.
Well, that's good, since you realize
I've been stealing
most of our food from the lines all these years.
Seriously? Of course.
What, you think this film is cheap?!
How soon?
Within a week. [SIGHS]
If Tak and I join up before end of the
current cycle,
there's a good chance we can go on tour
together
and maybe even end up in the same squad.
So whose idea was this anyway?
It was this or him facing jail time again,
wasn't it?
It was my idea.
I don't think I could do it without Tak.
I'm just glad you'll have someone there
watching your back.
It's two years, Sura.
Two years, and we're outta this hell hole.
Two years...
[TENSE MUSIC]
[HYST] I was beginning to think you had second thoughts.
Oh, I'm way past second thoughts!
But it's not like I can let you go
through with this alone.
If anything were to happen to you, Sura would murder me.
Where's your stuff?
What the hell do I have that's worth
taking to space?
So long as I've still got you
to kick around,
that's all I really need, right?
[LECTURING PASSIONATELY] ..Or you're the government...
People! You come to Grotto
'cos this is what it is! We are Grotto!
[KELKIS CONTINUES] We own this!
We desire this! We finance this.
That's right. You heard it right.
You heard the propaganda.
Yeah, we are in the business of...
This where we sign our life away?
Digi-card, thumbprint.
[KELKIS' LECTURE CONINUES IN BACKGROUND]
-That's it? -Welcome to the Salvage Marines.
[ROBOTIC VOICE] Flight time duration
is one hour, 48 minutes.
Hear about the meal plan?
Yeah, I'm gonna miss my four-course meals.
Missing home already?
I've... never actually been out of the city,
if you can believe it.
But, uh...
this is what you've always wanted, remember?
"See the galaxy."
You don't get it.
I've never flown before.
Well, it serves you right - for never doing
a stint of hard, off-world labor
like your pal Tak here.
[TAKEDA] This is perfectly safe, trust me -
you might die on the job but it ain't gonna be today.
Just sit back and...
enjoy the ride. While you can.
You know, my parents died on one of these?
I-I think it's gonna be perfectly safe.
I think I'm gonna be sick!
-[TENSE MUSIC] -[MACHINES BEEPING]
[VOICE OVER P.A.] Recruit veto 0167...
[MARSTERS] This starts now! Let's go! Let's move it!
What you waitin' on? Let's go! Come on! Come on!
Pull up that dress! Let's go! Let's go!
Man!
I've seen some sorry lots in my lifetime but... Whooo!
..you take the cake!
[MARSTERS] And look at you!
You two get on the wrong boat?
Or are we just
that desperate for new recruits, we'll take anybody?
He really enjoys this, doesn't he.
He really does.
Provided you don't wash out or get yourself killed
in basic training,
you 15 will comprise Tango Platoon.
You got three squads, you got three squad leaders -
Boss Taggart,
Boss Ulanti...
..and you got myself, Boss Marsters.
Assignments will be given out
once we've had the ability to evaluate your deficiencies.
But until then...
welcome to the Salvage Marines.
[FAST-PACED TENSE MUSIC]
[ROBOTIC VOICE OVER P.A.] All crew members that have
recently joined us
from the Gamma Region, please report to the
medical assessment bay
for your injection.
[TAGGART] I think I'll take that guy if you don't want him.
You want him?
I don't know. Looks like he's
been through some stuff.
[TAGGART] I'll take him.
-[MARSTERS] I'll take the... -[ULANTI] I'm good.
It's the artificial grav plating.
I feel different. Not lighter or heavier,
just different.
Takes a few days to get your space legs.
How long ago did you sign up?
Just after graduation.
Tried to cut it in food service
but it wasn't me.
That's what my wife does.
Or did, rather.
That's why I'm here, to a degree,
so that she doesn't have to.
She's pregnant.
You know that's why I picked you
for my squad, right?
Whereas others might see your age as
a disadvantage, I don't.
You're here with a purpose, Hyst.
You're gonna be a great asset to the squad.
What about Takeda? Why d'you pick him?
Package deal. Who better to keep
that ex-con in line
than the best friend who's got everything
to lose?
[MARSTERS] Over the next 12 weeks of basic training,
you will be instructed on weapons, operations and
assessment, marksmanship,
hand-to-hand combat, salvage tool specifications,
spot-and-seam welding, and zero G gravity performance.
Now, if that seems like a lot to learn in not a lot of time,
you are correct.
Your training will continue off-world aboard the tug
until you either retire... or you die.
It never ends.
The purpose of these next three months
is for us to assess which of you is worth
the investment.
But before we can even do that, we have to
whip you into shape.
The temperature out here reaches
50 standards by midday.
Stay hydrated. Stay alive. Good luck.
This is the job! THIS IS THE JOB!
[TAGGART] For your information, this training
facility is a simulation
duplicating the exact environment of your first
scheduled mission.
Make the best of it.
Come on! You're gonna push
harder than that if you wanna make my squad, reaper!
You kidding me?! Come on!
[TAGGART] Keep it goin'.
Chest to the ground...
[MARSTERS] Move it!
Move it!
Come on! Get it done! Come on!
Come on, move your candy asses! Let's go!
Give it! Give it!
Go! Move!
Move! Move! Move!
You are disgraceful!
Get up!
[MARSTERS] I wish I could say I've seen worse first days
but that was an utter shit show out there!
Good news, folks. You get another chance tomorrow.
That, and you'll never get a better night's sleep
than you will tonight. I guaran-ass-tee ya.
What a day. Yeah.
Yeah, alright. Let's, er...
Why don't we just address this already.
Get it over with, yeah.
I'm Tak this here is sad sack Sam,
and we're well aware that we're both too old
to be new recruits.
But the joke is on you lot since we're all probably
going to be dead within six months but at least
we've lived a bit.
He's right. Life expectancy of a Reaper sucks.
Best thing you can do is stack your money
in case you get out,
and make every moment count in case you don't.
What about you? What's your story?
Come on! Let's go squad by squad
- get to know each other -
before we cash out or crash out.
I'm Yvonne white. Uh, my husband, uh, did this
and it didn't turn out so well,
and now I'm here doing this so that
our son doesn't have to.
Meal plan.
That's your name?!
[CHUCKLES] No! Patrick.
Grew up in one of Grotto's Legacy institutions.
Legacy institutions, huh?
That's just a fancy word for, uh... orphanage?
But I guess it beats "Sorry, kid,
for killing your parents."
That's my story too.
My dad died serving with the Reapers.
Left my mother and I when I was an infant.
She died of lung cancer, working the lines.
Didn't want to saddle me with another lifetime of debt so...
she took her own life.
In the end, I incurred debt anyways.
So I guess this is my one chance to get free of it.
I don't know about all that.
I couldn't wait to get off that
damn planet
sick of working on the line and breathin'
in those fumes.
Harold Mar.
Like Mar industries?
Yeah.
My family's rich but they're crazy.
I'd rather die with you guys than
live with my family.
What about you? If I didn't know
any better, you actually seem happy to be here.
I guess they got me with the
'life of adventure' bit.
You know? Yeah,
I want to see the galaxy. Leave grotto behind.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...
The name's Virginia.
..there is no leaving Grotto behind.
What about you? What's your story?
I'm here for the adventure. And to get the hell off
of Grotto homeworld.
There nothing for me down there.
I'm Jada Suk.
Well, you won't believe how I actually ended up here.
[HE CONTINUES] So I was in line over at the forge and...
[TAGGART COUGHS]
As you were. Finish your meals.
Relax. We get plenty of rest.
Tomorrow is going to test you
like never before.
In fact, if half of you are still around by month's end,
I'll be impressed.
Well, I guess you figured us for
safe bets. Eh, boss?
After all, you must have, eh... chosen us for a reason?
Maybe I got last pick.
[LAUGHTER]
I like her. Uh-hum!
Where the hell do you think
you're going?
You heard the boss. I'm going to turn in.
You do realize that this mess hall
turns into a cantina after hours. Right?
It was nice meeting you all.
I'll see you bright and early.
Hey! I wasn't sure I'd actually get to
hear from you tonight.
Yeah, long day. What do you
think so far?
I think it's... gonna be really hard.
You can handle whatever they throw at you, Sam.
I know you can.
I mean...
being away from you, it's...
it's gonna be a lot harder than I thought.
Don't worry.
It'll get easier.
We love you though!
I love you too.
[TAGGART] Down!
Up! Down! Up!
Down! Up! Down!
[TAGGART] Oh, you can all to
a push-up now?!
[TAGGART] Up! Down! Up! Down!
[GRUNTING AND STRUGGLING SOUNDS]
[MARSTERS SHOUTING ORDERS]
[ULANTI SHOUTING ORDERS]
Let's go! Let's go! Clockwork! Clockwork! Clockwork!
There we go! There we go!
Start over! Start over! Figure it out!
♪ ♪ ♪
[DISTANT GUNFIRE]
I have to admit. I'm a little disappointed.
Not one of you has dropped out yet.
Life does not grade on a curve, ladies and gentlemen,
and neither do I.
I will make one of you maggots drop out,
I guaran-ass-tee ya that.
It's time to see what you're made of,
Reapers.
-This is the job! -This is the job!
-[ULANTI] This is the job! -This is the job!
[PHONE RINGING]
Why the long face, mate?
Maybe because you only call when it's bad news.
Uh, come on, Sam. You know my job as
a Grotto debt manager
is to look after ya, help you manage
your debts
and any new ones you might incur.
I plan on wiping out that debt as soon
as possible.
Yeah, right.
Let's deal with one debt at a time,
shall we?
I can see here that you put in a formal enquiry
for a unit on Space Station, pier 13.
Yeah. I'd like to
transfer my wife there after the baby is born.
Interesting.
Baen 6 not good enough for your family, Hyst?
Uhm, Now that I have a child on the way,
I thought it'd be nice
if my wife didn't have to work the lines anymore.
You know, change of pace.
Yeah. Well, just make sure you to live long enough.
You're no spring chicken, Sam.
You don't want to leave a mountain of debt
to your unborn son.
I'll keep that in mind.
Make sure you do.
You want out? Or another round?
Listen I'm easy. I'm
up for it. Come on,
let's do this, mate.
Okay!
Come on, mate! This is, uh...
Dodger time. Watch this.
Ooh! [TAKEDA CHUCKLES]
Ooh. Yeah. That ugly... Ugly dice.
Yes. Had a bad day!
Sorry about that. Are you sure, Dodger,
you wanna continue playing?
Yes, I'm sure.
Are you completely sure? 'Cos I won't give you an
out again. Last chance--
Just throw the dice, okay? Let me worry about that..
Alright!
Come on, son!
No! What's going on?!
Twin sevens! Wins every time.
Cough 'em up, Dodger.
Yeah, well... Cough 'em up.
Enjoy this one.
Hey, kid. Mornin'!
Hey, mate. What's going on, son?
Eh... Holo-dice really isn't my thing.
Oh, come on, Mar. We all know that you got
spare credit to kick around.
I don't know if I want to play. I don't know.
Mar, you're looking extra lucky today.
Give it a go.
Come on. It's fun.
It's easy. Too easy!
Okay.
Okay, alright.
Right, so explain the objective of this game.
Oh, it's very simple.
If you're the one that's holding the holo-dice,
that means you are the shooter.
Oh! Okay, so if I'm shooting the dice, I'm
the shooter. I'm keeping up.
That's what I just said.
Okay, yeah--
He'll pick it up quick.
So if you are the shooter, all you have to do
is roll a higher combination of number
than the previous player.
At the end of every round, whoever has
the highest number...
[TAKEDA AND DODGER] Wins!
Oh, you did that together. That's cute.
Well, feel free to come and see our lounge act.
We play every Sunday.
But before that, we make bets
each round, okay?
Okay. Every round.
Okay?
Now, if you want to up the ante, you can in between every throw.
And of course that means the other players,
we can match that wager.
And the sky is the limit when there is a sky.
Ah! I get the joke 'cos there's no sky
in space
'cos it's a void so we can't play...
Just throw the dice, kid.
Alright. You know,
this is, this is a simple-minded game -
it's perfect for you too, honestly.
Oh, you know what, let's do, er... 200, 300 credits.
That work for a beginner bet?
200? 300?
Cool. That's cool with me
if you're cool with that.
Yeah, yeah, you can buy in with that.
It'll suffice.
Oh! Cool! Game on!
[HAROLD] Oh.
That's... what...
that's, that's the seven-seven!
That's like... that's, like 14,
right?
I-I can read the numbers.
Oh. Okay.
Just... shoot again.
Beginner's luck!
[MUTTERING] Here...
I'm in! Let's do this.
[DODGER] Come on, Dodger!
[HAROLD] Oh... t-that means
I win again, right?
[HAROLD] Ah, I think I like this game!
[MERRILY] Ooh! ♪ You...
♪ ..are still awake
I figured you'd be long asleep by now.
It's late.
It is late!
You could be a little bit less--
Less what? Less WHAT?
You.
You knew exactly what you were getting
when you dragged me along on this little
pleasure cruise--
God! Shut up!
I'm gonna turn in... Turn in.
[EFFORT GRUNTS]
Goodnight.
[ROBOTIC VOICE] Today is a combat simulation.
Direct contact will have impact,
and pain simulators will be engaged.
[SAM] Wow! This sim program is almost real. Unbelievable.
[TAKEDA] It's way better than the enviro-games
back on the homeworld.
[TAGGART] Knock off the chatter, Reapers.
This ain't no video game.
[GUNFIRE]
I got your back! Go! Go! Go!
[TAGGART] Everybody, get down! Find cover!
Hyst, what's your 20?
I'm in the building... on your 6.
Find your way round back.
Circle round. Flank these sons of bitches.
Yes, ma'am
[MARSTENS] Return fire!
[VOICE OVER RADIO] Go! Go! Go! Move!
[VOICE OVER RADIO] Come on, you sons of bitches!
Fire in the hole!
Alright, Reapers. It's go time!
Move out.
Check your corners.
Don't rush it.
[MARSTENS] Nice and easy. Nice and easy.
[MARSTENS] Alright, Reapers. Stay frosty.
Hey!
[YELLS IN PAIN]
Jada!
[GRUNTS] Leave me. Finish the objective.
You're nearly there.
You're the best shot we got.
You're coming with us.
You crazy? Look at my leg.
I need a fuckin' medic!
I'm as good as you're going to get out here.
Hold on. This is going to hurt.
I gotcha.
Let's go. [WINCING]
[JADA] I got this. [HYST] Have at it.
Yeah, and I'd have gotten more had I been
up there!
Hyst! Interesting tactic out there.
No Marine left behind. Right, boss?
It's kind of thinking like that
will get you killed.
Enjoy the win.
Good job, team!
Nice field triage, Hyst.
Looks like we just found our new squad medic.
Great. Now look what you did.
Let's get you home.
So... do you think that 0600 actually
means 0600 tomorrow?
Or, eh...
0400?
I don't know, but I'm going to go to bed a few hours
early, just in case.
Why wait?!
Leftovers are up for grabs.
Is he for real? It's not even 1900.
It's 'cos he partied too hard on night one.
Rookie mistake! Hey, we're all
rookies, even the old guys!
I'm not too far behind him.
Think I'll hit the cryo bath first.
Otherwise I won't be able to make it tomorrow.
Sounds good. I'll join you.
[GRUNTS] It's a lot colder in
here than I thought.
[SCOFFS] It's minus 80 standards!
What did you expect?
I dunno, but not this.
You know, if you don't like it,
you don't have to stay.
I guess you missed the sign coming in here
that says you're not allowed to do this alone.
One too many new recruits fell asleep
and in the morning, clean-up crew found
a human popsicle.
You're messing with me.
[CHUCKLES] Guilty!
Cute.
So there's nothing for you on Baen 6?
Nothing I'll ever miss.
If I never set foot on Baen 6 again,
I'd be just fine.
Well, I got bad news for you.
Less than 10 hours, you're going to be
back on Baen 6.
It's going to be another 'worst day of your life.'
Today wasn't the worst day of my life.
It was one of the better ones
if I'm being honest.
What about you? You were so quiet
during dinner.
Is there anything for you back home?
My wife. We're pregnant.
That's why I'm here. I-I told her two years,
not a day more.
Two years. That's a long time
to be apart.
Doesn't it worry you?
Would, if we hadn't already put in 10.
Plus, there's shore leave every now and then.
It's not ideal, but nothing in life
ever is.
Honestly...
I'm more worried about making it
through tomorrow.
[LAUGHS]
From what I saw today,
you'll be just fine.
Done already?
Yeah. That's
all I can take. You sticking around?
I'm gonna... finish the cycle.
Don't fall asleep! [LAUGHS]
Night!
[MARSTERS] Tango Platoon, report
to briefing room on C Deck.
We've assembled you here
because we've received marching orders from command.
Now, here to fill you in we've got Grotto Corporation
representative Tyrol Giaus.
Thank you for the introduction,
Boss Marsters...
Who's this upper crust.
A Grotto drone of the highest order.
Gives me the creeps.
He works directly for Anointed Actuary Kelkis.
..joining up with Grotto Hive Fleet 822
for an immediate operation.
[TYROL CONTINUES] This is a new mission, not the one you've been
training for in our simulation
but we have given you additional credits
and added a training program for this mission
to your modules.
With that, I apologize
but any previously scheduled shore leave is now cancelled...
..but you will be compensated fairly of course.
This guy sounds like a real stick-in-the-sludge, but...
that does sound like such a bad
deal actually.
I'll take the credits any day.
Easy for you to say. Sura was expecting me
to visit.
As you already know, Hive Fleet is a mobile factory
and refinery -
it can tear through an entire planet
in a matter of months.
but it has limited marine presence and security.
[ULANTI CONTINUES] Sector 5633 was recently deemed necrospace -
high fleet did a sweep and found this...
This...
is our objective:
this space Hawk is easily a hundred years old or more
and was found floating around in our sector.
[MARSTERS CONTINUES] It has been infiltrated by scavengers.
One thing we do know for certain is that it has
its own armaments and defenses.
From surveillance photos, we can see
that the scavengers have grafted most
of the Hulk together
as part of their plan to weaponize this piece of space
junk to attack Hive Fleet.
Intel suggests this docking bay is our
most obvious point of entry...
..but since they'll be expecting us, we'll just punch
right through the hull.
From the looks of those guns,
it seems more like pirate clans,
not squatters.
You're probably right.
It's unclear how much resistance we'll face
but we'll be piercing the Hulk with assault craft,
working our way to the core
and eliminating all hostiles in order to take
possession of the fuel cell.
Now, you'll have the duration of your trip
to get to know your boarding protocols,
Grotto's regulations,
and please log any additional training before
we commence salvage operations.
Alright. Dismissed!
How's the leg?
Doc says a week or two,
and I'll be back to full strength.
Convenient!
Too bad it's not zero G - you wouldn't be putting
any weight on it.
Yeah, maybe we should log some hours together
before we arrive,
get the leg in shape.
Later.
What?
Hey! Wait up. Back there
when you realized that you weren't
gonna see Sura,
you didn't seem particularly
broken up about it.
You didn't even imply that she was going
to be that upset,
only that she was expecting you.
You're reading too much into it.
Again, am I?
Yes, you are!
Alright. I just
think that you're lying to yourself.
I also think that... you will miss Sura
but... you're going to miss Jayda and the
rest of us even more.
Sura's my wife, my pregnant wife.
I'm going to be a father soon.
Other than staying alive, I can't focus on anything
else right now.
Yeah, I get that. I'm just saying that,
uh, gotta be careful, Sam,
'cos you and...
[WHISPERS] Jada. You're only getting closer.
Someone's gonna get hurt.
Alright, come on. We gotta suit up,
Reaper.
[TENSE MUSIC]
Today...
..I wanna take this back.
I wanna take it all back.
Take it back.
Take back the reasons.
Take back the sacrifice.
Take back the blood.
Take back the readiness, the engagement,
the minefields, the kills, the sacrifice.
Take it back And, Reapers...
[KELKIS CONTINUES] ..let's go with a shockwave!
Let's go in trial. Let's take it back!
[KELKIS] Take it all back.
Almost showtime, people.
[LOUD GUNFIRE AND DRAMATIC MUSIC]
This is the job!
[MARINES REPEAT] This is the job!
[MARINES RALLYING EACH ANOTHER]
Grotto salutes you...
God bless you all.
[CLOSING THEME PLAYING]