F U L L   S T E A M   A H E A D

CHAPTERS: The chapters of this story are published live for collaboration development purposes, with a sequence derived from the Chapters below, supplemented with other (unpublished) writings as we progress. The final order for the proposed screenplay may be the subject of additional drafts to suit production of the final movie (producers/directors/actors). To be in a position to gain an idea of style and commercial value, please request a copy of our Kulo-Luna (draft) screenplay. See our terms and conditions. The script version of these Chapters will not be published, but will be available, as with Kulo-Luna, on request.

<<<<<< REBORN

ATLANTIC TO THE MEDITERRANEAN & THONIS

There was no time to lose. Charley safely onboard, John and Dan cast off, with help from Hal, making sure they were not being tracked by the drug dealers supporting the presumed Fourth Reich. John anticipated a boarding party. But none came. 

"Captain Nemo."

"Yes Captain Storm."

"Please exit the Amazon in cruise mode."

"Copy that," replied the navigation computer.

They heard an explosion coming from the direction of the Laboratory they'd escaped.

"That's Jack." Said all aboard the Swann.

The Swann gracefully cruised the Amazon at 10 knots for almost two days, solar wings folded, until the mouth of the river expanded into the South Atlantic. Then more anxiously John said: "Nemo, can you plot a course for Alexandria, Egypt, please. Full steam ahead."

"Full power Captain. Roger that. Mediterranean here we come."

John looked at Dan, mouthing 'Roger that.' Charley caught it. They all smiled. It was Hal interjecting of course.

The Swann's wings unfolded, and Nemo engaged all of the fuel cells, heading north, until the ship caught the trade winds. Elizabeth sprinted across the Atlantic doing better than 25 knots, also taking advantage of the currents. Five days later they sighted the Gibraltar Straights, the Pillars of Hercules

They were making good time, no doubt about it, but John knew a diving team could accomplish a lot in ten days. It would take them another 2.7 days to get to Alexandria, according to Captain Nemo.

While they were crossing the Atlantic, John, Charley and Dan tried to make more of the equipment they'd stolen from the former Nazi camp.

"Okay Dan, what is this." John held up a watch and a rather complicated looking kind of headset.

"I'm stumped Skip. Give me a bit of time to work it out."

John strapped on the headset, and put the wristwatch on his arm. Charley rummaged around in the rest of the box of tricks. Dan was reading one of the thick black bound notebooks, trying to make head and tail of it all. The notes and diagrams followed the development of the technology. Dan noticed an entry that did not make sense.

"Hey Skip, that watch seems to have cost an extraordinary amount."

"Uhm huh." John looked to Dan waiting for a figure.

"$20 billion dollars."

"What this," said John holding up his arm. As he did so, the watch beeped. Then he felt a tingling sensation coming from the headset. The watch seemed to be talking to him.

"I don't think it's a watch Skip."

Charley chimed in, "There is something here about a 'RepliVator.' She kept reading.

"I think it's some kind of super computer," said Dan.

"No." Said Charley. "It is something to do with cloning and replicants."

"That's science fiction Charley," said Dan. "And I'm a Blade Runner."

"Yes," said John. "Maybe all of the above. But it is talking to me somehow."

Charley and Dan laughed, as though John had lost it.

"No, really. I think through this headset contraption." John looked serious. He had turned pale and was sweating.

MESSAGE TO JACK

The Elizabeth Swann knifed through the deep blue Atlantic, its engines smooth as silk. Inside, John felt strangely detached, craving meat and fish, and thirsty as heck. Charley and Dan tinkered with the headset-wristwatch apparatus, trying to understand the technology. It did not respond to them.

Suddenly, a calm, synthesized voice filled the helm. “John, I’m patching you through to Jack Mason.” It was Hal, the ship’s AI, ever vigilant.

John nodded, coming back from his detached state. 

“Thanks, Hal. About time. We need to know what else Jack found at the lab.”

A crackle of static preceded Jack’s gruff voice. “Storm? You guys made it out of the river clean, I presume?”

“We’re fine, Jack,” John replied. “Heard the explosion. Your show?"

"Uh, huh," Jack grunted.

"How’s the clean-up going?” said Dan.

“Messy,” Jack grunted. “The place was crawling with New World goons. Took some… persuasion… to convince them to retire. The lab’s sealed, though. Nothing left but ashes and bad memories.”

“Good work, Jack,” Charley chimed in. “Did you find anything about their forward plans in Alexandria, Egypt?”

“A few scraps,” Jack said. “There's something big going on there. Moved all their heavy equipment out of Brazil. Something about a ritual, or ceremony. But the details are encrypted, and their servers are locked down tighter than a pharaoh’s tomb.”

“Damn it,” John muttered. “We were hoping for a clearer picture.”

“Does that mean anything to you?" asked Jack.

"Maybe," said Charley. Can I come back on that?"

"Don’t worry,” Jack reassured them. “We’ve got contacts in Alexandria. They’re digging around, trying to find out what this ceremony thing is all about. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Appreciate it, Jack,” John said. “We’re heading straight there, save for a pit stop at Monaco, where Charley is getting off. We’ll need all the help we can get, assume full tactical if Manaus is anything to go by.”

“Understood. I’ll have eyes on the coast. Those NW boys have resources. They might try to intercept you.”

“Keep us informed,” Dan added. “We’ll be monitoring for anything unusual.”

“Roger that,” Jack replied. “Stay sharp, Storm. Those New World fanatics won’t take kindly to our interference.”

The conversation ended with a burst of static. Hal’s voice returned. 

“John, I’ve established a secure communication channel on which Jack will be able to contact us directly.”

“Good thinking, Hal,” John said. “We need to be prepared for anything.”

CHANGE OF PLANS

The Elizabeth Swann was due to make a pit stop in Monaco, a glittering jewel on the Mediterranean coast.

The plan was for Charley Temple to disembark, and to continue with her investigations independently, making own way back to London via a call in to Paris. John and Dan would continued eastward, their mission for Blue Shield pressing them onward.

Fortuitously, Hal, the ship’s ever-present AI, deciphered a communication from London, England.

"John," Hal’s calm voice echoed through the bridge, "I've got an incoming communication. It's Jill Bird, BBC World Service. She wishes to speak with Miss Temple. Apparently she's not answering her phone."

John raised an eyebrow. "Jill Bird eh. Patch that lady through."

"The communication is routed via Miss Temple's smartphone. I intercepted it."

"Intercepted?" Dan asked, a hint of concern in his voice. "Is that even legal?"

John looked to Charley, who laughed.

"Necessary," Hal replied, his digital tone unwavering. "Miss Bird is attempting to contact Miss Temple to request she hitch ride with us to Egypt."

"A ride?" John frowned. "Why?"

"She has been tasked by the BBC to secure an interview with the Minister of Antiquities at the Cairo Museum. The Beeb are particularly interested in the recent offshore tremors and the reports of artifacts being trawled up near the site of the ancient Alexandria lighthouse."

"And she wonders if Charley might hitch a ride with us?"

Dan injected, jokingly. "That’s a bit much, isn’t it?"

They all laughed.

"She is aware that Miss Temple was meeting with us along the Amazon," Hal explained. "And, she is aware of your current trajectory. She's unaware, of course, that John is recovering from the injection incident in Manaus."

John sighed. "Fine. Patch her through, Hal. But keep it secure. Swann to London, Storm here. Over."

A moment later, Jill Bird’s crisp, professional voice filled the bridge. "John Storm? Is that you?"

"For my sins," John replied. "You're looking for Charley?"

"Yes, and… well, I'm hoping you might be able to help me. The BBC needs a seasoned reporter at Cairo, and I see from Charley's GPS that you're heading that way. I'd be incredibly grateful if you could offer her passage."

John glanced at Dan and Charley, who both shrugged. "Charley is here, you are on speaker," said John.

"Sorry Jill," said Charley, "phone was on silent."

"Charley, could you see if there's any chance of a live interview? Quote on the record, or whatever, you know the score."

Charley nodded, her heart pounding with excitement. "If only, Jill. If only."

"As to those whispers of a mysterious project being conducted by a powerful group" Jill began. "Might the Ministry of Antiquities shed some light on what is going on? Give them a prod perhaps."

John, Dan and Hal were more concerned that the BBC could track the Swann using Charley's phone, but said nothing.

Charley paused, her mind racing. Not wanting to go out on a limb, or appear ridiculous.

"I'll give it a shot," Charley said cautiously. "No pain, no gain."

Jill pressed on, her voice full of curiosity. "We'll call this contract 'Project Sunrise,' okay?"

"Confirmed," said Charley.

Jill pressed on. "Any other snippets from the Ministry?"

Charley thought for a moment, recalling earlier conversations with the curator.

"There's been a surge in archaeological activity lately," she said. "The Ministry indicate interest in a site near the Valley of the Kings. I think that is a diversion. If my hunch is right, it's something significant far from that area."

Jill's interest was piqued. "A diversion? If they are not saying, there's bound to be a scoop!"

Charley hesitated, glancing at John and Dan, seeking approval from her audience.

"That's fine Charley," said John, "Jill's a good egg. I'd like to know more of the trawled artifacts, and any other archaeological developments myself. Scratch our back, we'll scratch yours."

"Thank you John," said Jill. John had forgotten for a moment that he was on speaker.

Charley beamed at John, mouthing her thanks.

A few hours later, as the Elizabeth Swann sailed closer to the Egyptian coast, Hal’s voice broke the silence again. 

“John, I’m detecting unusual subsurface activity in the Taposiris Magna area. Fluctuating, but readable.”

“What kind of activity?” John asked, his senses newly heightened, and tingling from his injection.

"Unclear Captain."

“Keep monitoring it, Hal,” John instructed. “And scan for any anomalies in the area.”

“Affirmative,” Hal said. “Should I relay this information to Jack.”

"Anything he needs to know. And ask him to catch up fast will you."

"Yes," injected Dan. "He might miss another party if he's not careful."

“Affirmative, message sent,” Hal said.

THE PROPOSAL >>>>>>

THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM - Queen Cleopatra retreats leaving Mark Antony to lose against Octavian and seek a new deal with Rome.

THE POISON ASP - Hotfoot from Actium, Cleopatra's plan to seduce Octavian backfired leading to a suicide pact with Anubis and Isis

TANZANIA - THE STORM BREAKS - Fanatical DNA collector, John Storm, finds Homo erectus skull, Olduvia Gorge, in Tanzanian dig site.

WRATH OF THE GODS - 365BC destruction of Thonis and Alexandria, Anubis and Isis watch on in horror as Cleopatra is submerged.

WWII ENIGMA - The birth of computers at Bletchley Park under Alan Turing, and his visits from Anubis and Isis, who see the potential in his ideas.

SYDNEY WILL READING - John's uncle Douglas vanished, declared dead, the adventurer inherits keys and a note from George Franks.

ANGEL OF DEATH - Anubis and Isis occupy Josef Mengele's and Adolf Hitler's subconscious as spirits steering their legacies.

INNER CIRCLE OF SIX - Joseph Mengele's Fourth Reich plans an escape to Brazil to develop Nazi-funded human research laboratories.

NELSON BAY - John visits the coordinates George gave him, to discover the Elizabeth Swann, ARK and Hal, AI computer.

BRAZIL BOUND - Doctor Death bargains for funding and logistics of relocation to Amazon South American base via Argentina.

NEW WORLD ORDER - A former Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy, develops into a cause for good.

REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE - Having reached the end of his PhD, William and Jane Bates have epiphanies, Will should follow his dream.

ROADBLOCK - Nobody would fund his R&D, William and Jane Bates are blanked by DARPA, computer and software houses.

THE AFTERLIFE - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries submerged and out of sight with little change of discovery.

QUANTUM LEAP - Jane and Will find backers, then US military and computer processor chip makers cyber attack, hack and bug them.

WASHING MACHINE - Inventor Franco Francisco comes up with the Incubus, artificial uterus concept while repairing his household appliance.

EXIT STRATEGY - Realising they will always be a target from industrial and military espionage, Jane & Will devise a cunning plan.

PATENT APPLICATION - Franco Francisco files his Claims with the Italian Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in Roma, Italia.

CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a semi religious sect, New World Order.

INCUBUS - Roberta Ferrara secures the expertise of Franco Francisco for knights of the New World Order: Neuwelt Rittertum.

SPLICE - Klaus and Eva von Kolreuter find a way to live forever using cloning technology; Genonimo Investments, Geneva.

TREMORS - Cleopatra's feels vibrations after a shift in the tectonic plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria.

PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - The secret is out, an enhanced human is spotted running at unbelievable speeds.

THE ARK - NeuWelt Rittertum headhunt John Storm seeking access to his genetic DNA map of life on earth, but they fail to reach agreement.

MARJORIE BOYLE - Sam Hollis tracks down sexy backpacker, Majorie Boyle, to Brighton Point in Trinidad, beautiful Caribbean Island.

THE AMAZON - Charley agrees to meet John & Dan at Manaus, but is a little too inquisitive.

OPERATION LEVIATHAN - New World Knights, Klaus and Franco go to Plan 'B' to track and steal the Elizabeth Swann & The Ark DNA database.

TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures.

SCOTLAND YARD - The famous London DNA database is stolen, the biggest data heist to date. The Yard initiates a cover up.

OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace.

SALVAGE RIGHTS - Entering Cleopatra's mausoleum, locating sarcophagus and raising with air bags to the surface, Safiya Sabuka tomb raider.

COASTGUARD PATROL - Safiya and Musa surface off Alexandria to a waiting customs vessel, they pretend to be sports divers fooling the officials.

UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice.

KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner but John rescues her, in the process becoming injected with a serum.

SARCOPHAGUS OPENING - The wooden inner casket is opened revealing Cleopatra's mummy, golden crown and death mask, perfectly preserved.

AWAKENING - In the afterlife, the DNA extracted from Cleopatra's mummy triggers a divine stirring with Anubis and Isis comforting the Nile Queen.

REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories.

BRAIN CONDITIONING - Klaus and Franco upload digitally recreated memories in historical order to trigger correct learned synapse firing sequence

REBORN - The former Queen of Egypt speaks for the first time to her creators, proving that her brain is working, the implants succeeded.

FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered.

PROPOSAL - Baron von Richhofen's gambit, a union of Royal ancient and Aryan blood, for strength and intellect, a powerful heir as her successor

RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation.

MANAUS TO ALEXANDRIA - A hydrogen powered race across the Atlantic Ocean in nine days, John Storm guided by Anubis and Isis.

SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators.

THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant.

MOVIES, WHAT ARE THEY - Reincarnated Nile Queen asks John and Dan to explain films, they show her 20th C. Fox 1963 Elizabeth Taylor biopic.

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - John suggest a tour of the Wadj Ur, Thalassa Nostrum, to relax Cleopatra, Hal plans the ultimate experience.

JOHN'S BLOODLINE - Dan and Hal trace trace John's noble lineage back to the iconic figures of Ancient Egypt & Roman General Mark Antony

DÉJÀ VU - Dan and Hal reveal John's family tree as being related to Roman General Mark Antony via Julia and Queen Drusilla of Mauretania.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION - Jack Mason talks John and Cleopatra into agreeing to a check up at Port Royal, Jamaica, working for NSA and CIA

GEORGE WARNS OF TORTURE - Franks radios Swann to tell John & Dan that New World Knights are being tortured at Guantánamo Bay, you're next.

JESUS CHRIST - Cleopatra asks about this man. John, Dan & Hal explain he is an ancient religious preacher from Galilee, son of Yahweh, Hebrew god.

BIOCORE BRAIN IMPLANT - Dan and Cleopatra drill John's skull, occipital bone implanting biological chip to interface with CyberCore Genetica.

DARPA, NSA & CIA - National security and military intelligence chiefs Iras Charmian and Dr Stefan Raengst, plot to remove all human obstacles.

MILITARY INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught.

BATTLE ARMOUR - Thanks to some unexplained divine intervention, Dan Hawk talks John Storm into wearing a bullet proof suit.

GUANTÁNAMO BAY - History repeats itself, US military kidnap Cleopatra, John forced to rescue puts Elizabeth Swann at risk.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE - Commander John Storm, in Navy SEAL mode, attacks the Cuban torture camp at Guantánamo Bay, in stealth mode, black op.

MISSILE LOCK - USA military try to hack into Hal, anticipating a strike, as the DOD launch Tomahawks, John hacks into NORAD, and redirects them.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN TRUMAN - Hails the Swann to find out why John is shooting missiles at Guantánamo Bay, Storm sets the record straight. FINALE

  ELIZABETH SWANN, THE HIGH PERFORMANCE HYDROGEN POWERED SHIP PROCEEDS AT FULL STEAM AHEAD ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO THONIS ALEXANDRIAN SUNKEN CITY - THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN STORM: CLEOPATRA & THE MUMMY REBORN OF THE AFTERLIFE - COPYRIGHT NOVEMBER 2024

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