The Landing of Sunshot Outlaw - Cutscene Screenplay, Worldbuilding
FADE IN
OUTER SPACE
A bone-white dot in the great dark of space grows ever-larger until it becomes all that the eye can see. This planet is Kocher-Guerrero 2, or as known colloquially, The Arids.
A spacecraft, rusted panels mismatched with ones seemingly much more well-looked-after, approaches the atmosphere. It’s much larger than the usual personal-use spacecraft seen throughout the rest of the story.
This one is a freighter, usually meant for long hauls between systems, equipped with a sizeable hangar, able to fit approximately a three-story apartment inside.
Black letters stencilled in matte paint on the side of the cockpit panels, slightly scratched out, read “Cacharro”. The heavy hum of the hauler’s massive engines starts to die down as the stabilizing thrusters flicker to life. The outer panels tremble when the thrusters get to work in a mechanical rhythm to adjust the ship to the planet’s gravitation.
EXT. ATMOSPHERE, KOCHER-GUERRERO 2
Well before the spacecraft touches the ground, the gates of the hangar open with a reluctant whir. A metallic blob, from afar no different than a scrap chute falls from within as the gates slowly close once more.
Before it can reach terminal velocity, the lump of metal starts to unfold and take a humanoid shape, and before it touches the ground, thrusters strategically placed in the hulking machine’s ankles roar to life to slow its fall, with less-than-optimal results. It touches the ground in a massive dust cloud.
EXT. SURFACE
As the dust clears, the hulking mech stands tall. It is sleek in design but the mismatched panels and outer systems mirror those of the freighter it was dropped from.
A sort of makeshift cape/poncho fashioned from what looks like an old tarp waves behind one of the mech’s shoulders. Almost no piece of metal on it is stock-spec, either tampered with or completely aftermarket.
On the left thigh of the mech is written its name and chassis number as per legal requirements within the six systems; Sunshot Outlaw
The Sunshot Outlaw stands as high as two stock-spec TD Kidd mechs stacked on top of each other, with a hauler cockpit in its chest replacing the almost coffin-sized original and a freight compartment “gracing” its back. The legs have been adequately upgraded for the extra weight, now much stronger and bulkier, sacrificing some of the speed the Kidd model was originally known for.
The lights on the head of the Sunshot Outlaw flicker to life as it takes its first step on the Arids, creating a smaller dust cloud.
INT. SUNSHOT OUTLAW COCKPIT
A cup of freshly brewed coffee stands steaming on the right side of the center console within the mech’s cockpit, mirrored by a cowgirl bobblehead on the opposite side.
There is a single bed on the back side of the cockpit which is slightly larger than a truck cab. Beside the foot of the bed is a door leading to the freight compartment, which is itself comparable to a panelvan in size.
A TV hangs from the wall across the bed, beside a corkboard with a bunch of different pieces of paper hanging from it. On a counter stands a microwave and a tiny fridge, probably good for about three days worth of food and drink. A radio on the bedside is playing a custom mixtape of blues rock and Americana.
A person sits at the center console, tapping their foot to the beat from the radio while reading what seems to be a newspaper from a holographic tablet. They take a sip of the coffee.
CORY "RED" BARRETT, Pilot of the Sunshot Outlaw.
The comms on the console buzz to life as the person receives a message from Cacharro.
SAMUEL "HANGMAN" REACHER (V.O.)
Come in, Red. The drop-off location is 45 kilometers southwest. You’re looking for a mining town. If you hurry your ass up, you’ll be back by nightfall.
A sigh escapes the pilot’s lips as they take another sip of the hot coffee.
CORY "RED" BARRETT
I guess that’s doable. See you in a bit, hopefully with the pay the client promised.
SAMUEL "HANGMAN" REACHER (V.O.)
Godspeed, Red. Hangman out.
