Space Ruckus: The Official Site

Overview • News • Team • Media • Series • Forum • Chat • Contact • Privacy

This documentation was written for a storyboard project in 2009. When I realized that the original document would not suffice, I began to rewrite the entire story from scratch. This is the Space Ruckus: The Great Invasion: Storyboard Documentation.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Stand by Me
Chapter 2: Training Day
Chapter 3: Breakdown
Chapter 4: Contact
Chapter 5: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
Chapter 6: Beerfest
Chapter 7: The Sixth Sense
Chapter 8: Under Siege
Chapter 9: Star Wars
Chapter 10: Deep Impact
Chapter 11: Top Gun
Chapter 12: The Last Starfighter
Chapter 13: The Sound of Music

Chapter 1: Stand by Me

Storyboard #1
Frame #1: Fade in on a starry sky.
Frame #2: The "Gridline Games Presents" logo appears as ambient music begins to play in the background. Logo dissolves.
Frame #3: Scroll downward to reveal Ralin V and the orbital base.
Frame #4: A transport ship zooms by on course for the orbital base. The "Space Ruckus" logo appears, followed shortly after by the subtitle, "The Great Invasion" directly below it. Logo dissolves.

Storyboard #2
Frame #1: From the bridge of the orbital base on Deck #4, an incoming signal can be heard. The transport requests docking permission. Captain Seth Trilobite stands in attention, and simply bobs his head to indicate approval.
Frame #2: The transport lands in Docking Bay #1 (otherwise known as, "Public Docking Bay") on Deck #1. An "All Clear" message is given over a loudspeaker.
Frame #3: Captain Seth Trilobite departs from the bridge, and enters the lift. He chooses Deck #1 from the keypad. A stream of lights pass by as he descends through the lower decks.
Frame #4: The new recruits begin to make their way out of the transport ship. A man named Bill Grig steps out, followed by Joe Commer. They appear to already know each other as they are having a friendly conversation. As it turns out, they are transferring from the Ethoria orbital base, but like everyone else, they are very much still rookies.

Storyboard #3
Frame #1: Captain Seth Trilobite welcomes the new recruits to the orbital base. He only wishes that Commander Bob Gunner could have been there to welcome them himself, but he is currently away on a deep space assignment.
Frame #2: Members of fleet personnel greet Bill Grig, Joe Commer, along with the other new recruits, and escort them down the corridor, up the lift, and to their new living quarters on Deck #2.
Frame #3: Bill Grig enters his room, and has a seat on the bed. To give his new quarters a touch of home, he removes a photo from his bag, and places it on the overhead boarding. In the photo, Bess Grig (Bill Grig's mother) can be seen holding a delicious cake. Back home on Orth, she is a renowned cook, specializing mostly in deserts.
Frame #4: A message comes in over the intercom. All new recruits are ordered to report for flight simulator training in the Flight Simulator Room on Deck #3.

Notes
* In case it has not been discussed before, Joe Commer is pretty much just a simple palette swap of Bill Grig. The only difference is that he does not have a mustache, and may appear shorter than Bill Grig.
* Sadly, there is currently no artwork for Captain Seth Trilobite, but I have always envisioned him to look similar to Zapp Brannigan from Futurama. Captain Seth Trilobite would have a normal pair of pants, though. Zapp Brannigan's outfit almost looks like a kilt, and I don't think that there are any Scotsmen onboard the Ralin V base. No offense to Allen.
* I haven't seen the new Star Trek movie yet. Is it any good?

Chapter 2: Training Day

Storyboard #4
Frame #1: Bill Grig finds his way to the Flight Simulator Room on Deck #3. He is one of the last to arrive.
Frame #2: He signs in at the front desk using his newly acquired Fleet ID. His ID number is 2145.545.
Frame #3: Bill Grig has a seat at one of the nearby terminals. A rotating Fleet Cruiser can be seen on-screen.
Frame #4: He finds that Joe Commer will be his co-pilot during the training session. Everyone is anxious to get started.

Storyboard #5
Frame #1: Six lessons appear on-screen. Basic Flight Controls (5 Points), Advanced Flight Controls (10 Points), Evasive Maneuvers (15 Points), Dogfighting (20 Points), Rescue Operation (25 Points), and Protection Operation (30 Points). Only four of these are required to pass the course.
Frame #2: Bill Grig, however, is not one to settle for an average score. He passes Basic Flight Controls and Advanced Flight Controls flawlessly.
Frame #3: He continues to amaze everyone by pulling off a perfect score in Evasive Maneuvers and Dogfighting.
Frame #4: Bill Grig finishes off the set with an unheard of record in Rescue Operation and Protection Operation.

Storyboard #6
Frame #1: Joe Commer, on the other hand, finds that he is nowhere near as skilled. He congratulates Bill Grig on being a better pilot.
Frame #2: Dan Trimodo, who was also taking the test, disrespects Joe Commer. Thus, establishing a rivalry between the two.
Frame #3: With the test over, everyone stands, and begins to depart the Flight Simulator Room.
Frame #4: Bill Grig invites Joe Commer to have lunch with him in the Break Hall on Deck #1. Joe Commer agrees and tells Bill Grig that he will meet him there in a few moments.

Notes
* This chapter demonstrates what I was talking to Eero about earlier. Storywise, it is my belief that Bill Grig aces the test, but that is really just a "best case scenario." The player can still finish the test with only four courses completed, and does not need to get a perfect score. Perhaps there may even be a method of bypassing the tests altogether for players that are already accustomed to the flight mechanics. In addition, there are two tests that do not become available until later in the game. These are Navigator and Endurance. Neither of which reward you with points. They are completely optional.
* Clearly, we have yet to cover the 3D layout of these training programs. They may simply take place on a field of grids and wireframes, and the ships themselves may have a lower polygon count to cement that it is a simulation. Something along the lines of this or this.
* Dan Trimodo appears to be yet another character without any existing artwork. He only joined the fleet because his parents made him do so. He doesn't care one way or another about anyone else on the base. Furthermore, he is a bully. He likes to pick fights at every turn.

Chapter 3: Breakdown

Storyboard #7
Frame #1: As Bill Grig steps out of the lift onto the Deck #1 corridor, he notices a bulletin on an overhead monitor (these monitors encompass just about every room on the base). Commander Bob Gunner is reporting from deep space. His team is investigating a mysterious signal originating from an unknown source. So far, everything seems to be in order. He promises another update when they have reached their destination.
Frame #2: Bill Grig enters the Break Hall. Truly, a sight to behold. On the wall to the right, a very old arcade unit is still in operation. The peeling label reads, "Galactic Struggle." To the left, a malfunctioning food dispenser and self serving bar can be found. Bill Grig would just love to have a drink. A series of tables and chairs line the middle of the room. At the center of each table is a holographic display monitor. Some of them appear to either not be in use or damaged. Finally, the back wall contains recruitment posters. Plenty of fleet personnel are already here, so they must be working. A musical track can be heard playing in the background, likely originating from a loudspeaker. It appears to be boosting everyone's mood.
Frame #3: Bill Grig meets back up with Joe Commer at a nearby table. As they begin to converse, Dan Trimodo walks by and harasses Joe Commer once again. Bill Grig tells Joe Commer to ignore him. He says that people like Dan Trimodo don't belong in the fleet.
Frame #4: Bill Grig notices a familiar face sitting at a nearby table. His name is Sergeant John Squadner, and he is a very experienced pilot. He is talking with a few fellow fleet members about his request to be transferred to the Darcon XII orbital base. Bill Grig remembers hearing about him while stationed on the Ethoria orbital base. He was the first person to successfully navigate through the canyon of Nuckton.

Storyboard #8
Frame #1: This storyboard is framed as a flashback sequence. Sergeant John Squadner is sitting in the cockpit of a modified fleet cruiser. The point of view is from the front. He is checking his instrument panel.
Frame #2: Sergeant John Squadner navigates his ship downward into a narrow and twisted canyon.
Frame #3: Turn for turn, he maneuvers flawlessly. He seems to know the terrain quite well. If only there were spectators, but Nuckton has not been inhabited for many years.
Frame #4: Sergeant John Squadner approaches the narrow mouth of the canyon, and as he does, turns his ship on its side to slide through. He breathes a sigh of relief, but it is clear that he never doubted himself.

Storyboard #9
Frame #1: Suddenly, a horrific sound can be heard on an overhead monitor. Commander Bob Gunner's entire team has been ambushed by attack ships. Most of them are completely wiped out. Commander Bob Gunner's ship, on the other hand, is pulled away by a tractor beam, and loaded onto a cargo ship.
Frame #2: Everyone in the Break Hall freezes up in disbelief. A crewman standing by the food dispenser drops his half eaten sandwich.
Frame #3: A "Red Alert" is sounded throughout the base. Everyone in the Break Hall disperses to their place of duty, leaving Bill Grig and Joe Commer behind.
Frame #4: Bill Grig assures Joe Commer that this will not be met with disregard, and that they will form a plan to rescue Commander Bob Gunner.

Notes
* Galactic Struggle will be playable in-game, but I am not certain if we will be able to implement the existing prototype, as I designed that in The Games Factory. It can be found here: http://www.spaceruckus.com/content/gstruggle.zip
* I realize that it may be a bit wasteful to model Nuckton for only one scene, but we can always reuse the level in the MP game. That way, Bill Grig (and others) will be able to try the course for themselves. Although, it would most definitely exist outside the context of the story. Then again, these are still early days. Later in the game, we could conceivably send Bill Grig to Nuckton to outrun the aliens.
* The pronunciation of some of these planets has been a thing of debate. Here is how I usually pronounce them. Nuckton [nuke-t-on] and Ralin [ray-lin]. I think that this is the same way that Allen pronounces Ralin. I used to use [raw-lin].

Chapter 4: Contact

Storyboard #10
Frame #1: Bill Grig and Joe Commer exit the Break Hall, and enter the Deck #1 corridor.
Frame #2: The base is abuzz with activity now, but it does not seem to be fully directed at the rescue of Commander Bob Gunner. Everyone seems to be caught up in politics. How do we communicate with the enemy? What does the enemy want from us? How can we best level the playing field? Bill Grig is not a fan of politics. He is a man of action, not words.
Frame #3: It is at this moment that Bill Grig and Joe Commer form a plan of their own. Bill Grig reminds Joe Commer of a lesson that they had earlier in the Flight Simulator Room. They had to make a difficult choice regarding the abduction of a ranking officer. In that scenario, he chose to take matters into his own hands. Well, it is not a scenario anymore.
Frame #4: Bill Grig and Joe Commer stop outside Docking Bay #1. Bill Grig tells Joe Commer to wait for him there. Bill Grig does not say it, but he knows that Captain Seth Trilobite will never give Joe Commer clearance with his low flight marks.

Storyboard #11
Frame #1: Bill Grig races to Deck #3 to pick up his score chart from the Flight Simulator Room. The attendant at the front desk graciously hands it over to him.
Frame #2: Bill Grig enters the lift, and chooses Deck #4 from the keypad. He anxiously waits for the door to open.
Frame #3: Bill Grig gets his first look at the bridge. Terminals with viewing monitors line the oval shaped room. In the center, there is a comfortable looking chair, which Captain Seth Trilobite appears to be currently occupying. With everyone's attention elsewhere, nobody stops to think that a rookie should not be on the bridge.
Frame #4: Bill Grig asks Captain Seth Trilobite for a moment of his time. He informs the captain of his drastic plan, and then pulls out his score chart from earlier. Captain Seth Trilobite does not entirely agree with this course of action, but he cannot ignore the fact that Commander Bob Gunner's life is at stake, and that Bill Grig has the highest flight marks that he has seen in his time of service. Captain Seth Trilobite upgrades Bill Grig's Fleet ID to allow access to Docking Bay #1. He then wishes Bill Grig a safe journey.

Storyboard #12
Frame #1: Bill Grig meets back up with Joe Commer outside Docking Bay #1 on Deck #1, and uses his newly upgraded Fleet ID to open the door. Joe Commer is noticeably impressed.
Frame #2: Bill Grig and Joe Commer enter Docking Bay #1, and have a look around. Toward the rear of the room, they find several fleet cruisers.
Frame #3: They each hop into a fleet cruiser, and configure their instrument panels. Bill Grig, who is always one step ahead, informs Joe Commer that he will take the lead.
Frame #4: Two fleet cruisers can be seen exiting Docking Bay #1. Several fleet personnel witness this scene from one of the Deck #2 passageways (often referred to as a glass walkway), and one of them points outward.

Notes
* I wanted to expand beyond the original story a bit with this chapter. It was never very clear as to why Bill Grig (and Joe Commer) ultimately decide to take matters into their own hands. Hopefully, the political situation, and Bill Grig's desire for action (opposed to words) is logical enough. Also, it may shed some light on the back story of the Orthian race. They were more of a political (war of words) race before The Great Invasion, and after which, they improved their military action. That is not to say that they did not have a military before The Great Invasion, but more time (and money) was spent on things such as mining planets for resources, establishing trade routes, etc. Lastly, this may explain the apparent freezing up by the crew at the end of Chapter 3. They were simply not expecting this type of attack (they are in for a real surprise later), but being the professionals that they are, they try not to panic.
* Captain Seth Trilobite appears to cave a little easily, but perhaps he has a plan of his own. It is possible that he may send another team to backup Bill Grig and Joe Commer once they have found the enemy and their cargo ships. They could arrive just when things seem dire. A paradox to the above scenario may occur if the player does not score highly in the training levels. In this case, there may need to be an alternate method for acquiring docking bay clearance.
* Seeing as this will be the last visit to the orbital base for a chapter or two, I thought that I would mention another oddity. Back in 2004, Eigen Lenk put together one of the decks in 3D Game Studio. It has a low polygon count, and very little details, but it is a semi-interesting piece of our history, nonetheless. It can be found here: http://www.spaceruckus.com/content/program_testlevel.zip

Chapter 5: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Storyboard #13
Frame #1: Bill Grig and Joe Commer fly away from the Ralin V orbital base, and set a course for deep space. They ready laser power for any attack that they may need to make. The fleet cruiser has a weak defense, but it is all that they have to work with.
Frame #2: Several hours later, Bill Grig and Joe Commer arrive at the location that Commander Bob Gunner's fleet was ambushed. Aside from a fair amount of scattered wreckage, there is no sign of the enemy forces.
Frame #3: Joe Commer soon picks up a faint ion trail on his sensors. He manages to pinpoint the direction that the enemy forces have taken, and informs Bill Grig over the intercom.
Frame #4: Bill Grig and Joe Commer correct their flight path and blast off.

Storyboard #14
Frame #1: Soon enough, they catch up with the enemy forces. There are a number of attack ships swarming around the cargo ships in a protective pattern. Bill Grig warns Joe Commer not to attack the cargo ships. He fears that Commander Bob Gunner may be in one of them.
Frame #2: Bill Grig and Joe Commer brace themselves for battle, and begin to fire on the attack ships. As they do, many of the attack ships break formation, and begin to fire on the fleet cruisers.
Frame #3: Joe Commer manages to destroy one of them, but in his moment of celebration, takes a direct hit from another attack ship, and loses his laser power. Thus, Bill Grig is on his own to deal with the rest of them.
Frame #4: Bill Grig takes some fairly severe damage throughout the course of the battle. With a weak shield in place, the outside of his ship quickly becomes badly scorched.

Storyboard #15
Frame #1: Bill Grig's panel begins to go crazy, and he taps it with his fist. As he does, the panel lights back up. He is not certain whether or not the fleet cruiser can withstand much more of a beating.
Frame #2: Bill Grig manages to maneuver behind the the last of the attack ships, and anxiously pulls the trigger.
Frame #3: With the last of the attack ships destroyed, Bill Grig and Joe Commer begin to inspect the cargo ships. There is still a defense mechanism in place, but it is more easily avoided than the attack ships were.
Frame #4: A huge sigh of relief is felt between Bill Grig and Joe Commer when they overhear Commander Bob Gunner's voice on the intercom.

Storyboard #16
Frame #1: Bill Grig blows open the door of the cargo ship containing Commander Bob Gunner and flies inward; blasting crates along the way.
Frame #2: Bill Grig reaches the other end of the cargo ship, and frees Commander Bob Gunner's trapped fleet cruiser.
Frame #3: Bill Grig and Commander Bob Gunner fly toward the opening of the cargo ship.
Frame #4: Just as they escape, all of the cargo ships blast away. Bill Grig has a very strange feeling that they have not seen the last of them.

Notes
* At first glance, Joe Commer appears to be a useless prick, but actually, his skill lies more in engineering than piloting, and this is a fact that he begins to realize later in the game. He does not take part in the later battles. At least, not on the battlefield.
* Alternatively, Sergeant John Squadner could show up near the end of the battle to lend a helping hand.
* We could always add an additional level (or two) prior to the discovery of the cargo ships to add a little more depth. I am just going by the original story for this chapter, at the moment.

Chapter 6: Beerfest

Storyboard #17
Frame #1: Bill Grig, Joe Commer, and Commander Bob Gunner request docking permission from the Ralin V orbital base, and then proceed to land in Docking Bay #1. Commander Bob Gunner is glad to be back.
Frame #2: Commander Bob Gunner wishes to thank Bill Grig and Joe Commer in public. The group make their way to the Break Hall on Deck #1, where the rest of the crew has gathered.
Frame #3: Commander Bob Gunner salutes Bill Grig and Joe Commer for their brave heroics in the field of battle. Everyone in the room holds up a glass of ale, and toasts their new heroes. Dan Trimodo, who is also in attendance, refuses to toast Joe Commer.
Frame #4: Shortly afterward, the festivities begin to wind down, and everyone returns to their posts onboard the orbital base. Commander Bob Gunner reports to the bridge to continue his commanding duties, and relieves a very tired Captain Seth Trilobite.

Storyboard #18
Frame #1: Meanwhile, Bill Grig and Joe Commer are walking down the corridor, and discussing what has recently transpired. Bill Grig thanks Joe Commer for his help in battle. However, Joe Commer knows now that he is not cut out to be a pilot, and they both realize that they will soon be parting ways. Bill Grig is on the path to becoming a Captain, while on the other hand, Joe Commer is now on the path to becoming an Engineer.
Frame #2: Bill Grig and Joe Commer shake hands, and then walk off in opposing directions.
Frame #3: In Docking Bay #1, Sergeant John Squadner boards a transport. His transfer request was approved, and he is now looking forward to his assignment on the Darcon XII orbital base. The transport blasts into space.
Frame #4: A distant star can be seen twinkling in an ominous way. There is much activity somewhere in the galaxy. The fleet can only hope that they have seen the last of their attackers, but nothing can ever be said for certain.

Notes
* This chapter concludes the first half of The Great Invasion story. In the original game's story (what little it had), these were events that transpired before the start of the game. In fact, the game didn't actually start until sometime after The Great Invasion broke out, which will probably be Chapter 8 or Chapter 9.
* The twinkling star is presumably Orth, which has fallen under attack from an unknown force. With subspace communications as they are, the fleet will not learn about it for several weeks (if not months). The second Space Ruckus game (which is currently subtitled Assignment: Orth) will pick up with the attack on Orth, but that is a story for another time.
* If we wanted to release Space Ruckus a little quicker, we could theoretically turn the Commander Gunner saga into the first episode, and then later release The Great Invasion as Episode 2, followed by Assignment: Orth as Episode 3 and so on. Of course, this is just a wild idea that I had the other night when I realized that the story comes to a virtual close with the conclusion of this chapter. The idea of episodic gaming is not as crazy as it sounds, though. Take Telltale Games as an example: http://www.telltalegames.com.
* On a comical note, I recently discovered a Commander Bob Gunner look-alike in one of my old Disneyland home movies. An interesting character concept, if nothing more: Bob Gunner #1 / Bob Gunner #2

Chapter 7: The Sixth Sense

Storyboard #19
Frame #1: A few days have passed since the successful return of Commander Bob Gunner. Most of the crew members have put the whole experience behind them. Several of them can be seen in the Deck #2 corridor going about their usual business.
Frame #2: However, for one crew member, the experience is still vivid. Bill Grig is sitting alone in his crew quarters, and once again pondering the events that transpired. He knows that something does not quite add up.
Frame #3: Bill Grig decides to do a little research in the Laboratory on Deck #2. As he is making his way down the corridor, he notices an advertisement on an overhead monitor. Bill Grig does not quite understand the need for such things on an orbital base in deep space, but regardless, he decides to watch it. A blond haired man, no older than 19 or 20, is advertising his new shop, which specializes in ship repair. It is called Steven Handy's Fixer Uppers, and is located on Nuckton. Now, when would this information prove useful?
Frame #4: Bill Grig enters the Laboratory, and has a seat at one of the terminals. He powers up the master computer, and prepares to search the database.

Storyboard #20
Frame #1: Using footage from the initial attack on Commander Bob Gunner's team, Bill Grig is able to gather some new information. Several clues arise during his investigation. Most intriguingly, the symbol on the cargo ships. Bill Grig also notices that the enemy forces went into a V formation during both encounters.
Frame #2: Bill Grig searches for the strange symbol in the database. There is only one result on the screen. Bill Grig now knows exactly what they are dealing with. The race known as Velorian. The database lists them as highly volatile. Their primary ambition is planetary conquest.
Frame #3: Bill Grig's face turns to dread as he realizes the implications of these findings.
Frame #4: To make matters worse, Bill Grig notices that there is a disturbing piece of archival footage associated with the Velorian name. It seems to date back twenty years, and reveals the horrific last moments of another civilization. Bill Grig fearfully presses the play button.

Storyboard #21
Frame #1: This storyboard is framed as a flashback/archival footage sequence. It is seen from the perspective of a security camera. In orbit around Zendar, crew members go about their daily activities on-board one of Zendar's finest bases. Everyone is as cheerful as can be.
Frame #2: Suddenly, an armada of attack ships drop out of warp near the base, and begin to fire on it without pause. As they do, many of the crew members frantically scatter throughout the corridor.
Frame #3: The base is slowly torn apart, and many of the crew members are sucked into the void of space. Terrifying screams can be heard from virtually every direction. For a brief moment, they shake about and gasp for air, but space quickly consumes them, and their lifeless bodies float outward.
Frame #4: A very large explosion cuts the transmission short. Static fills the screen.

Storyboard #22
Frame #1: Bill Grig fears that the same fate could soon befall his own civilization, and rushes to tell Commander Bob Gunner about his frightful discovery.
Frame #2: On his way to the lift, Bill Grig overhears peculiar noises. They seem to be coming from the outer walls. He is not imagining them. Other fleet members begin to make comments.
Frame #3: A few moments later, Bill Grig witnesses something zoom by the window. Everything is clear to him now. The Velorians are using probes to test the defense systems of the orbital base.
Frame #4: Bill Grig enters the lift, and chooses Deck #4 from the keypad. He can only hope that there is still time to warn Commander Bob Gunner.

Notes
* Steven Handy is in fact a characteture of my younger brother, Steven. He was also in the original games (as an even younger character, around 11 or 12), and became a valuable asset to Bill Grig later on. Steven never liked this, but the legacy lives on. Eero Ränik did a few recordings for Steven Handy near the beginning of this project, but we will most likely be recording new voices for the finished product.
* By now, Bill Grig has explored most of the rooms on the base, with the exception of Private Docking Bay (Docking Bay #2) on Deck #2 and Development Room on Deck #3. The latter room is locked, and requires a little effort. It is not part of the story, but rather, an optional side quest.
* The name Zendar comes from Marlon Castillo's old pet project, Quest for Zendar. It was going to be an RPG with three playable characters, who were on a quest to save their land from an unspeakable evil. I plan to incorporate many characters and other things from previous Goalsoft projects somewhere within the Space Ruckus universe.
* Another important question may arise from this chapter. How did the fleet acquire the archival footage from Zendar, and why did they not act on it sooner? Well, I doubt that they came across this footage for quite some time after the attack on Zendar, and therefore could not lend assistance. Also, with nobody alive to tell the story, and only the perspective of a lone security camera, there is very little to draw clues from.
* To make this chapter even spookier, consider the possibility that the Velorians very reason for kidnapping (and keeping alive) Commander Bob Gunner was to learn the whereabouts of his home base. Bill Grig and Joe Commer rescued him only to lead the Velorians to discover their origin.

Chapter 8: Under Siege

Storyboard #23
Frame #1: Just as Bill Grig begins his ascent inside the lift, a force of nearly fifty attack ships enter range of the Ralin V orbital base. Unfortunately, they do not look very friendly.
Frame #2: Meanwhile, on the bridge, Commander Bob Gunner is trying to establish contact with them. The communications officer is unable to open a channel. Clearly, the aliens have no interest in idle conversation.
Frame #3: The aliens begin to open fire on the base, and Commander Bob Gunner orders an immediate counter-attack. The entire fleet is ordered to report to Docking Bay #1 on Deck #1.
Frame #4: Bill Grig's lift has stopped somewhere between Deck #3 and Deck #4. Sporadic power outages are being experienced throughout the base.

Storyboard #24
Frame #1: An attack ship circles through the inner section of the orbital base. It lines up a target; one of the Deck #2 Passageways (otherwise known as, "Glass Walkways").
Frame #2: A severe impact ignites the walkway as several fleet members are making their way through.
Frame #3: Those that are not immediately burned alive, begin to make a run for the adjacent corridor, screaming their lungs out along the way.
Frame #4: Flames fully engulf the walkway. One fleet member tries to reach for the outside corridor, but an emergency door slams shut to prevent further breaches. Everyone that was in the Deck #2 Passageway is now dead.

Storyboard #25
Frame #1: Bill Grig notices a hatch above him, and quickly pops it open. He climbs out of the lift, and has a look around with the aid of his visor's night vision.
Frame #2: Bill Grig finds an emergency ladder in the lift shaft that leads to the various decks. He climbs upward to reach the bridge on Deck #4.
Frame #3: Bill Grig soon arrives to inform Commander Bob Gunner of the alien race's intentions. Commander Bob Gunner realizes that this is not going to be an easy battle to win. He has something special to show Bill Grig.
Frame #4: Bill Grig and Commander Bob Gunner quietly depart from the bridge, and once again make use of the emergency ladder inside the lift shaft. Commander Bob Gunner orders Bill Grig to follow him to Deck #2.

Storyboard #26
Frame #1: As Bill Grig and Commander Bob Gunner pass by the lift, it begins to sway back and forth. Bill Grig warns Commander Bob Gunner to watch out for falling debris.
Frame #2: They both hold tightly onto the ladder as the lift comes crashing down. It ultimately collides with Deck #1. Commander Bob Gunner hopes that nobody was hurt down below.
Frame #3: Commander Bob Gunner reaches for the Deck #2 door, and slowly pries it open. Bill Grig follows him through the doorway.
Frame #4: As they make their way through the corridor, a major breach occurs. The overhead monitors and wall panels begin to buckle, and then fly outward.

Storyboard #27
Frame #1: Bill Grig and Commander Bob Gunner hold tightly onto the inside wall to avoid being sucked into space. The oxygen level in the corridor quickly depletes, and they begin to gasp for air.
Frame #2: To avoid suffocation, Commander Bob Gunner unlocks the door to Docking Bay #2 (otherwise known as, "Private Docking Bay") and Bill Grig follows him through. The door closes behind them.
Frame #3: Commander Bob Gunner has been experimenting with new ship technology. He has something to show Bill Grig that will change the shape of the fleet forever. Several schematics can be seen on a nearby table.
Frame #4: Commander Bob Gunner unveils his creation, the G-Flyer! Jim Wise assembled the ship, and Commander Bob Gunner supervised its construction. He believes that now is finally the time for its maiden voyage.

Notes
* Jim Wise is the primary base engineer. He is tasked with repairing this and that, and of course, constructing new forms of space crafts. I do not know why he has not yet fixed the food dispenser in the Break Hall.
* The G-Flyer has had a rather interesting development cycle. When Gordon Wallace first modeled the ship, it looked quite aged. Given that the ship is fresh from the assembly line at the time of The Great Invasion, this seemed quite unusual. The blue coat of paint was another missing detail. Ultimately, meelWORM and I had to tinker with that as Gordon Wallace pulled a vanishing act. Perhaps the aged model could still be used at some point, though. That is, assuming that we don't just remodel the whole ship. It is four years old now.
* As for Commander Bob Gunner's choice of Bill Grig for the G-Flyer flight, I think that is fairly logical. Bill Grig saved Commander Bob Gunner's life. He owes him a debt of gratitude. There may be another logical reason, but I don't know whether or not I consider it canon anymore. By which I mean, Commander Bob Gunner being Bill Grig's father.
* Docking Bay #2 (Private Docking Bay) will be converted into a Sick Bay in Assignment: Orth. Gee, that could have been useful during The Great Invasion. That is not to say that they did not have medical supplies. They just didn't have a proper medical facility established on the base. Much like Zendar, they were not prepared for a full scale war. Zendar was a sitting duck, though. They did not have weapons of any kind. They were a peaceful race. The moral of the story is: it's better to have a gun and not need it, than to not have a gun and need it.
* For a quick lighthearted moment, after the invasion begins, and Bill Grig is making his way up the lift, we should play slow, mellow elevator music.
* I added an additional storyboard to this chapter after going back through the old documents (the bit about the Deck #2 Passageway). This is now the longest chapter by far. As a direct result, I had to renumber the storyboards beneath it.

Chapter 9: Star Wars

Storyboard #28
Frame #1: Bill Grig hops into the G-Flyer, and starts the engine. He notices that this ship has a much better defense system than the fleet cruiser. It is equipped with two phaser cannons, which have a significantly faster recharge time. It is also equipped with an improved shield system, which can be further enhanced by temporarily disabling phaser production, and it features a one of its kind target tracking system. Bill Grig is impressed by these improvements.
Frame #2: Commander Bob Gunner warns Bill Grig that the G-Flyer is still a prototype. He should take tender care of it.
Frame #3: Bill Grig fires up the booster rockets, and blasts into space. The sheer pressure of the blast knocks him backward into his seat.
Frame #4: The fleet has already taken some fairly massive casualties. Bill Grig can only hope that he is in time to save the base itself.

Storyboard #29
Frame #1: Bill Grig decides to give the new defense system a test. With a quick tap of the trigger button, the G-Flyer's duel phaser cannons heat up and ignite into space. They make contact with several unsuspecting attack ships. The result is fiery splendor.
Frame #2: Bill Grig has now aroused the attention of the other attack ships. Many of them suddenly shift their target on Bill Grig and his powerful new ship.
Frame #3: Wave after wave of attack ships bombard Bill Grig. Relentlessly, he plows through them with his duel phaser cannons.
Frame #4: It soon comes down to just one remaining attack ship. Sergeant Kit Adome, a pilot in the battle, orders the surviving members of the fleet to return to base for repairs. Bill Grig remains to settle the score.

Storyboard #30
Frame #1: Meanwhile, in Docking Bay #1, Joe Commer has enlisted his services to repair incoming ships. He believes that he has finally found his true calling.
Frame #2: As Joe Commer looks onward, the first batch of fleet cruisers arrive fresh from battle.
Frame #3: One of them lands near Joe Commer. It is Sergeant Kit Adome. He asks Joe Commer to be gentle with her (referring to his ship).
Frame #4: Joe Commer picks up a utility belt from a nearby table, and gets to work.

Storyboard #31
Frame #1: Bill Grig engages in a dogfight with the last remaining attack ship. Turn for turn, the G-Flyer is one step ahead, and it is soon proven that it can outmaneuver just about anything.
Frame #2: Bill Grig says goodbye to his competition once and for all. With one last tap of the trigger button, it is blasted into oblivion like the ones before it.
Frame #3: Commander Bob Gunner informs Bill Grig over the intercom that there are more attack ships approaching the sector. Bill Grig wants to make sure that they never arrive.
Frame #4: He sets a course for deep space, and engages the booster rockets once more.

Notes
* I realize that this chapter is not as detailed as some of the others. I am just trying to get the most important details across right now. I will fill in the gaps with my later level descriptions to know exactly how many and where the enemy targets will be. Hopefully, this will be enough for a decent storyboard, though.
* If anyone else has ever been on a roller coaster that goes from 0 to 60 in less than five seconds, you will know exactly what I mean by "the sheer pressure of the blast knocks him backward into his seat." The force would actually cause his facial muscles to ripple back. A great photo op, if nothing more.
* The shiny new paint job on the G-Flyer sure won't last for long. It will be dirty before you know it.
* The original Space Ruckus game began at precisely Storyboard #29 - Frame #3.
* I have expanded this chapter a bit by adding a full storyboard dedicated to Joe Commer.

Chapter 10: Deep Impact

Storyboard #32
Frame #1: Bill Grig soon arrives in deep space, and finds himself up against an unbelievable number of attack ships. Through the window of his ship, he can see a large solar radiation cloud.
Frame #2: The attack ships quickly spot Bill Grig, and hone in on him. Their blaster fire practically disables his shield. Several scuff marks can now be seen on the G-Flyer's exterior.
Frame #3: Bill Grig goes into a barrel roll to avoid some of the more devastating shots. It seems to be fairly effective.
Frame #4: With a few well placed shots, Bill Grig takes out several of the leading attack ships, but he soon realizes that nothing will stop these aliens forever.

Storyboard #33
Frame #1: An attack ship attempts to collide with the G-Flyer. Bill Grig takes evasive maneuvers to avoid an impact. Is this what they have reduced themselves to, suicide bombing?
Frame #2: With a few more well placed shots, Bill Grig takes out several more attack ships.
Frame #3: Bill Grig's radar shows two attack ships racing toward him from opposing directions. At the last moment, he spins away, and the two attack ships collide with each other.
Frame #4: In one last ditch effort, Bill Grig wipes out the remaining attack ships with his duel phaser cannons.

Storyboard #34
Frame #1: Bill Grig breathes a sigh of relief, albeit a bit prematurely. To his surprise, a small base has emerged from behind the solar radiation cloud.
Frame #2: Unfortunately, the G-Flyer's phaser cannons do not seem to have an effect on it. Bill Grig's only choice is to dock with the mysterious base.
Frame #3: After doing so, he locks up the ship, and takes note of his parking space. It appears to be Velorian 3-D.
Frame #4: Bill Grig enters a dark corridor, and gets his first real look at the ugly invaders. At first glance, they appear almost squid-like. Several tentacles extend from their chin and legs, and reptilian skin covers their arms, head, and torso.

Storyboard #35
Frame #1: It is not long before the aliens spot Bill Grig, and open fire on him. Thankfully, Commander Bob Gunner had the foresight to equip the G-Flyer with a portable phaser. Bill Grig returns fire on the aliens.
Frame #2: Bill Grig advances his way through the base. He stops periodically to shield himself from alien fire, and then continues to move forward.
Frame #3: Soon enough, he locates the control room, and finds the core of the base within.
Frame #4: Bill Grig attempts to gain access to a nearby control panel, but it proves unsuccessful.

Storyboard #36
Frame #1: Bill Grig has only one option now. Using his phaser, he fires directly on the core itself.
Frame #2: The core begins to spark, and then implodes on itself.
Frame #3: Bill Grig races back the way that he came, and locates the G-Flyer with very little time to spare.
Frame #4: As Bill Grig is flying away from the rubble that was once an alien base, Commander Bob Gunner sends an urgent message over the intercom. He orders him to return to Ralin V. More attack ships have surrounded the orbital base.

Notes
* A simple level diagram for the "mini-base" already exists, and can be found here.
* Originally, the "mini-base" level was not going to be included in the progression of the story, but rather, as a bonus stage entitled "Alien Gung-Ho." In said stage, your goal was to reach the control room, and shut down the defense system. You would have the choice of conserving your phaser energy, and running like a coward, or blasting everything in sight.
* The "Velorian 3-D" parking space picture/number is a clear Disney reference. I thought that it would be fun to add a little bit of humor to a tense situation. Plus, it will make it easier to find the G-Flyer on the way out. 3-D also happens to be the apartment number of the Ricardo's, but that is just a coincidence.

Chapter 11: Top Gun

Storyboard #37
Frame #1: Several major blasts penetrate the orbital base, resulting in the emergency closure of Deck #2 and Deck #3 to preserve the safety of the crew members on board. All activity is now isolated to Docking Bay #1 and the bridge.
Frame #2: With their ships repaired, the surviving members of the fleet return to battle. Joe Commer proved to be quite the handy man. The fleet cruisers seem to be operating at full capacity. Nay, even stronger than before.
Frame #3: Bill Grig soon arrives to find himself up against an even more unbelievable number of attack ships. He wonders whether or not the Velorians have anything better to do with their time.
Frame #4: Bill Grig taps the trigger button, and blasts into the middle of the battle.

Storyboard #38
Frame #1: Bill Grig mows down everything that he can, but sadly, even that is not good enough. The attack ships appear to be adapting to his flight style.
Frame #2: Bill Grig is on the receiving end of some very severe firepower. If he takes one more hit like that, he will lose his shield, and be a sitting duck.
Frame #3: Now in front of the attack ships, and with the orbital base in clear sight, Bill Grig decides to loop around for a kill.
Frame #4: Once again, he taps the trigger button, and blasts directly into the middle of the battle.

Storyboard #39
Frame #1: Bill Grig makes a third and final run. He wipes out all but one of the attack ships.
Frame #2: The last attack ship loops around, and positions itself behind the G-Flyer.
Frame #3: Bill Grig takes evasive maneuvers through the inner section of the orbital base to avoid blaster fire from the trailing attack ship.
Frame #4: Finally, Bill Grig himself loops around, and positions himself behind the attack ship. As they say, one good turn deserves another.

Storyboard #40
Frame #1: Bill Grig taps the trigger button, and sends the final attack ship into pieces.
Frame #2: Commander Bob Gunner once again contacts Bill Grig over the intercom. They have learned the location of the alien base.
Frame #3: Bill Grig sets a course, and yet again engages his booster rockets.
Frame #4: Meanwhile, Sergeant Bud Kelson, another pilot in the battle, orders the surviving members of the fleet to remain, and protect the orbital base in case any more attack ships may arrive.

Notes
* Once again, there are certainly details that are not covered here that I will cover later in the level descriptions. Right now, I am just trying to get through the core story progression.
* Originally, there was going to be a scene on the bridge after Commander Bob Gunner learns the location of the alien base. Wherein, we would see a surveillance image, and everyone on the bridge would gasp. I think that it is better to save the reveal for when Bill Grig sees it with his own eyes, though.
* I will cover more information behind the alien base in the notes section of the next chapter.

Chapter 12: The Last Starfighter

Storyboard #41
Frame #1: Bill Grig soon arrives at the alien base. It is an enormous monstrosity. Size must really matter to the Velorians. He soon realizes that the base is not his only problem. A truly unbelievable number of attack ships are scattered about the area.
Frame #2: Bill Grig prepares for his attack. Forcefully, he blasts toward the alien base. From virtually every direction, attack ships race toward Bill Grig with an unprecedented level of fiery fury.
Frame #3: Bill Grig cannot fend them all off. He quickly loses his shield completely. His only defense now lies in his skills alone. Bill Grig will not go down without a fight.
Frame #4: Bill Grig spots a series of beams that span the surface of the alien base, and decides to fly between them to avoid some of the more devastating attacks from above.

Storyboard #42
Frame #1: Using his duel phaser cannons, Bill Grig blasts anything and everything around him that he can hit. From every which way, there are swarming attack ships and spinning turrets. Bill Grig does not know whether or not he will survive.
Frame #2: Suddenly, Commander Bob Gunner sends a message over the intercom. He informs Bill Grig of a mother ship at the other end of the alien base. If Bill Grig hopes to live through this day, he will have to take down this mother ship.
Frame #3: To his surprise, after passing through the last beam, a large vessel rises from beneath the alien base. It is an enormous shielded ship.
Frame #4: Bill Grig blasts it with everything that he has. He only briefly pauses to dodge attacks.

Storyboard #43
Frame #1: The shield surrounding the mother ship begins to fade. Bill Grig believes that he has gained the upper hand. However, in his moment of triumph, he fails to notice a swarm of attack ships rise from behind the mother ship.
Frame #2: Bill Grig goes into a last minute barrel roll to avoid the oncoming fire. It is almost too much to avoid. Just barely, he manages to survive the attack. If he takes one more shot like that, he will be done for, though.
Frame #3: Bill Grig blasts the attack ships into oblivion, and then continues to concentrate on the mother ship.
Frame #4: The shield is finally destroyed. With his last ounce of breathe, Bill Grig races in for the kill. He relentlessly holds down the trigger button, and gives the mother ship everything that he has.

Storyboard #44
Frame #1: Suddenly, the mother ship explodes into a million pieces, and Bill Grig engages his booster rockets. He passes directly through the debris. Bill Grig mutters the words, sayonara suckers!
Frame #2: Bill Grig watches as the remaining attack ships lose control, and collide with the alien base. He can only assume that the mother ship contained flight directives for the other ships.
Frame #3: Bill Grig flies the bruised and battered G-Flyer to safety just as the alien base explodes.
Frame #4: Commander Bob Gunner sends one last message over the intercom. He congratulates Bill Grig on his successful mission, and asks him to return to Ralin V. Celebration is now in order.

Notes
* A simple alien base level diagram can be found here.
* The alien base does still look a little bit like a Star Destroyer. I admit that. We can always redesign it before the final version of the game, though.
* To elaborate a bit further on the mother ship's purpose, think of it as a spacial coordinator. In humans, such as ourselves, we have something in our inner ear that provides us with a better sense of balance. Who is to say that every species has this? The Velorians saw fit to build a machine that would provide them with a better understanding of 3D space. Of course, they would be wiped out pretty effectively if they only built one of these machines. They definitely have more, but they don't always come in the shape of a big hulking armored vessel.
* We can always design a few more types of Velorian ships. I realize that the attack ship alone would become very dull after one or two missions.
* Yes, Bill Grig has a little Japanese in his blood.

Chapter 13: The Sound of Music

Storyboard #45
Frame #1: Bill Grig lands the G-Flyer in Docking Bay #1. He is glad to see that the old base still stands. Albeit, a little worse for wear. Power has been restored to some areas.
Frame #2: After the final battle, the entire fleet remained in Docking Bay #1 to welcome Bill Grig home. In the crowd is Commander Bob Gunner. He has a smile on his face.
Frame #3: Everyone shakes hands with Bill Grig, and once again thanks him for his bravery in the face of battle.
Frame #4: Commander Bob Gunner has a surprise waiting for Bill Grig in the Break Hall. He invites him and the rest of the fleet to join him there.

Storyboard #46
Frame #1: Once there, Bill Grig is formally promoted to Sergeant. The fleet toasts him.
Frame #2: In attendance to wish him well is Bill Grig's friend Joe Commer. Suddenly, Dan Trimodo shows up one last time to disrespect him. Having listened to what Bill Grig told him a few days ago, Joe Commer ignores him, and continues to celebrate with the others.
Frame #3: Bill Grig thanks Commander Bob Gunner for the use of his new ship, the G-Flyer. Commander Bob Gunner is very satisfied with how the ship operated, but only wishes that Bill Grig had not scraped the fresh paint job. He is sure that the ship will again prove useful. Therefore, Commander Bob Gunner decides that it is time to mass produce a version for the rest of the fleet. He has envisioned a very promising future.
Frame #4: Everyone in the room once again holds up a glass of ale, and toasts their victory.

Storyboard #47
Frame #1: Meanwhile, across the sector, other fleets are celebrating the victory, too, including Ethoria and Darcon XII. Sergeant John Squadner is among the celebrating fleet members.
Frame #2: Later, back on the Ralin V orbital base, Bill Grig stands in the corridor, peering off into space.
Frame #3: He reaches for his helmet, and removes it from his head. Bill Grig, now moving up the ladder of command, ponders his past for a moment. He recollects on memories of his former home in a distant galaxy. A home that he has not seen for several years. His obligation to the fleet being one of the reasons for this. He can only hope that, one day, he will see Orth again.
Frame #4: These thoughts soon fade from Bill Grig's mind as he continues to celebrate the victory with his fellow fleet members. Meanwhile, the stars continue to shimmer, and a shooting star passes by. The galaxy is finally at peace again... for now.

Storyboard #48 (Bonus Storyboard)
Frame #1: In the Laboratory on Deck #3, power has been restored, and a few sparks are flying. Several terminals have been knocked over, and files are scattered about.
Frame #2: An overhead shelf collapses to reveal a few more files. Most of them are not very interesting, save for one.
Frame #3: Zoom in on a file titled "Assignment: Orth."
Frame #4: Fade out and begin credit sequence.

Notes
* We have reached the end of the SRSB (Space Ruckus Storyboard), but this is not the end of Space Ruckus. In the near future, I will begin writing Assignment: Orth. For many of the team members (including myself), this will be the first time exploring the later adventures in detail.
* By the way, in case it was not already clear, every chapter title was borrowed from a movie. These titles will NOT be appearing in-game. I was just having a little fun while writing.