Starro War (Emerald Knights)

Episode 3 of the first season of Emerald Knights. Taking place immediately after the events of Korugarian Crisis, Kilowog and several other Lanterns have been sent to protect the planet of Betrassus from an intergalactic threat known as Starro the Conqueror. They find themselves outmatched and outgunned as they touch down. Meanwhile, Hal Jordan must come to terms with the fact that his mentor Sinestro would commit such atrocities. He returns to Earth as both Carol Ferris and John Stewart help his cope.

Story
“Starro War” S1E3

Legions of Green Lanterns land on the planet Betrassus, we focus on Kilowog’s group: Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Arisia Rrab, Salaak, Ch’p, Galius Zed, Arkkis Chummuck.

Kilowog

The Guardians would stick me with two rookies.

Ch’p

We may be rookies, but we have the best shot at saving this planet.

Kilowog

What a smart little rookie chipmunk, we need to get out in the field.

Arkkis Chummuck

With no plan?

A plane is about to crash, and Kilowog catches it with his ring and lands it safely. He returns to his Lanterns.

Kilowog

There’ll be time for that later, the other Lanterns are looking for this Starro creature, so we’ll be on the front lines. Any questions?

Nobody reacts.

Kilowog

Thought so, poozers. Let’s get out there!

Emerald Knights Intro

Hundreds of Lanterns are fighting and dying, saving civilians, etc. Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Chummuck, Salaak, Galius Zed, Ch’p and Arisia fight civilians on the planet who’ve been mind controlled by Starro, they have stars with an eye in the middle across their faces. As the mind controlled civilians are knocked out, the stars slide off their faces.

Kilowog

Avoid the starfishes!

Kilowog blasts a stray star.

Arisia Rrab

Yeah, somehow I guessed that.

Kilowog

Listen rook, let’s keep the sass for after we survive this, yeah?

Arkkis Chummuck

Assuming we survive.

Tomar-Re

Of course we will survive, we are the Green Lantern Corps.

Salaak

We can not keep fighting these people, we need to find the source!

Kilowog

Agreed, let’s clear out this area and form a real plan

Arisia Rrab

About time!

On Earth, Hal Jordan is piloting another jet. As he flies, he has flashbacks to his experience on Korugar. “Join me Hal!”, “I’ll simply show you fear.”, “YOU SPINELESS COWARD!”, etc. Hal is deep in thought, and is finally shaken out of it when he nearly crashes into the side of a mountain. He narrowly swerves out of the way and heads back to the runway.

Voice Command

Jordan? Jordan is everything alright?

Hal Jordan

Yeah, Kalmaku I gotta head home. Not in the right state of mind to be flying.

Tom Kalmaku

Is this about your uh.. Other job?

Hal Jordan

It’s related. I’ll see you later Tommy.

Hal Jordan flies to the top of a rooftop, staring over the city. He’s having PTSD from Korugar. John Stewart flies on top of the same rooftop to meet him.

John

Rough day?

Hal

Like you wouldn’t know. What are you doing on Earth, no other planets to protect?

John

Well, ever since I met some of the uh.. Heroes stationed here, I decided I needed to spend more time on my home planet. Made me feel a little like I forgot where I came from.

Hal

Yeah, I needed a little break from the Corps. Nice refreshing breather in a billion dollar jet, till I almost crashed that is.

John

Speaking of, how are you holding up Hal?

Hal

Like a brick wall. Does it ever get easier, man? This job?

John

Heh. The things I’ve seen Hal, would make a normie lose his mind. That’s why we were chosen Hal, we have to have the strongest wills in the galaxy to go out there. I mean especially for humans, what official contact do we have with other life? We’re not used to it, that’s why it took the Guardians thousands of years to even think about choosing a human.

Hal

Well that was inspiring.

John sits down next to Hal.

John

The truth rarely is Hal. Sinestro was my friend too. Me, Kilowog, Sinestro, Abin. We’re the reason the Guardians even allow lantern collaboration.

Hal

They didn’t always?

John

Not even close. They hated the thought of it. We four showed them the effectiveness of collaboration, Sinestro put up the biggest fight too, almost had him tried for treason. My point is, things change Hal. Especially in this field, things change.

Hal and John sit in silence on top of the rooftop.

Back on Betrassus, the team huddle up to create a plan after their area is somewhat stable.

Kilowog

Okay, obviously these stars are coming from the main Starro, Lanterns have already been dispatched to find it but who knows where they are right now.

Arisia

Why can’t we just rip these things off their faces?

Kilowog

Nah rookie, who knows what kinda mess that might make. Plus knocking em out seemed to do em good, the stars slid right off their faces.

Galius Zed

So then we need to aid the Lanterns looking for the source

Kilowog

Yeah, but the problem is there’s still people dying.Ch’p, Galius Zed, Salaak, you three work on crowd control, cleaning up debris, saving lifes, that sorta thing. Arisia, Chummuck, keep fighting the Starro soldiers, me and birdbrain ova here will find the source.

Tomar-Re

Do we even know where the source is?

Kilowog

Boodikka gave us a ring update, said they were last near the Great Ocean, so we have a lead.

Tomar-Re

Good. Then we need to head out.

The two start to fly away

Kilowog

You know your roles, so roll out!

Kilowog and Tomar-Re are joined by Martian Manhunter in the air.

Martian Manhunter

I came as soon as I could.

Kilowog

Greenie, what do you know about these starro things?

Martian Manhunter

I’ve heard stories. Starro the Conqueror is an intergalactic warlord and parasite. He moves from planet to planet, effectively terraforming them in his wake. He was defeated by the Martians millenia ago, and hasn’t returned since.

Kilowog

So what’s he doing here?

Martian Manhunter

What he always does, lay the stepping stones to his takeover of the galaxy.

Kilowog

Lovely. Why are you so helpful anyways?

Martian Manhunter

Eons ago, my race were intergalactic conquerors, until we were genetically split apart into two creeds: the white and green martians. While the green martians are mostly peaceful people, the white martians still seek to rule the galaxy. I am making amends for that.

Tomar-Re

An honorable mission.

Martian Manhunter

Indeed.

Kilowog

Two peas in a pod, you two.

Tomar-Re

Ring, scan for extraterrestrial life forms not native to this planet at the bottom of this ocean.

Ring

One life form detected.

Tomar-Re

Starro?

Kilowog

Let’s find out. Uh, greenie can you breathe under there?

Martian Manhunter

Yes, I can adapt to almost every situation.

Kilowog

Useful. Let’s go.

The Lanterns travel to the bottom of the ocean, Kilowog and Tomar-Re protected by their rings, and J’onn forming gills to breathe underwater.

Back on Earth, Hal Jordan enters his apartment, the ring in his hand. Carol Ferris knocks on the door after he enters.

Carol

Hal? Can I come in?

Hal

Yeah, pretty sure I left the door open

Carol opens the door and lets herself in.

Carol

Do you always leave the door open?

Hal

Pretty much.

Carol

And what if somebody breaks in?

Hal

Then they wouldn’t be breaking in, they’d be opening a door. Plus I’m the /s Green Lantern /s, what should I be scared for?

Carol

There’s a difference between fear and recklessness. I heard what happened at the airfield

Hal

What about it?

Carol

Hal, you almost crashed into a mountain and died. What’s going on with you?

Hal sighs, takes a break and decides to tell Carol

Hal

Something.. something crazy happened at my “other job”.

Carol

Yeah? Tell me about it

Hal

Well my uh.. mentor, or former mentor I guess, he was doing real bad things to his planet, Korugar. I mean terrorizing citizens, ruling in fear, containment camps?? Like the whole time I was looking up to this guy for him to be a.. a Nazi!

Carol

Hal..

Hal

I didn’t sign up for this. Any of it. I don’t even know if I want this ring anymore.

Carol and Hal take a break, not speaking for a minute

Carol

How many people have you saved? On your home planet?

Hal

Carol, I don’t-

Carol

No I’m serious! Ask your ring or something

Hal

(Sighs.) Ring, how many civilians have I saved on planet Earth?

Ring

12,379.

Carol

Twelve THOUSAND three hundred and 79. That’s not even including the rest of the galaxy, just your planet.

Hal

Okay, I get it, I shouldn’t quit, I save lives, all that jazz.

Carol

That’s the thing Hal! You save lives! PLURAL! That number, it might not be high for the rest of those Lanterns, but to me, that means the biggest thing in the world. It should to you too, Hal.

Hal reflects on what Carol just said, staring at his lantern.

Carol

Hal, you’re my hero.

Hal looks at Carol, and the two share a kiss.

Hal

Heh.. about time.

Ring

Green Lantern sector 2814.2, you have been called to Oa as a witness for the intergalactic trial of Thaal Sinestro.

Hal

Speak of the devil.

Hal stares at his ring glowing, concerned and saddened.

On Betrassus, the trio find a large squid like starfish with large tentacles, and Green Lanterns surrounding him.

Kilowog

Guys! Guys! What’s going on?

The lanterns turn around, they’ve been Starro’d.

Kilowog

Son of a bitch.

End of Episode.

Cast

 * Ron Perlman as Kilowog
 * Harry Lennix as Martian Manhunter
 * Chris Pine as Hal Jordan
 * John David Washington as John Stewart
 * Doug Jones as Tomar-Re
 * Alison Brie as Carol Ferris
 * Maya Hawke as Arisia Rrab
 * Mark Strong as Sinestro
 * Henry Golding as Tom Kalmaku
 * Rory McCann as Salaak
 * Taika Watiti as Ch'p
 * Frank Welker as Starro
 * Jon Hamm as Arkkis Chummuck