CASTING PREREQUISITES; Adult, Male, North American Accent, Caucasian (Requires deep, gravelly voice. Think Ron Perlman).

NOTE; Script and budget are WIP, and as such are not listed at final values.

This is a long-term role, as the ARTIFICIAL FAULTS story will be told over multiple seasons. If you have any questions regarding the role or the project, just let me know!

Colonel Caden Duncan is a secondary character in the ARTIFICIAL FAULTS story. A high-ranking member within the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Colonel Duncan is the primary liaison for supersoldier unit for Zero Team, and passes down orders to them, while following his own chain of command.

Throughout the season, Colonel Duncan has his own arc of struggle, primarily with his own commanding officer, Admiral Margaret Parangosky. Duncan regularly clashes with both her as well as Zero Team, searching for what the meaning of his place in the whirlwind of events happening is. A true purveyor of knowledge, to his own detriment at times.

These are the following audition scenes, you only have to read Colonel Duncan's dialogue;

SCENE 1: COLONEL DUNCAN QUESTIONS ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY'S AUTHORITY AND HIS PLACE WITHIN HER INSTRUCTIONS.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

I’d say that went about as well as expected. Wouldn’t you, Colonel?

COLONEL DUNCAN

Admiral... with all due respect, what exactly have you given me?

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY (CURIOUS)

Whatever do you mean?

Colonel Duncan smirks, albeit frustrated, before folding his hands on the wooden desk and leaning into his monitor.

COLONEL DUNCAN

We both know that I submitted my request to exit active duty when the Covenant War ended, correct?

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

Your point?

COLONEL DUNCAN (FRUSTRATED) 

Just pointing something out. Following that, I instead receive very strange orders to take up an office job as administrator of this very orbital station and its accompanying space elevator. Simple enough. However, I am also ordered to survey one extremely restricted cargo hold in particular, with nothing further beyond, quote unquote, “keep an eye on it”. Sound familiar?

Colonel Duncan waits for a response, his hands fidgeting as they fold over one another repeatedly.  Admiral Parangosky remains silent. Colonel Duncan lightly gulps, before continuing.

COLONEL DUNCAN (CONTINUING)

...Lo and behold, this very cargo hold contains none other than a Spartan unit, in which you immediately order to be inserted as the first official joint operation between the UNSC and Swords of Sanghelios. And now, what, I’m expected to babysit them? If I had known all of this was in the fine print, I might have given second thoughts about taking this position.

After a light pause, Admiral Parangosky speaks up.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY (CONDESCENDING)

Caden Duncan. We both know you sacrificed your right to curiosity many years ago. Sound familiar? 

Colonel Duncan’s eyes widen ever so slightly.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

Now, if you’re going to work with me on this, all you have to worry about is to do as you are told, do not ask questions, and get a paycheck out of it. And we both know that’s more than good enough for you, isn’t it?

Colonel Duncan remains silent, and shifts his vision from the monitor to his desk, folding his hands under his nose.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

I’m glad you agree. Will that be all for now?

COLONEL DUNCAN (LOWLY)

Yes, ma’am.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

Good. Now that we have that cleared up, I have our next step for this “Zero Team” ready. The dossier will be sent to you momentarily. Prep your unit and deploy them as soon as they are debriefed. Inform me on the results.

As Admiral Parangosky speaks, Colonel Duncan’s tablet lights up with a notification, vibrating. He glances over, and reaches to hold it within his hands, reading the new information.

COLONEL DUNCAN (REALIZING)

Wait, a deployment? So soon? Aren’t we moving a little fast with this unit, Admiral? They’ve only exited cryosleep hours ago-

Admiral Parangosky cuts him off.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

Time is the one weapon of war neither side can replenish, Colonel. You cannot reload it, you cannot recruit it, you cannot build it. The more effectively we use it, the more difficult it becomes for the enemies of humanity to do so. 

COLONEL DUNCAN (MONOTONE)

Understood.

ADMIRAL PARANGOSKY

Now, as I said, prep your unit. I will be waiting for the results.

The call is disconnected. 

COLONEL DUNCAN (TO HIMSELF)

Goddamn spook.

Colonel Duncan places his tablet back on his table, before reaching to his keyboard, and begins to navigate his personal computer, fixated on the last frame of Zero Team from the security footage feed before they exited Orbital. The view slowly pans out as he investigates on his computer, intently.

COLONEL DUNCAN

Her errand run can wait. What I need to figure out... is just who are you, Zero Team..?

SCENE 2: COLONEL DUNCAN HANDS ZERO TEAM THEIR FIRST MISSION AFTER GATHERING THEIR RANKS, AND DETAILS THE SPECIFICS AT HAND.

Zero Team gathers, lined up and awaiting the Colonel’s briefing.

VALENCIA (SPEAKING UP)

We are all present and await your orders, Colonel.

COLONEL DUNCAN

Good, we might as well cut right to the chase. Zero Team, it’s been decided that you are to be deployed on your first mission since exiting cryosleep and adding Cyro ‘Hazam to your ranks.

Halbert shivers.

HALBERT

A mission? Shouldn’t we have more time to become rehabilitated? We were in cryosleep for an extended period of time, after all...

COLONEL DUNCAN

This is a very simple op, Spartan. You see, ONI has concerns over some... visitors, that have overstayed their welcome. We need you to find out why.

RAIMUNDO

What do you mean, Colonel?

Colonel Duncan brings up an image on one of the additional monitors. It showcases the Arbiter, shaking hands with a UNSC official, dressed in a cleanly pressed white uniform and cap. They stand atop a grassy hillside, basked in an orange sunset, piercing through clouds. 

In front of them both is a memorial, a large structure adorned with photos of Marine soldiers and their personal belongings.

COLONEL DUNCAN

Towards the end of the war, the UNSC’s alliance with the Arbiter, along with the Sangheili who followed him, led to them setting up shop on Earth, to support us against the Covenant’s assault. As we all know, those efforts concluded in victory. However, once the war ended, the Arbiter promptly rounded up his soldiers and returned to their home planet, Sanghelios. Well, most of his soldiers.

Another image is showcased, this time on the final, third monitor. It showcases an Elite soldier, conversing with two more as they stand grouped together, yet armed with Plasma weaponry. The soldiers’ combat harnesses are colored in a dark steel coloration, with violet accents.

The photograph itself is taken in between thick blades of grass, capturing the moment in secrecy.

COLONEL DUNCAN

Our concern is that not all of them have left. For some reason, a section of the Sangheili forces remained here, on Earth. Locals in the area, who deem the area “Ghost Town”, only reported their appearance recently, meaning they’ve been hiding out for quite some time now. The problem is that our reconnaissance unit, known as “ONI Recon 111”, can’t get close enough to investigate further.

Zero Team absorbs the imagery, curious. Frida speaks up.

FRIDA

And... let me guess.

COLONEL DUNCAN

That’s where you come in. Zero Team, your orders are to survey these visitors, record any intel that may be of importance, and report back here.

CYRO ‘HAZAM (CURIOUS)

Hmm...

RAIMUNDO

That’s it?

COLONEL DUNCAN (FIRM)

That’s it. No further action is required. For now, at least.

Halbert thinks for a moment, before speaking up.

HALBERT

Are there any persons of interest that we should keep an eye out for, Colonel?

COLONEL DUNCAN

Well, I was going to upload it to your heads-up-displays once you were deployed, but here works as well.

Colonel Duncan presents another image. This one presents a singular soldier, albeit at a strange angle, and from a distance. The soldier’s color pallet is reversed from that of the previous ones, primarily having a violet coloration with steel accents. 

Their helmet is unique, its curves and crevices flowing into a singular point towards the back. The front visor is vibrant, glowing with four distinct lights acting as “eyes”. The rest of the armor is adorned in similar lights, paired with bulky yet sleek plating. On their hip rests the hilt of another Energy Sword weapon.

COLONEL DUNCAN

This is one individual that our data has recorded as issuing orders to other soldiers, and taking “command”, more or less. They seem to get around pretty fast, however, since there have been sightings of them in numerous locations in short spans of time. It’s unknown if this individual will be present at the location we’re deploying you, but it never hurts to keep watch. They do have a certain weight in the chain of command, from what we can tell.

HALBERT (LOW)

Understood.

VALENCIA

Colonel, I can’t help but say I’m a little confused. I thought our alliance was with the Sangheili race as a whole. Why are we in the dark about a section of them and their activities?

CYRO ‘HAZAM

While the Arbiter has united many of our kind under the Swords of Sanghelios, there are those of us who struggle to release their lust for power. We served in the Covenant for centuries before our war with humanity, to expect it all to be left behind is... bold. But... we must try.

COLONEL DUNCAN

If it gets to that point, I’ll make sure you get to have a stern conversation with them. For now, again, this deployment is strictly surveillance. This visit might not mean anything at all. But report back anything of importance. I’ll be uploading the coordinates to your heads-up-displays shortly. Good luck, Zero Team.

The call disconnects. Zero Team looks at each other to gather their thoughts.

These are scenes that encapsulate the range of Colonel Duncan's character and the expectations to set within his role! If you have any further questions or thoughts regarding this, please let me know!