James G Boutilier sets the scene for the second season of Gene Roddenberry's penultimate legacy, discussing the changes in EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT with new leading man ROBERT LEESHOCK

DAWN SHINES ON THE NEW MILLENNIUM REVEALING WE ARE NOT ALONE. 72 delegates of an apparently benevolent alien race called the Taelons take up residence on - and now above - Earth, as they increasingly influence and colour every area of human society, to a point where even the president answers to the Synod, the alien hierarchy overseeing whatever agenda the Companions, as they wish to be called, are pursuing.

By the end of Season 1, however, lines have been clearly drawn between the questionable Taelons and their Cyber-Viral Implant controlled legman, Agent Sandoval, and the Human Resistance, headed up by eccentric billionaire Jonathan Doors, his right hand, captain Lili Marquette, self-motivated computer manipulation wizard Augur and the implanted, but self-aware, series lead, William Boone.

Serving as a Taelon "implant", Boone walks a fine line as a double agent, working with fellow rebel and Companion assistant Lili Marquette to uncover the true alien agenda, which appears more menacing as the series progresses. In the course of his quest, Boone establishes a rapport with the apparently benevolent alien ambassador Da'an, while tensions mount between Boone and Taelon protector Ronald Sandoval, who grows increasingly suspicious of his colleague.

As Da'an develops a respect for Boone, he begins to have difficulty with the direction the Taelon Synod is taking the human race, for the first time revealing that they may not be working solely for the benefit of man. In fact, drawing opposition from Da'an, devious alien ambassador Zo'or has been conducting genetic/hybrid experiments on human test subjects, preparing for the legendary prediction that another alien race will soon pose a deadly threat to both Earth and the Taelons. The impending danger posed by this second race of aliens, the Juridians, is revealed to have prompted the Taelon arrival on Earth, in a bid to develop a means of defeating their foe.

Meanwhile, Boone discovers the existence of Ha'gel, member of a third alien race, The Kimera, which is also feared by the Taelons. The season comes to a head when the shapeshifting Ha'gel, in the form of agent Sandoval, mates with female Irish Taelon implant Siobhan Beckett, before facing Boone and Taelon agents in a violent showdown outside Resistance headquarters. In the tragic confrontation Boone is gravely injured, and Ha'gel is killed—but not before his line is passed to agent Beckett.

Having strengthened his alliance with Sandoval, Zo'or proves once and for all that the Taelon race is more than capable of committing atrocities far more menacing than anything the resistance has proclaimed—as in once monstrous, self-serving flash, the conniving Companion disintegrates an injured, unconscious William Boone.

The Juridian threat is brought to Earth as the Taelon/Juridian conflict begins with the assassination of Qu'on, leader of the Companion Synod. Taelon survival reflex kicks into overdrive as Zo'or assumes Quo'on's position as head of the Synod, and commander of the Mothership. To make matters worse, Lili Marquette is posted as Sandoval's aide, Resistance leader Jonathan Doors' paranoia becomes an increasingly dominant characteristic, and Earth is left without a defender.

However, true to legend, a new force has risen up, a true parahuman joining: a gift left behind by Ha'gel and Beckett: a child that in one day grows to manhood and exhibits alien powers surpassing even those of the Taelons and Ha'gel. Enter new series lead, and man's best new hope, part alien and part human—the enigmatic Liam Kincaid. Unfortunately, some people are not as pleased at his arrival as others.

Of course, this newcomer needs a guide, a role taken by Augur, leading to a wonderful new relationship between this socially challenged hero and the highly charged computer wizard. And with a new lead, evolved storylines and more sets, comes a new energy, and an action packed and engaging atmosphere, as the stakes are raised in the next evolution of CONFLICT.

Of course, with a new, alien-empowered hero must come an equally menacing threat. This comes not only from the Juridians, but also from Zo'or's efforts to defend against them, whatever the cost to human life. On top of this, the CVIs, which are supposed to render the host loyal to the Taelons, are malfunctioning. With this twist, even the already imposing Sandoval possesses the danger of regaining self-will and a new taste for control.

INDEED, NEW LEADING MAN Robert Leeshock enters as the heat is truly rising on EARTH—a fact that didn't go unnoticed by this accomplished actor as he prepared to play Liam Kincaid.

"When I picked up this material I realized there were some intelligent people behind this project," he says. "When you look at the Roddenberry legacy you realise, 'Wow, this is a world that I didn't have too much of a foot in,' but I knew that it just oozes success, or a certain way of thinking. So I thought I'd have to do some homework.

"I hope I'm up to the task. In the end you do what you do: bring your own sensibilities and hope there's a match. On a writer-actor level there was a connection that was made. I thought this was interesting that we could find a character that was emotionally and cerebrally based and integrate those two."

Working through the character's dysfunctional heritage proved an enjoyable journey. "It's been an interesting progression," Leeshock admits. "At first I thought of myself like an adolescent discovering his powers, trying to figure it out. 'How did I get here? Why am I part of this family?' Yet you realise how powerful you are…Then it gets into an interesting connection of having the history of a million species inside of us. And I don't even know if that's too far fetched.

"It's interesting with Sandoval being my father, Beckett being my mother. Beckett dies and I meet my alien father, Ha'gel. I have to make a choice whether I should join my alien father in this netherworld, but I choose to stay on the planet and acknowledge my human side in order to work out what I need to on this earth. And that gives it a very human quality instead of this freak alien quality,"

Liam is sorting out his relationships with his comrades. "Relating to Sandoval was really difficult in the beginning, because right off the bat my father is trying to set me up to have me killed. He gives me a gun that doesn't work properly, so that sets the stage for that relationship. Okay, the guy that fathered me wants to kill me…but I have to give him a little bit of leeway, because I'm going to have to figure out the whole imperative they have. He has to serve the Taelons. It's definitely a strained relation from the get-go. Sometimes I like to make fun of him in my own way because he takes himself seriously.

"Lili Marquette? We definitely have a camaraderie, a respect for each other, and that gets tested. We're constantly trying to determine where the trust line is, and that's a precarious line at times. We feel each other out.

"With Augur, he just cracks me up. I love his honesty. Someone explained to me that he's like the Eighties guy, the ultimate consumer. It's just a wonderful camaraderie established from the fact that he took care of me when I was placed on the scene. He took me under his wing, found me a place to stay and has been trying to teach me things. I'm a quick study, so I suddenly turn things back on him, and make him look at himself and his self-serving motivation. They sensed in the beginning that there was a chemistry there, and he just genuinely cracks me up. As my character, it is fun to watch him in the scenes—you never really know what he is going to do.

"As for Da'an, there's been a wonderful evolution of the relation with him because Da'an reminds me of a paternal figure that has my best interest at heart." Leeshock considers. "Where our characters start to diverse is Da'an starts to have some human side, and as a human I'm able to educate Da'an—yet Da'an doesn't want to look at the dark. He'll glimpse, and so starts to fall from the pedestal I've put him on.

"And Doors, he suffers from bouts of paranoia. He's just freaked out by the fact that I'm on the planet. He loses sleep because I am, and I get a little enjoyment out of that."

As expected, Leeshock has a few memorable episodes this year. "The first episode where I rally saw some great character development of my own was A Stitch In Time, which is where I believe I've killed all the members of the Resistance. We had debates between producers, distributors, writers, actors, all about; is this a heroic act to take your own life to save the lives of innocent people? Those discussions in television are a wonderful discourse to have, taking place in a setting where supposedly they just say, 'Say the words' and it's done. I really liked Moonscape. Sleepers was really wonderful."

With the speed at which the series is developing, what could Leeshock hope for with Liam? "I'd like to see myself discover the more social side of my character. Get me involved with some aspect, whether it's sexuality, or my ability to relate to somebody on an intimate level. It's interesting: the most intimate relationship I've had so far is with Da'an. I think it would be interesting to try to find a woman out there who really understands what I'm all about. It would be great to get involved with Zo'or too, because I think he's just a fascinating character.

"Compared to what I saw of last year, I find it visually really appealing. There's a style to the show now. Some directors come in here and work wonders with the camera. It's a real treat."

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