David Mamet: Every scene should be able to answer three questions:

1. Who wants what from whom
2. What happens if they don't get it
3. Why is this happening now?

Authoritarian controllers of La Oruga, convinced that the only way for humanity to survive is to land on Mariposa, their original destination, no matter the cost. Any resistance to this directive threatens the very existence of humanity, and will be crushed with impunity.

Discovered that the Directorate was taking La Oruga to a planet already inhabited by intelligent life. Convinced that the only way for humanity to continue and succeed is to not repeat the mistakes of our past, and go to a an unpopulated planet.

Space jockeys who fly out from La Oruga to harvest rare resources from asteroids.

Engineers and maintenance crew have an almost revered status, as they are responsible for keeping La Oruga running and supporting life. There are no “small, unimportant jobs” if you are Maintenance.