Tommy pleads with Tiny


Spectra attacks


G-Force finds everyone alive and well


Captain Jack and Tommy

 

 


Peril of the Preying Mantis

Written by: Peter Germano
Alternate Title: The Peril of the Praying Mantis
Production Number: 75
Airing Number: 5
Script Completion Date: 6/21/78
Episode Completion Date: 9/13/78
Preview / Trailer: Trailer
Credit Version: A
Title Card Version: A
Official episode synopsis

..To find and destroy the Conway Tapes to cause the downfall of the Federation..

..To stop Spectra's latest monster and to find Tiny's family friend, Captain Jack.
...........

The Spirit decides to unleash a series of attacks on Earth as diversions so Spectra can then go after the Conway Tapes. By destroying these tapes, they hope to take down the Federation. When the initial attacks are undertaken one is very close to Tiny's home town where a boat carrying a group of fishermen is sunk. On board the boat is Captain Jack, an old friend of Tiny's Father.

G-Force is desperately needed but Tiny can't be located. It turns out he has gone home for a brief vacation and he has turned off his Wrist Activator. As he is resting, Tiny is startled by Captain Jack's son, Tommy. Tommy informs Tiny about a news report saying that the ship with his dad is missing, and that G-Force has been trying to contact Tiny with no success. Despite Tommy's pleas to Tiny to look for Jack, he heads back to Center Neptune to join up with G-Force.

It's too late, however. G-Force had to head out without him and they were unsuccessful in stopping Spectra's evil plans. Zoltar taunts G-Force, saying they have already smashed the Conway computer banks. Tiny is depressed and Anderson is very upset with him for not responding to his alert. However, he sends the whole team back up to Tiny's village to take a break and wait for round two.

When word of possible survivors from Captain Jack's boat reaches G-Force, they rush back to Center Neptune and head out to search for them with the Phoenix. They find the crew alive and well on an island, just as 7-Zark-7 alerts them to another attack from Spectra.

Tiny and the team head out and are able to stop the Spectra monster machine, whereupon they are told by 7-Zark-7 that the Conway Tapes are safe and sound, since he had them moved well before the attacks even started.


 

 

Name: Space Monster
Type: Giant Mechanical Monster
Body Shape: Preying Mantis (Lobster)
Origin: Planet Spectra
Sighting: Planet Earth

Weapons: Symbiote piloted planes and Phasers
Flight Capable: Yes
Crew: Yes
Status: Destroyed

This ship, known only by generic names like a "Spectra Spaceship" and "Space Monster" appeared on Earth to capture and destroy the Conway Tapes. It carried a fleet of Symbiote planes, attack aircraft piloted by robots. These planes were able to launch from and dock to the main ship. The ship was also able to fire destructive Phaser beams from its eyes. The ship was destroyed after a head-on missile attack from the Phoenix, which caused the Symbiote planes to fall from the sky.

7-Zark-7 is scheduled soon for exciting new components and increased mobility

Tiny comes from a small village and some of its inhabitants know he is part of G-Force

The Conway Tapes are crucial to the Federation - their first mention in the series

Note: Although the episode title refers to a "preying mantis," none of the characters ever use that name when talking about the Spectra monster ship.

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Unless otherwise stated, all program material, situations, descriptions and depictions are copyright © Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd.