BotP Close-up 023

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Bobkat
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BotP Close-up 023

Post: # 411Post Bobkat »

Sorry, I'm a day late. (oops!)

This week's ep isn't one of my favorites for several reasons. Things seem really forced to me in this show, especially the team's interactions with one another. Zark's bragging doesn't help. :lol:

The Other Jason's write-up is here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep23.html

Enjoy!

E23: Magnetic Attraction

Act One

7-Zark-7 is in the "cozy" retreat that is Center Neptune. There isn't much going on at the moment. Zark takes an oil shower getting "Row, row, row your boat" lyrics wrong. 1-Rover-1 stands by with the towel and just as Zark's wrapped, Susan calls! She reports that a "space UFO" was picked up on her cosmic scanner. However, she lost the signal because she was washing her antennae and was putting them in curlers. Zark has to try to find it on his scanners. Susan describes the craft as "strange" and a large metallic ball flying through space then she hangs up. Zark wonders what color Susan's antennae are after he puts her down for washing her antennae on duty.

Zark checks out his monitors but doesn't see anything. It's possible that the thing has already landed on Earth, which it has. The craft is creating destruction in Center City and the populace has been ordered into shelters. About three cars didn't make it, but Zark swears no one has been hurt. He tries to find the craft but it continues to elude his sensors. The craft literally rolls out of the city while Zark notifies defense forces – robot land vehicles and remote-controlled fighters – to engage it.

The ground forces and fighters fire various missiles at it with no effect. The giant ball goes airborne and starts shooting down the fighter jets. It seems to be able to build itself into whatever is necessary. In the aftermath of the battle, Chief Anderson briefs G-Force and shows them what film was acquired. The chief tells them no one knows what it is or how to defeat it. Tiny wants to go after it while Jason says it's been some time since they've had trouble from Zoltar "and his bunch of pirates from Spectra." Chief Anderson informs them that they're not even sure if it is Spectra.

During the briefing, Mark is uninterested and Princess calls it "indestructible" wondering where it came from. Chief Anderson doesn't have an answer because the craft slipped by the Early Warning System. Keyop calls it "a fast ball." Princess then asks if the chief wants them to try but he leaves it in Mark's hands. Mark passes! "No, I don't think so. I'm sorry." Mark wants more information but Jason is livid. Jason points out that the ball could go unchecked and take out their cities. Mark is adamant, even pulling rank. The rest of the team backs Mark but Jason still wants to go after the mech. Chief Anderson stops a fight before it begins, telling them all they're facing "an extreme emergency." He says the Federation will decide.

Zark watches his monitors worrying about the latest turn of events. He calls Jason "hot-headed" and the fact that he and Mark are fighting doesn't sit well with Zark. The robot's instruments probe the ocean because the craft has disappeared. His "molecular stress analyzers" have told the robot that the craft is made up of an unknown material impervious to all types of explosives. Zark searches for answers while searching for the craft when he believes he's found it.

G-Force, or at least three team members, hang out in their Ready Room. Princess and Keyop play music while Tiny eats but there's no activity at the ping-pong table due to Mark and Jason's disagreement. Tiny's appetite is gone because he's not about all the "sitting around" but Princess reminds him that they can't do anything about it. Keyop asks where Mark is with Tiny answering that he went to the ocean to "meditate." Zark calls the Ready Room with a Red Alert because the craft has been found. He gives the team their orders to track it down and destroy it. Princess asks about Mark and Zark tells her to call him.

Mark is on a cliff by the ocean when Princess calls him. She tells him the craft has been found and they're going after it. Mark isn't happy – he hasn't given that order! Tiny breaks in and says they'll pick him up in ten minutes. Mark makes a snide comment about Jason itching to take over. Putting that aside, he transmutes and meets up with the Phoenix in his jet.

Mark is ready to fight when he goes to the bridge but Jason tells the commander he's been overruled – by Zark, Chief Anderson and the Federation! Jason reiterates this is their job and why they've been trained and organized the way they are. Keyop backs up Jason saying they're not spectators. Mark counters their argument asking what are they going to use to stop the thing. "Our bare hands!?" Mark also points out their neutron missile won't even dent it. Jason would like to try anyway. Princess forces a truce telling Mark that Jason's right. The Phoenix approaches the black ball as it sails on the ocean's surface.

The chase is on as the craft moves in on a freighter. Jason wants to move in but Mark orders them to turn back and that there's nothing they can do. Princess is visibly disappointed when Jason mutinies on Mark trying to grab the command position. Just as the argument escalates, Zoltar breaks in and taunts them with the "strife" inside the team. He also dares Mark to destroy the craft. Jason orders Tiny to go in but Mark counters. Tiny has his hand on throttle and he's caught in the middle. Mark tries to reason with the gunner but ultimately leaves to Tiny who pulls up. Mark knows there has to be a way to destroy Zoltar's new mech.

Act Two

Zark paces in Nerve Center as Rover watches while talking to himself. Zark uses multiple tools to try to figure out the latest mech: molecular scanners, chemo probes, spectral analysis. He comes up with blank while Susan is devastated because the thing got past here. Zark flies to his monitors knowing that G-Force is expecting him to come up with a solution because their newest weapons are no match. Rover helicopters over to Zark to try to be encouraging. Zark is frustrated due to his Dialectric-Tetrodes aren't coming up with an answer, which could lead to Earth's doom.

Princess and Keyop stop by to see Mark who wants to be left alone. Princess tells him the situation isn't his fault and he's taking it too hard. Mark rolls to his side and tries to ignore them. Keyop plays with a new toy and brought it for Mark. Princess admonishes the smallest member and tells him to put it away. When Mark sits up and sees what Keyop has: a horseshoe shaped magnet with a ball being attracted to it. Mark begins playing with it and has a brainstorm. He begins laughing because the idea is so simple, it's stupid.

The defenses begin building a giant magnet to bring in the metallic ball mech. Zark wonders why he didn't think of it first. The plan now is for G-Force to decoy the ball to get it close to the giant magnet. The team takes off to put their plan into action.

On board the Phoenix, Mark reminds the team to keep all weapons stowed and for Tiny to keep buzzing the thing until Mark tells him to stop. Tiny plans to fly "rings around it." Zoltar breaks into the Phoenix's communications again, he tells them they have fallen into his trap after emerging from hiding. Mark tells Tiny to "do your thing." Tiny begins buzzing the sphere as various weapons emerge from it. The Phoenix leads the sphere to the spot but then it turns at the last minute.

Mark decides there is only one option left: to get on board the metal ball. Jason isn't keen about the idea and Princess calls it "plain suicide." Princess volunteers but Mark says he's still in command. Jason approaches Mark, saying, "You always have been." They shake hands before Mark makes his way onto the ball. Once on board, Mark navigates the ball into the trap. Princess radios Chief Anderson at the site to turn on the magnet. The machine starts vibrating with the forces running through it. When a goon tries to stop Mark, he puts the goon into a chokehold.

As the ball nears the magnet, it's forced from the sky. Unfortunately, Mark hasn't escaped with Princess worried sick. Keyop hopes for a "bail out" but the magnetic is collapsing under the tremendous forces. When the ball finally crashes into the magnet, both items explode into a fiery mess. The Phoenix lands nearby with each team member in tears. Keyop collapses near the crater left behind. Jason is even upset that "Mark's gone." Tiny looks up in time to see Mark gliding back to Earth! The team rejoices in happiness.

Zark says this is why Mark is in charge then goes about how Keyop's toy inspired the idea. Of course, Zark gave Keyop the magnet. Zark is ready for a breather and goes to his Ready Room. After he leaves Rover to watch the monitors, Mark and Princess stop by. She tells Mark she was really worried about him during the mission. Mark tells her that her "magnetic attraction" is far stronger than anything out there. When Princess says he shouldn't say anything like that in front of Rover, Mark isn't worried. Rover can keep a secret – "he's G-Force."

This plot summary Copyright Bobbi Baker ©2021. No reproduction of any kind without permission.
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