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The Other Jason's write-up is here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep30.html
E30: The Ghostly Grasshopper
Act One
7-Zark-7 has the primary duty to monitor and detect any invaders who want Earth's resources. Zark is in his helmet and has detected a destructive storm. He contacts Weather Control to warn of "a typhoon-like" storm with four times the velocity of any prior recorded storms. He orders evacuations of Water Storage Center Five because that's where the storm is likely to hit first. Zark says it's tough to tell if a storm is nature at work or man-made. 1-Rover-1 interrupts because he wants to play in the rain, but he'll come in covered in rust. Zark isn't programmed to take chances and thus assumes the storm is man-made.
When Zark monitors a "raging" electrical storm, he says Rover's tail was made from a lightning rod. Zark then sees video of destruction of Cosmic City. Nearby, is one of the world's largest water reserve center. It was designed to provide water desalination and storage for 1/20th of Earth's population. The video shows a broken dam and parched ground. It then shifts to a plant in the middle of the night.
Suddenly, flashes of light happen and various water lines and pipes are cut apart. Water flows everywhere after several explosions. Zoltar video conferences with Dahmbo and says he's pleased with what he sees, although the attack is not yet completed. Zoltar mentions Dahmbo and his people are robots with Dahmbo asking if they will gain their independence. Zoltar says they will once the mission is completed: the attack successful and Earth surrenders.
Mark is at a complex where weather control rockets are ready to launch and could have prevented "the fire storm." He wonders why they're never used when they could have been. Mark receives a call on his bracelet from Chief Anderson who tells him to get G-Force aboard the Phoenix. "Instructions will follow." Mark flies his plane and transmutes, meeting the rest of the team on board.
The team confers with Chief Anderson who tells them that he's sure the "catastrophe was man-made." Mark questions why the weather control rockets weren't activated but they were, in fact, activated against the tornado. However, electronic interference (jamming) occurred from the eye of the storm that rendered the rockets useless. This is why Chief Anderson wants the team to check out Sector D-10, he needs evidence that the storm was man-made in origin. The chief is alone in his suspicions and is counting on G-Force to find the information he needs. Mark also questions why Sector D-10 since it's "a long way from the storm site." Chief Anderson says Zark has detected some unusual activity in that Sector and the chief is certain that Zoltar is involved. He tells the team again, he's counting on them to find the needed information. The team yells, "G-Force!" and heads that way.
While the team is en route, Zark radios them. Zark has triangulated the position of the activity and has fed it into the Phoenix's radar screens. Princess verifies it and reports, "we're right in the middle of it." Once they have visual, all they see is a ghostly figure on the view screen. Jason moves behind Mark's chair just before the commander orders Tiny to fly above the thing – whatever it is. Meanwhile, Dahmbo watches the Phoenix make its move and gives chase. He orders the goons to give full jets as the two machines are on a collision course. The team goes for a bumpy ride and Keyop is thrown about. Princess reports "stress factor gauge is pushing tolerance." Mark knows this is bad news for them while cracks appear in the Phoenix's tail. Worse yet, the Phoenix is flying upside down!
Dahmbo goes after the Phoenix again and throws every weapon they have at the craft. This includes swipes with its blades and wind generator to the point of a tornado. The team puts up with more bumpiness and Keyop is tossed all over the bridge. Tiny works hard to get the Phoenix under control as Mark smashes the bird missile button. Several missiles are fired but they're all neutralized due to the blade weapons. Mark realizes the missiles aren't doing any good, yet Dahmbo attacks again and again. However, the Phoenix has met its match as Tiny can no longer control the ship. They're heading for a crash!
The team manages to secure the air vents and fire the retro jets to prevent a total breakup. The Phoenix settles on the ocean floor and the team in various states of being thrown about. Mark is frustrated because they "have to limp back to Center Neptune."
At Center Neptune, they meet with Chief Anderson who takes in all their information. It still points to Zoltar. They cue the tapes from the initial firestorm attack. Chief Anderson wants it stopped when a flash occurs on the screen. He sees what appears to be a whirlwind, or typhoon or some sort of wind phenomenon that cannot be natural in origin. Chief Anderson goes on to say the ghostly apparition has to be Zoltar's doing or one of his "henchmen" because he excels in this arena. Mark asks what's next with the chief explaining they need the next generation of weather control missiles to counteract what Zoltar is throwing at them and to not be immobilized by the enemy – to "fight fire with fire." Mark says this will take a while to build.
Chief Anderson explains that Professor Kenton at Weather Control has been working on the technology. The chief also calls Professor Kenton "the most stubborn man on Earth" and wishes them all luck before running out the door. The team salutes as Chief Anderson leaves.
At Weather Control, Professor Kenton and Chief Anderson argue about launching the new missile. Professor Kenton tells the chief it's unproven and is not about to be pushed into an early test. He accuses Chief Anderson that he's putting on a show for the press. The chief blows this off, "I think you know me better than that." Chief Anderson wants to have the discussion between just the two of them and without an audience. They are old friends and Chief Anderson is sure they can work it out.
Chief Anderson explains that Spectra is behind the attacks. The planet is dying and drying up. Zoltar has contacted them, threatening to steal Earth's water resources for use on Spectra. Chief Anderson goes on, saying that the rockets on the launch pads are no match for Zoltar's latest weapon. Chief Anderson knows that Professor Kenton has been working on a "counter whirlwind." Professor Kenton says it's not something that can be readied overnight. Chief Anderson tells the professor it has to be readied overnight because they don't know when Zoltar will strike next. Professor Kenton doesn't make any promises but says he'll do his best. The chief concedes that is all that he can ask and they should all pray it works.
Act Two
Zark is still in his helmet and says everyone is working around the clock to ready Professor Kenton's weather missile for launching. Zark says G-Force needs all the help they can get against Zoltar's "typhoon weapon." Zark flies to his monitors and checks a monitor that is always cloudy or goes blank. When he tuned it yesterday to view the Milky Way, it gave him an old rerun of "Gilligan's Island"! Zark then works to synchronize his vibration and stress analyzer to try to pin down the energy field of Zoltar's latest weapon.
Inside a lush forest, a giant praying mantis rears its head. This is Zoltar's weapon and tells Dahmbo via video that he is losing patience with the Earthlings who still refuse to surrender their water resources. Zoltar orders the commencement of "Plan B," which is another vicious attack on Earth to teach another "painful lesson in defiance."
G-Force runs to the Phoenix and launches from Center Neptune to take on the praying mantis. While en route, Chief Anderson briefs the team that water monitoring was stepped up after the last attack. Zark has advised that Center 9 will be the location of the next attack. As the team nears the area, they see the ghostly weapon. Mark cracks, "Company's coming!" He orders Tiny to keep plenty of sky between them and it while the rest of the team mans their stations.
The team uses a newer filtering system in order to see what they are actually fighting; the praying mantis! Keyop calls it a "grasshopper." Mark doesn't like the look of the claws and tells Tiny to go upstairs. As the Phoenix gains more altitude, Dahmbo gives chase. The mech takes a swipe and the winds begin. Tiny falls into Mark's lap! Mark says, "If you're aching to take my place, wait until I'm not in it." Tiny apologizes, getting back into his seat. Princess reports it's on top of them.
The mech continues to take swipes and cuts into the Phoenix. Jason hopes Chief Anderson is having better luck than they are. He says they need help and Mark knows the new weather missiles will help them a lot.
At Weather Control Center, Professor Kenton's missiles are ready to launch. The professor can't guarantee anything but Chief Anderson knows if anyone can pull it off, Professor Kenton can. The chief gives the order to launch the new missiles and Weather Control launches them. About 20-30 missiles launch while the Phoenix fights with the praying mantis. They move in just as Tiny tries to avoid the mech and calling his teammates "back seat drivers." Unfortunately, the mantis grabs the Phoenix with its claws and pierces into the hull. Jason cracks, "Here comes ol' itchy finger." In desperation, Jason fires bird missiles to the mechs head but it's a "rocket proof skull." Mark knows they're "hooked."
On board the mech, Dahmbo lounges back when a goon reports that "strange-looking rockets" are inbound. Dahmbo is having too much fun keeping G-Force captured. Dahmbo believes the rockets won't be activated while they hold the Phoenix. The missiles aren't explosive in nature but rather are used to control the weather, specifically to create storms. A storm/typhoon is forming around the mantis and the Phoenix. Dahmbo is adamant about keeping G-Force where they are. He tells the goons to do what they can to save the craft but under no circumstances to release the Phoenix.
The mantis tries to fly out of the storm but Princess warns the storm will rip both ships apart. Jason says if lightning strikes the mantis, there's a chance it'll let them go but the ride is extremely bumpy in the meantime. Mark sits with his eyes closed, waiting. Lightning does strike one of the mantis' antenna causing lots of short-circuits on the craft. The claws loosen their grips and Mark orders a boost to get them away from the mantis. When the Phoenix tries to boost its way out, Dahmbo realizes they have lost and orders "abandon ship." A massive tornado threatens to suck both ships down and the Phoenix slips out the grip. The mantis is sucked into the tornado and explodes. The Phoenix is able to escape all of it and Mark witnesses the massive explosion from a distance. He also points out they defeated Zoltar this time, but he's still out there.
Zark says Zoltar's men were able to escape but they'll be back. Zoltar is beyond frustrated and promises that he'll defeat G-Force one day. The Phoenix flies past a rainbow as Zark says "peace and sanity" are restored. Zark is ready for a ten second oil break and sends his own boomerang around the room to turn off his monitors. He transfers the monitoring to his Ready Room and comments he fires the boomerang as well as Mark, but he did invent it.
This plot summary Copyright Bobbi Baker ©2021. No reproduction of any kind without permission.