BotP Close-up 032-033

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Bobkat
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BotP Close-up 032-033

Post: # 442Post Bobkat »

Another week, another plot. :) This week is long because this is the first of the four two-parters in Battle. The first one deals with the dreaded Spectran cuttlefish. Needless to say, the team finds itself in some sticky wickets.

The Other Jason's write-ups are here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep32.html and https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep33.html

Enjoy the trip to Arcturus! :D

E32-33: Curse of the Cuttlefish

****Part 1****

Act One

7-Zark-7 monitors for threats as usual but today, G-Force is on its way to Spectra to complete a pre-emptive strike. It's been learned that Spectra planned an attack and the team is on their way to stop it. The Phoenix is traveling faster than light at 220,000 miles per second near the scattered disk region on the other side of the Kuiper Belt: "Nine billion miles beyond Mercury". They then go into time warp where "a million miles is a blink of an eye and a year is a second". After time warp, the Phoenix has to make its way through "the alien neutron force field" and close in on Spectra. Their target is a key base used by Zoltar's forces to invade Earth.

The team successfully gets in and takes care of business with Zoltar only realizing what's happening via video call after it's too late. The team high-tails it to the Phoenix and takes off just as the base explodes beneath them. Meanwhile, Zoltar is at his wit's end wondering what to tell the Great Spirit, a.k.a. the Luminous One who then appears wanting to know what's going on. It's not amused at Zoltar saying they have "a slight problem" when they've actually lost of their "most strategic base". The Luminous One tells Zoltar there is a new plan on planet Arcturus and he is to head it up personally. Arcturus has been chosen because the Conway Tapes, which has the Federation security codes, are held there. The Luminous One tells Zoltar he is to take out G-Force and steal the Conway Tapes. The Luminous One orders Zoltar to take this mission himself.

Arcturus, "sometimes called Earth's sister planet," was settled by humans two centuries before and is several light-years from Earth. With the advent of time-warp engines, commerce between Arcturus and Earth occurs on a daily basis. This commerce has increased due to a newly signed trade agreement that includes building a new spaceport being consider for New Chicago. Zoltar interrupts a news broadcast warning of an imminent invasion of Arcturus. Zoltar warns the citizens they have less than 24 hours and that even G-Force can't stop the threat.

Arcturus places all its unmanned defenses on Red Alert. Meanwhile, Zark finds it puzzling that Zoltar would announce the attack. The robot wonders if Zoltar doesn't have something else planned. Zark muses that Zoltar could be aware that the Conway Tapes are being stored on Arcturus.

At Center Neptune, Chief Anderson briefs the team about Zoltar's threat. Chief Anderson says it could be a scare tactic, "a false alarm." But the teammates don't believe so. Jason wonders if Zoltar's spies haven't figured out the Conway Tapes are there. Mark wants to go to Arcturus to check things out. When Jason mentions the Conway Tapes should have stayed at Center Neptune, Chief Anderson agrees with the assessment: Spectra must be after the tapes. Chief Anderson suspects a trap but sends the team to Arcturus telling them the tapes cannot be stolen by Spectra. He also wants them "incognito." The team launches for Arcturus as Zark tunes in to the see what is going on. The unmanned defenses are still on Red Alert but so far, no Spectra.

The Spectra mecha shows up: it's a giant squid-like creature. The defense forces fight it but lose. Zoltar laughs at the futility of the defense forces. He calls the mech a "cuttlefish." Zark says the mech is an awesome weapon and G-Force "will have their hands full."

The Phoenix arrives at Arcturus. Mark and the others know something has happened. Zoltar knew G-Force would show up as he watches the Phoenix on a monitor. Zoltar flies the cuttlefish away from the Phoenix and dives into the ocean. Mark tells Tiny not to lose it and knows there has to be an underwater base somewhere but Jason wants to take it out with a TVX missile. Mark authorizes the use of the missile and orders Keyop and Princess to arm it. Just as Jason is about to fire, the cuttlefish spews ink into the water making it impossible to see. Mark wants forward motion to continue but to cut power. It's a rough ride until Tiny lands on the sea bottom. But they've lost the mech then Zoltar breaks into their communications telling them as they sit, he'll destroy the cities of Arcturus. Mark knows every Federation planet will be in danger if Zoltar gets his hands on the Conway Tapes.

Act Two

Zark paces his ready room as he has been unable to see anything on Arcturus except static. He flies to his monitors as he says Zoltar was true to his word.

In their civilian clothes, the team wonders what Zoltar is up to. Things are quiet, but they're too quiet for anyone's comfort. The team decides on a plan to "snoop around" and try to break into Zoltar's espionage operations. Meanwhile, Zoltar orders his men to be "battle ready" and informs them that Agent S-9 will contact the local spies. S-9 is considered the "most brilliant planetary spy … cunning, resourceful, and cold-blooded."

To the shock of the spies, Agent S-9 is a woman! Her headquarters is a massive house. She orders the men to infiltrate every conceivable place in order to rot out the Conway Tapes. She also tells them that all information will be relayed through her.

As the team prepares to go their separate ways, Mark tells Keyop to pretend Princess is his sister. Mark requests everyone's bracelets because they'll "be dead giveaways to Spectra." He and Jason will cover the waterfront while Tiny will standby in the Phoenix.

As Princess and Keyop are on the street, a kid runs down the street yelling. He tells Princess and Keyop that a woman is being hurt. They check it out and it's Agent S-9 who says she's fine but acts hurt. When Princess offers to call an ambulance but when S-9 tells them to take her home, Princess calls a cab. Upon arriving at her house, S-9 invites them for dinner. Princess reluctantly agrees after S-9 insists.

The trio go inside and eat dinner with Keyop pigging out. S-9 excuses herself as Keyop notices the time. Princess reminds Keyop they could be watched via hidden monitors. This is exactly where S-9 is: in the back watching the pair. She's certain they're members of G-Force and warns the men with her to keep a special eye on Keyop because he's "tricky." She orders the men that once the pair passes out to go in and tie them up. Princess realizes they're in trouble when Keyop passes out. She drinks some hot chocolate and tells Keyop she'll take him home soon.

At the rendezvous point, Mark, Jason, and Tiny worry about what's keeping their teammates. They were supposed to meet at sundown. Tiny last saw them by the old museum and Jason is kicking himself knowing he should have gone with them. They split up to search with Tiny returning to the Phoenix.

At the house, Princess 'passes out' but she's only faking it. When the men try to tie them up, she fights back. As the fight ensues, Keyop is knocked back awake. S-9 ends the fight as she enters the room with a pistol in her hand. She informs Princess and Keyop they will be bait to trap the rest of G-Force. Spectra has had the team under surveillance since they arrived.

With Princess and Keyop secured, Zoltar launches his cuttlefish to steal the Conway Tapes. Meanwhile, Keyop bangs his fists on the concrete wall of their cell. They are completely cut off too as they surrendered their bracelets to Mark before their initial split.

At Center Neptune, Zark and Rover know that G-Force won't be heading home right away. The team is split up and Zark has lost sight of Zoltar's cuttlefish somewhere beneath the surface of Arcturus. Zark is certain Zoltar is after the tapes. It is only a question of when and how. He tells Rover that Mark is "a brave and daring commander" and he will reunite his team and stop Zoltar.

****Part 2****

Act One

Zark describes the current situation as one of their "most shattering and nerve-wracking" times they've ever been through. They have been on Red Alert since Susan had warned Zoltar was going to attack Arcturus. Zark flies to his monitors saying that Spectra has discovered, thanks to spies, that the Conway Tapes have been transferred to Arcturus. What's worse is that Princess and Keyop are being held by Spectra. Rover helicopters to him because he's worried too. Zark would like nothing more than to go to Arcturus and rescue everyone. But Zark realizes their job is in Center Neptune running all the computers. They also need to find the cuttlefish.

On Arcturus, the cuttlefish digs through the dirt into a major city. Zoltar is determined to destroy every building in the city, even warning the residents to take shelter. He wants the tapes and to put Earth under Spectra's rule.

Mark, Jason and Tiny watch from a street the destruction take place. They talk about Zoltar's end goal of finding the tapes. Mark hopes Princess and Keyop are all right and also talks about the robotic defenses being unable to hold off the cuttlefish. Various things are destroyed before the cuttlefish goes airborne. Tiny calls the thing weird. Jason wants to "scuttle his cuttlefish" but Mark reminds him that Princess and Keyop could be on board. They can't risk hurting them. They decide they need to help anyway as the defense forces are severely beaten with planes exploding mid-air and gun trucks are wiped out.

Aboard the cuttlefish, Zoltar scoffs at the defense forces as other vehicles go down. Zoltar calls them "helpless gnats." Zoltar and the cuttlefish go on a rampage as Chief Anderson wants a status report. The Arcturian leaders demand G-Force be called ecause most of their defenses have been obliterated. Chief Anderson tells them that they believe Spectran spies have captured Princess and Keyop. Chief Anderson also tells them that the Conway Tapes cannot fall into Spectra's hands. Once he hangs up, he says, "If they do, we're doomed."

Zoltar demands the citizens turn over the Conway Tapes. He urges them to talk with their leaders to surrender the tapes. Zoltar also says Arcturus will now be subject to Spectra and its laws. Meanwhile, at the mansion used by Agent S-9, Princess and Keyop sit in their cell in frustration. Keyop is losing hope but Princess reminds him that everyone is looking for them. Just as Keyop knows they have hope, Agent S-9 opens the door and says it's "the end of the line." Princess tries to say they aren't G-Force but Agent S-9 knows better and says so. Agent S-9 comes back at Keyop when he says they've never heard of Princess and Keyop. "Well you will never hear of them again!" Keyop calls her mean. Agent S-9 says Zoltar has given orders to get rid of the pair. Agent S-9 is about to shoot them when one of the men questions the orders, which ticks Agent S-9 to no end. But the man tells her she should look at the monitor – G-Force is on the move!

On board the Phoenix, Mark, Jason and Tiny have created dummies that look like Princess and Keyop. They sow the seeds of doubt in Agent S-9's mind due to Spectra breaking into the Phoenix's communications systems again. Mark jams the signals when Jason confirms they're being watched. He would have liked to have seen Zoltar's face when they realized they have the "wrong" Princess and Keyop. Tiny praises Zark for his idea and Mark is hopeful they bought their teammates some time. But it's temporary – Mark wants them to check "every street and alley."

The boys split up to find their teammates while Zark has had his scanners looking into every conceivable place in Bomber's Bay. Zark is worried, even with a chill in his trigitron. Zark knows they don't have their wrist communicators and that makes it tougher to find them. Zark uses a bio-scanner to try to find them. Meantime, the boys meet back on a bridge at sunrise but they too are empty-handed. Mark blames himself because he asked for their bracelets that sparkle in the sun when Mark opens his hand revealing them.

Act Two

Zark is able to pinpoint where Princess and Keyop are located. His next task is to contact Mark with the information and hopefully, it won't be too late. Mark is near the waterfront at sunset when Tiny contacts Mark that he's heard from Zark. Tiny will check out the lead and get back to Mark.

Tiny parks the Phoenix near an underwater base where the cuttlefish is parked. Tiny reports back to Mark as the cuttlefish launches. The bio-scanners say Princess and Keyop are being held at a "castle on a hill." Mark tells tiny to notify Jason and they'll rendezvous on the Phoenix.

The Phoenix then follows the cuttlefish in the air after they have checked out the castle. Princess and Keyop have been moved to the cuttlefish – confirmed by the bio-scanners. They keep following with Mark telling Tiny to close in. He's determined to give Princess and Keyop their bracelets back. Jason joins him and they make the leap onto the cuttlefish.

Mark and Jason search the ship as Zoltar closes in on the Federation building. The tapes were stored there until Zark had them moved yet again. A surprise has been left in their place. The defense forces continue to fight the cuttlefish even when Zoltar wraps the cuttlefish around the building and steals the entire building!

Zoltar orders the execution of the captured G-Force members. However, Mark and Jason have found them and free the pair. Princess hugs Mark before he hands back their bracelets. Princess and Keyop are thrilled to have their wrist activators back. They immediately transmute and ready to leave. Princess plants an explosive device aboard the cuttlefish before they leave the mech. The four leaps to the Phoenix and the team makes a quick getaway before the explosion. Zoltar yells sabotage and orders the ship to the underwater base. He wants to take the tapes back to Spectra.

Mark turns the tables and breaks into Zoltar's communications on the cuttlefish. Mark taunts Zoltar by saying he would invite him to the Phoenix but he's pretty sure Princess and Keyop won't go for the idea. Zoltar says he has the tapes but Mark corrects him and tells him the tapes are back at Center Neptune. He goes on and says that dangerous chemicals have replaced the tapes. Mark demands Zoltar surrender himself and his ship. Zoltar believes it's a trick and threatens to destroy the tapes. This plan backfires as Chem LX-10 begins eating the tentacle. Chem LX-10 was only known to a handful of security people. Mark still wants to go after Zoltar to prevent repeat attacks, regardless of whether he has the tapes or not.

Zoltar makes a run for it by releasing an oil screen to confuse G-Force. Mark tells Jason to keep tracking because they don't want an escape. On top of this, Zoltar starts firing missiles at the Phoenix, which have to be dodged. The team follows the cuttlefish underwater where they get stuck on some rocks. A drill aims for the Phoenix but Tiny escapes in the nick of time. Jason fires a bird missile and it tracks onto the cuttlefish as the case holding the "tapes" opens near the cuttlefish. They're explosives and cause a great deal of damage but the Phoenix breaks the surface prior to the massive explosion. The shockwaves cause the Phoenix to barrel roll in the sky but it finds its center and the team recovers quickly. In the debris, Zoltar flees but the Luminous One sees it and tells Zoltar he'll deal with him later. Meanwhile, Mark isn't sure if Zoltar was able to escape but Jason reminds him that Zoltar always manages to find a way. Keyop wonders about the Spectran spies and Princess says she hopes they've been demoted to janitors.

As G-Force makes their way home, Arcturus begins the task of cleaning up and rebuilding. Zark has not been able to discern the location of Agent S-9 but he has the feeling they haven't seen the last of her. Zark takes a ten second oil break after all the chaos and Susan calls. Susan says everything is calm and tells Zark how incredible he was in outsmarting Zoltar with Chem LX-10. Susan wonders if she could be a secret agent for G-Force but Zark tells her that robots are programmed to tell everything. Susan, however, has something she has never told Zark!

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