BotP Close-up 044

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Bobkat
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BotP Close-up 044

Post: # 504Post Bobkat »

This week, Riga and one of Earth's closest allies is under attack! Of course it's Spectra! :)

Anyway, once we get past a long scene with Zark and his martial arts (oh dear!) we move to the fight over Riga (and the single introduction of Alice, a girl Tiny is sweet on). :) There's some strife in this ep as G-Force defiantly disobeys Chief Anderson and nearly die as a result. Colonel Cronus and the Red Rangers straighten out our heroes and they win the day! Enjoy! :D

The Other Jason's write-up is here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep44.html

E44: Raid on Riga

Act One

7-Zark-7 is at "the first outpost of defense for our galaxy" Center Neptune. They keep their eyes open for everything including pulsars, novas and quasars. Zark is in his Ready Room and not a single alert being sounded. He takes the vacuum tube to Nerve Center then flies to the center of the room, throws his boomerang then flies to his monitors. Prior to turning on the main monitors, Zark cleans the one in the highest corner. After checking on some things, Zark practices his martial arts moves then tries to short circuit his monitors.

An Emergency Alert comes in from Earth's sister planet Riga – 1000 light-years away. Zoltar confers with the Luminous One who is pleased by the results of their initial attack. They have chosen Riga on purpose due to the friendship between Riga's Defense Commander, Colonel Cronus, and the G-Force commander. The Luminous One knows Riga will call for help and G-Force will aid them. The plan is to use their latest ship to defeat G-force, essentially setting a trap. Zoltar points out that G-Force has mysterious powers but the Luminous One is not in the mood to be questioned. It reminds Zoltar, "Without me, you and your miserable planet would have died long ago!"

Spectra launches their latest mech that is in the form of bat. Zoltar praises the captain, Sheytan, on a "magnificent ship" with its deadly Photon Negative Sonar Beam and enormous firepower. It's unbeatable. Meanwhile on Earth, G-Force is chilling in the park with Princess commenting on the serenity and Mark says he wouldn't mind building a house in the area someday. Jason cracks, "I'll join you. When I have a long gray beard … and a cane and a pension." Keyop runs to them scattering a group of nearby pigeons. He holds up his little radio with a report of the attack on Riga by Spectra. Princess says they have steady work as long as Spectra is around. Mark makes Keyop do the dirty work of breaking up a conversation "Romeo" is having with Alice. She greatly admires Tiny and he likes her a lot too. Keyop interrupts just as Tiny is about to make plans with her and Tiny isn't happy.

Spectra's mech approaches on of Riga's main cities but evacuations were ordered prior to the attack. The bat mech makes quick work of the city with sonic weapons knocking everything down to rubble. Zark says Riga's defenses are "futile" against the machine. Missiles don't even put a dent into it.

Chief Anderson somehow has film of the latest weapon. He briefs the team that Zoltar has "openly and defiantly" attacked one of the Alliance planets. He adds that Zoltar hasn't made any demands and the structure of the Alliance is such that Earth can't help Riga without a formal request. Jason counters that Riga has helped them plenty of times before and they want a crack at him. Chief Anderson says that may be exactly what Zoltar is waiting on. Mark questions that logic because they've beaten him before. The chief says he refuses to risk them or the Phoenix until a proper analysis can be completed on Zoltar's latest mech. Mark says it may be too late if they wait but the chief isn't going to argue – he threatens to ground them if necessary. Jason offers the olive branch by sitting by Tiny and agreeing to wait.

Chief Anderson tells them he is trying to contact Colonel Cronus and asks about his friendship with Mark. Mark says he's thinking of Colonel Cronus while Riga faces this challenge. Mark begs to be cleared because Mark owes Colonel Cronus his life through several scrapes they've had against Spectra. He also knows Colonel Cronus can't take on Zoltar alone. When the chief refuses to clear them, Mark snarks, "Thanks for nothing!"

Zark mentions that he understands how Mark feels but they have to know how to counter the newest weapon or risk the mission. Meanwhile on Riga, Sheytan reports to Zoltar that all is going well. He also tells Zoltar that they're ready for G-Force.

It's 11:50 when the team bides their time at Center Neptune watching schools of fish swim by. Keyop bangs on the wall with his fists "going crazy." Jason admonishes Keyop because it's already tough enough with their wings clipped and knowing that Zoltar is "blowing up the galaxy." Mark says they're all on edge because they know what they're supposed to be doing and they're not allowed. The team breaks orders anyway by transmuting, boarding the Phoenix and launch. Chief Anderson calls after them but they ignore him.

On their way to Riga, Chief Anderson tells the team via video they're ill-prepared. Mark counters they couldn't just sit by and cuts of communications just before the chief wishes them "good luck anyway." The team continues on their way to Riga. Upon arrival, Sheytan sees them fly in on radar. Zoltar orders him to use conventional weapons first then spring the trap. Sheytan laughs evilly at how easily G-Force has fallen for the trap.

Act Two

Zark paces in Nerve Center facing a situation he's not accustomed to: the team disobeying Chief Anderson. Zark is worried because Mark has turned off all communications and there is no way Zark can advise them on how to cope with the new mech. He flies to his monitors and continues to attempt contact through his Multi-plex Thermo Telecomm. He makes a couple of calls but the team is in the middle of engaging the flying bat.

They fly up behind it as Princess says, "I hope it's as blind as a bat." Mark wants Tiny to "jockey" them close it and Jason near the missile launch button. Jason fires multiple missiles and the bat does the same slicing the bird missiles to bits. Jason tries some more but the bird missiles are redirected back to the Phoenix! A smaller fleet of fighters launches from the mech to take on the Phoenix and literally smoke the Phoenix. Mark describes them as "disco lights" saying, "And we're gonna dance!" Just as Tiny makes a move, the bat hits them with the Photon Negative Sonar Beam. Instruments go crazy and the team is knocked out but it's not quick.

The Phoenix goes down into the water in flames. The air vents were ripped out when hit with the beam and the Phoenix takes on water through various cracks. Zoltar watches the Phoenix go down and kisses off the team. The bat fires a large volley of missiles toward the Phoenix but they explode prior to impact! Zoltar wonders what happened only to discover Colonel Cronus and his fighters are fighting back. Sheytan reports they are low on fuel and ammunition. Zoltar tells him to return to base, the Phoenix is finished anyway.

With the bat mech retreating, Colonel Cronus focuses on helping G-Force. The team is returned to Center Neptune and a very unhappy Chief Anderson. The chief is completely ticked off that the team took off when they did purposely putting themselves in harm's way when it wasn't necessary. Mark owns the mistake – he did what he felt was right. Chief Anderson tells Mark he's confined to Center Neptune until the Security Board reviews his case. Mark is not pleased by this turn of events.

Chief Anderson then meets with Colonel Cronus about the analysis of the bat mech. The chief says it's a combination of high intensity photon waves and negative sonar waves. The colonel is sure there is a way to get through the multi-colored shield. Chief Anderson tells him that the best scientists are still working on it. Colonel Cronus then changes the subject to Mark and the disciplinary actions he's facing. The men discuss this is Mark's first breach of discipline but the chief says the real worry is Mark's confidence because he suffered a major defeat.

Chief Anderson and Colonel Cronus enter the room where the team is hanging out. They have the Board's decision and tell Mark to go with them. Mark is shocked but Colonel Cronus assures him they are going back to Riga "to finish the job." Tiny objects that the rest of the team is being left behind but the chief tells them to get the Phoenix ready – they're going too!

Zark says that G-Force has returned to Riga with Colonel Cronus and his men and under the robot's guidance. Colonel Cronus' team meet with the other G-Force members saying their leader is about to be tested. Tiny counters that no one can out fly Mark including Colonel Cronus! The team runs to a vantage point to watch Mark and Colonel Cronus spar with their jets. Tiny says Mark can fly "upside and blind-folded." Colonel Cronus pushes Mark to a nerve-wracking point to "see if you lost your nerve." But the G-Force commander cracks up, literally.

After the incident, Colonel Cronus takes Mark to his house where Mark bolts upright in a bed. He tries to stand but is still feeling the after-effects of the near crash. He "blacked out for just a second" and Colonel Cronus has to calm him down. Colonel Cronus explains they had to see if Mark lost his nerve or skill, which he didn't. Colonel Cronus tells Mark he tested "very well" and that he "almost" made it. Mark says almost isn't good enough to stop Zoltar.

The team is at the beach during sundown with Keyop and Tiny skimming rocks. Keyop's rock skips on the water but Tiny lands with a thud. It gives Mark a brainstorm on how to beat the bat's shield! But first, Mark takes on the mountain one more time with his jet and succeeds! Mark's ready to take on the bat and the Phoenix launches. Colonel Cronus and his men take off from their base ready to back up G-Force.

On board the Phoenix, Mark asks Princess for one of her fusion cylinders. She gives it to him and he puts it into his sonic boomerang just as the bat shows up. It's already launched its fighters but Colonel Cronus and his team wipe them out. The bat fires a photon beam toward Colonel Cronus and his men but they easily evade it. Sheytan orders the main shield activated. Mark explains to Tiny that their flight is going to be like the rocks on the water. Rather than skip off the shield, they'll plunge at an angle to get past it! Mark says if he's wrong, "We'll all be back skimming rocks." Princess tells him to think positively. Mark tells them the plan: Colonel Cronus and his team will be the decoys while the Phoenix will peel off appearing to run but they'll actually fly in from behind and high enough to pierce the shield.

Tiny makes the moves and Sheytan is fooled while engaging Colonel Cronus and his men. Tiny brings the Phoenix into a full power dive but they make it through and they barley land on the bat. Mark throws his boomerang and it embeds into the bat. The Phoenix then launches off the mech shocking Sheytan! Sheytan then orders the ship abandoned just before it blows into a billion bits. Sheytan reports back to Zoltar who tells him to go back to Spectra. The Luminous One wants to speak to Sheytan personally.

In the skies above Riga, Colonel Cronus conveys his thanks to the team and knew they could do it. He wishes them "good flying and a speedy trip back to Earth." Zark is taking a ten second oil break because his circuits are "jangled." But he's happy that the mission was a success thanks to the help of Colonel Cronus. Zark calls Susan because he's going to switch his off button and wants her to turn him on again when it's time to go back to work. Susan is more than happy to that and does so after a few seconds. Zark says he has the best job in the universe working for G-Force.

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