BotP Close-up 061

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Bobkat
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BotP Close-up 061

Post: # 556Post Bobkat »

This week is Attack of the Alien Wasp! It's kind of confusing because Cronus shows up out of nowhere! Wait, wasn't he ... Anyway, it's a big mess that G-Force has to figure a way out.

I love the scene when the team reunites in the jail cell in the belly of Spectra's base. We get a peek at their teamwork. :)

Enjoy!

The Other Jason's write up is here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep61.html

E61: Attack of the Alien Wasp

Act One

7-Zark-7 works at Center Neptune, 900 fathoms beneath the sea, and is usually the first one to know about bad news through his complex sensory system. There has not been an alert for 24 hours and while Zark should be happy, he's worried. Zark doesn't trust it – things are too quiet. He goes on to say Spectra will strike at any time soon due to their planet's resources have been used up. Spectra is just like Earth but older by millions of years and need what Earth has. They won't stop attacking until they have stolen everything from Earth.

Zark then introduces himself and G-Force – "five young people with incredible skills" and have been trained almost since birth to protect the galaxy. He also says all Red Alerts go through him and he relays them to G-Force. Zark contacts the team who are flying on the Phoenix. The robot wants to talk to Mark specifically but the commander isn't in any mood even after Keyop points out that Zark is calling. Princess quiets the smallest member before Mark walks off the bridge. Keyop apologizes and Mark tells him to forget but there's something very serious on Mark's mind. Keyop suggests they cut out his tongue.

Mark launches his jet while Zark compliments Mark's flying. Zark goes on saying that Mark is in a sad mood and his Thought Probes know why: Mark received word that Spectra attacked Riga, leaving the planet devastated. Mark's friend Colonel Cronus was presumed lost in the attack. The pair served together several times in defense of the galaxy. Mark tosses a carnation out of his jet watching it fall and the petals spread in a "V."

Zark then senses trouble in Blue Cordon Perimeter in Sector Z – three invading craft. Mark has visual and must contact Chief Anderson right away. The jets are red with white highlights and in the lead craft is Colonel Cronus! Everyone thought he was dead and Mark is in shock. He calls Chief Anderson on a G-Force Priority call. The chief finally picks up the radio microphone and Mark drops the bombshell that Colonel Cronus is alive. The chief says it's "impossible." Chief Anderson then orders Mark back to the Phoenix due to being in restricted airspace after Mark requests to follow Colonel Cronus to his base. Mark disobeys and follows Colonel Cronus anyway.

Chief Anderson tries to contact Mark again but communications are cut off. Replacing the microphone, the chief says it's impossible that Mark saw Colonel Cronus. Meanwhile, the three jets head to their base with Mark right behind them. Mark believes he's right about this, regardless of the consequences. On the Phoenix, Chief Anderson briefs the team on what's happened: Mark not only disobeyed orders but has put the entire security system at risk. Princess can't believe it while Chief Anderson tells them that they're Mark's teammates and they are to "try and bring him back." They call out, "G-Force!" and fly to Mark's last known position. On the way, Jason comments that their "noble leader" may be in line for a demotion. Tiny counters saying that Mark knows what he's doing.

The three red jets near their base as a mountain appears out of nowhere. Mark goes in to land beside the three fighters, deplaning and looks around. He's impressed by the layout but wonders why Colonel Cronus would be there. Mark ventures in further into the base taking a lift to an upper level. There are no guards in sight and Mark enters a room seeing Colonel Cronus near the windows. Colonel Cronus turns around and warmly greets Mark who tells him that everyone thought the colonel was dead after Riga was destroyed. Colonel Cronus explains not all of Riga was destroyed and he was able to escape to Earth.

Mark remembers being trapped in a magnetic field and how Colonel Cronus got him out. Mark says he owes Colonel Cronus his life. The colonel tells Mark he owes him nothing but together they can take out Zoltar once and for all. Mark agrees and wants to what the plan is. Colonel Cronus explains it will take the whole G-Force team and they must work in secret. Mark reiterates that the galaxy wants peace. Colonel Cronus says they must find Spectra's secret base on Earth and open a desk drawer containing a case holding top Secret documents pointing to Spectra's Earth headquarters. Colonel Cronus explains it shows all routes, vulnerable propulsion units and control reactors. Mark wants to know where Colonel Cronus got the documents but he isn't forthcoming, only saying the source is completely reliable. It's a matter of trust – complete trust between friends.

The Phoenix keeps flying as G-Force tries to find their wayward commander. Tiny hopes they can find Mark before he gets into trouble with Jason pointing out they don't even know where to look. Princess nearly screams as a giant mech launches in front of them! It's in the shape of a wasp and a mean looking one too. Jason declares a Red Alert and tries to fire the bird missiles but nothing happens. Somehow the mech has managed to jam their defense systems, which means their backup systems are no good as well! On top of that, if they were able to contact Center Neptune, there would be no way that help would arrive on time. Jason says they have to take evasive action and the chase is on.

Everyone goes to their stations as the wasp fires bullets and fires energy beams with the bullets making an impact. Princess tells Tiny to pull up because they're headed straight for a rainforest. Tiny tries but the Phoenix still flies through treetops trying to escape the wasp causing parrots to fly in every direction. The team is about worn out when the wasp grabs them from behind. Drilling into the bridge, the Spectran crew is able to gas the team and take the Phoenix to the destination of choice. The goons are quite pleased with themselves as they decide to go to the mountain base.

Zark muses that if Mark had been with his team, the whole incident wouldn't have happened. He wonders if he's losing his Sensors because he's lost all contact. The robot tries desperately to contact Mark who is still with Colonel Cronus. The colonel wants Mark to rejoin his team and to bring them to the base. Mark explains all he can do is propose the plan and then the team will make a joint decision. Colonel Cronus tells Mark to "do it your way" and admires the commander's loyalty.

Mark takes off from the base and returns to Center Neptune. He meets with Chief Anderson right away giving the chief the documents Colonel Cronus gave him. The chief scrutinizes the paperwork and wonders why Colonel Cronus gave them to Mark. Mark answers Colonel Cronus just wants to help and says the problem with security, they don't trust anyone. Chief Anderson counters that they have to question everyone and everything because they can't afford a lapse in judgment. "If my own son gave me these papers, I would question them." Mark says this is different because he's not the chief's son and Colonel Cronus once saved his life. The chief surmises that Mark has his own doubts, noticing one of Spectra's logos on the case. Mark admits he saw it while the chief tells him they've had these papers before and ran them through the Crypto-phaser. They reveal nothing and are actually fakes. Chief Anderson considers an improbable scenario: Colonel Cronus defected to Spectra! Mark answer that he'll know soon.

Act Two

Zark paces musing about Mark's predicament: is Colonel Cronus friend or foe? The commander is on his way back to meet with the colonel. Zark doesn't know how he would feel since he's never had a friend and wonders what it would be like to have a companion to compute with.

Mark is en route to the mountain base with Zark feeling queasy in his Base Electrode that there's trouble ahead. At the base, Colonel Cronus slides a coffee cup toward Mark saying he's surprised Mark showed the papers to Chief Anderson. Mark answers he had his own doubts, but not any more. Colonel Cronus is pleased proposing a toast to both their planets and peace in the galaxy. Mark becomes wary and pretends to drink. Mark then collapses after choking. However, Colonel Cronus reveals himself as Zoltar! The evil leader stands over Mark explaining that Colonel Cronus is indeed dead and he really wanted the commander to lure the rest of G-Force to the base but the Giant Wasp took care of that task.

Zoltar turns to leave the room only to have Mark stand up and reveal that he is very much alive! Mark tells Zoltar he's clever but not clever enough. The real Colonel Cronus knew Mark didn't drink. Mark goes on to say Zoltar's plan to conquer Earth will have to wait, "hopefully forever." The commander demands to know what happened to his team. Zoltar claims they all escaped but Mark isn't buying the story. A group of goons appear in the doorway and Mark leaps into action to fight through them. However, Zoltar has other plans, pressing a button to open a trap door leading to an underground cell.

When Mark lands, he's reunited with his teammates. Keyop says, "Surprise!" Mark tells them he didn’t' believe Zoltar really captured them. Princess explains, "We were stung by a giant wasp." Mark apologizes for his "goof." Zoltar then appears on the other side of the bars taunting them. He calls them "distinguished guests" but "not for long." One of the goons behind him holds a bomb that they place on the wall. Zoltar says in a little bit, they'll be unpleasant memories. He turns to leave but Mark flings a tracking device onto Zoltar's cape before the leader leaves with his men. Before walking away, Zoltar says, "I shall miss you."

When the corridor is cleared, Tiny and Keyop struggle with the bars but they aren't budging. Keyop calls Zoltar, "purple creep." Mark tries to call Center Neptune but Princess tells him they've already tried but they're still jammed. Keyop says, "Cooked goose." Mark tells Princess to use the detonator but it has no effect on the bars. Jason calls it, "throwing a firecracker at a mountain." Time is running out but they need to figure out another way out.

As the time ticks down, Jason pulls out his cablegun, fitting it with a drill. Mark likes the idea and Jason answers they don't have any other choice. Jason gets to work but progress is slow as one bar takes forever. Meanwhile, Zoltar escapes in a personal vessel proclaiming G-Force is finished. He surfaces in an underwater base but the tracking device falls off in the docking bay. Jason is still working on the one bar with Princess asking what if it doesn't work. Jason says it has or like Tiny surmises, "We've had it."

The bomb starts beeping with the wasp still on the loose. Jason finally breaks through on the one bar but it's not nearly enough for an escape. Mark/Jason say there's one move left: the Astro bomb. Princess points out that it's "awfully risky" but their options are few. Mark packs the hole with explosives and throws his boomerang to set it off. A massive explosion occurs with shrapnel going everywhere including one bar barely missing Keyop and Tiny! However, there is a hole big enough for them to escape with Tiny squeezing out.

The Phoenix and Mark's jet make a hasty retreat just prior to the mountain base exploding. Mark calls Center Neptune and talks to Zark via video reporting they're escaping the base and to tell Chief Anderson "his information was right." Zark says it was his information and he's never wrong. Communications terminate right after this.

The wasp mech is still flying around but they've lost G-Force and the Phoenix. The goons decide to contact Zoltar to inform him that Spectra's headquarters is in danger. Meanwhile on the Phoenix, Mark returns to the bridge. He tells Princess he nearly blew it but she reminds him that they're safe because of his actions. Mark points out that no one is safe until they find Spectra's Earth headquarters. There is a flashback to the "homing bug" landing on Zoltar's collar. Mark says it depends on where the bug landed.

The homing bug activates and a line they're following diverts toward the bug. Zoltar enters the control room telling his goon they must prepare for an attack. The wasp mech comes up on and underwater base and Spectra winds up fighting itself as the wasp attacks its own base. Zoltar makes an escape as the base and the wasp explode together. G-Force watches it all from the Phoenix as Tiny says, "Maybe they'll get the message, one of these days."

Mark walks off the bridge felling down. Keyop says, "Sad." Jason tells him it's because of Colonel Cronus and that "sentiment is risky" in their line of work. They have to keep their guard up. Mark makes his way to the bubble and the glass slides down. Mark stands as the tears flow freely and his wings flap behind him. Zark says the world is tough and while Mark may be sad for his friend, Colonel Cronus, the fact that he led his team to victory over Zoltar is what counts. Zark goes on that Mark will handle it. He adds that if it weren't for the robot's solid-state circuitry, he'd blow a Tube for sure.

Zark natters on about how he thought G-Force was finished that time but they possess incredible powers and they will need them all to defeat Zoltar. Zark has a queasy feeling in his Activator that Zoltar will be back at it again to take over the Earth, maybe even tomorrow. He adds he'll be right there at this monitors "plugged in and at full speed" and so will G-Force.

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