BotP Close-up 075

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Bobkat
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BotP Close-up 075

Post: # 646Post Bobkat »

This week is perhaps one of Battle's most famous episodes. "Peril of the Praying Mantis" is not only an mis-identification - the thing is actually in the shape of a lobster - but the team faces major challenges.

Tiny is out of sorts after the sinking of the 'Mary Francis'. His friend, Captain Jack, is lost along with the rest of the crew after the mech attacks their fishing ship. However, our great team pulls it together and finds the shipwrecked fishermen. They also defeat Zoltar and his cronies in the end. :)

What I remember about this ep is the smaller vehicles forming up and launching from the larger mech. These scenes were used in the WDRB ads for the show! I'm sure The Other Jason has some insight into this. :lol: For now, Enjoy! :)

The Other Jason's write-up is here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep75.html

E75: Peril of the Praying Mantis

Act One

7-Zark-7 coordinates all alerts to and from various Cosmic Patrols to keep the galaxy secure from his perch in Center Neptune. "No news is good news." His job is mechanical in one aspect due to giving clearances and such but he prefers "more imaginative work." He'd rather deal with G-Force, a team of "five incredible young people." Zark says he's due to have upgraded components soon and increased mobility. He hopes to be able to join G-Force on an outer space flight because he finds the control room "too confining." He craves action and his sensors are "all tingle."

Zark gets back to work at his monitors saying all is quiet with the Interplanetary Patrol reporting all clear without even a UFO. They're real according to Zark. He adds he's sensitive to Cosmic Rays and is sure Spectra is plotting something.

Zoltar and the Luminous One confer with the latter asking Zoltar if he's ready with the latest plot – an assault on Earth. Zoltar assures the Great Spirit that he has handpicked the best fighters on Spectra for this mission. The Luminous One warns Zoltar that won't be enough and wants Zoltar's best commander in charge to have complete control over the symbiote robots. The Luminous One spells out their objective: to find and destroy the Conway Tapes. The tapes hold secret codes that bind the Federation together. Zoltar tells the Luminous One that Bartok will be in command and the Luminous One is pleased by this choice. It tells Zoltar the Conway Tapes must be destroyed before disappearing.

After the Luminous One disappears, Zoltar begins talking to himself about the plan to strike "scattered" targets to disperse the Federation's forces. When the diversion takes place, they'll move in and snatch the Conway Tapes. Zoltar is quite happy with this plan saying they'll steal the tapes even if they have to take the whole building.

From the Spectran base, they launch their latest mech from Spectra and head to Earth. Zark has received an emergency alert that an enemy ship is heading toward Earth. Zark must contact G-Force and the Universal Defense System. Defense forces scramble to meet the threat but are no match for the rays and beams used. In the heat of battle, Bartok orders the symbiotes to "check fuel gauges" because they need to return to the main ship to refuel!

While the Defense Forces took a beating, the mech disappears for now. A lighthouse shines during the night as a group of fishermen return from "easy run." Just as the captain tells his crew they'll be in home port tomorrow and plans to turn in, the mech resurfaces nearby! The symbiote craft redock with the mech but one notices the fishing boat and destroys it, causing the crew to fall into the water. The mech disappears again into a whirlpool.

Zark has contacted four G-Force members but has been unable to raise Tiny Harper and he's needed to pilot the Phoenix. . He keeps trying while the other four meet with Chief Anderson in his office. The chief briefs them about the attacks on random things and seem "haphazard." However, he tells them that Spectra wouldn't risk an operation such as this unless they were after something specific. He wants the team to discover what Spectra's true objective is. He also informs them that Tiny didn't respond to any attempts of communications by Zark. Jason says he knew Tiny was going to his home village to see a man named Captain. Keyop thinks Tiny is goofing off but Princess doesn't think so because Tiny is so reliable. Chief Anderson asks Mark if he can fly the Phoenix but Mark declines, "That's Tiny's job." They're left with no other choice but to depart in their own individual vehicles. The four members chant, "G-Force" and salute.

The team scours the land to figure out Spectra's motivations in their own vehicles without the command ship. All the while, Zark has his Receptors running "full decibel" to try and locate Tiny who is asleep on a hillside near his home village. A young boy runs past Tiny, kicking up mud by accident. Tiny awakens from his pleasant dream to some unpleasant news. The boy is Captain Jack's son and he tells Tiny that his boat was sunk last and that G-Force is out looking for them. They've also been trying to contact Tiny but his receiver was off. Tiny turns it on and immediately gets some urgent messages. Zark is happy to finally get a hold of Tiny. The robot orders him to report to Center Neptune immediately because Spectra has attacked. Tommy, the boy, can't believe Tiny would leave while his father is out in the ocean somewhere. Tiny explains he has a job to do but Tommy isn't interested.

Bartok and the Spectran mech fly through the skies as Zoltar orders them to proceed with the mission because Earth's defenses are currently confused. Bartok tells the symbiotes to fly to the Conway Building. Meanwhile, Mark has picked up on their movements and surmises that Spectra is after the Conway Tapes! He informs his teammates that if Spectra gets those, it's the end of the Federation.

G-Force moves in on the ship while alarms blare and defenses are deployed. As the mech approaches the building, people evacuate while Bartok orders the symbiotes to engage G-Force. Mark tells the team the "bogeys" look hungry as they move on the team. He adds, "Let's give them a 12 course dinner!" Mark is the first to attack by shooting the lasers from his jet. Jason notices their all robot pilots while Princess calls the whole thing "creepy."

The mech breaks into the Conway Building to steal the tapes and create more destruction. The team moves in but they're too late. One yellow ship buzzes Princess, knocking her off her bike. The mech leaves with what it wants as the symbiotes retreat to their main ship. G-Force is not happy!

The team shows up in a sullen mood in Chief Anderson's office. He tells them they did the best they could with what they had. Jason says they had them on the run and could have finished the job if only they had Tiny and the Phoenix. Just then, Tiny walks in. He apologizes with Jason telling him to "get back on the job." Chief Anderson agrees and sends them out to find the Spectran space creature. Tiny blames himself for the team being so far behind.

The Phoenix takes flight and Mark asks Jason what it looks like. "Big zero, but they're out there." Keyop is determined to send them home packing. While the team continues to look, Zark is glad the team is all back together again but knows Tiny's mind is back on Tommy and his pleas for help in finding his father. Tiny comes to the realization that Captain Jack may be treading water and needs help.

Act Two

Zark paces in the control room feeling sorry for Tiny, or is he? He natters on about Tiny wanting to take a day off to see old friends in the country and "look at all the trouble he got him into." Zark says he never takes a day off or enjoys a space burger or drinks a soda. He does take a "refreshing" shot of oil now and then. Zark moves back to his monitors putting all his components to work to try to find Zoltar and his evil machine.

On board the Phoenix, Mark says they've lost the monster for now. He orders Princess to set up "Electronic Tracking" to help in their search. She picks a "squiggle" but it's moving away from them. Mark wants Ram Jets but Tiny is out of it and Mark jumps down his throat. Just then, Zark contacts the team on video to give them new coordinates of 75 degrees on Grid 40 – the Spectra monster is attacking yet another ship! When Tiny hears this, he does snap out of his depression and the Phoenix tears off to the location.

When they arrive, the team encounters a major ship in the process of sinking and the water around it on fire. The destruction has left behind a huge oil slick. Mark and Tiny look at one another as Jason looks down. Zoltar then breaks in on their communications laughing evilly. Mark says sullenly, "I know that laugh." Zoltar taunts them saying they are too late – they have already destroyed the Conway Tape computer bank and the Federation is doomed! He goes on to say that each Federation member will be taken one by one. Jason cracks, "He's got a real great sense of humor." Keyop jumps in, "Gobble gobble gobble, Turkey!" Tiny holds his head down blaming himself.

In Chief Anderson's office, he tells the team that Zoltar's space pirates have succeeded in breaking into the Conway Tapes and stolen them. Chief Anderson isn't pleased that the whole galaxy is now in jeopardy "because one member of G-Force failed to respond to a Red Alert." Mark jumps to Tiny's defense telling the chief not to blame him – they all need a day off once in a while. The chief understands but tells them they need to stay in touch. Mark says that sometimes when he flies, he turns off his communicator. Besides, he's the commander and he's responsible. Tiny intervenes explaining he went to visit Captain Jack but he was at sea so Tiny hung out for a bit. It was a matter of bad timing. Chief Anderson them all to get some rest, Round Two will be soon.

The team hangs out near Tiny's village. Mark and Princess discuss losing the Conway Tapes and how it's not Tiny's fault. They're outside admiring the mountains and know why he missed the Red Alert. Princess wishes they could stay forever but says it's not for them. He tells her, "We're programmed for G-Force." Princess counters, "We're humans, Mark. The only programmed is Zark." Tommy yells at them "hi" and becomes really upset. Mark thought he and Tiny were supposed to go fishing but Tommy says Tiny won't go. Mark explains Tiny has a bad case of "the guilts" about G-Force and Captain Jack. Princess assures Tommy, "We'll get his jets burning again." Tommy becomes happier saying Tiny is at their house.

Mark and Princess find Tiny sitting by a window. Mark tells him to "shape up or ship out." He then apologizes saying "shape" when Tiny turns to him. Jason and Keyop appear at the door, just receiving an alert that survivors of the 'Mary Francis' have been located. Tiny perks up immediately – the 'Mary Francis' is Captain Jack's ship! Mark tries to temper Tiny's expectations but if there are survivors, the captain is probably one. Mark asks the team if they're up for a rescue and they chant, "G-Force!" and transmute into their uniforms.

The Phoenix launches to rescue the survivors of the 'Mary Francis.' Zark calls in on video saying his Receptors are finely tuned to find the Spectran creature and he changes his report about the 'Mary Francis' survivors – it was an error and no other contact has be made. He tells the team to proceed to search atolls "Vectors 405 and 603." Tiny looks over at Mark with a worried expression. Mark says Zark's never been wrong but there's always a first time.

The Phoenix flies over Vector 405 searching the islands below but no success. They then go to Vector 603 and Jason cracks, "If you've got to be shipwrecked, it's a great place to swim." Princess tells him to stop right as Tiny spots something on one of the small islands! They see smoke from the air and Tiny immediately lands in the lagoon while the ship's crew celebrates. As they get closer, Tiny sees Captain Jack – his day is made!

On the island, Captain Jack grabs Mark by the shoulders and is ecstatic to see the Phoenix and the team! Captain Jack knows they're G-Force because Tiny has told him all about them. After all, Tiny's father was like a brother to Captain Jack and Tommy thinks the world of Tiny. He notices Tiny isn't with them as they speak to the team, Captain Jack wants to thank Tiny personally. Tiny stands by a palm tree and Captain Jack finds him to thank him. Princess tells the crew they'll get word to their families that they're safe and Mark says they'll drop the crew off at the nearest port. The bracelets chime and Mark answers, "Big Ten, Zark." Zark is near panic reporting the space monster has been spotted in the Northern Hemisphere, Sector 40, Grid 10. Mark says they're off.

The Spectran mech flies through the sky as Defense forces meet it as the Phoenix moves in. Bartok orders all fighters launch to engage G-Force. The formation flies straight at the Phoenix where Jason is all set and ready with his finger on the missile launch button. Suddenly, Tiny veers away from the formation and Jason has a fit! "Whaddya doin', Tiny!? We had 'em cold!" Tiny answers that he's going to take care of it because he "owes the monster one."

On the mech, Bartok watches the Phoenix veer and takes it to be a retreating move. Bartok is confident nothing can stop them now. On the Phoenix, Jason wonders what's keeping Tiny from giving "them two big red ones right where it hurts!" Tiny pushes back, "It's my show, Jason." The mech fires lasers from its eyes and Tiny slams the button firing the missiles. One lodges into the face of the mech where the symbiotes are at a loss and Bartok wants them to disarm the missile. As he retreats with his arms in the air, Bartok orders full Retro Jets and follows the symbiotes out of the ship to "prepare to eject." The missile explodes causing Keyop to say, "Bye, bye, bug." Then he notices traffic behind them as the symbiotes in the yellow fighters move in to attack. They only have on problem: they're out of fuel! The jets fall from the sky crashing into the mountains probably causing a big explosion. Tiny knows it's finally over.

At the fishing village, Captain Jack and Tommy are reunited with several hundred sea gulls flying nearby. Tommy is super excited to see his dad who says the whole universe is safe "thanks to that G-Force son." The Phoenix flies back to Center Neptune as Tommy waves and yells his gratitude to the team for finding his father.

Zark rattles on saying G-Force defeated Zoltar again even though Spectra broke into the computer bank, Zark's foresight allowed the tapes to remain secure. Zark wonders if he has a "sixth sensor" and why not – he has seven, eight and nine. Soon, he'll have more and wonders if he'll ever be good enough to fly on the Phoenix.

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