Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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Gatchaman Episode 47 – The Devil’s Airline
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Gatchaman Episode 47 – The Devil’s Airline
Yep. Leader X is berating Berg Katse.
“What disturbs you this time, Sire?†Katse asks meekly. I guess this is a conversation they’ve had many, many times before…
“Katse, you are the Lord of Galactor, so I will share this with you.†X says, narrowing his eyes.
So what’s the big to-do? Well, X has received word that the ISO is ‘close to perfecting a supercomputer’. Apparently it is capable of storing and processing a thousand times the data of a normal computer. Oooh… so this one can upload videos to Pandora and Youtube while playing online MMORPGs and zipping and unzipping jpeg files? Cool… 
But it isn’t the idea that the ISO can do this that bothers Leader X. Oh no.
“How can they achieve this before us?†X rants. Yep, he’s jealous. Apparently this war with the ISO is just some bizarre kind of alien one-upmanship competition with Nambu.
“Your anger is understandable, Great Leader!†Katse babbles. Hey, he pretty much has to say whatever X wants him to say, so I don’t blame the guy.
X goes on to tell Katse that this new supercomputer could analyze even the smallest clue Galactor might leave behind. It might discover many of their secret bases!
“Leave this to me, Sire.†Katse says.
Suddenly, we switch to inspection day at the Galactor Barracks.
Oops, no, it’s a briefing from Katse. He tells the goons that Director Anderson will be personally transporting the core device for the supercomputer to the ‘fortified and heavily guarded ISO research center facility’ on the Jetol Plateau.
“Even with all of our power, it will be difficult to infiltrate.†Katse warns.
“So you want us to attack Director Anderson, seize the computer’s core device, and bring it back to you.†a goon repeats. Wow, he got it on the first try! He must have been top of his class at Galactor University.
Katse tells him that he’s correct, and warns the men that the attack must be carried out while Director Anderson is airborne.
Without the core device, the ISO supercomputer is nothing more than scrap metal. Interestingly enough, no one worries that the ISO might have blueprints, or a copy, or a prototype, or could just build it again…
Katse yells at his men, telling them to steal the device.
Meanwhile, it’s the Daily Fish Parade at the Crescent Base, but instead of the usual peaceful music, we have the ‘something exciting is about to happen’ music. And sure enough, Dr. Nambu has called the Science Ninja Team to the Control Room of the Crescent Coral Base.
Yep, one mighty big (and empty) control room, isn’t it?
And this oh-so-high-tech room projects an image onto the screen that looks suspiciously like a slideshow. But I digress. Dr. Nambu is briefing the Team on their latest mission.
Dr. Nambu isn’t showing them a slideshow, it’s a flickering movie! It’s video of the supercomputer ‘that you’ve heard so much about’. And then Dr. Nambu shows them the core device for the computer.
Wow. That sucker is HUGE! I think I’ve seen entire laptops that are smaller than this!
Dr. Nambu explains that the core device is ‘kind of like its brain’. It’s capable of a ‘million times the work of a human brain’.
“A million times? You mean that little thing is a million times smarter than me?†Ryu wants to know. “Fhugeddaboud it!†(Yep, a vague NY accent coming through. Or is that NJ?)
“It’s small because everything on the computer has to be compact.†Nambu explains. “So you can only see details through a microscope.â€
Okay, I admit it, Nambu just lost me. You see details on the computer’s core device through a microscope? Since when did microscopes become major parts of computer hardware? And oh yeah, that thing’s not small!
Apparently Jinpei is as confused as I am.
But he bluffs anyway, saying that he ‘gets it’, when it’s clear he doesn’t. And he’s never done that before. 
Jinpei asks if Director Anderson is going to transport the device himself.
Nambu confirms this, and repeats the information Berg Katse had: that the core device is being taken to the ISO research facility on the Jetol Plateau. The facility appears to be in the middle of a rocky desert, based on the flickering movie footage Nambu is showing the Team. An overhead shot shows how high tech this building is.
Oh look! They have outdoor picnic tables with umbrellas out front, in case the ISO researchers want to enjoy the hot desert air. Isn’t that nice?
Nambu tells us that in the past this facility was used to produce nuclear weapons, but he assures us that now it’s only used for peaceful purposes. The ISO has put everything into this facility, to ensure that its technology is state of the art.
Even as we watch the footage, a small butterfly passes in front of one of the security monitors. A laser beam comes out… and the butterfly drops. Awwww….
But apparently this has been a demonstration of the power of the facility against intruders. Now if only Katse would attack with butterflies…
Nambu tells the Team that security at the research facility is not a concern. But he is worried about the device’s transport to the facility.
So… why didn’t they just develop this darn thing at the facility to begin with? Why don’t they make a second one and have them both be transported separately, albeit at the same time?
“You’re worried about Galactor.†Ken says, stating the obvious.
“There’s no way Galactor can pass up stealing a computer this important, Ken.†the Doctor confirms. He’s certain that when Galactor does strike, they will attack Director Anderson’s plane.
So here’s another question… why is Director Anderson escorting the core device? Why doesn’t the SNT do it on the God Phoenix?
But Nambu hasn’t apparently thought of this idea.
“So you’re saying that the Science Ninja Team’s mission is to guard that plane and that device at all costs.†Joe guesses.
“This is the stupidest mission that I’ve ever heard of!†Jinpei whines.
Okay, I want to smack this kid. There’s pretty much a guaranteed Galactor attack happening, and he thinks it’s stupid?
Jun gets belts him one for me.
“What’s wrong with you, Jinpei?†she lectures. “This is a really important mission this time. Don’t you get it?â€
“Guess you didn’t!†Jinpei mocks, and Ryu laughs.
For some reason, no one backs up Jun. I’m not sure why Ken and Joe aren’t weighing in on this. Nambu ignores the whole thing, repeating that their mission is to guard the core device. He goes on to show them footage of the jet that they have custom built for Director Anderson’s flight.
“Wow, coolness!†Jinpei exclaims. “I wanna fly in that plane!â€
Dr. Nambu shows the Team the interior of the plane. It looks like a private jet, but the Doctor tells them that it has been equipped with a ‘number of useful gadgets’. This is sounding more and more like a James Bond Q-briefing.
Nambu shows them a picture of Director Anderson’s seat. It’s equipped with a catapulting device that can eject the director from the plane. Um… are you sure this isn’t James Bond’s Aston Martin?
The seat also has a built-in radio that can transmit directly to the Science Ninja Team’s bracelets, using Morse Code. Seems a little strange… why couldn’t he just transmit normally?
Nambu informs the Team that to eject the seat, Anderson must press a button on the floor and pull a level on his left. It will them eject and land via parachute.
Ryu is mightily impressed.
Nambu remarks that it follows the same design as ‘the president’s’ private jet. Which president? I don’t know, but he/she must be someone impressive.
Nambu orders everyone to escort Director Anderson, and the Team cheers. Even Jinpei, who thought this mission was stupid.
Insert stock footage of the God Phoenix launching from the Crescent Coral Base.
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This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by Transmute Jun on 21-09-2009 at 03:09.
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21-09-2009 03:03
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Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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In the dark of night, a young stewardess makes her way across the airport. She doesn’t realize that she is being followed by men in green uniforms. As she passes a truck, she is grabbed and pulled inside. She opens her eyes to behold a horrifying sight!
Strangely, she doesn’t struggle or try to get away, but just moans as Katse injects her. She falls asleep, and Katse addresses his men, telling them that the preparations are complete.
“Go! I’ll take care of the rest of this myself!†Katse orders the goons.
After the goons leave, the platform on which the stewardess is lying moves up and attaches to the wall. And then we see the most horrifying thing of all… whatever Katse injected her with has caused the stewardess to lose her mouth!
Katse drops his cloak to the floor, then teasingly pulls at his mask…
The next thing we know, there are two identical stewardesses. The one strapped to the wall has he mouth back, but so does the imposter stewardess walking out of the truck.
As an aside, this is really quite the expose. We know at this point in the series that Katse can disguise himself, but this is the first time we’ve ever had a demonstration of how quickly and easily it can be done!
There is one difference between the new stewardess and the old one. The new one has a strange pin of a spider on her collar.
Ominous music plays as she walks over to Director Anderson’s plane, which is preparing for takeoff. The pilot and copilot are going through their checklist. They comment that the flight has to be smooth, and that this is a ‘special flight’ for Director Anderson.
The Director approaches the plane with two bodyguards, watched by the new Katse-stewardess, who is already on the plane. She comes out to greet Anderson, flexing her fingers in a Condor-like manner. She glares at the Director at first, but is all smiles when he approaches closer.
“Hello, Director, we’ve been awaiting your arrival.†she says, in a soft, feminine tone. This is another interesting demonstration of just how well Katse can disguise himself.
Anderson comments on the stewardess’ ‘interesting brooch’. Katse-stewardess says that she bought it in Kenya.
“It’s nice, just rather unusual.†Anderson says, before walking onto the plane.
Katse-stewardess keeps her eye on the briefcase in Anderson’s hand, which he locks into the side of his chair. He puts the key inside of his jacket.
The Director orders everyone to take their seats, and says that they will take off immediately. And ‘take off’ is right. The plane goes straight up, like a Harrier, rather than the traditional runway take-off that we are used to.
Once they are airborne, Katse-stewardess takes off her spider pin and puts it on the floor of the plane. She pulls an antenna out of her compact and opens it up… it’s a remote control spider!
The spider crawls along the floor as the stewardess plays with the compact, and the bug approaches Director Anderson’s chair…
In the cockpit, the main pilot is sweating with nervousness at this mission. But everything must be going okay, because he tells his co-pilot to switch to auto-pilot. He doesn’t see the tiny spider on the ceiling above him…
The spider drops down and into the pilot’s collar, moving underneath his shirt. There is a strange ‘electronic bite’ sound, and the pilot starts shaking and convulsing. The co-pilot asks what’s wrong, just as the pilot collapses. The co-pilot rushes to help him, but the pilot goes still and closes his eyes. I’m guessing he’s supposed to be dead?
The spider crawls out of the pilot’s sleeve and bites the co-pilot, who collapses to the floor.
The plane is now solely on autopilot!
And with that, we’re off to Golden Statuette Ken (wonder if he’s filled with chocolate?) and our commercial break.
When we return, we see the spider on the plane’s controls, and it’s glowing.
And in case you’ve forgotten that this is a Gatchaman episode, we now go back to the God Phoenix. The ship is waiting for Director Anderson’s plane, and Ken is… bored. He’s tapping his fingers impatiently against his leg.
Jun and Joe are keeping a careful eye on the monitors.
Jinpei looks bored too.
“What’s up with the Director’s plane?†Ryu asks, as Ken continues his leg tap. “It’s nowhere to be found. What the hell are they waiting for? We ain’t got all night, ya know!â€
“Hey, are you sure that this is the place we’re supposed to rendezvous with them?†Joe asks.
“Come on, Joe! When it comes to flying, I’ve got it covered!†Ryu retorts.
Of course, this would be a good time to notify Nambu, or perhaps contact the Director, but nobody seems to think of that.
Back onboard the Director’s plane, the spider is still flying. Fortunately, out of everyone, Anderson is actually on the ball. He looks outside and sees the landscape passing by, immediately understanding that something isn’t right. But rather than being surreptitious about it, he turns around and tells Katse-stewardess that the plane is off course. Instead of, you know, contacting the Science Ninja Team and ejecting his seat. Because that would be too obvious.
“So you’ve noticed!†Katse-stewardess laughs, pulling out a gun and pointing it at him. “Don’t make a move, Director Anderson, or you’re a dead man!â€
“What’s this? Have you lost your mind?†Anderson asks indignantly.
Anderson’s bodyguards stand up helplessly. Not one of them tries to take out the woman from behind, while she is distracted, even when she starts waving the gun around and pointing it at them, instead of Anderson.
Katse-stewardess demands that Anderson hand over the key. The Director asks who she is.
“I guess I’m better at disguising myself than I thought!†she laughs, but she has Katse’s voice.
“Wait a minute! You’re Berg Katse?†Anderson is astounded.
“Hand over the key without any trouble, old man. I’d hate to have to kill you.†Katse threatens. Anderson reaches into his pocket.
He pulls out the key and tosses it into the air. Katse catches it. Anderson tells Katse-stewardess that even with the key, he can’t unlock the case. Even the research center can’t do this until the ‘designated time’.
“Quiet, Director! I’ve had enough of your blather!†Katse growls. Anderson twitches nervously. Or does he? Seems the Director is actually tapping out Morse code to the Science Ninja Team.
On the God Phoenix, Ken realizes that he’s getting an S.O.S. from Director Anderson.
Everyone is shocked!
Ken interprets the message: Berg Katse has hijacked plane…
“Rat Fink hijacked it?†Jinpei asks.
“Damn it! Not that Katse bastard again!†Joe swears.
Ken contacts Nambu and informs him of the situation through his bracelet. Nambu responds via video. Why didn’t Nambu just respond through the bracelet? I guess so we could see the expression of extreme concern on his face.
Ken says that all he got was the Morse code signal from the Director.
Nambu orders the Team to approach the Director’s plane and tail it ‘wherever it goes’. Of course, they don’t know where the plane actually is… but that’s a minor detail.
“Where are those boneheads taking the Director?†Ryu asks angrily. “Those bastards are up to something!â€
Jun locates the Director’s plane in ‘Quadrant A1’.
And it doesn’t take long before the God Phoenix is approaching Anderson’s plane. Onboard, Katse sees the God Phoenix through the window, and smirks that ‘we’ll be able to capture it too’.
Whatever could he mean? We get a clue as we cut back to the God Phoenix, and Ryu exclaims that the piloting lever won’t move.
Everyone is shocked again!
“It’s no use!†Ryu cries.
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21-09-2009 03:04
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Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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“They’re guiding us in by radio wave!†Ken determines.
Suddenly, Jun and Joe are sitting at the front of the God Phoenix!
“What the hell is that?†Joe asks, as a large base appears in the night. The ground opens up, and the two plane fly down toward the hole, which is an entrance to an underground hangar. Suddenly back at the front of the Bridge, Ryu is still struggling with the lever.
“Man, they’re sucking us in!†he cries.
“Just let it go, Ryu! The Director and the core device are in danger!†Ken says. “Everyone, get set for a fight!â€
The two planes land, and Katse-stewardess laughs, telling Anderson that now not even the Science Ninja Team can save him.
The plane and the God Phoenix are sitting side by side in the underground hangar!
But on the hull of the God Phoenix the dome opens up…
Ken flies out across the hangar, and a goon shoots at him with a machine gun!
But Ken manages to avoid the bullets.
Meanwhile, at the front of the God Phoenix…
And on the side…
Ken is hiding underneath Director Anderson’s plane. Onboard, Katse-stewardess is sweating bullets, and she orders Anderson to get on his feet and ‘move it’.
“Sorry.†the Director says, pushing the button at his feet and pulling the lever. Why didn’t he do this earlier?
A parachute comes out of the Director’s chair, and he begins gliding downward. Katse-stewardess throws a tantrum, ripping off her hat in disgust.
An enraged Katse is now himself again, and standing on top of the airplane.
“Shoot him down! Blast that parachute out of the sky!†Katse orders.
The goons take aim…
Anderson’s chair is hit!
He falls out of the chair and goes falling to the ground…
But the G-4 is there with a handy-dandy net.
The briefcase falls to the ground, and the goons run toward it, shouting. But the Condor is ‘on the case’. Ouch… I know… but I just had to say it…
“Damn Galactor scum! No way am I letting you get your filthy hands on that case!†Joe vows.
Not that Joe has to do anything. These are *goons*, after all. What’s left of Director Anderson’s parachute falls on them, and they get hopelessly lost in the tangle. So the G-2 turns around, looking for more action.
And the Condor finds it…
Ken dashes out from his hiding place, shouting, “I’ll get it!†as more goons shoot at him.
But Ken falls… is he hit?
A mean-looking goon snatches the case out from under Ken’s nose!
But Ken leaps to his feet, pulling out his weapon.
Bird run!
The mean goon gets what he deserves.
The case drops to the ground, and Jun is off!
Joe, Jun and Jinpei head out to take on Galactors in mini-tanks.
Jun is up for the challenge!
A Galactor tank swerves to avoid hitting Jun, then tumbles over, crashing into another tank. Of course, both of them explode. Jun drives away, but more goons starts shooting at her. This angers Joe.
The G-2 takes off up the rocky wall, literally driving over the machine-gun goons!
“Iga Ninja, coming through!†shouts Jinpei, as he moves closer in his G-4. He takes off in his buggy.
Meanwhile, a strange machine is approaching, surrounded by goon tanks. It looks like a mini-crane, with a mechanical arm. Three guesses what it’s planning on doing, and the first two don’t count.
Yep, the mechanical arm reaches for the briefcase… and it nabs the prize!
“Over my dead body, you bastards!†growls Ken, reaching for his boomerang.
The boomerang cuts open the back of the mini-crane, and fuel runs out.
Meanwhile, the G-4 has produced a large gun (I thought the G-Machinces didn’t have weapons at this point in the series?) and is moving toward the tanks. It knocks into parts of the hangar, which all explode and start burning.
The flames finally reach the mini-crane (thanks to the trail of gasoline leading right to it), and it explodes. The briefcase falls out of the mechanical arm, and Ken runs for it, bullets nipping at his heels!
Ryu and Director Anderson cheer him on from the God Phoenix. I guess Jinpei dropped Anderson off during the fight.
And the Eagle gets it!
But the bullets are still firing…
Ken leaps up into the air, just as the ground starts exploding beneath him!
“Great! Now let’s get out of here!†Joe says.
“Badass!†shouts Ryu, ready for pickup.
We see the G-2 and G-4 returning, but there’s no sign of Jun. Guess she’s back onboard already?
“Don’t let them get away!†shouts Katse, still standing on the airplane. “Bring down the God Phoenix! I want them all dead!â€
The goons do their best to comply, shooting more machine guns. But the God Phoenix takes off anyway.
Gee, good thing Galactor stopped controlling the God Phoenix with radio waves… sigh…
“Hurry it up, Joe!†Ken shouts. “Give ‘em a Condor Special!â€
“You got it, Ken. They’re all goin’ down!†Joe smirks, reaching for his favorite red button.
I have to wonder what Director Anderson thinks of all of this.
The base (with Director Anderson’s plane still inside) blows up. Hmmm… I wonder what happened to Director Anderson’s bodyguards, who were on the plane with him? And the pilots? We don’t actually know that the spider bites killed them.
“Whoa!†Anderson exclaims from Jinpei’s seat. He’s mightily impressed.
“Looks like they really ‘blew it’ this time!†Anderson laughs.
Everyone actually thinks this is funny.
“Man, we were sweating bullets for awhile there, huh, Jinpei?†Joe asks.
Director Anderson thanks the Science Ninja Team for what they’ve done.
The narrator tells us that this has been a ‘hectic day’, and that now the God Phoenix is taking Director Anderson to the research facility at the Jetol Plateau. Too bad they couldn’t have just done that in the first place…
Go, Gatchaman, until the sun of peace finally rises over our world!
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21-09-2009 03:05
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Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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BOTP Episode 35 – Capture of the Galaxy Code
Here, deep beneath the sea, is Center Neptune, where Zark keeps watch on the entire Milky Way Galaxy. It’s a big, ‘round the clock’ job, and Zark is at the center of it all.
So why is he just standing around, in the center of the room?
“They’ve made my job a little easier by giving me a G-Force uniform,†Zark informs us, “and all of the fantastic gadgets I’ve created for the Team! It cuts my job by split seconds!â€
And to demonstrate, he flies across the room.
“I love to fly, like Mark and the others do!†Zark confides. “It’s real robot liberation!†Groan…
“But I mustn’t get carried away by my new freedom.†Zark reminds us. “My first concern, always, is to contact Planet Spectra, and learn what new and evil plan they have for conquering Earth!â€
So, let me get this straight… Zark contacts Spectra, and finds this out? What, is there a 1-900-SPECTRA-SECRETS line?
And on Spectra, the Luminous One is lecturing Zoltar about one of those Spectran secrets at this very moment!
“It is not enough to say that you are working on it, Zoltar; I demand performance!†the Great Spirit says.
“I am only now attempting…†Zoltar protests.
“I am not interested in what you are attempting!†the Luminous One interrupts. “I want to know what you have accomplished! I won’t have you palming off something of this magnitude on underlings! “
“But Great Spirit, I must have help to…â€
“Enough! While you stand there, trying to delegate authority, an all-important Earth plane is ready to become airborne!â€
“I shall be on it!†Zoltar promises.
We cut back to Center Neptune, which has no Fish Parade today. Perhaps this is because the complex is echoing with the sounds of Ready Room Disco. A blurry Keyop and Princess are grooving next to the ‘hamburger at the end of a rainbow’ picture.
Tiny is eating Spaceburgers, and Jason and Mark play limp-wristed ping-pong, contorting their bodies into the most bizarre, effeminate, stick-out-your-butt shapes you can imagine!
Think I’m joking? Oh, I wish I were…
And where did they get that massive heat-lamp overhead light for the ping-pong table?
Tiny reaches for another Spaceburger.
“Anybody want a Spaceburger? I had four!†Tiny announces. “I don’t think I can eat more than another two or three.â€
But that doesn’t stop him from trying.
“Force yourself, Tiny!†Jason laughs. “You can’t let a little inactivity cause you to lose your appetite!â€
Actually, Jason’s ping-pong is causing me to lose my appetite.
Yes, they actually paid people to draw this.
“This waiting around for something to happen is nowhere!†Mark says, looking as if he’s constipated and trying to have a bowel movement.
OMG… I’m sorry… I’m busting up…  Must… take… laughing… break…
Whew. Okay. I think I’m better now. Where was I?
“Jason, can’t you make our game more exciting?†Mark asks.
“Why don’t we hear from Zark or Anderson?†a man-shouldered, horse-faced Princess asks. “This silence is making us all gloomy. We need some action!â€
“Action!†Keyop broops, as he starts playing a drum solo.
Again, I have to remind myself that Sandy Frank paid people to draw this stuff…
The drum solo causes Mark to lose his concentration, and he hits a wild shot with his paddle!
The ball flies into Tiny’s mouth…
And he chokes.
Keyop keeps drumming.
“Feel better?†he burbles afterward, as Tiny examines the ping-pong ball. I guess he coughed it up.
Zark appears on the monitor, before Tiny finishes his ping-pong ball analysis.
“Attention, G-Force!†Zark announces. “I have a new assignment from Center Neptune! My finely-tuned field probes have indicated that Zoltar has renewed his activities!â€
Everyone steps into line to listen to Zark, and we get the infamous ‘butt shot’.
It seems Zoltar has established a new base in the vicinity of Central City.
“I hate to think what new deviltry he’s planning,†Zark moans, “but you must see Security Chief Anderson at once! Happy hunting, Team, and… have a nice day!â€
“G-Force!†everyone shouts.
And their hair flies up as they descend below the floor…
Sorry… need another laughing break…
Fortunately, the original BOTP stuck a commercial in here.
Now we come back, and everyone is gathered with Chief Anderson in a briefing room. Anderson says that he has reason to believe that Spectra is aware of their mission.
“Look at these films; I’ll answer questions later.†says Anderson, sounding for all the world like a bored high school science teacher.
The Team looks at a shot of a briefcase opening, to reveal a mechanical device.
“We have to deliver that?†Tiny asks, even though he was asked to hold his questions.
“We have to ensure delivery.†the Chief replies. “It’s so vital, that no one besides the President of the Intergalactic Federation is cleared to carry it.â€
“Hey, that’s heavy!†Tiny exclaims. “Must be something awful special!â€
“Yes, you’re absolutely right, Tiny.†Anderson confirms. “It’s the central mechanism of the new dynastral computer.â€
“Dinah? Who’s she?†Keyop burbles.
“Later.†grunts Anderson. “The mission will originate at Magna Port, our newest landbase. Only the most sensitive assignments are carried out from here. As you well know, it’s the latest word in security design.â€
“They’re being careful.†Mark notes.
“Have to.†Anderson tells him. “The Intergalactic Computer is going to backup the Conway Tapes. If that case doesn’t arrive safely, the galaxy can never feel completely secure.â€
In case you have forgotten, the Conway Tapes have all of the Federation defense codes on them.
“Well, the Phoenix has done everything else.†Jason says. “Why not give it a shot at hauling a high class chunk of hardware?†And of course, this is a brilliant idea.
“You won’t be flying the hardware, but your assignment is just as important.†the Chief brushes Jason off. “You’ll be flying escort.â€
“To what?†Mark asks.
Chief Anderson explains that President Kane doesn’t want to attract attention, so he’s using an ‘ordinary private jet’. Yeah, that won’t attract any attention. Private jets are soooo ordinary. Why not use Air Force One?
“It may look old-fashioned outside…†Anderson says.
“Old classic!†blurts Keyop.
“But inside it has it all.†the Chief continues, not missing a beat. He goes on to tell the Team that the device will be locked inside the arm of President Kane’s chair. He doesn’t mention an ejection device. I guess the BOTP writers wanted to surprise the audience later on!
Anderson says that they will rendezvous with Kane’s jet at 0100 hours, and escort it to its destination. Keyop doesn’t make fun of the mission, and Princess doesn’t hit him, but Tiny calls the mission ‘a piece of cake’. Anderson sends them off, reminding them that the future of the galaxy is at stake.
And the Phoenix is off, to the sound of rousing BOTP launch music.
At the airport, a lone stewardess walks behind a truck and is pulled inside. She wakes up to a maniacally grinning Zoltar.
“My special powers will now transform me into a perfect duplicate of the girl!†Zoltar announces, as his goons leave the truck.
“It is done!†Zoltar voices over, as we look at an exterior shot of the truck. “I have changed myself over! Now I look exactly like the stewardess!†Pretty lame, but at least we know that Zoltar has done this.
Ooh, we actually get a shot of the ‘new’ stewardess leaving the old one behind. And oh golly, the new one has a spider pin on her collar!
The pilot and co-pilot of Kane’s jet are getting ready for takeoff. I have to giggle when I hear this, because one of the pilots sounds like Jason playing ‘grown-up’ and trying to deepen his voice. It’s exactly like what my kids do when they play ‘pretend’…
Anyhow, the two pilots admire Kane as they see him board, remarking that he looks ‘impressive’ and ‘like a president’.
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This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by Transmute Jun on 21-09-2009 at 03:11.
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21-09-2009 03:06
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Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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Kane boards the plane, and the stewardess speaks in a sickly-sweet Princess voice. She asks if she can help Kane with his ‘luggage’. Of course, Kane doesn’t hand her the briefcase, and asks if she’s new. She says she’s not, and Kane suggests that perhaps it’s ‘that striking pin she’s wearing’.
“Yes, it is new.†she says. “You are very observant, Mr. President.â€
“You have to be, in my position.†Kane replies smugly. Ah, the bitter irony!
The stewardess watches as Kane locks the case away and puts the key in his jacket.
“Now, let Planet Spectra try a surprise!†Kane brags. And the stewardess hears all…
The jet takes off like a Harrier, and the stewardess releases her remote-control spider.
“Now, little bug,†she says, “if you perform as programmed, the guards and two pilots will take a short nap.†I guess the little spider isn’t actually going to kill anyone, then.
And there’s no commercial break!
Instead, the spider continues on, and we cut to the cockpit. The pilots are talking about ‘picking up their G-Force escort’, and are about to radio their position when the spider drops down and takes control of the plane.
“This is Center Neptune Control. Do you read me? Over.†Zark’s voice comes out of the control panel. But no one answers. The spider is flying the plane.
Zark comes and does a voiceover for us, telling us that he knows the President’s plane has taken off, and he’s wondering why they won’t answer the radio.
Okay, now we get a commercial break. Unlike usual, we don’t return to find Zark pacing. Instead, he’s ascending in his elevation tube.
“Well, I’m certainly moving up in the world!†Zark jokes. Groan…
“They even give me a ten second oil break now and then!†he says. “I don’t feel guilty relaxing for a few seconds now, because G-Force should be making contact with the President’s plane any moment!â€
But an incoming message chimes.
“Oops! No rest for the electronic watchdog, I guess! “ Zark exclaims. “Center Neptune Control.â€
“This is Susan…†pipes the audio. Susan sounds a little more high-pitched and girlish than usual. Not at all her regular, husky, sex-phone-operator voiced self. She tells Zark that he’s wanted ‘on monitor’ for intergalactic emergency transmit.
Zark thanks her, and she says, “It’s my pleasure, Sir.†Zark is tickled that Susan called him ‘Sir’. Bleargh…
“She’s my private secretary, you know.†Zark tells us. I’m sure Susan would love to hear that her job monitoring our solar system from the Planet Pluto has been downgraded to such a low status.
“She’s so private, I’ve never even seen her!†Zark exclaims.
And now Zark is back in his tube, descending to his Ready Room. He’s still talking about Susan.
“But she has such a lovely voice!†he goes on. “And they tell me, her multiplex discontinuity filters are beautiful! I wonder if she was manufactured in my sign of Virgo?â€
I’m having a hard time continuing typing…  Okay, that feels better.
“Our circuits are so compatible!†Zark exclaims.
Uh oh, I think I may need to run to the bathroom again…
Fortunately, we cut to a shot of the Phoenix flying through space. Zark calls the Team, telling them that there is an emergency advisory ‘just coming in’ from Magna Port. Authorities have discovered that the regular stewardess is not on the President’s plane. She was replaced by an imposter!
Mark taps his fingers impatiently as he listens to Zark. I’ll bet he does that a lot.
Jason announces that they are ‘fifteen minutes past rendezvous’. He suggests that they start ‘eyeballing’. Tiny agrees to ‘circle and case the ground for awhile’. Strange, no one seems to be reacting to Zark’s news.
Tiny looks around, but doesn’t see the plane.
Onboard the jet, President Kane looks outside and realizes that the plane is on the wrong course. He complains to the stewardess.
“I beg to differ, your former Excellency, but Spectra is always on course!†she replies. She doesn’t have a gun.
“I knew there was something wrong about her!†Kane mutters, as he taps out a message on his chair.
Onboard the Phoenix, Mark’s bracelet lights up.
“G-Force here. We read.†the Commander says. “President One, continue message.†Everyone gasps in astonishment.
“Give your position. 10-9, President One.†Mark continues. “Back to you.â€
“Wrong number?†Keyop asks.
“Something happened after they started ascend!†Jason deduces.
Mark ignores them, opening a ‘telecom’ signal to Center Neptune. Chief Anderson answers. He tells Anderson that the Phoenix started to ‘pick up a few emergency bleeps’ but then they stopped. The Chief confirms that he received the same ‘prearranged electronic Mayday’. Center Neptune is triangulating the President’s position now.
“Make it fast!†urges Mark.
“The big man should have come along with us!†Tiny says. “He’d have been there by now!â€
Princess picks up the plane, and the Phoenix goes to follow.
“There they are! But where are they headed?†Mark wonders.
“I guess all we can do is follow them.†Princess suggests.
“Right!†Mark agrees.
We see the spider flying the plane, and Zark says that the jet is under ‘some sort of guidance control’.
Tiny discovers that something is jamming the Phoenix’s systems as well.
“It’s remote takeover.†Mark says calmly. “They’re controlling our ship now.â€
From the front of the Bridge, Princess and Jason see a Spectran Base onscreen.
“Great place to lose control.†Jason complains.
“We’re running out of sky. Hold us up, Tiny!†Mark warns.
“Can’t! They’re pulling us in!†Tiny says, as he fights with the levers.
“We can nail them if you don’t lose your cool.†Mark advises. “Just hang in there and keep guiding us down.â€
“Who’s guiding?†Tiny wants to know, still struggling with the controls.
The Phoenix lands next to the jet on the large floor of the now-opened underground hangar. The dome of the Phoenix opens and Mark flies out, landing on the ground while the Spacemobile and Space Buggy emerge from the Phoenix. Mark doesn’t seem to have to avoid any bullets.
Zark breaks in, telling us that the Phoenix has landed at an enemy base. Zark hopes that President Kane can use the ‘self-ejector’ button if he’s really in trouble. Way to spoil the surprise, Zark! If they were going to blow this for us, why didn’t Anderson mention it in the briefing back at the beginning of the episode?
And sure enough, inside the plane, we see Kane’s foot stepping down on a button, and his chair shoots out of the plane.
“You fool!†Zoltar’s voice says calmly, while the stewardess appears enraged.
A parachute comes out of the back of the chair, and it begins floating toward the ground. Suddenly, Zoltar (in regular purple costume) is standing on the hull of the jet, pointing at the sky.
“He’s fallen from the chair! Get him!†Zoltar orders. “I want that case!â€
I don’t get this. Kane hasn’t fallen out of the chair at all.
Oops, this is BOTP. They cut the scene of the guns shooting at the President, and instead jump to a shot of the empty chair floating down while Kane plummets from the sky.
“Don’t worry!†broops Keyop, sending a net out of his Space Buggy and catching the falling President.
Goons run across the tarmac and we hear Zoltar ordering them to ‘get him that attache case’.
“Your manpower’s weak, Zoltar.†Jason says, from inside of his Spacemobile. “What you need is horsepower!†Jason drives off.
The parachute lands and falls on the running goons, taking them out of the race.
Jason’s car turns around, then drives up some rocks at a goon shooting a machine gun. Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it! We actually see the car knocking over the machine guns and goons! Really! Oh, I’m traumatized! Whatever would Zark say?
Now Princess is driving around on her motorcycle. She doesn’t do anything. But Jason, Princess and Keyop are now all driving in formation, meeting up with some Spectran tanks.
In the center of the tanks we see a mini-crane. It picks up the briefcase.
“Oh, no! Not after all this!†says Mark, who has apparently been watching everything from the sidelines.
“I think you’re running out of gas.†Mark quips, as he throws his boomerang at the mini-crane’s tank, “but this will make sure!â€
And… we cut to Princess, driving through explosions, but the footage makes it clear that she’s perfectly all right. She stops suddenly, and a couple of tanks roll over, one clearly carrying a goon driver. And oh my goodness, they explode! Ah, my eyes! I’ll have nightmares! 
The Space Buggy pulls out a gun and knocks apart some of the buildings with it.
Flaming debris is falling to the ground, and the fire hits the gas leak, causing the mini-crane to explode. The briefcase flies off and lands elsewhere.
“Now it’s our turn!†Mark says, running out into the open. And bullets fly at his heels as he runs! President Kane and Tiny are watching from the Phoenix. Mark picks up the case and runs through bullets back to the Phoenix.
“Go, Commander!†urges the President.
“Be there, Tiny, boy!†Jason says. I’m not entirely sure what this is supposed to mean. But Jason and Keyop join their vehicles back up with the Phoenix.
“On the nose! Can’t time it any better than that!†Tiny says.
“Imbeciles!†Zoltar shouts at his men. “At least get me one of them! They’re getting away!â€
But it’s too late. Everyone is back onboard the Phoenix, and Jason orders Tiny to ‘get them outta here’.
And they do. They fly away, clearly leaving the jet behind in the exploding Spectran base.
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21-09-2009 03:07
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Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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“We made it!†Mark announces. “But they’ll be right after us again!†However no one seems concerned by the Commander’s remark.
“Nice going, Short Stuff!†Jason tells Keyop. “You saved the President!â€
“You’re all heroes!†Kane says. “A grateful galaxy salutes you!â€
“Yes, G-Force saved the President of the Intergalactic Federation, and the valuable central mechanism of the new dynastral computer!†Zark comes in with his voiceover narration, to wind it all up for us, in case we didn’t follow that heavily chopped scene. “And they’re all safely on their way! I agree with President Kane; those G-Force people are incredible! And they’re heroes, every one!â€
Zark goes on to tell us that the ‘pretty stewardess that Zoltar impersonated’ is feeling much better, and has been given an extended vacation. I just hope it’s not a vacation at a mental/trauma recovery institution!
Back at Center Neptune, we can see Zark as he tells us that the President’s pilots and bodyguards quickly recovered, and are now back on duty. That’s interesting, because we never saw them rescued off of the jet that was left to its doom.
“I wonder if the President knows that I’m the master mechanical mind of the entire G-Force operation?†Zark wonders. “I invented all of their amazing devices!â€
And then Zark pulls out… oh no… I can’t watch!
But yes, it’s what we all feared. Zark has a sonic boomerang, just like Mark’s. Oh no…  He throws it…
And it flies into a control panel across the room.
It bounces around Zark’s Ready Room, but then he catches it again.
“Ah well,†Zark says, “I’m not a glory hound!†He stashes the boomerang in the front of his… well… I don’t want to think about what’s technically below his belt.
“I don’t care if they know I exist!†Zark goes on. I wish I didn’t know that Zark existed.
“I just want to do my best for G-Force!†Zark says reverently, giving us a salute as the episode comes to a close.
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21-09-2009 03:08
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Transmute Jun
Queen of the Bird Missiles
I am a Swan.
40 fics uploaded
Registration Date: 04-04-2007
Posts: 20978
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| quote: | Originally posted by lborgia88
Oh my God, those BOTP "ready room" images set me laughing, but his one nearly killed me! |
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I know! When I type that I have to take a laughing break... I really do! I'm trying to freeze-frame the images and take pictures... and I'm literally falling over laughing! And I can't have a drink while I do this... 
I have to say, this episode had the longest Ready-Room scene of any episode I can recall. Maybe I'll find another one as I do these reviews... perhaps Conway Tape Tap, since I know that's seriously chopped up. But if anyone ever wants to show the difference between Gatch and BOTP... this is a great choice for an episode!
| quote: | | And, you did a marvelous job, TJ, of directing humor at the numerous plot and logic holes in both versions of this episode (perhaps the writers pulled an all-nighter too). |
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There weren't that many plot holes in the Gatch ones. Primarily that they should have just transported the thing on the GP to begin with... and perhaps had a backup device? You could also claim that Anderson should have ejected earlier, but perhaps that wasn't feasible while the plane was at 30,000 feet and moving along rapidly. Anderson doesn't exactly look like a 'HALO jump' kind of guy.
| quote: | | I guess this episode, following on episode 46's scene of the female commander speaking into her lapel communicator and being heard as the male Katse, drops another big hint that Katse can also be female. There's no way he could change his body to resemble that stewardess' (and that quickly) without being able to switch genders! |
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This is true. It's amazing how many hints there are, when you know the 'secret' and are really looking for it. To me, that's just a sign of good series planning, because they had this tidbit and they kept it close to the vest, yet they revealed hints and were able to keep it consistent throughout a hundred episodes.
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21-09-2009 13:07
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I honestly hope that the artists responsible were cranking this stuff out on such tight deadlines that they were pulling all-nighters and dashing off images at 4 AM while completely buzzed on caffeine -it's the only acceptable excuse!
