Original subtitles

Gordon, where'd you learn to shoot like that?

I've been doing that sort of thing since before you were born, Captain.

I'm not letting you leave, you know.

Somebody is using a power leech on us.

The time has come for you to sail into battle.

Because of me, you're going to die, Wilmer. Rogers, too.

You are a dead man.

The year is 1987, and NASA launches the last of America's deep space probes.

In a freak mishap, Ranger 3 and its pilot, Captain William Buck Rogers,

are blown out of their trajectory into an orbit which freezes his life

support systems and returns Buck Rogers to Earth 500 years later.

¶¶ ¶¶

Stargate 4 coming up in 30 seconds.

Means we'll be home in 26 minutes.

That's correct.

Space travel isn't what it used to be, is it?

It certainly isn't.

Used to take us days just to get to the moon.

If you blink at the wrong time, you miss it.

Okay, I've punched in our destination,

and it's been relayed to the computer at the Stargate. Prepare for Stargate entry.

Entering Stargate.

That wasn't so bad, was it?

Don't make me open my mouth just yet, Wilma.

Your system won't get used to space warp travel once you've done it a few times.

In most cases.

Terrific.

I'm picking up several directed starfighters dead ahead.

One of them appears to be in combat.

We're coming up on a dogfight, all right.

Anything on the distress channel?

Scout three to leader. I'm under attack by pirates.

Request assistance.

Help me, please.

You should have kept your butt up with the rest of us three.

Now pull yourself together and take evasive action while we circle back for you.

By the time they do that, it might be too late.

Shall we?

After you.

Hang on.

Nice shot, Colonel.

Nice flying, Captain.

Three, you're in the clear.

Thank you.

Leader to Scout Three, indicate the level of damage sustained.

Scout 3, how badly are you hurt?

Leader, this is Earth Recon 1.

It appears he sustained a hit on the starboard side.

I'm all right, sir.

Damage is minimal.

You don't sound all right.

Follow us into the flight hangar three.

And keep up this time.

Recon one, I appreciate your concern,

but I'd appreciate it all the more if next time you'd refrain

from interfering in a directorate training mission.

What?

If you call that interfering, there's something wrong with your fucking Wagnalls.

I don't know what you mean by that,

but how'd you like to repeat that in the flight hangar?

I'd love to.

What happened to you out past Orion?

I'm sorry, Major Danton.

I couldn't concentrate.

I just couldn't keep up.

Are you all right? Of course not. He's wise as a sheep.

I'm afraid I don't feel very well, sir.

You two, over there. Come on. Hurry up.

Take this man to the directorate clinic.

And have someone over there call me.

More than half of my men are out sick, and I want to know why.

Maybe it's a reflection on your training techniques.

You're the one who was showing off the fancy flying up there, weren't you?

I was responding to a distress signal.

From someone that you knew was in my command.

That didn't seem to matter much to the pirates, did it?

My cadets are my responsibility.

They're mine, too, Major.

Ah, hello, Wilma.

Uh, Colonel Deering.

I was also in recon one, and in my judgment, your cadet was in grave danger.

I gave the OK to interfere.

I see.

Oh, excuse me.

Major Duke Danton, Captain Buck Rogers.

So you're Buck Rogers, huh?

Since the day I was born.

I beg your pardon, Colonel, but he's no captain.

That's not quite true, Duke.

While Buck has formally declined to join the Defense Directorate,

he does help us out on occasion.

Decline to join? Now, why would a big,

brave hotshot like yourself do something like that?

I didn't think I'd like the company.

In fact, speaking of fancy flying,

I was hoping that Buck would agree to head up one of your combat technique sessions.

I think our pilots would greatly benefit from

a lecture in 20th century battle strategy.

Well, Ma, that's ridiculous.

You will introduce your class to Captain Rogers

immediately, Major. That is an order.

Um, I'd like to check on that cadet. What was his name?

Saroyan.

Regis Saroyan.

If you'll excuse me.

Oh, Wilma.

Don't forget drinks. My place.

You know something, Buck Rogers?

I'll be there.

She's some kind of woman, isn't she?

Help.

Help me.

I can't concentrate.

I don't know what's wrong.

I can't keep up.

Somebody.

Pirates. Please.

Somebody.

His father is Tavius the Loyalist.

The governor of Vistula.

I suppose I should notify him personally.

Just how serious is his condition?

It's his nerves controlling his voluntary muscles and motor coordination.

They're deteriorating, just like all the others.

Others?

Yes. The Computer Council has ordered that a definitive

statement to the general public not be made just yet.

But so far here in New Chicago, 25,000 cases have been reported.

When did all this start?

Three days ago, while you and Buck were gone.

And another thing, this disease or whatever it

is is cropped up in other cities on Earth,

but here in New Chicago, it's much, much worse.

I can't concentrate.

You see, what the Computer Council is trying to keep

secret is its effect on our defense squadrons.

For they've been hardest hit of all.

You think it's happening purposely?

Well, come along with me and we'll meet the man that might be able to tell us that.

I don't know what's wrong.

How is this possible?

Your question, I presume, is rhetorical and therefore a waste of my time.

You're just saying that because you don't know the answer either.

How you hate to admit knowing no more than I do.

I do not.

Yes, you do.

Cure, I was just about to contact you. Colonel Dearing, this is Dr. Mallory.

Colonel.

And his assistant, Stella Warden.

No, of course, Carl.

I find you also somewhat less than memorable, Dr. Hewer.

Dr. Hewer, you asked Carl and me to accomplish two things.

One, find an antidote. You've developed one.

Not yet, but we shall.

Because you also asked us to find the source of the

biochemical agent that's poisoning Earth's citizens.

Well, that source is right there.

A food disk?

Consumed by millions of people daily.

How can a contaminant get into our food?

All processing and distribution is controlled and monitored by the Food Directorate.

I can't answer that yet.

But Carl and I have developed a substance that will detect the poison.

At least now we can stop any more contaminated food disks from being distributed.

What about the hundreds of directorate pilots that have already been poisoned?

They seem to have been returned to a modicum of health,

but not to full functioning ability.

You mean they can't fly?

I'm afraid not.

But a light in the tunnel, Colonel.

Carl Hero may creak and squeak and slip a microdisc every now and then,

but I'm sure he'll come up with an antidote that will

put our pilots back in their starfighters very soon.

In my day, we use the strategy of a popular sport

called football to explain... Football?

To explain combat strategy.

It's a very amusing term, Rogers.

Does that mean we actually have to put a ball on our foot?

In any combat situation, you want to split their offensive

line and get to the brains of the operation.

Look, are we talking brain surgery or are we talking combat?

In football, the quarterback is the brains of the operation.

If you get him while he's still carrying the ball, your strategy works.

Now, one way of doing this is by red-dogging.

When you're up against superior numbers, you want to sack the quarterback.

You do this by red-dogging your linebacker.

What this means is punching a hole through their offensive line,

So that your top defensive back can go right through and bring the quarterback down.

I tell you, we never bargain for a lecture on ancient sports.

It's fascinating.

Buck?

Yes.

What do you mean by sacking the quarterback?

Yeah, Rogers, what do you mean by sacking?

You really want to know, Major Denton?

Yeah, I really want to know.

Well, let me see.

Could you step right over here for a second, please?

That's fine, right there. That's fine.

Now, when I use the term sack, what I mean is tackle.

And basically, a tackle looks something like this.

See, class, that's what I mean by sacking the quarterback.

Now.

How was that, huh?

Was that any better? No.

That's clipping.

It's illegal.

Let me show you how you should have done it.

See the difference?

Yeah, yeah, I think I do. Good. But let me try it again.

What in the world was that?

Sounded like muck. Oh, don't be silly.

Well, I felt a little better to me.

What about you?

Well, some people are just slow learners.

There it is again.

Captain Rogers and Major Danton couldn't possibly be making all that noise.

Wanna bet? Let's have a look in there.

Well, I think you've learned enough for one day,

and I'd just like to thank you all for... Now I've learned enough!

That's all for today. Cadets, report to the hangar at 0800.

Oh, hi, guys.

Two grown men fighting. How disgusting.

Oh, no.

Oh, we were just giving a demonstration.

Easy for you to say.

Our temperamental friend here is about to begin a nitrogen

breakdown of all the elements we've isolated so far.

Would you please monitor his readouts till I get back?

Oh, gladly, sir. It's about time you took a break.

A plus-three factor would indicate a possible antidote, as he well knows,

considering the mood he's in.

I understand.

Nitrogen breakdown commences. Order of various components. Stella?

What are you doing?

Stella?

I'm in danger.

I'm in danger! Assistance! Assistance!

Danger! I am in danger!

Assistance! Somebody come, please!

Too late. Goodbye, Mallory.

You ready?

Mm-hmm.

How's that?

Fine, just fine.

Not too hard?

No. Oh, no.

Maybe I shouldn't have asked you to teach me judo until you'd

fully recovered from teaching 20th century battle strategy.

Ha, ha, ha.

Why don't we take a little break?

Oh, OK.

Who's this?

Someone I knew.

Long, long time ago.

She's beautiful.

Yeah.

And you're only seeing the outside.

Excuse me.

Sure dime, shoot.

Buck, I've been given to understand that Colonel Deering is there. Is that correct?

Yes, Dr. Hewer. What's happened?

Please, just come down to the hospital research lab.

I'll never find the antidote, no.

Not without Carl.

Not without Carl.

Apparently, his assistant was responsible.

I gather she's disappeared.

Obviously, they don't want us to find an antidote to the poison.

And they've succeeded in setting our efforts back by days, even weeks.

Which means that Earth will remain next to defenseless indefinitely.

Well, there's still something we can do.

You see...

Oh, Buck, I'm sorry.

No offense.

But this deals directly with the defense directorate,

and seeing as how you hesitate to become a member.

Oh, yeah, sure.

You're right.

We found that all the food disks manufactured

for directorate housing were contaminated.

Which means someone is trying to incapacitate our squadrons.

Whoever was responsible tried to obscure that fact

by allowing the disease to crop up in other cities, and not just here.

We also found that all the contaminated food disks,

no matter where they were processed or distributed, have one thing in common.

Vistula.

What's Vistula?

Look, if what Wilma tells me is true, we're in a lot of trouble.

Unearthed in the 25th century is better than no earth at all. So count me in.

Oh, that's fine, Buck.

So what is Vistula?

Vistula is an agricultural planet,

just beyond Stargate 5 and the Epsilon Ludi system.

It's where much of the vegetable protein incorporated into our food is grown,

and where various other...

Vistula 2, this is Warden. Do you read me? Vistula 2, this is Warden.

Do you read me?

We read you, Warden.

Tell Khalil I have some good news.

You must ready yourselves, my friends.

Your moment is at hand.

No longer shall you live in a sea of stone while others

reap the benefits of our world's lush glory. No longer!

To feed the people of distant planets while your own sons and daughters go hungry.

Soon, you will descend upon the earth like meteors.

Consume them with the flames of your righteous anger.

The only ones who can stop us are those enemies among us,

those who are weak and faithless, those who do not believe.

Those who attack me out of fear and jealousy, these are our enemies.

Every moment you tolerate their presence among

us is a moment lost for you and your children.

And your children's children!

I know of one.

Leanna, no.

My husband.

He speaks against you in the dead of night.

Lying beside me, he says you are the one that makes us work for the governor.

He says, you sell us and keep the money.

He's afraid of the future.

Afraid of dying for the cause. Afraid not for everyone else, but for himself.

Do not harm him!

You have nothing to fear.

My touch.

It is the touch of truth, the kiss of God. If

your heart is good and true, you shall live.

If not...

Please, don't. They need to help me. They need to help me now! Come here!

Come here! Come here!

Honest to me, they're going to get another talk in half an hour.

You've heard from Stella?

She'll be landing shortly.

She says Earth's Defense Directorate stands little chance of curing

its ailing pilots until well after we've launched our attack.

Good.

Be the record, however, it is no different from any other organization of people.

As long as its leader exists, it is a threat.

As I'm sure you are well aware.

If you're referring to Dr. Hewer, Stella indicated he's about to be taken care of.

Good.

One person, Governor. He or she is appointed to a position every seven years.

Tabor Soroyan is the current governor.

Something to save those pirates.

I don't understand, Dr. Huer.

Why would the governor of Vistula deliberately contaminate the directorate's

food supply when his son is here studying to be a pilot? I don't know, Buck.

It might well be that he's unaware of what's happened.

Well, we know something is happening.

I say we go to Vistula and take a look.

I could call Governor Soroyan and suggest that Regis

be returned to Vistula to recuperate there.

And you could send us along as an honor guard.

Could you be ready to leave at 0700 tomorrow?

Mm-hmm. But we would look more like an honor guard

if we could send along a couple of our best pilots.

Well, I really can't spare them.

But you'll have them.

Get out!

Don't either one of you raise even a hair.

Good heavens! What was that?

They sure don't make these like they used to.

It's a sick suit. It'll monitor his vital signs

and administer proper treatment intravenously.

He'll be feeling much better by the time he reaches Vistula.

Good morning, you two. Good morning, Doctor. I just

spoke with Governor Soroya, and he's expecting you.

Well, we have the samples of the tracing agent

that Dr. Mallory developed. We're all set.

Well, not quite yet.

Dr. Theophilus, did you manage to come up with

those going-away presents for Buck and Wilma?

Oh, Theo, you shouldn't have.

Theo didn't.

I did.

Ignore Tweaky, everyone.

He was up all night putting these together, and his circuitry is a bit frayed.

Those wristbands will give you visual warning,

show the contamination you're looking for start to enter your systems.

You can also monitor each other's telemetry,

which means they'll also serve as radio directional finders.

That's better than a graduation gift.

Thank you, Twiggy.

Anytime, Buck.

Ah, here come the pilots who'll serve as your escorts. Uh-oh.

Uh-oh.

Oh.

Major Fields?

Captain Rogers.

Major?

And I understand that you two have already bumped into each other.

They certainly have.

The problem is, is you and Duke are too much alike. I mean,

once you get to know him, he's really not that bad.

Come on, Buck, give him a chance.

I intend to.

How long have you known him?

Since flight school.

You close?

No, not anymore.

Was your moving up in rank part of the problem?

That was the least of it.

Care to elaborate?

No.

Some things never change.

Coming up on Vistula.

We're cleared for landing.

Very good, Major. We'll follow you in.

There it is.

The entire planet is devoted to growing vegetable protein.

We'll be going to the place where the food is warehoused

and processed for shipment to Earth.

What's that barren area?

It's a huge desert. Vistula's first inhabitants called it the Sea of Stone.

Nothing of any consequence can grow there.

Sororian's son has arrived.

The governor has prepared a banquet for the co-pilots who escorted him here.

The fool has been so helpful to us, he deserves to have a good time.

Just so he remains totally ignorant of what's happening right under his nose.

He might not.

Dr. Hewer survived the attempt on his life.

It could very well be that he knows the poison food comes from Vistula,

and he sent these people here as spies.

Well, if they're staying at the statehouse, we needn't worry.

And should they stray too near the fire, we'll simply see that it engulfs them.

Oh.

Oh, Julio. This is such a festive occasion.

I can't remember enjoying myself so much in years. Can you?

No, I can't, Governor. Does everybody have enough wine?

Oh, yes.

Sweet as.

Are you sure you feel well enough to join us? I mean, you do look awfully pale.

I'm fine, Father, just... I am so grateful to you for bringing Regis home.

My physicians tell me that he received excellent care on Earth,

but your computers were unable to diagnose his illness.

They think it's a virus. Hopefully, by the time we leave here, Dr.

Hewer will be able to relay more information to you.

I'm not letting you leave, you know.

Not until you've had three days of absolutely royal treatment.

Oh, and a full tour of our production facilities. Of course.

We'd enjoy that.

No, thank you, Raymond. Just water, if you please.

I'm afraid I couldn't keep anything else down right now.

It isn't often that I have visitors from my home world,

except for those boring systems analysts and those dreadful investigators

that the food directorate periodically dispatches to check up on me.

As if, after three successive appointments to this job, I'm going to slip up.

Oh, come on now. Eat up, eat up.

It isn't every day that I have a full meal brought in here from...

What is the name of that place?

Dionysus.

None of this food is from here.

Of course not. I mean, you can imagine how quickly one tires of soy products. Oh,

no, I have all my food brought in, all of it.

An expense budgeted into the governor's salary.

Come on now, Julio. You speak as if these good people were food directorate spies.

I'm afraid our friend has been a little too long in the trenches.

I'm not too crazy about his foreman, either.

If looks could kill, rigor mortis would be setting in.

Why haven't I seen any, um...

Mobile service modules anywhere.

Too expensive.

And unnecessary.

We virtually have a human workforce.

Seven good tips. All your operations are carried out by people.

I didn't know that was possible.

Not only possible.

But extremely practical.

The inhabitants of the Sea of Stone make excellent workers.

Oh, some of them are a trifle difficult right after their purchase, but I...

You buy people and force them to work here against their will?

But they are uncivilized nomads.

But one of their own people, a man called Khalil,

he periodically gathers a group of them together and sells them to us.

It is a very satisfactory arrangement.

It's slavery.

Slavery?

Even uncivilized nomads have certain rights.

You can't just... Oh, I'm sorry.

Excuse me. I'm sorry. No problem, Mr. O'Connor.

Reimer, what do you think you are doing? It's all right.

My apologies, Captain Rogers.

There is absolutely no excuse for such clumsiness.

I expect more from state house servants than from common field laborers.

Perhaps the fields are more to your liking.

Governor, it is all right.

No harm has been done.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

You treat these people as if they're machines. They're

not. They're human beings. They make mistakes.

Very interesting notion.

I believe I've suggested something similar to you in the past, Father.

Exchanging glances, wondering in the night,

what were the chances we'd be making love before the night went?

Singing was that bad?

No, I have to talk to you. There's someone outside trying to listen.

The music should cover our conversation.

I wanted to thank you for what you did tonight at the banquet.

No problem.

Did you really mean what you said about slavery?

If I had meant it, I wouldn't have said it.

You said something about someone listening outside. Who, Soroya?

No, of course not.

It's my people I'm worried about, the other workers, Khalil's followers.

Governor Soroyan is a fool. The only one with

any sense in that family is his son, Regis.

Regis has tried for years to help the nomads.

You have a thing for him, don't you?

A thing?

Um, a crush.

You like him.

Hey, let me get out of here. I'm starting to wrinkle.

Check the door.

You know, from what I understand about Khalil, he's some kind of a slave trader.

Doesn't sound like the kind of man who would have followers.

He's more than just a slave trader.

He's a sorcerer.

Oh, come on.

No, it's true.

Khalil feeds off the adulation of a crowd.

He siphons off their love and their energy.

Sorcerer, mutant, call him what you will.

He can mesmerize a group with just his words and his... Well,

how come you haven't fallen under his spell?

Some of us have escaped his will.

Not many, but a few.

My brother was one. Last week,

he told me he discovered something terrible about the processing plant he worked in.

He was going to meet me that night to tell me more.

He never came.

Khalil had him murdered.

Which processing plant?

Number 347.

Is it far? Can you show me how to get there?

Yes.

Then you'll help me get rid of Khalil.

I'm certainly going to try.

Oh, there is one other thing.

I was supposed to be yours for tonight, and if they

see you leave without me, they're going to...

Well, I'll leave by the window. You stay here.

I've got a reputation to uphold, too, you know.

¶¶ ¶¶

Oh, hello, official business, food directory.

I'll be darned, the poison's in the packaging.

Where did he go?

All I know is that he wasn't pleased with me.

Oh, I see.

And so he left through the window. All right, Grandma.

I'm asking you for the last time.

What did you tell him?

Some story about your brother?

You murdered my brother. What more story is there?

Did you tell him he worked at the food plant?

Is that where Rogers is, at the processing plant?

No, don't bother. We'll take her back to the mountain.

Carly will make her talk.

Digger to the shuttle port.

A transport is scheduled to leave for the mountain at dawn. Yes, sir.

Nighttime is for sleeping.

Did you see where he put the locking mechanism? No.

You're Roger's friend? Yes, Colonel Dearing.

I heard what you said about the processing plant.

It ties in with why we were sent here.

I'm sure it's a part of Khalil's great plan. What plan?

You'll find out soon enough, Colonel.

I'm sure Khalil will answer any questions you might have.

And you, any questions he might have.

Reimer?

Are you all right?

We're on a ship that'll take us across the Sea of Stone to Khalil's fortress.

There's no escape now.

Because of me, you're going to die, Wilma. Maybe Roger's too.

Let me be sure about that.

Why didn't I just close my eyes and follow like all the rest?

Don't give up yet.

Letting Buck know he has a friend in need.

Hey, Buck. Did you two have a nice chat?

Keep it down. Will you come in here?

When did Wilma leave the governor's little get-together?

Oh, about two hours ago, same as everybody else, except you.

Why?

Because she's missing along with a slave girl.

Something's happened to her? I'm afraid so. She's activated her RDF unit.

You mean you can tell where she is with that thing?

Yeah.

Northeast, about three kilometers.

Well, let's go get her.

Hold on.

It's not safe to try a subspace communication between here and Earth,

and I've got to get this poison sample to Hewer as quickly as possible.

Major Fields can do it. I'll see you in a few minutes.

We're on our way. I hope your friend Buck can say the same.

What is that glow on the horizon, the sun?

By the time it reaches halfway to its zenith, we'll be inside Julio's mountain.

You better hurry.

I just ran into one of Julio's guards.

He's going to be pretty upset when he comes to.

Right, OK.

You take off first.

When you get to Earth, you tell her you're exactly what I told you, all right?

Uh, Major, don't try using your radio until you're well beyond the Stargate.

Will do.

Good luck, gentlemen. Thank you.

Oops.

What was on the move? It's going very slowly.

Must be on some kind of shuttle. Let's go.

We're almost there.

The shuttle's about to dock, carrying Ryman,

the woman from the Earth's Defense Directorate. They're to be brought here.

Another thing.

Julio said that two of Earth's starfighters left

the statehouse spaceport 15 minutes ago.

We have one of them on the scope.

The shuttle is being followed?

You're in charge of military operations, Galen.

What do you intend to do about it?

Employ the power leech.

Excellent.

Whatever Wilma was traveling in, she stopped now.

Do you have any idea what we're going to do once we get wherever it is we're going?

Nope.

Just thought I'd ask.

What are you doing? Our engines are shutting down.

Tell me something I don't know.

My PC gauges say we're putting out more than enough energy.

Yeah, but it's not going where it's supposed to.

Somebody is using a power breach on us.

I don't know if I can keep our nose up.

Hit the retrogravity valve. It'll slow us down.

Any more ideas?

Not a one.

I don't understand. Where have all our guests gone? Colonel Dearing, Major Fields,

Major Danton, even the boorish Captain Rogers. Where have they gone?

You really don't know what's going on here, do you?

I've tried to tell you for years.

About Khalil?

The way he exploits the nomads? How he makes them hate the very sound of your name?

Now, I have a job to do.

And I've always tried to do the best I could.

We've been through all this before, Father. You never listen.

Not really.

Oh, Julio you listen to.

Julio, whose first loyalty is to Khalil.

But never to me.

You never listened to your own son.

So finally I gave up trying to make you here.

Please, Father.

For your sake, not mine.

Look around you, see what's going on, what has been going on for years.

The sooner you realize, the less you'll be hurt.

Duke!

Keep it down.

Catalina, you call it, anyway.

You still complaining?

No, I guess not.

She was a good ship, though.

All I want is one crack at whoever brought us down like this. Just one.

Talk about no trespassing, son.

Still got a fix on Wilma?

Yeah.

She's landed, about 18 kilometers in that direction.

Well, we better get our survival gear on.

Yeah.

Otherwise, we'll make a couple of brown serve rolls at sunset.

They're being taken to Khalil.

There's a place where he puts people that are a threat to him.

No one knows what happens there because no one's ever come back.

It might be different with you, but I doubt if he's going to have much to say to me.

I'll say goodbye now, Will.

We've got plenty of time for that later.

This thing itches like crazy.

Take it off if you don't mind getting third degree sunburn.

You probably feel right at home wearing yours. That's right.

I've seen pictures of people and how they dressed in your time.

Yeah, well, you're half-baked 25th century historian who's got things so messed

up they don't know the difference between a cowboy and a traffic cop.

Careful.

Careful.

The filament you're soldering is the precise weight

and thickness as the one you're replacing.

Be very careful, Tweaky.

It was very difficult to make.

Get off my back. I'm not on your back, Tweaky.

And please concentrate on what you're doing.

If anything, I'm on your front, and I can't get off without your help.

Where have you been coming up with such expressions? My good buddy Buck.

I should have known. It's hard to believe that Captain Rogers

learned to speak on the same planet as the rest of us.

That's very good, Tweaky.

Dr. Mallory.

Would you send the light current through Carl's

higher level associative circuits, please?

It won't do any good.

They've all been destroyed. Please, Dr. Mallory, the current?

What did I tell you? Dr. Mallory, Major Fields just brought this in from Vistula.

As you can see, the biochemical poison that entered our

food supply did so through the packaging material.

Ingenious.

Buck hoped that a sample of concentrated poison like

this might help you come up with an antidote.

It would have, Major.

But without Carl, it does me no good.

No good at all.

Why, you self-pitying old goat.

Carl?

Who else would it be, you ignoramus?

Nice to see you again, Mallory.

We'll get started on that antidote right away.

Good.

The Defense Directorate has so few pilots now that Earth

could scarcely ward off an attack from pirates,

let alone anything organized. So keep me apprised

of your progress. I shall. I shall.

Let's leave Dr. Mallory to his work, Tweaky.

I owe you a great deal, Theophilus.

Thank you.

You mean you owe Tweaky and me a great deal, Carl.

And it's quite all right.

Another one of Buck's colorful phrases, Tweaky?

Why did you kill your brother, Reimer?

The governor's foreman says he was found dead after

the workers say he went off to meet with you.

Whatever he had to tell you, you must not have liked. That's what the workers say.

So that's how you twisted it around for them.

And that's how you'll explain my sudden disappearance.

There's something wrong with you, Reimer. Your brother was the same way.

You never fit in. You were always different, always complaining, always unhappy.

No one will miss you too terribly, you know.

Go ahead. Kill me. Give me your touch of death.

But don't you ever forget, Khalil, that I knew the truth.

Our enemy isn't Saroyan or Earth. It's you. You stole our dreams.

You took away everything we might have been.

Maybe you can suck the dreams out of all those others, but not me.

You never got to me, Khalil.

Don't you ever forget that.

You are evil, Rhyma.

The evil and the weak must be purged.

Go on, kill me!

I'd rather be dead than one of your zombies. Now!

You are truly evil, Rhymer. The kiss of God would only sanctify you, even in death.

I won't give you that. Take in the furnace. You know what to do.

The woman from Earth's defense director hasn't been found yet.

Did you double the guards at the exits?

No, there's no need.

I've worked with these people from Earth, and I know how they think.

She won't try to escape.

Not just yet.

You're not eating. Am I cooking?

It's pretty hard to eat something that just crawled on the ground.

I prefer my food pills.

It's up to you. You want to take a chance on being poisoned, go right ahead.

Remember all the times I've called you a barbarian?

Well, I don't take any of them back, not one.

No, don't do anything yet.

What do they want?

Just about anything they can get their hands on.

Hey, creep, I bet you wear that mask because your

face looks like it's been through a meteor shower.

Either they agree with me or they don't understand a word I'm saying.

Hey, how do you want to handle this?

You take the two on your side, I'll take the two on mine, all right?

Whatever you say.

Watch it. Watch it.

Don't forget to ride.

Buck.

Buck, you're terrific. Well, you know something, Duke?

You weren't half bad yourself.

Why don't you say we pick some of these things up and go after Wilma, OK?

Sure.

Oh, Buck, look what happened to your dinner.

That's OK. I was on a diet anyway. This ought to come in handy.

Instead of running, she headed straight for a transmitter to get word back to Earth.

What did I tell you?

Predictable to a fault, these Earth people.

One of whom you used to be until not long ago.

I became one of you so that someday I could help overcome you.

And that day has arrived, Colonel Deering.

That's where Wilma is, all right.

Inside that car.

You think Khalil is in there, too?

I don't know.

I got a feeling Wilma is very close to the reason

Khalil is poisoning Earth's food supply.

Huck?

How can we be sure that Wilma is still alive?

Because I'm still getting a signal on this.

This thing runs on body heat.

Don't worry, Duke. We'll find her.

Wait a minute.

Do you see something?

Do you believe that? I think we're looking

at the second part of Khalil's master plan.

And with no air defenses, how can Earth stand up to that?

Once Khalil has weakened enough of our pilots by contaminating their food supply,

he intends to launch a massive attack on Earth.

With that number of ships, it'd be devastating.

The only chance that Earth has is to get up here

and launch a secret strike against that airfield.

Those ships have got to be destroyed before they get off the ground.

Problem is, how do we get word to hewer?

Which one of us can get the most out of one of those babies down there, you or me?

All bragging aside, I could.

I'll transmit ahead once I get through the stargate.

Then I'll have to land, fuel up, and get back here.

Just about as many pilots as we have left.

Thanks.

Yeah, but the same thing they used to knock us down, what they could use on you.

Now, I'll go right to trans light velocity.

They'll never catch me.

Find Wilma.

First thing I got to do is find my way inside that mountain.

But I'll find Wilma. Don't worry about it.

Good luck, Major.

Same to you, Cap.

You said no one ever survived a crash in the desert.

No one ever has before.

Who's stealing one of our ships?

He's gonna translate.

I need more time. Ah!

Got away.

Simply moves my timetable up, that's all.

But Earth will be alerted to our attack.

This is why, isn't it?

This is giving off some kind of a homing signal.

It hardly matters anymore, Stella.

By tomorrow, she will have met the same fate as Rhyma,

and we shall be the rulers of the Earth.

Yes, but according to Julio, there were two people in that crash.

That fighter can hold only one, which means someone is still around.

With this, I have a way of getting him, don't I?

I didn't say I need all the pilots you could spare, Dr. Ewer.

I said I need all the pilots, period.

Major Danton, I just can't do that.

I cannot order that Earth be left absolutely defenseless.

And I'm telling you that if the fleet I saw back there lifts off,

the Earth is done for anyway.

Dr. Mallory has indicated that he's very close to finding an antidote.

If you could just wait one more day.

I could, sure, but the people in that desert aren't going to.

We have to move now with everything we've got.

Very well, I'll discuss it with Dr. Theopolis.

Just make sure every available pilot is waiting

for me in that flight hangar. Danton out.

There's really nothing to discuss, you know.

Major Danton is right.

It's just that he's talking about so few pilots.

He simply has no idea.

However...

As you've indicated, we have no choice.

I will scramble what's left of our forces.

Hmm?

What was that, Twiggy?

Oh, nothing, Doctor.

Excuse us, won't you?

We'll see you on the flight deck.

Thank you for your help.

Certainly.

I must say, Tweaky, that was the best idea you ever had.

I must be rubbing off on you.

If that's what you're looking for. What's the matter? Don't you like surprises?

Not particularly, no.

Major Danton, welcome home. What you should be saying is have a nice flight,

because I'll be leaving just as soon as the rest of the pilots arrive.

I see.

You look like you have some bad news for me, Dr. Ewer.

I've scrambled all available pilots, Major. Well, what do they do to get here?

They are here.

This is it? I'm afraid so.

Brigadier Gordon here has come out of retirement for this mission.

Your face looks familiar.

You were my instructor in pulsar cannon, sir.

Ah, yes.

Fifteen years ago. Fifteen years ago.

Good to have you back, sir.

It's good to be back, Major.

Excepting for these pilots, everyone else is

just too ill to be of any use to you, Major.

Six pilots, huh?

Seven, can't you count?

Reporting for duty, Major Danton.

This is too much.

As Tweaky reminded me earlier, I am thoroughly

familiar with our starfighters, Major.

Don't forget, I helped design them, and difficult as it was for me to do,

I've adjusted my input circuits to respond to you as if you were my superior.

All right, all right, you can come along. Hot dog.

We've wasted enough time as it is. We launch in five minutes.

Good luck to all of you.

Sorry, Buck.

Are you OK? Yeah.

No thanks to our host.

The almighty Khalil, I presume.

And you are? Captain Buck Rogers.

What have you done with the other girl, Raima?

She has been put to death.

What will your friend do when he returns to Earth, Captain Rogers? Let's see.

You've seen the fleet I've been slowly, patiently building up,

and you've no doubt concluded that my plan is to weaken Earth's defense squadrons

by poisoning its members so the planet can be conquered with ease.

Murder seems to be second nature to you.

Why didn't you wipe us all out so you could walk into power?

Mass death would have caused much alarm, attracted too much attention.

Dr. Hewer would have suspected foul play immediately.

This way, the gravity of the situation crept up on him.

By the time he had an inkling of what was truly happening, it was too late.

That's not the reason.

The truth is you get your kicks out of turning people who should logically

hate you into mindless zombies who follow you around shouting your name.

Stop it!

Let's just get rid of him.

Rest assured, he and Colonel Dearing will meet

the same fate as Rhyma, but first things first.

Now that Earth knows of my plan, What do your people intend to do?

Prepare for your attack, naturally.

And with our remaining forces, we'll give you a reception you'll not soon forget.

You are lying!

Your friend will lead your forces back here in

hopes of destroying my fleet on the ground.

Pass the word.

We'll prepare to launch our attack today.

If Earth's paltry forces are on the way, they'll be greeted by 100 fighters.

Yes, but each one of our pilots is an expert.

Yours are not conditioned to think for themselves, only to follow.

True.

But consider the quality of leadership.

Haven't you recognized this man as yet, Colonel Deering?

He is the person who will orchestrate our attack,

positioned behind all others, Galen.

Galen?

We'll tell each and every pilot exactly what to do.

Galen.

He was the best military strategist Earth had.

Then seven years ago, we heard that his talents could be bought for the right price.

Suddenly, he disappeared. Quite selfishly, we hoped he was dead.

Instead, I'm here, about to spearhead an attack that

will completely destroy Earth's remaining forces.

Your friend expects to surprise us.

Just imagine the surprise that's in store for him.

Punching course, 7X.

Four, nine, zero.

See you up there.

Here we go. The Geronimo.

Howdy Doody must be taking the stage again.

Rhyma!

Oh, she's still alive. For whatever that's worth.

The time is now.

The time has come for you to sail into battle and be victorious.

Earth is about to fall victim to its own greed soon.

You shall meet those who have exploited you for so long, and you shall defeat them!

No longer shall you live in caverns and canyons!

All Earth's wealth is yours for the taking!

Having suffered so long at Siroyan's hand, you deserve the earth.

Listen to David.

Do what he says. And don't be afraid.

Only the weak...

But as long as I am with you, as long as the kiss

of God is on your heads, you shall prevail!

Looking good back there.

Be at the Stargate in approximately 12 minutes.

Falling out of formation. If it was your idea to come along,

the least you could do is keep up.

Understood, Major Danton.

We're adjusting our course accordingly.

We've drifted two degrees starboard, Tweaky.

Pay attention to what you're doing.

Roger.

What about Rogers?

What do you think all these pipes are for, Wilma?

Water, maybe. A pump from underground springs.

Maybe they passed it through here to warm it up.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

And these holes?

Warm air vents.

That means they lead to other rooms.

If these pipes carry water, that means they're good and strong.

And one of these holes could carry us out of here.

How are you going to get up there? Fly?

That's not a bad idea.

What is that?

25th century cherry bombs.

All I need is something to put it under.

What are you gonna do with it?

Preferably put it under a tin bucket.

Keep your face turned away.

You gotta be kidding.

I hope this timer works.

You're not kidding.

Don't go away.

I'll be right back.

He knows what he's doing.

He'll be back.

Hey, come on. Don't leave me now.

Stay with me.

And how is the good governor?

Just as ignorant and terribly upset.

It seems that all of his guests left last night without saying a word.

I expect you to keep us informed, Galen.

And entertained.

That I shall. The screen in front of you will

allow you to track us as far as the Stargate.

Beyond that, we'll be on transmission only.

Leader to squadron.

Prepare to launch.

It begins.

Yes.

For us.

For Earth, it ends.

Two minutes to Stargate.

Remember, once we pass through, no further transmissions.

We do everything exactly as I laid it out. Are there any questions?

Good.

Leader out.

I think I'm behaving myself quite admirably, don't you?

I'm being respectful.

I'm following orders.

I'm not even going to analyze Major Danton's attack strategy.

You're a real trooper.

I'd like to think so.

Rhyma, can you hear me?

Yes, I'm fine.

Hi, girls. At the end of this shaft is a nice, cool storage room.

How's she doing?

She's leaving. I think I can make it.

Bring her across this ledge and right down beneath the hole here,

and I'll throw you a rope.

OK? Now be careful.

That's it, watch it now.

Now, put this around you.

I'll pull you up one at a time. Put that around yourself,

and put the rope on top of it.

All right, Wilma, you're next.

Approaching Stargate.

Punch-in destination 4-8-0-7-K.

Let's get out of here, huh?

Great.

Let's go.

It appears the Armada has left the ground and is waiting for us.

We've failed, Tweaky.

For the first time, I agree with you.

Why don't we try making a run for those last two fighters?

Sounds good to me. Come on, Rhyma.

No, my friends.

There are others who feel as I do.

Over the past few months, we've stolen weapons and explosives.

If I can convince them that we have a chance, maybe we can do something to help.

What kind of chance are you going to have? There could be more than a dozen of you.

This is my world, Buck, my people.

I deserve the chance to fight for them,

just as you deserve the chance to fight for yours.

OK, good luck.

Good luck, Grandma.

Want to go get those fighters?

We'll have to take the pilots out as well if we do.

They'll never know what hit them.

OK.

Peter to squadron, I'm breaking radio silence.

You've no doubt seen on your scanners what lies ahead of us. We're too late.

The armada on Vistula is in the process of taking off.

And before we reach the combat vector, we'll be outnumbered almost ten to one.

Right on.

You didn't have to take out both guards, woman.

I got excited.

I think I've created a monster.

9-3 and 9-4, you're out of sequence.

You've disrupted the pattern and you're off course.

Adjust to 3-0-9. Do you read? 9-3 and 9-4, respond.

You're off course. You're headed directly for the

enemy. Adjust to 3-0-9 at once. A 9-3 to leader.

With all due respect, Galen, stick it.

One of our fighters seems to be trying to intercept them.

If you're listening, Kaleo,

the three of us would just like to say we didn't care much for the sauna.

Rogers!

Ah, Stella, you're so beautiful when you're angry.

He's escaped.

It doesn't matter.

Any way we can raise Duke on this thing, Colonel?

He should be on vector 92.4.

Buck Rogers to Earth Squadron Leader.

Rogers to Leader. Do you read?

Major, it's a trick.

Rochester leader, do you read me?

Buck Rochester, squadron leader.

Rochester leader, do you read me?

I read somebody, but that somebody's flying an enemy ship and leading another one.

Come on, Duke, it's me.

If you're Rogers, who's the juice?

The what?

O.J. Simpson, I told you all about him out in the desert, running back out of USC,

played for the Buffalo Bills.

Well, what are you waiting for, Captain Rogers? Get your butt in formation.

I take it you're referring to mine as Wilma, Major.

Wilma, I mean Colonel Deering.

Right on both counts. What do you say, Buck?

Tweaky?

We're both here, Captain Rogers.

Welcome home, as it were.

Thanks, Theo.

Now listen, there's only one guy out here who means anything. He's way in the back,

and he's running the whole show. You see him on the scanner?

If we knock him out...

Rest will turn tail, I guarantee it.

Sounds like you're the red dog who's going to be sacking the quarterback.

You got it.

Okay, squadron, in we go. And listen to Buck.

He's calling the plays.

The squadron from Earth.

That is correct.

Eight.

There's only eight of them.

It's them against all of us.

All right, now keep your eyes on that turkey in the back. He's the one we want.

We're gonna go right up the middle. You guys open the hole.

I'll nail him.

Okay, guards, take out these tackles.

What are they doing? These Earth people fight like madmen.

Madmen or not, it seems to be working.

Prepare my personal cruiser, just to be safe.

Dude, coming at you at 2 o'clock.

I see him.

I got him.

I believe we're being pursued.

Hey, nice double teaming over there, whoever you are. Gordon's the name, thanks.

We met Gordon? I don't think so, Captain.

We're from different times.

I told you, Khalil has called for his escape craft.

This is our chance.

It's our only chance.

Rhyma.

There are so few of us.

And so few of them. Most of them are out in space.

This is our chance while the Armada is losing.

And Khalil is uncertain.

Come on, let's go!

It's ready.

Eat lead, sucker.

Lead?

What lead? Tweaky, what are you talking about?

There's your hole, red dog. Water back's all yours.

Yeah, it makes sense.

They've lost Galen.

The armada's just breaking apart and running.

My cruiser.

I must get to my cruiser.

But we did it.

We did it. It worked.

We did it.

Nice shooting, Captain Rogers.

Thanks, Major Twiggy.

Gordon, where'd you learn to shoot like that?

I've been doing that sort of thing since before you were born, Captain.

You think so?

Young man, I know so.

Come on, gang, we got some cleaning up to do downstairs.

Tie them up.

How did this happen?

The woman, Reiner, she and others stole some

weapons, explosives. They're coming for you.

How did it happen?

Khalil, your cruiser, come.

You are a dead man, Rogers.

I am?

Don't be afraid of him. The only way he can harm you is if you're afraid of him.

That's right.

That's why you couldn't kill Rhyma with your evil powers, isn't it? Stay back.

Because she didn't believe in you.

Even those who hated you believed in you. So of course they died.

Your people's faith is all that's real, isn't it? Not your power.

Stay back.

Go ahead, Khalil.

Kill me if you can.

By the way, I know where you can get a good lawyer.

It was being used by Khalil, by Julio, by everyone.

I had no idea.

Obviously, I am totally unsuited for this position.

The Food Directorate will have my resignation within the hour.

You're making the same mistake as always.

Quit avoiding responsibility. Clean up things on Vistula yourself. I can't.

I don't know how.

Regis does.

I think part of the reason he was taking the cadet training was to avoid

those things he saw happening on Vistula and could do nothing about.

I always listened to Julio.

Never to my own son.

I can't blame you for hating me all these years.

But now, will you help me now?

You and Rhymer both.

Of course we will.

I have a feeling Vistula's in very good hands.

I think that means we're excused.

I feel like celebrating. Let's do something tonight.

Oh, I'm sorry, Buck. I already have plans. Oh.

Well, how about you?

I'm the one she's got plans with. So let's get something straight right now.

You're coming with us.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Thank you.

© transcript Emily Beynon