Captain Rogers:
It's nice seeing you again:
[Narrator] Three beautiful space angels kidnap Twiki:
And Buck finds the key to saving Earth from fiery destruction by a runaway spaceberg:
- What do you want, Belzak? - Your Buck Rogers for his drone:
Prepare the ambu-quad for disassembly:
My planet is in danger of being destroyed:
I've got a chance of saving it, but I can't without your help:
I want Rogers in that acid now!
[Man Narrating] 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:
Colonel Deering reporting from spaceberg escort:
[Dr: Huer, Over Radio] Yes, Colonel:
We're approaching the entrance to Stargate 9: Requesting clearance:
[Beeping] Clearance granted, Colonel:
Proceed on established flight vector:
What is that, Dr: Huer?
That is 10 billion tons of frozen oxygen:
Once it's located on the North Pole, it'll begin to melt: : :
And help to replenish the oxygen-depleted atmosphere of the entire planet:
This is the third time that we've handled a transport of this kind,
and the procedure still makes me nervous:
Why is that?
Because the spaceberg is on a precise path towards a window in our atmosphere,
and it has to hit that window and pass through it exactly as planned:
Exactly: And if it doesn't?
Friction from the atmosphere would ignite the oxygen:
Our calculations have indicated that the resulting explosion: : :
Would literally scorch a third of the Earth's surface, possibly half:
[Man] Look at what the Terrans are doing at this very moment, Pinchas:
They have a problem, and they do something about it,
whatever the difficulties:
But you,
you simply come to me with talk, no action:
I've been working on a solution to our current problem, sir:
I've been in contact with several agents on Earth, and... More talk:!
Meanwhile, I have 5,000 miners malingering and threatening to leave their posts:
Do you know what that means? Yes, sir, I do:
It means we're not producing enough blazium:
I've got orders backed up to Xynon, and I can't fill them!
Then I shall find myself unable to support my chief operations officer: : :
Just as I can no longer tolerate his incompetence:
Do I make myself clear?
Ah: Anad, you've come:
I grew tired of waiting for your call:
You've read the list of grievances? Shocking:
Long hours, low pay, unhealthy working conditions:
Low morale, unrest:
The miners have elected me to represent them:
Yes:
And under your leadership, they have united for the first time:
And united we stand until something is done:
Oh, something is going to be done: [Beep]
- Why have you summoned them? - The Omni Guard?
They are the key to our security, Anad:
They've kept the mines open and working:
Through cruelty and force!
How untrue:
I fear you may have hurt their feelings:
[Groans]
Take the meddling fool away:
Silencing him is only a temporary measure:
[Groaning] The miners will soon have another leader:
A solution I mentioned earlier, sir...
this is it:
A drone?
They've been miserable failures in the mines:
We need something more than artificial intelligence down there:
This is a Terran drone, sir:
Serial number 22-23-T:
Manufactured at the ambu-quad facility in New Chicago:
- So? - What makes 22-23-T so unique, sir,
is that its basic programming has been augmented by its present owner,
a Captain Buck Rogers:
Rogers is a Terran from the 20th century,
and he's endowed the drone with extraordinary features...
resourcefulness, courage, loyalty: : :
And... even though we know such is impossible...
some say imagination:
And you're thinking to buy it, break it down,
analyze its binary patterning:
Yes, sir:
And mass produce it to serve in the mines:
Each unit as an adjunct to a miner: : :
To take over some of the more uncomfortable and dangerous procedures:
And where is this one-of-a-kind ambu-quad to be found right now?
On Earth in New Chicago:
And my thought was our morale problem would be...
Ladies,
I have a mission for you:
[Wilma] Dr: Huer, my instrumentation indicates that the oxygen mass: : :
Is maintaining a perfect trajectory:
Temperature is holding steady at minus 250 degrees Celsius:
Thank you, Colonel:
Please keep me posted of even the slightest change in conditions:
[Doorbell Beeps]
Captain Rogers? That's correct:
I'm Stella Breet: I'm a contract administrator for Kurt Belzak: : :
On the asteroid Toros in Third Quadrant:
You'll have to excuse me: I'm a little new around here:
I don't know what any of that means:
Oh, well, uh, can I come in and explain?
Sure: Sure, come in:
Come on:
Looks just like I imagined it would: Like you "imagined it would"?
Oh, we always compile biofiles of all our business associates before we meet them:
I didn't know that we were associates:
We're not, but we will be:
Just exactly who is this, uh, Kurt Belzak? Hmm?
Mr: Belzak owns an integrated mining, manufacturing and distribution operation: : :
With its headquarters on Toros:
He's the, uh, sole supplier of an explosive called blazium:
That's very interesting, except I still don't see where I come into this picture:
Ah: [Exhales]
Uh-huh: A million, in round figures: It's yours:
What have I done to deserve such generosity?
You haven't done anything:
It's, uh, payment for your ambu-quad... serial number 22-23-T:
"T" as in Twiki? Yes: Twiki:
- I'm sorry, Stella: He's not for sale: - Oh, I see: You want to negotiate:
No: I just don't want to sell Twiki:
Well, it-it's just an ambu-quad:
No: Twiki's a little more than that: He's, uh... He's like a friend:
A drone is a drone, Captain:
Friends... Friends are different:
One feels affection for friends:
One owns a drone, and anything that is owned can be sold:
Except for Twiki:
You see, it'd be like selling family:
Besides, why does Belzak want my particular ambu-quad?
- He's only one of thousands: - I'm not paid to know why, Captain:
Uh, Captain Rogers, I need your help:
Mr: Belzak will be very upset with me if I come back with nothing:
Well, I'd say anything you want except Twiki and me: [Chuckles]
I understand that:
I have a friend who runs a biostereometrical facility:
And, well, I thought...
- Oh, you mean a 3-D photographer: - Yes:
Could I take pictures ofTwiki's internal circuitry?
[Exhales] It-It's not much, but at least it would be something to bring back to Belzak:
Yeah, I guess that'd be all right: I don't see any harm in taking pictures ofTwiki's internal circuitry:
Besides, knowing the ham he is, he'd probably enjoy it:
- "Ham"? - You'll find out what that means when you meet him:
Oh: Thank you:
Uh...
This is the address: See you there at 9:00? Fine:
[Sighs] He wouldn't sell:
But we've got a date with Captain Rogers: : :
And Twiki:
Let's go:
Dr: Huer, I'm monitoring an increasing frequency of ionized particles... rising rapidly:
[Sighs]
Doctor, I want a detailed radio scan of Quadrant 4 immediately:
[Theo] Yes, Doctor:
But, Doctor, an ion storm of large-enough magnitude could...
I'm aware of the ramifications, Doctor: Begin gathering data, please:
[Chirping] Where is everybody, Buck?
It's after hours, Twiki: Everyone's gone home:
Yeah, here it is:
Yeah:
Hmm:
Captain Rogers: Thank you for bringing the ambu-quad:
Now, if you'll just leave it here for a while:
[Scoffs] No way, Stella:
As you wish, Captain:
[Grunts]
[Chirping] Hey!
Hey! I'm private property: You're trespassing:
Ambu-quad prepared:
Autopilot set at coordinates 446:
Remote facility activated:
Excellent: I'll take control:
Remain on Earth until the ambu-quad is securely on Toros:
[Engines Powering Up]
[Chirping] This "wild blue yonder" stuff is for the birds!
Dr: Huer: Twiki's been taken: What?
Three women... psychokinetics: It's a long story, but I think he was taken to...
Captain Rogers:
I have a report of a non-Terran starfighter being launched:
Its digital reference was H270,
indicating its port of origin is Toros in the Third Quadrant:
An ambu-quad is in the cockpit:
I'm going after him:
This is Buck Rogers calling H270: Do you read?
[Chirping] I thought you'd deserted me:
The ambu-quad is being followed, Pinchas:
Very closely: It appears the two ships may have rendezvoused:
Yes: Well, we'll take care of that:
- Are you a sight for sore circuits: - You too, pal:
- What's the situation on board? - [Chirping] It's all remote control, Buck:
[Over Monitor] I can't do a thing: Buck?
Buck Rogers?
The Terran owner?
All right, Rogers, let's see how good you are:
[Chirping] Buck, that wasn't me:
I know, little buddy:
Listen, you gotta pop that canopy and get out of that ship fast:
- [Chirping] But it's a long walk home: - Don't worry: I'll track you in:
- Here I go, Buck! - The drone is out of the ship!
Where are you, Buck? Buck!
[Chirping] Some may like hanging loose, but not this quad:
Well, you're good, whoever you are, but you're not quite good enough:
So long:
This is Starfighter 1314 to Earth Control: Come in, please:
[Woman Over Radio] You've got New Tulsa Tracking Station, Starfighter 1314: What can we do for you?
I've lost an ambu-quad up here: I'm gonna need some help finding him:
You've got it, 1314:
Well, make it quick, will ya? There's a heavy-gravity body nearby:
If I don't pick him up fast, he's gonna crash into it:
[Chirping]
Help! [Continues Chirping]
[Chirping] Hurry, Buck!
This is New Tulsa Tracking Station to Starfighter 1314:
Go ahead, New Tulsa: We have a fix:
Distance... 33,000 mega-Ks from Alpha Centauri:
Radius vector... 33 degrees left off the elliptical plane: : :
And elevation 40 degrees north:
Roger, New Tulsa: I'm on my way:
[Chirping] Hurry, Buck!
[Continues Chirping]
[Chirping] Thanks, Buck: [Chuckles]
We're reporting as per schedule:
Did the ambu-quad arrive yet?
Hardly:
The Terran owner intercepted him and brought him back to Earth:
Buck Rogers:
That would be consistent with the information in his biofile:
What are your orders?
If the ambu-quad is so important to Buck Rogers,
let's see how important Buck Rogers is: : : To Earth:
He heads an industrial complex: : :
Which controls dozens of intergalactic corporations:
The base of his power, though, is in the blazium mines on Toros:
What's so important about blazium?
Blazium? Well, gram for gram, it's the most powerful explosive ever developed:
Mr: Belzak has made millions by selling blazium to any and all buyers:
- What did he want with Twiki? - [Chirping]
Whatever it is, he can't have it:
Dr: Huer, this is Colonel Deering: Do you read?
[Over Radio] Do you read? Yes, Colonel Deering: This is Dr: Huer:
We seem to have a substantial amount of interference:
We're encountering a rather violent storm, Doctor:
The ion count is still alarmingly high:
[Radio Static] Dr: Theopolis:
The data reflects a mature ion storm: : :
Sweeping directly across the path of the spaceberg:
- Dr: Huer: - Yes, Colonel:
The spaceberg has moved off its established flight path:
[Switch Clicking] Yes, Colonel: That's confirmed by our observations here as well:
Please stand by for further instructions:
Dr: Huer, if that spaceberg misses the window...
- What can we do? - Frankly, Buck, I'm not sure:
We've moved oxygen in this manner twice before:
We've always known there was a risk,
but it seemed to be outweighed by the urgent need:
- I'm gonna give Wilma a hand: - But there's nothing you can do, Buck:
[Sighs] Tell her I'm on my way:
Captain Rogers:
It's nice seeing you again:
Where exactly am I?
Three minutes out of Stargate 23:
An hour from Toros: Hmm:
Well, at least Belzak is consistent...
two kidnappings in a row:
Doesn't he know how to say "Please"?
- Belzak gets what he wants: - Everything?
Why are you doing this?
There are reasons, necessities:
Hmm:
In my apartment, you said something about friends and affection:
You just forget about all of that and throw it out the window?
- Just a lot of words? - Perhaps something from the nutrition center:
Stella, what's Belzak got on you?
I'm sorry: I don't want to talk about this right now:
Is he threatening you?
What's he holding over you?
Come on, Stella: Tell me:
It's not me: It's my son, Lucas:
His father was a: : :
Toros general,
one of the chosen class:
I was a paranormal with psychokinetic powers:
Our marriage: : : And our child: : :
Were never condoned by the ruling class:
When my: : : Husband protested,
he was executed as a traitor to his class:
He was killed for loving me:
The man who signed his death order was Belzak:
And on Toros,
the son of a traitor is also condemned to a traitor's death:
Belzak spared him:
As civilian head of the ruling body, he alone could do so:
He allowed me to send Lucas to Remus 2,
and then he forced me to use my psychokinetic powers for his purposes:
If I ever tried to leave him,
he'd have Lucas killed:
It doesn't have to be that way:
[Man Over Radio] This is Toros Approach Control to Shuttle 9281:
[Man Continues, Indistinct] We'll be arriving soon: I hope your stay in Toros will be a pleasant one:
Repeat: This is Toros Approach Control to Shuttle 9281:
You're cleared for reentry over the outer marker:
Welcome: : :
To my little corner of the universe,
Captain Rogers:
Better put that to music: [Laughing]
May I have the current data, Doctor, please?
Current angular displacement of the spaceberg: : :
Is approximately three degrees from center, Doctor:
It will miss the atmospheric window: : :
By nearly 633 kilometers:
Might as well be six meters:
Once the explosions begin, the entire spaceberg will disintegrate:
[Belzak] Ah: Dr: Huer, I presume?
Yes: And you are?
Kurt Belzak, sir:
It seems you have a bit of a problem on your hands:
Yes, and very little time to talk to you: So, if you don't mind...
Oh, but I do: Indeed I do:
- We need to speak: - About what?
About your friend and mine:
Buck! How did you...
How is not important, Doctor:
It's what we do next that interests me:
I see: What do you want, Belzak?
Your Buck Rogers for his drone... an even exchange:
[Chirping] Hey!
Belzak, you're already guilty of kidnapping and extortion:
How do you expect me to deal with... Doc, don't do anything:
Belzak, listen to me: My hands are tied:
The Directorate strictly forbids responding to such threats:
All I can do is turn over the entire matter to the interstellar authorities immediately:
Don't be a fool, Doctor:
Send me the ambu-quad, or Buck Rogers will suffer the consequences:
[Switch Clicks] [Exclaims]
There's nothing I can do to help him:
Nothing at all:
Under the circumstances, I don't think it necessary to...
to give Colonel Deering the burden of: : : Knowing:
Twiki, where are you going?
Twiki?
[Chirping] What about Buck?
Come back here this instant: Twiki:
[Chirping] Buck, here comes the cavalry:
[Engines Powering Up]
- Geronimo! - [Engines Blast]
[Chirping] Hang on, Buck: I'm on my way:
I think I've done you a great service, Captain Rogers:
Oh, really?
That oxygen-mass transport project was: : : Ingenious, daring: : :
And will ultimately prove to be fatal to your Terran brethren:
I think they'll find a way to get it back on course:
It's possible but not probable:
One doesn't just nudge 10 billion tons back on course:
Oh, I should like to convince you: : :
That a man of your reputed talents has a place here on Toros:
After all, your Terran brethren have abandoned you:
Perhaps:
I don't think you need those anymore:
Unshackle Captain Rogers:
Bring him on our morning rounds:
[Handcuffs Buzz] Let's see if we can make him a convert to our cause:
This is the very heart of our blazium operation:
The raw ore is dissolved in hydrochloric acid,
reducing it to a pure crystal form:
As an explosive, it has unique properties:
Aside from its power, it's the quickest-burning and the hottest,
which makes it particularly useful in the cold of space:
It must be difficult storing an explosive like this:
Not at all:
You're holding enough blazium to destroy a small moon with ease:
Don't worry, Captain: Blazium needs a substantial amount of energy to ignite:
Consequently, it's quite stable:
I can see that you're genuinely interested, Captain:
- Fascinated: - Good: Very good:
I can see a glorious future for you here, Captain:
Those mines are nearly a flawless operation,
except they depend on men to work them:
It should be obvious why I need your remarkable ambu-quad,
with all the 20th-century talent you have imbued him with,
combined, of course, with your own:
Well, I really hate to tell you this, Belzak, but, uh,
Twiki is chronically lazy: [Beeps]
[Chirping] Oops: I guess I blew it, Buck:
- Twiki, what are you doing here? Dr: Huer didn't... - [Chirping] I came on my own:
- Prepare the ambu-quad for disassembly: - [Chirps] Uh-oh!
[Chirping] Help!
Hang on, Buck: [Belzak] Stop him!
He's only one man: Stop him!
Keep your hands right where I can see 'em:
All right, Twiki: Let's go: [Chirping] You got it, boss:
[Beeps]
Keep goin', Twiki:
This is ridiculous:
One drone and a Terran have me trapped in my own quarters?
Deploy a squadron of guards in each of the main corridors:
I want that ambu-quad back in one piece:
And I want Rogers... dead or alive!
Pinchas!
Hold it, Twiki:
That blazium storage room must be around here somewhere:
[Chirping] Blazium?
Let's just get outta here:
I think that blazium might just solve our spaceberg crisis:
Something Belzak said about its properties: Come on:
[High-pitched Tone]
[Chirping] What's wrong?
That noise! It's goin' right through my head!
[Groans] [Tone Continues]
[Chirping] Give me a boost, Buck:
- Buck: - [Gasping]
[Moans]
[Man Over Radio] Interloper in Subsection 9, Corridor 3A, sonic chamber:
Good: I'm sure Captain Rogers is getting an earful:
Shall we join him?
[Tone Continues] [Chirping] Higher, Buck:
[Explosions]
[Chirping] Let's move it, Buck!
We've got a plane to catch:
They've escaped: Impossible:
The sonic chamber has... Has absolutely no effect on a drone, idiot!
Look:
[Chirping] That's why I let you go first, Buck:
Must be some kind of energy field:
[Moans] Solid as a rock:
[Chirping] Now what, Buck?
Stella can deactivate that thing:
All right, Twiki, you hide under that catwalk:
Don't move, and hold on to that blazium: I'll be right back:
Spread out: Search the bays:
Dr: Huer, I don't think we're having the slightest effect on the spaceberg:
I'm afraid your analysis is correct, Colonel,
as I feared it would be:
The window is our only hope: Without it...
[Beeps]
Stella, I need your help:
[People Chattering]
[Chirping] What's keeping you, Buck?
I can't do it: If Belzak finds out...
He won't, not for a while at least:
And by that time, we'll be long gone:
I told you, he has agents on Remus 2:
He'll have Lucas killed: I know it:
Remus 2 is under the Directorate's jurisdiction:
We'll have Lucas brought to Earth where Belzak can't reach him:
It's too late to start over: This is where I belong:
Stella, give yourself a chance: Give Lucas a chance:
I'm sorry: I can't:
Stella, my planet is in danger of being very, very badly damaged,
perhaps even destroyed:
I've got a chance of saving it:
In order to do that, I've gotta get out of here, but I can't without your help:
[Takes Deep Breath, Exhales]
All right, Buck, I'll deactivate the energy wall:
[Beeps]
Welcome, Captain: I see the lovely Stella has found you first:
Very good work, my dear:
Belzak, l... She is very persuasive:
Yes, well, all good things must come to an end, Captain:
- Now, where's your ambu-quad? - I don't know:
I think I left him down in one of the tunnels: I'm not sure:
Such a transparently thin subterfuge, Captain:
Never mind: We'll find him: Take him away:
- Hold it! - Really, Captain:
Don't you ever know when to cease?
- Heads up, Buck! - [Grunts]
Come on! Move!
Hold on, Rogers!
The ladies would like your attention just for a moment: Ladies:
[Chirping] Buck!
Terribly sorry to end our relationship this way, Captain:
Stella, don't do this:
Don't let Belzak win:
Save your breath, Captain: She hears no one but me:
Stella, listen to me!
- Continue the mind meld: - [Buck Straining]
- Stella: - I want Rogers in that acid:
- [Straining] - Now!
[Groaning] Stella! I can help you:
Don't listen to him: Your son will die without my help:
If I die, your last chance to leave this place dies with me:
L: : : Command you!
One move, and he dies:
Come on, Buck: Let's get outta here:
You fools:! The Earth is dying:! Don't you understand?
Stella, you've condemned your son to death:
[Man Over P: A:] Your approach to Toros cleared for landing:
Dr: Huer, we're registering a change in surface temperature:
It's reaching the outer layers of the atmosphere: It's beginning to heat:
I show a reading... minus 243 degrees Celsius and rising:
If it reaches 217 degrees, the entire mass will become completely unstable:
Beyond that point, ignition of the oxygen is: : : Inevitable:
Buck Rogers calling Earth Defense Directorate:
[Over Radio] Repeat: Buck Rogers calling Earth Defense Directorate:
Buck!
What's happened? How in galaxy did you...
I'll fill you in later, Doc: What's the status on the berg?
Well, we haven't been able to alter its trajectory,
and it is now approaching one minute and 23 seconds from entering the atmosphere:
On the wrong trajectory:
Wilma, Dr: Huer:
- I think I have a way to get the berg back on trajectory: - I'm listening:
Blazium is fast-burning and extremely hot:
If we plant the right amount in the right place and detonate it, then we'll...
Shift it and let gravity take over:
Ah! It sounds reckless, Buck:
Captain Rogers's theory is sound, Doctor:
But he has no apparatus on board to guarantee an accurate placement:
I'm just gonna have to eyeball it, Doc: Give me the coordinates:
Very well: We have no choice:
Doctor, we need volume, mass, distance from Earth, angular differential:
Please, Doctor, I have anticipated the requisites:
Those figures are now coming through on the C6000:
[People Chattering] Excellent:
Buck, your angular differential is three degrees, four minutes and 22 seconds:
Now we must reduce the berg's mass by 4:0923:
How much blazium do you have aboard? It's a two-kilo brick:
Doctor? Reduce it by half:
Reduce it by half, Buck: Roger:
Now, from your angle of approach, Buck,
you're going to have to lay down the blazium on the following coordinates:
M23: 11: [Punching Keyboard]
And D 17:9: [Punching Keyboard]
- Got it: - And good luck:
Wilma, clear everybody from the vicinity of that berg:
I want you to hang up there at about 20,000 kilometers:
As soon as I lay the blazium down, hit it with a full-power pulsar and get out of there:
I understand, Buck, but what are you gonna do about the primary explosion?
I'm gonna try to get out of there myself:
I'm getting a reading of minus 225 degrees,
and we are within 22 seconds of the critical range:
- You ready? - Yeah, I think so:
[Chirping] Play it as it lays, Buck:
- I'm on my way, Wilma: - Standing by: Pulsars ready:
Here we go:
Eight ball in the side pocket:
[Power Burst] [Buck] It's all yours, Wilma:
Got it, Buck:
Doctor Huer, what's happening? Doc?
By heavens, it's working:
It's bringing this mass back into its proper trajectory:
I record a satisfactory entrance through the atmospheric window, Doctor:
You've done it, Buck! You've done it! [Chattering]
I don't know exactly how, but you've done it, my friend:
I don't know how you do it either, but I'm sure glad you do:
[Chuckling] Terran ingenuity, I guess:
[Chirping] And a little luck:
[Laughing] Let's head for home:
Well, it's official:
Kurt Belzak has been overthrown by the miners on Toros: Oh, that's wonderful:
Yes: They've exiled him to a planet in the Sixth Quadrant:
You won't have to worry about him for a long time to come:
And we've made contact with our people on Remus 2:
Lucas will be arriving on the next shuttle:
I'll never be able to thank you:
Especially you, Buck: Mm:
All of us owe Buck our thanks: Wait a minute: Let's not forget about Twiki here:
[Chirping] No big deal, Buck:
No big deal?
You let yourself get kidnapped and almost got lost in space:
Then you went A: W: O: L: And almost got yourself dissected by Belzak's goons,
not to mention nearly getting me burned to a crisp:
[Chirps] Give me a break, Buck:
Give you a break? I'll give you a break:
Two weeks hard labor, bread and water: : :
And a suspended sentence: [Chuckles]
- Thanks for your help, buddy: - [Chirping] You're worth it, Buck:
- [Chuckling] - [Chuckling]
I think: