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--- Gatchaman Episode 11 - The Mysterious Red Impulse (http://www.gatchamania.net/threadid.php?threadid=2522)
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 03:59:
Gatchaman Episode 11 - The Mysterious Red Impulse
Gatchaman Episode 11 - The Mysterious Red Impulse
Ken is flying in his Cessna, apparently lost in thought.
He turns his plane around for a dive...
then buzzes an island, getting so close that the wind from his passage ruffles the leaves on the trees. A family of birds fly away in fear. Ken looks down at the birds and smiles.
"Sorry." he apologizes.
Seeing the birds and their young makes Ken think of human parents and children. Ken wishes that he could have flown with his father.
His bracelet beeps and Ken responds.
It's Nambu. He wants Ken to come to 'his place' right away. Ken answers with a quick 'Roger!'. But as Ken turns around to leave the area, another plane appears in the sky nearby.
Ken is shocked to see that it is Red Impulse.
Red Impulse buzzes Ken's plane, startling him just as Ken startled the birds earlier.
Red Impulse smirks at Ken's surprise.
Ken immediately forgets about going to see Nambu and decides instead to transform. Cut to the stock footage.
Now the G-1 prepares to confront the Red Impulse jet. Unfortunately, it's not a very flattering shot. I think the G-1 needs to go on a diet and slim down!
"So you're back, are you? The man with the crimson wings!" Ken says. I guess he was transmitting to the other jet, because Red Impulse responds.
"So I see you remember me, Gatchaman!" he replies.
This time, Ken turns sharply and cuts off the Red Impulse jet, forcing the other plane to swerve.
Red Impulse admits that Ken is 'good'. Ken ignores the compliment, demanding to know who Red Impulse is. Red Impulse replies that Ken shouldn't worry about that, only about 'polishing his skills'.
Ken thinks to himself that today he will learn who Red Impulse really is. He blithely follows the red jet around, but is shocked to see it turn quickly and come straight back at him.
For the second time in about a minute, Red Impulse buzzes Ken's plane, then he takes off, leaving Ken wondering what the heck just happened.
"If only I could learn to be as skilled as he is." Ken says to himself. And I have to stop typing for a minute to get my barf bag. Why does this sound like BOTP dialogue referencing 7-Zark-7?
At Nambu's villa, Ken asks Dr.Nambu about Red Impulse. Ken thinks that Red Impulse is an 'amazing pilot'.
Nambu admits that Ken's father was an amazing pilot. Ken is surprised by this apparent left turn in the conversation. Nambu tells Ken that his father was a famous pilot, but eleven years ago he and his plane both disappeared over the Southern Seas.
Ken says that this doesn't mean that his father his dead. Ken just knows that his Dad is alive. He's sure of it. Nambu replies that Ken has taken his father's place as Nambu's test pilot, flying for the sake of peace.
Now Ken gets back to the original conversation, asking Nambu to tell him who Red Impulse truly is. Nambu replies with a cryptic, 'you'll probably know soon enough'.
"If Red Impulse turns out to be my father..." Ken begins. Clearly the Eagle isn't as dense about this as we all like to assume.
Nambu quickly cuts him off, telling Ken that he has a mission for the Science Ninja Team. Suddenly Ken's all business too.
Nambu tells Ken that the nation of Tritan has produced a super-plane, even greater than the God Phoenix, called the Mystery Bird, or the Blue Hawk. It has a range of 100,000 kilometers and travels at Mach 5.
The Blue Hawk is slated to take place in the World Air Show in the nation of Ameris. Nambu wants the Science Ninja Team to serve as escort for the Blue Hawk as it goes to Ameris.
We cut to the airport, where the Blue Hawk is taxiing in. The Blue Hawk pilots are enjoying a few cigarettes when they hear the announcement that they should prepare to board. But as they move to leave the room, they are surprised to see five goons enter the lounge. The goons gleefully open fire on the hapless pilots.
A few minutes later, five pilots board the Blue Hawk. But you can bet they're not the original pilots.
The Blue Hawk takes off from the airport, and the God Phoenix approaches for its escort services.
Everyone admires the Blue Hawk.
But Joe points out that this 'plane escort service' isn't a very interesting job.
Meanwhile, Nambu gets an important call on the 'hotline'.
It's Jim from the ISO calling. They report that the pilots were found dead and that the Blue Hawk has been stolen. Jim wants Nambu to inform the God Phoenix. But Nambu protests that the God Phoenix is no match for the Blue Hawk, and if they face it down they will die. Jim asks Nambu what they should do, then.
"I'll take command." Nambu sighs. He knows that Galactor is behind the theft of the Blue Hawk.
Meanwhile, onboard the Blue Hawk, the goon-pilots laugh at the clueless ninjas behind them. They think Lord Katse will be pleased if they can take out the God Phoenix, so they prepare a missile, targeting the ship behind them.
On the God Phoenix, Joe and Jinpei complain that this escort mission is boring and beneath their abilities. Of course, this is the guarantee that something exciting will happen.
The Blue Hawk is just about ready to fire its missile when three red jets fly up. It's Red Impulse!
So let me get this straight. Nambu is convinced the God Phoenix will be destroyed if they attack the Blue Hawk, so he doesn't even bother to tell them the plane has been stolen. But he thinks Red Impulse can take it down? So, are the Red Impulse jets better than the God Phoenix then? Sheesh!
Apparently Red Impulse isn't as famous as the Science Ninja Team, as the goon-pilots wonder who's in the three red jets.
And I can see why the goons haven't heard of the Red Impulse Squadron. They're terrible shots! Here they're firing well away from the Blue Hawk.
But one jet does somehow manage to shoot off the bracket holding on the Blue Hawk's missile. It falls from the ship, no longer threatening the God Phoenix.
Jun is distressed to see the Blue Hawk being attacked.
Joe thinks this is strange, as Red Impulse is supposed to be on 'their' side.
But Jinpei slyly points out that they don't know that.
Ken is so angry to see that Red Impulse is an enemy after all that he's shaking. He clearly feels betrayed, and wants to 'settle this thing'.
"But, Ken!" Jun shouts, as the Eagle runs from the Bridge.
We get to see familiar footage of the G-1 docking, but in reverse as it exits the God Phoenix.
The Red Impulse jets are circling the Blue Hawk, but doing little else. The Blue Hawk doesn't seem to be responding.
Red Impulse shoots a special red missile at the Blue Hawk. The missile lodges in the Blue Hawk's lower hull, but doesn't detonate. Instead, it lights up and beeps. And there's an ominous ticking sound...
Red Impulse then calls his men and tells them that it's time for them to get out of there.
The goon-pilots laugh, thinking that the Red Impulse Squadron 'gave up and ran home'. The Blue Hawk is so invincible that 'they don't even blink at a hundred thousand bullets here and there'.
Of course, a fourth plane is leaving the scene, and it is the G-1.
__________________
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 04:00:
Ken's bracelet beeps. It's Nambu, telling the God Phoenix to return home.
But Ken cries back that Red Impulse attacked the Blue Hawk, and now the G-1 is in pursuit of Red Impulse. Nambu replies that Ken should break pursuit and return to the God Phoenix, but Ken refuses.
"Red Impulse is a worthy enemy. Please let me do this." Ken replies, ignoring Nambu.
After a commercial break, we are back at the Blue Hawk, which is still being escorted by the God Phoenix.
Katse contacts the goon-pilots.
"So you're being bothered by three little red pests? I'll consult our Leader." Katse says. And he doesn't have far to go, as he's already in Sosai's audience chamber.
"Leader, the rumors are true!" Katse tells X. "Do you know who these pests are?" Wow... so Red Impulse has been operating for over a decade and Katse's heard only rumors about them? They must not be very effective!
All Sosai knows is that they're pilots of 'formidable skill'. He tells Katse to lead the Science Ninja Team to 'the base', capture them alive, and then execute them all. Seems rather complicated to me. Why not just kill them right away? But of course, Galactor's stupidity is the Science Ninjas' gain...
Katse accepts his orders.
Joe is angry that Ken has split on them during this 'boring escort job'. I've lost count of how many times Joe has complained about the 'boring escort job'.
"He sure changes his tune fast!" Jinpei whines.
Jun is worried about Ken, but Ryu interrupts with a 'this is weird' comment.
Ryu tells everyone that the Blue Hawk isn't on course for Ameris. But even as Joe is calling that notion 'ridiculous', the Owl says that he can't get the controls of the God Phoenix to respond.
Jun tells Ryu that's crazy, because they're flying, aren't they?
Joe tells Ryu to stop fooling around, but Ryu insists he isn't. None of the instruments are responding.
On the Blue Hawk, the goon-pilots are laughing, surmising that the Science Ninja Team are figuring out that something is wrong about now.
Back to Ken. Red Impulse contacts the G-1, telling Gatchaman that following him is useless, and that Ken should return to the God Phoenix immediately. Of course, in all of this, no one has bothered to tell Ken what's really going on. If they did, perhaps Ken would return!
But since they haven't, the G-1 faces off with the Red Impulse jet.
Ken is in hot pursuit of Red Impulse, to the point that even though the other two red planes have headed off, Ken still follows the Red Impulse Commander's jet.
"Now that I know you're the enemy, I won't let you get away!" Ken growls.
"The God Phoenix was ordered to return to base, wasn't it? Now hurry up and get back!" Red Impulse commands.
"Shut your trap!" is Ken's response.
The G-1 buzzes Red Impulse's plane, lowering its landing gear as it does so. Red Impulse clearly didn't expect this maneuver. He's so scared that his neck scarf turned red!
Ken is determined to catch his man.
Understanding that Ken won't leave him alone, Red Impulse contacts Nambu. He learns that Nambu can't contact the God Phoenix, and Red Impulse promises to investigate.
Red Impulse checks his radar screen. A blinking red dot represents his 'Mega-Bomb', which he claims will be 'absolutely marvelous'.
The Mega-Bomb is still lodged in the Blue Hawk's hull.
Parked next to the Blue Hawk is the God Phoenix. Inside, the ninjas are overcome with a strange pinkish gas.
The Red Impulse jet lands in a field near the position of the Mega-Bomb, and the G-1 follows.
Both men exit their jets. Ken leaps out in a showy maneuver, crossing in front of the sun.
It's a showdown!
Ken races at Red Impulse, but trips over his opponent's foot and goes tumbling to the ground. Ken catches himself gracefully, then comes back for another attack to the head, but Red Impulse deflects it easily.
The Eagle hops up from this fall too, and tries a third time.
But clearly Ken's skills are lacking today, as Red Impulse is able to stop him with a simple 'talk to the hand' maneuver. I guess Ken forgot to eat his Wheaties this morning.
Ken is shocked, but he looks up, and suddenly he can see through Red Impulse's visor. The Eagle gasps, thinking that he has seen 'those eyes' somewhere before.
Red Impulse tells Ken that the God Phoenix has been captured by Galactor, and implies that it's Ken's fault for not following Nambu's orders. Actually, I think if Ken had been onboard the God Phoenix that he'd be captured right now too, but I guess I'm nitpicking.
Red Impulse confirms that the Blue Hawk had been hijacked by Galactor before it even took off. Ken sinks to the ground in disgrace, realizing what he has done.
The Mega-Bomb has led Red Impulse to this spot, and he thinks that the Blue Hawk is in the volcano right next to them. Ken doesn't pay attention,but instead decides to hold off on rescuing his Team for a few moments so he can demand again to know who Red Impulse is.
Red Impulse avoids the question, and runs off to the volcano.
In about two seconds, Ken and Red Impulse are standing atop the volcano, looking in.
They locate a hatch and open it, seeing the Blue Hawk and the God Phoenix parked in a massive hangar below them. They move to climb down into the hangar.
The Science Ninja Team are chained to the wall, next to four goons.
Katse is laughing at them from a monitor on the wall.
Joe accuses Katse of putting them to sleep with knockout gas. Joe's tone suggests that he doesn't think this is very sporting of Katse. Wait a minute. Isn't this the same guy who snuck into a Galactor base and replaced their gold with fake bars? Talk about being sneaky...
Jinpei isn't too happy about this method of capture either.
Jun calmly points out that Gatchaman is still free. Clearly the Science Ninja Team can do nothing without Ken. I'm rolling my eyes, but it's still early in the series.
Katse pooh-poohs this idea and orders his goons to 'take them out'. But as the goons fire, their triggers on their guns disintegrate. Red Impulse has shot them away!
"Who are you?" Katse demands to know. Red Impulse swirls his gun around cockily and gives Katse his name. More goons appear as Katse orders them to kill Red Impulse too. But something flies by the two new goons, hitting their hands and causing them to drop their guns.
It's Ken's boomerang, and Gatchaman shows himself to a heroic crescendo of music.
The Eagle jumps down and lands next to Red Impulse.
__________________
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 04:01:
"Ken, I'm totally useless like this. Give me a chance to look cool too!" Joe whines.
You know, I can totally see Joe thinking this, but I can't believe he actually said it!
Katse starts ordering his men to 'get them', but Red Impulse shoots the monitor, effectively ending the transmission.
Dozens more goons suddenly appear on turntables that rotate into the room.
They jump down and begin running across the floor toward Ken and Red Impulse.
For all he's the leader, Ken forgets about his Team and just starts punching up some goons.
It is Red Impulse who fires his gun to free the other ninjas.
And now everyone's off to join the fray!
I always remember BOTP showing this maneuver/shot whenever they wanted to cut over a more violent fight scene.
Red Impulse notices that his Mega-Bomb is still ticking, and suggests that they escape in the God Phoenix. Ken calls a 'time out' and everyone stops fighting.
The God Phoenix escapes, leaving the Blue Hawk behind in the base.
Jinpei wants to know why they're leaving the Blue Hawk behind.
The goons aren't all dead, and those still alive aren't as stupid as they look. They jump onto the Blue Hawk, to chase after the God Phoenix. Of course, they don't know about the Mega-Bomb in its hull that is just now reaching zero...
The bomb explodes, and pieces of the Blue Hawk fly everywhere. I love this shot of one of the Blue Hawk's tires taking out a few goons.
Also cut from BOTP: other goons are burned alive.
The explosion is so fierce it looks like the volcano is erupting.
Once thing have calmed down, Ken and Red Impulse retrieve their jets from the grass. Nambu is on the God Phoenix's monitors, telling everyone that Red Impulse really is on their side, after all.
Jun sticks her neck out for Ken, asking Nambu not to be so hard on the Eagle for running off.
Nambu promises not to yell at Ken. What a big-hearted guy!
Now that this crisis has been averted, Jun looks at the G-1 and the Red Impulse jet flying side by side.
"Those two fly like they were father and son." she says.
Meanwhile, in the G-1 Ken is smiling at Red Impulse in a very creepy way.
Red Impulse bids Ken farewell, but a tear rolls down his cheek. Why is he so emotional?
(Okay, I should just point out there that it's supposed to be unknown that Red Impulse is Ken's father. But the very first time we ever watched this episode, my five-year old daughter figured it out immediately. Yep. she was five.)
The G-1 turns to dock back with the God Phoenix.
The narrator confirms for us once more that Red Impulse is a good guy, and drops another shockingly obvious hint that Red Impulse and Ken fly like father and son. And with that, the God Phoenix flies into the sunset.
__________________
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 04:17:
BOTP Episode 23 - Space Rocket Escort
We begin, as always, with 7-Zark-7. Today Zark is dressed to the nines... uh, sevens. In addition to his cape/wings that allow him to fly across the room at inhumanly slow speeds, he is wearing a helmet, complete with visor.
Oh, Zark wants to be on the G-Force Team soooo badly. He can practically taste it! Or, he could, if he were human. Robots don't taste.
Sorry, personal sideline. Let me get to the real episode.
Zark is receiving Chief Anderson's signal. He rushes to his console.
The Chief wants G-Force in the Briefing Room right away! Zark contacts Mark, who is flying in his Cessna.
Mark disturbs some birds on a nearby island with his flying.
"A pair of wings, a stick, and the wild blue yonder!" Mark smiles. I guess he really enjoys flying. He's an Eagle, all right!
Mark thinks about how nice it is to get away from the 'crunch and grind' once in awhile. But of course, that getaway is over because Zark is signaling him on his communicator. Zark is telling Mark to report to Security Chief Anderson at Camp Parker. Mark agrees with a 'Big Ten!'
As Mark's Cessna turns around, Zark wonders what Anderson wants. They don't always tell him everything. It's killing Zark to not be in on the loop!
The BOTP 'exciting encounter' music starts up, and Mark is shocked by the presence of an alien plane that buzzes him.
The alien pilot smirks, and Mark transmutes. But once he does, he gets a better look at the plane and pilot and realizes that it's Colonel Cronus from Planet Riga.
So... why is Mark transmuting in front of an unidentified alien plane that just buzzed him?
Cronus asks Mark if he can 'still fly that thing'. Boy, his voice sounds a lot like Zoltar's. Just less obsessed and more relaxed.
"Show me how good you Earthlings are!" Cronus taunts Mark, as they fly around.
"Great flying... gotta be Cronus!" Mark says to himself.
Now that he's said 'hello', Cronus flies off. Mark wonders what Cronus is doing on Earth. Mark finally remembers that he's supposed to be going to see Anderson, and he flies off too.
We cut to a shot of Nambu's villa. Oh wait, it's not Nambu's villa! It's Camp Parker, Security Headquarters when Anderson is on vacation. Wow, the Chief is so important that he has a vacation headquarters? Does this guy ever get a day off?
Mark is telling Anderson that he didn't get a good look at the pilot, but he was flying a Rigan fighter plane, and he flew like Cronus. Anderson replies that Cronus requested permission to come to Earth. For security reasons, the Chief had to refuse him. Guess Cronus isn't one for rules.
Even so, Anderson wonders why Cronus didn't contact him. Uh, because he broke the rules to come at all? Mark wants to know why Anderson is being so cautious and suspecting Cronus. Anderson admits that they were tricked once before, by Zoltar disguised as Colonel Cronus. This was in BOTP Episode 19/Gatchaman Episode 61. OMG, it's a continuity reference! I'm going to faint!
Anderson says that it's his job to check out everyone. Mark suggests that they could contact Riga and find out if Cronus is still there. But they can't. Again, for 'security reasons'. Earth has been building the FY-9 for Riga. It's equipped with the latest technology.
"Yes, I've heard." Mark says. "Pretty 'hush-hush'."
I guess it can't be that 'hush-hush' if Mark's heard about it!
Anderson says that the FY-9 will be delivered today, and Mark guesses that the Chief wants G-Force to deliver it to Earth's sister planet, Riga.
But it's not even that exciting an assignment. Special pilots will fly the FY-9. G-Force will only escort the plane.
You know, if G-Force/Tiny/Mark had been flying the FY-9, I'll bet those goons would never have been able to take them out and hijack the plane. This whole crisis could have been avoided! This seems like a poor decision on Anderson's part.
Anderson is bothered by the pilot Mark 'tangled with'. Spectra has spies everywhere. Boy, the Chief is really concerned about this espionage thing! I guess that's why he's Security Chief. Anderson worries that Zoltar might have heard about this plane. And we all know what would happen if it fell into his hands!
Mark promises the Chief that G-Force will fly a 'tight escort' to Riga.
Just as in Gatchaman, the goons step into the pilots' lounge at the airport, pointing their guns. But then it cuts (we don't get to see the goons blasting their guns at the hapless pilots) and we see the new pilots stepping out of the elevator. In case that happened too fast for you, one of the new pilots says that 'they'll never guess we're Spectra in these outfits'. Interestingly enough, he sounds just like Mark.
The false pilots board the FY-9, and no one suspects. The Phoenix moves to escort.
G-Force looks at the FY-9, but instead of complimenting it, all they comment on is how big it is. Princess even calls it a 'flying high-rise'. Tiny is the only one who likes it, expressing a wish to pilot the FY-9. Ah, Tiny, if only you could have. But then the episode would be over.
The scenes of Joe and Jinpei complaining that the mission is boring are cut. Instead, we move to shots of outer space. Zark tells us that the FY-9 and the Phoenix are in deep space, enroute to Riga. Uh oh! The FY-9 has changed course, and is headed away from Riga, toward the Crab Nebulae! Yes, he says 'nebulae'. I guess there's more than one.
In case you've forgotten where the enemy home planet is, Zark repeats that both planes are now headed toward Spectra. And even worse, Zark has lost his audio contact with the Phoenix!
Onboard the FY-9, the Spectran pilots hope that Zoltar will give them a medal for bringing G-Force back with them. They think that G-Force must be asleep, because they haven't noticed that they're not on Riga. They're in Spectran territory now, and their new jamming device cuts off any communication with Earth. The pilots decide to take out the Phoenix now with one of their own weapons.
Back onboard the Phoenix, Jason is distressed because he can't contact the FY-9 pilots. He's not complaining about this mission being boring! Except Keyop stands up, stretching and yawning, complaining that the others are 'dull company'. Strange...
Three Rigan jets show up, and Mark comments that Riga sent them a fighter escort. I guess they really don't know that they're not on Riga. You'd think one of them might have picked that up on their navigational systems. They must need a vacation, or some sleep, or something.
The Rigan jets shoot at the FY-9, breaking off the bracket holding the missile that was about to destroy the Phoenix.
Jason and Princess can't understand why Rigan pilots would fire on the ship they ordered from Earth. Keyop suggests that is 'pilot error', but Tiny surmises that the Rigans are 'not from Riga'. He thinks they're Spectran spies!
But Mark disagrees. He's sure it's Cronus. He runs off of the Bridge and launches the G-1. Cronus fires his red missile at the FY-9, and then the Rigan jets fly off.
Cronus comments that he 'hates to waste a beautiful new ship'.
The Spectran pilots are pleased that the Rigans ran even though the FY-9 didn't fire a shot.
Mark follows the Rigan jets, and Jason contacts him on his communicator. He informs Mark that their 'line to Zark' is being jammed, and that the FY-9 pilots still aren't responding. Mark replies that he's going after Cronus... if it really is Cronus. Mark is having doubts.
But Jason points out that Mark should have a 'good look around'. This isn't Riga. Took them long enough to figure this out!
"Yeah, I've noticed." Mark comments. Hey, if he already noticed, why didn't he tell the others? Mark continues to say that he thinks they've been steered wrong, courtesy of Planet Spectra! He orders Jason to 'stick with the FY-9' while he 'goes solo'.
Zark cuts in, telling us that Cronus' jet is in the lead. Mark would know him anywhere. Maybe Cronus has sold out to Spectra! Whatever has happened, Mark will find out.
Interesting how Zark can't contact the Phoenix, yet his scanners can visually detect what's going on.
__________________
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 04:18:
After the commercial break, we see Zark ascending in a long tube. He's so worried that he's taken off his helmet and wings.
He's telling us how he's tried everything he can, but he can't get one sign of the Phoenix! I guess he can just see the G-1 and the Rigan jets.
The Phoenix and the FY-9 have simply vanished.
Zark arrives at his 'personal retreat'.
He feels guilty taking a ten second oil break at a time like this, but there's nothing he can do.
The oil he's using is 1040 weight. Nothing added. Perfect for all occasions. Yes, he's really saying this.
Before Zark can expound further on the joys of oil, he gets a call from Susan. Immediately, his antennae start popping.
"I've got something I think may interest you." Susan says.
"You certainly have! I mean, you're loaded! I mean, I'm interested!" Zark sputters.
Susan laughs, then tells Zark that she's made contact. She's sending starfield maps to Zark's monitor. The Phoenix and the FY-9 are now flying over Omeg-2. Yes, she says 'Omeg', not 'Omega'.
Zark seems very casual about this information, belying how worried he claimed to be a minute earlier. I guess phone sex with Susan calms him down.
Omeg-2 is apparently a primitive, uninhabited planet in the Crab Nebulae. And it's under the control of Spectra!
We cut to the Phoenix. It's still following the FY-9. Jason tells Tiny to 'hang close', because the FY-9 isn't going where it's supposed to. Strangely enough, Jason doesn't suggest even once that they use a missile. I wonder if he's feeling sick today?
Keyop thinks the pilots of the FY-9 are space pirates, while Princess is worried about Mark. Tiny realizes hat the FY-9 realizes that G-Force has 'finally got their number'.
Jason orders Tiny to pull away, but he can't. He is unable to use the Turbo Jets. Princess reports that the communications scanners are still jammed. Jason suggests that they kick in auxiliary power. Tiny says that all power units are blanked out.
Onboard the FY-9, the pilots laugh that G-Force is 'powerless in their Traction Beam'. They plan to pull them right into the volcano. What volcano! Oh, there it is!
Back to Mark. He doesn't get why Cronus would attack his own plane. Cronus wonders if Mark doesn't understand what's going on here. He wants Mark to get away and go back to the Phoenix. The other members of G-Force could be in trouble, and there's not much time left.
The volcano is actually a Spectran base! And the Phoenix is parked inside. The G-Force Team is knocked out by pink Spectran gas.
Mark and Cronus are still going at it. Mark doesn't buzz the plane with his landing gear down, but Cronus lands anyway, tracking his missile.
Both men leap out of their planes, and Mark asks Cronus for an explanation. When Cronus doesn't answer, Mark attacks him, but Cronus easily deflects his moves. I'm shocked that BOTP left this entire sequence in the episode!
Cronus finally tells Mark that Spectran agents hijacked the plane, and that's why they were attacking it. Cronus shot a time bomb into it, and it's ticking away right now. The Rigans would rather lose the new plane than have it fall into Zoltar's hands. And the volcano and the space ship are going to blow any minute!
The scene of Ken falling to his knees in horror at what he has done is cut. Instead we jump right to Mark and Cronus on top of the volcano. They find the hatch, peek inside, and go in. Cronus warns that they have less than five minutes.
The other members of the G-Force Team are chained to the wall, and Zoltar is laughing at them from a communications monitor. Jason says that they 'can't stay long', but Zoltar says they shouldn't be impatient. This is their 'very last chance to visit together'. Princess says that it might be Zoltar's last chance, because Mark is still free.
"Your G-Force leader will never find you here, and I'll gladly welcome him if he does." Zoltar says smugly. Gee, Zoltar, contradict yourself much?
Suddenly, Zoltar realizes there is an intruder, and he orders his men to 'activate the robot guard'. Ah, so they're robots dressed in Spectran uniforms. Of course!
The Zoltar offers a medal and a promotion to the one who captures the intruder. Wait, do robots care about medals and promotions? Well, I guess Zark would, so that answers that question.
Cronus is standing there, doing nothing, and Mark's boomerang swoops down, knocking the guns out of the robot guard's hands. Mark is standing on top of the FY-9.
"Welcome to the party." says Princess.
Mark jumps down to the floor and stands next to Cronus.
"Don't stop now! Do something about getting out of here!" Jason whines. Well, at least it's better than what Joe said.
Zoltar demands that Colonel Cronus surrender. After all, Zoltar's robot guards have them both surrounded. Cronus points out that the robot guards are no good if Zoltar can't see them and 'push their buttons'. But he doesn't shoot out the monitor with Zoltar's face on it, despite this excellent lead-in. I'm not sure why they cut this. Instead, he just shoots off the restraints holding the other members of the G-Force Team to the wall.
There's no fight (despite the fact that it is now well-established that these are robot Spectran guards) and Cronus tells everyone to get out. Mark calls his time out (which seems weird, given that there's no fight) and everyone gets to the Phoenix and escapes.
As this is happening, Zoltar's voice echoes across the hangar.
"Use emergency exits! This is not a drill! Use emergency exits! Get out fast!"
Wow, I guess Spectra cares for its robots more than the Federation does for theirs! No one ever seems to cry when those robot planes get toasted!
Another question: how did Zoltar know the place was going to blow?
The FY-9 blows up and the base with it, but no Spectrans are hurt.
The G-Force Team is heading home, and Mark and Cronus have picked up their jets. Anderson is on the Phoenix monitor, asking what happened and where the FY-9 is. He's been trying to get through to them for hours!
Princess replies that they'll explain later, because they're still putting the pieces together themselves. Anderson seems angry about this, muttering 'thanks a lot' sarcastically and sharply ordering them to return to Earth.
"A regular bear when he's mad, isn't he?" Princess giggles. The she asks the Colonel to explain what really did happen.
Cronus ignores the request in favor of wishing Mark a good trip home. Mark apologizes for doubting Cronus, and the Colonel goes home without the tear on his face.
Zark cuts in, telling us that he got his scanners fixed just in time to see that 'secret Spectran base blow up'. He reminds us that the Spectran humanoids got out safely, but the FY-9 was lost. Why, if Cronus hadn't been at the Spaceport when the FY-9 was hijacked, Zoltar might have succeeded!
Zark is back in his helmet and cape to tell us what a 'great bunch of young people that G-Force is'. He wishes he could work more closely with them, but unfortunately his job is a lonely one. He has no companionship.
1-Rover-1 barks to tell Zark that this just isn't so. Zark pets Rover.
"And don't forget me!" comes Susan's voice. Zark gets another antennae erection when he hears this.
Zark assures Susan that he never forgets her, even though they've never met. She tells him to be patient, and Zark replies that he's been programmed for patience. Maybe one day they'll meet. Zark blushes at this possibility.
And with one final giggle form Zark, the episode ends.
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Posted by lborgia88 on 11-05-2009 at 05:30:
Great recaps, TJ!
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Neither can I. I have to try to convince myself that he's just being sarcastic.
In this episode, Nambu not telling them everything that's going on with the RI team, and the Blue Hawk, reminds me of episode 8 where he had them "patrolling" without letting them know there was a "decoy" secret base close by. I would think they'd be getting pretty annoyed with Nambu's rather manipulative tendencies by now!
Posted by Springie on 11-05-2009 at 10:09:
More great screenshots and another fabulous recap! I was laughing at some of your wording..."antennae erection" is a perfect description!
Here's the Fan Page...
Fan Page #11
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Posted by clouddancer on 11-05-2009 at 12:32:
Great Stuff as usual TJ.
I was laughing at some of your comments and insights.
When I first saw BOTP and that it was Cronus who freed Mark's teammates, I wondered why as well (Although you said Ken), I always wondered if Mark felt he did not have as much control over his bomerang as he should. It is early in the series and maybe he felt he might hurt his teammates .... although the gun would be faster since the Eagle would have to make at least two throws and catches to free each teammate (One for legs, one for arms), and Mark does not have a gun.
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 16:49:
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Good point! I've always thought that Nambu was rather manipulative, and someone who demanded that everything go *his* way.
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Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 16:51:
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You have put way more thought into this than I have, CD!
But FWIW, Ken has shown excellent control with his boomerang up to this point in the series. I would think that for Mark is it even more so, since it's 23 episodes into BOTP's run.
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Posted by clouddancer on 11-05-2009 at 17:54:
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Well... it kind of came up at one time in my Universe, where Mark was nervous about throwing his rang at team mates because he did not have full control over it. Jason went through the same feeling with shuriken, knives and other thrown objects.
Then Mark and Jason have a competition to show who trusts the other more by not flinching when the other throws a "pointed/bladed" weapon at them. (ummm, that is a lot of their and thems I hope all that makes sense.)
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Posted by Condorfan on 11-05-2009 at 19:27:
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I never noticed before but when did Zark start wearing sneakers?
Great recaps TJ! Robot phone sex is right! I can't believe I share my name with a robot hussy.
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Old age is a high price to pay for maturity.
Posted by clouddancer on 11-05-2009 at 20:25:
I think it has been mentioned that they show Zark HAS sneakers but never seems to wear them.
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
Posted by Transmute Jun on 11-05-2009 at 22:30:
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Kind of like he has a dartboard, but we never see the darts sticking out of Zark?
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Posted by Condorfan on 11-05-2009 at 23:54:
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Ahh but we did in your Fic "A Place on the Team" (super story!)
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Old age is a high price to pay for maturity.
Posted by Springie on 12-05-2009 at 00:00:
I'm sure you've seen this before...but this picture belongs here! 
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Posted by lborgia88 on 12-05-2009 at 00:08:
RE: Gatchaman Episode 11 - The Mysterious Red Impulse
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Hee, a good point! Long-term plot requirements certainly twisted some of the logic in this episode. If Nambu had just instructed Ken and the others to recapture the Blue Hawk from Galactor or stick a tracking beacon on it and infiltrate the base it arrives at, there goes all the Ken-and-his-father-that-he doesn't-know-is-his-father-even-though-its-bloody-obvious interaction and "foreshadowing".
Of course, if Dr. Nambu weren't so careful and secretive, he would just tell Ken "Oh, by the way, Red Impulse is really your father, and tell Joe that his parents actually belonged to Galactor too," -and there goes two angsty plot arcs!
Posted by Transmute Jun on 12-05-2009 at 01:53:
Springie, I love that dartboard!
LB, of course you're right... but it seems to me that they could have had RI working with Ken in a more logical plotline... perhaps working together to rescue the rest of the SNT, without Ken being kept in the dark so much about the mission.
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Posted by lborgia88 on 12-05-2009 at 02:03:
Absolutely, the writers should have been able to come up with a less heavy-handed plot to get Ken and RI to interact. In fact, one of the reasons that Red Impulse annoys me, is that whenever he's around, Ken so often seems to end up looking like dupe or being treated like a child instead of the leader of a highly trained squad of ninjas -the world's best weapon in a battle against a global terrorist menace.
Posted by Ebonyswanne on 12-05-2009 at 04:51:
One thing it showed about Ken in this ep is when he was questioning Dr Nambu about the mysterious man in the plane who confronted him Dr Nambu changed the subject and Ken didn't even try to ask him any more about it... Its like he switched off about it. I found it abrupt the way that happened in the dialogue.
ITA IB, he did seem to enjoy belittling Ken...
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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.
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