"'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) 'Yes, Colonel?" "'" "We're approaching Stargate 9." "Request clearance." "Clearance granted." "Proceed on established flight vector." " What is that, Dr Huer?" " Ten billion tons of frozen oxygen." "Once it's located on the North Pole, it will melt and help replenish the oxygen-depleted atmosphere." "This is the third time we've handled such a transport" " and it still makes me nervous." " Why is that?" "The spaceberg is on a precise path towards a window in our atmosphere." "It has to hit that window and pass through it exactly as planned." " If it doesn't?" " Friction will ignite the oxygen." "The resulting explosion would scorch a third of Earth's surface, possibly half." "Look at what the Terrans are doing, 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 agents on Earth..." "More talk!" "Meanwhile I have 5,000 miners threatening to leave their posts." "Do you know what that means?" "We're not producing enough blazium." "I've got orders backed up and I can't fill them!" "I shall be 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." "Under your leadership, they have united for the first time." "United we stand until something is done." "Something is going to be done." " 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." "Take the meddling fool away." "Silencing him is only a temporary measure." "The miners will soon have another leader." "The solution I mentioned earlier, sir..." "This is it." "A drone?" "They've been 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 ambuquad facility in New Chicago." "So?" "What makes 22-23-T so unique, sir, is that its basic programming has been augmented by its owner, a Captain Buck Rogers." "Rogers is a Terran from the 20th century." "He's endowed the drone with extraordinary features." "Resourcefulness, courage, loyalty." "And, even though we know such is impossible, some say imagination." "You're thinking to buy it, break it down, analyse 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 dangerous procedures." "And where is this one-of-a-kind ambuquad to be found right now?" "On Earth." "In New Chicago." "My thought was our morale problem would be..." "Ladies..." "I have a mission for you." "(Wilma) Dr Huer, my instruments say that the oxygen mass is maintaining a perfect trajectory." "Temperature is holding steady at minus 250 degrees Celsius." "Thank you, Colonel." "Keep me posted of even the slightest change." " Captain Rogers?" " That's correct." "I'm Stella Breet, contract administrator for Kerk Belzak on the asteroid Toros." "I'm new around here." "What does that mean?" "Oh." "Well, can I come in and explain?" "Sure, come in." "Come on." " Looks just like I imagined it would." " Like you imagined?" "We compile bio-files of business associates before we meet them." "I didn't know we were associates." "We're not." "But we will be." "Just exactly who is this..." "Kerk Belzak?" "Mr Belzak owns a mining, manufacturing and distribution operation with its headquarters on Toros." "He's the sole supplier of an explosive called blazium." "Very interesting." "I still don't see where I come into this." "A million, in round figures." "It's yours." "What have I done to deserve such generosity?" "You haven't done anything." "It's payment for your ambuquad, serial number 22-23-T." " T as in Twiki?" " Yes, Twiki." " I'm sorry, he's not for sale." " Oh, I see, you want to negotiate." "No, I just don't want to sell Twiki." "It's just an ambuquad." "Twiki's a little more than that." "He's like a friend." "A drone is a drone, Captain." "Friends..." "Friends are different." "One feels affection for friends." "One owns a drone." "Anything that is owned can be sold." "Except for Twiki." "It would be like selling family." "Why does Belzak want my ambuquad?" "He's one of thousands." "I'm not paid to know why, Captain." "Captain Rogers, I need your help." "Mr Belzak will be very upset if I come back with nothing." "Well, I'd say anything you want, except Twiki and me." "I understand that." "I have a friend who runs a biostereometrical facility." "Well, I thought..." " Oh, you mean a 3-D photographer?" "Could I take pictures of Twiki's internal circuitry?" "It would be something to bring back to Belzak." "Yeah, I don't see any harm in taking pictures of Twiki's circuitry." "Knowing the ham he is, he'd probably enjoy it." " Ham?" " You'll see when you meet him." "Thank you." "This is the address." "See you there at nine?" "Fine." "He wouldn't sell." "But we've got a date with Captain Rogers." "And Twiki." "Let's go." "Dr Huer, I see an increasing frequency of ionised particles, rising rapidly." "I want a detailed radio scan of Quadrant IV immediately." "Yes, Doctor." "But Doctor, an ion storm of large enough magnitude could..." "I'm aware of the ramifications, Doctor." "Begin gathering data, please." "Bidibidi." "Where is everybody, Buck?" "It's after hours, Twiki." "Everyone's gone home." "Here it is." "Hm." "Captain Rogers, thank you for bringing the ambuquad." "Now, if you'll just leave it here for a while..." " No way, Stella." " As you wish, Captain." "Bidibidi." "Hey." "Hey!" "I'm private property." "You're trespassing." "Ambuquad prepared." "Autopilot set at coordinates four-four-six." "Remote facility activated." "Excellent." "I'll take control." "Remain on Earth until the ambuquad is securely on Toros." "Bidibidibidi." "This wild blue yonder stuff is for the birds!" " Dr Huer, Twiki's been taken." " What?" "Three women." "Psychokinetics." "I think he was taken to..." "I have a report of a non-Terran starfighter being launched." "Its digital reference was H-270, indicating its port of origin is Toros, in the Third Quadrant." "An ambuquad is in the cockpit." "I'm going after him." "This is Buck Rogers calling H-270." "Do you read?" "Bidibidibidi." "I thought you'd deserted me." "The ambuquad 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?" "Bidibidibidi." "It's all remote control, Buck, I can't do a thing." "Buck?" "Buck Rogers?" "The Terran owner?" "All right, Rogers, let's see how good you are." "Bidibidibidi." "Buck, that wasn't me." "I know, little buddy." "You've got to get out of that ship fast." " Bidibidibidi." "But it's a long walk home." " Don't worry, I'll tractor you in." "Here I go." "The drone is out of the ship!" "Where are you, Buck?" "Buck!" "Bidibidibidi." "Some may like hanging loose, but not this quad." "You're good, whoever you are, but you're not quite good enough." "So long." "Starfighter 1314 to Earth Control." "Come in, please." "'You've got New Tulsa Tracking Station." "What can we do for you?" "'" "I've lost an ambuquad." "I will need some help finding him." "'You've got it, 1314.'" "Make it quick, will you?" "There's a heavy-gravity body nearby." "If I don't pick him up fast he'll crash into it." "Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidibidi." "Help!" "Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidi." "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 Centaura." "'Radius vector 33 degrees left off the elliptical plane, 'elevation 40 degrees north.'" "Roger, New Tulsa." "I'm on my way." "Bidibidibidi." "Hurry, Buck." "Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidibidi." "Bidibidibidi." "Thanks, Buck." "We're reporting as per schedule." "Did the ambuquad 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 bio-file." "'What are your orders?" "'" "If the ambuquad 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?" "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?" " Bidibidibidi." "Whatever it is, he can't have it." "Dr Huer, this is Colonel Deering." "Do you read?" " 'Do you read?" "'" " Yes, Colonel Deering." "We have substantial interference." "We're encountering a rather violent storm." "The ion count is alarmingly high." "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 flight path." "Yes, that's confirmed by our observations here as well." "Stand by for 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 knew there was a risk." "But it seemed to be outweighed by the urgent need." " I'm going to help Wilma." " There's nothing you can do." "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." "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." "Hm." "In my apartment, you said something about friends and affection." "You just throw it out the window?" "Just a lot of words?" "Perhaps something from the nutrition centre..." "Stella, what's Belzak got on you?" "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 ll 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." "'This is Toros Approach Control to Shuttle 9281 .'" "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 are cleared for re-entry over the outer marker.'" "Welcome... to my little corner of the universe, Captain Rogers." "Better put that to music." "(Chuckles)" "May I have the current data, Doctor, please?" "The current angular displacement of the spaceberg is approximately three degrees from centre." "It will miss the atmospheric window by nearly 633 kilometres." "Might as well be six metres." "Once the explosions begin, the entire spaceberg will disintegrate." "'Ah." "Dr Huer, I presume?" "'" "Yes." "And you are?" "'Kerk Belzak, sir." "It seems you have a bit of a problem on your hands.'" "And no time to talk, so if you don't mind..." "'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." "Bidibidibidi." "Hey!" "Belzak, you're 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, at once." "'Don't be a fool, Doctor." "'Send me the ambuquad, or Buck Rogers will suffer the consequences.'" "(Angry sigh)" "There's nothing I can do to help him." "Nothing at all." "Under the circumstances, I don't think it necessary to give Colonel Deering the burden of... knowing." "Twiki, where are you going?" " Twiki?" " Bidibidibidi." "What about Buck?" "Come back here this instant." "Twiki!" "Bidibidibidi." "Buck, here comes the cavalry." "Geronimo!" "Bidibidibidi." "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 ten billion tons back on course." "I should like to convince you that a man of your reputed talents has a place here on Toros." "After all, the Terran brethren have abandoned you." "Perhaps." "I don't think you need those any more." "Unshackle Captain Rogers." "Bring him on our morning rounds." "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 it." "Consequently, it's quite stable." "I can see that you are 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." "That's why I need your ambuquad, with all the 20th-century talents you have imbued him with, combined with your own." "I hate to tell you this, Belzac, but Twiki is chronically lazy." "Bidibidibidibidi." "Whoops!" "I guess I blew it, Buck." " What are you doing here?" "Dr Huer didn't..." " Bidibidibidi." " I came on my own." " Prepare the ambuquad for disassembly." "Bidibidi." "Uh-oh!" "Bidibidibidi." "Help!" " Hang on, Buck." " Stop him!" "He's only one man." "Stop him!" "Keep your hands where I can see 'em." " Right, Twiki, let's go." " Bidibidibidi." "You got it, boss." "Keep going, 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 ambuquad back in one piece." "And I want Rogers, dead or alive!" "Pinchas!" "Hold it, Twiki." "The blazium storage room must be around here." "Bidibidibidi." "Blazium?" "Let's just get out of here." "I think that blazium might just solve our spaceberg crisis." "Something Belzak said about its properties." "(Electronic humming)" "Bidibidibidi." "What's wrong?" "That noise!" "It's going right through my head!" "Bidibidibidi." "Give me a boost, Buck." "Buck!" "'Interloper in Subsection 9, Corridor 3A, sonic chamber.'" "Good!" "I'm sure Captain Rogers is getting an earful." "Shall we join him?" "Bidibidibidi." "Higher, Buck." "Bidibidibidi." "Let's move it, Buck." "We've got a plane to catch." "They've escaped." "Impossible!" "The sonic chamber..." "Has absolutely no effect on that drone." "Idiot!" "Look!" "Bidibidibidi." "That's why I let you go first, Buck." "Must be some kind of energy field." "Solid as a rock." "Bidibidibidibidi." "Now What, Buck?" "Stella can deactivate that thing." "Twiki, hide under that catwalk." "Hold on to that blazium." "I'll be right back." "Spread out." "Search the bays." "Dr Huer, I don't think we're having any effect on the spaceberg." "I'm afraid your analysis is correct, Colonel." "As I feared it would be." "The window was our only hope." "Without it..." "Stella, I need your help." "(Voices muttering in distance)" "Bidibidibidi." "What's keeping you, Buck?" "I can't do it." "If Belzak finds out..." "He won't." "Not for a while, and by that time we'll be long gone." "He has agents on Remus ll." "He'll have Lucas killed." "I know it." "Remus ll is under the Directorate's jurisdiction." "We'll have Lucas brought to Earth, where Belzac 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." "My planet is in danger of being very badly damaged, perhaps even destroyed." "I've got a chance of saving it." "In order to do that, I've got to get out of here." "I can't, without your help." "All right, Buck." "I'll deactivate the energy wall." "Welcome, Captain." "I see the lovely Stella has found you for us." " Very good work, my dear." " Belzak, I..." " She is very persuasive." " Yes, well..." "All good things must come to an end, Captain." "Where's your ambuquad?" "I don't know." "I think I left him in the tunnels." "I'm not sure." "Such a transparently thin subterfuge, Captain." "We'll find him." "Take him away." "Hold it!" "Really, Captain, don't you ever know when to cease?" "Heads up, Buck." "Aargh!" "Ugh!" "Ugh!" "Ugh!" "Come on!" "Move!" "Far enough, Rogers!" "The ladies would like your attention, just for a moment." "Ladies..." "Bidibidibidi." "Buck!" "I'm 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!" " Stella!" " I want Rogers in that acid!" "(Grunting)" "Now!" "Stella!" "I can help you." "Don't listen!" "Your son will die without my help." "If I die, your last chance to leave this place dies with me." "I... command you!" "One move and he dies." "Buck, let's get out of here." "You fools!" "The Earth is dying." "Don't you understand?" "Stella, you've condemned your son to death!" "'Your approach to Toros cleared for landing.'" "Dr Huer, we're registering a change in 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, the ignition of the oxygen is inevitable." "Buck Rogers calling Earth Defense Directorate." "'Repeat." "Buck Rogers calling Earth Defense Directorate.'" "Buck!" "What's happened?" "How in the galaxy did you...?" "I'll fill you in later, Doc." "What's the status on the berg?" "We haven't been able to alter its trajectory." "It is one minute and 23 seconds from entering the atmosphere." "On the wrong trajectory." "Wilma, Dr Huer," "I think I can get the berg back on trajectory." " I'm listening." " Blazium is fast-burning and extremely hot." "If we plant it in the right place and detonate it, we'll..." "Shift it and let gravity take over." "It sounds reckless, Buck." "Captain Rogers' theory is sound, Doctor." "But he cannot guarantee an accurate placement." "I'll just have to eyeball it, Doc." "Give me the coordinates." "Very well, we have no choice." "Doctor, we need volume, mass, distance from Earth, angle." "Please, Doctor, I have anticipated the requisites." "Those figures are coming through on the C-6000." "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?" "'" " It's a two-kilo brick." " Doctor?" " Reduce it by half." " Reduce it by half, Buck." " 'Roger.'" "Now, from your angle of approach, lay down the blazium on the following coordinates." "'M-23.11 and D-17.9.'" " Got it." " And good luck." "Wilma, clear everybody from the vicinity of that berg." "Hang up there at about 20,000 km." "As soon as I lay the blazium down, hit it with a pulsar." "And get out of there." "I understand, Buck, but what are you going to do?" "I'm going to try to get out of there myself." "I'm getting a reading of minus 225 degrees." "We are within 22 seconds of the critical range." " Are you ready?" " Yeah." "I think so." "Bidibidibidibidi." "Play it as it lays, Buck." " I'm on my way." " Standing by." "Pulsars ready." "Here we go." "Eight ball in a side pocket." " It's all yours, Wilma." " Got it, Buck." "Dr Huer, what's happening?" "Doc?" "It's working." "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!" "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." "Terran ingenuity, I guess." "Bidibidibidi." "And a little luck." "Let's head for home." "It's official:" "Kerk Belzak has been overthrown by the miners on Toros." " That's wonderful." " They've exiled him to the Sixth Quadrant." "You won't have to worry about him for a long time to come." "We've made contact with our people on Remus ll." "Lucas will be arriving on the next shuttle." "I'll never be able to thank you." "Especially you, Buck." " All of us owe Buck our thanks." " Let's not forget Twiki." "Bidibidibidi." "No big deal, Buck." "No big deal?" "You let yourself get kidnapped, almost got lost in space, then you went AWOL and almost got dissected by Belzak's goons, not mention nearly getting me burned to a crisp." "Bidibidi." "Give me a break, Buck." "I'll give you a break." "Two weeks' hard labour." "Bread and water." "And a suspended sentence." " Thanks for your help, buddy." " Bidibidibidi." "You're worth it, Buck." "I think."