|
Episode Summary
Written
by J. Cole Weston
When
a new robot can replace the Zone Riders, is it friend…or
foe?
Episode
Notes
Written
by J. Cole Weston
In
depth: In the Zone, Courage and the others ride into battle
as Rimfire is destroyed by Duchess Dire as Courage escapes.
The others continue their attack on the generator. When Ned's
cycle is hit, he uses a new Zone Rider helicopter backpack
to escape. The other four Zone Riders succeed in destroying
the generator.
Back at M.C.C., Dr. Emil Carson has been called in to demonstrate
a new weapon he's developed. On screen, the West Texas zone
is shown from a high orbit recon satellite. A robot appears
inside the zone and starts a stampede. Rawmeat notices, while
the Robot stuns Zoners with blasters and a missile. The robot
then destroys Rawmeat's Sledge Hammer. This is the SL9 Zone
Rider Robot - an impressive new invention. The Doctor and
the Zone Riders have a heated discussion about the robot's
intent to replace them.
At Overlord's HQ, he is working on a new "Ultra Generator"
which can zone all of Texas. His plan is to control the majority
of America's beef supply, causing people to enter the zone
searching for food. At M.C.C., the Zone Riders discuss the
capabilities. Dirk talks over his objections with McFarland
as Dr. Carson enters. They plan a second attack in the Zone.
The Black Widows are riding the Zone when they find the robot
out on its second test. Rawmeat's missile attack is rapidly
foiled by its advanced weapons systems. Reaper grabs it with
the Snapper Claws, but it escapes quickly.
At the Chrysler Building, Overlord is angered and decides
to go in person to defeat the menace. At M.C.C., the UN hands
down a decision to replace them with the SL9. Intruder arrives
in the Zone and Bandit goes to meet Overlord. His spy network
has revealed the decision to use the SL9. Overlord decides
to leak word of the Ultra Generator to M.C.C. to make them
send the robot so it can be destroyed. Then they will launch
the device before the Zone Riders can be called in. Dr. Carson
disagrees, seeing it as the chance to prove the SL9. Using
another SL9, he has set it to guard against Zone Rider interference.
General McFarland threatens him with arrest if he doesn't
stand down. McFarland arrests Dr. Carson in the Ready Room
and now the Zone Riders must get their equipment from the
robot.
In the Zone, the Black Widows surround the robot and fire
at it, keeping it distracted and overloaded. Bull Whip then
captures the robot and reprograms it. At the Zone Rider's
base, they have their hands full trying to defeat the SL9.
Courage cuts out the floor beneath the robot and disables
it. In West Texas, Overlord offers the chance to activate
the Ultra Generator to Duchess Dire. It activates and the
Zone spreads rapidly. Overlord then sends the reprogrammed
SL9 to attack the Zone Riders while the Black Widows attack.
Dirk and Kat fire over the cattle, causing a stampede. Dirk
orders withdrawal and the Widows give chase, but are confronted
by the stampede.
Nearby, Tank plays possum while Ben jumps on and turns the
SL9's power off. Overlord launches Intruder as the Zone Riders
destroy the small Generator. When the go to destroy the Ultra
Generator, their blasts are absorbed by it harmlessly. Tank
decides to lasso a rock and then fire the rope at Intruder
which connects, dragging the boulder along, wrecking the Ultra
Generator. At home, Dr. Carson has been overworked and is
forced to take a rehabilitative vacation. As McFarland notes,
there will always be a need for Zone Riders.
Items
Noticed: Ned Tucker here uses an intricately well designed
backpack that becomes a personal helicopter. Judging by the
analogous pack that the Widows used earlier, these two must
have been intended to be toys.
Notes:
There is little reason to want to replace the Zone Riders
with the exception of the capture of their Neutron-90 suits
or the knowledge they possess, risks M.C.C. has been willing
to take up till now. Why not augment the Zone Riders with
an army of these robots? There's enough Zones to make it worthwhile.
What
do we learn? Emil Carson is a professor at CalTech and the
worlds foremost robotics expert, who invented the SL9 Zone
Rider Robot.
The
Zone Riders suits are Tendex suits, treated with Neutron-90.
It is unclear if Tendex is the material or manufacturer.
In
this episode, Intruder is shown to be able to turn its engines
90 degrees for VTOL capability (which was shown earlier without
engines turning).
Overlord
has his own attack plans in battle - the Spiral Pattern seems
analogous to some of Dirk's tactical playbook ideas.
Courage
orders a new battle pattern: Starburst.
Goof
ups: Previously it has been established that surveillance
in the zone is only possible through robot cameras. The idea
that they have a new satellite that can see through the Zone
would be a major advantage in the war. If this development
is true and not just a writing mistake, the Zone Riders have
gained a key advantage in taking down the Zone.
When
Franklin dives for cover from the SL9, his Zone Rider emblem
changes several times in size.
Quotable
Quotes: "That was a pretty good shot, Duchess…for
a woman." - Crook
"The perhaps some day you will be good enough to do it!"
- Duchess Dire
"Your mama was a toaster!" - Max to the SL9
|
