




episode written by Mark Edens and Steve Cuden
Quick summary: Nick Tyree, leader of the Australian
resistance, disobeys orders from Napier and the ExoFleet and proceeds
with an uprising throughout Australia. Able Squad and Napier go to
Australia to try to convince him to pull back before the Neo sapien
counterattack. Whether Tyree would have or not is moot, since Phaeton's
response arrives in short order. He unleashes new warriors, genetic mixes
of Neo sapiens and different predator species. The resistance forces that
are able withdraw to Canberra to make a stand there.
Significant events, revelations, and other
notes:
- It was possible for the Australian resistance alone, without support,
to overthrow Neo sapien rule in their own country.
- The Australian resistance seems well supplied. They have e-frames
(both ExoFleet and Neo converts), artillery, missile launchers, and
grenades. How much of this was stolen from the Neos, and how much was
supplied by the ExoFleet?
- Phaeton's attempts to use further genetic manipulation to win the war
was not limited to the creation of the Neo megas. Praetorius has also
created Neo warriors, which combine the genes of Neo sapiens with
different predator species. Improving the genetic line of warriors soon
takes precedence over improving the thinkers (due to events in "Night of
the Traitor").
- Each Neo warrior seems to be a mix of Neo sapien and only one other
species. Different types seem to be: crab (two types), scorpion, lizard
(one type in this episode), bat, and spider.
- An interesting question is how much control over regional operations
Napier and the ExoFleet each have. Do all operations need approval, and
how much is left to the discretion of the individual cell leaders. How do
the other local leaders react to orders?
- Did anything occur on Io (concurrent with events in "The Gathering"
and "The Embassy") between Napier and Tyree to cause the current
animosity and lack of trust? Napier didn't agree with Tyree's views,
perhaps his storming out of the meeting after verbally slamming Tyree's
plans was enough. Perhaps Napier's receiving his position as Head of
Earth Resistance because of this further miffed Tyree. But why did George
say Napier doesn't like Tyree being in charge in Australia? Did Napier
try to get Tyree replaced?
- Why was the Pirate ship able to decloak and change orbit without a
response from the Neo sapiens? Has the fleet been so crippled by their
losses to the Pirates ("Pirate's Ransom" and "Expendable") and at Venus
("Miracle")? Perhaps so, since at the next major fleet engagement ("The
Price of Courage") the Neos no longer have the upper hand.
Great Quotes:-
Torres reminds the squad, "These guys are supposed to be friendlies, use
minimum force, or... I'll kick your butts!"
Long Synopsis:
At the headquarters of the Chicago resistance Sean Napier is attempting
to transmit, repeating "The proposed action is not approved." Eve Hanley
criticizes the Australian resistance for operating too independently.
Napier places the blame on their leader, Nick Tyree, saying that he is
trying to prove "what a big man he is."
In Sydney, Australia, we hear the incoming message, and see Tyree pull
some wires out of the communications device, commenting, "Guess that old
radio's got wiring problems again." He comments that they're on their
own, and orders the timetable moved up so that the attack will proceed
that night.
Back at Napier's resistance headquarters, Sean waits outside. Soon J.T.
Marsh and Nara Burns land, and Napier approaches them. Marsh asks what
the problem is, and Napier tells him of Tyree's plan to attempt to
liberate Australia, which he thinks will begin in 48 hours. Nara comments
that they have no chance, for even if the initial attack succeeds, they
will not be able to stand against a Neo sapien counterattack. Marsh says
that the ExoFleet will be unable to support him, and that he'll be on his
own. Napier responds that he tried explaining these things, but Tyree
broke off communications. He leaves hops in Nara's frame and they leave,
in the hopes of being able to stop the attack.
The e-frames return to a cloaked Pirate ship in Earth orbit. Upon exiting
his frame, Marsh orders Torres to get the squad ready to go to the
surface, and she eagerly agrees. Marsh asks Hallas if he can put them in
a synchronous orbit above Australia, and Hallas replies in the
affirmative. Soon after the Cossack decloaks and thrusts above the Earth.
In an e-frame bay, Torres orders a weapons check, as Able Squad works on
their e-frames. Wolf Bronski is busy rummaging through the wiring in the
back of his e-frame, trying to catch a spider. Alec and Kaz stop their
work to watch, and Takagi remarks, "Itsy bitsy spider is scarin' the big,
bad Wolf." Bronski shouts, "I heard that, kid!" just before yelling
"Augh! It's on my neck! Augh! Ow!" as he falls out of his e-frame. As
Wolf declares that he hates spiders, DeLeon and Takagi do their best to
restrain their laughter, but do not entirely succeed. Bronski picks the
spider off of his neck and tosses it away.
On the bridge of the Cossack, Marsh, Marsala and Napier are examining a
tactical display of Australia. Marsala says that because Phaeton has
placed only units in the major cities and a few outposts in Australia,
Tyree's attack could succeed. Napier says it wouldn't do him any good,
since they would just get wiped out in a counterattack. Marsh asks what
he'll do if Tyree does disobey his orders, and Napier grins and says,
"I'll arrest him. I used to be a cop, you know." Hallas calls their
attention to the current map of Australia, and they notice explosions,
concluding that the attack is underway.
At one of those outpost, the rebels attack quickly and fiercely. They
first destroy the e-frame guarding the gate, and when another approaches
they hit the water tower, causing a quick flood that causes some
electrical problems. The finish him and cheer as they break into the
camp.
In a city a hydrofoil speeds past a dock, as Neo sapiens jump to try to
get on it, only a few succeeding. As the hydrofoil passes underneath a
bridge, some resistance members drop a barrel with a short timer onto the
hydrofoil, where it explodes.
In Canberra, a tattered Neo sapien flag blows in the breeze, as bombs
burst in the air. The Parliament House is coming under heavy attack from
the resistance, which has e-frames and mobile heavy weaponry. Nick Tyree
is leading the assault. Neo sapien guards succeed in doing them some
damage, but are severely outnumbered. The resistance members cheer as
they blast their way in. Tyree shoots down the Neo flag, and orders the
Australian one raised.
In Antarctica, Praetorius is receiving a transmission from Phaeton, who
is eager to teach the rebels a lesson. Praetorius is excited by the work
he has done, which was to combine Neo sapien DNA with that of nature's
most skilled predators to create powerful warriors for the Neo sapien
cause. As he speaks we see some of his creations in brood tubes.
Praetorius says that this new brood feels no pain, no fear, no pity, and
can heal nearly instantaneously. Phaeton is pleased, and says he will use
them, not to retake Australia, but to destroy it.
Aboard the Cossack, Napier has finally succeeded in contacting Tyree, who
says that with the exception of a few pockets of Neo holdouts that
Australia is under their control. As they talk we see the Australians
marching off Neo prisoners. When Napier accuses Tyree of ignoring orders,
Nick responds by saying they never received them. Napier orders him to be
at his headquarters for a meeting, and ends the conversation.
George tells Tyree that Napier doesn't like his being in charge of
Australia. As occasional explosions and weapons fire are heard in the
background, Tyree tells George to fortify Parliament House, and that it
will be their new command post. He knows that they're "not out of the
woods yet." He also tells George he will be back after meeting with
Napier, if he can. When George asks about the conditionality of the
statement, Tyree tells him he doesn't trust Napier. Tyree then takes off
in his e-frame.
In an e-frame bay on the Cossack, Napier says that Tyree can't be trusted
and so only he, accompanying Marsala, and J.T. will go to the surface.
Marsala asks if that is a good idea, since Tyree will have more support,
but Napier feels it best that only a few get caught in any trap. Marsh
orders Torres to hold the squad at high altitude until needed. Marsh
explains to Nara that Napier needs her seat, so she'll have to sit the
mission, and she understands, though is not happy. Able Squad takes off,
and Nara watches. Hallas thinks she wishes she were with them and she
agrees, saying that they are the only family she has left.
Marsh, Marsala, and Napier land in Sydney, where Tyree is waiting. Napier
jumps out, asking Tyree if he realizes what he's done. Tyree responds by
saying that he's freed Australia, and asks Napier what he's done
recently. Napier criticizes Tyree for putting the whole Australian
resistance at risk, but Tyree replies, "We signed up to fight, not wait
for ExoFleet to make up its mind about what to do." Napier says it won't
be a fight but rather a waste of their lives when the Neos come back.
Tyree says they can handle the Neos, and asks why Napier doesn't get the
ExoFleet to help them. He proposes letting them use Australia as a
beachhead for the retaking of Earth. Marsh tells him that there is not
enough time to organize such a large operation, even if it had a chance
of succeeding. Marsala states that they must all work together to win the
war, and Tyree shoots back, "You mean do what the ExoFleet tells us to
do!" Napier, barely restraining his anger, tells Tyree through clenched
teeth that he is ordering him to have the Australian resistance to return
to the mountains. Some members of the Australian resistance point their
guns at the three outsiders as Tyree tells them that no one gives him
orders in his own country.
High above Torres states that Marsh is late reporting in, and so they
will proceed downward. Tyree is giving orders regarding the three,
getting them sent to Canberra. Able Squad does a low flyby, causing Tyree
to duck. He orders them put on the hoverplane, and some of the resistance
begin shooting at Able Squad. Torres reminds the squad, "These guys are
supposed to be friendlies, use minimum force, or... I'll kick your
butts!" When Torres takes a hit, Bronski suggests she tell them. But a
few dispersion shots by the e-frames as well as Marsala, Marsh, and
Napier overcoming their guards, and Tyree is convinced, at gunpoint, to
call off his troops.
Napier tells Tyree that it is stupid for them to be fighting. Tyree
suggests they settle it man-to-man, but Napier says as if he not
expecting to be understood that he is not Tyree's enemy. Just then a
blast knocks them over. They all look up, and are shocked by what they
see coming out of the water: walking crab-like creatures, with a claw for
one hand and carrying a gun in what is a normal Neo sapien hand. Head,
claw, hand, six apparently nonfunctional crab legs, and knees are blue,
the rest, including shell, is purple.
All the resistance fighters fire at the oncoming Neo warriors, but they
are not slowed. One has two grenades explode in front of him but is
unfazed. Marsh tells Torres to move the squad out, and she does. Those on
foot begin to withdraw from their positions, as two Neo sapien hover
planes arrive. Out of one emerge creatures derived from a scorpion, with
two large claws for hands and a stinger tail, they are mostly green,
although the torso is yellow. From another come lizard creatures, who are
distinguished by a lizard's head and eyes (the cranial structure of the
other types of Neo warriors is only superficially different from the
typical Neo sapien) as well as a tail. They also have two-toed, clawed
feet, and seem to be especially agile.
Able Squad is busy trying to fight off the amphibious creatures (another
type of crab has appeared, but is only colored differently and has a claw
for its left hand instead), as is about to regroup because there are too
many. Just then a bat-like creature lands on the back of Bronski's e-
frame, sending it tumbling trough the air. Bronski yells for someone to
get it off, and Takagi blasts it. Both Bronski and the creature land in
the water.
Another similar creature attacks Torres in the same fashion, but she
loses it when they tumble through a billboard. The resistance continues
to fight, steadily giving up ground. We see one of them get grabbed by a
claw and carried back into the water. DeLeon gets attacked from behind by
a scorpion, and Weston picks it up. It proceeds to use its stinger to
shatter the windshield to her cockpit in two spots before she blasts it.
Alec gets seized from behind by one of the crabs, but Torres blasts it
out from under him.
More of the crabs are climbing out of the water. Takagi is shocked that
they're still coming, since the squad had used everything at their
disposal. Torres orders them to fall back. Bronski at the surface of the
water, has been seized by something with tentacles, and he is finally
able to blast it off.
Tyree is calling for reinforcements, but the voice on the other ends just
screams about monsters, as shouts are heard in the background. Napier
pulls him away from the radio as a scorpion lands there, and it is not
bothered when Napier shoots it, twice. It uses its stinger to destroy the
radio equipment.
Marsh and Marsala run into the building where their e-frames are being
kept. There they encounter some of the lizards. When Marsh dives behind
some chairs, but one spits at them , liquefying that portion of the
chair. Another leaps in front of Marsala and pauses. This may be an
indication that these Neo warriors have been either trained or bred with
a respect for Neo sapiens, as Marsala is one. After the two stare at each
other for a short while, Marsala shoots it. Another approaches, but is
hit by a missile fired from a launcher by a rebel.
Napier tells them that the attack is all over Australia, and when Tyree
comes in he apologizes to them. Napier says they need to retreat and
coordinate a defense. Tyree suggests Parliament House in Canberra. They
quickly run to their e-frames and take off as more of the lizards
approach. Marsh transmits to Torres, telling her to delay the Neos so the
resistance can pull out and then rendezvous at Canberra.
Able Squad lands on a bridge over the river, and are being attack from
all sides: both ends of the bridge, and the sides by crabs climbing up
and spider creatures (mostly orange with purple, having six spider legs
and two Neo arms) climbing down. Bronski reiterates his hate for spiders,
and though he is able to blast a few, another is able to launch a fluid
that sticks to him. It then drags him and ties him up with this webbing.
Weston blasts it away, and is able to free him.
Torres begins shooting at the bridges suspension cables, ordering the
squad to do the same. After taking out most of them they take off, and
the bridge crumbles. There is urgency in her voice as she instructs them
to get past the mountains.
At Parliament House, George reports that the Neo creatures are attacking
everywhere on Australia. Napier wants a retreat and Tyree agrees. Marsh
asks Marsala what Phaeton has done. Marsala says that it is theoretically
possible to combine genes from different species, and that it would be a
great advantage to have soldiers that didn't need weapons, training, or
support.
Marsh contacts Torres and tells her that Canberra will be evacuated once
Tyree's field commanders can be reached. He tells her to stay where she
is, which is apparently a farm. She asks him to hurry it up. Outside
Parliament House some of the lizard Neos can be seen.
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