The End of Earth | |
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Directed by |
Michio Mikami |
Produced by | |
Written by | |
Air Date (JP) |
March 21, 1981 |
Air Date (UK) |
April 9, 1983 |
Previous episode | |
Next episode |
The End of Earth, originally titled in Japan as Earth in Desperation! (地球絶体絶命! chikyū zettaizetsumei!) is the twenty-fourth (twinty-third in English) episode of Star Fleet. It aired on March 21, 1981 on Fuji TV in Japan and April 9, 1983 on ITV in the UK.
Plot Summary[]
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. |
X-Bomber is surrounded by a glowing energy field which Lamia's emerging powers have created, while the crew seem to wonder what's going on, PPA seems to understand. Lamia's changes are clearly accelerating as starts suffering from severe headaches, Professor Hagen attempts to help Lamia with the pain she is experiencing.
On the Imperial Master's Planet, the Executive Officers report to the Imperial Master that they will reach Earth a few days before the New Year and that X-Bomber is far behind them despite traveling at twice-hyperspeed. Back at Star Fleet Command, Earth Defence Forces detect the Imperial Home Planet and speculate it to be a UFO. General Kyle asks if they have managed to make contact with X-Bomber yet. Number Two has no hope, believing X-Bomber and its crew to have died as they've been gone for months, though General Kyle is not as pessimistic.
Meanwhile, on X-Bomber, Lee attempts to contact Star Fleet Command as well, but fails to make a connection. Due to X-Bomber sacrificing navigational precision for speed without the computers, they are unable to get a radar fix on the Alliance. Suddenly, more glowing energy fields appear and Lamia flees the bridge as another headache begins. Lamia appears before the Imperial Master in astral form, commanding the Master stop his planet and abandon his quest for dominance. The Master refuses and vows to destroy her, after banishing her, Lamia passes out back on X-Bomber.
The Imperial Master now vows to destroy X-Bomber and F-01, if he cannot harness Lamia's powers, then she must die. The Imperial Fortress fire torpedoes at the closing X-Bomber. Shiro is unable to watch Lamia suffer as she does, Professor Hagen outlines the fact that Lamia's changes are being brought about by a planetary conjunction.
Just then, X-Bomber detects the torpedoes which home in on the ship; X-Bomber takes evasive action but the torpedoes turn with them. Hercules opens fire on them with the laser turrets, though there are too many for him to hit and Hercules gets knocked out of the gunners chair. X-Bomber is saved when Captain Halley in the Skull arrives and destroys the remaining laser torpedoes.
The Imperial Master is informed of this failure and he retaliates by launching the electric solar energy net, which will slow them down further. X-Bomber continues to attempt contact with EDF. Back on Earth, Star Fleet Command are attempting to contact the UFO, but the Imperial Master is maintaining radio silence. Attempts to contact X-Bomber are also in vein.
The electric space net approaches X-Bomber, ensnaring in the net and causing the electrical systems to go completely haywire and causing P.P.A. to malfunction. Captain Halley attempts to assist X-Bomber by laser blasting the nets off and towing X-Bomber, but attempts fail. The Imperial Master's planet enters Earths orbit, and contacts Star Fleet Command, taunting General Kyle and demanding that they surrender. Earth Defense Forces goes on red alert to launch an immediate attack, while the Imperial Fortress fires torpedoes.
X-Bomber finally manages to free itself from the energy net by temporarily regaining computer control and raising its shields before resuming course for Earth. Back on Earth, the torpedoes destroy eight defense stations and fifty fighters. General Kyle refuses to surrender and is defiant, The Imperial Master tells them they will be annihilated. Under heavy attack, Earth struggles to scramble its astrofighters to attack, but they are destroyed by the Imperial Master's Planet Fortress' point defense lasers.
General Kyle and Earth Defence Forces finally gets through to the X-Bomber crew, and are updated on the status of the attack. Shiro tells General Kyle that Lamia is F-01 and that Dr. Benn has been killed, but with one piece of good news; the return of Professor Hagen. General Kyle urges them to make all speed to Earth as the Imperial Master decimates their defenses, promising to make Earth burn.
Quotes[]
- The Imperial Master - "You know my purpose, General! I come as your saviour!"
- General Kyle - "You mean our conqueror."
- Captain Halley - "You are safe, Shiro. I'm sorry I was unable to help."
- John Lee - "Hey! I'm in touch with Star Fleet Command! On the screen!"
- General Kyle - "X-Bomber at last! Are you all safe?"
- Barry Hercules - “Sir, you bet we are!”
- Professor Hagen - "General Kyle."
- General Kyle - "What?! Professor Hagen?! I'm glad to see you! We'll talk later, meanwhile you must make all speed to us, X-Bomber!"
Voice Cast[]
Main Cast[]
Secondary Cast[]
Character | Japanese Voice | English Voice | French Voice |
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Termoids | Masaharu Satō | Jacob Witkin | Marc François |
Imperial Councilman 1 | Kenichi Ogata | John Baddeley | |
Imperial Councilman 2 | Masaharu Satō | Jacob Witkin | Christian Alers |
Communications Officer 1 | Naoki Tatsuta | Garrick Hagon | Frédéric Pieretti |
Communications Officer 2 | Masaharu Satō | Mark Rolston | Aurélia Bruno |
EDF Officer | Naoki Tatsuta | Marc François | |
Skull Crewman | Masaharu Satō | Jacob Witkin | Christian Alers |
Computer Room Operator | Kenichi Ogata | Sean Barrett | Marc François |
Equipment Used[]
Earth Defence Forces[]
- X-Bomber
- Ocean Fleet Astrofighters
Imperial Alliance[]
- Imperial Fortress Planet
Other[]
Trivia[]
- Stock footage from Find F-01 is used.
- This episode marks the first appearance of General Kyle and Star Fleet Command since Episode 6.
- Music from the Japanese soundtrack is clearly audible when the electric solar net is launched from the Imperial Fortress. It is also audible when Captain Halley pushes his communication screen button when X-Bomber is tangled in the electric net.
- After The Imperial Master proclaims "People of the Earth, I warn you! I Am Your Doom!" there is a long freeze frame on the Imperial Master. This is due to the fact that in the Japanese version, this is where the episode title would appear. Since the English dub didn't use episode titles, it was left blank. Even so, this occurs in Episodes 16 and 24 but are cut in the English version.