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D12: Warlord

Synopsis: By John Bensalhia

With Zondor the latest planet to succumb to the Federation’s pacification and control programme, Avon has called a conference of planetary delegates to defeat the Federation. In order to overpower the Pylene 50 drug, three quarters of the delegates can provide the equipment, while the raw material can be provided by notorious warlord and president of Betafarl, Zukan.

Despite having harboured territorial ambitions against the other delegates, Zukan insists that he is here in good faith. He shows the others that he has brought technicians and equipment to help produce the toxin. The delegates agree to the alliance.

However, Zukan is not the only family member to arrive at Xenon Base. His daughter Zeeona has stowed away on the freighter to meet up with Tarrant again after the two struck up a very close friendship when Tarrant and Avon visited Betafarl to pitch for the conference.

Zukan is to stay on Betafarl till the next day when the equipment has been installed. This includes a neutron bombarder that, in theory, should provide no risk of radiation. As for the freighting of the raw material, Zukan leaves this to Avon, who orders a disgruntled Tarrant to collect it first thing.

However, Zukan has secretly installed a canister in the bombarder. While doing so, he learns that his daughter is on the base too. Furious, he orders Avon to replace Tarrant as the pickup pilot, and to take Zeeona back to Betafarl.

Avon and Soolin leave for Betafarl, but Soolin secretly teleports Zeeona back to base, much to Avon’s chagrin. A delighted Zeeona reunites with Tarrant as a distracted Zukan leaves the base.

Orac informs the relaxing crewmembers that a bomb has been planted in the base teleport bay. As Tarrant investigates, a series of explosions runs throughout the base in all the entrances and exits. What’s worse, an airborne virus is spreading through the base, killing the Betafarl technicians and melting their flesh to leave just skeletons. Tarrant switches the life support systems off, but with about four days to dig their way out and only 20 hours of fresh air left, death seems inevitable.

Avon and Soolin have reached Betafarl, but there is no crop – only guards in a trap left by Zukan. Soolin pretends to be Zeeona, allowing herself and Avon to overpower their captors and leave again in Scorpio.

Zukan and his assistant Finn  have met with Servalan, where Zukan tells her of what has happened. As she leaves Zukan’s ship, she secretly places a bomb on the airlock wall. Finn later notices this, and Zukan orders him to remove it. Zukan traps Finn in the airlock, and jettisons both Finn (who is killed by explosive decompression) and the bomb, which still causes an explosion on his ship.

Tarrant has sealed himself and the others in the communication room after the radioactive airborne virus Paraflame 5 has started to make its way through the debris. Zeeona has worked out that her father is responsible for the damage and deaths, much to a drunken Vila’s disgust. As Tarrant nearly punches Vila (who has been chiding Zeeona), Avon’s voice comes through on the intercom.

As Avon talks to the stranded crewmembers, Zukan transmits to Scorpio as his ship spins out of control. He promises Avon that he will tell how to save the others if he is rescued. Avon replies that there isn’t enough time, as a horrified Zukan hears Zeeona’s voice. Avon tells Tarrant to reverse the air flow to allow fresh air to come in against the contamination. As Tarrant does this successfully, Zukan’s ship explodes, killing the duplicitous warlord.

Back on board the Scorpio, Zeeona ‘volunteers’ to teleport back to Xenon base to reverse the process on the bombarder and get rid of the contamination. Wearing a protective suit, Zeeona lands on the base and starts work. As time passes, Avon fails to make contact with Zeeona. A panic-stricken Tarrant teleports down to base with Dayna to find Zeeona.

However, he is too late. Although the base is clear of radiation, Zeeona hasn’t been so lucky. All that’s left of her is a skeleton, after her flesh has been eaten by the virus. A distraught Tarrant is told by Dayna that she had taken her protective glove off, leaving her susceptible to the radiation.

Cast

Roj Blake - Gareth Thomas
Jenna Stannis - Sally Knyvette 
Vila Restal - Michael Keating 

Guest Stars: Roy Boyd (as Zukan), Bobbie Brown (as Zeeona), Dean Harris (as Finn), Simon Merrick (as Boorva), Rick James (as Chalsa), Charles Augins (as Lod), Brian Spink (as Mida) 

Credits

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Episode Information

Originally Broadcast:  on BBC1
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| Series 4 | |

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