Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

About 25 seconds. We have complete clearance for launch.

- We are go. Twenty. - Ten, nine, eight...

- seven, six, five... - Ignition sequence starts...

Four, three, two, one, zero.

In the year 1987, at the John F. Kennedy Space Center...

NASA launched the last of America's deep space probes.

The payload perched on the nose cone of the massive rocket...

was a one man exploration vessel. Ranger 3.

On board this compact starship a lone astronaut...

Captain William "Buck" Rogers...

was to experience cosmic forces beyond all comprehension.

An awesome brush with death.

In the wink of an eye, his life support system were frozen by...

temperatures beyond imagination.

Ranger 3 was blown out of its planned trajectory...

into an orbit a thousand times more vast.

An orbit which was to return the ship full circle to its point of origin.

It's Mother Earth...

not in five months, but in 500 years.

For 500 years, Buck Rogers drifted through a world in which...

reality and fantasy merged into a timeless dream.

Alert! Alert! Incoming hostile ship.

Clear all launch channels for attack.

Wait!

There's something about the ship. I've not seen anything like it.

Prepare to take in in tow.

Envelop alien ship in force field...

and prepare her for boarding the Draconia.

- Neurosystems transport. - In transport.

Begin heart-lung procedure.

- Dilute a minor pressure agent. - Transmitting.

Increase diogen and crystalline in proportion.

Heart-lung response up on 0.2 and increasing.

We're starting to receive positive neurological signals.

He's alive.

Enter.

And what about our intruder is so important, it could not wait, Kane?

The man lives. I'm not sure why.

You're not sure why. Is this a puzzle for me to decipher?

The puzzle is for me to decipher.

The ship is antiquated... unlike anything I've seen in the star system...

or outside of history books for that matter.

Kane, please.

He was frozen in a combination of gases.

Oxygen, cryogen, ozone, metalon.

Almost a perfect balance.

Were these techniques use throughout the galaxy for terminal illness and disease.

Yes, today.

However, there is another matter. The man's ship.

Kane, you have one more minute.

His instrumentation was stopped...

frozen solid in the year 1987.

- Are you telling me...? - That the man may be 500 years old.

- You're serious? - Yes.

Frozen by elements so instantaneous and perfect...

that he is fully preserved and living.

It's a fascinating thought.

- Preserved young or preserved old? - Very young.

Any defects from the ordeal?

Fortunately for him, we're quite advanced in cryogenics.

Well, I've never met a 500 year old man. Prepare him for an audience.

I'm afraid he's liable to be not too coherent.

I'll make allowances.

- Where I am? - We ask the questions.

Who are you?

Captain Buck Rogers, United States Air Force.

- Who are you? - What did he say?

Something about a United States.

Captain, what is your destination?

- What is it? - My head.

- Could I get an aspirin? - What does he mean?

Probably some kind of anti-pain drug.

Give him something for his discomfort.

What is this place?

Where am I?

Who are you?

You're aboard the King's flagship Draconia...

under command of the Royal Princess Ardala.

- Who? - Where are you from.?

No. Wait, wait, wait. Slow down.

What was that about a ship?

One of the king's fortresses on its way to Earth on a peace mission.

On its way to Earth?

You mean you guys aren't from...?

I mean, we're not...

We're not on Earth?

I'm definitely going to need that aspirin.

- Give it to him. - Wait a second.

Oh!

Captain.

Bear in mind that you're a captive...

of a dynasty that has conquered 3/4 of the universe.

You will answer carefully if you value your life.

Are you a real life princess?

I think we've given our captain a little too much medication.

No, no, I feel great.

The United States of America...

It was an empire on the planet Earth some centuries ago.

Those royal tutors gave you your money's worth.

Well, you're from Earth, Kane. You should know better than I.

The United States had perished almost 500 years ago.

Well, that would account for his spacecraft, his clothes, the instruments.

I have a better explanation. I think he's a very clever plant...

from the Federal Directorate of Earth.

- A plant? - Yes.

A spy placed in our path by their military.

They wouldn't dare. We come as a royal envoy from my father's kingdom.

I am fully aware of your father's stated purpose.

The guarantee trade between Earth and the Draconian dynasty.

What possible reason could they have in placing a spy on board?

To search our ship.

- To see if we're armed. - I see.

- We couldn't allow that, could we? - No.

Then I'm to assume that I may dispose of Captain Rogers as I see fit.

How you handle security is your prerogative.

Come on, Tiger Man.

What a layout! Wow!

- And how are we this morning? - Terrific.

Hey! That's a coincidence. I got a ship just like this.

Disconnect the medication.

Oh, don't do that. I really love it.

- You'll be on your way very shortly. - Great. Where are we going?

- You're going home. - Great. Where is that?

- On Earth. - Oh, right!

Your ship has been serviced and reprogrammed to take you home.

- I sure you must be anxious. - Oh, yeah.

Seems like I haven't been there in weeks.

Oh. Oh.

I must be having a great time with you guys.

You know I'm going to miss you. Hey! I got a great idea.

Why don't we all go down there together?

You go on ahead. We'll be along in a few days.

Not if I wake up.

Bye bye. Oh, am I dreaming this?

Boy, they're going to be surprised back in Houston when I come back with this story.

Battery.

Prepare to launch the alien vessel.

Five seconds to launch. Four...

three two...

one. Launch.

It's given us the perfect opportunity to test the Earth's defense shield.

What do you mean test it?

We know that anyone entering the earth surface...

without a clearance is immediately incinerated.

But if our captain is a spy, as I believe...

they will escort him through the shield...

along the narrow channel only known to their military.

Well, how can this help us?

I've hidden a micro-transmitter aboard Captain Rogers' ship...

which will send back the equivalent of a guide map.

When we give the signal...

that guide map will be used by your father's attack forces...

to pour through their defense shield.

What if our Captain Rogers is not a spy?

Then, he will burn.

I see.

You don't look very pleased.

Of course I'm pleased.

It's just that I have this strange feeling I'm going to see Captain Rogers again.

Air control 1 to vessel Able, Baker 4.

Approach inner city a further 3/4. Over.

What is your current positioning and fuel supply?

Confirmed.

This is Tartalia near the air control Long. We are approximately...

They do things... they don't do, oh no...

Houston Control, this is Flight 711.

Come in, Houston Control.

Put down your cards and your backgammon boards.

Lucky Buck is back.

Ah... Sir. Super?

Super on. What station is this?

Delta sector, sir. You don't hear from me very often.

Yes, yes Delta sector?

My scanners monitor the low frequency direct communication band.

I'm picking up some voices or something.

I'm sure you're picking up pirate or maraudic chatter.

Nothing to be alarmed about.

Probably echoes from last night's attack on our freighters.

Those signals will be bouncing around all week.

Yes sir. I mean, no sir. This isn't an echo, sir.

It's a voice. A strong voice. It's singing.

- Singing? - Yes.

- Delta sector, did you say "singing"? - Yes.

Operational control, this is Supervisor 14 on the floor.

Feed me to Delta sector.

Come in, Houston Control. Come in.

Houston Control, this is Flight 711.

Come on you guys. You read me? Give me some instructions.

I'm on final reentry.

Come in, Houston Control. Houston Control, do you read me?

Hey! Come on you turkeys, get off your duff and give me some info.

It's practically a foreign language.

Maybe some kind of joke?

It's heading directly to the defense shield. Get me Intercept.

Intercept squadron on the line, please.

Colonel Deering. What are the coordinates?

Right. We're targeting the shield 100 miles till we verify the craft.

Alert, Intercept airborned. Position of alien craft.

- Very odd. - What's odd?

The target seems to be moving unusually slow