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by Joel Hoekstra
WARNING:
This is an attempt at a blanket response to emails regarding: "Why is character X missing from episode X and when are they coming back?" Story Arc episodes deemed "crucial" to understanding the overall plot of the series (at least by Mr. Hook) are highlighted in *GREEN*. The rest are written in BLUE, but just because characters aren't coming or going in a particular episode does not necessarily reflect on the quality of that episode. For more in-depth episode evaluations, click on the "Critique" links in the far left column.
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* Episode 1: "Freefall" Pluto: Day 1 *
Pilot Episode. "Razak's Roughnecks" introduced: Razak, Brutto, Doc, Gossard, Rico, Dizzy, Carl, Higgins. Skymarshal Sanchez can be seen on a large video screen rallying the troops. Rico glimpses Carmen from afar, but we don't really find out who she is until Episode 2.
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* Episode 2: "Plasma Bugs Of Navarone" Pluto: Day 4 *
First appearence of Carmen (Rico's love interest) and Zander (Carmen's flight instructor).
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Episode 3: "Handle With Care" Pluto: Day 9
First appearence of Lt. Walker and Blue Leader of Intel.
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Episode 4: "Basic Training" Pluto: Day 10
Higgins learns how to use a gun under Rico's supervision.
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* Episode 5: "Deep Trouble" Pluto: Day 13 *
First sighting of Transport Bug, beginning of first Interstellar Bug War. It is revealed that Dizzy lied on her admissions exam about her claustrophobia.
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Episode 6: "Water, Water Everywhere" Hydora: Day 1
Carl gets a telepathic message from the Bugs stating their intent to wipe out mankind. It is determined that Hydora is not the Bug's homeworld.
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Episode 7: "Swarm" Hydora: Day 28
Introduction of Lt. Bernstein of Zebra Squad. Carmen is stranded on Hydora and fights along side the Roughnecks.
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Episode 8: "Search & Destroy" Hydora: Day 30
First sighting of Rippler Bug nest, complete with Momma Rippler.
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Episode 9: "Missing In Action" Hydora: Day 40
Rico comes to Dizzy's rescue, twice.
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* Episode 10: "Sole Survivor" Hydora: Day 112 *
First sighting of Brain Bug. Carl hits it with a "mind bomb" which proves detrimental to his health, a fact he tries to hide from the rest of the squad.
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* Episode 11: "Betrayal" Tophet: Day 1 *
First encouter with an alien race Brutto dubs as "Skinnies." First appearence of Colonel T'Phai. At first the Skinnies seem friendly, but later their allegiance to the Bugs becomes obvious when they orchestrate an ambush against the SICON landing party.
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Episode 12: "Stranded" Tophet: Day 19
Higgins and Razak start to form a bond.
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Episode 13: "Of Flesh And Steel" Tophet: Day 27
Robotic C.H.A.S. unit joins the Roughnecks but later sacrifices itself to save the squad.
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Episode 14: "Captured" Tophet: Day 83
Carl's mental health deteriorates. First appearence of Sparky. (Coincidence? I think not :-)
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* Episode 15: "The Face Of Truth" Tophet: Day 89 *
Carl burns a mental fuse defending himself against a Control Bug and is shipped off to a medical asteriod. T'Phai is partially responsible for preventing the Roughnecks from neutralizing the Control Bug threat (first appearence of Control Bugs).
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* Episode 16: "No Substitue" Tesca Nemerosa: Day 6 *
The Skinnies join SICON forces against the Bugs. Colonel T'Phai is teamed up with the Roughnecks over Razak's objections to General Redwing (Miriam Redwing's first appearence).
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Episode 17: "...And Then There Were Two" Tesca Nemerosa: Day 23
Rico finally warms up to T'Phai after the Skinnie helps rescue the squad from a giant spider bug. We find out that Brutto has a son named Max.
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Episode 18: "Marauder" Tesca Nemerosa: Day 45
Gossard is injured by a spider bug and must wear an eye patch (which means he can no longer pilot the Marauder Suit). Rico pilots the Marauder instead and is seriously injured shortly after the suit runs out of juice.
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* Episode 19: "Liquid Dreams" Tesca Nemerosa: Day 48 *
Rico has a series of flashbacks to boot camp while sealed inside a liquid healing tank. We glimpse what life was like for Rico, Dizzy and Carl before they joined the Mobile Infantry. First appearence of Drill Sgt. Zim and Dr. Sharaabi (often referred to as Dr. Booty on the R:STC fourms).
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Episode 20: "Heart" Tesca Nemerosa: Day 61
Rico's erratic behavior during his recovery ultimately saves the day from a Control Bug invasion (despite Sharaabi's plan to give him a "Section 8" and have his mind wiped). Gossard no longer wears the eye patch.
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* Episode 21: "Ice-Olation" Ice Asteroid: Day 1 *
Zander contracts a Firefry spore infection on planet Karvok. Carmen and Rico bond further when they are trapped in an avalanche.
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Episode 22: "Mixed Signals" Ice Asteroid: Day 2
It is discovered that the leeches native to the asteroid are the primary source for Toxin B3, a leathal poison to Bugs.
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Episode 23: "Hot Ice" Ice Asteroid: Day 3
Zander is captured by Firefries and is the only trooper found alive aboard the downed Sequoia science vessel when the Roughnecks come to his rescue.
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* Episode 24: "The Inside Story" Ice Asteroid: Day 4 *
It is discovered that the Ice Asteroid is actually a large organic entity of some kind. Rico is promoted to Corporal.
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Episode 25: "The Ice Men Goeth" Ice Asteroid: Day 5
The Roughnecks finally escape the asteroid and destroy it with their ship's self destruct mechanism.
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* Episode 26: "Metamorphosis" Klendathu: Day 1 *
Zander mutates into Zander Bug and tries to sabotage the Valley Forge. Brutto is severely injured by a killer door and is sent back to Earth to recouperate.
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Episode 27: "D-Day" Klendathu: Day 4
Dizzy finds out that her brother is MIA. Rico is promoted to Seargant to fill Brutto's shoes.
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* Episode 28: "The Mission" Klendathu: Day 34 *
First appearence of Imposter Bugs, perhaps genetically engineered by Zander Bug himself. Dizzy inspires Zander Bug to remember his humanity and he attacks the Imposters. Zander Bug is presumably killed in a rock slide while allowing the Roughnecks to escape.
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Episode 29: "Letters Home" Klendathu: Day 134
The Roughnecks video-tape "letters" home to their loved ones, particularly T'Phai, Gossard, and Carmen.
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* Episode 30: "Checkmate" Klendathu: Day 181 *
CARL RETURNS with a new attitude and highly enhanced telekenetic powers. First appearence of the Bug Queen. First time the Roughnecks meet Skymarshal Sanchez face to face. Queen Bug escapes and heads toward Earth.
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* Episode 31: "Trackers" Earth: Day 1 *
It appears the Roughnecks are victorious in destroying the Bug Queen, but Carl suspects otherwise.
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Episode 32: "Among Us" Earth: Day 2
Everyone thinks the Bug War is finally over, everyone except for Carl. Carl is right.
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Episode 33: "Hide N' Seek" Earth: Day ?
Rico professes his love for Dizzy.
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* Episode 34: "Requiem" Earth: Day 210 *
Skymarhshal Sanchez gives Razak and Lt. Walker 12 hours to elimate the Bug threat before SICON nukes San Fansisco to prevent a Bug infestation. Razak is killed by a giant Rhino Bug.
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* Episode 35: "Funeral For A Friend" Earth: Day 211 *
BRUTTO RETURNS, even though paralyzed and stuck in a hover-chair, he still manages to help rescue General Redwing and Higgins from Bug captivity. Redwing promotes Sgt. Rico to Lt. and puts him in charge of the Roughnecks.
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* Episode 36: "Spirits Of The Departed" Earth: Day 213 *
Pvt. Max Bruto and Drill Sgt. Charlie Zim join the Roughnecks - "Rico's Roughnecks."
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Clip Show #1: "Pluto And Beyond" (Prod. # 141)
Of no consequence whatsoever. |
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Clip Show #2: "Propaganda Machine" (Prod. # 142)
Sympathy builder for Higgins.
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Clip Show #3: "Marooned" (Prod. # 143)
Of no consequence whatsoever.
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Clip Show #4: "Court-martial of Lt. Razak" (Prod. # 144)
Lt. Razak lets Lt. Walker of Intel know what's what.
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And now for some Useless Trivia: the unbearably cutesy "Sparky" first appears in episode 114 "Caputred" and helps the Roughenecks escape from Skinnie-ville prison. There are at least 3 confirmed cameo appearances of Sparky throughout the series:
Sparky Cameos: Episode 129: "Letters Home" - Sparky can be seen scampering in the background during T'Phai's flashback while he is pushing his children in a swing. Episode 130: "Checkmate" - Sparky makes a split second appearence at the troopers' feet while they are heading for their drop tubes and the intercom voice says: "Drop in T minus 15 seconds..." Episode 135: "Requiem" - As Razak and Walker are about to be briefed by Skymarshal Sanchez, Sparky can be glimpsed running in a glorified hamster wheel on the far left side of the screen as Walker enters the briefing room and sits down. Sparky's Nemerosan Cousin: Episode 117: "And Then There Were Two" - A purple squirrel-monkey-like-critter skitters down a tree branch shortly after Rico and T'Phai start following the trail of web fluff in the jungles of Tesca Nemerosa. According to inside sources at Foundation Imaging, this is technically NOT a Sparky cameo, but a completely different species created specifically for the Nemerosa campaign. (Dagnabit! Them varmits is everywhere!) Episode 129: "Letters Home" - The photograph which goes up in flames at the very end of the episode has a couple of Sparky's Nemerosan Cousins in the background.
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