Not long after military forces from Earth think they've defeated an alien Bug infestation on Pluto, the insects return and threaten our scientific outposts. Mobile Infantry forces are sent back to Pluto forwhat is believed to be a little mop-up mission. Rookie Troopers Johnny Rico, Dizzy Flores and Carl Jenkins make their first military drop with "Razak's Roughnecks," an M.I. squad let by Lt. Razak, a legendary soldier known for his heroism. Shortly after they arrive, the Roughnecks discover that this is not just a simple "hit and run" mission ... but the first battle of what's to become the First Interstellar War.

Carmen and Zander are trapped in a scientific research outpost on Pluto when their Retrieval ship is shot down by Plasma Bugs. Razak's Roughnecks pick up a distress call from Carmen, and set out to locate the Plasma Bug Cave and destroy the insects. Rico is driven by the need to be Carmen's rescuer, risking his own life and the safety of his squad ... but when the mission is over, Carmen is unaware that Rico is ultimately responsible for her rescue.

S.I.C.O.N. decides to send the Roughnecks on a special mission: bring back a live Plasma Bug from behind enemy lines. Along with an uptight Ivy-league Intelligence officer named Lieutenant Earle Walker, the Roughnecks must transport the bug through rough terrain; meanwhile, plasma reserves have reached critical mass inside the bug, and any impact could cause it to explode. Lt. Razak is forced to take orders from the ego-driven Walker, who is willing to risk lives for the sake of this bug. This causes Rico to question whether Razak has lost his nerve or his pride. In the end, despite Walker's threats, Razak decides to save losing M.I. forces on Pluto by bombing the enemy with the Plasma Bug. And Rico learns a valuable lesson about putting duty over ego.

When Higgins' actions during battle compromise the safety of the Roughnecks, Lt. Razak wants to have him shipped back to Earth. But after Rico stands up for him, Lt. Razak comes up with another plan -- Rico will train Higgins and turn him into an efficient solider. Easier said than done, however. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks must rescue a Demolition Squad trapped in a canyon by a Warrior Bug ambush. But when they arrive, the Roughnecks suddenly come under attack by a bug no one's seen before -- the flying hopper, armed with a razor-sharp stinger. Laser weapons don't seem to work on these bugs, and eventually the Roughnecks discover the Hoppers actually absorb the laser energy, growing stronger.

The Roughnecks are one of several squads sent beneath the surface of the planet to locate the source of the bug army, dubbed "Bug City," and call in an airstrike. The Roughnecks travel deep into bug tunnels, and Dizzy winds up suffering from extreme claustrophobia, which puts the entire squad at risk during numerous bug attacks. Eventually, Carl places a hypnotic suggestion in Dizzy's subconscious, curing her of her phobia. The Roughnecks finally emerge back on the surface of Pluto, inside a massive asteroid crater filled with bug eggs that have already hatched. Then, the Roughnecks witness the arrival of a Transport Bug, which lays more eggs and drops off hundreds of adult Bugs -- leading to the revelation that the Bugs are not native to Pluto, and the S.I.C.O.N. forces are no longer facing a simple infestation, but a full-fledged war.

The Transport Bug spotted dropping eggs and bugs onto Pluto is tracked to a previously undiscovered planet, which is named Hydora. S.I.C.O.N. orders The Roughnecks to watch the Transport and see if it has returned to the Bugs' Home Planet...or if Hydora is some kind of Grand Central Bug Station. When a new type of bug known as Ripplers exit the Transport, Razak, Dizzy and Brutto follow the new arrivals; the rest of the squad conducts surveillance on the Transport Bug. When this surveillance group comes under attack by Ripplers, Doc and Gossard get stranded on the side of a cliff ... Rico, Carl and Higgins get trapped inside the Transport Bug. As they try to get out of the Transport, Carl receives a psychic message from the Bugs. Eventually, the Roughnecks regroup and report to S.I.C.O.N. that this is not the Bugs' Home Planet. Then Carl reveals the message he received inside the Transport - the Bugs want them to know that they won't stop until every human being, everywhere, is destroyed.

Carmen is stranded on Hydora while rescuing Troopers injured in a fierce Bug battle. She teams up with Lt. Bernstein, the commander of Zebra squad, now in charge of a makeshift group of Troopers from several different squads. When they become trapped by a new aggressive strain of Ripplers known as "Kamikazes," Razak's Roughnecks come to the rescue. Word comes from S.I.C.O.N. command that these Kamikaze Ripplers are swarming across the planet, preventing supplies and reinforcements from getting in. Bernstein and his men, and Razak's Roughnecks take part in a two-pronged battle plan -- eliminating the Kamikazes from underground hide-outs, and driving the remainder up top, where Snipers are waiting to take them out. Meanwhile, Rico is surprised to see Carmen ... and risks his life and every one else's to try and impress her.

The Roughnecks are sent into enemy territory to search for a Rippler nest and destroy it. Razak decides to split the Roughnecks into two groups - Brutto is put in charge of one group, consisting of Rico, Carl, Higgins and Doc; while Razak takes Dizzy and Gossard. Brutto's group faces massive enemy threats along the way, and Carl is severely injured. Rico and Doc want Brutto to break radio silence and notify Razak about Carl, but Brutto refuses. Then, their boat winds up destroyed in a whirlpool. Everybody survives, surfacing in a grotto where they're picked up by Razak. Rico and Brutto come to blows over not contacting Razak -- but the argument is cut short when the Roughnecks finally discover the massive egg sacks, and Adult Ripplers arrive to defend the babies. Rico saves Brutto's life ... and eventually, the squad must blow up the grotto with a huge explosion -- which they must outrun in order to live. Later, because Rico and Brutto have bonded, Rico covers for Brutto. Razak is skeptical ... but lets it drop.

The Roughnecks are sent down to Hydora to find two squads that have vanished into thin air. On the way, Rico and Dizzy bicker when he criticizes her for taking too many risks. During the search and rescue operation, Dizzy races off on her own to battle Water Tigers -- large amphibious beetles with giant pincers -- and Rico turns his back on her for a split second. Dizzy also disappears, and Rico is devastated, blaming himself. The Roughnecks eventually track Dizzy and the other missing troopers to the Water Tigers' lair, where the MIA's have been entombed in hive chambers. Dizzy and the others are rescued, revived with an anti-venom, and everyone races to get out of the underground lair, with Water Tigers giving chase. Razak eventually nukes the place...and Rico, who has been going overboard trying to take care of Dizzy, is eventually told by her to knock it off -- she likes him better as a jerk.

The Roughnecks discover Lt. Ross, commander of Delta Squad, wandering on Hydora, his long-term memory wiped out, and his entire squad missing. The Roughnecks are sent on an investigative mission to discover what happened to Ross and his men, while Carl is told to perform a mindscan on Ross, unlocking his repressed memories. Rico has a problem with Carl invading a man's mind, and tells Carl that if he's ever in trouble, to stay out of his head. On Hydora, the Roughnecks wind up captured by Warrior Bugs and taken to a cavern, where the Brain Bug that controls the entire planet plans to mind probe the entire squad, starting with Rico. Back on the Valley Forge, Carl discovers this is what happened to Ross and his men. He tries to send Rico a psychic warning, but it is too late ... and Carl races to Hydora with a group of Troopers to save his squad from a horrifying fate. Carl has a psychic, telekinetic showdown with the Brain Bug, blowing it up with a mindbomb. Later, Carl reveals there are more Brain Bugs on every planet the Bug Army has invaded, and the war is far from over. Rico and Carl come to an understanding about his powers ... later it is learned that the confrontation with the Brain Bug has hurt Carl, which he hides from the others.

The Roughnecks are sent on a seemingly routine recon mission of the planet Tophet to determine if it can be used as a waystation for S.I.C.O.N. to the rest of the galaxy. There, the Roughnecks encounter an indigenous race of tall, thin iridescent humanoids known as Skinnies, who appear to be friendly. Finding no Bugs, the landing proceeds. Butsoon the Skinnies turn on the Roughnecks, revealing themselves to be allied with the Bugs. The Roughnecks must then battle against both their old and new foes in order to call off the landing before disaster occurs.

Lt. Razak, suspicious of a lull in the Bug offensive, investigates the area with Higgins in a surface skimmer. The pair spot a huge Bug migration and call in an air strike. Unfortunately, their Skimmer crashes. Left without communications and with the Bug horde advancing, they attempt to find a nearby unmanned relay station to call for pick up before the air strike. Along the way, Higgins and Razak start to form a bond. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks strike out on a Search and Rescue mission for their lost comrades. Eventually, the squad finds Razak and Higgins in the nick of time. United, they fend off the Bug horde until Carmen can pick them up just seconds before a Zander-lead air strike vaporizes the area.

When a Cyborg named Chas (Cybernetic Humanoid Assault System) is assigned to the Roughnecks, he is befriended by Higgins, who views the robot as a kindred outsider. Rico (leery of technology as always) doesn't trust Chas, seemingly with good cause. During a particular battle, Chas ignores the fact that Carl's been hit by a Constrictor blast and Rico must step in to save his friend. Because of the incident, Razak recommends that Chas be "deactivated" when the squad returns to base camp. Unfortunately, Chas witnesses that conversation and becomes seemingly paranoid. Eventually, Chas proves himself a Trooper by sacrificing himself for the good of Higgins and the rest of the squad.

While returning from a mission, the Roughnecks are attacked and captured by a contingent of Skinnies. Held hostage in a primitive but seemingly inescapable Skinnie prison cell, tensions mount amongst the squad. Meanwhile, Carl's mental state seems to have taken a turn for the worse. When Carl and Brutto are taken away for interrogation, the rest of the squad implements an escape plan utilizing the batteries from their Power Suits to blast their way out of the cell. It is revealed that a Brain Bug is actually leading the "interrogation" of Carl and Brutto, but Carl is able to use his mental powers to energize Brutto, allowing the pair to escape and link up with the rest of the squad.

After clearing a mountain pass of a row of Blaster Bugs, the Roughnecks are able to capture Colonel T'Phai, the leader of the Skinnies. After normal interrogation methods fail, High Command orders Carl to use his special abilities. When Carl complies, he discovers "two voices" inside the Skinnie's head. It seems that a small, crab-like Control Bug has been attached to T'Phai, controlling all his actions. It's revealed that the Skinnie population has been enslaved by the Bugs since the Troopers' arrival. The Skinnies' task was to mine a highly unstable material called Xylon that allows for interstellar Bug travel. The Roughnecks then join forces with T'Phai to free the enslaved Skinnie population and prevent a Transport Bug from leaving the planet with the Xylon.

Colonel T'Phai -- the Skinnie who was partially responsible for Carl's fried brain -- joins the unit just as they're assigned the task of taking Zegema Beach as part of the Tesca Nemerosa campaign. Needless to say, the Roughnecks don't exactly welcome T'Phai with open arms. Ultimately, T'Phai proves himself by risking his own life to save the squad from ambush. Thanks to his intervention, the Roughnecks win the day... and the beach. T'Phai finally gains acceptance -- from everyone but Rico, who refuses to forgive him for what happened to Carl.

As the squad goes on Recon in the Tesca Nemerosan jungle beyond Zegema Beach, Rico still refuses to accept T'Phai into the unit. But as a giant Spider Bug abducts the Roughnecks one by one, Rico and T'Phai are left alone and forced to work together, even as T'Phai's malfunctioning powersuit has turned him into a true liability. In the end, they team up to defeat the bug, rescue the unit ... and save T'Phai from hypothermia.

After Gossard receives a minor injury, Rico is assigned a marauder suit for the Roughneck's next mission: they're heading upriver to capture a Brain Bug. But there's no Brain there. Instead they find a "nursery" for the creation of new and dangerous species. Razak calls in an airstrike, but Rico is separated from the squad as his Marauder runs out of juice. They rescue him before the airstrike, but not before a Jungle Spider impales him. It's touch and go as to whether Rico will survive.

Rico -- hovering in a coma between life and death -- flashes back to High School with Dizzy, Carl, Carmen and Razak, and Basic Training with Drill Sergeant Zim. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks battle to keep Rico alive when a monsoon knocks out all power (including his life-support) at the Zegema Beach Hospital. In the end, the squad solves the power problem, and Dizzy talks Rico into rejoining the land of the living ... only to watch him bond with Carmen.

While Rico recovers from injuries at the Hospital at Zegema Beach, the Roughnecks map strange tunnels out in the jungles of Tesca Nemerosa. They seem to be constantly at each other's throats, and it soon becomes clear that Rico was the "glue" that held the Squad together. Meanwhile, Rico's hearing strange noises and is convinced that Bugs are going to attack the Base. Dr. Sharaabi attributes this to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and plans on giving Rico a Section 8 and a complete mind-wipe. In the end, Rico proves that Tanker Worms have been digging tunnels under the base to facilitate a sneak attack of Control Bugs. Rico saves the day and winds up getting a first kiss from Carmen, while a jealous Dizzy and Zander look on, having sneaked a few kisses of their own.

Returning from a combat mission in a retrieval ship, the Zephyr, the Roughnecks are re-routed to an asteroid to join scientists from another ship, the Sequoia, in a quest for a bio-weapon against the bugs. Just as they are coming in for a landing, tiny flame-breathing bugs, Firefries, hatch from Zander's skin. The ship crashes, badly damaged, but there are no serious injuries. Teams are sent out to locate the Sequoia. One team, Razak and Doc, falls into a subterranean network where they are attacked by marshmallow-like Leeches. Another team, Brutto and T'Phai, find themselves in a battle with adult, human-sized Firefries. Razak and Doc, joined by Dizzy and Gossard from the ship, join in this battle. Meanwhile, the third team, Carmen and Rico, is buried by an avalanche, and beneath the snow they share some intimate moments. Dizzy saves them. All return to the Zephyr, where Higgins awaits with the recovering Zander. They finally realize that they're on the wrong asteroid; the Sequoia awaits them elsewhere. The Zephyr is unflyable and its communications system is down, so the Roughnecks are trapped with little hope of rescue. But they discover that the asteroid contains the bio-weapon they came to search for. The wrong asteroid has turned out to be the right asteroid.

The Zephyr remains crash-landed on a frozen asteroid. A team is sent out to collect Toxin B-3, a potent bio-weapon that they've found here (to their surprise, since it was supposed to be found on another asteroid entirely), while Gossard and others remain at the ship to try to get the communications system working to send an SOS... and to protect the ship from Firefries, fire-breathing bugs that the Roughnecks accidentally brought to the asteroid as eggs. The collection team fights Leeches, aggressive amorphous blobs, inside a cave; in the aftermath of the battle they discover that the Leeches are the source of the Toxin B-3. But while collecting them the team finds itself at the mercy of a hurricane-force wind coming from inside the cave. The wind blows Carmen away, and the team fears for her life. The episode climaxes in a massive battle with the Firefries around the ship. When it's over, Gossard is able to sendan SOS, and Carmen returns. It looks like help is on the way.

The Roughnecks are crashed on a barren asteroid. A science vessel, the Sequoia, comes to their rescue but it crashes too. They set out to find it. Eventually it is discovered by Zander and Higgins, but Zander is captured by the bugs - Firefries - who have taken it over. When the rest of the Roughnecks get to the Sequoia, they find Zander miraculously alive but deranged. They return to their own ship, the Zephyr, with the Sequoia's fuel cell. The Zephyr is attacked by Firefries but, with the new fuel cell, manages to take off. But one of the Firefries has managed to get aboard, and it explodes, causing the Zephyr to crash again.

Their ship, the Zephyr, crashed again on the ice asteroid, the Roughnecks are running out of ammo to fight off the attacking Firefries. In order to give Gossard time to set up a poison gas perimeter around the ship, Rico, Dizzy and T'Phai lead the 'Fries on a wild goose chase. They are trapped and seem doomed, but Zander, who's been acting strangely since his own capture by the Firefries, appears and leads the Fries away like a Pied Piper. The Roughnecks think Zander's dead, but he returns to the ship -- physically okay, but even more deranged. As the battle continues, Razak tells Rico he's been promoted to Corporal. An earthquake on the rapidly changing asteroid sends the Zephyr careening into a crater. After a wild ride, the ship ends up deep inside the asteroid. With air on the ship running low, Bruto and Doc go out into the surrounding tunnels to search for a source of oxygen. They barely make it back to the ship, but they bring news that they think they've found some oxygen. Doc has some other news: he thinks that what they're inside is not an asteroid but some kind of living thing.

The Roughnecks' ship, the Zephyr, remains trapped inside what they now know is a giant bug. A team consisting of Rico, Brutto, Dizzy and Doc has been sent out to retrieve air. After Rico rescues Brutto from a fall, the two of them become separated from Dizzy and Doc who succeed in tapping an air source but are swept away by one of the bug's arteries. Back at the ship, Zander is becoming more unhinged. He inadvertently gives Gossard the idea of using the Firefries as fuel for the Zephyr. Rico returns to the ship with Dizzy and Doc just as it's taking off. Zander attempts to sabotage the ship but is foiled. The Zephyr escapes from inside the bug, and the bug is blown up by the Zephyr's auto-destruct mechanism.

Aboard the Valley Forge on a long trip to their next campaign, the Roughnecks have drawn watch as most of the ship's crew rests in suspended animation. While doing a routine check on the stasis tubes, Doc is attacked by Zander who bursts out of his stasis tube, having evolved into a hideous half-bug, half-human creature. The Zander Bug eventually takes over the ship, and to keep the Roughnecks busy, shuts down the power to the crew's stasis tubes. If the power is not restored quickly, the entire crew in suspended animation will perish. Eventually the Roughnecks are able to thwart Zander's plans to crash the Valley Forge on to a mysterious planet but Brutto is severely injured and will be sent to Earth to recoup. Unfortunately, Zander Bug escapes to the planet surface below, which turns out to be the Bug home world of Klendathu.

As the squad prepares for the D-Day invasion of the bug home planet of Klendathu, Dizzy receives an official notice from S.I.C.O.N. that her brother, Eddie is presumed dead. The news deeply effects the normally gungho Trooper, causing her to become skittish in battle. Unfortunately, the orders come down for the invasion to begin. Dizzy's hesitation concerns Rico (who has just been promoted to Sergeant) and he must determine if she is still fit to be a part of the Roughnecks. Eventually inspired by the fierce determination and never-say-die attitude of a Zulu Squad Trooper, Dizzy regains her confidence in time to save the Roughnecks and help them achieve their mission.

While at a temporary camp on Klendathu, the Roughnecks are attacked by a new and dangerous form of arachnid, an Imposter Bug that approximates the size and shape of a human. Able to fit inside stolen power suits, the Imposter Bugs represent a terrible threat to the security of Troopers everywhere. After the attack, the Roughnecks are ordered to rescue the crew of a downed transport ship. Upon arriving at the ship's crash site the squad discovers that the crew have been taken hostage by the Bugs. Even more disturbing is that the Zander Bug appears to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping. The Roughnecks are ordered to retrieve the hostages and terminate the Zander Bug. They track down Zander Bug to his own Bug mound and find that he is using the captured Troopers DNA to create ever evolving generations of Imposter Bugs. In the end, Dizzy inspires Zander Bug to remember his humanity and he attacks his own Bugs, allowing the Roughnecks to escape to safety.

The Roughnecks are facing a "Battle of the Bulge" situation on the Bug home planet of Klendathu. They have been ordered to hold the line against an inevitable (and overwhelming) Bug siege. The odds of surviving are not in their favor. Throughout the night, Higgins winds up taping a series of heartfelt "goodbyes" from each of the Troopers to their various loved ones. When day break comes, the Troopers are able to hold off the Bug horde long enough to be saved by massive air strike, but the "goodbyes" leave a lasting impression on them all.

After a long day of battling Bugs, the Roughnecks are called to a mission briefing only to find themselves in the presence of Sky Marshall Sanchez himself. The Sky Marshall confirms the existence of the Bug Queen and assigns Alpha Squad (along with rival Echo Squad) the difficult task of finding and exterminating her. Carl is reassigned to the Roughnecks to aid in the mission, but the squad finds him distant and cold, but with heightened psychic abilities. The Roughnecks are able to fight their way into the Bug Queen's lair only to allow her escape. Unfortunately, she's on her way to Earth.

Dozens of Fleet Ships are hunting for the Bug Queen, after she somehow escaped during the M.I. showdown on Klendathu. At the same time, the Roughnecks discover that Higgins had a girlfriend they didn't know about, who just broke up with him. Rico and the others are furious that Higgins knows everything about them, but they know nothing about him. The Valley Forge finally tracks down the Transport Bug in which the Queen escaped and blows it up. Unfortunately, reports of other destroyed Transport Bugs pour in, and Carl realizes these were just decoys to distract S.I.C.O.N. forces, allowing the Queen to take an unpredictable, undetected route to Earth. But thanks to Carl, the Valley Forge finds the real transport -- but it's shell is impervious to all weaponry, and it is only 48 hours from reaching Earth. LT. Razak and the Roughnecks embark on a covert assassination mission --sneak in, terminate the Queen, and get out. While the Roughnecks are inside, however, they discover the Queen is too well protected ... and the squad must risk its own lives to blow up the Transport from the inside out. The mission appears to be a success, and the Roughnecks return to Earth, hailed as heroes for ending the war. But when Carl sets foot on Earth, he realizes the Queen is still alive...and she's here.

S.I.C.O.N. forces move into peacetime duty after the Bug Queen and her transport are presumably terminated. But Carl insists the Queen is still alive and here on Earth. General Redwing orders him to take some R & R, and the Roughnecks are given their next assignment -- repairing radio telescope receivers on the Jovian Moons. Carl, however, manages to convince Rico that he is right...and Rico, in turn, sticks his neck to out to convince Razak. Razak puts his career on the line, taking the squad on a little detour to Little Butte, North Dakota, where strange subterranean thermal readings are occurring. The town appears to be ultra-normal, until the Roughnecks come under attack by strange human residents who turn out to be bugs cloned with human DNA. The Roughnecks uncover a Bug plot to infiltrate Earth society and sabotage 50 major targets around the world, including a Cold Fusion plant in North Dakota. The squad saves the plant, but other targets are lost by S.I.C.O.N. -- and the bug war has now come home.

When the Bug Forces launch a devastating surprise attack on Buenos Aires, nearly destroying the city, the Roughnecks are sent in as part of a massive ground troop assault. Rico, Carl and Dizzy are particularly affected by this tragedy, as Buenos Aires is their hometown -- and none of them know whether their parents are alive or dead. While Dizzy becomes frantically obsessed with finding her parents, Rico reveals he hasn't talked to his mother or father since the beginning of the war - triggering a crisis of conscience. Meanwhile, Razak's Roughnecks battle what they believe to be several new species of bugs -- tracking them through the sewer tunnels. But each new species seems resistant to different types of weapons. Ultimately, the Roughnecks discover these bugs are not new species, but new mutations of the same species - mutations caused by exposure to radioactivity inside SICON's main weapons plant. Dizzy later discovers her parents are dead while Rico's parents are missing and unaccounted for.

SICON officials discover a massive bug mound outside of Buenos Aires. Believing the bugs are mobilizing for another assault on the city, SICON forces try to bomb the hill from the air, but Plasma Bugs keep changing locations, and three different air sorties fail when the planes are shot down by plasma fire. The Roughnecks and four other squads are called in to launch a covert ground attack on the Plasma Bugs, taking out their positions so Fleet can bomb the bug mound. One of the squads winds up tripping off the bugs to the mission, but as a result, all the Plasma Bug positions are revealed at once. Razak organizes a massive ground missile attack on the mound, bringing the entire structure down and wiping out the bug compound. During the mission, Dizzy is almost killed and Rico professes his love for her. Dizzy, however, tells Rico that he can't love her - she's a jinx, and everyone who loves her suffer some horrible fate. When he argues, she reminds him of his rank, calling his behavior inappropriate. But when Rico walks away, hurt, it can be seen that Dizzy didn't mean it. She still loves him.

When it is discovered that the bugs have a vast network of tunnels and colonies beneath San Francisco, S.I.C.O.N. decides the only way to ensure victory is to nuke the city - destroying everything above and below ground. And because an evacuation of that size would kill many people, as well as tip off the bugs, it is also decided not to warn the civilian population. Lt. Razak protests this action, and is joined by his old INTEL nemesis Lt. Earle Walker. Skymarshall Sanchez gives Razak and Walker 24 hours to accomplish an alternative plan: blow massive holes in the underwater sections of the bug tunnels, allowing water to rush in and flush out the subterranean threat all at once. If they fail, however, San Francisco will be destroyed by S.I.C.O.N. -- along with the Roughnecks and Walker's Rangers. The mission is a success, but Razak is killed by a giant Rhino Bug during the final moments of the operation. Rico is an emotional basketcase -- and the Roughnecks must deal with Razak's death, as the war with the bugs grows more intense on Earth.

The Roughnecks are being split up. They just have time to honor Lt. Razak's Last Will and spread his ashes over Luna Lake in Colorado. They are joined by Razak's former love, General Redwing, and by Sgt. Brutto, who's now a paraplegic who doubts his own worth. The unprepared squad stumbles on a Bug operation, and Redwing and Higgins are captured. Sgt. Rico takes command, and, with help from Brutto, saves the hostages and destroys the bugs. Redwing offers Rico a battlefield promotion to Lieutenant. He accepts to keep the squad together. They then spread Razak's ashes over the Lake.

The Roughnecks, with Rico as their new Lieutenant, are re-routed to S.I.C.O.N. HQ in Oahu to help defend the island against an expected Bug attack. Rico's not comfortable replacing Lt. Razak, and his situation isn't helped by the addition of two new men: Pvt. Max Brutto (Sgt. Brutto's trouble-making teen-age son) and Sgt. Charlie Zim, Razak's best friend and Rico's former Drill Instructor. The Bugs launch an overwhelming attack, And Rico at first falters, but he eventually pulls it together and becomes a real leader. Unfortunately, S.I.C.O.N. is forced to evacuate and abandon the island, and Carl informs his friends that the worst is yet to come.

After a little prompting from Carl, Rico and Dizzy decide to pursue a relationship. But as S.I.C.O.N. attempts to retake Oahu, Honolulu, City Hall and S.I.C.O.N. HQ, Rico becomes dangerously overprotective of his new "girlfriend." After the victory, Rico and Diz sadly agree to table their feelings until the war's over. Seconds later, Sky Marshal Sanchez arrives at S.I.C.O.N. HQ to congratulate his men. Suddenly, a huge pit opens up under the building -- and Sanchez is taken down into the pit by the Bugs.

S.I.C.O.N. HQ is destroyed by the Bugs and the entire headquarters sinks underground into a huge caldera five miles across dug by the bugs. SkyMarshall Sanchez is captured. The final battle to destroy the Bug Queen will be waged under the earth. S.I.C.O.N. forces move underground, passing though the "Circles of Hell" like Dante's Inferno, finding villages and prisoners of war in the successive underground layers.

150 Marauders designed to fight in lava start the final assault on the Bug Queen as she lures them into the deepest levels of the huge cauldra that was once S.I.C.O.N. HQ. The first 100 will clear the first level so 50 can pass to the second; they in turn will enable 10 Marauders to pass to the next level (Guess which ten!) These will in turn enable one Marauder to reach the Queen for the final showdown!

This episode is dedicated to a special Robert Higgins' Fed-Net report. The progress of the campaign on Pluto is summarized as well as the first forays on the planet Tophet. The many types of bugs encountered during the Pluto campaign are described. "Razak's Roughnecks" are introduced.

Higgins is assigned to put a "positive spin" on some of his archival footage for a Fed-Net news report. After reviewing various clips which let the Roughnecks' true colors shine through, Higgins concludes: "I am so fired."

Rico's Drop Suit malfunctions and he's set adrift, "marooned" in deep space. While waiting in desperation to be rescued, Rico has several flashbacks which showcase his wavering loyalties between Dizzy and Carmen. In the end, with only seconds of air left, Carmen comes to Rico's rescue. This episode fits in the overall story arc between episode 129 "Letters Home" and episode 130 "Checkmate" (the final two episodes of the Klendathu campaign).

Lt. Razak defies orders by bombing a hot landing zone, apparently killing General Redwing's squad by accident in the process. Lt. Walker of Intel seems to relish the idea of holding a tribunal to determine if Razak should be court-martialed for his actions. All is not as it seems, however, as Alpha Squad members are forced to recount clips of previous episodes in a manner Walker hopes will cast doubt on Razak's competency to command. This episode also fits in the overall story arc between episode 129 "Letters Home" and episode 130 "Checkmate" (the final two episodes of the Klendathu campaign) but presumably comes after Clip Show #3.