Spiral Zone

Commander Dirk Courage:
The Spiral Zone, as we call it, robs the will. It makes the victim easy to control, mindless. Troops can't go in - victims can't get out!

General Steven McFarland:
Our one hope is Commander Dirk Courage and his elite - Zone Riders. Outfitted with our only supply of neutron power suits, that let them enter the Spiral Zone. See for yourselves!

[the monitor shows Commander Courage during combat action]

General Steven McFarland:
Their codename: Zone Riders. Their leader: Commander Dirk Courage - fearless, US special forces, congressional medal of honor, bronze star, purple heart.

Katerina Anastasia:
There is always a way out of the darkness, no matter how deep it is!

Commander Dirk Courage:
I hope so.

Hiro Taka:
So, the war will go on.

Commander Dirk Courage:
Yes, until we finally win. And we will win!

Commander Dirk Courage:
As long as one Zone Rider is left, it is not over yet.

Overlord:
I am going to win this war, Courage! Do you believe that?

Commander Dirk Courage:
No.

[last lines]

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt:
All people should be safe and free... especially children.

General McFarland:
[the monitor shows how the shuttle was finally destroyed - when it was about to drop one more zone pod, a shot hit it on the inside] Then, one lucky shot got through, and that shot saved half the world - but only half! We bought some time, a chance to keep fighting. For the first time in history, all nations set aside their differences to fight a common enemy. Life goes on, in a sense. Would you like to explain, commander Courage?

Dirk Courage:
The Spiral Zone, as we call it, robs the will. [points at the monitor, which shows zoned people] It makes the victim easy to control, mindless. Troops can't go in - victims can't get out!

General McFarland:
Our one hope is commander Dirk Courage and his elite - Zone Riders. Outfitted with our only supply of neutron power suits, that let them enter the Spiral Zone. See for yourselves [the monitor shows Dirk Courage during combat] their codename: Zone Riders. Their leader: commander Dirk Courage - fearless, US special forces, congressional medal of honor, bronze star, purple heart.

Council chairman:
The Zone Riders are supposed to be our most powerful weapon in the fight against Overlord, but now - months after the team was formed - the Spiral Zone is as strong as ever!

General McFarland:
You can't expect to win a war overnight!

Council chairman:
Please, don't interrupt again, General.

Dirk Courage:
[to McFarland] It's OK, sir.

Council chairman:
This special committee has been convened to try to explain why the Zone Riders seem unable to defeat Overlord. I have here reports on several highly questionable command decisions, suggesting that the Zone Riders' failure is the result of poor leadership. You think you can explain your conduct to this committee, Commander?

Dirk Courage:
I'm, uhm, certainly prepared to try, Mr. Chairman.

Council chairman:
Could you tell this committee why the Zone Riders destroyed the only direct links with NY city?

Dirk Courage:
Yes, Mr. Chairman, I can. We were trying to stop Overlord from moving an engine to a waiting space shuttle in New Jersey.

[a flashback from "The Shuttle Engine"]

Dirk Courage:
Eventually, we had to stop Overlord another way - but blowing the bridge and the tunnel were reasonable steps to take at the time.

Ned Tucker:
[snickers] You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs, sir!

[one of the committee members smiles at this remark. The chairman glares at him and then looks back at Commander Courage]

Council chairman:
Let me ask you about a bigger 'omelette', Commander: the Panama canal! Our most vital shipping link was recently closed to repair damage caused by the Zone Riders!

Dirk Courage:
It was necessary to destroy several locks in order to save the canal.

[a flashback from "Canal Zone"]

Dirk Courage:
If the ship had exploded in the canal, the damage might have been permanent.

Female commitee member:
We understand, Commander, that one must take risks.

Council chairman:
But some risks are unacceptable! I believe you once ordered the surrender of the Zone Riders, our only defence against the Spiral Zone, in order to save a handful of people?

Katerina Anastasia:
[angrily] Mr. Chairman, it was hardly 'a handful of people'!

Dirk Courage:
[smiles at Katerina, then faces the chairman] I can explain that decision, Mr. Chairman. San Juan Porto Rico was about to be destroyed by the flood water of a giant hurricane. Now the only way to save the people of the city was to move them to higher ground, inside the Zone.

[a flashback from "Ride the Whirlwind"]

Dirk Courage:
If I had it to do over, I'd take the same risk to save thousands of lives.

[the committee members consulate among themselves in low voices]

Council chairman:
I have here complaints from several South American goverments, insist that their countries had suffered, and that the fight against Overlord has been hampered by the loss of electrical power from a typhoon dam. Can you explain, Commander, how the dam came to be destroyed?

Dirk Courage:
Yes, Mr. Chairman. We blew it up.

[a flashback from "So Shall You Reaper"]

Dirk Courage:
The only way to take the fortress was to destroy its source of power

[General McFarland nods in approval]

Dirk Courage:
I decided it was better to sacrifice the dam than to let such a tremendous power source fall permanently into Overlord's hands.

Council chairman:
I have one more question, Commander Courage. Is it true that on your own authority, without any regular trial and sentencing, you once sent an innocent civilian into the Spiral Zone? According to this, a man named, uhm, Malone...

[Max furiously jumps on his feet when he hears the name of the ruthless mobster who was responsible to the loss of his family]

Max Jones:
'Innocent civilian'? You must be out of your mind!

[the chairman glares at Max. The other Zone Riders try to calm Max down]

Hiro Taka:
Please, Max.

Council chairman:
[knocking his hammer on the desk] You will come to order!

Wolfgang "Tank" Schmidt:
You're not helping, Max.

Council chairman:
[firmly] Sit down, lieutenant, at once!

Max Jones:
[sullenly] I'm sorry, *sir*.

[Max sits down]

Dirk Courage:
We, uh, apologize for the interruption, Mr. Chairman. But your 'innocent civilian' Malone used his control of the railroads to help Overlord move people from one Zone to another. Lieutenant Jones' family was among the thousands of people that Malone sent into new Zones. Later, Malone himself became a victim to the system he created.

[a flashback from "Zone with Big Shoulders"]

[last lines]

Dirk Courage:
Now I may have exceeded my authority in doing nothing to stop the train, but I stand by the justice of my decision. If the committee thinks I should lose my command because of what I did, I have no choice but to accept their decision.

[the Zone Riders wait impatiently outside the hall for the committee decision]

Benjamin "Ben" Davis Franklin:
[to Hiro] They've been in there a long time!

Katerina Anastasia:
[to Commander Courage] Dirk, I just want you to know, that whatever happens...

[the door opens, and General McFarland steps outside. Everyone looks at him]

General McFarland:
I'm sorry, Commander...

[McFarland smiles]

General McFarland:
...looks like you're stuck with us.

[McFarland warmly shakes Commander Courage's hand]

General McFarland:
Congratulations, Dirk! The committee voted in your favor.

Dirk Courage:
[sighs in relief] Oh, thank you, General!

[the overjoyed Zone Riders cheer in delight, congratulating Commander Courage. The door opens, and the council chairman steps outside. He glares at the Zone Riders, grunts and leaves]

General McFarland:
[smiles] the vote was 6:1.

[Commander Courage smiles]

General McFarland:
You don't believe that a military man could have a family, do you Dirk?

Dirk Courage:
You made your decision, I made mine. I just knew which one of us was right?

General McFarland:
The zone riders are your family.

Dirk Courage:
Does that include you?

General McFarland:
Especially me.

Razorback:
I love hard work - I can watch it all day!

[Commander Courage explains his plan to General McFarland and Dr. Lawrence, while watching on the screen at the Zone Generator of New York]

Dirk Courage:
Well, what do you think?

General McFarland:
[hesitates] It's... pretty risky, Dirk.

Dirk Courage:
Risk is what war is all about, General. Dr. Lawrence?

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
I can make a biochip that will do precisely as you suggest, Commander.

Dirk Courage:
Good, then it's settled.

[Commander Courage, after being zoned and captured as he planned, is brought before Overlord]

Overlord:
Do your Zone Riders know where you are, Commander?

Dirk Courage:
[being zoned, he cannot lie] No.

Overlord:
Foolish of you... tell me, what is it that moves a man like you? Why do you keep fighting against fate?

Dirk Courage:
As long as one Zone Rider is left, it is not over.

Overlord:
[to Commander Courage, who is zoned] I am going to win this time! Do you believe this, Courage?

Dirk Courage:
No.

[Commander Courage watches screen showing various Zones around the world. Katerina enters the room, and places her hand on his shoulder]

Katerina Anastasia:
Dirk, you... we all need rest.

Dirk Courage:
Overlord's Zones are everywhere, Kat. Separating countries, states, families.

Katerina Anastasia:
We are doing the best we can!

Dirk Courage:
We have to do more.

[Commander Courage stands and heads for the door]

Katerina Anastasia:
Where are you going?

Dirk Courage:
I... have some things.

[Commander Couarge prepares for flight]

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt:
I do not understand why you cannot tell us what this mission is, Commander?

Dirk Courage:
I'm sorry, Tank. Top secret. All I can tell you that I'll be flying over New York.

Katerina Anastasia:
Commander!

Dirk Courage:
I know what I'm doing, Kat.

[after receiving clearance to take off, Commander Courage flies to New York. As he nearly reaches his destination, he contacts M.C.C]

Dirk Courage:
Courage to McFarland. Everything's going according to plan, General.

General McFarland:
Roger, Commander. Are you sure you wanna go through with this, Dirk?

Dirk Courage:
It's not a matter if 'I want', Steve. I have to.

[the jet goes down through the fog and lands at Central Park. In the few moments that Commander Couarge still has control over his brain, he takes out a knife and cuts his suit, to make it look like it was accidently damaged. With this done, he becomes Zoned. He exits the cockpit and starts wandering aimlessly in the streets of New York, like the other Zoners]

[as Commander Courage's jet enters the Zone of New York, security alarm is activated at Overlord's headquarters. He contacts Reaper]

Overlord:
A plane has crash-landed in Central Park. Investigate!

Reaper:
Right away, Overlord!

[At M.C.C]

Katerina Anastasia:
I am concerned about this secret mission.

Benjamin Davis 'Ben' Franklin:
Don't worry. Whatever happens, Commander Courage can handle it. He is not afraid of anything!

Katerina Anastasia:
Da... except being Zoned.

[at New York, while Commander Courage wanders aimlessly, Reaper reaches the plane]

Reaper:
[contacts Overlord] Reaper to Overlord. No one in the jet. I'm checking the flight log recorder.

[Reaper plays the plane log recorder. Voice comes out of it "Commander Courage, clear for take-off". Reaper recoils in surprise]

Reaper:
Overlord! The jet belongs to Dirk Courage!

[hearing this, Overlord gathers the Black Widows]

Overlord:
Dirk Courage has crash-landed in Central Park. I want EVERYONE looking for him [Duchess and Razorback smile viciously to each other] He will be armed and dangerous, but... find him!

[on huge commercial screens in New York appears the image of Commander Courage. The Zoners stand and watch, while Overlord's voice sounds via loudspeakers:
]

Overlord:
Attention all Zoners! Find this man and bring him to me! Attention all Zoners!

[Commander Courage glances for a moment at his image on the near screen, but in his Zoned state - it means nothing to him. He keeps wandering in the streets]

General McFarland:
I'm sorry to have to tell you that Commander Courage's plane has crash-landed in New York.

[Max and Ned look at each other, then walk to the exit]

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
Where're you going?

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt:
[angrily] I'm surprised you have to ask, Doctor. To find Commander Courage, of course!

General McFarland:
I can't let you do that!

Ned Tucker:
And if we decide to do it anyway, General?

General McFarland:
I can order you to stay here!

Katerina Anastasia:
You would not be doing this without a very good reason, General. And we deserve to know what it is!

General McFarland:
[exchanges looks with Dr. Lawrence] Yes, there is a good reason - and I guess you do deserve to know what it is.

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
[showing the computer chip] This is the new IM7 bio-molecular computer interface.

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt:
[impatiently] Very interesting, but what has this got to do with the Commander?

General McFarland:
Commander Courage has entered the New York Zone in an imitation suit in order to be Zoned and captured by Overlord!

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt, Max Jones:
What?

[Dr. Lawrence turns on computer monitor. The map of New York is shown on the screen, with strange symbol moving]

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
A chip like this is implanted just behind his ear. At the proper time, it will order him, in Overlord's voice, to destroy the New York generator.

General McFarland:
With that generator out, the UN forces can move into the area.

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
Precisely!

General McFarland:
We've been tracking him since he intentionally crash-landed his jet. Sooner or later, Overlord will find him and take him to his headquarters. And when he does - we'll trigger the biochip.

[roaming in the street, at last Rawmeat finds Commander Courage]

Rawmeat:
It's him!

[Rawmeat rushes toward Commander Courage and pushes him to the ground. As he falls, the implant malfunctions. At M.C.C., the signal disappears from the screen]

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
Eh... something's gone wrong! The implant has stopped transmitting.

[hearing this, the Zone Riders gape in horror]

General McFarland:
Something happened to it... or to Dirk.

[at New York, after she failed to find Commander Courage, Duchess contacts Overlord]

Duchess Dire:
No sign of Courage so far, Overlord.

Overlord:
We must find him! Once I have his suit, I can device a mean to render all of them useless.

Rawmeat:
[contacts Overlord] I got 'im. He's Zoned. I'm bringin' him in!

General McFarland:
I don't care how you do it. Just bring Dirk back!

Katerina Anastasia:
We will, General. You can count on it!

[the Zone Riders fly the Eagle to New York]

[the Zone Riders land the Eagle outside the New York Zone, mount their motorcycles and enter the Zone in search for Commander Courage. Meanwhile, on the way to Overlord's headquarters, Rawmeat stops to "have fun":
he throws sticks and order Commander Courage to fetch them - which he complies, being zoned. Bandit approaches them]

Bandit:
[angrily] What has been keeping you? Overlord is waiting for him!

Rawmeat:
[laughs nastily] We was just havin' little fun, me and him.

Bandit:
Take him to headquarters! Immediately!

Rawmeat:
Oh, too bad. We was having such a good time, he-he!

[while Bandit and Rawmeat take Commander Courage to Overlord's headquarters, Katerina spots them. She aims her gun, but stops at the last moment]

Katerina Anastasia:
I cannot fire... I might hit Dirk! Katernia to Zone Riders: I have found him.

Max Jones:
Roger, Kat. We're on our way.

[Rawmeat and Duchess bring Commander Courage to Overlord]

Overlord:
[grabs Commander Courage's collar] So, I win at last, eh, Commander? I never really expected it to end this way...

Rawmeat:
[sneers] Ah, he makes a great dog! You should see him fetch...

Overlord:
[shouts at Rawmeat] Silence! This man will be treated with respect!

[Rawmeat, astonished to hear this, looks at Duchess but says nothing]

Overlord:
He was a brave enemy, but his defeat was sure to come. I want everyone on full alert! The Zone Riders will come looking for him.

Overlord:
[takes off Commander Courage's helmet] Do your Zone Riders know where you are, Commander?

Dirk Courage:
[being zoned, he cannot lie] No.

Overlord:
Foolish of you... tell me, what is it that moves a man like you? Why do you keep fighting against fate?

Dirk Courage:
As long as one Zone Rider is left, it is not over yet.

Overlord:
[shakes his head] Wrong, Commander Courage. It is over now! Give me your suit!

[Commander Courage complies, takes off his suit, remaining in regular clothes]

[the Zone Riders make plan for rescue]

Ned Tucker:
[looking at the monitor of his motorcycle] It looks like this tunnel will take us directly under Overlord's headquarters.

[Hiro and Ben start their motorcycles]

Hiro Taka:
We will draw the guards' attention, while you find the way in.

Benjamin Davis 'Ben' Franklin:
And the way out!

[Hiro and Ben drive away. Meanwhile, Overlord gives Commander Courage's suit to a Zoner]

Overlord:
Take this to the lab. I want it analyzed completely. I am going to win this war, Courage! Do you believe that?

Dirk Courage:
No.

[the Zoner starts analyzing the suit at the lab. Overlord contacts him]

Overlord:
What have you determined?

Zoner:
Composition appears to be various synthetics. There is no initial indication of special properties.

Overlord:
Keep testing! We know there at least has to be Neutron-90 in it.

[while Hiro and Ben distract the Black Widows, the other Zone Riders sneak via underground tunnel into the building where Commander Courage is held prisoner]

Max Jones:
Alright, Kat and I will take the stairs. Tank and Ned will go up the outside.

Ned Tucker:
Aye, remind me to do you a favor some time, mate!

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt:
[opens the window, looking at the Zone generator] We could blow the generator right now, but then they'd know we are here.

[Ned attaches grapnel to his gun and shoots upwards. The grapnel is caught at the roof. After securing the rope around his waist, Ned starts climbing the wall. Tank follows him. Meanwhile, as Max and Katerina climb the stairs, one Zoner opens fire at them]

Max Jones:
Maybe we should have taken the elevator...

[Max shoots at the Zoner and hits him. Once the way is clear, he and Katerina continue climbing]

[Max surprises four Zoners at the hallway. he leans leisurely on the wall]

Max Jones:
Hey, guys! I'm new in town. Where is the excitment?

[as the Zoners rush toward Max, Katerina steps out of the elevator behind them. She shoots and creats layer of ice on the floor, and the Zoners slip on it. Meanwhile, at the lab, Overlord finally finds out that the protection suit is fake]

Overlord:
[furiously] This is no 10-DEX suit, but some kind of trick! Courage will pay for this!

[Max and Katerina reach the floor where Commander Courage is held]

Katerina Anastasia:
[points the door] Hurry! The Commander must be in here.

[a surveillance camera above the door turns to their direction]

Max Jones:
I think they know we are here.

Katerina Anastasia:
So it appears.

[Max shoots and destroys the camera, then kicks the door open. They pass through]

[as Ned and Tank are halfway to the window, Katerina opens a door and sees Commander Courage, zoned, sitting in the room]

Katerina Anastasia:
Dirk!

[Caught in emotion, Katerina rushes to Commander Courage, abandoning caution. She gently caresses his cheek]

Katerina Anastasia:
Oh, Dirk...

[Overlord enters, pistol drawn. Katerina turns around, but too late. Overlord shoots her and she collapses. As Overlord prepares to shoot again, a shot knocks the pistol from his hand]

Overlord:
What?

[Overlord turns and sees Max standing at the doorway, shooting at him. Overlord drops on the floor, grabs his gun and returns fire. Katerina stands and helps Commander Courage get on his feet]

Katerina Anastasia:
[to Commander Courage] Quickly, we must get out of here!

[while Max and Overlord exchange fire, Katerina and Commander Courage start to advance toward the door. Overlord notices them]

Overlord:
No!

[Overlord shoots three times at Katerina and Commander Courage. Quickly, Katerina drops Commander Courage on the floor lest he would get hit. One of the shots hit her, and she collapses again, crying in agony. As Commander Courage's body hits the floor, the tiny biochip on his neck starts transmitting again. At M.C.C., General McFarland and Dr. Lawrence see that the signal on the screen is back]

Dr. Harold Lawrence:
It's Dirk! He's back online, and in Overlord's headquarters!

General McFarland:
Quick, trigger the command!

[Ned and Tank nearly reached the window. Max and Overlord shoot at each other. Then, M.C.C. transmits a command in Overlord's voice to Commander Courage's implant]

Overlord:
[the command in Overlord's is heard by Commander Courage via the transmitter] Destroy the Zone generator! Let no one stand in your way!

[Commander Courage, in his Zoned state, must obey any command given by Overlord, and he complies. He takes a pistol from unconscious Katerina's ankle-holster, and shoots at Overlord. The shot hits metal, spraying scraps into Overlord's face, and he collapses. Commander Courage stands and walks to the window]

Dirk Courage:
[mumbles while stepping toward the window] Must destroy... generator...

[reaching the window, Commander Courage carefully aims the pistol toward the generator]

[Katerina recovers. She sees that Overlord is about to shoot Commander Courage]

Katerina Anastasia:
No!

[Katerina reaches for her ankle-holster, only to find that the pistol is missing. Meanwhile, Overlord shoots at Commander Courage's back, and he falls through the open window, before he manages to shoot the generator]

Katerina Anastasia:
[desperately] Dirk!

[Commander Courage is caught by surprised Ned and Tank, who finally reached the window]

Ned Tucker:
Hello, what's this?

[after exchanging more fire with Max, Overlord escapes from the room. Max approaches Katerina]

Katerina Anastasia:
[choked with tears] M-max, Dirk is...

[Ned and Tank enter the room via the window, supporting Commander Courage]

Ned Tucker:
Greetings, mates!

Katerina Anastasia:
Thank goodness, he is alright!

Max Jones:
[approaches the window] And he'll be a lot better after we blow up that generator.

[Reaper and several Zoners storm in, shooting. The Zone Riders take cover]

Wolfgang 'Tank' Schmidt:
Ah, now how do we get out?

[Hiro and Ben fly the Eagle to Overlord's headquarters. Seeing the Eagle approaching, Tank shoots a flare. While the enemies are temporarily blinded, the Eagle's nose breaks the wall. The Zone Riders board Eagle, Max and Katerina supporting Commander Courage. Under heavy fire, the Eagle flies back to M.C.C. Soon afterwards, Commander Courage recovers from the effects of the Zone]

General McFarland:
It was a good plan, Dirk. It almost worked.

Katerina Anastasia:
Few people are brave enough to face up to their greatest fears! But I still do not understand: why you did not tell us?

Dirk Courage:
[smiles] I knew all of you would try to talk me out of it... and I was afraid I might let you do it.

[last lines]

Hiro Taka:
So, the war will go on.

Dirk Courage:
Yes, until we finally win. And we will win!

[Commander Courage holds his hand forward, and the other Zone Riders place their hands next to his]