- Pilot, commenting on Hawk's makeshift Chrismas tree
The team celebrates their victory over Dread with food, drink and dancing. Scout, Hawk and Tank takes turns dancing with her to Glenn Miller's "Little Brown Jug". Power however is not distracted by this and continues to concentrate on the war. Pilot remarks that she's run out of partners and boldly invites Jon to dance with her. After a brief pause, he sheds his gunbelt and begins to dance with her.
Meanwhile, at Volcania, Dread is presiding over the repairs of Volcania following the impact of the Icarus platform. Soaron and Blastarr await their orders. A change of strategy is in order, Dread informs them. He has run out of patience for humanity. There shall be no more saving of the souls - from now on, all resistance, all humans shall be wiped off the face of the earth. The strategy is no mercy. New Order cannot take place until all resistance is wiped off the face of the earth.
Dread's attacks are merciless and cause significant loss of life. This saddens Power, who notes that like the beehive that is stirred up, Dread's anger has made him a worse enemy than a weakened enemy. The Power team fight back where they can but Dread's troopers and Blastarr's artillery are too formidable. After bringing down the Bio-Dread, the team leave. But as a crippled Blastarr lies on the ground and the Power team prepare to leave through the Transit gates, Dread orders Blastarr to get up. Glancing towards the sky, the Bio-Dread sees the Jumpship escape through the Transit gates used by Power.
An elated Dread realises he has found the secret to locating Power's secret base. He sets to work on discovering the secret of Power's teleportation technology.
At the Power Base, Hawk reminds Jon that it is 47-12 Mark 24, Chrismas Eve. And to celebrate, Hawk has constructed a makeshift tree of sorts. Scout reminisces that he too built a tree for his mother. The team fall silent as his eyes well up with tears. It is a moment of serious reflection for all.
Dread has constructed a special device that will analyze the frequency of Power's transit gates and enable Dread to access them eventually. In the midst of his work, Laccki appears. Dread has, by this point, realised that Laccki is Overmind's spy and is well prepared for his arrival. Through subterfuge, Dread manages to get Laccki to step on an exposed power cable. A shower of sparks sees Lackki overload. A tsking Dread calls for damage control to mop up the 'accident' and we watch Laccki being carried out, ominously murmuring 'I will be back'.
Dread gives the device to Soaron, who is charged with the task of flying into the transit gates to secure the frequency. Then, activiting a mind link through Overmind, Dread takes control of all troopers from his throne room. All missions are at a standstill, with the troopers all concentrating on spotting Power's ship. Finally, the ship is spotted and Soaron goes after it. The new device given to Soaron by Dread allows the Bio-Dread to cloak himself and he is able to attack the Jumpship under disguise. A hit damages the stabilizers on the ship. A suspicious Power finally orders the transit gates to be opened after Pilot informs him that the ship cannot continue flying with the damage. The gate is activated and the Jumpship flies through, with Soaron hot on its tail. The Bio-Dread is unable to follow the ship into the gate, but the frequency analyzer has secured the data Dread needs.
Soaron returns to Volcania with the frequency analyzer and Dread allows himself to gloat - he now has an definitive advantage over Power.
Comment
First time viewers could not possibly be prepared from this script to know what would come in Part Two. Although according to Stagers, many important clues were given about the second season - including references to Dread's new body and clues as to where the team will find a new home - the biggest surprise of the season had not been hinted at. In fact, viewers had every expectation that with Pilot's increasing feelings for Jon, and what seemed like a growing fondness on his part, there would be progress in their relationship at long last. Stagers remarks "Clearly, Pilot is deeply in love with Power. It is also just as clear that Power is not ready or able to love anyone yet. Power sees his duty as being to the preservation of life before his own emotional needs". But as the first episode of the second season suggests, Power did feel something for Pilot, enough for him to make a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction, towards the pursuance of a vendetta against Dread.
For the first time, the Power team underestimate Dread, perhaps coming full circle - Power's frequent claim, that Dread underestimates humanity comes back to haunt him, as he underestimates the extent in which lingering traces of Dread's humanity spur him and make him more determined to see the end of Power and his team.
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