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Below are the descriptions for the clips.
"A Battle of Life and Death" (Part 1 of 4)
As Blacker undergoes repair, the other Cybertrons talk with God Ginrai.
Deszaras has a personal talk with Leozack...
Technical details:
The source is a second-generation videotape, though of a much better quality than the Masterforce clips. The full-screen view looks great at 1280X1024 resolution on my monitor, helped by the sharpen filter I applied to the video.
Description of the events in the video:
After the commerical break with Star Saber is the preview for the episode. The Destron Breastforce attack an outpost and then Star Saber when he showed up. The Cybertron commander chases their combined form Liokaiser into an area surrounded by Indian statues, which later explode all around him. Last is Destron commander Deszaras firing his large gun at Star Saber, but the identity of the one who jumps in the way of the blast shocks everyone watching as the title shows up.
The episode begins with a pan across mountains and a nice background music before focusing on the Cybertrons' base (Countdown). Inside is an infirmary where Pibo (Fixit) and Boater (Seawatch) of the Micromaster Rescue Patrol are repairing Blacker, the Cybertron Brainmaster cars' leader badly injured in the previous episode, while Fire (Red Hot), human boy Jan, and Holi (Stakeout) watch. Star Saber comes in to check up on Blacker, who tries to pretend that he is much better, but is laughed at by the others.
Just then Laster of the Brainmaster car trio reports in, saying someone is calling in. Jan realizes it is God Ginrai, the previous commander of the Cybertrons. The character appears next on another screen in another room, filled by Laster and partner Braver, Star Saber, Jan, and Holi, to discuss their situation now that Blacker (and the combiner Road Caesar) are out of the action along with the Multiforce (and their combiner Landcross). God Ginrai says that he will come to Earth.
Meanwhile, at the Destron base Thunder Arrow (Skystalker), Breastforce leader Leozack is studying a map of Earth to find the next target for energy. Fellow Breastforce member Guyhawk shows up to report on Hellbat and the damage that the Cybertron six-changer Greatshot did to them. The two get into a little debate, interrupted by the arrival of Jargua, who reports that "Deszaras-taitei" (Emperor Deszaras) wants to see Leozack.
Leozack knocks on Deszaras' door, saying he's there, when the ruler's two Breastforce animals burst through ("Breast attack!") and pin him to the ground. Deszaras then shows up and lays the edge of his sword against him, angry at Leozack's apparent betrayal for retreating with the Breastforce in the previous episode, and leaving him alone with Thunder Arrow to face both Star Saber and Greatshot. When he is allowed to get up, Leozack bends down to swear renewed loyalty to him. He apparently is going to make the Cybertrons pay.
"A Battle of Life and Death" (Part 2 of 4)
The Breastforce attacks an outpost to draw out Star Saber, who finds
himself at the mercy of the jets' latest trick...
Technical details:
The source is a second-generation videotape, though of a much better quality than the Masterforce clips. The full-screen view looks great at 1280X1024 resolution on my monitor, helped by the sharpen filter I applied to the video.
Description of the events in the video:
The video begins with a faction-symbol scene switch, followed by a pan over from an old, deserted Central Asian town to an outpost guarded by two robots (Cybertrons?). The one on the right informs the one on the left about something approaching in the distance, kicking up a lot of sand. The arrivals turn out to be three Breastforce jets (Hellbat, Leozack, and Guyhawk), who blast the two guards and the entrance with their missiles. The emerging outpost troops are scattered or mauled by Drillhorn coming up through the desert ground, while the rest are slaughtered by Jargua and Killbison. The three jets continue their aerial bombardment as the scene switches to the Cybertrons.
Inside the Cybertron base (Countdown) the still-able-bodied Cybertrons,
consisting of the Micromaster Rescue Patrol, the two Brainmasters Braver
and Laster, and Jan (on his hover platform), meet with Star Saber. He
orders Braver and Laster to remain behind with Blacker, who is still in
the infirmary, while the others in Galaxy Shuttle ("Galaxy Shuttle,
Sitting in a chair, Laster is transported over to the infirmary to check
up on Blacker. When the Brainmaster car leader asks him where Holi and
the others are, Laster tries to reassure him that "Soushireikan" (which
means "leader", or "Prime") will be fine, and advises him to remain in
bed when Blacker tries to get up. Blacker is still worried, though.
The scene switches back to the desert outpost. Drillhorn's blasts sear
apart several more robot troops. The Breastforce jets bombard from above.
Jargua sideswipes two troops. Killbison fires his twin tank barrels at
the outpost, blowing away many more. Right after Leozack and Guyhawk's
comments, Galaxy Shuttle and Star Saber arrive. The Cybertron leader orders
the crew to take care of the outpost's troops, leaving Holi to supervise the
others. (Fire (Red Hot) even said "OK." ^_^)
Star Saber then attacks the jets, but the three move into position and didn't
fire back. Curious, Star Saber halts in mid-air. The three laugh, and then
fly around in a very quick circle, producing a blinding flash of light in
the centerto distract him while they transform and throw their chains with
bombs on them around his rear wings. Leozack then tells the surprised Cybertron
what they had done, accompanied by his team's snickers. Unperturbed, Star Saber
separates his jet portion from the booster and transforms into his smaller robot
form to remove the chains. Unfortunately for him the Breastforce trio transform
back into jets and attack, landing some shots. Still largely okay, Saber
reaches out to remove the ticking bomb on one of the chains, but he is too
late. The trio cheer ("Yatta!") at the resulting big explosion as Saber is
thrown back before the commercial break with Deszaras appears.
"A Battle of Life and Death" (Part 3 of 4)
Crashing to the ground, Star Saber confronts Liokaiser and the Destrons'
exploding Indian statues, which send him falling even lower.
Technical details:
The source is a second-generation videotape, though of a much better quality than the Masterforce clips. The full-screen view looks great at 1280X1024 resolution on my monitor, helped by the sharpen filter I applied to the video.
Description of the events in the video:
After the commercial break with the Dinoforce, the episode continues Fire (Red Hot) putting out fires as the other members of the Micromaster Rescue Patrol tend to the injured troops. Holi asks, "Jan, Soushireikan daijobu na? (Jan, is the commander okay?)" Holi still isn't sure about that despite Jan's answer.
Trailed by the Breastforce jets, Star Saber's booster falls from the sky, crashing into a canyon. The impact throws Saber off onto the ground, leaving him with some signs of damage. The other three Breastforce members roll up firing at him, as did the jets. He jumps up, shouting "Transform!" when combining with his booster to form his larger robot form, next saying "Battle up!" to bring down his battle helmet, and finally calling out "Saber blade!" when drawing out his sword blade from his back's scabbard.
The six opponents say "...gattai, Liokaiser!", transforming into six parts and then merging with bluish energy around their links. Leozack plugs onto Jargua to form the torso, Hellbat snaps in to form the left arm, Guyhawk moves in to form the right arm, and Killbison and Drillhorn float up to form the legs as the head appears, completing the formation of the mighty Liokaiser. Laughing, he draws out his pike with a spiked ring on one end and leaps up to attack from above, knocking Star Saber down but not out as the scene changes back to the Cybertron base.
In the infirmary Braver had apparently told Blacker what was going on. Blacker gets up despite Braver and Laster's attempts, and tells the two that they have to be there to protect their Soushireikan. The two obey and leave as Blacker hopes for the best.
Back at the battle after a scene change, Liokaiser leaps in with his pike and spiked ring again, shouting, "Shi-ne! (Die!)" Star Saber strikes back, knocking the combiner's weapon up and away onto the ground, and then lashes out with his Saber blade. Liokaiser dodges the strikes and runs off toward the center of a circular area surrounded by Indian statues with Star Saber in pursuit, and makes himself disappear. The Cybertron tries to listen for the Destron's location, and launches himself with his sword in front at it when he thinks he has figured it out, striking one of the statues. Drawing his sword out, Star Saber wonders where Liokaiser is now right when the statue explodes. Star Saber jumps away from the blast, but is knocked away by the one he lands next to. As the statues all blow up, the ground crumbles apart underneath him, sending him falling down as the clip ends.
"A Battle of Life and Death" (Part 4 of 4)
Concerned at Star Saber's long absence, Holi and Jan go off to look for him.
God Ginrai arrives just in time to rescue Star Saber from both Deszaras and
Liokaiser, but at a terrible cost.
Technical details:
The source is a second-generation videotape, though of a much better quality than the Masterforce clips. The full-screen view looks great at 1280X1024 resolution on my monitor, helped by the sharpen filter I applied to the video.
Description of the events in the video:
Back at the Central Asian outpost, Pibo (Fixit) and Fire (Red Hot) are talking next to Galaxy Shuttle when Holi and Jan show up and tell them that they are going to look for Star Saber. As the two Micromasters express surprise, Holi yells "Transform!" and drives off with Jan inside before a scene switch.
The camera view moves from the hole through which Star Saber had fallen to himself, who had just revived from the experience. He looks up to see a large female Indian statue at one end of the room he's in. Getting up, he walks over to it, which has a spiked ball in its left hand, and then turns to look around the place. The statue's eyes suddenly glow red as it raises its spiked ball, preparing to move. Star Saber notices it throwing the spiked ball at him and tries to leap away, but the ball lands on his right foot. The pain sends him crash-landing. The female Indian stone statue approaches and begins to crack apart as a familiar laughter emanates from it. "Deszaras!" Star Saber realizes.
Deszaras chuckles and resumes attacking, throwing his spiked ball but misses. As Star Saber gets into position, Deszaras pulls out his Gun-From-Hell and fires. After the dust has settled, it turns out that Star Saber is still alive, but his left arm's tower has been incinerated. To make matters worse, Liokaiser rolls a boulder off a small ledge down at him from above. The boulder crumbles into pieces surrounding him.
As Deszaras laughs, praising the gloating Liokaiser, Star Saber learns from them that the attack on the outpost was merely a distraction to draw him out into this trap. Deszaras readies his Gun again for another shot and is joined in his gleeful anticipation by the laughing Liokaiser.
Having just arrived at the hole, Jan blurts out "Soushirei--!" before he is quieted by Holi, who hopes Greatshot or someone will come soon, and reports back to the others. Chuckling, Deszaras finally fires his Gun. Just before the blast reaches him, though, something suddenly jumps in the way and blocks the energy. As everyone expresses surprise, the energy drains away, revealing someone with some damage with his arms out in front across each other. "God Ginrai!" exclaims Jan, answering Deszaras' question for the Transformer's identity.
God Ginrai then draws his sword back and prepares to attack, but collapses to his knees from the blast's effect, eliciting a chuckle from Deszaras. God Ginrai leaps high into the air to slash him with the sword, but the Destron blocks it with his Gun, pushes him back with it, and presses his advantage. God Ginrai blocks, but is pushed back again as Deszaras prepares to fire his Gun again. The first blast misses, but not the second one. This worries the other Cybertrons.
As Star Saber tries to free himself from the large rocks, Deszaras gloats. However, God Ginrai isn't ready to quit. He suddenly jumps at him with his sword, but Deszaras steps out of the way, brings up his right leg to block/punch him in the gut, and then slams him away physically with his Gun, sending him crashing forward to the ground. Deszaras brings forth his Gun to finish him off, but God Ginrai turns around and tries to push back the barrel with his sword, but he's losing. Star Saber finally frees himself from the rocks, but the invisible Liokaiser quickly jumps down and holds him back, reappearing and telling him he can't interfere.
As the push-of-war continues, God Ginrai's shoulder missile launcher suddenly lowers and fires at pointblank range at the unwitting Deszaras' head, knocking him away. God Ginrai leaps in to slash Deszaras with his sword, but loses it as Deszaras begins firing at random. Star Saber throws off Liokaiser just as Deszaras blasts the edge of the hole where Holi and Jan are. "Jan! Holi!" God Ginrai cries out in concern before getting shot in the middle of his torso. Hanging from the newly created edge of the larger hole, Holi and Jan both say they're okay.
Star Saber leaps up to stop Deszaras, whose Gun's blast misses going in between the head and left arm before being sliced apart by the Saber blade. Deszaras himself was stabbed in the left side when Star Saber lands and swings his blade around to his left. As God Ginrai gets up, Laster and Braver arrive to help. Angered by the turnaround, Deszaras wants to fight on, but later accepts Liokaiser's dissuasion. Their retreat is covered by falling rocks from the hallway through which they went.
"Arigatou (Thank you), God Ginrai," says Star Saber. Their talk is interrupted by Holi and Jan, who are still hanging off the edge of the hole above. ^_^ As Laster and Braver run off to bring them down safely, Star Saber and God Ginrai laugh, but the latter suddenly collapses. "God Ginrai!" calls out the alarmed Star Saber. "Daijobu (I'm okay)," answers the Cybertron, saying that he's a Godmaster, meaning his injuries should heal themselves as before. Unfortunately, that isn't what appears to be happening now to them all as they gather around him, with his still glaring large hole in his top left side, as the episode ends.
The preview for the next episode appears next after a commercial break with Jan and Holi. Star Saber and his Cybertrons continue to be in a pinch against the Destrons. Perceptor slams the console with both fists in despair trying to repair God Ginrai, who is in a biobed. The crying Jan is lifted away by Minerva, last seen in the Masterforce series. Other Cybertrons stand around, and Star Saber lifts his fist in frustration, before the title, translated as "Farewell, God Ginrai", appears over a greyish-colored head of God Ginrai in a biobed underneath a transparent surface... :(
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