Blackout

Blackout
The crew of the Argo is disembarking, meeting with their families.  Derek and Nova reunite, and Nove sees Derek's bandage, insisting that Dr. Zane look at it.  Zane says "Is that it?!"  Then IQ 9 shows up.  Today happens to be a holiday in honor of Captain Avatar.  Wow, I really miss Captain Avatar and we're only two episodes in.

Wildstar and Nova think about Earth's progress since they returned from Iscandar, and have dinner or something in a restaurant looking over the megalopolis. 

Zane, meanwhile, is getting drunk--er, drinking SPRING WATER at Avatar's statue and reminiscing about the Iscandar mission.  He also gets a cat drunk.  Then the rest of the Argo crew, with Venture and Sandor, arrive and they have a reunion in honor of Avatar, administrated by Dr. Zane.  The crew hang out in the park, drinking "spring water" and watchthe ship Andromeda return from her test run.

Wildstar approaches Zane and ask him if everything is all right on Earth--Wildstar has a feeling that something is about to happen to Earth.  Wildstar tells them that they were attacked by unknown ships.  Everyone reacts. 

Later, Wildstar is walking alone in the Star Force drydock and sees the Andromeda.  He's confronted by by guards, but identifies himself and requests to see the captain.  Wildstar meets Captain Gideon, and realizes that he was his instructor in the academy.  Then they space-lawyer each other over right-of-way, and Gideon is an asshole.  And he dismisses Wildstar.  Sandor and Wildstar leave together, and they discuss the improvements and refinements of the Andromeda vs. the Argo.  The look at the new engines and weapons, and comment on how everything is automated.  Neither Sandor and Wildstar approve of the reduction of the crew to automatons.  Sandor says the higher-ups think the Argo's crew was merely along for the ride, but both he and Wildstar know that success was due to the people working together.

Sandor and Wildstar also discuss the mystery foe.  The machines have been unable to analyze the transmission from the day before.  In Sandor's . . . office?  Station?  They listen to the transmission, and then Sandor shows him some unidentified "comet" that is emitting a power ray that accounted for both Wildstar's and Sandor's system issues.  Sandor supsects that it's something that merely looks like a comet.

Sandor and Wildstar begin refitting the Argo with new weapons, ships, and a time-radar.  Orion is concerned with improving the wave motion gun.  The higher-ups want everything on board the Argo to be centralized.  Wildstar is upset.  He's goes to argue with the commandant.  It doesn't go very well. 

Then the lights go out.  EVERYWHERE.  Civilians panic.  The power outages spread, and cause chaos.

Dr. Zane, in the middle of an operation, uses a new robot's power cells to restore OR power.  IQ 9 feels sad.

Wildstar, driving on the surface,  sees and recognizes a Comet Empire ship.

The Comet reconnaissance commander reports to Zordar and Invidia, and shows them the chaos the power outage has caused.  Desslok cautions them, and Invidia teases him.  He leaves to head them off for when they decipher the garbled message.  Invidia doesn't trust Desslok.  That's okay, 'cuz ol' eyebrows Zardor has put a commander loyal to himself under Desslok.

Next episode, Desslok meets up with former Gamilon officers.