- When an Earth outpost 16 light-years away is destroyed by an unknown alien force, a group of young United States Marine Corps Space Aviators find themselves on the front lines of an intergalactic battle in an attempt to save their home planet.—Anonymous
- After two colonies are destroyed, humanity not only learns it is not alone in the cosmos but something actively wants to destroy it. We follow the story of a group of fresh recruits as each struggles with both their own emotional baggage as well as learning how to become the pride of the Marine Corp Space Aviators.—chapman_glen@yahoo
- Vesta Colony Epsilon Eridani Star System 2063AD The colony leader addresses the colonists. They are the first and their belief in themselves and one another will sustain them into the future
A dog wakes disturbed in the middle of the night. A colonist goes to investigate as a huge barrage of explosions erupt throughout the colony killing everyone.
Back on Earth we see a crew of trainee colonist going through a simulated launch. After the test a number of colonists are called to the Governor Elects' office. Nathan West (Morgan Weisser) and Kylen (Amanda Douge) have a tender moment, obviously excited about the upcoming colony flight
Elsewhere, a group of men chase a youth through dirty, deserted streets. Catching the youth, they confirm he is a 'tank' or an 'in vitro human' and, because of previous issues with 'tanks' during the war, they attempt to kill him. Fighting back, he wounds a number of his assailants and escapes, only to be apprehended by a police patrol.
The Governor tells Nathan and Kylen that one of them must be replaced because of new laws involving 'tanks' and the need for their presence on the colony ship. If the 'tanks' don't go, the mission will be scrapped. Rather than select someone, the Governor tells the couple they must decide between themselves who is to remain behind. The Governor then explains there might be a chance the space marines cavalry may be assigned to protect the colony and gives them a couple of hours to decide.
In an abandoned house a woman, we later learn is Shane Vansen relives a childhood memory in which she witnesses the death of her parents by unknown gunmen. Before being sent to safety, her mother tells her she must care for her two sisters.
Back at the center, the Governor watches the assembly of colonists board the ship. He nods to Kylen realizing she is the one selected. In the cargo area below decks we see a canister open and Nathan emerges. He makes his way to the hydroponics area and prepares for the launch.
In the ship's control room an abnormal CO2 count is noted and officers are sent to investigate. The search soon unearths a stowaway, Nathan. Kylen is distraught when she discovers their plan has failed and as they lead Nathan off the ship she throws her pendent to him on which she has recorded the words "I believe in you".
From outside the base Nathan sees the spaceship with Kylen aboard take off.
Nathan West is on a bus heading for the USMC base in Loxley, Alabama. He introduces himself to Shane Vance (Kristen Cloke), Vanessa Dampousse (Lanei Chapman) and is then introduced to Mike 'Pags' Pagodin (Peter Kent). Once they arrive at the training base their indoctrination begins. Soon they will be United States Marine Corp aviators.
As the drill sergeant puts the recruits through their paces, a final team member Cooper 'Coop' Hawkes (Rodney Rowland), the youth we saw being arrested arrives at the base. After the altercation with the police, part of Hawkes' sentence was to become a member of the Marine Corp.
Reaching their 'new' world, Kylen's colony ship is on final approach when it is attacked and disabled. We do not know the fate of the vessel or its passengers.
West leads a flight of space fighters to engage an enemy. West gives the orders to attack but Hawkes remains unresponsive. As the fighters maneuver to avoid him a chain reaction of impacts occur and the whole squadron is destroyed.
A hatch cracks open showing the event was only a simulated exercise and the drill sergeant begins balling Hawkes out. He launches into a tirade over the complete lack of teamwork being shown by the team and orders them to continue to fly the mission till they get it right.
Later at a bar the team sit and relax over drinks, but Hawkes chooses to sit away from the rest of the team, alone. A team of active pilots come in and tension mounts till a melee breaks out. During the fight a special broadcast breaks in over the TV to announce the destruction of the Vesta colony and destruction of the ship carrying Kylen and her group of colonists. Nathan holds hope that Kylen might be among the 25 still uncounted.
At the base, things jump into high gear as preparations for war progress. The team's training schedule has been accelerated and they are now to commence a training flight to Mars during which they will attempt to repair a damaged communications probe.
During the trip, the crew gets the jitters, and discusses the various rumors about the enemy. Reportedly, they have huge armies and better ships, and each wonders how they will handle themselves when the fighting starts.
One night Hawkes sees Vansen apparently experiencing a nightmare. He awakens and comforts her and she tells him about the night her parents were killed, as seen in a flashback. Vansen then explains her reason for joining the corps was to avoid having to continue being the missing parent for her younger sisters. Hawkes makes a pass at Vansen and is rejected.
Pilot part 2
The team land on Mars. West begins to secure their position, but Hawkes has other ideas and a fight breaks out. Vansen puts a halt to the bickering and works to establish control of their situation by identifying the direction they need to hike to reach the com units.
Locating the units they set to work only to be interrupted by the crash landing of an object 10 miles from their position. Vansen decides they need to investigate and leads the squad across the Martian desert.
They locate what turns out to be a ship, other than high radiation levels all seems well till they get to close range and are fired on. During the resulting fire fight Pags is killed and a Chig is captured.
During an attempted interrogation of the alien Damphousse believes it is thirsty and offers water. The creature accepts the liquid, but rather than being grateful it has a biological reaction and dies, possibly committing suicide. The scene cuts to Earth where the 58th Squadron says goodbye to Pags at his funeral.
Scene cuts again, this time gunnery Sergeant Bougus introduces the crew to their SA43 attack fighters. The sergeant then explains the gravity of the situation. To date the war has gone very poorly for Earth and as a consequence the squad, now the 58th, has been granted a 48 hour leave prior to embarkation. At first they prefer to stay on the flight line but Bougus explains this could very well be the last time they will ever see their family, and they should take full advantage of it.
Nathan invites Shane home to meet his family, who are pleased to see her and their son but are extremely apprehensive about the progress of the war and how it will affect their son.
On TV, gathering Earth forces assemble led by the famous 'Angry Angels', the 127th Squadron.
Meanwhile, Hawkes goes to Pags' grave and tells the dead marine he was one of the few able to show any kindness to him and for that, appreciates a little more the sacrifices being made. Glancing upwards Hawkes catches sight of a massive battle taking place in low Earth orbit.
Nathan, Shane and his family witness the end of the same battle from what little information coming from newscasts the battle has been a catastrophic loss for Earth. Moments later their communicators squawk to life with orders of a general recall for all space marines.
Next morning sees the couple working on the flight line when they discover their orders have come through. As they race to briefing they are dismayed to see survivors from the 'Angry Angels' squadron dis-embarking. It is clear many have either died or been severely injured.
Later at a briefing, the 58th Squadron find that their discoveries on Mars have allowed Earth to anticipate alien plans. The Chigs are massing for a major battle and the Earth forces believe they have a chance to lay a trap. The pilots of the 58th are frustrated to discover they will only be backups in the plan. The briefing ends with orders for the 58th to transfer to the carrier Saratoga for deployment beyond the 'Jupiter Line'.
As they fly to the Saratoga, they briefly engage an alien scout ship but lack of fuel forces them to abandon the attack. This event causes issues within the fleet; the scout can only mean the Chigs have changed their plans.
The 58th learn the plan has been changed. It is now believed the aliens are driving for an attack directly into Earth space. At their briefing the squad are introduced to their Squadron CO, , (James Morrison).
He outlines the plan for the 58th in which they are to hide among the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter. He explains they are not there to wage a full out attack but to stall the aliens before they reach Earth while the Earth's forces circle around and attack.
As the squadron maneuvers into position it appears the plan has failed as the aliens change course away from the hidden 58th. Hawkes takes a chance and flies out to tease the aliens and then begins to lead them back to the 58th.
The fight unfolds with limited casualties to the 58th. The 'Greber' forces arrive in time and begin attacking the alien fleet with great success, ultimately forcing the Chigs to withdraw with heavy damage.
Later at a reception the crew drink to the memory of Pags and their own survival of the mission. Their new Squadron Commander dresses them down for the way they went about the attack.
Chapman_glen@yahoo.com
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Pilot (1995) in Brazil?
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