M13: Battle Without Tomorrow!

Episode 21 of Star Fleet

Although all of X Bomber is a serial, the M13 duology feels like the most connected pair of episodes in the entire series. Neither story is quite complete in and of itself. I can’t help but feel at the start that they are one episode padded out into two. But just when you think you know where Star Fleet is going is when it takes a turn. In this case, that turn leads into one of the most emotional and powerful character moments in the whole series. Plus, there’s a direct confrontation with pacifist philosophy AND a Tokusatsu battle between a giant robot and a giant ball! What’s not to love?

I’m going to guess that Makara is the victim of a poor script translation and not having a senior moment.

Last episode ended with a rather clever tactical move from Makara– if you’ll recall, she diverted X Bomber away using her battlecruiser and then allowed Orion’s fleet and Caliban’s Death Ball to wreak havoc down on the planet. One person who does NOT recall this ingenious strategy is Makara herself. She acts surprised when a subordinate informs her that X Bomber is right on their tail. Girl, that was the plan, remember?

As the stock footage of a battle between X Bomber and the Imperial Battlecruiser rolls, we get an unpleasant reminder that this guy has taken over command.

Shiro’s bossy Dad orders him to fire a laser blast, which he does. The switch is definitely labelled X - IMPULSE. That’s a very different weapon.

While X Bomber and co. are confused about their own weaponry, Makara’s crew debut something new. Apparently, the old catfish can fire electric lightning out of its eyes. Andy of sfxb.co.uk nicknames this the ion cannon. Why?

Because, like the ion cannon of the Star Wars universe, this weapon has the effect of disabling controls and onboard systems.¹ Frankly, Professor Hagen and Hercules don’t seem all that bothered.

Orion, ever ready for glory, launches more fighters.

The attack on the palace is absolute bedlam.

If you watched last week’s episode, you could probably write this scene yourself. An aide informs the King and Queen of Callinean, as well as Halley and Lamia, that the palace is under attack. Seeing as how they are in the palace and given that we just saw the towers and ramparts being blown to smithereens, I would think they would know about the attack without being told.

Halley thinks so little of the Royal powers of reasoning that he even decides to remind them that this could be dangerous and that evacuation is a good idea. Lamia insists that it’s all her fault. It’s pretty annoying how the writers have just discarded all the advancements her character made in earlier episodes.

Here we get into the moral crux of the narrative. The King reminds us that the Callineans are against all violence– including the violence used to resist oppression. He quite calmly tells his friends there’s nothing to worry about– if he is killed, someone will succeed him. Frankly, I’m not sure that line of thinking would be a comfort to say, oh I don’t know, his wife the Queen who is standing right behind him. It’s also not an ideology that goes down very well with Lamia or Halley.

Sean Barrett voices the King and sounds a lot like he does in The Dark Crystal. In this particular line reading, he fumbles a bit and places the inflection in the wrong place but apparently a retake was either unused or deemed unnecessary.

Don’t forget that this King has access to a super powerful laser cannon constructed by Professor Hagen. Halley urges him to use it. As it turns out, that cannon was constructed by the Prof WITHOUT permission or even the knowledge of the local government. So in addition to being a deadbeat Dad and all his other moral crimes/misdemeanors, Hagen violated local law. “We forgave him,” the King says serenely. I hope one day I am mature enough to be that forgiving.

When it becomes clear that the King won’t fight, Halley belatedly decides to do a bit of fighting himself. This doesn’t chime with his earlier insistence that he must survive into the year 3,000 to aid the F-01, but his desire to defend against the invaders is perfectly understandable.

Lamia understands because she wants to go too, but Halley won’t allow it. She is ordered to remain in the “protection of the palace.”

Yes. That palace. Surely you’d be safer somewhere else? Isn’t there a PEOC bunker around here?

A lot of the detail is lost or overexposed in these images, but the carnage looks spectacular. Lots of real fire and model buildings going kablooey.

Like a phoenix out of the ashes, the Skull rises up to fight the fight X Bomber should be waging.

Although stock footage shows the Skull fighting Imperial Astrofighters, down on the ground someone else is shooting at the Death Ball. Speaking of which, let’s talk about that thing…

Sometimes referred to as the Gelma Tank in the Japanese original, the Death Ball is meant to be scary and overpowering. I suppose if I saw it rolling my way, I wouldn’t pick a fight with it but I don’t remember it being a standout vehicle for me as a kid. It’s conceptual design, while unique and innovative, is a bit cumbersome. It also isn’t fast and looks as if it could tumble over. Appearances can be deceiving. As what we’re about to see in this episode (along with behind the scenes photos) will confirm, this model was built in multiple scales including one that was absolutely massive.

These photos are from the 2022 X Bomber Exhibition catalog, which is still available for purchase from Japan with an included English translation. Note the technician in the background of the center photo for scale, while the right image depicts a miniature on the work bench.

Caliban arrives at the palace. With an evil cackle, he tells Lamia he will stop the Alliance attack if she surrenders herself. Then he proceeds to blow the place to smithereens. Do they want to destroy Lamia or do they want to capture her?² Remember back in episode 3 they had a Delta Laser which could destroy an entire planet? Why not just blow the whole place up and be done with it?

Why do I feel like I’ve seen the palace blow up seven times already?

This is a time-tested ploy for Lamia baiting. It would be nice if this time Lamia found a way to resist.

In more backtracking, she needs someone else to tell her what to do. Halley orders her to stay put then lets X Bomber know that in this chess game, the Alliance has put the good guys in check.

Look at his dopey expression. He hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing.

Although the next move is obvious, Shiro still needs his Dad to tell him to launch the Dai-X and go save Lamia. Shiro, rather touchingly, is worried that his father will be endangered with all of the boys gone. PPA offers reassurances that he can hold down the fort.

Here I have to pause to say that while I was writing this review John Baddeley, the primary voice of PPA and other characters, passed away. He was a very talented actor and it is a shame I will never get the chance to interview him for this blog.

A photo posted in tribute on social media by Jacob Calta.

With a hearty “that’s my boy,” from Hercules to PPA, the gang leave the robot in charge and head off to save the day– although they don’t exactly race off the bridge.

The puppeteers and directors are not usually averse to making these puppets move fast. Today, they are moving very slow indeed which does nothing to up the stakes.

Immediately after the stock footage take off, we get a stock footage junction and the cadets are headed off to do battle as a giant robot once more.

One thing I love about old school sci-fi design is that, while the concept art may have been sleek, the art departments were limited by practical considerations. They had to build whatever Go Nagai invented. Straight lines are easier to build out of real materials than curves and hence Dai-X is much boxier than it appears in early designs. Personally, I like the blockier and more practical look whereas today 3D printing and advanced manufacturing techniques makes almost any shape reproducible.

Are we blowing up this same model AGAIN?!? Even if Dai-X made top speed, this whole place should be flattened into a parking lot by now.

Wires are visible swinging this Dai-X model into place.

It’s clobberin’ time. Scroll up and compare this picture with the model above. The suit and the model do look quite different!

Caliban is itching for this fight. Dai-X is his white whale and this Captain Ahab has something more deadly than a few rusty old harpoons in his arsenal.

In true black hat style, Caliban opens fire first. To begin with, he’s just using the top mounted cannons he’s been using to repeatedly blow up the palace.

Dai-X is unimpressed.

The promise of the premise right here!

Dai-X may be unharmed by the blasts of the Death Ball’s cannons, but Caliban is equally untouched by the pummeling of the giant robo’s rubberized fists. Oh dear.

Unable to inflict real damage, they begin to push and pull each other in a test of strength.

Caliban has been waiting for this.

ZAP! Caliban’s ball becomes electrified. This sends Dai-X reeling and seems none too comfortable for the operators inside.

That’ll teach you to play around with strange balls!

What now?

Dai-X, arguably for the first time in the whole series, appears to have met it’s match. But as we well know, there are a lot more weapons to try. I’m not quite sure why you wouldn’t lead with projectile weapons rather than fisticuffs? Usually you send in bombers before ground troops but no one said Shiro was a master tactician.

Shiro calls this a laser beam.

Pyrotechnics? 8/10. Damage? 0/10.

A quick word of thanks to the tokusatsu suit performers who allowed explosives to be strapped to their bodies in order to entertain the world.

After every failed attack from the Death Ball, Dai-X does a charming little move to indicate that it is still standing and ready to continue fighting. It feels very martial arts inspired although I’m not sure of the exact meaning of the gesture or stance.

Hercules advises “laser torpedoes” which, improbably, are the actual torpedoes again. Inconsistency, thy name is Dai-X weapons.

If you slow this sequence down, you can see one frame in which the torpedoes disappear and are replaced by something black attached to the model and about to detonate.

Whatever you call them, this weapon has no effect either. What to do?

Is this the face of robotic despair?

What to do, indeed! As the Death Ball advances, the Dai-X is left with no alternative but to back away. Caliban gloats inside his tin baseball. Hercules and Lee look to Shiro for ideas.

The anthropomorphic nature of Dai-X sometimes means the movements of the operators are reflected in the movements of the bot– though how exactly this works is never explained.

Shiro, in turn, looks to the heavens where the Skull is battling Orion’s fleet. His thoughts are with Lamia, rather than rooted in the present conflict.

Meanwhile back at the Incredible Exploding Palace…

I thought at this point we would take a break from the Dai-X/Death Ball battle and catch up with Lamia, but we are not there yet. Instead, enjoy Dai-X doing a backflip.

I honestly have no idea how they achieved this shot.

The ability to fly is a definite strength for Dai-X. As far as we know, the Death Ball cannot match that. Plus, the ability to divide into three fighters means that the X Bomber crew could strafe the tank from the air and keep it busy until further notice.

This rare angle on the suit performer gives us a chance to see the red fabric used to hide his or her neck.

How will the Death Ball counter those stunning aerobatics?

Oh. By turning around. So much for backflips.

There’s something about the green and copper tones of Imperial aesthetics that really appeals to me. It doesn’t exactly say evil to me though.

To prevent any repetitions of that last move, Caliban pulls out his latest trick– toilet plunger suction cups. Clever.

Big Red is chained up!

Normally I don’t quibble about the AI upscale I use for screenshots. Produced entirely by fans, it was a real labour of love. Even though AI takes on a lot of the heavy lifting, it still requires a great deal of care and time to make sure every shot looks it’s best. Short of high quality scans of the original Japanese film prints, this is probably the best the show could ever look. In this rare instance of a glitch, the AI upscale has accidentally erased one of the two cables attached to Dai-X’ wrists. It’s a testament to the hard work of the fans that this kind of thing almost never happens. This upscale compares favorably to the work of full time professionals.

Having pinned down his quarry, Caliban proceeds to go in for the kill. Will Dai-X survive the shock treatment?

The giant robot collapses.

Lamia is keeping up with the battle somehow, either through her powers or via some sort of screen we can’t see. Things look bad for both Dai-X and the Skull. But how about X Bomber?

“When the planet of peace is destroyed, you will die!” Makara declares. We don’t get a shot of PPA and the Professor. I’m going to assume that’s because old man Hagen is losing his mind right now.

Lamia despairs. All her allies appear to be in danger of destruction. Is this the end?

No. The King reminds Lamia there is still a cannon. She urges him to use it– but it’s the Queen’s entreaty that seems to get through to him.

Caliban releases Dai-X… only to “celebrate with a bonfire.”

“What did you do at work today?” “Oh, nothing much. Just fired a flamethrower out of a space tank. How about you?”

With Dai-X on the barbecue, Caliban decides to burn down the rest of the planet. Not exactly the most time efficient approach, but I get the evil intent. The imagery is suitably apocalyptic. Now we know why they call it the Death Ball.

But wait! Dai-X isn’t dead and neither is the crew.

Huh?

Out of nowhere, Shiro calls for a “defence shield” which Dai-X promptly raises. An energy barrier of some sort, this is similar to the shield X Bomber used way back in Episode 4, at least in the sense that it is used only once with no explanation at all. Why didn’t they use it earlier?

Ok, well, that’s really flippin’ cool.

Caliban’s flabber has been gasted. “That’s impossible!”

Shiro’s had enough of losing for one episode, and so decides to win for a change. This is like those scenes in car racing movies where the hero suddenly decides that we’re in the right part of the story to push ALL THE WAY DOWN on the gas pedal. Why not drive full speed at the beginning? There has to be a credible reason.

Anyway, it gives us an opportunity to see this weapon– it’s called X Tracers. Don’t ask me how it works. It makes a sound like an X Impulse.

It has a pretty devastating effect on poor Caliban’s ball of doom.

In fact, it seems to be the end of the silver scientist. Surely, no one could survive something like this?

Too often the explosions in X Bomber are compared to those of Thunderbirds– the byproduct of nearly a decade of work and refinement by Derek Meddings, Reg Hill, and many others at what was then called AP Films. Although they started much weaker than International Rescue, across the first 20 episodes, the Star Fleet team has reached similar heights of pyrotechnic glory. This is a candidate for best explosion of the whole show.

Like X-Impulse, X Tracers apparently drain the reserves.

But all is not well aboard Dai-X. As the crew is celebrating their victory, Dai-X begins to power down. “Energy cells need rechargin’” Hercules declares, “it’ll take time.” I look forward to the day when humans invent a self-recharging battery.

“That means we can’t save the palace,” Shiro laments. Don’t worry, the palace was built by the Mysterons. It rebuilds itself every time it gets destroyed.

While Shiro is very afraid for Lamia, his concern for deadbeat Dad has waned. Nevertheless, it pains my heart to see ol’ X Bomber in such distress. I guess she can’t save the palace either.

But wait! The aperture opens.

Could it be?

Yes– the super ginormous cannon has opened fire. And who’s on the receiving end of it’s pulsating beam?

You guessed it– Makara. Triumphant music swells as Hercules, Lee, and Shiro praise the use of this weapon of mass destruction. The effect, again, seems similar to an X Impulse. There’s lots of ‘splosions but no permanent damage. Can nothing destroy an Imperial Battlecruiser?

How Hagen constructed this monstrosity without the local monarchs hearing about it is beyond me. How did he get the funding and the materials? Surely you can’t build something like this by yourself. Who helped him?

Hagen’s Cannon is an impressive bit of hardware. How do you fire it? Get a good look at it because you won’t see it again. Why build something this elaborate and detailed for one shot like this?

As Makara retreats, we learn that the King pulled the trigger himself. Despite his non-violent intentions, he now admits to Lamia that she was right. “It saved our lives.” This cuts the moral dilemma of the episode off at the knees. Not only does this compromise the King’s commitment to his principles, it also isn’t a true test because, presumably, no one died in the Callinean counterattack.

Oh well. Did Makara leave Orion and Caliban behind?

You simply CANNOT destroy this palace.

Well, I guess that’s that. The planet is saved and the King has moved past forgiving Professor Hagen and on to thanking him for his work. Honestly, even though we didn’t see much of X Bomber, I think we all know it was PPA doing the lion’s share during the battle.

Everyone is splitting up. Now that the planet has overcome centuries of moral objection to self defense, X Bomber and the Skull are free to go. Lamia is going with Halley which means she’ll be separated from the crew for the first time.

Although everyone says goodbye to her, Lamia only has eyes for Shiro. She definitely has some complicated feelings to sort out before the year 3000.

It is important to respect your elders, but I hate the way the trio of boys are so deferential to Professor Hagen. But I guess his cannon did save the day…

Although it wasn’t shown, Orion must have organized a retreat because he’s back aboard and ready for the next offensive. Makara orders another attack on Callinean/M13 but her plan is interrupted.

Nice to confirm that there are many battlecruisers like Makara’s in the fleet. Why not deploy all of them to destroy F-01?

Yes, friends, it is the Imperial Master and he is a little salty. He reckons Hagen’s Cannon is too powerful and could fend off any attack– even the attack of multiple battlecruisers. So much for that. What now?

Her symbiont sounds nothing like it did in previous episodes.

Nothing. Makara is stripped of command. The Imperial Master proclaims that he is taking matters into his own hands… by attacking the Earth. Orion and Makara and all their troops are expected to wait out the war and twiddle their thumbs in disgrace.

This is probably the worst day of Orion’s life.

But Makara has no plans to go into exile. She has a scheme to go into battle with X Bomber regardless of the Master’s orders. A risky gambit. If it works, she’ll be restored to power and possibly advance in rank. But if the leader is displeased with her initiative then there is still a guillotine waiting on the Imperial Planetoid.

Throughout most of Star Fleet, the Imperial Alliance has been one step ahead. Their scanners and communications tech are superior to those of the Earthlings. But now that Halley and the Skull are fully present the tables are about to turn.

This crew member reports that the Imperial communique to Makara has been intercepted, meaning that they now know the Earth will be attacked. Before Halley has time to think, Lamia runs off to go and tell the X Bomber crew the news.

In her inner thoughts, Lamia makes an apology to Halley for her rashness and reveals to the audience that she is “so fond of Shiro” that she can’t let him go. Will the girl of destiny turn her back on the universe for a chance at true love?

These weird statues are a great touch. They do a little bit to give the impression that this planet has culture and history.

Back at the graveside everyone gives their final farewells… even Hagen who left Dr. Benn on the moon to finish the X project alone.

My dislike for Professor Hagen is only increased by the way he pops the collar on his coat. However, when he gets the news that Earth is in danger, he rallies the troops to fight with admirable bravado.

As everyone else rushes off at full speed, Shiro stays behind. He has another goodbye to say– this time not to a father figure but to a love that never was. “This is the last time I’ll ever see you,” he begins, “but I’ll always remember.”

There’s a long sequence of shots where nobody says anything. Although this wouldn’t feel very lengthy in the context of a feature film (or even in the context of an ordinary conversation) in the fast paced world of Saturday morning TV it’s an absolute eternity. These are just two puppets– their eyes don’t see. Their faces don’t change. Even the vocal performances are limited by the evident speed at which they were recorded. Yet, they seem to be looking at each other and feeling something very deep… one of those feelings that words cannot express. Grief, perhaps, or love. It’s a bit of magic in the midst of a half hour of action and adventure.

Lamia confesses her desire: “I want to go with you.” Shiro knows this is impossible: “You and Halley are…” He trails off. What are Halley and Lamia? Engaged? Fated to be together? Or something darker and more mysterious?

This beautiful scene is rendered even more poignant by the presence of the grave of Dr. Benn. What would he think of their love in the light of the destiny of the universe and the battle between the forces of good and evil? Does that tombstone symbolize the ultimate fate of a forbidden love like this?

Lamia refuses to be separated from Shiro. “I just can’t bear to be without you.” Wow!

He is touched by her vulnerability. “We’ll go together.³ Come, my love.” They embrace.

Did… Did what I think just happened really happen? Did Shiro and Lamia just have a conversation with each other about their true feelings?

Even sci-fi dramas made for adults sometimes struggle to master the will-they-won’t-they trope of two romantic leads. It’s a tricky balance. You don’t want to kill the tension by getting them together too early, but you also don’t want the audience to fail to get invested in the love story by keeping them too far apart. Most family shows (the Gerry Anderson programmes, for example) just settle for doing as little as possible. The love triangle in Stingray is the best example of onscreen relationships in Supermarionation– and it’s impossible for me to imagine the Andersons committing to having a scene like the one we’ve just discussed in Stingray. It’s just another reason to love X Bomber– the filmmakers don’t let the traditional limitations of puppets get in the way. They aren’t afraid of sailing over deeper waters.

Before I get swept away, let’s get back to the plot.

As the Imperial Planetoid emerges from whatever dark galaxy it resides in (I assume it also contains the Harkonnen homeworld) the Imperial Master booms out to set the course for Earth.

Love this little fuel truck scurrying past X Bomber.

For you model builders out there, the landing supports look like tank bodies to me!

Shiro bravely walks onto the bridge. Not sure that this is going to go well for him.

As Hercules wonders what his friend has been up to, Hagen expresses impatience. Shiro is holding up departure on their ultimate mission.

As Shiro asks to bring Lamia along, the lady herself makes an appearance. She seconds Shiro’s request.

Hagen says what I’ve been thinking… for Lamia to leave now would be very disrespectful to Dr. Benn’s “efforts and sacrifices.” Lamia counters that the Earth is part of her birthright as well. She theorizes that she will be of use in the battle to come.

While Lamia makes an impassioned plea, Shiro lamely makes an appeal to democracy. “Why don’t we take a vote on it, fellas?” Sorry, this was never a democracy. At least he has enough self awareness not to confess that he and Lamia have feelings for each other at this exact moment.

Here is the heart of the matter. Lamia has come to consider herself a member of the X Bomber crew. Whatever else she may be, that is her core identity now. “I cannot be parted from you. No matter what happens to me.” In fact, she is prepared to die in order to stay with them.

Shiro appeals to Hagen directly as a son to a father. It seems that, despite his nonsensical choices, Professor Hagen does want to be a good father. He looks filled with regret in this scene. No doubt he is also attached to Lamia since he effectively raised her.

It’s Hercules who steps in. He wants Lamia to come along. Of course, we can be sure Hercules has feelings for Lamia and we know he’s doubted her in the past which means he could be acting out of that unresolved guilt. But I give him credit for more intelligence than that. I think he senses Shiro and Lamia are being drawn together, despite the predestined union with Halley. I think perhaps his protestations over her powers are perhaps symbolic of his own fear of the future– fear he is now learning to overcome.

“Thanks, pal.”

“Not just for you, kid. But all of us.”

Lee joins the vote. PPA votes too. Even Kirara gives a grunt of support for Lamia’s return to X Bomber. Professor Hagen gives in and agrees to pass this news on to Captain Halley. How will he react?

This is a wild scene. Lamia thanks Hagen for agreeing to let her rejoin the crew–– but Shiro can’t actually tell the man “thank you.” Instead, he tells Lamia she is “one of us now.” “Forever and a day!” chimes in Hercules. “The vote was unanimous,” PPA tallies as Lee offers some encouraging words. They are once again a team. A squad. A crew.

We now pause for a brief message from our sponsor, the Imperial Master: “SOON THE EARTH WILL KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO INCUR THE TERRIBLE WRATH OF THE IMPERIAL ALLIANCE.” And now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I expected Halley to be furious. In fact, he seems quite calm. “I understand. You must do what you think is right.”

It’s a weird quirk of old film transfers that they don’t always degrade in the same way. This shot has faded into a dull blue.

Despite the fact that he is prepared to face whatever the future holds, Halley is 100% confident that he and Lamia will be one. Nothing is said of Shiro’s feelings for Lamia, or of her feelings for him.

X Bomber launches as the old heroic theme kicks up. Here we go, ladies and gents!

Perhaps moved by the fanfare, Halley decides to launch the Skull and go with X Bomber. He resolves to stay by Lamia’s side no matter what.

As the final freeze frame arrives, we learn that there is just one month until the New Year. We’re well and truly into the final act of the Star Fleet saga.

Nothing in this episode has altered the conclusion I reached at the end of the last one– pacifism doesn’t really work as a theme this late in the game in Star Fleet because it’s already been handled. There is zero sense of mystery about what opinion the filmmakers possess– that good must take up arms to defend itself against evil. Despite that, I have to say that the depiction of the chief pacifist in this story– the King– is nuanced and fair. He’s not portrayed as a fool or a weakling. Rather, his commitment to non-violence is shown as a strength.

I’ve tried to be fair to Professor Hagen but I just cannot reconcile his arrival in the show with the need to develop Shiro’s character further. I feel like the show as a whole suffers when he arrives. If you disagree, please do drop me a line to let me know! I’d welcome opposing viewpoints.

Overall, though, episode 21 took me by surprise. The level of emotional nuance suddenly kicks into high gear in the second half. Although it’s not my favorite action sequence, Dai-X vs. Death Ball is an iconic and unforgettable one that is really fun to watch. I think I can forgive the transgressions of the M13 duology and instead feel thankful to the filmmakers for another X Bomber adventure!

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1. It’s worth a reminder that this script was probably written before anyone in Japan had seen The Empire Strikes Back, the Star Wars film in which the concept of an ion cannon is first introduced.

2. Previously Makara comitted to going rogue and killing Lamia. Caliban could be lying when he offers to take Lamia prisoner and spare the rest of the planet but he also could be a spy for the Imperial court acting on orders unknown to Makara.

3. This sentiment coincidentally is similar to that of the puppet love story in The Dark Crystal. Loneliness and togetherness are key themes in puppetry.