Scorpio nearly getting hit
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The main armament of Federation pursuit ships. Many plasma bolts were
launched at the Liberator through the series, most of them hitting.
Once launched, a bolt took some time to reach its target (24 seconds was
mentioned in Animals, suggesting something of the non-manoeuvrability
of target craft). Plasma bolts were also responsible for the destruction of
XK-72.
| Scorpio nearly getting hit |
In The Harvest of Kairos reference was made to the Liberator using plasma bolts for launching surface strikes, rather than the neutron blasters. Zen noted that they struck 13 seconds after launch from an unspecified orbital distance. In Animals Servalan's captain noted that plasma bolts had slowed Scorpio up, suggesting that they were effective as proximity burst weapons even if they failed to land a direct hit.
Dayna noted that the clip guns developed by Dorian could fire plasma bullets. In Blake a lightweight plasma weapon was fired at Blake from an unseen airborne vehicle. Blake told Tarrant that plasma ammunition was "scarce".
Senator Bercol in Trial described Servalan as having "all the sensitive delicacy of a plasma bolt".
Referred to by Avon when attempting to sneak into the shadow of the Altern system in the shadow of a large asteroid. He stated that the crew could not risk the Federation detecting plasma radiation from sustained thrust, suggesting that plasma was used for sublight ship manoeuvres.
Top space drive designer with the Federation, she left at least three years before Scorpio's visit to Caspar to develop her photonic drive. Her assistant Napier joined her. She wanted no part in Atlan's plan to control the space trade routes, and welcomed the crew's arrival as a chance to escape. She started to install the new drive into Scorpio as pursuit ships moved in, and Avon cut in the drive before the last connection was made. She was therefore killed on completing the operation, but Scorpio escaped the plasma bolt bearing down on the ship.
Longingly mentioned by Vila in his brief eulogy on the delights of Federation rest centres, but no details were given.
Gambit was partly composed of units from a PPC unit, and from Avon's remarks it would seem that such computers were dedicated to games playing.
Tampered with by Cally whilst under the control of the Lost, leading to an increase in Liberator"s speed. No further details given.
Don Keller quoted a poem by Tanith Lee at the beginning of Sand:
I know a land beyond the heart of time.
The sun never comes there, no moon ever shines.
And man, a grain of sand, nameless and lost,
Blows with the dust.
See also LEE, TANITH.
Somewhat remarkably, explicit references to a police force are made in only two episodes. Quute mentioned the Pacification Police, and the General admitted that an investigation of Practor's death was "a police job". The investigation came under the jurisdiction of Commissioner Sleer, reflecting her civil rather than military position. Many of the personnel she was seen to associate with wore the same uniforms as military troopers, so either police and troops dressed essentially alike, or troops were seconded to her command.
In Stardrive Dayna "reminded" Dr Plaxton of how she had reported her ground car stolen to the police.
Investigator Reeve in Sand may have been a police officer, as his title strongly suggests. On Gauda Prime, Blake was seen to be appointed as a temporary law enforcement officer, presumably as a result of his "bounty hunter" activities.
A native of Sardos, who erased the recording of Liberator's entry through the energy barriers around the meteoroid. Moloch ordered her to be given to Grose's men as a result, and she was never seen again.
Native of Horizon. Blake told Ro that Porah was one of the convicts on the London headed for Cygnus Alpha. He died on the journey and his body was dumped in space. Blake made no reference to him being involved in the attempt to take over the ship, but this might have been understandable reticence on his part. Ro thought Porah had been sent on a "training course". Porah referred to Horizon only by its former name of Silmareno, hence Blake not realising quite where he was when he first approached the planet.