Battle Cruiser is a nailbiting adventure, full of exciting escapades.
WRITTEN BY
No specific credit.
PLOT
Avon discovers that the Federation have sent a fleet to colonize Xenon. Hoping to protect the base, he recklessly engages them in battle, resulting in the Scorpio being forced to land on the nearby planet of Cignus III, the crew unaware that the Federation ships have gone there as well.
ANALYSIS
What Battle Cruiser understands really well is that in order for a threat to be truly intimidating, it has to hit home. In this story, not only is Xenon Base the target, but later on we also see Avon weigh the lives of Vila and Soolin.
As a result, there's no overt sense of safety and it makes the story that much more exciting. And it really is. The space battles(impeccably drawn, by the way) are dynamic and fun, as is the caper down on the jungle planet.
CHARACTERS
The idea of pairing up Vila and Soolin is an interesting one. Soolin was always an underused character, so to see her have some attention is great. But the two are also probably the lesser of Avon's assets, and as such, the threat of him giving up their lives is plausible.
And speaking of Avon, he is his usual mercurial self. The decision to defend Xenon over the protests of the crew is very in-keeping with the devil-may-care attitude Avon exhibits in Series D. I also love how he fools the crew into thinking he'll let Vila and Soolin die. Avon seems to delight in constantly subverting his crew's expectations of him.
NOTES
*This story was published in the Blake's 7 Marvel Monthly issue 4.
*Slave uses the "Standard By X" measure of speed more commonly employed by Zen and the Liberator.
*The Scorpio and "the terrorists led by Avon" are recognised, revealing that their fame has now surpassed Blake's.
*Despite Tarrant and Vila's protests that the Scorpio can't take on a fleet, she manages to destroy two of the battle cruisers rather easily for an old space hopper.
*I love Avon's tactic of blasting a landing area into a thick jungle.
*Given the fact that the Scorpio retreated rather hastily from the battle, I'm surprised that the Federation transport and remaining cruiser didn't notice its landing onto Cignus III.
*Soolin finding the document titled "FEDERATION SECRET OPERATION FIVE PLANETS" is one of the more absurd moments in the entire Blake's 7 universe.
*Has the name Scorpio always been emblazoned on the ship's side? I think it's the first time I've seen it.
INFORMATION!
*Vila recognises Commander Haglam from "way back", and it's implied they've had several previous encounters during the Blake era.
*Avon reminds Vila that he doesn't believe in luck - which was established in Space Fall.
BEST QUOTE AVON QUOTE
"This is not a democracy, Tarrant. We attack!"
CONCLUSION
Jolly good fun, with a classic Blake's 7 side of cynicism.
*The Scorpio and "the terrorists led by Avon" are recognised, revealing that their fame has now surpassed Blake's.
*Despite Tarrant and Vila's protests that the Scorpio can't take on a fleet, she manages to destroy two of the battle cruisers rather easily for an old space hopper.
*I love Avon's tactic of blasting a landing area into a thick jungle.
*Given the fact that the Scorpio retreated rather hastily from the battle, I'm surprised that the Federation transport and remaining cruiser didn't notice its landing onto Cignus III.
*Soolin finding the document titled "FEDERATION SECRET OPERATION FIVE PLANETS" is one of the more absurd moments in the entire Blake's 7 universe.
*Has the name Scorpio always been emblazoned on the ship's side? I think it's the first time I've seen it.
INFORMATION!
*Vila recognises Commander Haglam from "way back", and it's implied they've had several previous encounters during the Blake era.
*Avon reminds Vila that he doesn't believe in luck - which was established in Space Fall.
"This is not a democracy, Tarrant. We attack!"
CONCLUSION
Jolly good fun, with a classic Blake's 7 side of cynicism.
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