Hypernauts (1996)
Hypernauts is a proof of concept show produced by Foundation Imaging and Netter Digital Entertainment. To further prove that the computer-generated imagery and visual effects created in Babylon 5 were easily applied to other venues, the Hypernauts were born. ABC purchased thirteen episodes of the show from DIC Entertainment, six of which ran on Saturday mornings for a single season in 1996 at 10:00 AM. ABC decided not to pick up the series for a second season, and did not air the seven remaining episodes. The show was created and produced by Ron Thornton and Douglas Netter, its executive story editor was Christy Marx who also wrote four episodes. Marx had previously written for both Babylon 5 and Captain Power. Another series writer was Katherine Lawrence who was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award due to her script for Ice Bound.
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Episode 1 - First Contact
Release Date: 1996-03-01Three misfit cadets at the Academy for Galactic Exploration are assigned to retrieve an old satellite.
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Episode 2 - The Star Ranger
Release Date: 1996-03-02The kids and Kulai locate a long-abandoned, deep space Earth science station which they make their base. Ace has a very close and dangerous encounter with the Triiad Armada.
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Episode 3 - Icebound
Release Date: 1996-03-09The Star Ranger begins to run low on water, so the Hypernauts land on a nearby ice moon where they discover an ancient space craft, and giant heat seeking worms.
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Episode 4 - Battle at Vekara
Release Date: 1996-03-16The Hypernauts go to the local trade planet, Vekara, to repair and update the ship and mechsuits after a conflict with the Triiad.
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Episode 5 - Cloudholm
Release Date: 1996-03-23A low tech world named Cloudholm is in the path of a Triiad prospector probe. The Hypernauts and Kulai attempt to warn the planet's inhabitants the Hokita, who live in gas powered zeppelin platforms.
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Episode 6 - A Walk in the Garden
Release Date: 1996-03-30The Hypernauts, unwilling to tolerate the processed rations stored on the Star Ranger, land on an earthlike world in order to collect clippings for Max so that she may begin a garden.
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Episode 7 - Into the Dark So Deep
Release Date: 1996-04-06The Hypernauts and Kulai go to rescue survivors of a maker attack. Sharkey learns to confront his fear of enclosed spaces.
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Episode 8 - Gone to Meet the Maker
Release Date: 1996-04-13The Star Ranger is in danger of being discovered when a maker begins to process the asteroid field the station is hiding in.
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Episode 9 - Reunion
Release Date:Kulai joins her people the Pyrans in order to perform a regeneration ceremony to renew her race and create new Chalim (spiritual leaders). Ace and Sharkey remain on the Star Ranger in order to work on the robot Sharkey took from the maker in "Gone to Meet the Maker". A watcher inside the robot attempts to escape and broadcast the Star Ranger's location to the Triiad.
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Episode 10 - Hole in the Sky
Release Date:Vekara falls under attack from the Triiad forces. The Hypernauts manage to keep the Triiad at bay until a group of refugees are able to escape.
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Episode 11 - New Alliances
Release Date:Kulai brings the Hypernauts to meet the Sacul, an ancient race powerful enough to hold back the Triiad.
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Episode 12 - The Challenge (1)
Release Date:Some of the aliens races blame their woes with the Triiad on the Hypernauts. Stung by this, the Hypernauts set out to destroy one of the largest ships in the Triiad fleet in order to prove their worth. While they're making plans, Kulai accepts a secret challenge from Paiyin to a duel of honor. Kulai is taken hostage, but she places herself into a special Chalim trance called the endless sleep that shuts down her mind.
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Episode 13 - The Challenge (2)
Release Date:The Hypernauts seek the help of the Sacul to get revenge for what has been done to Kulai. They give the Hypernauts a weapon capable of generating power equivalent to a small star. The Hypernauts manage enter the main Triiad fortress ship and activate the Sacul weapon before escaping. The explosion destroys the fortress, the Triiad aliens and the fleet, Paiyin also escapes. Later Kulai is woken with the aid of a telepath.