'Awakening' by Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens

In 1987, N.A.S.A. launches the last of its deep space probes, Ranger 3. However, during the mission the ship runs into a storm of strange meteors; as Ranger 3’s life support system is disrupted, causing its pilot, astronaut Captain William ‘Buck’ Rogers, to be frozen in a state of suspended animation, the vessel is thrown into an orbit that will take it five-hundred years to return to Earth…

In the year 2491, Ranger 3 is intercepted by The Draconia, flagship of the mighty Draconian Empire, and the still-frozen form of Buck Rogers is brought aboard. Revived from his hibernation, Buck is brought before the beautiful Princess Ardala and the ruthless Commander Kane, who explain that they are en route for Earth on a mission of peace. However, Ardala and Kane are actually planning to invade Buck’s homeworld; they set the unwitting astronaut on a course back to Earth, having hidden a homing device on board his ship in the hope of detecting a safe corridor through the planet’s defences. Convinced that the encounter with the Draconians is merely a dream, Buck heads home, and is soon met by a squad of Earth Defense Directorate fighters captained by Colonel Wilma Deering; Buck is escorted to the city of New Chicago, where he meets scientist Doctor Elias Huer. The astronaut recounts his story of being frozen for five-hundred years, but Huer and Wilma are unsure whether to believe his wild claims, and decide to assign two chaperones to keep an eye on him: the computer council member Doctor Theopolis and his ‘Ambuquad’, Twiki. Buck finds this ‘new’ world strange and intriguing, and his Twentieth Century outlook on life soon proves popular with the citizens of the Twenty-Fifth. However, when the Draconian transmitter is discovered aboard Ranger 3, Buck is immediately branded a traitor. He manages to convince the council to allow him the chance to clear his name, and then returns to the The Draconia. Pretending to ally himself with Ardala, Buck learns of her invasion plans - but can he find a way to stop the attack and save Earth, whilst resisting the princess’ charms..?

Gil Gerard (Captain William ‘Buck’ Rogers), Erin Gray (Colonel Wilma Deering), Tim O'Connor (Doctor Elias Huer), Felix Silla (Twiki), Mel Blanc (Voice of Twiki), Eric Server (Voice of Doctor Theopolis), William Conrad (Narrator), Pamela Hensley (Princess Ardala), Henry Silva (Kane), Duke Butler (Tigerman), Joseph Wiseman (Draco), Caroline Smith (Delta Section), John D. Carter (Supervisor), Kevin Coates (Pilot), David Cadiente (Comtel Officer), Larry Duran (Draconian Guard #1), Kenny Endoso (Draconian Guard #2), Eric Lawrence (Officer), H.B. Haggerty (Tigerman #2), Colleen Kelly (Wrather), Steve Jones (Pilot #2), Gil Serna (Technician), David Buchanan (Pilot #3), Burt Marshall (Wingman), John Rayner (Computer Council [Voice]), Guerin Barry (Computer Council [Voice])


Directed by Daniel Haller
Executive Producer Glen A. Larson

TX (US): 20th September, 1979

Notes:
*Introducing Captain William ‘Buck’ Rogers, Colonel Wilma Deering, Doctor Elias Huer, Doctor Theopolis and Twiki

* This story was originally released as a movie in cinema theatres on 30th March 1979:



*It was subsequently transmitted on television on NBC as the pilot episode for the series, as a two-hour television movie; for later repeats, the story was split into two episodes