Kane has designed the Hatchet Fighters of the Draconian Realm, resulting in the invariable deaths of the empire's best pilots who cannot control their ships. Determined to launch attacks on Earth, Princess Ardala orders the capture of Buck Rogers, the one pilot in the galaxy who can possibly control Kane's Hatchet Fighters. Using a dramatic ruse, Ardala succeeds in capturing Buck and Twiki, and prepares Buck for the debut of the Zygots, android clones of himself. Strapping Buck into a space suit, the Draconians record his combat experience and transfer the information into the clones. Buck attempts to escape, but finds Ardala has sent one of his clones as an impostor, rigged with a bomb capable of destroying New Chicago.