One of the king's star fortresses on its way to Earth on a peace mission.
On its way to Earth? You mean you guys aren't... from... You mean, we're not... we're not on Earth? I'm definitely gonna need that aspirin.
- A narrator recounts how William "Buck" Rogers survives into the 25th century, more specifically the Earth year 2491 CE.
- Rogers is "rudely awakened by forces of the Draconian realm," after a squadron of three Hatchet fighters intercepts his ancient shuttle craft, Ranger 3. The Draconian squadron envelop the antiquity in a force field and bring it into range of their mothership, Draconia.
- Rogers is in a medical compartment, revived by Draconian scientists.
- Kane, Draconia's commander, reports to Princess Ardala on Rogers' miraculous recovery. Ardala demands an audience with the young man, stating that she'll make allowances for Rogers' lack of coherency from the revival process.
- Ardala and Kane question Rogers, who is in a state of disbelief that he is aboard a spaceship, with creatures that are not from Earth. Ardala informs him that they're on a peace mission to Earth aboard one of the king's star fortresses.
- Rogers attempts to move off his bed, finding that he is dizzy and in pain, seeing Tigerman, Ardala and Kane through blurred. He asks for an aspirin; Kane surmises that it is an anti-pain medication, which is administered in due course.
- Ardala admonishes Kane when Rogers becomes loopy, although Rogers himself doesn't mind as he feels the euphoric effects of the drug.
- After leaving Rogers in the medical bay, Ardala and Kane discuss Rogers statements as they walk Draconia's corridors. Ardala informs Kane that the United States of America was an empire on Earth centuries ago, with Kane replying that her tutors received their money's worth. Ardala replies that, as Kane is from Earth, he should know better than her. After the brief sparring, Ardala relates that she believes Rogers' story as the spacecraft, clothing and his mannerisms make sense in that context.
- Kane presents his thought that Rogers is a spy placed in their path by the Federal Directorate, in order to gain their confidence in some manner and allow him the opportunity to search their ship for weapons. Ardala disputes this theory, but Kane quickly reminds her that they couldn't allow Rogers free reign, and she concedes that he should dispose with Rogers as he deems fit.
- Tigerman accompanies Ardala back to her chambers, while Kane plans his next move.
- In the hangar bay, a drugged and discombobulated Rogers is transported back to his craft by a gurney; Kane has him disconnected from the anti-pain medication, and he informs the captain that he'll be back on his way to Earth very soon. Kane notifies him that Ranger 3 has been serviced and re-programmed to take him home, and Rogers admits that it seems like he hasn't "been there in weeks."
- Rogers believes he's had a great time aboard, and he has a great idea that they'd come along with him to Earth; Kane lets him know that they'll be along in a few days. He voices his belief that this is a dream, and boards Ranger 3.
- As he performs his pre-flight checklist, Rogers tells himself that the "boys in Houston" wouldn't believe this story, and waves good-bye to a stoic Kane.
- Ranger 3 is launched via the launch channel, and Rogers is impressed with the rapid light show.
- On the bridge, Kane informs Ardala that Rogers has presented them the perfect opportunity to test Earth's defense shield; he re-iterates his belief that Rogers is a spy, and they'll let him through. Of course, a microtransmitter planted aboard Ranger 3 will allow the Draconians to know the precise path through the shield used by the Earth's military, which will serve as a guide map for her father's fleet.
- Kane challenges Ardala, noting that she seems displeased at the potential fate of Rogers. She deflects, noting that she has the "strangest feeling" that she'll see Rogers again.
- On full burn back to Earth, Rogers begins singing Frank Sinatra's "My Kind of Town" over an open communications frequency, intercepted by a Delta Section Operative monitoring Earth's defenses. As Rogers begins asking for landing instructions from Houston Control, she reports the "signing" to a befuddled Supervisor 14, who has the communications routed to his station.
- As Supervisor 14 hears Rogers' rendition of "(Won't You Come Home) Bill Bailey," Rogers segues into another request for a re-entry vector. Believing that he is talking to Mission Control, he tells them to "get off your duffs and give me some info," which leads the Super to reflect that "it practically sounds like a foreign language."
- An alert cuts off any further train of thought, with Rogers' Ranger 3 showing up on the Directorate scopes. With the craft headed directly into the planetary defense shield, Super scrambles the Intercept squadron.
- In the lead fighter of the intercept squadron, Col. Wilma Deering requests coordinates for the inbound unidentified craft. She then directs the shield to be reduced to 100 miles, so that they may investigate.