Menu

The Star Chariot

Season: 1  ·  Episode USA No.: 2  |  Episode GER No.: 18
22 min  ·  First aired: 1985
V.E.N.O.M. are on the hunt to find the missing part of the Emerald Arrowhead, which when joined with the rest of the emerald, will lead to an alien spacecraft, the Star Chariot, that was buried in the desert 1000 years ago.
Previous Episode Next Episode
The Star Chariot
US Air DateTuesday October 1st, 1985 on A&E
German Air DateOnly on DVD
Runtime22 min
Previous Episode01 - The Deathstone
Season: 1
Episode: 2

01 - The Deathstone

02 - The Star Chariot

03 - The Book Of Power

04 - Highway To Terror

05 - Video VENOM

06 - Dinosaur Boy

07 - The Ultimate Weapon

08 - The Roteks

09 - The Oz Effect

10 - Death From The Sky

11 - The Magma Mole

12 - Solaria Park

13 - The Creeping Terror

14 - Assault On Liberty

15 - The Sceptre Of Rajim

16 - The Golden Goddess

17 - Mystery Of The Rings

18 - Bad Vibrations

19 - Ghost Bomb

20 - Cold Fever

21 - Mardi Gras Mystery

22 - The Secret Of Life

23 - Vanishing Point

24 - Counter-Clockwise Caper

25 - The Plant Show

26 - Secret Of The Andes

27 - Panda Power

28 - Blackout

29 - A Matter Of Gravity

30 - The Lost Riches Of Rio

31 - Deadly Blue Slime

32 - The Currency Conspiracy

33 - Caesar's Sword

34 - Peril In Paris

35 - In Dutch

36 - The Lippizaner Mystery

37 - The Sacred Rock

38 - Curse Of Solomon's Gorge

39 - Green Nightmare

40 - Eyes Of The Skull

41 - Stop Motion

42 - The Artemis Enigma

43 - The Chinese Scorpion

44 - Riddle Of The Raven Master

45 - The Spectre Of Captain Kidd

46 - The Secret Of The Stones

47 - The Lost Fleet

48 - Quest Of The Canyon

49 - Follow The Rainbow

50 - The Everglades Oddity

51 - Dragonfire

52 - The Royal Cape Caper

53 - Patchwork Puzzle

54 - Fog On Boulder Hill

55 - Plunder Of Glowworm Grotto

56 - Stone Trees

57 - Incident In Istanbul

58 - The Creeping Desert

59 - The Scarlet Empress

60 - Venice Menace

61 - Treasure Of The Nazca Plain

62 - Disappearing Act

63 - Gate Of Darkness

64 - The Manakara Giant

65 - Raiders Of The Orient Express

66 - Demolition Duel To The Death

67 - Where Eagles Dare

68 - Homeward Bound

69 - Battle Of The Giants

70 - Race Against Time

71 - Challenge Of The Masters

72 - For One Shining Moment

73 - High Noon

74 - The Battle For Baja

75 - Cliffhanger

Quick Facts

English Title:The Star Chariot
German Title:Der Sternenwagen
Alternative German Title:
French Title:Le carrosse étoilé
Location of the episode*:Canyon Creek, Arizona & Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, U.S.A.

V.E.N.O.M. are on the hunt to find the missing part of the Emerald Arrowhead, which when joined with the rest of the emerald, will lead to an alien spacecraft, the Star Chariot, that was buried in the desert 1000 years ago.


Voice Cast:

The Star Chariot – Story Summary

For Chief Slow Eagle, the day begins peacefully. He is driving through the desert with his dog when the roar of engines suddenly draws closer. Out of the dust come the vehicles of VENOM. Piranha and Manta stop only a few yards in front of him, while Cliff Dagger and Vanessa Warfield close in on the old chief. Miles Mayhem has spent years searching for the second half of an ancient Emerald Arrowhead, and today he believes he has finally found the right trail.

Slow Eagle first tries to deflect the questions from the VENOM team. Miles and Vanessa, however, make it clear that they are not there for a polite conversation. Miles uses his mask to increase the pressure. Vanessa lashes out with her Whip mask, sending an electric lasso through the air and tearing Slow Eagle's hat from his head. Under threat, the chief finally reveals that he gave the arrowhead to his grandson Daniel. That is exactly what Miles wanted to hear.

A little later, Slow Eagle reaches the estate of Matt Trakker and tells him about the attack. When Matt learns that Daniel is out fishing at Canyon Creek with Scott Trakker, he immediately realizes that both boys are in danger.

The scene then shifts to the computer room at Boulder Hill. Matt selects the right team for the mission. The computer chooses Bruce Sato with Rhino, Dusty Hayes with Gator and Gloria Baker with Shark. Moments later, the vehicles leave the M.A.S.K. headquarters.

Meanwhile, Scotty, Daniel and T-Bob are enjoying a quiet day by the water. T-Bob tries his luck at fishing and pulls nothing but a rusty tin can from the river, much to everyone else's amusement. Daniel has better luck. As a sign of friendship, he gives Scotty half of the Emerald Arrowhead. Proudly, Scotty hangs the green amulet around his neck. To Daniel, it is an old tradition of his tribe. To VENOM, it is exactly what they have been looking for.

Hidden among the rocks, Miles watches the scene. When he spots the arrowhead around Scotty's neck, he immediately orders the attack. Within seconds, the peaceful fishing trip turns into a fight between M.A.S.K. and VENOM. Piranha cuts off the escape route, Vanessa attacks with Manta, and Switchblade appears above the cliffs. While Daniel and his mother try to get away, T-Bob is supposed to call for help. But of all moments, a fat frog lands on his antenna and blocks the radio signal. T-Bob shakes himself in panic while explosions are already bursting around him.

Then M.A.S.K. arrives.

Thunderhawk streaks over the canyon, Rhino powers through the rocks and Gloria goes straight after Vanessa. Bruce lifts enemy vehicles with his Lifter mask, Dusty brings Gator's special functions into play and Matt tries to reach Scotty at the same time. When VENOM realizes that M.A.S.K. is gaining the upper hand, the team splits up. In the confusion, Cliff grabs not Daniel, but Scotty, who is still wearing the arrowhead. Before anyone can stop him, Jackhammer disappears between the rocks with its prisoner.

For Daniel and his mother, the next danger follows immediately. Their vehicle is hit and quickly becomes trapped by flames. Fire spreads along the cliff wall and blocks every way out. Daniel tries desperately to help, but the heat keeps growing. Even Dusty's fire extinguisher is not enough. Only when Bruce activates his mask and pushes the burning debris aside does the team manage to pull both of them from the fire in time.

After the rescue, the final piece of the puzzle falls into place. Daniel explains that he gave the arrowhead to Scotty. Now M.A.S.K. understands why VENOM took him.

At VENOM headquarters, Scotty is tied to a chair. In front of him, Miles joins the two halves of the Emerald Arrowhead and reveals his plan. The arrowhead is not just a jewel, but a key to an ancient secret. Together with the symbols on an old woven tapestry, it points the way to the Star Chariot, an alien spacecraft hidden for centuries. Miles is already dreaming of using its propulsion system for a new generation of VENOM vehicles.

Matt later manages to track VENOM's course. The trail leads straight to Mesa Verde. While Matt flies ahead, Bruce prepares an ambush. Rhino sits in the road as if it has broken down, until it suddenly transforms and the trap snaps shut. For a moment, the plan seems to work. But Miles reacts quickly and presents Scotty as a hostage. Reluctantly, M.A.S.K. has to call off the attack.

The chase finally leads to the famous cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. There, the moment the whole episode has been building toward arrives. The completed arrowhead sends out a green beam of light. The ground begins to shake, the rock face splits open, and behind the breaking stone the secret Miles has been chasing for years finally appears: the Star Chariot.

Before both teams lies a vast alien spacecraft.

Miles already believes victory is within reach. But before he can take control, Matt steps in. Between the Star Chariot, the stone walls and the vehicles, a chaotic battle breaks out. Energy flashes through the chamber while huge rocks begin to fall from above. When the debris comes crashing down toward Scotty, T-Bob throws himself in front of his friend. Seconds later, both are buried beneath a landslide of stone.

For a moment, even Matt seems to lose hope.

Meanwhile, VENOM tries to haul the Star Chariot away with heavy chains. At that very moment, Rhino drives into the chamber. Bruce activates Rhino Ultra Bright and floods the entire cave with blinding light. Dazzled, the members of VENOM lose all sense of direction. The chains snap, control slips away, and the Star Chariot comes to life.

With a thunderous roar, the spacecraft rises from its centuries-old hiding place. Before the eyes of M.A.S.K. and VENOM, the Star Chariot bursts through the ceiling of the chamber and vanishes into the sky.

Moments later, the pile of rubble covering Scotty and T-Bob begins to move. Both emerge unharmed and tell the others about a strange dream. Independently of each other, they describe the same vision: a distant spacecraft and unknown beings who healed their injuries. No one can truly explain what happened down there.

Miles manages to escape once again, but the Emerald Arrowhead remains in the hands of M.A.S.K. For Scotty, T-Bob and their friends, it is an adventure they will not forget anytime soon.



Fan Verdict

When you think of “The Star Chariot,” two images come to mind almost immediately: Scotty wearing the Emerald Arrowhead around his neck, and the moment the rock wall at Mesa Verde opens. Between those two scenes, the episode delivers almost everything a strong M.A.S.K. adventure needs: a treasure hunt, desert chases, a VENOM attack, a dramatic rescue from the flames and plenty of vehicle action. On top of that, the small moments between Scotty and T-Bob give the story its own charm. Once Rhino Ultra Bright fills the entire cave with light and the Star Chariot appears for the first time, it is easy to see why this adventure still stays with so many fans.

 

Information and Synopsis

Safety tip*

Alex Sector and T-Bob tell Scott not to pet strange dogs.  

Particularly in this episode*:

Miles Mayhem uses a remote control to summon Switchblade. This is possibly the same devise Cliff Dagger used when the vehicle was disguised in a fake UFO shell in The Deathstone.  

Small mistakes in the episode*:

•When the M.A.S.K. computer is selecting the best agents for the mission, it neglects to mention Alex Sector's name.
•During the selection of the M.A.S.K. agents, other agents are briefly visible each time before one is selected. At one point, Buddy Hawks is visible but is not selected.
Gloria Baker is shown during her day job as a driving instructor. In the first shot the outside of the car she is sitting in looks like her M.A.S.K. vehicle, Shark. The next shot it has changed to a beige color. Also, the background in these two shots is a quiet lane with trees in the background, but after she gets out the car is suddenly on a busy city crossing.
•When Scott is fishing with Daniel, during one shot when he springs a wooden trap to catch a fish, he is wearing a native American outfit similar to Daniel's, whereas in the shot before and after he is wearing his regular blue clothes. He will not put on the Indian garb until the next scene.
•The Firecracker vehicle is not called for this mission but it appears in some scenes instead of Shark.
•The first time Matt Trakker uses the hang-glider function of his Spectrum Mask, to float from Thunderhawk to Switchblade, the yellow glowing effects that are supposed to surround him during this activity are missing. When he uses it a second time and third time shortly thereafter the effects do appear.
• V.E.N.O.M. and M.A.S.K. come face to face and Matt says "You never will, Mayhem", Buddy Hawks is visible even though he wasn't part of the mission at all. 

Other publications from The Star Chariot:

•In Germany, a VHS cassette with the episode was released. It was episode 5 of the series.
•In Germany, a tape was released with the episode. It was episode 8 of the series.
•HOLLYWOOD NITES has released a VHS tape of the episode in English: M.A.S.K. VHS THE STAR CHARTIOT, BAD VIBRATION & CURSE OF SOLUMA CAGE
 


Teams

Agent
Mask
Vehicle
Role
Jackrabbit
Co-Pilot
Backlash
Pilot
Aura first appearance
Shark first appearance
Pilot
 

Civilians:

Scott Trakker

-

T-Bob

 Pilot 

•Chief Slow Eagle


•Daniel


•Daniel's Mother


M.A.S.K. Technologies:

 (click for images)

 
M.A.S.K. has its headquarters at a gas station in Boulder Hill. Boulder Hill Gas works as a functional gas station, complete with gas pumps and a repair garage. Buddie "Clutch" Hawks, M.A.S.K. agent in charge of upkeep on the fleet of transforming vehicles, also maintains the gas station's cover as a working facility. If under attack, the gas station has offensive and defensive transformation abilities, including freeze cannons and armor plating.

Inside, M.A.S.K.'s headquarters is far from ordinary; M.A.S.K.'s vehicles are stored inside, as well as theenergizing device that powers the team's masks. Matt Trakker has a subterranean transportation system that shuttles him between his mansion and M.A.S.K. headquarters. All this is supplemented by an incredibly powerful computer.

 
 (click for images)
 
The MASK energy room is one of the central elements of the first MASK episodes.

Hidden deep in Boulder Hill, the energy room consists of two parts. The room where the M.A.S.K. agents come together to discuss the mission, and the actual energy room, also called the mask room.

The table and chairs in the energy room are on a huge platform, which rises up following the meeting.

Once the platform has moved up, it reaches the mask room where the masks will be charged for the mission.

The masks are moved out of the ceiling with the energizing device. The energizing device can hold a maximum of 8 masks.

After the energizing device was mopved out of the ceiling, the arms fold out and an energy beam flows through them, into the masks. With this, the masks are then charged for the mission, and can be used.

In the course of the episodes, the energy room always looks different. He has several designs.

 
 (click for images)
 
The M.A.S.K. Computer is housed at both Matt Trakker's mansion and at Boulder Hill. Trakker often uses voice commands to ask the computer to analyse objects and photographs and has programmed the computer to select the most suitable M.A.S.K. agents for each mission.

Occasionally, Trakker uses a portable version housed in a suitcase that has the same capabilities.

The computer is also connected to all MASK vehicles. So Matt uses it regularly in Thunderhawk to let the computer choose the best agents for the mission.

 
 (click for images)
 
Every MASK agent had it, every fan wanted it, the iconic MASK watch.

With the watch, today we would say smartwatch, the agents were informed that they were selected by the M.A.S.K. computer for a mission.

A flashing mask, similar to Matt's Ultra Flash mask, appeared in the watch's display, signaling to the agents that they were needed.

These left thereupon everything and drop, and hurried to the mission.

The watch was silver / red with a metal bracelet.


T-BOB technologies, activities, outfits:

 (click for images)

 


Show all M.A.S.K. members ›

V.E.N.O.M. TEAM:

Agent
Mask
Vehicle
Role

Stiletto
Pilot

Whip first appearance
Manta first appearance
Pilot


V.E.N.O.M. Technologies:

 (click for images)

 
"I'm about to have him" Vanessa must be thinking in the episode "The Magma Mole" as she flies Switchblade, and activates the targeting device to take Condor out of the sky.

But what is that? Switchblade is getting completely out of control. What's going on here?

Miles Mayhem! Using his remote control for Switchblade, he takes control and lands Switchblade.

The remote control was already seen in 2 previous episodes. In "The deathstone" Cliff Dagger controls Switchblade, which is disguised as a UFO. In "The Star Chariot" Miles gets Switchblade to escape with the remote control.

There are 2 versions of the remote control.In the first two episodes it is rather a plain box, in "The Magma Mole" it looks like a remote control of an RC car.

 Show all VENOM members ›

Screenshots of The Star Chariot




Video of The Star Chariot