Episode Title:
Jump! Zeke!.
Episode Description:
Van and Co. are traveling along when they come across soldiers of the Helic Republic, who mistake them for Imperials, especially after registering the earlier explosion. They take them prisoner after a scuffle and impound the zoids. Irvine reveals his true resourcefulness when he uses a hidden trick to break himself out and Van along with him. Van promises to come back for the girls and takes off with Irvine for the zoids. Zeke and the Liger merge and Van and Irvine take off through the base. The Republican soldiers mobilize several Petras and try to stop them. Out of the base, Van tries to lose the soldiers among the crevices, but when he's backed into a corner and goes for the ammunition he finds out the zoids were stripped of their firepower and is chastised by Irvine for his stupidity. Irvine tries to figure out a way to save his own skin when Van gets an idea and starts running the Liger at the walls of the canyon. He bounces from side to side gaining altitude, and finally clears the canyon, taking out two of the Republicans following them. He makes a try for the third, piloted by Capt. Herman. Irvine, showing that he's actually beginning to like the kid, offers a hand, and coordinates jumps with the Command Wolf so that at its peak jump from the canyon the Liger could jump off it and strike Herman who thought he was just high enough. The pilots of the Petras bail, and as he's floating down Herman makes a respectful note of Van's achievements. The episode ends with Major Schubaltz of the Empire preparing his forces for the assault on the Republicans at Red River, and Irvine scouting around.
