Spike goes to have his ship overhauled on Earth by an old aviation junkie named Doohan. Meanwhile, the rest go after a band of "Starship Pirates." During their confrontation, the pirates upload a computer virus onto Faye's "Red Tail" and the "Bebop" via harpoon. Spike receives a lead during his visit and it is up to him to get the pirates.

EYECATCH

     While Spike confronts the pirates with a radio guidance system instead of a computer, he ends up fighting a losing battle and drifts into the Earth's gravitational field. The pirates lose control themselves and are destroyed by an asteroid in Earth's orbit. Doohan and his assistant overhear the radio signal and it is up to them to save Spike and the Swordfish from burning in the atmosphere. They launch an antique space shuttle and appear to successfully rescue Spike... until they encounter a few problems in the shuttle moments after the daring rescue..