West and Gordon are in San Francisco investigating a potential threat to national security which involves a vanishing seaside bar called the Mermaid Tavern, a dragon-like figure attacking ships, the imminent arrival of Admiral Farragut on a ship full of explosives, and the gem studded compact of beautiful, mysterious Dominique.
Tropes present in this episode:
- Cassandra Truth: Unfortunately for the agents, Lt. Keighley finds it impossible to believe their story about dragons, mermaids, vanishing taverns, etc., and absolutely refuses to lend them any aid.
- Changing Clothes Is a Free Action: Artie changes his costume completely, dons a wig and applies a false mustache in the space of about 3 seconds.
- Despotism Justifies the Means: The "Marquis de La Mer" wants to establish the first entirely water-based kingdom and intends to blackmail the world into giving him the Pacific Ocean by threatening to destroy every ship which sails on it.
- Force Field Door: Yet another invention of the Marquis'. It's meant to keep unwanted visitors out (or in) by instantly disintegrating anything which touches it. Jim and Artie, of course, soon figure out how the activation mechanisms work and use the knowledge to their advantage.
- Historical Domain Character: David Farragut, the U. S. Navy's first admiral, happens to be aboard the next ship targeted for destruction.
- Homing Projectile: The "dragon" is actually a floating bomb - i. e. a torpedo - which can't be guided remotely but is instead designed to home in on the special compact Dominique carries.
