Moya's Destruction

Lore & Background

Moya's survival during The Peacekeeper Wars hinges on her ability to adapt when threatened by Scarran forces. After the Scarran Decimator destroys the Eidelon temple and threatens Moya with destruction unless everyone except Pilot is removed, D'Argo and Chiana attempt a diversion using Lo'La. When that fails and the crew is captured, Moya remains in orbit until they escape. Later, as the water world becomes a battleground, Moya seeks refuge at the ocean floor. Her internal sensors are damaged during this dive, causing her to take on water, yet she endures. This resilience allows the crew to locate Stark, retrieve Eidelon survivors, and eventually starburst away from the Scarrans. The narrative confirms Moya is never destroyed; instead, she facilitates the final escape of her crew and the surviving Eidelons.

In Their Own Story

The tension peaks when the Scarran Decimator arrives at Arnessk, destroying the temple and killing Jool. Moya is threatened with destruction unless everyone except Pilot leaves, forcing D'Argo and Chiana to board Lo'La while others divert attention. After Chiana and D'Argo are rescued by Jothee's Luxan warriors following Lo'La's destruction, the crew regroups on Moya. During the ensuing battle above the water world, Moya is caught in crossfire and dives underwater for safety. Her sensors fail as she takes on water, but the crew finds Stark terrified yet alive after absorbing the Hierarch's power. They retrieve Eidelon survivors from the burning city, with D'Argo staying behind to cover their retreat while Moya lifts them into her docking web before starbursting away.

Reader's Guide

The Peacekeeper Wars miniseries, broadcast on October 17 and 18, 2004, resolves the series cliffhanger where John Crichton and Aeryn Sun were crystallized. Produced from December 2003 to March 2004 by Rockne S. O'Bannon and David Kemper under Brian Henson's direction, it spans two episodes of approximately two hours each including commercials. The story follows Moya's crew as they reunite with Crichton and Aeryn, who are revived by Rygel after two months on an ocean floor planet. Key plot points include the birth of Aeryn's child inside Rygel, the revelation that Sebaceans were genetically engineered humans from Earth, and the discovery that Eidelons once encouraged peace before their homeworld Arnessk became uninhabitable 12,000 cycles prior. The climax involves Crichton using wormhole knowledge to show both armies the destructive potential of a weapon, leading to a temporary truce before D'Argo's death and Moya's escape.

Did You Know?

• Moya is referred to as a '2 × 2 hour telemovie' by the New South Wales Film Office, though Henson counts it as episodes 4.23–4.26.
• The unborn child of John Crichton and Aeryn Sun was found growing inside Rygel after he ingested their crystallized particles.
• D'Argo is mortally wounded by a Scarran spear while covering the crew's retreat, dying before Moya can retrieve him in her docking web.
• The Peacekeeper Wars earned a 1.7 household Nielsen rating, drawing 1.96 million viewers and making Sci-Fi Channel the #1 non-sports cable network for ages 25–54 and 18–49.