“Attack of the Barbarians” is episode twenty-six of season one of The Time Tunnel.
At the end of the previous episode, “The Death Merchant”, Doug and Tony saw one force of mounted soldiers being driven off a cliff by another. They found a shield, with what Doug said was the emblem of the Great Khans on it, and realised one of the forces were Mongols. Mongols attacked them and took them both prisoner.
They are brought to a tent; Tony conscious, Doug knocked out. The man whose tent it is says he is a prince of the Mongols; Tony asks him if he is Genghis Khan. No, for Genghis is dead as the whole world knows. He is Batu, Genghis’s grandson and rightful heir. Genghis’s mantle will be Batu’s and he will do what Genghis could not; conquer the whole world. Tony will help Batu, easy or hard. Batu wants to know where the weak points in the fort’s defences are. Tony hasn’t a clue, naturally, but Batu does not accept that. Tony is European, so he must be with Marco Polo, and Batu has Tony put on a rack.
Tik-Toc has got the time period to the latter part of the 13th century and the location as eastern China or Mongolia. General Kirk knows the events of that time and wants a more precise fix. They tune in on Tony, briefly, seeing him being tortured.
One of Batu’s warriors comes and tells him they defeated a force from the fort. The European was with them but escaped with a handful of men. He’s cut off from the fort though. Batu states that Genghis Khan’s empire will be his, which suggests it isn’t. He has Tony questioned some more, but Tony passes out. Batu leaves with one warrior, leaving another behind. Doug comes around, knocks out the remaining guard and carries Tony out of the tent through the side.
Doug and the still unconscious Tony are found by a man with two soldiers. Doug explains who they are. The man says that Kublai Khan has an outpost fort across the plains, a fort he commands. He is Marco Polo, of Venice. Doug knows who Marco Polo is, revealing some information that shouldn’t be known yet. Doug backtracks and Marco Polo thinks he isn’t being entirely truthful. Sometimes the truth is hard to believe. Marco Polo’s two guards return; Mongols are coming. Tony isn’t fit to travel so Marco Polo says he has to leave. Mongols arrive, but are defeated; Doug and To0ny were being used as bait. Now, they have horses.
In the fort, Tony is tended by a woman, Sarit. She leaves as Doug and Marco Polo enter; Doug checks on how Tony is doing. Batu, meanwhile, wants to get Sarit. She is Kublai Khan’s daughter and by forcing her to marry him, Batu will gain more Mongols. He wants his men to capture Sarit for him, from the fort they have been unable to take.
At the fort, Doug is concerned how involved Tony is getting with Sarit. Marco Polo thinks Doug is wise; Tony and Sarit are from different worlds. Doug definitely agrees. Tony is outside with Sarit when Mongols come over the walls and capture her, knocking him down.
Tik-Toc has the year as 1287, but no precise fix as yet because Marco Polo served Kublai Khan for a dozen years and was all over the place. Marco Polo explains to Doug and Tony that somehow Batu has learned Sarit’s true identity; Marco Polo was escorting her to Venice. Tony things a single man will be able to get into the camp; Doug thinks two will as well. He also knows that Marco Polo has black powder and wants some of it.
Tony has become rather taken with Sarit, to the extent where he’s thinking of staying in the past, no matter what. Doug tries to get him to see reason. The fort they are in is also vulnerable and General Kirk wants to send help – meaning weapons – back.