The Kinitawowi produce a replacement O.G. unit for trade with the Dwarfers ("Emohawk", Series VI)
An Oxy-Generation Unit, simplified as an O.G. unit, was an essential component of spaceship and space suit life-support systems. The O.G. unit not only generated oxygen, but also maintained breathable air for the crew.
Starbug[]
When the boys from the Dwarf were attacked by an Enforcement Orb and Starbug was forced to crash land on a swampy moon, the auto-repair system of Starbug was able to fix almost all the damage. The only item that was broken beyond repair was the O.G. unit, which Rimmer described as "a black and charred mess, worse than one of Dave Lister's drunken fry-ups." Without the O.G. unit, the 'bug could fly but not provide enough life support to sustain Lister and Cat.
Their only option was to try trading with the local repulsive GELFs. The Dwarfers found a Kinitawowi village and offered them many goods in trade for the O.G. unit which the Kinitawowi had acquired from somewhere. The trinkets provided by the Dwarfers granted entrance into the hut of the Kinitawowi chief, or watunga, where the bartering began proper.
The GELFs brought out a portable O.G. unit contained in a a large, silvery metallic briefcase. However, the Kinitawowi chief declared that he wanted Lister to marry his daughter, Ech-ech-ech-ech-ech-ech-ech-ech, in exchange for the O.G. unit. Lister went through with the ceremony, and his crewmates left with the briefcase. However, before consummating his marriage, Lister ran off to join his crewmates shouting "change of plan! LEG IT!"
The replacement O.G. Unit was installed by Lister and Kryten, while Starbug took off using its single hour's worth of emergency oxygen supply. The Dwarfers were unaware that the Kinitawowi had sent their Emohawk to attack the crew in revenge for reneging on the deal and stealing the O.G. unit. ("Emohawk", Series VI)
Trivia[]
- The life-support systems of spaceships within the Red Dwarf universe are little explained outside of the episode "Emohawk". However, it can be assumed that breathable air is made on spaceships and within space bases with similar technology to the O.G. unit. For example, it is possible that the numerous giant fans seen in the various corridors of Red Dwarf are larger versions of the O.G. unit seen in "Emohawk", or at least part of a wider system to distribute this artificial atmosphere.