The first indication that Moonbase Alpha is menaced by new and sinister
forces comes with the remarkable behaviour of a maintenance engineer who, struck by a bright violet light out of the sky,
suddenly becomes a human computer and meets his death. At the same time, Alpha is hit by a tremendous shockwave.
A little later, a huge sphere of red-orange light encircles the moon, and Commander Koenig realises
that they have become locked in the strange sphere's orbit. A mysterious voice confirms: "You are captives of the planet
Triton."
The computer gives a reading that the sphere is composed of light, is hollow and has a zero temperature.
An ominous watch is being kept on Alpha and the next victim of the mysterious force is Doctor Helena Russell. She appears
to glide into nothingness and then finds herself in the hovering sphere's void. A streak of light hits her forehead
and settles against the base of her skull and when she finds herself back again on the moon it is clear to Victor Bergman
that her captors have learned the secret of decomposing atoms and reducing any object to its atomical components which can
be transported through space and then reassembled.
Bergman also does planetary calculations which indicate that Triton has not been heard of for thousands
of years and further calculations make it certain that it no longer exists. It blew up and disintegrated two million
light years away. The sphere is a probe mission which is unaware of what has happened. What is it seeking?
One thing is certain: it is trying to obtain information about Earth. Helena has been programmed
- a human conductor connected to Alpha's computer which turns her into an informer transmitting classified information.
Death can be her only reward when the Tritonians have gained everything they want.
Somehow, they have to be convinced that their efforts are being wasted because their planet no longer
exists, and in undertaking this hazardous task, Koenig discovers that the Tritonians have been watching Earthmen for many
Earth centuries to find a means of preventing what they fear may one day be an invasion from Earth. But can they be
convinced and, if so, in time to save Helena?
Episode synopsis from Guide Book provided with the Digitally
Restored Network/Granada Ventures Series One Box Set
Copyright Granada Ventures
