Space Brain

The indication of a new and unseen danger for the moon as it heads through space is the sudden outburst of strange, rapid hieroglyphics on all of Alpha's screens. Two astronauts are sent out to investigate and report a spectacular display of light, with a gigantic cluster of gossamer threads suspended in the heavens. It is like a huge space anemone.

The Eagle is gripped in what seems to be like enormous coloured snowflakes ... and disappears. Moments later, a glowing ball of white hot substance screams towards Alpha. Commander Koenig takes it to be a meteorite, but when it lands its impact is devastating.

Analysis of its constituents provides a terrifying shock, as Professor Bergman reports that they are the tightly compressed elements of the missing Eagle and its human occupants.

Meanwhile, Carter and his colleague Kelly have set out in another Eagle to search for the missing Alphans. Kelly space-walks to investigate and is caught up in the glutinous foaming substance they have encountered. It seems at first that he is dead, his body floating in space, but life returns and Carter is able to get him back into the Eagle before obeying instructions to return immediately to Alpha.

Kelly is behaving like a man possessed, saying they must go forward and displaying superhuman strength as Carter tries to control him, and then he has no option but to turn his stun gun on him.

Back again on Alpha, it soon becomes evident that Kelly's brain has been taken over by the mysterious, intangible alien force. Through him, the computer is taken over, receiving and transmitting messages at a fantastic speed, but he is unable to replay what it is that the strange force is trying to say.

The moon is heading towards the energy field and it is impossible to change course. By now, Koenig has come to realise that, whatever it is, it is an organism and intelligent. Only disaster can lie ahead if they hit it. Desperate measures are required.

An Eagle is loaded with an enormous nuclear charge, timed to explode when it encounters the space "brain", but the uncanny forces are stronger than has been feared. Kelly is at last able to make it known that the "brain" is not aggressive. It is trying to defend itself. All it wants is for the moon somehow to be diverted from its collision course.

Koenig immediately orders the nuclear-filled Eagle to be brought back but it is too late. It has changed course and is now heading for Alpha. Can it be stopped and, if so, what happens next. The threat of oblivion is very close ...

Episode synopsis taken from Guide Book provided with the Digitally Restored Network/Granada Ventures Series One Box Set