Moonbase Alpha Status Report: 403 days after leaving Earth
orbit
Commander John Koenig, Alan Carter and Maya set out in an ealge to investigate
50 missile-like objects that have locked into orbit around Moonbase Alpha.
Following a space walk to take a closer look at one of the capsules, John
Koenig decides to bring it to Alpha before deciding on the next course of action. The capsule is taken to one of underground
caves in Alpha's Research Centre for examination.
The capsule is opened using a laser to reveal a mechanism of moving parts,
and John Koening orders liquid nitrogen be used in order to freeze the mechanism. Suddenly
the capsule explodes and when Koenig looks inside the gaping hole he see's a humanoid male, frozen by the nitrogen.
The young man is taken to the Medical Care Unit where Doctor Helena Russell
and Doctor Matthias battle to save his life. John Koenig is eager that he should live as he knows the secret of
travel in space, and Alpha's survival might depend on knowing that secret. Helena tells John that they know part of
the secret already, that the alien's body is covered by a protective membrane.
The young man regains consciousness and reveals that his name is Canter, and he and his friends in
the other capsules are from the planet Golos. John agrees to recover the capsule travelling with Canter's,
and this capsule is opened to reveal a female. She is Zova, Canter's wife.
Canter tells John Koenig that he and Zova were cast out as exiles, and pleads with him to save
trhe others, but John tells him this is out of the question as Alpha cannot sustain any more people. Canter tells John
that he and Zova can solve their problem by increasing Alpha's recycling capacity ten-fold, and they can also give them
the secret of suspended animation. When Commander Koenig refuses Canter asks that he and Zova be returned to die
with their people.
Helena and security Officer Tony Verdeschi plead with John Koenig to save the lives of Canter's people,
to show compassion towards them. Koenig relents and asks Canter to come to his quarters, whereupon Koenig stuns him,
explaining to a confused Helena and Tony that he had to make certain that their weapons were effective against him.
Canter and Zova work to adjust Alpha's life support systems. As they near completion of
their work they head to the Power Room for final testing, but are confronted by a Security Guard and Helena Russell.
The Security Guard attempts to stun Canter but the laser is ineffective. Helena, Tony Verdeschi and Maya are stunned
by Canter and Zova.
As Commander Koenig rushes to the Power Room, Canter and Zova vanish, taking Tony and Helena
with them as prisoners. Canter, Zova, together with Tony and Helena, materialise on the planet Golos where Mirella,
Chief Councillor of Golos is summoned.
Zova re-materialises on Moonbase Alpha and demands to speak to Commander Koenig. She tells Koenig
that Doctor Russell and Tony Verdeschi will be returned if he recovers the remainder of their people in the capsules.
After Zova threatens Helena, John orders the launch of an Eagle to recover the capsules.
Maya, John and Zova set off in the Eagle to recover the capsules drifting in space. Koenig
attaches a lifeline to Maya and himself but sabotages Zova's lifeline, pushing her out into space.
On the planet Golos Tony diverts Canter's attention whilst Helena scratches his face, breaking through
the protective membrane surrounding his body. Canter ages before their eyes, becoming a very old man, finally unable
to summon the strength to fire his weapon.
On Moonbase Alpha Maya and John send the capsules back to their original course away from
Alpha. Maya's computer registers an energy surge in the Power section, where Tony and Helena re-materialise.
Episode synopsis copyright Jeannine Hochet
