As Commissioner Symonds, stranded on Moonbase Alpha since the moon was thrown free of Earth’s orbit, chides Commander Koenig for not trying to find a way to reverse the moon’s course, an small alien spacecraft is detected hurtling toward the moon. The ship crash-lands, and Koenig leads an expedition to see if there are any survivors. What his team finds is a number of humanoids in suspended animation, though the first attempt to revive one of them proves disastrous – and an automatic security system awakens the others, who naturally want to know why one of their crew is dead. Koenig manages to convince the aliens to move their vehicle to Moonbase Alpha for repairs, but is annoyed when Symonds tries to pull rank upon meeting the alien visitors. As it happens, Captain Zantor and his crew happened to be mounting a peaceful exploration of Earth, and Helena’s examination reveals Zantor’s people to be perfectly compatible with humanity. Forgiving the death of his crew member, Zantor even offers the vacant stasis chamber to one member of Koenig’s crew, and Symonds jumps at the chance to go back to Earth, even though it’s a 75-year trip. Helena insists on testing the aliens’ equipment to ensure suitability for a human passenger, but she is put into a deeper state of suspended animation by accident – and with the open seat to Earth now filled by accident, Symonds wants to take Zantor’s entire ship by force.
written by Anthony Terpiloff
directed by Charles Crichton
music by Barry Gray
additional music by Vic ElmsGuest Cast: Roy Dotrice (Commissioner Symonds), Christopher Lee (Captain Zantor), Prentis Hancock (Paul Morrow), Clifton Jones (David Kano), Zienia Merton (Sandra Benes), Anton Phillips (Dr. Mathias), Nick Tate (Alan Carter)
Notes: Some of the background atmosphere sounds heard as Koenig’s crew enters the alien spacecraft are well-known to viewers of other British SF staples – namely as part of the background sound loop of many a Dalek control center in Doctor Who.
LogBook entry by Earl Green