BBC1 premieres the 42nd episode of Terry Nation’s science fiction series Blake’s 7. Jacqueline Pearce returns as Servalan, attempting to hide her identity as Federation Commissioner Sleer. (Sleer was devised as a new character during pre-production for the fourth season when it appeared that Pearce would not return to the series; upon the actress’ return, Sleer is rewritten as Servalan’s alias after her fall from the presidency.) 
Tarrant and Dayna teleport to Helotrix, which Orac has informed the crew as being the latest Federation acquisition in an unprecedented new period of expansion and conquest. Tarrant and Dayna discover that a new pacification drug, Pylene-50, is being used to control the normally ruthless Helots while the Federation takes over. They also discover that the inventor of the drug, “Commissioner Sleer,” is, in fact, Servalan, having miraculously escaped from the destruction of the Liberator. Avon, however, doesn’t think highly of that miracle…
written by Robert Holmes
directed by David Sullivan Proudfoot
music by Dudley SimpsonCast: Paul Darrow (Avon), Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan), Michael Keating (Vila), Steven Pacey (Tarrant), Josette Simon (Dayna), Glynis Barber (Soolin), Peter Tuddenham (Orac, Slave), Malcolm Stoddard (Leitz), Christopher Neame (Colonel Quute), Robert Morris (Major Hunda), John Quentin (Practor), Edgar Wreford (Forbus), Nick Brimble (General), David Quilter (The Tracer), Neil Dickson (Avandir), Cyril Appleton (Sgt. Hask), George Lee (Igin)
LogBook entry by Earl Green