The crew of the Liberator have begun extensively checking the ship for any defects that could result in Orac’s prediction, but no one can find a cause – except for Avon. In the recording of Orac’s prediction, a starfield unique anywhere in the universe is seen behind the Liberator just prior to her predicted destruction, and according to Avon, all the crew has to do is make sure the ship never goes near that point. But before any more can be said, two ships similar to the Liberator in design approach from out of nowhere at unimaginable speed and attack – carefully knocking out specific systems, such as weapons and flight control. When Blake and Avon try overriding the computers, the ship fights back, lashing out with live power and locking Avon in a room where he has just set an explosive charge. Zen even goes offline, and the ship is boarded. Gan is attacked and disappears, while Vila and Cally are the next to go. Blake orders Orac to influence the computers and bring them back online, and the flight deck is suddenly taken over by aliens who pilot the Liberator inside a gigantic, world-sized space station, again similar in design. It becomes clear that the minions of the computer-controlled entity called “The System” were the original builders and owners of the Liberator and want her back. Blake notices, during an interrogation by System custodians, that the System’s computers are gradually having difficulty operating, and correctly guesses that Orac is responsible. Avon, while waiting in a prison cell for execution, looks out a porthole and sees the very star configuration that he noticed behind Liberator in Orac’s prediction.
written by Terry Nation
directed by Vere Lorrimer
music by Dudley SimpsonCast: Gareth Thomas (Blake), Sally Knyvette (Jenna), Paul Darrow (Avon), Jan Chappell (Cally), Michael Keating (Vila), David Jackson (Gan), Peter Tuddenham (Zen), Sheila Ruskin (Alta One), Harriet Philpin (Alta Two), Roy Evans (Slave)
LogBook entry by Earl Green