"(Beeping)" "10 seconds." "Three...two...one...zero." "Compute." "Magnitude within one per cent of last observation." "Yasko, I want to know the nature and origin of that explosion." "Too far away." "The shock wave will hit Alpha in exactly 143.2 seconds." "Red alert!" "Check emergency life support." "Helena, prepare for casualties." "Medical, ready Casualty Reception." "One minute, 40." " Launch Eagles." " Launch Eagles." "(Alarm beeping)" "One minute..." " Eagle 1 to Command." " 'Yes, Alan?" "'" "We're in position." "Hold your positions." "You'll be shielded from the blast." "'Yes, Commander.'" "We'll be ready to land as soon as the shock wave is past." "30 seconds." " Rescue teams at stations." " Medical section ready." "20 seconds." "Blast procedure!" "(Howling)" "Come in, Alpha..." "Come in, Moonbase Alpha!" "'Do you read me, Alpha?" "'Come in, Moonbase Alpha!" "I'm not getting any reading.'" "Let's go." " Check the air." " Pressure's down a little." "Safe." "(Alarm beeping)" "(Koenig) Maya, all right?" "Kate, you all right?" "Yes, Commander, but my scanner's taken a beating." " We lost audio contact." " We're all right, Alan." "This time, yes." "'Moonbase Alpha status report." "Dr Helena Russell recording." "'It is now 1,288 days since we left Earth's orbit." "'For a week, we've been travelling toward explosions of unknown origin." "'They detonate at precise 12-hour intervals." "'As we move closer, each succeeding shock wave is more violent." "'There have been no casualties, but we suffer increasing damage." "'Since we cannot control our course, 'there is no way to take evasive action.'" "There it is - the eye of the explosions." "(Helena) A planet!" "(Maya) Yes." " But too distant for our sensors." " Except one conclusion." "It's still there." "It hasn't been destroyed." "The explosions were only travelling outward." "Right." "With the exact 12-hour intervals, it's not a natural phenomenon." "Some form of intelligence is responsible." "Warning us..." ""Stay away."" "And if the warnings aren't heeded?" " Get Eagle 1 ready for lift-off." " Eagle 1, prepare for launch." " Maya, let's go." " John..." "Be careful." "Alan, what's our ETA at the planet?" "42 minutes, 8.47 seconds." " The computer copies." " Always does." "Scanner." "(Koenig) Magnify." "Hmm." "It's ringed by moons." "Maya, I want a sensor reading." "(Alan) An almost perfect circle." "Maybe too perfect." "The planet's atmosphere is chlorine gas." "Specific gravity - 7.493." "Magnetic coefficient - 047." "Try the moons." "Atmosphere - negative." "But emitting a high energy potential." "Set a course for the nearest moon." "Energy level unnaturally high." "Heavy metallic concentrations." "No evidence of life." "(Alan) John..." "(Alan) Some sort of station." "Maya?" "That's it - the source of the high energy levels I'm getting." "Alan, take her down." "Camera helmet." "Decompress." "(Koenig) 'OK?" "'I'm at the nearest installation." "'There's no obvious entrance." "What's it made of, Maya?" "'" "Well, it appears a platinum tungsten alloy." "No reading from interior." "I've found an entrance, operated by weight-sensitive pads." "'Radiation - negative." "Life form - negative." "'I'm going in." "Cover me.'" "I'll get a suit on." "Atmosphere - negative." "There's some sort of a... (Maya) Commander!" "Come in, Commander!" "Alan, we've lost contact!" "Decompress." "John...?" "John, can you hear me?" " Alan." " Are you all right?" "Isn't everybody after getting hit with 300 or 400 volts(?" ")" "What is it?" "Some kind of probe." "I think we're being checked out." "Basic geometric figures." "I think it's trying to communicate." "It's a star chart." "It's trying to find out where we're from." "Sun..." "Mercury..." "Venus..." "Earth..." "Mars..." "Hey!" "How about that?" "(Hissing)" "Hey!" "Good old clean air!" "(Electronic shriek)" "(Male voice) 'Sorry for the delay." "'It took some time to align to your language.'" "I'm Commander John Koenig." "This is Alan Carter." "'Welcome." "I am Voice Probe 248.'" "I'd like to talk with someone..." "who has authority." "'For what purpose?" "'" " We've a vital matter to discuss." " 'You must be more specific.'" "Our base, with all aboard, is heading towards your planet." " Unless we..." " 'Sorry." "There is nothing I can do.'" " Let me talk to someone who can!" " 'I am a machine.'" " A computer?" " 'Yes." "'I can perform no independent action without authority.'" " Let me contact your masters." " 'That is not possible.'" "(Koenig) Why?" "'Intelligent life form on the planet - my masters - 'is not yet in existence." "'I am waiting for the first of them to be born." "'You must leave." "You are in great danger." "'You must go immediately.'" "(Koenig) Not without some answers." " (Maya) 'Commander.'" " Yes, Maya?" "The energy level is rising to critical." "(Energy crackling)" "Let's get out of here!" "(Koenig) Maya, decompress." " Here it is." " Alan, get us out of here!" "Ignition negative." "We've lost main power." "Switch to emergency circuits." "Still negative." "Impact's blown the main fuses." "Reset." "Have power on computer." "Sensors operating." "Still no juice in the ignition system." "Manual start." "Link in the solar batteries." "Energy level reaching critical." "This time!" "(Koenig) A ring of moons, each with a space station." "Let's assume they're all building a similar energy." "Storing up enormous power in the spheres." " Right." "Conclusions?" " It could be like thunderclouds." "When the potential's high enough, discharge it." "(Maya) The equivalent of a gigantic electrical storm." "Lightning arcing between each moon." "Producing an energy wave like a thousand H-bombs, radiating a million miles in every direction." "Alpha's moving closer." "It's gonna be totally destroyed." "How much time do we have?" "Assuming the same 12-hour intervals between explosions... just under six hours." "Alan, take her down." "We're landing on the planet itself." "All right, let's take a look at that surface." "I think we're expected." "(Male voice) 'Do not be concerned." "You are being taken to safety." "'Suitable atmosphere has been arranged." "You may leave your ship." "'You may proceed." "'I am Voice Probe 748.'" "We've met 248." "Some things it told us could use explanation." "Your masters, do they have a physical form?" "'Of course." "But the atmosphere they breathe is chlorine." "'Your air is as poisonous to them as theirs is to you.'" "We understand, but we must speak to them." "'As you were told, the first is not yet reborn.'" "You said "reborn"." "'My masters enjoy a unique life cycle." "'They exist for an allotted span and then grow old as you humans do." "'But instead of dying, they enter a chrysalis stage, 'to emerge rejuvenated - 'physically perfect, mentally clean." "'While they are sleeping, they are defenceless.'" "The reason for the explosive force field." "'Yes." "We are programmed to protect the masters." "'Any potential enemy who enters our space is warned by the explosions." "'If the warning is ignored, 'the subsequent explosions will destroy the transgressors.'" "Are they all in this chrysalis stage of existence?" "'There is one - the Guardian keeps watch while the others sleep.'" "Could you take us to him?" "'This is one of the centres of rejuvenation.'" "Chlorine." " Is this the Guardian?" " 'Yes." "But we are too late." "'He is entering the chrysalis.'" " Can he still understand me?" " 'I will translate.'" "I'm Commander John Koenig of Moonbase Alpha." "We're heading directly towards your planet." "Unless you stop the next explosion, my base will be destroyed." "Are you still translating?" "'Yes." "But the answer is...'" "What?" "What does it say?" "'The answer is meaningless.'" "Will you tell whoever is in this thing...?" "'The Guardian must enter the rejuvenation chamber." " 'He has become senile.'" " No!" "No!" " Alan, get away!" " Our last chance to save Alpha!" "(748) 'You must leave!" "' (Maya) That's chlorine gas!" "'You have broken the atmosphere in the chrysalis." "I must compensate.'" "Let's get out of here!" "Come on, Maya, out!" "(Coughing) Alan's still in there!" "(748) 'I must stabilise the atmosphere.'" "Alan!" "Alan!" "Commander, there's an animal on the planet Kreno, it lives in high volcanic areas and breathes chlorine." "Good, but hurry, he's got less than a minute." "Oh, it's so difficult to remember." "(Choking)" "It needs chlorine!" "Open up, please...unless you want to kill!" "(Choking)" "Alan!" "(Koenig) Hurry, Maya, change back." "Change back!" "We'd better get him back to the Eagle." "Well, the burns don't look too serious, what I'm concerned about is internal damage." "He should be taken back to Alpha." "In three hours, there'll be no Alpha." " Maya, can you operate the lasers?" " Of course." "I'm going outside." "If I give the order, start blasting!" "Those are the chambers containing your masters in chrysalis form?" "'Correct.'" "You are programmed to defend them." "(748) 'It supersedes all other functions.'" "The Eagle's lasers are aimed at those chambers." "They will fire and destroy them." "Stop the next explosion or we start shooting." " 'My logical duty is to stop them.'" " Forget logic!" "See desperation." "(Koenig) I will destroy your dome if I have to." "I'm waiting for your answer." "'Please, be patient.'" "(Coughing) What's happening?" "I am to fire on voice command, but it prevented the Commander." "Well, then fire." "(Koenig) Hold it, Maya!" "Decide!" " Fire!" " (Woman) 'Wait!" "'Two of us have been reborn.'" "(Koenig) Disarm laser!" "(748) 'I'm sorry it was necessary to do that.'" "Where are they?" "'I will lead you." "'Special atmospheric arrangements have been made.'" "(Woman) You look well-featured, Commander Koenig." "(Second woman) The word is "handsome"." "(First woman) Ah, yes - "handsome"." "You know my name." "(First woman) And the predicament of your base and people." "(Second woman) Your language is a difficult one." "It took us nearly an hour to learn it." "You must stop the next explosion." "(Second woman) There is plenty of time to decide." "(First woman) First we want to talk." "There are several matters of interest to discuss." "There's no equivalent in your language for our names." "You can call me A." "And you can call me B." "(A) We seek perfection." "We enter chrysalis fully grown adults." " After each cycle, we are reborn." " Listen to me... (B) We emerge fully grown adults on a higher level of intelligence, to mould our lives in any way we wish." "We repeat that process continually in our search for perfection." "Our lives are threatened if you... (B) Ah, yes, we have a choice to make." "There is no choice, there's only one decision." "Make it!" "(A) On what should we base this choice of ours?" "Universal decency." "(A) If I agree to save your base, there will be conditions." "What conditions?" "(A) Does it matter what they are?" "Then I decide in your favour." " At least you have MY vote." " I don't understand." "A society that seeks perfection must act democratically." "Each has equal rights." "I have voted yes." "It is up to B." "Your decision is clouded by attraction." " Attraction?" " For the Commander." "It is obvious and stupid - you want him to stay, to be your..." "lover." "I may learn to adapt my body to suit his atmosphere." "Would that please you, Commander?" "Make the decision, the only one you can." "I am not swayed by emotion." "I vote...no." "A tie." "A deadlock." " We must await the deciding vote." " Deciding vote?" "Next to be reborn will be the Guardian's brother, brother to the one your pilot tried to kill." "It is very unlikely he will decide in your favour." "You will wait here until he is ready to speak to you." "(Fraser) We're moving away now." "Not far enough." "24 minutes to detonation." " Go to yellow." " Yellow alert!" "(Alarm beeping)" "(Maya) Alpha's passing the planet." "If the Commander can't stop the next explosion, Alpha will be destroyed." "How long has he got to delay them?" "(Sighs) If the Commander can delay them for four hours then they'll be far enough away to withstand the shock waves, but too far away for us to get back." "Yeah, and getting further away all the time." "(Alan) You'd better check and see how John's doing." " (Fraser) Main outlet closed." " 'Check.'" " Airlock Section D sealed." " 'Check.'" "Three seconds...two...one..." "minus 20 minutes." "John... (Man) Commander Koenig." "I am the brother of the Guardian you tried to kill." "It seems your destiny is in my hands." "I understand your need to defend yourselves, but we mean you no harm." "(Koenig) Please, let us pass in safety." "In a few hours, we'll be gone from your planet." "(Man) You say you are non-aggressive." "Yes." "A familiar argument, and yet you have attempted to use violence." "Born from desperation." "(Man) You ask us to drop our guard, but offer no valid reason why we should do so." "One - you seek perfection." "(Man) Yes, we do..." "through logical progression... and, logically, my answer must be no." "Please, my decision is irreversible." "(Man) Commander, you and your companions are free to remain." "You will be safe here." "(Koenig) There are things more precious than safety." "Loyalty is better than logic, hope is better than despair... and creation is better than destruction." "I just wanted to tell you that, you seekers of perfection." "Alpha's beyond Eagle 1's reach." "We don't have enough fuel to catch it." "(A) To leave now, Commander, would be stupid." "You can never get back to your base, which, in any case, is facing certain destruction." "I know what I want to do." "It's unanimous." "We're leaving." "He said, "Loyalty is better than logic."" "So he did." ""Hope is better than despair," ""creation is better than destruction."" "Inexplicable." "It is not so inexplicable to me...now." "This is the tricky part." "(Sighs)" "For my next trick...!" "(Rising hum)" "Countdown at eight minutes." " 'Come in, Alpha.'" " John!" "We've left the planet." "Prepare for detonation." "Understood." "(Energy crackling)" "Go to red." "Red alert!" "(Alarm beeping)" "John, what's your ETA?" "'Negative.'" "We don't have enough fuel." "We're not gonna make it." "Understood." "John..." "I know." "Me, too." "Patch me into the internal system." "One minute, two seconds..." "One..." " (Yasko) Countdown, minus one." " We're ready." "This is Commander Koenig." "'In less than a minute, another energy wave will hit." "'At this range, Moonbase Alpha may well be destroyed." "'At best, you must assume severe damage and many casualties." "'Let the log show I commend all personnel 'for their courage, fortitude, 'and devotion to duty since we left Earth orbit." "'That is all.'" "Ready, John." "'Count down.' 40 seconds...39...38... 37..." "(Yasko) 25 seconds." "Detonation positive." "Shock wave will hit us in 10 seconds, Alpha - 18 seconds later." "Blast procedure!" "Five seconds." "What happened?" "They limited it, controlled it, stopped it short of destroying us." "Check it." "They used the explosion to give us enough propulsion to increase our speed to 804." "That's enough!" "We can reach Alpha!" " (Helena) 'John, are you all right?" "'" " We're fine." "'The shock wave's left only minimal damage." "What happened?" "'" "Hope IS better than despair." "Creation is better than destruction." " 'John, what happened?" "'" " What happened is... we're coming home." "(Koenig) Let's take a specific case." "I ask you for our ETA at the planet and you beat the computer." "Because your numerical system is based on 10." "10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and so on." "And yours is based on the function of an ellipse?" "Mmm." "So when I'm working out trajectories, those are just elliptical progressions, simple calculations." "Like one plus three plus five divided by two." " 4.5." " Yes!" "I must go." "I promised to have lunch with Tony." "Wait a minute!" "Your system simplifies the process but your answers are in our units." "Mmm." "Well, there's a formula to convert back." "Look." "And you beat the computer every time!" "You know, Maya..." "Maya!" "Hey, Maya!" " Maya!" " I'm Helena." "Remember?" " Oh, er...hi." " Yeah, hi." "Alan's been telling me about the women on the planet - beautiful and naked, I understand?" "Women?" "Oh, wait a minute." "I could hardly see them." "Really?" " Beautiful...naked...green?" " Green?" "They were?" "I didn't really notice that."