Keldan Control, Keldan Control, this is Nova Queen on primary approach 0-4-0.
ReQuest orbital entry clearance.
Nova Queen, Nova Queen, this is Keldan control. Maintain 0-4-0. Orbital entry is clear.
Keldan Control, this is Nova Queen. I have an unidentified trace on 0-4-0.
Nova Queen, this is Keldan Control.
Maintain 0-4-0 and switch to Computer Flight Coordination.
Switching to CFC, maintaining 0-4-0.
That ship is still coming at us.
Nova Queen, this is Keldan Control. The ship is an unmanned ore carrier on Computer Flight Coordination.
I hope you're sure about that, Keldan; it's still on 0-4-0.
Nova Queen, computer control is confirmed. No problem.
You know that and I know that, but does the computer know that?
It'll switch vectors any time now. Relax.
I'll relax when it gets that ship off 0-4-0.
It will.
Keldan control, I have 4000 passengers on this ship and that ore carrier is still on 0-4-0.
Computer flight coordination doesn't make errors.
To hell with that! Do something, Keldan. That thing is coming straight at us.
Keldan Control!
Nova Queen, switch to manual control,
engage emergency boosters and abort 0-4-0. Confirm please!
I can see it! My God, it's too late!
Nova Queen, Nova Queen, this is Keldan Control, do you copy?
Nova Queen! Nova Queen, come in please!
Unfortunate.
You do have a way with words, Supreme Commander.
I'm sorry, that was unnecessary.
Everyone on the Nova Queen died instantly of course, but it didn't end there.
The ship's neutron drive unit broke free, survived the fall through the atmosphere.
It went critical just about the time it hit the surface.
Ground zero was slap in the middle of Keldan City.
Half the population was killed outright.
It was a computer malfunction, presumably.
Yes.
These things happen, Durkim.
They're happening far too often, Supreme Commander.
Computer Flight Coordination is breaking down on 20 different worlds and the problem is spreading.
Are you saying it's a basic design fault?
No, that's not what I'm saying. Look.
That's the equatorial zone on Palmero.
Palmero?
Yes, and that is snow you're looking at, Supreme Commander.
It'll be some time before they re-establish themselves
as the Federation's main producer of tropical fruit.
And this, the plains of Suni. Mean temperature has gone up by twenty degrees.
It hasn't rained anywhere on that planet in sixty days.
When it does, the effect will be something like this.
The planet Vilka, where it hasn't stopped raining for sixty days.
The planet Herom. Carthenis.
Climate control has gone disastrously wrong on all the frontier worlds.
- And it's spreading? - Rapidly.
- Anything else? - Isn't that enough?
No, it's impossible, Durkim.
You mean unthinkable, don't you?
Look, everything you've just seen has one common denominator.
- Computers. - Not computers. Computer. Singular.
Very singular indeed. Our unbeatable control and coordination centre.
- No! - Servalan, by design or accident, Star One is failing.
- There has to be another explanation. - There isn't.
And if you want to keep your job you'll find it.
Why won't you face the facts?
Because I'm not convinced. And even if I were, there would be nothing I could do about it.
Well, surely under the circumstances you could get clearance to put a team in.
Star One is the most secure installation in the Federation.
- I know that. - Do you know why it's so thoroughly secure?
Well, presumably because knowledge of its location is severely restricted.
No! Knowledge of its location is non-existent.
Durkim, no one knows where Star One is! No-one at all!
So, if Lurgan's coordinates are correct Star One is somewhere in there.
Which makes it about the only thing that is.
At least we'll recognise it when we see it, even if we don't recognise it when we see it,
if it's the only thing that's there, if you see what I mean.
- Oh, shut up, Vila. - I'm just trying to help.
What do you think, Jenna?
It's riskier than it looks. These coordinates are not precise enough.
And however they built Star One it's not going to be so big that we can't miss it.
We'll probably have to search.
It's a long way out, Blake- a long way from the edge of the galaxy.
It's infinity. You're asking us to plunge out into infinity.
Now come on, Cally, that's a slight exaggeration.
Is it? What, the space between the island galaxies?
It's the nearest we'll come to infinity before we die.
If anything goes wrong out there we won't have a prayer, because nothing and nobody goes out that far.
I hadn't thought of it like that.
The Federation went out there.
We've only got Lurgen's word for that. And we didn't even get it first hand.
There is only Lurgen's word. Everybody else who knew is either dead or amnesiac.
One clue. Just one, and we have got it. Why are you listening to this drivel, Blake?
We can take Star One; let's get on with it.
Very stirring. When did you become a believer?
Are you just going to sit there? You have led them by the nose before.
'Scuse me, are you going to answer her question?
Show me someone who believes in anything and I will show you a fool.
I meant what I said on Goth, Avon.
We are not going to use Star One to rule the Federation; we are going to destroy it.
I never doubted that. I never doubted your fanaticism.
As far as I am concerned you can destroy whatever you like.
You can stir up a thousand revolutions; you can wade in blood up to your armpits.
Oh, and you can lead the rabble to victory, whatever that might mean.
Just so long as there is an end to it. When Star One is gone it is finished, Blake.
And I want it finished. I want it over and done with. I want to be free.
But you are free now, Avon.
I want to be free of him.
I never realised. You really do hate me, don't you?
When we have dealt with Star One, I will take you back to Earth and then the Liberator is mine, agreed?
Agreed. Assuming the others go along with it.
Why should we?
Yes, why should we? It's all a bit high-handed if you ask me.
Liberator is approaching sector nine. Navigation computers now reQuire further instructions.
Well, do we look for Star One?
We'll finish what we set out to do. Nothing else is settled.
- Are we fanatics? - Does it matter?
- Many, many people will die without Star One. - I know.
Are you sure that what we're going to do is justified?
It has to be. Don't you see, Cally?
If we stop now then all we have done is senseless killing and destruction.
Without purpose, without reason. We have to win.
It's the only way I can be sure that I was right.
That you were right?
Course for sector eleven is laid in.
Detectors on full range. All readings are clear.
Weaponry system on standby.
Standard by six, Jenna.
Run course program, standard by six.
Confirm boundary.
Confirm Liberator is now crossing the theoretical boundary of the galaxy and is entering intergalactic space.
Increase speed to standard by twelve.
There's no doubt in your mind that he was telling the truth?
None, Supreme Commander. We didn't rush him. He was telling the truth all right.
Very well, interrogate the rest of his team just to make sure, and try not to kill them.
{DOOROPENS]
Yes, Durkim, what is it?
I find that just a little distracting, Supreme Commander.
What's all this about?
- Time to defend ourselves. - Against whom?
Each other. Now what is it you want? Quickly, you're wasting time.
- There's an emergency meeting of the High Council. - I am aware of that.
I've been summoned to appear before it.
You put Headquarters on full security restriction.
I can't get off this satellite without your direct clearance.
No.
'No' you agree with what I'm saying or 'no' you refuse my clearance?
Both. Now get back to your work. I am still waiting for your theories as to where Star One may be located.
That summons is a Presidential Order in Council. I have to go.
Space Command no longer recognises the authority of the President or of the Council.
I don't think I understand.
We are the only force capable of handling the present emergency.
I doubt if even we can do that.
The President and those members of the Council who are unable to accept the realities of the situation
are even now being arrested, as are those of our own people whose loyalties may be 'divided'.
At a time like this complete unity is an absolute essential.
There isn't enough data. I can't even guess where Star One is.
Then I suggest you try harder. Or I might think you're part of the plot.
- Plot? - Obviously...
...someone is trying to destroy the Federation, now perhaps it's you.
Why would I want to do that?
'Why' is always the most difficult question. At the moment I am more concerned with 'how'.
- Is she involved? - You know her?
Her name's Lurena, I think... Isn't it? Ah, we were acquainted...
You were more than just acquaintances.
That's a long time ago. She emigrated to one of the frontier worlds.
She's on Star One.
She can't be, it's unmanned. The systems are automatic.
A group of scientists and technicians elected to spend the rest of their lives refining,
checking and guarding the systems.
Knowing they could never leave, never come home? That's appalling.
Inspiring, surely? In the best tradition of selfless devotion to the Federation.
That's your answer then. Some or all of them have changed their minds.
No. They were all screened and conditioned very carefully by our best psycho-manipulation teams.
None of the group could attempt to damage the systems, identify the location,
or contact anyone outside Star One without going obviously insane.
How can you be certain of that?
The head of the psycho-manipulation team has just finished,
...'reassuring' my interrogators.
So whatever is happening on Star One is happening against her will.
There's nothing I can do.
You get back to work, Durkim.
She may still have a chance. If we can find her in time.
May I offer you my personal congratulations, and loyalty, Madame President?
{COMMUNICATORCHIME] - Supreme Commander? - What is it?
Blake and his crew. The strategy programs have all come up blank on the possible courses they took.
- Run them again. - But, Supreme Commander.
Run them again! I will not be President of a ruined empire.
What are you doing?
Just a routine check, Lurena.
Is that why you're using a laser probe? I've been watching you, Stott.
I know.
Your behaviour has been very suspicious for some time now.
Forgive me, Lurena, but, well, we've all noticed that you seem to be under some kind of stress.
There was nothing wrong with that control circuit; I checked it myself an hour ago.
That's why I was checking it again.
You think I don't know what I'm doing?
I'm afraid that's what we all think.
Someone's been tampering with the systems, it can only be you.
Your conditioning, a reaction to it. You're not to blame. You're ill, that's all.
Stay where you are, or I'll kill him.
We only want to help you, Lurena. Please, put down the gun.
Yes, you'd like that wouldn't you? Stay where you are!
Do as she says, Parton!
I see it now, you're all in this together.
That's impossible; you know that's impossible, look Lurena.
You're all against me. All of you. Whispering, plotting behind my back. You want to kill me.
- We want to help you. - Don't move!
Please, Lurena.
Get after her. Find her before she does any more damage.
And don't bother to bring her back. Just kill her.
I was right; we should have done it as soon as we knew.
- I didn't realise how far she'd got. - Now she's running around loose.
Well at least we know what to expect, anyway.
And after all, what can she do, alone?
She is the last one.
This way!
- Anything on the detectors? - No.
Jenna, how long before we reach Lurgen's coordinates?
Eight minutes. If there's anything there it should be showing by now.
Perhaps Star One doesn't come within detector range until we reach the coordinates.
Our detectors are better than anything the Federation have got.
We should be able to see it by now.
I think we can. There, at the extreme edge of the range.
What is it?
The readings say that it is a star. Small, pale and very dense.
A white dwarf by the look of it.
You couldn't put a computer complex on that. Could you?
- Hardly. - Does it have a planetary system?
Probably not a system, more likely a single planet.
A single planet orbiting an isolated, dying star.
- Star One. - Seems reasonable.
Have they found her?
We've been through all the control sectors, searched the storage rooms, living quarters.
Maybe she went out onto the surface?
She won't last long if she has, there's nothing out there for her.
- Better send a search party anyway. - We can't waste any more time on her.
- Do it! - Shall I call off the search down here?
Leave three to continue, send a party out onto the surface, put the rest back to work.
Don't be insolent.
Maintenance takes effort. If we could revert to ourselves...
No, not while she's free. If she realised, her conditioning might break down completely.
{LOUDCLATTER]
Zhokov, I'm sorry, I...
- Put the planet on visual. - Confirmed.
Looks like yet another garden paradise.
Surface conditions?
The atmosphere is breathable. Surface temperatures are low.
Calculations suggest that they rise above freezing point only during daylight hours at the eQuator.
- Good. - It is? You like dead planets with dying suns?
I do when I'm looking for a complex underground installation.
Jenna, program a course to orbit the planet's equator.
You don't have to explain it to me; I only came for the ride.
With surface conditions like that where would you build the main installation?
Course program laid in.
Maximum scan, Cally. Look for anything unusual or out of place,
sudden temperature variation, anything.
They're bound to have left some clue as to where they put that installation.
A door would be nice if you could manage it.
- I'll do my best. - Preferably one marked 'Entrance'.
Ready on the scan, Jenna.
Run course program.
Confirmed. Course program running.
I have been doing some calculations, if this is Star One...
If it is?
First catch your computer, but all right it probably is, and that being the case the choice of location is fascinating.
- I'm glad you're enjoying it. - The nearest large galaxy to our own is Andromeda.
- So? - So, this is the nearest point to Andromeda.
If anyone could cross intergalactic space in less than a lifetime
we are now precisely upon the route that they would take.
What are you trying to say, Avon?
I directed the detectors toward the Andromeda galaxy.
There are thousands of satellite generators out there, beyond Star One.
What?
Even with the Federation's resources it must have taken them years.
That must be the biggest antimatter minefield ever put together.
Minefield, what minefield?
Perhaps the intergalactic drive has been developed. Question is, by whom?
A defence zone to keep mankind in, or something else out.
Leeth. Leeth!
What is it, Markov?
The main entrance is open.
She must have come out after we did. She followed us out.
She can't have got far then. Spread out, all of you. Keep searching.
I don't like explosives, very crude. Difficult to reason with a bomb.
Blake?
They won't explode until they are primed.
And if it was faulty? Bit late to complain to the manufacturer.
Scanners are showing a temperature variation.
From the pattern it could almost be the door you were talking about.
- I think it was a trick. - What was?
The open door. I think she doubled back. I don't think she's out here at all.
No, she wouldn't have been thinking clearly enough for that.
I hope you're right, but we're not really sure how they function under heavy stress. Come on.
Stationary orbit is established and confirmed.
Teleport, Vila.
- Avon? - Yes.
Watch yourselves, Blake's rushing things.
I get the feeling he's not giving himself time to think.
Blake is an idealist, Jenna. He cannot afford to think.
Down and safe. Defences?
They've relied on secrecy, I don't think they've tricked the place out...
...but it won't do any harm to be careful.
Let's look for that entrance.
- I thought this place was unmanned. - More idealists.
They must have volunteered to be marooned for life.
Yes, it makes you proud to be human, doesn't it?
- What are they doing here? - Making sure everything works, presumably.
- What now? - Follow them.
One door.
- As requested. - Well done, Cally.
- It isn't marked 'Entrance'. - Nobody's perfect.
{FALLINGGRAVEL]
Avon, it's a trap.
Not a very friendly welcome.
Shall we go? I'm sure whoever is in charge would wish to speak with us.
- Vila, teleport Cally and Blake, quickly. - Right.
Come on, come on.
- Avon. - Well?
There's no response. What's going on, where are they?
Inside. It must be shielded.
Do you want to come up?
- No. - Avon.
- What is it, Jenna? - There's a ship, it's coming in for a surface landing.
- Have they spotted you? - I've got the detector shield up.
What sort of a ship is it?
I don't know, it's a new type to me.
Looks like it's coming down somewhere near you, though.
Do you want to come up now?
No, let's see who else knows about this place.
Are you going to tell us what's going on down there? Avon... Avon!
{RETROSFIRING]
Vila, I need you in here to stand by the weaponry system.
- What about the teleport? - I'll put Orac on it.
- He's not as Quick as we are. - We'll have to live with that.
You mean they will.
Just get on with it.
Orac, operate the teleport as instructed.
Oh, very well.
And check that intergalactic defence zone.
I want everything you can find out about it, including why it's there.
- You're here, then. - Apparently.
I was told you would be alone.
Obviously you were misinformed.
- Who is this woman? - She is my mother.
May I see your identification?
What for? After all, who else knows about this place?
I was told you could be difficult.
You seem to have been told rather a lot about me.
I was interested. I am not unfamiliar with traitors,
but the scale of your treachery is unusual.
And your insistence on carrying out the final act personally must make you unique.
Your disapproval would carry more conviction if you were not going to benefit from my treachery.
Now when do I get to perform the final act?
Which of your hands is artificial?
This one. Rather good, don't you think?
And the eye patch, what happened to that?
Hold it, touch that and I'll drop you where you stand.
Well, now. Travis. Fancy meeting you here.
Put the gun down, Avon, it's too late to stop it now.
- Convince me. - Be polite and I may let you live.
Be informative and I may let you die.
You'll want that after I've shot off an arm and a leg or two.
I thought you were supposed to be the one with brains?
Brains but no heart. Now talk or scream, Travis, the choice is yours.
My preliminary examination of the defence zone indicates that it is made up of a network of satellite generators.
We could have told you that.
Each of which performs a dual function;
namely, to indicate the approach of an intruder and then to destroy that intruder by a powerful anti-matter implosion.
So it's a combined alarm system and minefield.
Correct. If I may continue?
He always makes me feel as if I should be taking notes.
If I may continue?
The defence zone is controlled and monitored from the computer complex known as Star One.
Ahh.
A cursory examination of the relevant Star One systems
indicates that this defence zone is one of a number of such zones
located at strategic points on the rim of that section of the galaxy colonised by mankind.
Then they are expecting an invasion? A hoard of hairy aliens.
There is no logical reason why aliens should be hairy.
There is no logical reason why people should be hairy.
I don't like this Jenna; we could be sitting in the front line.
I see no cause for alarm.
From the design and construction patterns it would appear
that the defence zones have been built up very gradually over a long period of time.
My conclusion is that they are merely precautionary
rather than a response to some specific threat.
Well if there's no threat why bother with precautions?
If the resources are available to eliminate even the vaguest threat, it would seem logical to do so.
I'd agree with that. What do you call a vague threat?
A contact, sometime in the past, either a communication or a physical contact.
- A physical contact? - A scoutship, perhaps.
A scoutship, perhaps! Like that one down on the surface now, perhaps!
Zen, put the battle computers online.
Confirmed, battle computers are online.
Give me maximum available range on the detectors.
What do you think is going on?
Well, they were waiting for Travis, so obviously he's expected to take over.
Except there's more to it than that.
Yes, the 'final act'.
Well, whatever that is we've got a final act of our own to arrange.
You work your way through the other control rooms.
If anyone questions you be arrogant, you're with Travis,
and he's about to become Emperor of the galaxy.
- What about you? - I'll wait for Stott.
As long as he thinks I am Travis we'll have no problems.
Besides I might find even out the rest of it. I'm going to set this timer for one hour.
Most of the systems have been modified already.
The chaos and destruction should already be sufficient to ensure that resistance is slight.
- When will you be ready for the ultimatum? - Ultimatum?
Laying out of our terms for the restoration of order.
Policy is not our concern, Travis. It is sufficient to serve.
I hope these people will really do as you tell them, Travis.
- They will. - The first one who doesn't will cost you your head.
Don't move.
Damn!
- They're all dead. - Yes, I can see that. Did you kill them?
- No. They are trying to kill me. - They have a novel approach to the job.
You don't understand.
In here they're dead, but out there, out there they're still alive, walking about.
- Trying to kill you? - Yes.
Yes.
Look out!
{GUNFIRE]
What are they?
Unfriendly. Which is fortunate, really. They'd be difficult to love. Come on.
Nothing. There's nothing there.
I knew we were panicking unnecessarily. Alien hordes, I mean to say.
- There they are. - Where? Where?
Just coming into detector range.
They're too far off to be sure. They could be meteors.
- They're ships. - No, they couldn't be, there's too many of them.
That's a cloud of meteors. Well, come on Jenna, you can see that, admit it.
That's a cloud of... big meteors.
Very big meteors. And it's slowing down.
They know about the defence zone.
Jenna, let's run for it.
Is it nearly complete?
As you see.
Constructing the circuits required to deactivate the defence zone was difficult,
but we were able to keep the technicians alive long enough to duplicate their entire brain patterns
as well as their physical shape.
Their physical shape?
Why do we still retain it? The woman Lurena has escaped.
It's just a precaution.
May I ask you an impertinent question?
If you don't mind an impertinent answer.
I have taken on the shape of your species.
I use your words, and yet I cannot understand you.
The woman Lurena and the other technicians that were here, these I could understand. But you.
Why have you betrayed your own kind?
Why have you given us the means to eradicate your species?
- Eradicate humanity? - Virtually.
Maybe I just don't like crowds.
{LASERONBLAST]
Travis...
- You are Travis? - I am Travis.
Then who is this?
His name is Blake.
His name WAS Blake.
{GUNFIRE]
- Where's Blake? - I left him in here.
What's that?
We seem to have stumbled over an alien invasion.
Which of these control sections handles the defence zone?
I can't tell you that.
You must know. Now think, woman.
I can't tell you because you haven't been cleared by security.
Well, neither had that!
She's been conditioned, Avon. She wants to tell you but she can't.
Come on.
Your people are well trained.
- They serve, as do we all. - How much longer?
Each of these keys will close down one sector of the defence zone.
When I've connected this last one, you can begin.
My one regret is that they'll never know who really killed them.
Why are they just sitting there?
They're waiting for someone to clear that defence zone.
Do you think Blake knows what's happening? Why hasn't he come back yet?
What are we supposed to do, Jenna?
- Give the alarm. - Terrific idea, who do you suggest we tell?
- Servalan. - Oh now, wait a minute.
I just hope Blake understands why we betrayed him.
Orac, I want you to punch through a message to the strategy computer in Space Command headquarters.
I want you to tell it that there's an alien battle fleet estimated at six hundred ships
about to enter Federation space.
Give it these coordinates.
Tell it that the information comes from Blake on the Liberator. Can you do that, Orac?
I would remind you that I am not a communicator.
Your carrier beam is the fastest way to contact Servalan.
That is not the purpose for which it was developed.
Do it, you useless bunch of junk. You got us into this mess,
"No cause for alarm" you said, or have you forgotten?
I have passed the message, as you reQuested.
The Space Command strategy computer is now registering the data.
It is finished. Now you can open the way for our fleet to enter.
The final act.
Information.
One sector of the defence zone has now been deactivated.
{GUNFIRE]
Avon!
- How bad is he? - Bad enough.
Is he dead, Avon? Is Travis dead?
{GUNFIRE]
He is now. Are you?
I've had better days.
We must get him back to the ship.
No, the aliens were closing down the defence zone.
There must be a fleet out there. We must warn the Federation.
From the ship.
The charges, Cally. We cannot blow this place up.
Humanity is going to need all the resources it can get.
All the charges are set, Blake, they'll blow in ten minutes.
We can't stop them now they're primed, it's too late.
- Well get them out onto the surface. - In ten minutes?
- Try, Cally. Help her, Avon. - You. Do what you can for him.
- When did this come in? - It showed up on the strategy readout.
All right, Durkim. Red One mobilisation.
You believe it?
All fighting ships to make maximum speed.
Patch this office into the fleet coordination suite. Well, get on with it!
- How many more? - Three. How long have we got?
Two-and-a-half minutes.
- I forgot. - Try not to move about.
No, you don't understand. There's another explosive charge.
Look, lie still. You'll kill yourself.
They don't know about it. I've got to get it out.
I'll get it. Tell me where it is.
I put it in section four on one of the panels.
- All right. Now lie still. - You'll have to hurry.
Come on, come on. We've got a minute and fifteen seconds.
That's the last.
Move!
{EXPLOSION]
Flagship Galileo reports galactic eighth fleet under way.
Estimate achieve coordinates in four hours.
Cruiser Beagle now estimating rendezvous in three hours and seventeen minutes.
Flotillas fourteen and sixteen confirm four hours and eight minutes.
But what happens in the meantime?
I gave him my word.
To fight off that fleet until the Federation get here?
- That is what I promised. - Why, Avon?
Why not?
They are under way, they're moving towards the gap in the defence zone.
- Zen, put it on visual. - Confirmed.
Well?
Zen, battle computers to calculate intercept course and strike ranges.
Confirmed.
Put up the radiation flare shield; clear the neutron blasters for firing.
Neutron blasters are cleared for firing.
- Zen, put up the force wall. - Confirmed.
Why didn't you stay in the medical unit?
Couldn't you bring yourself to trust me just this once?
- I thought I might be able to help. - In that condition?
- All right I'll go back. - Can you manage, alone?
Yes. Avon...
...for what it is worth,
I have always trusted you, from the very beginning.
Flotilla seventeen estimates two hours and six minutes.
Battle cruiser Newton reports coordinates achievable in one hour and seven minutes.
One minute to strike range.
We can't hold all of them.
They can't all come through that gap at once.
Stand by to fire.
- Avon, this is stupid! - When did that ever stop us?
Fire!