- The arrival of the Alphans on another planet seems to cause a change in its atmosphere, setting off pollution and poisoning of the water. They meet Zoran, the sole survivor of the last exploratory force, who tells them that the planet is controlled by an immortal being - with whom Koenig must parley if he and his crew are to leave the planet alive.—don @ minifie-1
- The moon has neared an Eden-like world; all indications pointing to the Alphans finally arriving at a place they can call 'home'. Two days after the first reconnaissance had been conducted, a task force consisting of fifteen or so members, which have split up into several teams, are investigating the compatibility of the Alphans settling here. Commander Koenig - who's on the planet supervising the operation - has ordered a strict quarantine on all food, water, and minerals the team members come across until sufficient tests have been implemented. Helena and Maya are stationed in Alpha's Command Center, anxiously analyzing all data received from the survey teams.
Alan Carter and technician Jerry Travis have discovered a mysterious alien structure covered in vines and mosses. They inform Commander Koenig, who inquires about life-signs within; Travis explaining that the molecular bonding of the structure's metallic construction is too sophisticated, causing their sensor beams to just bounce off of it.
Meanwhile, Tony - who's been investigating another sector with Joe Lustig - has discovered a sizable valley that would be perfect as the Alphans' new home. His bliss sours a bit when Koenig contacts him, informing him that he's rounding up everyone back to base camp due to an alien structure having been found.
As Tony and Joe Lustig are beginning the long trek back to camp, Tony fails to notice that Joe is no longer following him. Having heard a distorted screeching sound, Lustig ventures under an overhead rock-formed arch and enters a small clearing. Through outlying vegetation, he views a piercing, dancing light flashing as it gives off the screeches that distracted his journey.
The sound of a man screaming stops Tony in his tracks, realizing Lustig is nowhere in sight. Rushing back toward the scream, he finds Joe standing there, staring, his body oddly twitching. When Joe starts to raise his laser toward Tony, Verdeschi leaps on him. After the two are struggling on the ground, the laser fires, killing Lustig. Tony stands, confused over the situation, then grabs his commlock to contact the Commander. However, the screeching light that had affected Lustig returns, causing Tony to grab his head with both hands, screaming.
After Tony and Lustig have failed to arrive at the base camp, Commander Koenig tries to contact him. Tony - who seems to be in a feral state of mind - picks up the commlock. Seeing Koenig's face on the screen, he crushes the device with his bare hand, throwing it at the ground and running off.
Koenig has led a group of Alphans to comb Tony's and Lustig's designated recon area. When they come across Lustig's body, Dr. Ed Spencer's examination reveals that it was a laser wound that killed him, but bruises indicate that he and Tony had been brawling. Two security guards arrive with Tony's crushed commlock, informing the Commander that it was found a half a kilometer due west, in the opposite direction of base camp. Koenig departs with the two guards, hoping to locate Tony, who Spencer has surmised is in an agitated state.
'Agitated' is an understatement as Tony stumbles along the terrain aimlessly, hallucinating, firing his laser at everything around him.
Back at base camp, technician Les Johnston consumes some fruit, even as Alibe reminds him that the quarantine period has yet to elapse.
Jerry Travis informs Alan that the thermal lance failed to have any affect on the surface of the alien structure.
Having followed the trail of charred trees and other objects, Koenig and the two guards have finally caught up with Tony. After Verdeschi scampers away from the arriving Alphans, behaving as a wild animal would, Koenig opts to follow him alone, ordering the guards to keep their distance and make sure he doesn't double back.
Alan rips a sizable chunk of hardened plant sediment off of the side of the alien structure revealing an entry mechanism. He hits the buttons, but there doesn't seem to be any active power sources. However, there are circular cells above the mechanism that are suddenly beginning to glow slightly. Alan observes the sun overhead, realizing they're solar cells. He rips off another slab of sediment, revealing a mass of cells. Alan contacts the Commander, explaining about his latest discovery, confident they'll soon be gaining access to the structure. Koenig then gives him an update on the situation with Tony and orders him to grab an Eagle and bring Dr. Spencer to his location.
Catching up with Tony anew, Koenig dives away from Verdeschi's laser fire before fighting with him, which ends with Tony collapsing. When the Eagle arrives, Dr. Ed Spencer examines Tony, announcing that he's currently sinking into a deep coma and requires immediate hospitalization. Koenig decides that he must be returned to Alpha.
After Eagle Four has lifted off, Commander Koenig contacts Alpha, giving Maya an update on Tony's unfortunate situation.
The Commander's quarantine period has ended, so two survey team members help themselves to some flowing water. Moments later, Jerry Travis finds them dead. He immediately contacts the Moonbase, reporting the incident to Maya. However, in mid-conversation, Travis' commlock explodes in his hand.
Maya immediately contacts Eagle Four and starts to report what had just occurred with Travis to Commander Koenig. Suddenly, one by one, the ship's systems begin to violently malfunction. Using his commlock, Koenig informs Maya that they may have to return to base camp and use Eagle One to return to Alpha if this ship's condition gets any worse. Suddenly, his commlock explodes.
The Eagle's systems seem to be holding, but Commander Koenig decides to check out the ship's circuits before heading into space. Discovering that every one of them are badly corroded, he orders the return to base aborted.
Meanwhile, Alibe finds Les Johnston deceased, concluding that it had been from the fruit he'd eaten. She and Jerry Travis grimly realize that the fruit and water that have been previously checked out as safe are now pure poison.
Attempting to land near their base camp, Alan displays to the Commander that the ship's throttle control had just broken off in his hand. They now face a crash landing as fires spring up within the Command module.
The expertise of Alan's flying abilities manage to prevent any casualties during the violent crash landing. Koenig is then informed of the sudden poisoning of the planet's food and water, followed by Ed Spencer's diagnosis of Joe Lustig. He explains that Joe had experienced brain cell expansion which caused immense internal pressure which would've killed him if the laser blast hadn't done him in first. Koenig asks if Tony's suffering the same affliction. Spencer suspects that's what he'll find during his next examination.
The landing party is stranded on the now poisonous world and if anyone tries to arrive here from Alpha, their ship will corrode and crash....
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content