Original subtitles

Signals

A Space Adventure

Directed By Gottfried Kolditz

Last communication from the Space Security Center.

The spaceship Ikaros is near Jupiter.

Will this research bring us closer to humanity's age-old dream

of contacting intelligent beings in other solar systems?

The new millennium is before us.

Earth salutes you, cosmonauts.

Ikaros: transferring to archive.

- B2, Roger that. - ID number:

IK 8-50.

- Attention: Time, coordinates... - 40, 41...

Radio control, report.

There's no more doubt.

Those are signals from intelligent beings.

What luck!

We finally did it!

We really did it.

Radars have located a cluster of stray celestial bodies.

The magnitude of the meteorites

is between MX 5 and 12.

We're on a collision course. Correct course, programming.

Red alert!

- Spotted pretty damn late. - Red alert.

Do you see the interference? Might be a plasma cloud.

- Correcting course in ten seconds. - Distance: 50.

Bulkhead and seal check.

- 40, 30... - Auxiliary power as per Plan B.

20,10...

- 2... - 5...

- 1. - 3... 1.

Are you injured, Krystina?

What are our chances?

Signals

Signals

Signals

Hello, Terry.

Konrad, I couldn't believe you were coming.

Why didn't you come a month earlier?

It was fun. We'd have turned the beach upside down.

Hello, Marlene.

Hey, Terry!

Marcella.

- Terry, don't forget tonight. - I'll bring backup.

Not with me.

I'm meeting your commander at the Space System Center.

I can't keep him waiting.

You checked all the documents. Everything's been done.

That's true.

Yet you want to stick to your request?

- How do you justify that? - I can't.

There is no reason, at least not a rational one.

Our auxiliary vehicles haven't found anything,

neither those with crews nor those without.

The area across which the Ikaros wreckage could be strewn

is all of ten to the power of 15 square kilometers.

I admit, if my request were rational, Ikaros would've been found long ago.

Space Security Center.

Control switch available.

You really did all you could here in the Space Security Center.

It says right here that the residual probability is 0.000.

Well, fine.

Let's assume I push your flight order through.

How am I to justify putting together the crew you're demanding?

Konrad is on his way.

Seriously? What did you tell him?

The truth.

That I read his publications about radio waves on X band.

What else?

Nothing else.

Except for one thing.

That I have a repair mission. In the asteroid belt.

That is, that I will have one.

And how did he react?

He thought it over for quite a while, and then...

Then he said of course he'd come along.

What do you think he had to think about?

I'd say he ran through our route in his head,

and which sectors we'd be passing through.

And he didn't ask any questions.

And you were happy about that, right?

- Are you planning on informing your crew? - No.

Should I tell you why I think that'd be wrong?

No. Come along.

The repair mission isn't a bad idea.

You've given me an idea.

- Come on! - The spool's stuck.

Keep it up and we won't be able to play.

Hold your horses. It'll be off soon.

I have a new switch ready.

A sort of color button. My Dad said it'll be great if it works.

Take a deep breath and start yelling: Goal! Here goes.

Color, great!

Goal, goal!

I admire your nerve.

If I'd been as close to disaster as you,

I wouldn't necessarily want

to lift off again so quickly, voluntarily at that.

Your ship could've gotten hit just as easily as the Ikaros.

How's your work going anyway?

Still working on radio waves.

I'm studying extremely low X-band frequencies, especially...

Stop with the X band.

Bandy legs!

- I'd be happy to discuss that. - Bandy legs!

Don't say that again!

Watch out!

Try it again!

Our turn!

Goal! Goal!

- Goal! - Yes! Yes!

- Luna North, please report. - Docking coordinates 83.11...

- A-4, please confirm. - 04.54...

Here.

Time MPT...

- Here you go. - 23:27.

This is Luna North. Roger that.

- Issue instructions for RT-906. - Transferring RT-906 via guide beam 11.

Navigation ban for all work spacecraft

in Space Sector 3.

- Should we send the Laika crew over? - Attention.

- Agreed. - Navigation ban in Space Sector 3.

Detach Levels 2 and 10.

- RT-906... - Level 3 to Laika on auto pilot.

Attention, Laika.

Commander Veikko at Level 2 to the station.

I repeat:

Commander Veikko at Level 2 to the station.

Hello, Gaston. I hope you brought a bottle from Paris.

Not a bottle, a girl.

Level 3, Roger that.

Adapter air lock.

Pressure normal.

Transfer crew to the pilotron.

I repeat: Transfer crew to the pilotron.

Transfer check, plus 30.

Adapter air lock.

Pressure normal.

Transfer check, plus 30.

Space Sector A-19.

Onto the decoder, quickly.

AF-3, please report.

AF-3, please report.

- AF-3 with container to the base. - 1, 2, 3...

Hello, Veikko.

Here's your flight confirmation from Space Security,

the crew list and test protocols,

and here's the flight order.

Navigation ban lifted.

Adapter 6 and 7 vacant.

What nice surprises do you have for me?

I've already compiled everything you need to know.

Take a look.

You've maneuvered 14 of those into the asteroid belt?

With no malfunctions?

Of course.

The key was a gradual adaptation to the average orbital velocity.

We'll be on our way soon.

To do what? Clean the windows?

Some sections must be replaced on schedule before wear is obvious.

I've transferred it all to your onboard computer.

It's a lot of info.

Veikko, the boss would like to speak with you.

So you agree with everything, Veikko?

Yes. Why wouldn't I?

- I don't agree with it at all. - Base, please stand by.

Two new people, and one of them is totally green, Juana.

And also...

two from your old crew.

How shall I put this... One is already a bit too old.

Gaston.

And the other one just recovered from a serious shock. Pawel.

His medical test results are at the lowest limit,

and only if you turn a blind eye, my dear friend.

- Go on. - We know the reason.

His girl was killed, on Ikaros.

No one knows what actually happened.

It's still a mystery.

No wonder the young man was in shock.

You want to help him.

But how?

With occupational therapy.

Magnificent!

But this isn't a sanatorium.

Who'll take responsibility for that, Veikko?

Responsibility is a funny thing, you know.

It always involves a decision.

A decision can be right or wrong.

Do you think you had setbacks as commander

because your decisions were wrong?

If that were so, computers could do our job,

but it'll never be that easy.

Attention.

Doppler, five seconds.

4.8...

This old hunk of junk sure polished up nicely.

Special repair standard.

The boss was snooping around every day.

Expansion nozzle

Minus 200

150

120

Ramped up safety regulations.

70

Since the Ikaros disaster, everything's more rigorous.

20

10

- Good, Terry. - Anything else?

Get back to me from the Drive Sector.

In the meantime, I'll call Samira.

Samira.

Samira!

How are things looking with you?

I'm ready now.

Put on your monitors. Let's check your pulse and respiration.

Control switch K-3 available for acknowledgment.

Repeat transfer 6.

- LAS, Section F, no output contact. - Regulation block, Hummingbird 2.

I repeat: control switch K-3 available for acknowledgment.

Hey, you old jokester! I want your pulse.

Mm-hmm.

This guy's 20 years younger.

You should go see your doctor, too.

A few too many hours in zero-G recently, I'd say.

It wasn't that much.

You seem in damn good shape, Veikko.

Am I?

Do you know what I've done?

I've requested that

the Space Security Center cancels your flight.

I expect an answer any second now.

You have to understand, I had no choice.

- Hello there, Veikko. - Hello, Annett.

Turkish coffee, as always.

- Thank you. - Have a good flight.

And say hi to Terry for me.

- Right, I will. - But from Rosi.

Oh!

He said to say hi to you, too.

Thanks.

It's Space Security Center.

Now it's decision time.

What did you say? Would you rather speak, Veikko?

No, you wanted this.

This is the Luna North commander.

This is Space Security Center. We don't understand the request.

I have the report here:

Flight order and compilation of crew at the express wish of Commander Veikko.

The committee approved it.

That's all I can say. Will that do?

Yes, thank you. I withdraw the request.

Please understand my surprise.

Flight order and compilation of crew at your express wish?

Why didn't you tell me that, Veikko?

You asked the Space Security Center, not me.

And what is your reason?

Don't try to tell me you don't have a special reason.

Gaston's celebrating 25 years as a cosmonaut.

Please don't forget the flowers.

You need more practice lying, Veikko.

Attention, air lock.

All functions tested. Pressure is OK.

One minute to flight check, Hummingbird 1 and 2.

Pawel, hurry up. The control center is done with Veikko.

Tell him to get another coffee.

The new woman and I are going on a leisurely flight.

My name is Juana.

Maybe you can remember that.

Parking Strip B. Parking Orbit B. Flight check, Laika. Hummingbird 1 and 2.

Parking Orbit B. Grounding order for all spacecraft.

Security Level 3.

I repeat: Parking Orbit B...

Juana, ready?

Grounding order for all spacecraft. Security Level 3.

Pawel, ready?

Takeoff.

Hummingbird 2.

Underway.

Takeoff. Hummingbird 2. Underway.

Attention, readjust the course program manually.

Plus 15.

Security gap

set automatically at 50.

You'll have to use the big wrench on Steering Nozzle 5.

I'm already on my way.

Attention, space premiere for little girls.

Agreed, Gaston?

Will she manage it?

Do this twice...

and done.

Can we trust her to do a spacewalk?

Astoundingly, all vital signs are normal.

Even when the defect occurred.

I see no reason for us to worry.

Konrad, report to Luna North.

Report already relayed.

Wow, quick thinking.

Samira, what do your fever charts say?

Pulse greatly elevated.

Still rising.

Breathing is very tense.

If oxygen deficiency increases, she'll go unconscious, Gaston.

Thank you.

Juana.

Juana, do you hear me?

Do you hear me?

Enough acrobatics.

Now slowly pull in your arms and legs and take a break.

So you don't get bored waiting for Pawel's taxi,

list all prime numbers up to 100,000.

17

19

23

- 29, 31 - You're good at calming young girls.

- That's new to me, but well done. - Yes.

- 41 - Thanks for the compliment.

You'll have to write a report for your lost wrench.

Space Security Center will give it

a name, number and call it a mini planet.

And you'll be reprimanded, Juana. For going out without a tether.

Back to it.

Engine sector check, Terry.

Cooling air curtain, minus 100, 120.

Last communication from the Space Security Center.

Orbital station Luna North has cleared the spaceship Laika for takeoff.

The spacecraft has already left Earth's orbit.

Work order in the asteroid belt.

Earth salutes you, cosmonauts.

Antenna probe Alpha 19 released.

Coordinates 19.13.76.00.12.44.

Whenever we pass the Alpha Centauri I have to get a grip on myself.

It used to really get to me,

the immense emptiness of space.

Veikko, are you listening? I'm philosophizing.

Philosophy is my hobby horse.

Keep going.

Philosophy starts with questions.

- Questions or curiosity? - Well, questions sound better.

I've been dying to know since takeoff.

So you had some trouble with Space Security, right?

Who said that?

You had a quarrel with the top dog at Luna North.

Why's that?

Remember this:

if you know the secretary, you know everything about the boss.

Do you know her?

I don't.

Terry.

- What? Am I being relieved? - Proceed. I won't touch your stuff.

Thanks, setting up just wastes time.

Nothing's happened.

You were close to Ikaros when it happened?

Close is an exaggeration, but compared to the distance to Earth, yes.

Did you manage to do any radio wave experiments?

- Yes. - Any success?

Yes and no.

You know, it's like a hunter stalking deer.

You wait for weeks, then finally see the prize buck for a few seconds.

What is there to report?

Cock-and-bull stories are deadly for a scientist.

Didn't Ikaros send a distress call?

No.

Disaster must've hit very suddenly.

To send a distress call you just press a button.

It's been programmed into every ship for over 50 years now.

I don't know what you're driving at, Pawel.

It is possible you missed it.

I still don't get you.

I see your apparatus here.

You were working. Maybe the distress call went...

You know there's no worse insult for a radio engineer.

Then, as now, I was using separate apparatuses.

That goes without saying.

And the distress call has been preprogrammed for 50 years.

So even if all receivers were off, it'd be saved and set off an alarm.

I know that!

Cosmonaut training, second course. But that doesn't explain it.

Someone messed up. Otherwise, it wouldn't have happened.

Or we'd have some solid lead to go on.

Konrad!

Konrad!

That's enough for today, Juana. It's my turn now.

Thanks. Thanks a lot, Terry.

I'm sure, you'll win the next training competition.

The level of the student reflects the skill of the instructor.

Is it OK if I start with this old-timer?

I'd like to double the load today.

Let's see what shape you're in.

Does the commander train regularly?

Why?

I think he isn't looking good.

Maybe he isn't sleeping well. Or he's troubled?

Samira would have alerted me.

What's your guess?

Maybe Veikko knows something we don't.

Possibly, but why wouldn't he inform the crew?

Not everyone needs to know everything.

An age-old problem. Is that valid in our circumstances?

Seven people in space for a year, entirely on their own.

How can one individual bear to keep such information from the others?

Maybe he thinks he has to bear a certain responsibility alone.

Wouldn't he want to share what he knows with at least one crew member?

- Definitely. But he can't. - Why not?

Trusting in just one person divides a crew.

The collective would fall apart the moment the knowledge is out.

So he must bear the load alone. No one can help him.

There must be a very significant reason to justify that.

Yes, of course.

Very significant, and very humane.

All readings normal.

The technical ones, not yours. Veikko, you seem run-down.

Now I know why you skipped the last checkup.

It's so unheard-of that there's no article in the disciplinary code on it.

I checked myself.

Me too.

Do you really think you're up to the rigors ahead?

I doubt it.

Samira, listen carefully.

I am in perfect working order.

Shame that you won't accept help.

The pressure test is over. That'll do.

Eva 12-17.

Where is the secret code?

Lambda Raphanus.

Eva 12-17.

Where is the secret code?

Lambda Raphanus.

I am giving you

five seconds.

Shame.

I normally have more success with my robot,

and the dialogues from my old crime thrillers.

I didn't know you were so talented. What else can it do?

I constructed it so it can be reprogrammed quickly.

Where should I send it?

To the cafeteria?

For what?

How about... a soft drink.

Serve us two soft drinks, with vitamins A, B and C.

Two soft drinks.

- Vitamin A, B... - What've you got planned with this?

Nothing at the moment.

But listen to this.

It's an old recording.

What do you think?

Hmm... Is that it?

Slow down. I'll put a filter on it.

3.4 hertz.

Mm-hmm. That's better.

What made you think it wasn't just white noise?

Tireless inquisitiveness? Chance?

You know how it is when you get into something.

They're not signals from a probe from Earth.

Do you think intelligent beings are behind them?

It is at least conceivable.

The crazy thing is

the signals are in millimeter range that we can't receive on Earth.

I'm no expert on radio waves, but I remember a bit from school.

Our atmosphere absorbs millimeter waves.

Due to water vapor, I think.

Bravo. You paid attention.

Well, that was a while ago.

We had a girl with long hair in our class back then.

Hair this long.

Stick to the water vapor.

What do you conclude from that?

That if you sent a message in that range

your atmosphere would be water-vapor free.

Every sender

wants their messages to reach someone.

I draw a different conclusion.

The sender is only interested in people reaching them

who can move outside their protective water-vapor shield.

Who are so technologically advanced

that contact with them would make sense.

Shaken mixed drink.

- Vitamin A, B and C. - Voilà.

My compliments.

What's wrong? Serve them.

Temperature stable, 12 degrees Celsius.

Serve.

Serve.

Serve.

Serve. Serve...

Terry says...

Huh? You rascals. You're good at teasing a girl.

Gaston asked if anyone is still afraid of robots.

What do you think, Juana?

Not of robots.

But of pranksters.

Veikko? Transmission time for Luna North.

- Will you speak into the radio coder? - Yes, I will.

Commander Veikko speaking.

Piazzi 1 to 4, replaced on schedule.

New approach course to Piazzi's orbit.

Immediate report via M10 once we arrive in the target area.

Medical checkups of all crew members concluded with satisfactory results.

Course correction.

Plus 5, 4,

3,

2... 1.

It'd be good if your excursion was under four hours

so we won't have to correct our course and will save fuel.

Hard to say. There are more rocks than I feared.

I'll try to dip in from below.

Autopilot programing might not do the trick.

There are three rocks.

The speed of each of them is so different that I don't know how to slip through them.

I'll compute a subprogram tailored to that big meteorite for you.

It appears to be the most dangerous on the way to Piazzi 5.

Let's call it Ottokar.

Course readout.

Guide beam 30 degrees.

This bird's never been so ready to go.

Thanks for your help, Terry.

I should've done it alone.

- 28... - Pure selfishness.

I want to make it back after all.

If the repairs take a bit longer,

send over hot tea.

With lemon or milk?

With rum, I hope.

Hey, Veikko, who was this Piazzi guy anyway?

An Italian astronomer.

He lived from 1746 to 1826.

Believe it or not, he discovered the first asteroid on January 1, 1801.

Why do you want to know?

Hm... In case he's there waiting for us.

Hummingbird, takeoff plus three. Go!

- Or the programming will run hot. - Hummingbird 1, underway.

Your program is great, Pawel.

And Ottokar is nowhere in sight.

Wait, the second course correction is coming.

You're bouncing us off rail cushions like a pool ball.

Go on then.

We'll keep still.

You three sure are still.

Terry's kissing Juana.

I didn't want to disturb them.

Cut the nonsense. You must see Ottokar now.

Yes, clearer than I want to.

If you miscalculated, Ottokar will be in my lap in a minute or less.

Konrad, tell us what your radio locator says.

It's going to be tight,

but we knew that beforehand.

It'll be fine, Gaston.

You're a genius, Pawel.

Hey, are you still alive?

Hey, Gaston. You really gave us a scare, damn it.

Why the silence? What was wrong?

Hey, Veikko. You mean here? Nothing happened here.

Or did you see something?

No, I didn't.

My eyes were closed.

Well, just wait until you're back.

Signor Piazzi's weekend getaway is behind you.

If that interests you.

- Terry is getting ready to exit. - How does it look?

Well done, Terry. I'd definitely have a bump on my head.

My speed was poorly adjusted, so I slipped.

The tether's secure. Come up.

Attention. Ready to exit.

Gaston?

Go!

Attention, Laika. Terry and Gaston are out.

Hummingbird coupled to Piazzi 5 via tether cable.

Good, Juana.

- Give me an update every three minutes. - Roger that.

Send my apprentice over, Juana. We want to start.

Already on its way, Gaston.

15 minutes is short as hell.

- I know. - Don't forget.

Exiting and entering will take at least two to three minutes.

Sure.

The air won't last much longer.

I know.

Krystina, the most important thing is to get back in here in 15 minutes.

No, it's that I find parts for a working emergency transmitter.

Otherwise, we'll stay a dead piece of metal.

An iron meteorite.

If a radar pulse ever bounces off us again.

Tell me something.

Yes, go on.

How much longer will the medications last?

Some of us are showing clear anxiety symptoms.

For now, concentrate on your work outside.

I'm all out.

The oxygen's running out!

You need to sleep.

Look at you.

You're reading my dissertation! Do you like it?

- Not especially. - Me neither.

Let it rot.

What kind of a person was Krystina?

Leave Krystina out of it, she's dead.

I know it.

But I don't know why.

"Why" is a good question.

Perhaps the most human one.

But you fail to answer it.

Why don't you try to do that?

Yeah, why?

A textbook question.

But it doesn't always work.

And not just for me.

Not for you either.

Why did you skip the health checkup after takeoff?

Maybe you can feel your strength declining?

Maybe you're afraid of aging?

Or you're afraid of not being able to fly anymore?

- Go on. - I'm not faulting you.

On the contrary. You not obeying the rules impresses me.

But then let me live by my own rules.

Right, and how do you want to live?

I do my daily work.

Am I conscientious? Yes. On time? Yes.

So what do you fault me for?

Nothing.

But you have good reason to.

You got me out of the sanatorium and on this mission.

And I let you down. No self-discipline.

Fault me for ingratitude at least.

Sorry.

Gaston will be impressed. I'm almost finished.

25 years in the cosmos,

a resourceful guy.

He wouldn't have managed otherwise.

Try it on.

I think dark hair will go really well with your silver dress.

I've known him a long time. I visited him once.

When he's not in space he lives like a vintner in old-time France.

He has five sons and two daughters.

Did you ever have a deeper interest in him?

Why do you ask? Because we flirt?

That means nothing. As you know, that's space psychology.

Let me see.

Well? How do you like it?

Oh, it's you, Terry.

I know you'd rather have Gaston as a French fashion advisor.

You look enchanting, Juana.

Juana, stay. This concerns us all.

Pawel asked me to let him monitor radio and radar signals during the party.

I think you should respect that wish in this special case.

Gaston, that was the longest speech I've ever given.

Now our youngest cosmonaut will give our longest-tenured our well-wishes.

- Hey, Gaston! And me? - Thanks.

Gaston.

I tried to calculate your flight kilometers.

Our computer ran hot at this number.

A message from Earth that I kept from the commander.

Samira, read it aloud.

Ladies and gents, be seated.

You are about to see the horror drama

The Love Life of Gaston Lefèvre.

The director courteously advises you that this artwork is for adults only.

- Bravo! - Bravo! Bravo!

Bravo!

ACT I

WAIT!

ACT II

WAIT!

ACT III

What's going on? An alarm?

No, not an alarm. Come along.

We now know Konrad first received these signals

when Ikaros was destroyed.

Ikaros very likely received these signals too.

Or had the opportunity to.

Konrad believes that these signals may be

from highly developed beings.

So Laika could be facing the same danger as Ikaros.

I don't think that's an absurd conclusion.

I'm not fearful.

But there shouldn't be more senseless victims.

If commander and crew feel that my work could endanger Laika,

I won't try to receive the signals again.

No one knows or may ever know the cause of the Ikaros disaster.

But these signals

have nothing to do with it.

And I'm sure Veikko agrees with me.

One of the key requirements for venturing out into the galaxy

is having totally overcome thoughts of destruction and aggression.

Only then will each person's abilities

fully develop thanks to the advanced society.

In the last century it had become clear

what enormous achievements awaited us.

Please forgive me. I've digressed.

All I really needed to say was that I agree with Konrad.

Highly developed life forms mean peaceful life forms.

One last question, Veikko.

Were you speaking as a philosopher or commander?

Do you see two of me?

Attention.

Gaston and Terry

are continuing repairs on Piazzi.

Roger that. First Gaston should...

Listen. I've accessed Piazzi's memory.

...are continuing repairs on Piazzi.

Is this a joke? Those are your signals, Konrad!

Answer me!

I'm not in the mood for jokes.

My experiment apparatus isn't even on.

I'm coming.

In the meantime, ask Juana if she was on standby too.

Attention. Laika to Hummingbird.

Keep your chin up now.

Attention. Laika to Hummingbird.

Laika to Hummingbird. Juana, were you on standby?

Transfer your radio memory.

I didn't think we could receive transmissions now.

Not till we reached Space Sector A7 in two weeks.

Everything's fine. I'm sure of it.

But I'd like to know how these signals ended up in Piazzi's memory,

and how long they've been there.

Access them again.

Attention.

It's sending.

What's going on, Pawel? Your stress levels have skyrocketed.

Konrad's signals.

Know what's sending them?

- Piazzi's memory. - Really? What does that mean?

It can only mean that Veikko's peaceful beings

can transmit on our frequencies.

Juana, ask why they keep accessing the radio memory.

It's driving us crazy.

We'd really like to work on Sector 3 now.

Roger that.

Laika? Laika. Hummingbird to Laika.

Samira.

Quick.

What is it, Veikko? Disappointed? Why?

We're on the cusp of a discovery people have dreamt of for a millennium.

They're on our frequencies. Think about that.

And they know the Piazzi code numbers.

You're not afraid of this encounter. Why aren't you glad?

I've worked on this for six years and an answer is at hand.

That was your hope too. It's why you brought me aboard.

That's not why.

Abort external work. Attention. B-Alarm.

Attention, attention! B-Alarm.

I was afraid he'd go into shock again.

He'll sleep for an hour and be ready to work again.

Come on, help me.

What happened?

They're sending on our frequencies, and know the Piazzi code.

Luna North here. I can't wait to hear what they say.

Veikko, it's Luna North.

The situation is hard to get a handle on from here.

The space computer calculated

that an encounter with alien beings is unlikely.

We give the commander free rein to decide.

But remember the space flight law: safety first.

- Now the repetition. - Confirm immediately.

May I add a little saying for the wall, like:

There's no opinion like your own?

Do you know what that is?

The Ikaros ID.

You hear that?

Ikaros!

They're alive!

They're alive!

- They're alive. - Pawel.

They're alive.

Konrad determined that the signals

are being emitted from a moving source.

That can mean two things.

First, that there are Ikaros disaster survivors.

Although the signals could be coming from a computer memory

as the victims' final legacy.

Or it could mean we're about to encounter an alien spacecraft.

If so, we've to assume they've adopted Ikaros's signal for easier understanding.

- Or to lure us in. - Samira, how's Pawel doing?

He's ready for duty.

Then he'll assist me on the first radar monitoring shift.

We took the first training course together,

Pawel, Krystina and I.

It was...

like a theater production of Romeo and Juliet.

Do you get what I mean?

Without the Capulets and all.

Everyone on the course got the bug.

Sometimes I thought

we'd all start speaking in verse.

C Alarm. Foreign flying object located.

I'll check its course via the computer.

A metallic flying object.

Appears to be V-shaped.

Not one of ours.

Look at this.

I've never seen such a flight path.

A corkscrew movement, if you could call it that.

Commander...

Time to test your philosophy.

Nice of you to remind me of that now. Thanks so much.

Hummingbird, ready for takeoff.

Konrad, can we be located on their radar?

No locating measures. All is still over there.

Terry, Juana and Pawel fly in the Hummingbird.

- Takeoff Hummingbird 1. Underway. - Scramble 30.

Takeoff normal.

Correcting course and accelerating in ten seconds.

Samira, is this responsible?

Vital signs normal.

Please show me your hands.

You've trembled more, I'd say.

It's Ikaros.

There's no doubt.

There! I recognize it!

It's Ikaros!

It's the wreckage.

Veikko, are you listening?

It's Ikaros! It's Ikaros!

Prepare to exit.

You have exactly 17 seconds to get over there.

What a great girl.

If it hits us while spinning, we're goners.

I can move in closer.

Careful, Juana.

Let her.

Juana has a good eye and steers almost as good as Gaston.

Just as good, I'd say.

Once you're out I'd recommend you accelerate right away.

You might manage without that,

but that'll give you a two-to-three-second safety buffer.

- Thanks, Gaston. - And one more thing.

Hook onto the lattice girder when you get there.

The torque may be stronger than your muscles.

You'll be moving at about a 30-degree angle to the corkscrew movement.

Juana, now you're close enough.

On the next rotation, drop Pawel off, okay?

Prepare to exit.

10, 11, 12,

13,14...

Terry?

Go.

Terry!

What happened? Terry?

I didn't exit.

For some reason, I lost focus.

Got it. Then next time around.

Pawel, Terry is going to exit the next time it rotates.

Since when does Terry get nervous?

That's just a trick of his. His vital signs are normal.

- What trick? - Terry, go.

I think he's just pretending to be fearful and uneasy

to give Pawel a feeling of superiority, which is good for him right now.

I'll check the main cylinder, you check the housing ring.

Juana, move a bit further away.

They might slightly alter its course, or part of the wreckage may come loose.

- Terry? - Yes, Juana? Is something wrong?

I'm fine.

You?

The pilotron has been knocked off.

It must've been a cluster of meteorites.

They must've all died immediately. I'll go check on Pawel.

The silence will drive you crazy.

Samira, at least you say something!

Only the Commander can demand information from me.

What will we do if Terry can't get Pawel out of the housing ring?

The Commander has no time to answer dumb questions.

Samira!

Ask Juana what's going on instead. I'm not getting their readings.

Laika to Hummingbird.

Laika to Hummingbird. Juana, report for the Commander.

The main cylinder is ripped open. It seems

a meteorite destroyed the pilotron.

The housing ring is empty.

There are no survivors on the Ikaros.

Report from Terry. The main cylinder is ripped open.

It seems a meteorite destroyed the pilotron.

The housing ring is empty.

There are no survivors on the Ikaros.

- The main cylinder... - Why can't you hear us?

Why can't you hear us?

Krystina, what can we do?

Our own transmission output is too weak. We have to do it via the Piazzi.

I can only play the last thing on our memory,

our ID and the signals.

I changed the transmission rate.

They didn't understand. I only have one more option.

Boosting our transmission output, but our emergency transmitter may fail.

For good. Do you understand?

Laika to Hummingbird. Take on Pawel and Terry.

Hummingbird, fly back to Adapter 2.

Hummingbird, Roger that.

Krystina.

We have to risk it. There's no other way.

Immediately.

We'll let the ring catapult us out.

- Go on. - Roger that.

I'll count down on the next rotation. But first a test.

Roger that? - Roger.

- 5, 4, 3, 2... - Terry's idea is good.

- Using the rotational momentum to get off. - Now!

Sorry.

I was a bit late.

I'll do better next time.

What would've happened if it hadn't been a test?

But it was a test.

Attention.

Terry?

Pawel?

It's time for me to retire.

You shouldn't have to worry about new blood.

Veikko.

Veikko!

Listen carefully.

I've got the direct transmission. It's not in the wreckage.

The coordinates should display soon.

The transmission rate changes weren't by chance.

They've boosted output, seemingly unregulated.

I got their ID, then it broke off.

Hey, Veikko!

None of that now. Hey!

Have you thought about

how long they've been holding out in there.

Despairing, hoping.

Despairing.

Now rest up a bit.

Otherwise, you'll get all the credit.

I'll get all the credit.

A spaceship commander who faints in the decisive moment.

What nonsense, Veikko?

You've been bearing this burden alone for months.

No wonder you ended up collapsing.

We're almost past it, outside the Hummingbird's range.

There's only one thing to do.

Turn upside down and hit the brakes.

Are you crazy?

Such a dangerous maneuver without the captain's go-ahead?

- What do you say? - Do you want my help?

Or do I have to assume responsibility?

Hear that? They just shut down the main engine.

Lie back down.

The boys won't run your Laika into a tree.

After all, you trained them.

- Main engine... - Steering nozzle 20.

40

The Doppler shows them just in Hummingbird range.

All right, Terry.

I'll stay here with Pawel.

Take the Boeing for the transfer. And hurry.

Gaston's right. You have to hurry.

They may have lost power to make that last call for help

and be running out of oxygen.

Don't overdo it, Samira.

It was a fluke thing.

I didn't do anything special.

I studied Space Security's rescue efforts.

There was nothing at all to criticize.

I saw no possibility.

None of us did.

I felt the same, but then I read in a book...

What did you read?

Oh, just a definition.

A definition? Of what?

The term "chance" was defined in it as follows:

A complement to and manifestation of necessity.

Yes, that's right.

It really was just that one sentence.

But it drove me to do everything that followed.

If the others find out,

I'll have another doctor aboard my next flight.

Is that clear?

Veikko...

Terry, you have to hurry.

Terry, report. Terry, you have to hurry.

Terry, report. Terry, you have to hurry.

Juana, accelerate.

Konrad, the Doppler.

Roger that.

- Gaston, how far is the APU? - Can you do it alone?

- I'm nearly out of oxygen. - Attention.

Oxygen supply via Hummingbird reserves.

Terry, you have to hurry.

- Samira, I'm waiting. - Everything's ready.

- Terry, you have to hurry. - No AC frequency.

Terry, you have to hurry.

- Laika. Roger that. - Do you have monitors? I need readings.

- Laika. Roger that. - Hurry, hurry, hurry...

Unit, Line 3.

Terry, you have to hurry.

Pawel?

Pawel, do you read me?

Do you hear me?

Attention.

Expel.

Juana, please repeat. I didn't understand Terry.

Samira.

Samira, I'm waiting.

Attention.

Expel.

Good that you came, Veikko.

Luna North and Space Security think I'm crazy.

You confirm the report.

Well then, let me do that.

Maybe they'll believe me.

Laika calling Space Security.

This is the Commander of Ikaros.

After exactly 300 days, the crew of Laika found us.

We greet Earth, our home.

And now, gentlemen,

I ask you to join me for a walk on the beach.

Come on!

We weren't that silly when we were young.

Right, Veikko?

Not that silly.

Worse.