Original subtitles

- 10 seconds.

Three,

two,

one,

zero.

- Compute.

- Magnitude within 1% of last observation.

- Yasko, I want to know the nature

and origin of that explosion.

- Too far away.

- Shock wave will hit Alpha in exactly 143.2 seconds.

- Red alert.

Check emergency life support.

Check backup power circuits.

Tell medical to prepare for casualties.

- Medical, ready casualty reception unit.

- One minute, 40.

- Launch Eagles.

- Launch Eagles.

- One minute.

- Eagle One to command.

Yes, Alan.

- We're into 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 has passed.

- 30 seconds.

- Rescue teams at stations, all their locks sealed.

- Medical section ready.

- 20 seconds.

- Blast procedure.

- Come in, Alpha.

Come in, Moonbase Alpha.

Do you read me, Alpha?

Come in, Moonbase Alpha.

You're in range on all frequencies,

I'm not getting any reading.

Let's go.

Check the air.

Pressure's down a little, but safe.

- Maya, all right?

Kate, you all right?

- Yes, Commander, I'm all right,

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 traveling toward a series

of spatial explosions of unknown origin.

They detonate at precise 12 hour intervals.

As we move closer, each succeeding shockwave

is more violent.

There've been no serious casualties,

but we suffer increasing damage to our vital systems.

Since we cannot control our course through space,

there is no way to take evasive action.

- There it is, the eye of the explosions.

A planet.

- Yes, but it's still too distant

for our sensors to give much information.

- Except one obvious conclusion.

It's still there.

It hasn't been destroyed.

- The explosions are traveling one way only, outward.

- Right.

- And with the exact 12 hour intervals between detonations,

we can assume it's not a natural phenomenon.

- Some form of intelligence is responsible.

- Warning us, stay away.

- And if the warnings aren't heeded.

- I want Eagle One on the pad ready for liftoff.

- Eagle One 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.

- It always does.

Scan.

Magnify.

- Oh, it's ringed by moons.

- Maya, I want a sensor reading.

That's an almost perfect circle.

- Maybe too perfect.

- The planet's atmosphere is chlorine gas.

Specific gravity, 7.493.

Magnetic coefficient, 047.

- Try the moons.

- Atmospheric negative, but they're emitting

a high energy potential.

- Alan, set a course for the nearest moon.

- Energy level unnaturally high.

Heavy metallic concentrations.

No evidence of life.

John.

It's some sort of station.

- Maya.

- That's it.

The source of the high energy levels I've been getting.

- Alan, take her down.

Camera helmet.

Decompress.

Okay?

I'm at the nearest destination.

There's no obvious entrance.

What's it made of, Maya?

- Well, it appears a platinum-tungsten alloy.

No reading from interior.

I 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.

- 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 three 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?

Hey, good old clean air.

I am 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 directly

towards your planet.

Unless we...

I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do.

- Then let me talk to someone who can.

I am a machine.

- A computer?

Yes, I can perform no independent action

without authority.

- Then put me in contact with your masters.

That is not possible.

Why?

The intelligent life form of 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.

We're not leaving until we get some answers.

Commander.

- Yes, Maya.

- The energy level is rising to a critical point.

- Let's get out of here.

Maya, decompress.

- It's serious.

- Alan, get us out of here.

- Ignition negative.

We've lost main power.

- Switch to emergency circuits.

- Still negative.

The impact's blown the main fuses.

- Resetting.

- Have power on computer.

It says it's operating.

- Well, there's still no juice in the ignition system.

- Manual start, link in the solar batteries.

- Energy level reaching critical.

- This time.

- A ring of moons, each one with a space station.

Now, let's assume they're all building a similar energy.

- Storing up enormous power in those spheres.

- Right, conclusions?

- The system could behave like a ring of thunder clouds.

- And when the potential's reached

a high enough level, discharges.

The equivalent of a gigantic electrical storm.

Lightning arcing across thousands

of miles between each moon and the ring.

- Producing an energy wave like a thousand H-bombs.

Radiating a million miles in every direction.

- And Alpha's moving closer every second.

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.

Do not be concerned.

You are being taken to a place of 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 lifecycle.

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 defenseless.

- 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 initial 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 who keeps watch

while the others sleep.

- Could you take us to him?

This is one of the centers 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 and everyone on it will be destroyed.

Are you still translating?

Yes, but the answer is...

- What? What does it say?

The answer is meaningless.

- Listen, will you tell whoever is in this thing...

The guardian must enter

the rejuvenation chamber.

He has become senile.

- No!

No!

- Alan, get away from there.

- Not our chance to save Alpha.

You must leave.

Alan, that's chlorine gas!

You have broken the atmosphere

in the chrysalis.

I must compensate.

Let's get out of here.

Come on, come on, Maya, out!

- Alan's still in there.

I must stabilize the atmosphere.

- Alan!

Alan!

- Commander, there's an animal on the planet Kreno.

It lives in hypokinetic areas and breathes chlorine.

- Good, Maya, but hurry.

He's got less than a minute.

- Oh, it's so difficult to remember.

- It needs chlorine!

Open up, please, unless you wanna kill!

Quick, Alan.

Hurry, Maya, change back, change back.

Maya, 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 immediately.

- In three hours, there'll be no Alpha to go back to.

Maya, can you operate the ship's lasers?

- Of course.

- I'm going outside.

If I give the order, start blasting.

Through there are the chambers containing your masters

in chrysalis form, correct?

Correct.

- You're programmed to defend those masters at all times.

It supersedes all other functions.

- The Eagle's lasers are aimed at those chambers.

On my command, they will fire and destroy.

I want the next explosion stopped or we start shooting.

My logical duty is to stop you.

- Forget logic, recognize desperation.

I will destroy your dome if I have to.

I'm waiting for your answer.

Please, be patient.

- What's happening?

- My orders are to fire on voice command,

but it prevented the commander.

- Well, then fire.

- Hold it, Maya.

Decide.

- Fire.

Wait.

Two of us have been reborn.

- Disarm laser.

I'm sorry it was necessary to do that.

- Where are they?

I will lead.

Special atmospheric arrangements have been made.

You look well-featured, Commander Koenig.

The word is handsome.

Ah, yes, handsome.

- You know my name.

And the predicament of your base and people.

Your language is a difficult one.

It took us nearly an hour to learn it.

- You must stop the next explosion.

There is plenty of time to decide.

First, we want to talk.

There are several matters of interest to discuss.

There is no equivalent in your language for our names.

You can call me A.

- And you can call me B.

We seek perfection.

We enter chrysalis fully grown adults.

At the end of each cycle, we are reborn.

- Listen to me.

We emerge fully grown adults on a higher level

of intelligence to mold our lives in any way we wish.

We repeat that process continually

in our search for perfection.

- Our lives are threatened if you...

Yes, we have a choice to make.

- There is no choice.

There's only one decision.

Make it.

On what should we base this choice of ours?

- Universal decency.

If I agree to save your base,

there will be conditions.

- What conditions?

Does it matter what they are?

Then I decide in your favor.

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?

- The 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 favor.

You will wait here until he is ready to speak to you.

We're moving away now.

- Not far enough.

- 24 minutes to detonation.

- Go to yellow.

- Yellow alert.

- Alpha's passing the planet.

But if the commander can't stop the next explosion,

there's no doubt Alpha will be destroyed.

- How long has he got to delay them?

- If the commander can delay them for another four hours,

Alpha will be far enough away to withstand the shock waves,

but too far away for us to get back.

- Yeah, and getting farther away all the time.

You better check out John and see how he's doing.

- Main outlets closed.

Check.

- Air locks A through D sealed.

Check.

- Three seconds, two, one, minus 20 minutes.

- John.

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.

Please, let us pass in safety.

In a few hours, we'll be gone from your planet forever.

You say you are non-aggressive.

- Yes.

A familiar argument, Commander,

and yet you have attempted to use violence.

- Born from desperation.

You ask us to drop our guard,

but offer no valid reason why we should do so.

- One, you seek perfection.

Yes, we do,

through logical progression,

and logically, my answer must be no.

Please, my decision is irreversible.

Commander.

You and your companions are free to remain.

You will be safe here.

- 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 One's reach.

- We don't have enough full to catch it.

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 wanna 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.

- Whew.

For my next trick.

- Countdown at eight minutes.

- Come in, Alpha.

- John.

- We've left the planet.

Prepare for detonation.

- Understood.

Go to red.

- Red alert.

- John, what's your ETA at Alpha?

- 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 minutes, two seconds.

One, countdown minus one.

- We're ready.

- This is Commander Koenig.

In less than a minute you will

be hit by another energy wave.

At this range, Moonbase Alpha may well be destroyed.

At best, you must assume severe damage

and large numbers of 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.

- Countdown.

- 40 seconds.

39,

38,

37.

Five 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.

- John, are you all right?

- We're fine.

- The shock waves have passed Alpha.

There's 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.

All right, let's take a specific case.

I asked you for our ETA at the planet,

and you beat the computer.

- Well, it's because your numerical system is based on 10.

10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and so on.

- And yours is based on the fraction of an ellipse?

- So when I'm working our trajectories

through space, time, and distance,

those are just elliptical progressions.

They're simple calculations.

Well, like one plus three plus five divided by two.

- 4.5.

- Listen, I really must go.

I promised to have lunch with Tony.

- Wait a minute.

Your system simplifies a process,

but you still come up with the answers

in miles per hours, feet per second, our system.

- Oh, there's a formula to convert back.

Look.

- And you beat the computer every time.

You know, Maya, Maya?

Hey, Maya, Maya.

- I'm Helen, remember?

- Oh, hi.

- Yeah, hi.

You know, Alan's been telling me about those 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.