Blake's 7 (1978) s01e12 Episode Script
Deliverance
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
The Space Administrators are assembled in the|conference hall, Supreme Commander.
You are 8 minutes behind schedule.
I left orders that I was not to be disturbed.
|I will not see or speak to anyone.
- But the conference.
|- Cancel it.
It will be reconvened when I am ready.
Yes, Supreme Commander.
Surveillance tracer transmitting.
Computer|visualisation of Space mastership is on line.
- Take a look up there, Maryatt.
|- What is it? That's the planet Cephlon, which means|that we're on course and speed.
Six more days and we'll be at our destination.
You keep saying "our destination".
|Just where is it? What's its name? - Youll find out.
All in good time.
|- But why the secrecy now? We're on our way.
There's nothing to|lose by telling me where we're going.
Security's become a habit with us.
|It's become second nature.
Because of it we've enjoyed thirty odd years of|complete independence.
That's something we value.
- Is there anything down there?|- There was, once.
Yes, once it was the trading and cultural centre for|this entire star system.
Very important, once.
Not any more.
- Well, what happened?|- War.
Reversion to primitive.
Nobody's certain if there's any people|left down there.
At one time it.
[ALARM BEEP.]
What's wrong? What's the matter? We're getting trajectory shift.
|Compensators aren't holding us up.
Going over to manual.
[ALARM BEEP.]
|Come on, pull us back Come on! - Come on!|- We're picking up speed.
Yes, it's gravity drag from Cephlon.
|I must have misjudged and got too close.
- Can you get us out?|- I'm on three quarter boost.
She's not responding! I'm going to maximum.
It's all right.
She's slowing.
|Compensators beginning to hold.
Come on, that's my beauty.
That's it.
Come on.
|Pull us back, pull us back.
All right, she's coming back.
|We're all right.
Don't do that too often, will you?|I'm a very nervous passenger.
I'm a very nervous pilot.
[EXPLOSION.]
What's happened? There was an explosion.
|Could have been a power unit burnout.
Zen located her about five minutes ago.
|We put her on the scanner to run a security check.
Suddenly she just went off course.
- Shouldn't we try and help them?|- If they're still alive.
Identification? The ship is a Spacemaster, Series Five.
|Four neutron power units with a|maximum thrust of four by six.
Does she carry life capsules? Standard equipment specification lists two|high impact, unpowered survival modules.
She's entering the atmosphere.
|Beginning to burn up.
Maryatt! Maryatt!|Get yourself out, lad! The life capsule! Come on, Maryatt,|you've got to get out! Navigation computers estimate six minutes to impact.
They've ejected! Zen, lock tracers on to those capsules.
|I want to know exactly where they land.
Trace locked on.
[IMPACT EXPLOSION.]
[TRACER HUM.]
Surveillance tracer has ceased transmission.
|The ship has exploded.
Surface conditions? The planet Cephlon has a breathable atmosphere|with a high oxygen content.
The radiation level is in excess of|normal tolerance levels, and prolonged exposure|could result in tissue damage.
Massive variations in temperature levels.
|Gravity is 125 G.
Life forms? There is no current information.
Logic units suggest that remaining life may have|mutated through exposure to high radiation.
None of which sounds very promising.
|You're sure you want to go down? Are you afraid that I'll be able to|cope with it better than you? - No.
|- Perhaps you ought to be.
- Down and back as fast as you can, right?|- Naturally.
We're going to have to make this fast.
The chances are that any survivors won't|have come through the landing impact anyway.
- I disagree.
They may well be alive.
|- That's why we're going down.
If we run into any kind of trouble we teleport|back up immediately.
All right, Cally? Do you know what we're looking for?|I've never seen an impact life capsule.
They're bullet shaped,|built to be energy absorbing.
Theoretically they could free fall from|the edge of the atmosphere onto solid rock without even|bruising the people inside.
- Is there a life support system?|- Basic respirator, that's about all.
The co-ordinates place both capsules|within one square mile.
We're going to put you down in the|centre of the search area.
- Co-ordinates set.
|- One of us will stay by the teleport.
Be careful.
All right.
|Put us down.
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
That must be the wreck of the ship.
|No point in checking it.
We'll split up into pairs to search.
|Jenna and Gan, cover that area.
Vila, you're with me.
No tacks.
Can't be in regular use, anyway.
|I wonder whats behind it? Half the hill, probably.
|Come on, let's go and look for those capsules.
Let's get it open.
He's dead.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
- Avon.
|- We've found one of the capsules but the man inside is dead.
See if you can find any identification on the body.
Then seal up the capsule.
- Right.
|- One down, one to go.
That's all there is.
There! - He looks pretty far gone.
|- There's nothing we can do for him here.
- We must get him up to the Liberator.
|- Will he live through the teleport stress? Well just have to take that chance.
|Give me your bracelet.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
Gan.
We found the second capsule, the man's alive.
|We're taking him up to the ship Stand by for teleport.
Ready.
Bring us up, Cally.
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
- Is he still alive?|- Just about.
Get him to the surgical unit.
- Easy.
|- Compensators.
- All right.
Okay.
|- Not holding.
Here we are now.
Here we go.
- Out of the way.
|- Okay.
Respirator.
- I found this on the other man down there.
|- Uh huh.
- Jenna's not back yet.
|- Where is she? - Gan.
You were with her.
|- She was right behind me when we teleported.
Cally, look after him.
|You three come with me.
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
Jenna, this is Liberator.
|Do you read me? [TELEPORTER WHINE.]
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
We'll go back down.
|I think you'd better.
This way.
I left her here.
The ground's scuffed about.
|And there's a footprint.
A large footprint.
That's Jenna's.
Obviously somebody, or something, attacked her.
- And obviously it won.
|- She might have made a run for it.
She would never have taken off her teleport bracelet.
|Therefore somebody else must have.
Do you think they've killed her? Probably not.
If they've robbed and killed her,|why drag off the body? Why not just leave it? - So, she's a prisoner.
|- So let's find her.
- We'll do it a lot faster if we work separately.
|- Agreed.
- Well?|- Bit of a risk, though.
With the radiation level on this planet,|just being here is a risk.
Let's get started.
Unless one of us finds something,|we'll meet back here in an hour.
- They should have found her by now.
|- They will.
It's just a matter of time.
|Theyll find her.
- What about him?|- I don't know.
He's in a great deal of pain|What's that? - Gan found it on the man in the other capsule.
|- Who was he? His name was Maryatt.
According to his ID he was a|Space Surgeon in the Federation Medical Corps.
He's got a double A security clearance!|He's got a pass for any area in Space Command! He must have been very important.
|Anything else? No.
Some pictures, a woman and two children.
|Let's see if he's got any identification.
- What are those?|- I don't know.
They look like micro power cells.
|I've never seen that type before.
Help help me.
Help me.
You're quite safe.
|We've given you something to ease the pain.
You're going to be all right.
Maryatt?|What happened Maryatt? We found his body.
He was probably|dead before you left your ship.
- Energy cells.
|- They're here.
They're quite safe.
Must get to my father.
|Without them, he has only a few days to live.
Gently, gently.
Shhh.
He'll die.
Don't you understand?|He'll die without them.
- Now stay calm.
|- You get to him.
Promise.
Promise! We'll do everything we can.
What was your destination? - Planet Aristo.
|- Where? Navigation log give all flight details you need.
All right.
|We'll run it through our computers.
When you reach him tell him.
Federation have agreed all terms.
Will pay 100 million credits for Orac.
What is Orac? - He's having a spasm, quickly!|- He won't take the shocks.
It'll kill him.
Without it he'll die anyway.
|Come on.
- He's coming through.
|- That was close.
Must get started.
Yes, we'll do everything we can.
|Now you must relax.
- Must go.
Now.
So little time.
|- We'll leave as soon as the others get back.
No.
Can't wait.
Go! Now! You must rest.
Shhh.
- Anything?|- Not a single trace.
You? - So what do we do now?|- Start again.
Liberator.
This is Avon.
|Do you hear me, Liberator? - Avon.
Have you found her yet?|- No.
We're going to start searching again.
- Is there anything we can do?|- I'm open to suggestions.
If you haven't found her in four hours,|you come back.
Cally and I will take over.
- Whatever you say.
|- Just don't give up on her.
No.
We won't do that.
Not yet.
|We'll be in touch.
Let's get started.
Must go.
Now.
|If we delay any longer, we'll be too late.
One of my crew is lost on that planet.
|Right now finding her is all I care about.
But he'll die, if I don't get to him.
|Don't you understand? My father will die! Liberator is ten times faster than the ship you|were travelling in.
We will get there in time! - But I can't risk that! We must go! Now!|- No! We're staying here for as long as it takes.
Keep back! I'll kill her.
I mean it.
Now you get this ship started|Co-ordinates 11, 2, intersect 5, 9.
Not a chance! Do you think I'll abandon my crew,|leave them on the surface? That's their problem.
|Now you do as I tell you.
I don't want to harm either of you, but I will.
|I'll kill her, and you.
Her first, and then you.
Don't force me to do it.
|Get it started.
Now! Do it! In flight and on your course.
- Check it, on your computer.
|- Don't you trust me? Computers can't lie.
|Put it online.
Zen, confirm course.
Liberator is on flight course coordinates|11, 2, intersect 5, 9.
- Good.
|- Are we to stay like this for the whole flight? I've got no choice.
|I'm sorry about that.
The drugs I gave you keep back the pain.
|How long will you last once they wear off? - I'll manage.
|- You'll get tired.
The pain will start eating into you.
Sooner or later you'll lose concentration.
|We'll need one second and then well take you.
Perhaps.
|But pick that second very carefully.
Misjudge it;|you'll both be dead.
There's no signal.
No response at all.
|Try yours.
Liberator? Blake? Cally?|Do you read our signal? Respond! Nothing.
There can't be a fault on both communicators.
|They must have moved out of range.
Without warning us?|Why? I wish we could ask them.
There could be|Federation ships in the area, I suppose.
Meanwhile we're stuck down here.
|That's largely academic at the moment.
Let's hope they're back when we find Jenna.
|We'll cover the ground again, in that direction.
[COMMUNICATOR BEEP.]
- Yes?|- Space Commander Travis is here.
Send him in.
You sent for me? You've lost some of your fire, Travis.
|Whatever happened to your pride? My pride, Supreme Commander? I ignored you.
|A calculated insult.
You obviously recognised it as such.
I did.
And yet you remained silent.
There was a time when you wouldn't have|taken an insult like that from anyone.
Not even me.
True.
|I want my command back.
To get it I'll do whatever's necessary.
If you think|my silence is weakness, you mistake me.
Better.
|I was afraid that the suspension, and the inquiry into your mishandling of the|Blake affair might have broken your spirit.
I don't break that easily.
You were expected to resign the service.
|Why didn't you? I've told you,|I want my command back.
- It's the only way I can catch|- You really are obsessed with Blake, aren't you? It's my right.
It's my intention that you should get|another chance to exercise that right, and at the same time redeem your|somewhat blemished record.
However, there are more|important things than Blake.
Not for me.
More immediate, then.
|Orac, for example.
Orac? There've been rumours about it for years.
|A scientist called Ensor has been working on it.
Despite considerable investigation,|we've never been able to locate him.
- And you want me to find him for you?|- It's no longer necessary.
A little while ago,|Ensor's son came to see me.
His father was ill.
|He needed medical help and equipment.
While he was here, he showed me plans|of his father's creation Orac.
It is a brilliant achievement.
|There is nothing else like it in the universe.
And he wanted to sell it.
|Expensive, Travis.
He wants 100 million.
- It's worth ten times that much.
|- Oh.
- So I agreed to buy it.
|- Do you have the authority? No.
|Listen Travis, I've told no one of this.
Ensor and his father live alone on the planet Aristo.
He made it clear that if there was any attempt|to take Orac by force, he would destroy it.
- Would he do that?|- Oh, yes.
He thought it through very carefully.
He wouldn't even reveal the location of the|laboratory until I'd agreed to all his terms.
- Which were?|- A Space Surgeon was to go with him.
I sent Maryatt.
- How much did you tell him?|- Only what his orders were.
He's a good man.
Maryatt was to remain with Ensor as a|hostage until the transaction was complete.
I was to take the 100 million in an unarmed ship,|and in return I'd get Maryatt and Orac.
So now all you have to do is to persuade|the Federation to let you spend 100 million.
That could take years.
- You have an alternative?|- Yes.
It occurred to me that if Ensor didn't get back in time,|then in a very little while his father would die.
So I took the precaution of placing a|small explosive device in his ship.
You said Maryatt was on board.
Yes, that was unfortunate,|but unavoidable, I'm afraid.
- Don't you see?|- Orac is ours for the taking.
- When do we leave?|- Start making arrangements, maximum security.
No flight plan is to be filed.
|When we do leave it must be in total secrecy.
However long it takes, Travis,|you must cover our tracks completely.
No one must know anything about it.
Right.
|You're almost as ruthless as I am.
You underestimate me, Travis.
It begins to look that way.
- What's the matter?|- Maryatt.
- What about him?|- His disappearancethere may be questions.
In 12 hours I shall have him posted as a deserter.
And his family go into slavery|on one of the frontier worlds.
- It is the normal procedure in a case of desertion.
|- Of course.
- Maryatt was the medic that saved my life.
|- You're wasting time.
Does it matter? No.
No, only Blake matters now.
- And Orac.
|- Right.
[LASER BLAST.]
Let's get out of here! There's hordes of them!|And they don't seem to like us much! How can you tell? See if you can open the door.
I can't do it! Gan! Who are you? And you shall answer.
- My name is Meegat, Lord.
|- "Lord"? - You opened the door?|- I opened the door.
We're grateful.
We seem to have|made a few enemies outside.
That my Lord might find safety from his enemies.
- Well, she seems to be on our side.
|- Yes, but the poor womans insane.
Not necessarily.
Get back in your place.
I will describe the way to the scavengers' camp|so that you may rescue your follower.
My follower?|I never really thought of her in those terms.
Are you alone here? Yes, Lord.
|Everything is as it was written.
One waits.
- For what?|- For you.
- I told you she was mad.
|- How long have you been waiting? All of my life, as those before me waited.
But it is I who welcome you.
|Welcome, Lord, welcome! Yes, well, let's not start all that again.
- You've hurt her feelings now.
|- I have offended you.
- No, you haven't offended me.
|- Forgive me! I forgive you.
You're enjoying this, aren't you? Probably.
|How many of your people are there? Less than 100 now.
|Our numbers grow smaller.
More die.
- And the scavengers?|- Perhaps twice as many, but they too are dying.
We expected you to come long ago.
Most of this stuff looks operational.
|There's no sign of any damage.
You have a technology like this and|still get your light from those? - Technology?|- All this.
- But it does not provide light.
|- Well, it could, Meegat, if it was working.
Of course.
|That's why they were waiting for us.
All things are known to you.
|You are truly Lord.
Counting yourself, that makes two people|who think you're wonderful.
Tell me about the prophecy.
The ancients promised that strangers not of this|world would be the means of our deliverance.
Meegat, we're not really gods from the skies, you know.
|We're just men from a spacecraft.
- With problems of our own.
|- You have come.
The waiting is over.
As it was promised,|the Lord Avon will save our race.
Look at this.
A chemical rocket in launch position.
He shall recognise deliverance and speak its name.
He shall speak its name|as a thing known and understood.
As to him all things are known and understood.
Been alone too long, definitely.
- Is there a legend of deliverance?|- Yes, Lord.
- Tell me about it.
|- But you know it.
Well, tell me about it anyway.
Our fathers fought a Great War, and Kashell the|Wise dreamed that all life would end in this place.
- Seems he was right.
|- So Kashell sought a way to preserve our race.
A way for it to survive in a new place|among the stars.
And the way was found.
That ship couldn't carry enough people|to establish a new community.
It could carry dormant cells.
Genetic banks and brood units.
Like those in the|projectile we took on board the Liberator? The same principle, yes.
|These seem to be a little more advanced, though.
But did they do it? "And the way was found"|Does it go on? Deliverance was prepared.
And Kashell|the Wise was satisfied that it was good.
If there are cells on that ship,|would they still be viable? I mean, could they be incubated into|a new race of men after all these years? Theoretically the fertility span would be unlimited.
|The brood units would activate on landing.
If they set it up right, there's no reason why|it shouldn't still work.
Go on.
All that was needed to complete deliverance was|the word of Kashell.
But our fathers killed him, and the word was forgotten.
And so we|wait for a new word from beyond the stars.
We wait for deliverance.
We wait for the|nameless Lord whose name shall be spoken by the one who waits.
|Meegat speaks his name.
His name is Avon.
Avon! - It's an active power source register.
|- That's what I thought.
The automatics have closed it down.
Well, if we could find the manual override|we should be able to reactivate it.
Output control is locked.
There's a circuit breaker here.
|Try the output control now.
- It's free.
|- This alpha scale is registering.
- Take it to level one, see what we get.
|- No, nothing's showing.
Then there must be a secondary fail-safe.
Try it again, Gan.
- It's coming in!|- Take it to level two.
Level two, and we have power.
Let me see now.
Telemetry and guidance are holding|systems rebalance fuel and ignition capability is green inboard computers are green and functioning.
|Programs are stable.
It's coming in! Payload environment is solid and stable.
|Count is T-minus sixty and holding.
telemetry and guidance are green and balanced.
Behold, deliverance! Secondary stage is go for count payload is go for|count meteorology checks confirmed, go for count gantry systems are cleared, green, and stable|count is T-minus Do you really think we could launch that ship? If the people who built it did their job properly,|I don't see any reason why not.
And it does seem we have a|reputation to live up to.
Oh, you certainly do, Lord Avon.
|I wonder why she picked on you? Well, now, you are hardly the|stuff that gods are made of.
- And you are, I suppose?|- Apparently.
Look, before we try to fulfil any|more prophecies, could we uh.
Yes.
|We must find Jenna.
I've put the energiser onto automatic.
If I let it go, it will spring back|and the gun will fire.
If I pass out, the gun will fire by itself.
Now you make certain|that I don't go to sleep.
- If she is alive, you will find her.
|- If she is alive.
- Well, are we ready?|- We're ready.
I will await your return.
Youll wait up there by the door? - If we make it, we'll be back.
|- The Lord Avon will protect you.
- Meegat.
|- Lord? Make sure that it is us before you open the door.
|The scavengers know about it now.
Vila and I will go round and take a closer look.
|You stay here.
If it comes to killing,|remember my limiter implant.
I'll stay up here if you like.
You keep a watch.
|Ill try and find her.
There's shelter this way.
|We'll be safe there.
- That was close!|- No respect.
|They obviously didn't realise who you were.
Thank you.
You all right? You know, Vila, for a minute out there,|I was actually beginning to enjoy myself.
You're as mad as Meegat.
Cally! [LASER BLAST.]
You all right?|Yes.
Yes, I think so.
He's almost gone.
The micro cells get to father Orac.
He's dead.
What is Orac? I don't know.
|If we deliver these, perhaps well find out.
Got to get the others first.
Zen, direct route for the planet Cephlon.
|Maximum speed.
Confirmed.
Avon, look at this.
|It's a sub beam communications system.
- It's an interesting antique.
|- Look at the range scales.
Yes.
Liberator can receive and transmit sub beam.
|Try it.
Right.
I think everything is functional.
|We are ready for countdown.
Liberator, this is Jenna.
|Do you read me, Liberator? - We read you, Jenna.
Are you all right?|- I'm safe and well.
What happened to you? A slight detour.
We'll tell you when we see you.
|We'll be in teleport range in about four hours.
We'll be waiting.
In the meantime,|Avon's about to become a legend.
- What?|- Out.
- They're on their way.
|- So are they.
Ten Nine Eight Seven Six|Five Four Three Two One We have lift off Meegat,|I'm sorry you've waited so long.
Our waiting brought you.
That seems like a poor reward, somehow.
The rocket is now beyond sensor range.
Have the navigation computers made a projection? It is calculated that the rocket will make|planetfall in the system Magdalen Alpha.
How many suitable planets are there in that system? There are four with compatible biospheres.
Flight time? Five hundred earth years.
You won't be a legend in your own lifetime, then.
Fertility cells wouldn't know about us, anyway.
Meegat does.
|Did she really think you were a god? For a while.
- How did it feel?|- Don't you know? Yes.
I don't like the responsibility, either.
Now we have another.
Ensor's father.
|Zen, have you laid in a course for Aristo? Course for the planet Aristo is computed and laid in.
Speed standard by six, Jenna.
Standard by six.
The Space Administrators are assembled in the|conference hall, Supreme Commander.
You are 8 minutes behind schedule.
I left orders that I was not to be disturbed.
|I will not see or speak to anyone.
- But the conference.
|- Cancel it.
It will be reconvened when I am ready.
Yes, Supreme Commander.
Surveillance tracer transmitting.
Computer|visualisation of Space mastership is on line.
- Take a look up there, Maryatt.
|- What is it? That's the planet Cephlon, which means|that we're on course and speed.
Six more days and we'll be at our destination.
You keep saying "our destination".
|Just where is it? What's its name? - Youll find out.
All in good time.
|- But why the secrecy now? We're on our way.
There's nothing to|lose by telling me where we're going.
Security's become a habit with us.
|It's become second nature.
Because of it we've enjoyed thirty odd years of|complete independence.
That's something we value.
- Is there anything down there?|- There was, once.
Yes, once it was the trading and cultural centre for|this entire star system.
Very important, once.
Not any more.
- Well, what happened?|- War.
Reversion to primitive.
Nobody's certain if there's any people|left down there.
At one time it.
[ALARM BEEP.]
What's wrong? What's the matter? We're getting trajectory shift.
|Compensators aren't holding us up.
Going over to manual.
[ALARM BEEP.]
|Come on, pull us back Come on! - Come on!|- We're picking up speed.
Yes, it's gravity drag from Cephlon.
|I must have misjudged and got too close.
- Can you get us out?|- I'm on three quarter boost.
She's not responding! I'm going to maximum.
It's all right.
She's slowing.
|Compensators beginning to hold.
Come on, that's my beauty.
That's it.
Come on.
|Pull us back, pull us back.
All right, she's coming back.
|We're all right.
Don't do that too often, will you?|I'm a very nervous passenger.
I'm a very nervous pilot.
[EXPLOSION.]
What's happened? There was an explosion.
|Could have been a power unit burnout.
Zen located her about five minutes ago.
|We put her on the scanner to run a security check.
Suddenly she just went off course.
- Shouldn't we try and help them?|- If they're still alive.
Identification? The ship is a Spacemaster, Series Five.
|Four neutron power units with a|maximum thrust of four by six.
Does she carry life capsules? Standard equipment specification lists two|high impact, unpowered survival modules.
She's entering the atmosphere.
|Beginning to burn up.
Maryatt! Maryatt!|Get yourself out, lad! The life capsule! Come on, Maryatt,|you've got to get out! Navigation computers estimate six minutes to impact.
They've ejected! Zen, lock tracers on to those capsules.
|I want to know exactly where they land.
Trace locked on.
[IMPACT EXPLOSION.]
[TRACER HUM.]
Surveillance tracer has ceased transmission.
|The ship has exploded.
Surface conditions? The planet Cephlon has a breathable atmosphere|with a high oxygen content.
The radiation level is in excess of|normal tolerance levels, and prolonged exposure|could result in tissue damage.
Massive variations in temperature levels.
|Gravity is 125 G.
Life forms? There is no current information.
Logic units suggest that remaining life may have|mutated through exposure to high radiation.
None of which sounds very promising.
|You're sure you want to go down? Are you afraid that I'll be able to|cope with it better than you? - No.
|- Perhaps you ought to be.
- Down and back as fast as you can, right?|- Naturally.
We're going to have to make this fast.
The chances are that any survivors won't|have come through the landing impact anyway.
- I disagree.
They may well be alive.
|- That's why we're going down.
If we run into any kind of trouble we teleport|back up immediately.
All right, Cally? Do you know what we're looking for?|I've never seen an impact life capsule.
They're bullet shaped,|built to be energy absorbing.
Theoretically they could free fall from|the edge of the atmosphere onto solid rock without even|bruising the people inside.
- Is there a life support system?|- Basic respirator, that's about all.
The co-ordinates place both capsules|within one square mile.
We're going to put you down in the|centre of the search area.
- Co-ordinates set.
|- One of us will stay by the teleport.
Be careful.
All right.
|Put us down.
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
That must be the wreck of the ship.
|No point in checking it.
We'll split up into pairs to search.
|Jenna and Gan, cover that area.
Vila, you're with me.
No tacks.
Can't be in regular use, anyway.
|I wonder whats behind it? Half the hill, probably.
|Come on, let's go and look for those capsules.
Let's get it open.
He's dead.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
- Avon.
|- We've found one of the capsules but the man inside is dead.
See if you can find any identification on the body.
Then seal up the capsule.
- Right.
|- One down, one to go.
That's all there is.
There! - He looks pretty far gone.
|- There's nothing we can do for him here.
- We must get him up to the Liberator.
|- Will he live through the teleport stress? Well just have to take that chance.
|Give me your bracelet.
[COMMUNICATOR CHIME.]
Gan.
We found the second capsule, the man's alive.
|We're taking him up to the ship Stand by for teleport.
Ready.
Bring us up, Cally.
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
- Is he still alive?|- Just about.
Get him to the surgical unit.
- Easy.
|- Compensators.
- All right.
Okay.
|- Not holding.
Here we are now.
Here we go.
- Out of the way.
|- Okay.
Respirator.
- I found this on the other man down there.
|- Uh huh.
- Jenna's not back yet.
|- Where is she? - Gan.
You were with her.
|- She was right behind me when we teleported.
Cally, look after him.
|You three come with me.
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
Jenna, this is Liberator.
|Do you read me? [TELEPORTER WHINE.]
[TELEPORTER WHINE.]
We'll go back down.
|I think you'd better.
This way.
I left her here.
The ground's scuffed about.
|And there's a footprint.
A large footprint.
That's Jenna's.
Obviously somebody, or something, attacked her.
- And obviously it won.
|- She might have made a run for it.
She would never have taken off her teleport bracelet.
|Therefore somebody else must have.
Do you think they've killed her? Probably not.
If they've robbed and killed her,|why drag off the body? Why not just leave it? - So, she's a prisoner.
|- So let's find her.
- We'll do it a lot faster if we work separately.
|- Agreed.
- Well?|- Bit of a risk, though.
With the radiation level on this planet,|just being here is a risk.
Let's get started.
Unless one of us finds something,|we'll meet back here in an hour.
- They should have found her by now.
|- They will.
It's just a matter of time.
|Theyll find her.
- What about him?|- I don't know.
He's in a great deal of pain|What's that? - Gan found it on the man in the other capsule.
|- Who was he? His name was Maryatt.
According to his ID he was a|Space Surgeon in the Federation Medical Corps.
He's got a double A security clearance!|He's got a pass for any area in Space Command! He must have been very important.
|Anything else? No.
Some pictures, a woman and two children.
|Let's see if he's got any identification.
- What are those?|- I don't know.
They look like micro power cells.
|I've never seen that type before.
Help help me.
Help me.
You're quite safe.
|We've given you something to ease the pain.
You're going to be all right.
Maryatt?|What happened Maryatt? We found his body.
He was probably|dead before you left your ship.
- Energy cells.
|- They're here.
They're quite safe.
Must get to my father.
|Without them, he has only a few days to live.
Gently, gently.
Shhh.
He'll die.
Don't you understand?|He'll die without them.
- Now stay calm.
|- You get to him.
Promise.
Promise! We'll do everything we can.
What was your destination? - Planet Aristo.
|- Where? Navigation log give all flight details you need.
All right.
|We'll run it through our computers.
When you reach him tell him.
Federation have agreed all terms.
Will pay 100 million credits for Orac.
What is Orac? - He's having a spasm, quickly!|- He won't take the shocks.
It'll kill him.
Without it he'll die anyway.
|Come on.
- He's coming through.
|- That was close.
Must get started.
Yes, we'll do everything we can.
|Now you must relax.
- Must go.
Now.
So little time.
|- We'll leave as soon as the others get back.
No.
Can't wait.
Go! Now! You must rest.
Shhh.
- Anything?|- Not a single trace.
You? - So what do we do now?|- Start again.
Liberator.
This is Avon.
|Do you hear me, Liberator? - Avon.
Have you found her yet?|- No.
We're going to start searching again.
- Is there anything we can do?|- I'm open to suggestions.
If you haven't found her in four hours,|you come back.
Cally and I will take over.
- Whatever you say.
|- Just don't give up on her.
No.
We won't do that.
Not yet.
|We'll be in touch.
Let's get started.
Must go.
Now.
|If we delay any longer, we'll be too late.
One of my crew is lost on that planet.
|Right now finding her is all I care about.
But he'll die, if I don't get to him.
|Don't you understand? My father will die! Liberator is ten times faster than the ship you|were travelling in.
We will get there in time! - But I can't risk that! We must go! Now!|- No! We're staying here for as long as it takes.
Keep back! I'll kill her.
I mean it.
Now you get this ship started|Co-ordinates 11, 2, intersect 5, 9.
Not a chance! Do you think I'll abandon my crew,|leave them on the surface? That's their problem.
|Now you do as I tell you.
I don't want to harm either of you, but I will.
|I'll kill her, and you.
Her first, and then you.
Don't force me to do it.
|Get it started.
Now! Do it! In flight and on your course.
- Check it, on your computer.
|- Don't you trust me? Computers can't lie.
|Put it online.
Zen, confirm course.
Liberator is on flight course coordinates|11, 2, intersect 5, 9.
- Good.
|- Are we to stay like this for the whole flight? I've got no choice.
|I'm sorry about that.
The drugs I gave you keep back the pain.
|How long will you last once they wear off? - I'll manage.
|- You'll get tired.
The pain will start eating into you.
Sooner or later you'll lose concentration.
|We'll need one second and then well take you.
Perhaps.
|But pick that second very carefully.
Misjudge it;|you'll both be dead.
There's no signal.
No response at all.
|Try yours.
Liberator? Blake? Cally?|Do you read our signal? Respond! Nothing.
There can't be a fault on both communicators.
|They must have moved out of range.
Without warning us?|Why? I wish we could ask them.
There could be|Federation ships in the area, I suppose.
Meanwhile we're stuck down here.
|That's largely academic at the moment.
Let's hope they're back when we find Jenna.
|We'll cover the ground again, in that direction.
[COMMUNICATOR BEEP.]
- Yes?|- Space Commander Travis is here.
Send him in.
You sent for me? You've lost some of your fire, Travis.
|Whatever happened to your pride? My pride, Supreme Commander? I ignored you.
|A calculated insult.
You obviously recognised it as such.
I did.
And yet you remained silent.
There was a time when you wouldn't have|taken an insult like that from anyone.
Not even me.
True.
|I want my command back.
To get it I'll do whatever's necessary.
If you think|my silence is weakness, you mistake me.
Better.
|I was afraid that the suspension, and the inquiry into your mishandling of the|Blake affair might have broken your spirit.
I don't break that easily.
You were expected to resign the service.
|Why didn't you? I've told you,|I want my command back.
- It's the only way I can catch|- You really are obsessed with Blake, aren't you? It's my right.
It's my intention that you should get|another chance to exercise that right, and at the same time redeem your|somewhat blemished record.
However, there are more|important things than Blake.
Not for me.
More immediate, then.
|Orac, for example.
Orac? There've been rumours about it for years.
|A scientist called Ensor has been working on it.
Despite considerable investigation,|we've never been able to locate him.
- And you want me to find him for you?|- It's no longer necessary.
A little while ago,|Ensor's son came to see me.
His father was ill.
|He needed medical help and equipment.
While he was here, he showed me plans|of his father's creation Orac.
It is a brilliant achievement.
|There is nothing else like it in the universe.
And he wanted to sell it.
|Expensive, Travis.
He wants 100 million.
- It's worth ten times that much.
|- Oh.
- So I agreed to buy it.
|- Do you have the authority? No.
|Listen Travis, I've told no one of this.
Ensor and his father live alone on the planet Aristo.
He made it clear that if there was any attempt|to take Orac by force, he would destroy it.
- Would he do that?|- Oh, yes.
He thought it through very carefully.
He wouldn't even reveal the location of the|laboratory until I'd agreed to all his terms.
- Which were?|- A Space Surgeon was to go with him.
I sent Maryatt.
- How much did you tell him?|- Only what his orders were.
He's a good man.
Maryatt was to remain with Ensor as a|hostage until the transaction was complete.
I was to take the 100 million in an unarmed ship,|and in return I'd get Maryatt and Orac.
So now all you have to do is to persuade|the Federation to let you spend 100 million.
That could take years.
- You have an alternative?|- Yes.
It occurred to me that if Ensor didn't get back in time,|then in a very little while his father would die.
So I took the precaution of placing a|small explosive device in his ship.
You said Maryatt was on board.
Yes, that was unfortunate,|but unavoidable, I'm afraid.
- Don't you see?|- Orac is ours for the taking.
- When do we leave?|- Start making arrangements, maximum security.
No flight plan is to be filed.
|When we do leave it must be in total secrecy.
However long it takes, Travis,|you must cover our tracks completely.
No one must know anything about it.
Right.
|You're almost as ruthless as I am.
You underestimate me, Travis.
It begins to look that way.
- What's the matter?|- Maryatt.
- What about him?|- His disappearancethere may be questions.
In 12 hours I shall have him posted as a deserter.
And his family go into slavery|on one of the frontier worlds.
- It is the normal procedure in a case of desertion.
|- Of course.
- Maryatt was the medic that saved my life.
|- You're wasting time.
Does it matter? No.
No, only Blake matters now.
- And Orac.
|- Right.
[LASER BLAST.]
Let's get out of here! There's hordes of them!|And they don't seem to like us much! How can you tell? See if you can open the door.
I can't do it! Gan! Who are you? And you shall answer.
- My name is Meegat, Lord.
|- "Lord"? - You opened the door?|- I opened the door.
We're grateful.
We seem to have|made a few enemies outside.
That my Lord might find safety from his enemies.
- Well, she seems to be on our side.
|- Yes, but the poor womans insane.
Not necessarily.
Get back in your place.
I will describe the way to the scavengers' camp|so that you may rescue your follower.
My follower?|I never really thought of her in those terms.
Are you alone here? Yes, Lord.
|Everything is as it was written.
One waits.
- For what?|- For you.
- I told you she was mad.
|- How long have you been waiting? All of my life, as those before me waited.
But it is I who welcome you.
|Welcome, Lord, welcome! Yes, well, let's not start all that again.
- You've hurt her feelings now.
|- I have offended you.
- No, you haven't offended me.
|- Forgive me! I forgive you.
You're enjoying this, aren't you? Probably.
|How many of your people are there? Less than 100 now.
|Our numbers grow smaller.
More die.
- And the scavengers?|- Perhaps twice as many, but they too are dying.
We expected you to come long ago.
Most of this stuff looks operational.
|There's no sign of any damage.
You have a technology like this and|still get your light from those? - Technology?|- All this.
- But it does not provide light.
|- Well, it could, Meegat, if it was working.
Of course.
|That's why they were waiting for us.
All things are known to you.
|You are truly Lord.
Counting yourself, that makes two people|who think you're wonderful.
Tell me about the prophecy.
The ancients promised that strangers not of this|world would be the means of our deliverance.
Meegat, we're not really gods from the skies, you know.
|We're just men from a spacecraft.
- With problems of our own.
|- You have come.
The waiting is over.
As it was promised,|the Lord Avon will save our race.
Look at this.
A chemical rocket in launch position.
He shall recognise deliverance and speak its name.
He shall speak its name|as a thing known and understood.
As to him all things are known and understood.
Been alone too long, definitely.
- Is there a legend of deliverance?|- Yes, Lord.
- Tell me about it.
|- But you know it.
Well, tell me about it anyway.
Our fathers fought a Great War, and Kashell the|Wise dreamed that all life would end in this place.
- Seems he was right.
|- So Kashell sought a way to preserve our race.
A way for it to survive in a new place|among the stars.
And the way was found.
That ship couldn't carry enough people|to establish a new community.
It could carry dormant cells.
Genetic banks and brood units.
Like those in the|projectile we took on board the Liberator? The same principle, yes.
|These seem to be a little more advanced, though.
But did they do it? "And the way was found"|Does it go on? Deliverance was prepared.
And Kashell|the Wise was satisfied that it was good.
If there are cells on that ship,|would they still be viable? I mean, could they be incubated into|a new race of men after all these years? Theoretically the fertility span would be unlimited.
|The brood units would activate on landing.
If they set it up right, there's no reason why|it shouldn't still work.
Go on.
All that was needed to complete deliverance was|the word of Kashell.
But our fathers killed him, and the word was forgotten.
And so we|wait for a new word from beyond the stars.
We wait for deliverance.
We wait for the|nameless Lord whose name shall be spoken by the one who waits.
|Meegat speaks his name.
His name is Avon.
Avon! - It's an active power source register.
|- That's what I thought.
The automatics have closed it down.
Well, if we could find the manual override|we should be able to reactivate it.
Output control is locked.
There's a circuit breaker here.
|Try the output control now.
- It's free.
|- This alpha scale is registering.
- Take it to level one, see what we get.
|- No, nothing's showing.
Then there must be a secondary fail-safe.
Try it again, Gan.
- It's coming in!|- Take it to level two.
Level two, and we have power.
Let me see now.
Telemetry and guidance are holding|systems rebalance fuel and ignition capability is green inboard computers are green and functioning.
|Programs are stable.
It's coming in! Payload environment is solid and stable.
|Count is T-minus sixty and holding.
telemetry and guidance are green and balanced.
Behold, deliverance! Secondary stage is go for count payload is go for|count meteorology checks confirmed, go for count gantry systems are cleared, green, and stable|count is T-minus Do you really think we could launch that ship? If the people who built it did their job properly,|I don't see any reason why not.
And it does seem we have a|reputation to live up to.
Oh, you certainly do, Lord Avon.
|I wonder why she picked on you? Well, now, you are hardly the|stuff that gods are made of.
- And you are, I suppose?|- Apparently.
Look, before we try to fulfil any|more prophecies, could we uh.
Yes.
|We must find Jenna.
I've put the energiser onto automatic.
If I let it go, it will spring back|and the gun will fire.
If I pass out, the gun will fire by itself.
Now you make certain|that I don't go to sleep.
- If she is alive, you will find her.
|- If she is alive.
- Well, are we ready?|- We're ready.
I will await your return.
Youll wait up there by the door? - If we make it, we'll be back.
|- The Lord Avon will protect you.
- Meegat.
|- Lord? Make sure that it is us before you open the door.
|The scavengers know about it now.
Vila and I will go round and take a closer look.
|You stay here.
If it comes to killing,|remember my limiter implant.
I'll stay up here if you like.
You keep a watch.
|Ill try and find her.
There's shelter this way.
|We'll be safe there.
- That was close!|- No respect.
|They obviously didn't realise who you were.
Thank you.
You all right? You know, Vila, for a minute out there,|I was actually beginning to enjoy myself.
You're as mad as Meegat.
Cally! [LASER BLAST.]
You all right?|Yes.
Yes, I think so.
He's almost gone.
The micro cells get to father Orac.
He's dead.
What is Orac? I don't know.
|If we deliver these, perhaps well find out.
Got to get the others first.
Zen, direct route for the planet Cephlon.
|Maximum speed.
Confirmed.
Avon, look at this.
|It's a sub beam communications system.
- It's an interesting antique.
|- Look at the range scales.
Yes.
Liberator can receive and transmit sub beam.
|Try it.
Right.
I think everything is functional.
|We are ready for countdown.
Liberator, this is Jenna.
|Do you read me, Liberator? - We read you, Jenna.
Are you all right?|- I'm safe and well.
What happened to you? A slight detour.
We'll tell you when we see you.
|We'll be in teleport range in about four hours.
We'll be waiting.
In the meantime,|Avon's about to become a legend.
- What?|- Out.
- They're on their way.
|- So are they.
Ten Nine Eight Seven Six|Five Four Three Two One We have lift off Meegat,|I'm sorry you've waited so long.
Our waiting brought you.
That seems like a poor reward, somehow.
The rocket is now beyond sensor range.
Have the navigation computers made a projection? It is calculated that the rocket will make|planetfall in the system Magdalen Alpha.
How many suitable planets are there in that system? There are four with compatible biospheres.
Flight time? Five hundred earth years.
You won't be a legend in your own lifetime, then.
Fertility cells wouldn't know about us, anyway.
Meegat does.
|Did she really think you were a god? For a while.
- How did it feel?|- Don't you know? Yes.
I don't like the responsibility, either.
Now we have another.
Ensor's father.
|Zen, have you laid in a course for Aristo? Course for the planet Aristo is computed and laid in.
Speed standard by six, Jenna.
Standard by six.