Spazio 1999

'Professor Bergman. it's Jim Nordstrom.

'We've passed the laser barrier

'and will start the manual check on the radiation seals in two minutes.'

All right. Nordstrom. we're watching you closely.

Eagle 1-4 from Monitoring Depot. this is Dr Russell.

'Yes?' 'When will you finish?'

'The last canisters are going in now. About 10 minutes.'

Steiner. when the ship lifts off begin a check on that radiation seal.

'Yes. Doctor.'

- You're making a thorough check. - Yes. I am.

So far their brain activity's normal.

So far.

'Moonbase Alpha from Eagle 2. we'll be arriving on schedule.'

'Eagle 2 from Moonbase Alpha. we copy.'

'Commander Koenig. we'll be landing at 23.35 lunar time.'

- Coffee. Commander? - Thank you.

'Commissioner Simmonds is calling from Earth.'

I'll take it.

'Ahh. John. Well. you're signed. sealed and approved.

'The Space Commission's ratified you as Commander of Moonbase Alpha.'

What about Gorski?

'Oh. I relieved him of his command an hour ago.

'He's not your problem.

'No. your job is to put man on Meta.'

Any new information?

'How do you like this?

'The first close-up shot of the planet Meta.

'taken from the unmanned Spacefarer 9. just in.'

- Atmosphere. - 'Not only that.

'We're receiving signals. loud and clear. relayed from the same probe.

'There's no doubt about it.

'planet Meta could be supporting life as we know it.

'John. the Meta probe astronaut virus infection mustn't stop us.

'We must make a manned landing on Meta.

'Nothing must stop us.

'Nothing.'

'Good luck.'

'We're getting great pictures of the Meta probe launch platform.

'I'll put them up for you.

'There's the probe ship docking now.'

Looks good.

But I'd like to see it on its way to Meta.

'That's the lot. Professor. It all checks out.

'There's definitely no radiation leakage.

'We're coming in now.'

Good. Steiner. Thank you.

Increased brain activity.

Steiner. Nordstrom's in trouble.

Security. Get out there and bring Nordstrom in.

'Yes. sir.'

'Doctor. he is in trouble.

- 'I need help out here!' - Get away. Steiner!

'I've got to get out of here!'

Intensive Care. stand by. We have a casualty.

'Gotta get out of here!

'I've gotta get out of here! Agh!'

Decontamination area. come on.

'Professor! He's gone berserk!

'I can't hold him!'

'Let go. Nordstrom. don't...'

'On final descent. Commander.'

Well. John...

Victor. still here?

Yes. I...uh. I got caught.

Things are far more serious than I suspect you've been told.

What do you mean?

People are dying up here. John.

The virus infection?

The virus infection.

- Commander Koenig. - Commander Gorski.

I think we both know the situation.

I imagined you'd want to be left to settle in.

you've had a tedious journey.

Thank you.

If you want to talk before I leave. I shall be in my quarters.

Good luck.

He's taking it well. considering the abruptness of his suspension.

- I'm sure he'll survive. - I'm sure he will.

- He's always been very flexible. - Hmm.

- Commander. - Benjamin.

- Happy to see you. - And you.

- Commander! - Michael.

- Hello. sir. - Tanya Alexandria.

Hello. Tanya. Paul. good to see you.

All right. no virus.

Then what is it?

John. I just don't know.

It looks very much like radiation. but...

But what?

There is no radiation.

Victor. you know I won't ignore the fact that people are dying up here.

But the space flight of the century must not slip through our fingers.

Of course.

That planet is passing just close enough to make a landing.

But the problem here may affect the Meta probe.

Dr Russell has some ideas...

- Simmonds has told me about her... - He couldn't have said much.

Commander Gorski refused to let her report her findings.

Oh.

Look. why don't you talk to her?

Yes?

'Dr Russell?'

- John Koenig. - Commander.

Dalmeyer. 1887. As used by Louis Pasteur and Madame Curie. right?

It's a replica. a college prize.

Doctor. when will our Meta probe astronauts recover from this virus?

It's not a virus. They have an unusual form of brain damage.

Their condition is critical.

So they're not going to recover.

What about the backup crew? Are they medically clear to fly this mission?

They're as fit as Warren and Sparkman were before.

- What does that mean? - I saw the ninth man die today.

One moment he was fine. the next he'd lost all control.

Here. This is a thermographic plate.

A malignancy erupts.

There's immediate disorientation. classic in radiation attacks.

- You've had eleven cases so far. - Nine deaths.

But all of those who died were workers at Nuclear Disposal Area Two.

It's inconsistent.

The Meta probe astronauts never went near there.

I know. And there are more inconsistencies.

No radiation leakage has been recorded there.

But the probe astronauts and backup crews have lived the same lives.

been through the same training program.

Are you saying the Meta probe should not be launched?

I'm saying the backup crew appears to be fit.

but because of the unknown factors

I can't guarantee that they won't be affected

three days or three months out into deep space.

You're saying medically the risk is unacceptable.

The risk is great.

The decision. of course. is yours.

Doctor. I'd like to see the men.

'Eric?

'Frank?

'It's John Koenig.'

- Fine. how soon can you do it? - In about a week.

- Carter? - Commander! Nice to see you.

Good to see you. Well. is she ready to go?

Yeah. as soon as you give the word.

Every delay only reduces our chance of success.

- How long to ready the backup crew? - Seven days.

- Backup crew? What do you mean? - How long will it take?

We can't do it. Calculations. co-ordinates!

You got a problem you're not telling me about?

I'm here to get the Meta probe launched.

- Crew excepted. are you ready to go? - Yeah. we're ready to go.

'Ah. John. Well. how are you? Settling in up there. I hope?

'I just wanted your first impressions of the situation.'

There was another death at the nuclear disposal area.

Dr Russell talks about a kind of brain damage.

caused by what she thinks is radiation.

'I've heard all about her theory from Gorski.

'No. she's a competent doctor in certain fields.

'but she's wrong about this.

'Dead wrong. so I'm sending you a team of top medical people...'

Hold it. I'm not that settled in.

Before we do anything I'd like to make sure there's no radiation leak.

'Those two Meta probe astronauts didn't go near that area.'

Simmonds. nine men have died. I want to find out why.

Tell you what you can do. Stop sending atomic waste until...

'You know I can't do that. Atomic waste disposal is a big problem.'

You assigned me up here to clear up this mess and I'm trying to do that.

All right. Commissioner.

Let's trade off.

You stop sending waste. I'll get your Meta probe launched.

Deal?

'Well... A temporary delay.

'That's the best I can do.

'If that's what you need.'

That's what I need.

Simmonds.

Why did you lie to me?

'You mean those men are no better?'

No. they're no better.

They're not going to get any better and you know it.

'Now. just a minute.

'We have to hold that story in.

'We have to.

'The International Lunar Finance Committee meet on the 15th

'to discuss the Meta signals and. in particular. our probe.

'Now. if one word. one hint of failure leaks out

'they'll abandon their support for our whole project.

'So just remember that.'

- Paul. - 'Commander?'

I'm going to recheck that nuclear disposal area myself.

'Yes. sir.'

- I'll need two volunteers. - 'Very good. Commander.'

That's Area One.

Collins. I want to go to Area Two.

That's where we are going. Commander.

We just use Area One as a turning point.

Navigation beacon Delta. It's a landmark.

Some landmark.

Collins. move in closer for a good look.

Yes. sir.

There's no radiation. John. I've checked it out.

That was the first waste area. Has it been used since I left?

No. this one hasn't been used for five years.

In those days we had no synthacrete radiation covers. How's it holding?