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Commence second run.
We have a radar trace, sir.
- 'Bridge.
'
- We have a radar trace, sir.
'Bearing one-four-seven,
speed Mach 5, reducing fast.
'
- Mr Cooper.
- Sir?
Can you see anything?
No, sir.
Yes! Yes, there!
What is it, sir?
I don't know.
I have never seen
anything like this before.
It's coming down.
Action stations.
(Alarm sounds)
- It's attacking, sir?
- I think it is, Mr Cooper.
Open fire.
(Beep)
Straker.
(Holland) 'General Henderson's
here, sir'.
Right.
- Commander.
- Morning, General.
- You've read it.
- Hasn't everybody?
If this is why I'm here, there'll be
an official denial tomorrow.
Yes, I expected that.
I stress the word "official".
Apparently it was a test flight of
one of the Navy's prototype aircraft.
- Unfortunate.
- Yes.
Straker,
you're getting too suspicious.
- Is that bad?
- That photograph could be anything.
- Yes.
Including a UFO.
- There was an immediate inquiry.
I was in touch
with the naval board personally.
They were satisfied.
It's a false alarm.
- General, are you warning me off?
- No, even if it sounds like it.
How many sightings
turn out to be aircraft?
This was a highly-trained naval crew,
on a ship equipped
with every modern detection device.
Let's have some breakfast.
It happened too fast.
The wreckage sank
with no attempted salvage.
The ocean is too deep at that point.
I take it you've no objections
if I conduct my own investigations.
No, none at all.
But don't expect any cooperation
from the naval authorities.
They've accepted the findings.
- Hmm.
- You have
checked the records for that day?
- Yes.
- And?
There were no UFO sightings,
if that's what you mean.
- None got through?
- No.
None that we know of.
- But they have before.
- Not for a long time.
Since your defence tightening.
Don't underestimate them.
It has
always only been a matter of time
before they discovered
a way to pierce our screen.
- Toast?
- No, thank you.
Try hitting the sand behind the ball.
Oh, Paul, you're supposed
to smooth over your tracks.
- What do you see in this?
- Relaxation, exercise.
Chance to forget your problems.
You've done nothing
but talk about it.
I have a lot on my mind, Paul.
Well, here you are.
I suggest you try a
number nine iron on this shot, Paul.
Good shot.
You said Henderson thought that
ship's sighting was a false alarm.
Did I? Yes, I suppose he did.
Your theory about the aliens piercing
our defences screen doesn't hold up.
Why?
The Interceptors destroyed
a UFO this morning.
Yes.
True.
How come we managed to stop that one?
Look, it's a battle of wits
between us and them.
If they have made a breakthrough
they wouldn't want us to know.
- This morning was a sacrifice?
- Could be, couldn't it?
We destroy a UFO,
feel secure in our defences,
then they just write off
that sighting.
If it was a UFO,
why didn't it fire on the ship?
That would have been proof.
- You don't buy it, do you, Paul?
- No.
Well, you could be right.
Depth 600.
Maximum safe depth.
- 640.
Colonel
- I heard the first time, Captain.
Continue the dive.
(Beep)
- Pressure malfunction.
- Level.
Level out.
Tell me, Paul,
do you know Sheringham?
- The Admiral?
- Yes.
Not personally.
Do you know anyone in his department?
Now I know why I'm here.
All right, what do you want me
to find out?
I want to find out why that admiralty
board reached such a fast decision.
You see, I think that ship was
where it was for a special reason.
A reason
the Navy want to keep secret.
The aliens want to know why
and so do we.
- Yes?
- 'Turbines not responding, sir.
'
'Engines overheating.
'
Hold full power.
(Beep)
Forward plates are buckling.
(Creaking)
(Rumbling)
'Turbines still not responding, sir.
'
- Hold power.
- 'We'll burn out, sir.
'
- Hold full power.
- 880.
It's slowing.
- Steady at 900.
- Maintaining level course, Captain.
Take her back to 600.
Up to 600.
- Sonar?
- Colonel.
- Find anything?
- No, Colonel.
Nothing?
How much water below us?
- 200 fathoms, Colonel.
- Thanks.
- We could try again.
- No.
No, it's too deep.
Thank you, Captain.
Over 1,000 fathoms deep.
The trench runs for about
It sounds ideal.
(Knock at door)
Come in.
Ah.
If you could sign these sometime
this afternoon, sir.
This is the amendment.
All right.
Thank you, Miss Bosanquet.
Well, the assignment's due
on the ninth.
My crew are on 24-hour stand-by.
Over 1,000 fathoms deep.
An even greater safety margin
than we need.
All right, Captain.
I approve the location.
Thank you, sir.
- Steven.
- Yes, sir.
Good luck on the ninth.
We may need it.
And remember - one slip
and life on this planet could
(Foster) Straight through?
(Miss Bosanquet) Yes.
Be with you in a minute.
Make yourself at home.
- Nice place.
Very comfortable.
- It's convenient.
Would you like coffee
or something stronger?
I would prefer something stronger.
- Um Scotch?
- Fine.
- May I?
- Oh, please do.
Your drink.
Oh, thanks.
- Unusual hobby.
- Is it?
- Are you an expert?
- I wouldn't say so.
What's the bright star at top left?
Spica.
Magnitude 1.
2.
Forms an isosceles triangle
with Arcturus in Bootes
and Denebola in Leo.
- Really?
- Mmm.
By studying Spica
and the star Rigel in Orion,
Hipparchus discovered the procession
of the equinoxes.
Here's to good old Hipparchus.
- You don't waste time, do you?
- Well, you've got your hobby.
How long have you been
with the Ministry?
- Not long.
Why?
- I hadn't seen you before yesterday.
- You probably have.
- What department are you in?
Let's say it's my job
to know everyone else's.
Take you, for example.
Sarah Bosanquet.
Young, beautiful.
Ten years' service.
Currently with Sheringham.
Where's my birthmark?
I'm much too much
of a gentleman to mention that.
- What's Sheringham like?
- Why?
I mean, to work for.
I was thinking, with
the responsibility he's carrying,
- he might be taking it out on you.
- I can look after myself.
I'm very independent.
- (Lake) How is Paul progressing?
- He's still working on it.
- Well, what have we got?
- There's a deep trench here.
Virtually bottomless.
If that was
a UFO and it did go down there,
- then it's lost forever.
- Hmm.
Anything from Sonar?
No.
We took Skydiver down
as deep as we could.
Deeper.
Nothing.
Well, the wreckage is of no longer
any importance, but that trench is.
- What's the next step?
- A meeting with Admiral Sheringham.
General Henderson
can do the groundwork.
He can say I'm a safety officer
from the Ministry of Aviation.
Mr Straker is anxious to discover
as much as he can about the incident.
I appreciate that.
Please, sit down, gentlemen.
Right.
(Clock strikes)
Well, what particularly
can I do for you?
(Straker) I want to interview
the captain of the ship.
- I'm afraid that won't be possible.
- Oh? He's on an assignment?
Naval security prevents me
from answering that question.
Oh, I see.
Excuse me.
I'm sorry.
I take it you've read
a transcript of the inquiry?
Yes.
My office was able
to supply those details.
I've studied the report, and there
seems to be a great deal left unsaid.
Oh? I don't understand.
It appears to me that the findings
in the report were arrived at with,
might I say, unnecessary haste.
Mr Straker, the facts that we had
were the only ones likely to be
available for all time.
In the circumstances,
it would have done nothing to delay.
I can see that.
But Admiral, nowhere in this report
can I see any mention of the steps
taken by the captain and crew
to verify identification
of the aircraft.
- The incident was over in seconds.
- Yes, but your captain ordered
the destruction of an aircraft.
Now, a layman, such as myself,
might be excused
for thinking he could equally
have taken steps to identify it.
I am sure the captain
acted as he thought best.
You
- We weren't there.
- The ship sustained no damage,
proving there was
no aggressive action.
Admiral, it could have been
a civilian airliner.
I've really nothing further
to add to the report.
Of course, if the ship in question
were actively concerned
in some mission or other,
then the action of the captain
might be more understandable.
Will you come in, please?
I'm afraid I can spare
no more time, gentlemen.
Miss Bosanquet will show you out.
(Door opens)
- You wanted to see me?
- Yes, Paul.
Come in.
How are you making out
with Miss Bosanquet?
Well, Rome wasn't built in a day.
Yes, I have heard that before.
- There's something I want you to do.
- Sure.
Find out if your new friend
knows him.
Yes, she does.
There's a picture
like this in her apartment.
- Are you sure?
- Positive.
- That's very interesting.
- Who is he?
Are you taking Miss Bosanquet
out tonight?
Well, I
Good.
Make it something special,
will you?
I'll try.
Oh, and Paul you might let me have
the key to her apartment.
Take a look at this.
- Should be perfect.
- I'll set it up.
Mmm.
A sighting device.
With all this, I'd say you could
line up on any point in space.
It's pretty sophisticated
for an amateur.
That's for sure.
Look.
There's a setting marked.
You better take this down, Colonel.
East eight-one-seven,
nine
two-eight-zero-two.
East eight-one-seven-nine,
two-eight-zero-two.
'Yes, that's correct.
Have this course computed.
'Then station an Interceptor
directly on the line.
- 'You understand? '
- Yes, sir.
'Good.
I want this
carried out round the clock.
'At all times an Interceptor
is to be in position.
'
Yes, sir.
'Interceptor One, immediate launch.
Immediate launch.
'
- Mr Cooper.
- Sir?
- Make a signal.
- Yes, sir.
Proceeding on schedule.
Target date, twelfth
- Mr Cooper.
- Sir?
- Code it.
- Yes, sir.
(Fanfare)
Interceptor One to Moonbase.
Routine
check, 1500 hours.
Nothing to report.
Roger, One.
Routine check 1500 hours received.
- Confirm negative report.
- 'Report confirmed.
'
This patrol wouldn't be so bad
if I knew what I was waiting for.
(Inaudible)
(Whistling)
(Piercing tone)
'Inter ceptor One
'to Moon
'base.
'
Moonbase to Interceptor One.
Come in, One.
(Piercing tone)
This is Moonbase Control
to Interceptor One.
Moonbase to Interceptor One.
Come in, One.
(Tone stops)
- I just can't believe it.
- How is the pilot?
He regained consciousness
and was able to land the Interceptor.
He was checked out
and cleared for duty.
- Do we know what it was?
- No, not for certain.
The lab boys think that telescope
sent out some sort of laser signal
- Picked up in deep space.
- Exactly.
The signal, whatever it was,
must have got through.
With such a highly concentrated
light beam,
it would pass through Interceptor One
as if it wasn't there.
But why?
I still don't understand why.
Paul, do you remember
that photograph I showed you?
The one Sarah had
in her apartment? Yes.
That was her father, John Bosanquet,
one of the experts who helped build
Moonbase, five, six years ago.
- You said he was her father.
- Yes.
He was posted as dead
but in fact, he disappeared.
You see, in those days,
accidents on the lunar surface
happened much more frequently.
There was a search
but he was never found.
- You mean the aliens got him?
- It seems to add up.
Contact with Miss Bosanquet
before SHADO became operational
would have been quite simple.
And she's been forced to send them
information ever since.
Forced or controlled.
Doesn't make any difference.
And that ship
has put out to sea again.
Now, why would the ocean depth be
of interest to Admiral Sheringham?
Colonel Lake, I'm assigning you
back on Skydiver.
- To follow that ship?
- Yes,
and don't let it out of your sight.
And me?
Sorry, Paul.
You startled me.
I didn't expect you.
I know, Sarah.
I know all about it.
I'm sorry, Paul.
I don't know what you mean.
What did you tell them?
- Paul
- What did you tell them?
(Sirens blare)
We have all the proof we need
that your Miss Bosanquet
has been supplying the aliens
with information from your office.
(Henderson) What Straker says
is true, Admiral.
(Straker) UFOs are a fact.
It's fantastic.
I can't believe it.
Well, I won't argue with you there.
Whatever you're doing, the aliens
know about it, make no mistake.
And if they're interested, so am I.
Look, whatever you're doing, you've
cloaked behind a veil of secrecy
that we've been unable to penetrate
officially or otherwise.
But now, Admiral, I have to know!
Well, I'm chairman of a committee
dealing with the destruction
of obsolete weapons
and military equipment and so on.
Some time ago, a thousand gallons
of an experimental nerve gas
were manufactured in Europe.
Further tests revealed that the gas
was too dangerous even to be handled.
It was arranged that the gas be
destroyed in laboratory conditions.
Then it was discovered that the gas
was virtually indestructible.
It was therefore decided
that the gas should be dumped at sea.
What if there's a leakage?
The gas is sealed
in very special containers,
geared to corrode over a period
of several hundred years.
When that gas escapes into
the atmosphere, it will be harmless.
And if the aliens attack the ship
and the containers are destroyed?
Then that would be the end,
Commander Straker.
There's enough gas on that ship to
destroy every form of life on earth.
You mean we can't
contact the ship at all?
Exactly.
The ship's captain
is maintaining a radio blackout.
- Security.
- Ironical.
Could an aircraft pick them up?
We've got Search Task Force
combing the entire area.
But the ocean's a big place
to look for a small ship
that doesn't want to be found.
- We do know their destination.
- Yes.
And by the time they get there
it'll probably be too late.
What about Skydiver?
Is this our best speed, Captain?
Midnight, sir.
Right on schedule.
It'll be light about 300 hours.
Then we'll start dumping immediately.
The men will be ready, sir.
(Sighs)
Think I'll go back to my cabin.
There's not much I can do here.
- Call me, Mr Cooper.
- Aye aye, sir.
What about Sheringham?
Oh, he's convinced all right.
I'm letting him watch the operation.
If it's a success,
he'll get the usual amnesia shots.
If it isn't, doesn't really
make any difference, does it?
- Can we stop them?
- I don't know.
I just don't know.
I still think they've discovered
a way to break through our screen.
Well, the Interceptors are skyborne.
- Visual contact?
- That could be our only hope.
(Beeping)
Thank you, Mr Cooper.
Yes, sir.
Radar reports
increased aerial activity.
Oh.
UFOs - two.
Sighting.
Zero-one-two-two,
seven-zero-seven-four.
Sector 14.
Unable to confirm UFO sighting.
Interceptor One to Moonbase Control.
Confirm sighting.
Reading negative.
Repeat, negative.
Repeat,
we are failing to get a reading.
Control to Interceptor One,
confirm trajectory.
Zero-one-two-two,
seven-zero-seven-four.
Sector 14.
Moonbase, can Interceptors One
and Two give assistance?
Compute Interceptor range.
(SID) 'Interceptor range computed.
'ETA Interceptor Two, 47 minutes.
'ETA Interceptor Three, 170.
'
Interceptor One to Moonbase Control.
I'm moving in.
You were right.
They've got through
our defensive screens.
Some kind of radio jamming, using
waves to break up the frequency.
Can our technicians fix it?
Depends on whether we're still here
tomorrow, doesn't it?
They're separating.
'The best I can do is to get one.
'
Sir, trajectory report
on surviving UFO.
Thank you.
Heading for a point
somewhere near Newfoundland.
That's nowhere near the ship.
The ship's in the South Atlantic.
- Everything ready, sir.
- Good.
- Commence dumping.
- Sir.
Bridge to deck party,
commence dumping.
(Beeping)
There's a change in course, sir.
The UFO's veered off.
Its trajectory
is now the South Atlantic.
This is it.
(Beeping)
Trace, sir.
- (Beep)
- Bridge.
We've picked up a radar trace.
Bearing 281, Mach 5, reducing.
Action stations.
(Cooper) 'Action stations.
Action stations.
'Seal all watertight bulkheads.
'Gun crews on immediate stand-by.
'Repeat, gun crews on stand-by.
'
(Alarm sounding)
Missile in position, sir.
Launch missile!
(Cooper) 'Clear for firing.
Clear for firing.
'
Get that missile launched, Mr Cooper.
Bridge to missile control, fire.
Repeat, fire.
It's the damage officer, sir.
Missile guns' electronics
have been affected by the explosion.
What the blazes happened?
(Beep)
It's no use, sir.
Missile systems are negative.
Alert gun crews.
Bridge to guns, stand by.
Bridge to guns, stand by.
(Officer) There it is.
Open fire!
(Beep)
Radar puts it out of range, sir.
(Firing continues)
One more shot.
Maybe two.
That's all.
What the devil's that?
Well, we were lucky.
Very lucky.
- Sometimes we need it.
- Moonbase reported?
Yes.
We ran tests on the radar.
It was a radio wave jammer,
but by using a double frequency
we can plot them again
until they find an answer to that.
Well, I suppose
it's another incident closed.
- I'll be in touch.
- There's the girl.
Sarah Bosanquet.
There'll be no proceedings
against her.
In the circumstances, we could hardly
hold her responsible for her actions.
Of course, someone will have
to explain what became of her father.
That's not what I meant, General.
How many others are there like her?