This adventure has a lot going for it: good villains, suspense, adventure, mystery, a good script by Anthony Marriott and superior direction by John Kelly.
Fireball XL5 is returning home when suddenly a bomb goes off that disabled the ship. Steve has to put out a fire while Matt is comically stuck in his desk as it goes round and round. Unable to communicate and dead in the water, they try to affect repairs.
Commander Zero dispatches the nearest ship in the area to go see what has happened to Fireball XL5. That is the LP22 commanded by Master astronaut Kelly (perhaps named after and designed to look like director John Kelly?). But before he can get there the XL5 is taken over by a Arcons from the planet Electra using a Gamma Ray that transfixes those who see it and make them move "like a moth to a flame". The crew is captured and taken to Electra while the XL5 is left drifting in space.
Astronaut Kelly soon arrives to find the XL5 a floating derelict. But before he can report in, he too is overcome by a Gamma Ray device that was left behind by the Arcons.
On Electra, the Arcon leader reveals they have planted a number of bombs in Space City and will set them off as they arrive on earth using the XL5 and other human spaceships in a devious plan to take over the planet and enslave the "pink people". They amuse themselves by giving Robert orders while Steve plans their escape.
In the meantime. Commander Zero takes matters into his own hands and blasts off in SR1 a space rescue ship of the same design as the XL-5. When he sees an Arcon ship he is ready to attack--not knowing the ship is being piloted by Steve Zodiac as part of his escape plan from Electra. They can't communicating via radio due to a fear that the Arcons have placed a bomb in the rescue ship that could be set off my one of their radio transmissions. This creates a great dilemma for our hero: does Steve take the attack from Commander Zero that could destroy their ship and kill them all? Or does he fire at his own commander trying to save his own life and the lives of his crew? Fortunately Zodiac comes up with a third choice and saves not only himself and his crew but Commander Zero as well. This is a really entertaining adventure and is possibly John Kelly's best work as director. One of the series top episodes.
Fireball XL5 is returning home when suddenly a bomb goes off that disabled the ship. Steve has to put out a fire while Matt is comically stuck in his desk as it goes round and round. Unable to communicate and dead in the water, they try to affect repairs.
Commander Zero dispatches the nearest ship in the area to go see what has happened to Fireball XL5. That is the LP22 commanded by Master astronaut Kelly (perhaps named after and designed to look like director John Kelly?). But before he can get there the XL5 is taken over by a Arcons from the planet Electra using a Gamma Ray that transfixes those who see it and make them move "like a moth to a flame". The crew is captured and taken to Electra while the XL5 is left drifting in space.
Astronaut Kelly soon arrives to find the XL5 a floating derelict. But before he can report in, he too is overcome by a Gamma Ray device that was left behind by the Arcons.
On Electra, the Arcon leader reveals they have planted a number of bombs in Space City and will set them off as they arrive on earth using the XL5 and other human spaceships in a devious plan to take over the planet and enslave the "pink people". They amuse themselves by giving Robert orders while Steve plans their escape.
In the meantime. Commander Zero takes matters into his own hands and blasts off in SR1 a space rescue ship of the same design as the XL-5. When he sees an Arcon ship he is ready to attack--not knowing the ship is being piloted by Steve Zodiac as part of his escape plan from Electra. They can't communicating via radio due to a fear that the Arcons have placed a bomb in the rescue ship that could be set off my one of their radio transmissions. This creates a great dilemma for our hero: does Steve take the attack from Commander Zero that could destroy their ship and kill them all? Or does he fire at his own commander trying to save his own life and the lives of his crew? Fortunately Zodiac comes up with a third choice and saves not only himself and his crew but Commander Zero as well. This is a really entertaining adventure and is possibly John Kelly's best work as director. One of the series top episodes.