All language subtitles for ASD4_English

10 seconds.

Three... two... one... zero.

Compute.

Magnitude within one per cent
of last observation.

Yasko, I want to know the nature
and origin of that explosion.

Too far away.

The shock wave will hit Alpha
in exactly 143.2 seconds.

Red alert!

Check emergency life support.
Helena, prepare for casualties.

Medical, ready casualty reception.

One minute, 40.

- Launch eagles.
- Launch eagles.

One minute...

- Eagle 1 to command.
- 'Yes, Alan?'

we're in 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 is past.

30 seconds.

- Rescue teams at stations.
- Medical section ready.

20 seconds.

Blast procedure!

Come in, Alpha...

Come in, moonbase Alpha!

'Do you read me, Alpha?

'Come in, moonbase Alpha!
I'm not getting any reading.'

Let's go.

- Check the air.
- Pressure's down a little. Safe.

Maya, all right?
Kate, you all right?

Yes, commander,
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 travelling
toward explosions of unknown origin.

'They detonate
at precise 12—hour intervals.

'As we move closer, each succeeding
shock wave is more violent.

'There have been no casualties,
but we suffer increasing damage.

'Since we cannot control our course,

'there is no way
to take evasive action.'

there it is -
the eye of the explosions.

A planet! Yes.

- But too distant for our sensors.
- Except one conclusion.

It's still there.
It hasn't been destroyed.

The explosions
were only travelling outward.

Right.

With the exact 12-hour intervals,
it's not a natural phenomenon.

Some form of intelligence
is responsible.

Warning us...

"Stay away.“

and if the warnings aren't heeded?

- Get eagle 1 ready for lift-off.
- Eagle 1, 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.
- Always does.

Scanner.

Magnify.

Hmm. It's ringed by moons.

Maya, I want a sensor reading.

An almost perfect circle.

Maybe too perfect.

The planet's atmosphere
is chlorine gas.

Specific gravity - 7.493.
Magnetic coefficient - 047.

Try the moons.

Atmosphere - negative. But
emitting a high energy potential.

Set a course for the nearest moon.

Energy level unnaturally high.
Heavy metallic concentrations.

No evidence of life.

John...

Some sort of station.

Maya?

That's it - the source of the high
energy levels I'm getting.

Alan, take her down.

Camera helmet.

Decompress.

'Ok?

'I'm at the nearest installation.

'There's no obvious entrance.
What's it made of, Maya?'

well, it appears
a platinum tungsten alloy.

No reading from interior.

I've 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 300 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!

'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 towards your planet.

- Unless we...
- 'Sorry. There is nothing I can do.'

- let me talk to someone who can!
- 'I am a machine.'

- a computer?
- 'Yes.

'I can perform no independent action
without authority.'

- let me contact your masters.
- 'That is not possible.'

Why?

'Intelligent life form
on 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.'

Not without some answers.

- 'Commander.'
- Yes, Maya?

The energy level
is rising to critical.

Let's get out of here!

Maya, decompress.

- Here it is.
- Alan, get us out of here!

Ignition negative.
We've lost main power.

Switch to emergency circuits.

Still negative.
Impact's blown the main fuses.

Reset.

Have power on computer.
Sensors operating.

Still nojuice
in the ignition system.

Manual start.
Link in the solar batteries.

Energy level reaching critical.

This time!

A ring of moons,
each with a space station.

Let's assume they're all
building a similar energy.

Storing up enormous power
in the spheres.

- Right. Conclusions?
- It could be like thunderclouds.

When the potential's high enough,
discharge it.

The equivalent of
a gigantic electrical storm.

Lightning
arcing between each moon.

Producing an energy wave
like a thousand h—bombs,

radiating a million miles
in every direction.

Alpha's moving closer.
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 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 life cycle.

'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 defenceless.'

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 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 keeps
watch while the others sleep.'

could you take us to him?

'This is one of
the centres 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 will be destroyed.

Are you still translating?

'Yes. But the answer is...'

what? What does it say?

'The answer is meaningless.'

will you tell whoever
is in this thing...?

'The guardian must enter
the rejuvenation chamber.

- 'He has become senile.'
- No!

- Alan, get away!
- Our last chance to save Alpha!

'You must leave!'
That's chlorine gas!

'You have broken the atmosphere
in the chrysalis. I must compensate.'

let's get out of here!
Come on, Maya, out!

Alan's still in there!

'I must stabilise
the atmosphere.'

Alan!

Alan!

Commander, there's an animal
on the planet kreno,

it lives in high volcanic areas
and breathes chlorine.

Good, but hurry,
he's got less than a minute.

Oh, it's so difficult to remember.

It needs chlorine! Open up,
please... unless you want to kill!

Alan!

Hurry, Maya, change back.
Change back!

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.

In three hours,
there'll be no Alpha.

- Maya, can you operate the lasers?
- Of course.

I'm going outside.
If I give the order, start blasting!

Those are the chambers containing
your masters in chrysalis form?

'Correct.'

you are programmed to defend them.

'It supersedes
all other functions.'

the eagle's lasers
are aimed at those chambers.

They will fire and destroy them.

Stop the next explosion
or we start shooting.

- 'My logical duty is to stop them.'
- Forget logic! See desperation.

I will destroy your dome
if I have to.

I'm waiting for your answer.

'Please, be patient.'

What's happening?

I am 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 you.

'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's 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.

- After each cycle, we are reborn.
- Listen to me...

We emerge fully grown adults
on a higher level of intelligence,

to mould our lives
in any way we wish.

We repeat that process continually
in our search for perfection.

Our lives are threatened if you...

Ah, 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 favour.

- 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?

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 favour.

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.

If the commander can't stop the next
explosion, Alpha will be destroyed.

How long has he got to delay them?

If the commander
can delay them for four hours

then they'll be far enough away
to withstand the shock waves,

but too far away for us to get back.

Yeah, and getting
further away all the time.

You'd better check
and see how John's doing.

- Main outlet closed.
- 'Check.'

- airlock section 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.

You say you are non—aggressive.

Yes.

A familiar argument, 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 1's reach.

We don't have enough fuel
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 want to 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.

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?

'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 minute, two seconds... one...

- Countdown, minus one.
- We're ready.

This is commander koenig.

'In less than a minute,
another energy wave will hit.

'At this range, moonbase Alpha
may well be destroyed.

'At best, you must assume
severe damage and many 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.

'Count down.'

40 seconds... 39... 38...

5 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 wave's left
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.

Let's take a specific case.

I ask you for our eta at the planet
and you beat the computer.

Because your numerical system
is based on 10.

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

And yours is based
on the function of an ellipse?

Mmm. So when
I'm working out trajectories,

those are just elliptical
progressions, simple calculations.

Like one plus
three plus five divided by two.

- 4.5.
- Yes!

I must go.
I promised to have lunch with Tony.

Wait a minute!

Your system simplifies the process
but your answers are in our units.

Mmm. Well, there's a formula
to convert back. Look.

And you beat the computer
every time!

You know, Maya... Maya!

Hey, Maya!

- Maya!
- I'm Helena. Remember?

- Oh, er... hi. —yeah, hi.

Alan's been telling me
about the 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.