Voyager's Return

Air Date: 10/9/75    written by Johnny Byrne    Directed by Bob Kellett

The personnel on Moonbase Alpha are confronted by the oncoming Voyager One, an unmanned spacecraft launched from Earth in 1985 to gather information, but which is also equipped with the infamous "Queller Drive," a form of atomic propulsion so dangerous that it will wipe out everyone on Alpha unless they manage to destroy it. This development  causes immediate tension and argument - Bergman is anxious to get the accumulated information but most others don't want to risk it, preferring to just destroy the craft. Koenig leans towards risking it also, but it seems like the only option is to destroy, because they don't have command codes for it. As fate would have it, one of the scientists stationed on Alpha is Ernst Queller (Jeremy Kemp), operating under a different name. He is able to solve the problem, but another one arises: a trio of advanced alien ships now approach; this alien race suffered mass death due to the Queller Drive and now condemn the inhabitants of Alpha to death.
This episode is the most effective up to this point due in no small way to Kemp's performance as the tragic Queller and the story of Queller's miscalculation in creating such a destructive force. Queller is in reality a great scientist and with a benevolent nature; his goals have been for the betterment of mankind. It's a tragedy of the greatest order that his invention has caused massive death and we can understand the incredible guilt he must feel. I don't really understand how someone like Queller and any of the other scientists at that time had no idea that this propulsion drive would be so dangerous - isn't there such a thing as tests? - but this is nevertheless a compelling storyline, with most of the cast finally able to enact some strong scenes - especially Landau, who finally shows true leadership skills here and a good focus. Bain as Dr. Russell, however, is still mostly emotionless, even in such an intense situation. BoG's Score: 7 out of 10