 Countdown for Blastoff x-minus five minus four minus three minus two x-minus one fire From the far horizons of the unknown Contails of new dimensions in time and space These are stories of the future Adventures in which you live in a million could be years on a thousand baby worlds The national broadcasting company presents x-minus One Tonight's story no contact It was in the year of 1982 that spacemen first discovered the great galactic barrier in the past 10 years Rocket traveled to the moon and the nearer planets had become commonplace And then men fixed their sights on a more distant star the remote planet known as Volta Five exploratory ships went out and none came back Each in turn disappearing mysteriously at the same vanishing point at an invisible wall somewhere in the vast outer reaches That became known as the wrecker of space ships the galactic reef And yet the explorers refused to admit defeat It was on June the second 1987 that the rocket star cloud made ready for takeoff The six to attempt to crack the barrier and win through to Volta Well, Louis, this is it. I don't suppose you'll be needing the ship's doctor up here in the bridge during blast I think not Smitty. There's little chance of acceleration bends in these new overdrive ships I'll be in my office then counting vitamin pills if you need me. It's only a few steps Good luck Louis. Thank you Smitty Lieutenant Collier. Yes, sir You're relieved you'd better get down to navigation control and take over. Yes, sir. Lieutenant. Yes, sir We've never flown together before. This is your first flight in a space vessel as big as the star cloud Yes, sir, but I was trained in oversized jobs at the Naval Academy Well, if you're half as good a navigator as your father was you'll do fine. Thank you, sir Did you ship out with my father? I served under him on one of the first rocket runs to the moon I see I almost went along on his last trip to the barrier Too bad about that. Yes, sir. That's all Collier Get me the ground control tower on the field I want to talk to Colonel Harrison I've patched in the bridge speaker Colonel Harrison. Yes, captain. We're standing by for takeoff in 30 seconds Fields cleared of all personnel. We'll try to re-establish radio contact immediately after takeoff in any event There'll be a 24-hour ground monitor. Fine. Good luck. Hope you make it. Thank you Bridge to navigation control Ready lieutenant. We're ready captain. All right. Stand by for blast off Bridge to engine room fire up your rocket chambers take off at exactly 1200 hours. I'll read you off 20 seconds 19 18 17 16 Hold it revoke all orders who turned in that alarm Stole away where Having brought up to the bridge Engine room kill your rockets and stand by What's holding you up trouble? What's the matter with you? What's the matter with you? There's a stowaway aboard stowaway? Yes, I thought your men were supposed to police this base. What's the matter with you captain? Take it. You know what this delay can do to us Don't you one minute later takeoff can throw us a million miles off course We'll have to reintegrate the whole works. Well, look, how long do you think you'll take? Don't bother for me for a while I'm busy stupid idiot Yes, come in Smitty. Here's your story. I'll court Marshall. Oh Oh Charlie can you use a good radio man skipper? Well, I see you to have met that skipper me made 50 trips to the moon together Didn't we skipper? Charlie if you wanted to come along why didn't you volunteer? I did skipper. They they turned me down. Oh, what's wrong with you? Acceleration bends. They said my arteries wouldn't stand another trip. I'm sorry to hear that, but they're wrong skipper I got one more good trip in me Listen skipper you you know that these green kids. They don't know the first thing about space radio operation Now you put a man like me on and I'll I'll be getting you bedtime stories from Mars Charlie you know the regulations as well as I do. I can't take you much as I'd like to Colonel Harrison will Murder me for this. Well, I'm sorry Charlie. I'll have you put a ground I'll tell you what I'll ask Harrison to put you on his ground radio contact It'll seem as if you're right here with us. He won't do it, sir. Well, he'd better. I'll have him busted to corporal for letting you sneak aboard Look Charlie you look you'd better be off Policeman, I'm sending this man to ground give him time to clear the launching platform. Yes, sir Hold on Charlie. I'm sorry. Good luck skipper. I Thought you were going to have him drawn and quartered if it had been anyone else I would have Smithy, but Charlie. Well, he's kind of special It's been with me since my first command when we began the regular run to the moon And if you wanted to come along this time, well, it's only through loyalty to me, you know Lewis I didn't realize it before but you're almost human Oh, yes, lieutenant how badly are we fouled up? Can you recalculate the course or shall I cancel the takeoff? That's quick work, are you sure? All right, Collier. I'm putting it in your hands. We'll blast off on your signal Bridge to engine room prepare to blast off on navigator signal Are we doing Collier coming on the bearing sir? We've intersected the course vector good work Collier course is corrected sir We're ready to go into atomic overdrive anytime you say all right stand by yes, sir Now hear this now hear this Prepare for maximum acceleration Bridge to engine room kill your rockets Fire up number one cyclotron fire up number two withdraw your dampening rods Go into overdrive at the count of zero three seconds, Mr. Collier three two one zero Are we doing Collier on course sir, she's running hot and true my compliments lieutenant This job would have done your father credit when he was the best navigation officer. I ever saw thank you, sir Start your gyros put her on robot control. All right. The bridge is yours, Mr. Collier If you need me, I'll be in Dr. Smithson's office. Yes, sir You can thank young Collier for that chip off the old block you knew his father as a matter of fact I knew him very well First rate spaceman. Is he the one? Yes. Yes. He was lost in the galactic barrier on the second ship. We set out to Voldemort Lewis just what do you think this galactic barrier is? Oh, your guess is as good as mine, doc All I know is that five ships have gone into it and none of them have come back out. You think it's a knit How about Mestrovic's theory that it's a time-wapping space That the ships reach it and slip into another dimension I think that's a lot of rubbish My theory is that the galactic barrier is nothing more than a radioactive layer of some kind Why do you say that? Well, we know that radar signals bounce off it like they were hitting an invisible glass wall And we know that it destroys our ships and crews in some way There's no other logical explanation. What makes you think we can get through it, Lewis? Because we're ready for it The others weren't The entire hull of this ship is completely shielded with lead. We can crack through any radioactive cloud ever detected Besides, we're equipped with some new UHF radio devices that should enable us to maintain radio contact with Earth Nothing can happen. Absolutely nothing. Now, who are you trying to convince? Well myself, I suppose. Lewis, you've had your share of glory first skipper to reach the moon back in 1962 you could have retired Why are you risking this trip? Five ships are missing Men like Prentice, Margettson, young Collier's father I'm tired of seeing good men fed into that meat chopper. Then why are we going to Volta? We haven't any choice, Mitty. We're in a race the kind of race where men and ships are expendable According to the interspace code the first nation to reach Volta can claim it Well, personally, I want no part out. I'll have to play physician morale builder and mother substitute for 112 slightly nervous men And your morale doesn't sound too good duck as morale officer. I can state without fear of contradiction. It is terrible And something tells me as we approach that galactic barrier. I'm not going to be alone Hello earth. Hello earth Captain Thorsten of the star cloud calling earth. Hello star cloud. Hi captain Charlie Well, I see they haven't court marshaled you yet. No, sir. Thanks to you. That's good to hear you You can read as the funny papers on Sunday morning. All right. How's our signal strong? Here's our log report for Colonel Harris. You ready jones second 1987 four weeks out from earth Running through no radiation Operation normal still making our approach to the galactic barrier That's all Charlie. See you later. Good luck captain. I sure wish I was with you How's the morale smithy? The men know we're getting closer to the barrier. They're beginning to show a little tension No, how's their physical condition any sickness about half the crew has come down with space blues. I was afraid of that Are they bad same as usual? Lips and hands with a bluish cast Highers are sensitive to infrared. Yeah, I don't know when I first started flying these tin cans Nobody ever heard of space blues. Well now there's a theory. It's caused by the terrific acceleration of atomic over Change in gravity affects the circulation. Hmm. What do you think? I think it's psychosomatic I've noticed that the same men who get space blues under tension on a ship Tend to get blue coloration back on earth when they're upset. I Guess it's just an occupational disease of space You think it's just nerves that well young collars got a bad case. I I think it's tension from over. Maybe he needs some vitamins Lois, when will you realize that vitamins are not a panacea for all the troubles of mankind? Sir, I understand that you relieve me from duty. No, dr. Smithson says you aren't looking very well Collier I'm giving you a rest sir. I feel perfectly able to continue your lips are as blue as Minnetonka captain I'd like to remain at my post. Don't be foolhardy lieutenant. I'm not being foolhardy, sir. I Have a special personal reason for wanting this expedition to reach Volta Your father Yes, sir. You think he might still be alive. I have to find out what happened, sir. I I think I understand Very well Collier report back to duty What's the reading policy? We're getting a plus five radar bounce now Coming off the barrier almost as fast as we send it out. What's the interval two seconds shortening steadily? This rate will hit the wall the next few minutes. All right alert the crew sound general quarters Now here this Condition read we are now approaching the galactic barrier all hands to stations all radiation detectors to be fully man Full security will prevail until further notice that is all Policy yes, sir. The radar bounce is up to plus six. We'd better try to make final contact with earth His sparks still try to raise the base. Yes, but he's not having much luck. Oh, there's to be something to That's a radio room now. Yes Well cutting on the bridge speaker captain will take it from here Hello star cloud to earth. Can you hear me earth? Hello skipper? I can barely read you. You're getting heavy static from Sunspot. That's not Sunspots Charlie We're right on top of the galactic barrier getting a plus. No plus seven radar bounce Expect to hit the barrier almost any second now If we crack the barrier and come through still in one piece I'll try to get back to you on the high frequency band So long Charlie Let's be getting off it close now captain It was bouncing back so fast. It's almost beating the signal when they go inside hold on to your hat That's when we run into the wall Second hold on Here goes nothing Here it comes Nothing happened We made it We made it captain. No radiation. No time warp. No, nothing Now the cruise gone crazy sir. Let them they've earned it doc Can you break out a few bottles of snake bites theorem for medicinal purposes? I sure can lawyers this goes for a celebration How's your morale now? It couldn't be better? Condition Holy mackerel Look at the needle on that indicator Paulson Paulson. Yes, I see it captain picking radiation like crazy. What's it like? That's a strong impulse. What kind I don't know. It's too long for a cosmic array too short for UHF Whatever it is sir. The ship is lousy. We'll track it down triangulate it and make it fast I want a directional fix. Yes, sir Engine room. Yes, sir. We're picking up radioactivity is the fishing chambers No leak here, sir. Check your gauges. Nothing here captain must be coming from outside Damage control is our lead shield leaking radiation We'll keep at it Paulson, how are you doing? I've got a fixed captain. Well, what is it? Well, I'll have to recheck my figures. I'll hurry it up Angle is correct, but I don't know man for Pete's sake. Where's the radiation coming from? Sorry, it's It's coming from inside the ship. That's impossible. No, sir. I've checked it twice It's got to be the engines then. It is sir. We're finished engine room. Yes, sir. That radiation must be in the overdrive pile No, sir. It isn't here, sir. Are you certain? Yes, sir. All right. Keep checking There's only one thing left to do. Paulson get a geiger counter. We're going to start combing this ship inch by inch Yes, sir. All right. Turn it on. Yes, sir All right. Ready captain. We'll check the atomic guns first. Come on We'll cut through the officer's quarters here to ordinance I'll turn here Wait a minute, sir What is it? The signal is weaker now Yeah, let's go back Hold it. Hold it. It seems strongest right about here Well, it doesn't make sense Whose cabinet is this? Lieutenant Collier's Collier? No, he's down in an afternoon, sir Oh, I'll try the door All right. It's not locked, sir Oh, it's in here all right. Listen to that counter. Strongest over here. Open that wall, cabinet It's locked, sir I'll smash it Shut up that geiger collar Now what do you make of this, Paulson? It looks like some sort of portable transmitter, sir Must be foreign manufactured. I don't recognize the calibration symbols at all I've never seen anything like it Which raises a small question. What is Lieutenant Collier doing with a transmitter in his cabin? I don't know, sir Well, I intend to find out, Paulson Get down to nav control and bring Collier up to the bridge on the double Well, hadn't we better find some way to shut this thing off first? I know a way Lieutenant Collier, I'm going to ask a few simple questions and I want a few simple answers Yes, sir What were you doing with a transmitter in your cabin? Transmitter, Captain Oh, you know nothing about it Oh, no, sir, I don't Do you recognize these calibration symbols? No, sir Can you think of how it might have been placed in your cabin without your knowing it? No, sir, unless someone came in while I was on duty Would that have been possible? I suppose so, if someone had a key I found your cabin door unlocked Well, I made a key to the wall cabinet I didn't say the wall cabinet Well, I You what, Lieutenant? How could you have known it was in the wall cabinet? Well, I just assumed, sir Lieutenant Collier, I find it hard to believe you would lie Having known and respected your father, having observed the way you handle your job However, I intend to get to the root of this thing May I have your wristwatch, Lieutenant? Sir? Your wristwatch Yes, sir Policeman, turn on that Geiger collar Yes, sir Hold this watch next to it Yes, sir That's all Lieutenant, if you hadn't any close contact with that transmitter How do you explain the radioactivity of this watch? Well, I... I don't, sir I think you'd better To whom are you sending those signals? Condition read Condition read There's your answer, Captain What is this, Collier? Alien spaceship approach Alien spaceship approach Collier, who's aboard that ship? All right, now talk Very well, Captain My mission seems completed Your mission? Are you admitting that you're an agent of a foreign power? I am stating it What nation? No nation, Captain What? I am an agent of the Voltaan government Now, what? The government of the planet of Voltaan You're crazy Are you so stupid, Captain? Did you think your people are the only ones who can invade another planet? What do you mean? We've had agents operating on Earth since 1945 I don't believe you What do you think happened to those five ships, Captain? Where do you suppose we got our information? Your language, your culture, family background Your appearance, you look like... Like Commander Collier? Well, is that so surprising, Captain? You see, Captain We had a living model I ought to kill you That would be very foolish, Captain I would advise you to surrender without delay Here, you ship, you're all coming in a water frame I'll deal with you later, Collier Paulisen Yes, sir Put this man in Irons, take him away Don't worry, sir, we'll take good care of him Captain, uh... Gunnery Gunnery Richardson What's the range? Ten thousand meters, they're closing fast Put your guns on radar tracking Tracking Fire, Richardson Richardson, did you hear me? Fire! What's the matter down there? Did you hear me? Richardson, answer me It's no use to shout, Captain Collier, how did you get loose? Where's Paulisen? Lieutenant Paulisen is dead Paul Stations, Lieutenant Collier has escaped Seizey men Don't waste your breath Your men can't hear you, Captain What? Those still alive Are my men You're lying No, Captain Every ship that has ever left Earth was controlled by a Voltaan crew That's impossible, those were handpicked men Handpicked by us I don't believe you No, then why not call for help? Carpenter Robinson, Haley, report You see, Captain? Cut Carpenter Robinson, Haley It's quite useless, Captain I would advise you to sit very quietly and do nothing Very well, Collier You beatness What now? The ship will be taken to Volta for, shall we say, further experimentation I see Of course, there's one thing you hadn't counted on Just what is that, Captain? Listen! Carpenter, are you in there, Lieutenant Carpenter? Can't all be dead, there must be one alive Smitty, Dr. Smitson Smitty, Smitty What have you done to him? I'm sorry, Shirley I don't talk I must lean, lean closer There's not much time There's not much time Lewis, Space Blues Space Blues What is it, Smitty? What are you trying to tell me? All men with Space Blues Volta Hello, let me help you No, Lewis, get message back to Earth Volta, fifth column Watch out for Space Blues Smitty Smitty Captain Thorsten, Captain Thorsten, you can't hide from us now Come back to the bridge and surrender All my men will come and get you Hello, hello, Star-Cloud calling Earth Oh please, God, let me get through It was too late Hello, Star-Cloud to Earth Come in, please, come in, please Captain Thorsten calling Charlie, come in, please, hurry Hello Oh, hello, can you hear me, Charlie? Skipper, is that you? Are you getting my signal? It's coming in a little louder now, Skipper Keep sending My God, now look, Charlie, listen to me Not much time Get word to Colonel Harrison Crew mutinied most of crew members, Foltons What? Foltons Spell that V-O-L Foltons That's right They're from the Planet Volta Skipper, Skipper, are you all right? Now, Charlie, this is serious They'll be here any second Now listen, they have a fifth column on Earth They're planning to invade you You mean it? Of course I mean it Tell Harrison, posing as humans You can detect them by space bruise You got that only Foltons get space bruised Charlie, did you hear me? Space blue I get you They're breaking in, Charlie I'm depending on you, aren't everybody? Captain They're open the door So long, Charlie Tell him Captain, Captain Thorsten Hello, hello, Star-Cloud What's the trouble, Sergeant? I was just trying to raise a Star-Cloud, Colonel I had any luck? No, sir No contact No contact, eh? No, sir Nearly an hour since they hit the galactic barrier I don't understand why they haven't tried to get a message back No, sir Neither do I Oh, all right, I'll take over for a while Yes, you do that, sir It's all yours Right Oh, and, Charlie, you better go out and get yourself some coffee You look a little blue around the gills Tonight X-1 has brought you No Contact Written by George Lefferts From an original story of Lefferts and Ernest Kenoy Featured in the cast were Louis van Rootman As Captain Donald Buker as Collier Wendell Holmes as Charlie And Bill Griffiths, Bill Smith, Matt Crowley And Ken Williams, your announcer, Don Pardo X-1 was directed by Fred Way And is a transcribed NBC radio network production And now next week When you want to take over a world, you naturally look for its weak point Some way to catch its people off guard We live in a world where everybody loves a parade A world of press agents and publicity stunts But who would ever dream that invaders from outer space Would take advantage of that weakness And actually hire a press agent to advertise their coming Who would believe It was anything but just another publicity gag At least not until the terrible moment when it was already too late