Vintage Sci-Fi Radio

X Minus One - No Contact

https://www.solgoodmedia.com Listen to hundreds of audiobooks, thousands of short stories, and ambient sounds all ad free! 'Vintage Sci-Fi Radio' offers a nostalgic look back at the classic stories of science fiction that captivated audiences with their innovative ideas and fantastical worlds.

Duration:: 30m
Broadcast on:: 25 Jun 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

Hey there, listeners. Are you ready to unlock a world of captivating stories, soothing sounds, and enlightening lectures? At Solga Media, we believe in the power of audio to enrich your life, and now we're offering you a chance to experience it all for free. For a limited time, you can get a one-month free trial to our premium, ad-free service. Imagine having unlimited access to over 500 audiobooks, meditative sounds, and exclusive shows, all at your fingertips. Just head over to Solga Media dot com and sign up to start your free trial today. No ads, no interruptions just pure, immersive audio content. Don't miss out. Transform your listening experience with Solga Media. Visit Solga Media dot com and start your free trial now. We can't wait for you to join our audio community. Happy listening. Welcome to Solga Media, where your journey into a world of endless audio possibilities begins. Imagine a place where you can discover thousands of captivating audiobooks, immerse yourself in tranquil sounds for sleep and meditation, and explore timeless stories and lectures that expand your mind and enrich your soul. At Solga Media dot com, we believe in the power of stories to transform lives. Whether you're a lifelong learner, a parent seeking bedtime stories for your children, or someone looking to unwind after a long day, we have something just for you. We invite you to try Solga Media free for one month. Explore our extensive collection and find the perfect audio content that resonates with you. Join our community of passionate listeners and unlock a world of knowledge, relaxation, and inspiration. Go to Solga Media dot com today and start your free trial. That's S-O-L-G-O-O-D-M-E-D-I-A dot com. Count down for blast off, X minus 5, minus 4, minus 3, minus 2, X minus 1, fire. From the far horizons of the unknown come tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future, adventures in which you'll live in a million could-be years and a thousand baby worlds. The National Broadcasting Company presents X minus 1. The light story, no contact. It was in the year of 1982 that spacemen first discovered the great galactic barrier. In the past ten years, rocket travel 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 spaceships, the galactic reef. Yet, the explorers refused to admit defeat. It was on June the second 1987 that the rocket's star cloud made ready for takeoff, the sixth to attempt to crack the barrier and win through to Volta. Well, Lois, this is it. I don't suppose you'll be needing the ship's doctor up here in the bridge during blast time. 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, Lois. Thank you, Smitty. Lieutenant Carter. Yes, sir? You're relieved. You'd better get down to navigation control and take over. Yes, sir. 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. I'm too bad about that. Yes, sir. That's all, Kanye. Yes, sir. I've patched in the bridge, speaker. Colonel Harrison? Yes, Captain. We're standing by for takeoff in 30 seconds. Good. The field's 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. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Good. Good. Good luck. Thank you. Good luck. Good luck. Good luck. I hope you make it. Thank you. Good luck. Good luck. Bridge to navigation control. I have control. Call you. Ready, Lieutenant? We're ready, Captain. The course is in the integrator for takeoff at 1200 hours. All right. Stand by for blast off. Bridge to engine room. Fire up your rocket chambers. Take off at exactly 1200 hours. I'll reach you off. 20 seconds. 19. 18. 17. 16. Hold it. Revoke all orders who turn in that alarm. We've uncovered a stowaway. Stowaway, where? I didn't think they'd make it. Have him brought up to the bridge. Engine room, kill your rockets and stand by. Thorson, Mrs. Colonel Harrison in ground control. 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 easy. You know what this delay can do to us, don't you? Take off and 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 it? Don't bother for me for a while. I'm busy. Stupid idiot. Captain Thorson? Yes, come in, Smitty. Here's your stowaway. Now, Port Marshall. Oh, Charlie. Can you use a good radio man, Skipper? Well, I see you two met. Matt, Skipper and 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 turned me down. 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 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 off. 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 and it'll seem as if you're right here with us. You won't do it, sir. Well, he'd better. I'll have him busted to corporal for letting you sneak a board. Look, Charlie, you better be off. Now, Paul, listen. Yes, sir. I'm sending this man a ground. Give him time to clear the launching platform. Yes, sir. So long, Charlie. I'm sorry. Good luck, Skip. I thought you were going to have him drawn and quartered. If it had been anyone else, I would have, Smitty. But, Charlie, well, he's kind of special. He'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. Captain Dawson, have control, call you. Oh, yes, Lieutenant. How badly are we fouled up? Can you recalculate the course, or shall I cancel the takeoff? I've already plotted a new course on the integrator, sir. If we take off in exactly 30 seconds, we'll need to correct for only a one degree deflection. I can do that before we breach the stratosphere. That's quick work, are you sure? Yes, sir, positive, sir. All right, call you. I'm putting it in your hands. We'll blast off on your signal. Bridge to engine room. Prepare to blast off on navigator's signal. ♪♪ How are we doing, call you? Coming on the bearings, sir. That's four, three, two, zero. We've intersected the course vector. Good work, call you. Course is corrected, sir. We're ready to go into atomic overdrive any time 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. Rocket's out. Fire up, number one, cyclotron. ♪♪ Number one, ready. Fire up, number two. ♪♪ Number two, ready. Let's draw your dampening rods. ♪♪ Fish and chamber, ready. ♪♪ Blast tubes cleared. All generators operating at capacity. Take it over, sir. Go into overdrive at the count of zero. Three seconds, Mr. Callion. Three, two, one, one, zero, zero. ♪♪ Are we doing Collier? Of course, sir. She's running hot in the trunk. My compliments, Lieutenant. This job would have done your father credit. And 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. Callier. If you need me, I'll be in Dr. Smithson's office. Yes, sir. ♪♪ Louis, license. You've got us off the ground. 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, straight space man. Well, is he the one who was-- Yes, yes. He was lost in the galactic barrier on the second ship we set up to Voldemort. Louis, just what do you think this galactic barrier is? 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 Mr. Vic's theory that it's a time warp in 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, Louis? 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. Louis, 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, Margetson, young Collier's father. I'm tired of seeing good men fed into that meat chopper. Then why are we going to Volter? We haven't any choice, Medi. 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 Volter can claim it. Well, personally, I want no part of it. I'll have to play physician, morale builder, and mother substitute for 112 slightly nervous men. And your morale doesn't sound too good, Doc. 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 Thorson of the Star Cloud, calling Earth. Hello, Star Cloud. Hi, Captain. Charlie! Well, I see they haven't court-martialed you yet. No, sir. Thanks to you. Let's good to hear you. You can read us the funny papers on Sunday morning. All right. Now, how's our signal? Strong. Clear as a bell. Now, here's our log report for Colonel Harris. Are you ready? Shoot. June 2nd, 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, Smitty? The men know we're getting closer to the barrier. They're beginning to show a little tension of us. How's their physical condition? Any sickness? About half the crew has come down with space blue. I was afraid of that. Are they bad? Same as usual. Lips and hands with a bluish cast. Eyes are sensitive to infrareds. 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 orbit power. Change in gravity affects the circulation. 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 occupation to the disease of space. No, no. You think it's just a nerve, then? Well, young Collier's got a bad case. 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. Well, 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 happens, sir. I... I think I understand. Very well, Collier. Report back to beauty. Report back to beauty. What's the reading policy? We're getting a +5 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 in the next few minutes. All right, alert the crew, sound general quarters. Now, here this... condition red. We are now approaching the galactic barrier. All hands to stations. All radiation detectors to be fully manned. Full security will prevail until further notice. That is all. Policy. Yes, sir? The radar bounces up to +6. We'd better try to make final contact with Earth. This spark is still trying to raise the base. Yes, if it is not having much luck. Oh, seems to be some interference. That's the radio. Yes? You got him? We'll cut in on the bridge, people. Captain, we'll take it from here. Hello. Star Cloud to Earth. Can you hear me, Earth? Hello, skipper. I can barely read you. We're getting heavy static from Sunspot. That's not Sunspot's, Charlie. We're right on top of the galactic barrier. We're getting a +7 radar bounce. Expect to hit the barrier almost any second now. Good luck, skipper. 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. Not just skipper. Don't worry. I'll be waiting. So long, Charlie. So long, Star Cloud. Let's be getting awfully 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. Any second? Hold on. Here goes nothing. Here it comes. Captain. Nothing happened. We made it. We made it, Captain. No radiation. No time. No nothing. Now the crew's gone crazy, sir. Let him. They've earned it. Doc, can you break out a few bottles of snakebites here? From medicinal purposes? I'm sure I can, Lord. This goes for a celebration. How's your morale now? It couldn't be better. How's yours? Couldn't be better. Condition red. Condition red. Radiation detected. Condition red. Radiation detected. Condition red. Radiation detected. Radiation detected. Holy mackerel. Look at the needle in that index. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. And I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. Look at the needle in that indicator. Policy. Policy. 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 ray. Too short for UHF. Whatever it is, sir. The ship is lousy. I'll track it down. Triangulated and make it fast. I want a directional fix. Yes, sir. Engine room. Yes, sir. We're picking up radio activity. Is the fish in chambers? No leak here, sir. Check your gauges. Nothing here, Captain. Must be coming from outside. Damage control is our lead shield leaking radiation. Well, keep at it. Allison, how are you doing? I've got a fix, Captain. Well, what is it? Well, I'll have to recheck my figures. I'll hurry it up. Angle is correct, but I'll call you. I'm the one man for Pete's sake. Where's the radiation coming from? Sir, it's coming from inside this ship. That's impossible. No, sir. I've checked it twice. Well, 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. Allison, get a geiger counter. We're going to start calming 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 wardens. I'll turn here. Oh, wait a minute, sir. What is it? The signal's weaker now. Yeah. Let's go back. Hold it. Hold it. Seems strongest right about here. It doesn't make sense. Who's cabinet this? Lieutenant Collier's. Out here? No, he's down in that control, sir. Oh, try the door. All right. It's not locked, sir. Oh, it's in here, all right. Listen to that counter. It's strongest over here. Open that wall cabinet. It's locked, sir. Oh, it's a passion. Shut up that gaggard collar. Well, what do you make of this, Paulison? Oh, it looks like some sort of portable transmitter, sir. Must be foreign manufacture. 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, Paulison. Get down in half control and bring Collier up to the bridge on the double. How can we better find some way to shut this thing off, sir? I know. Away. 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. 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'm at a key to the wall cabinet. I... 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 handled your job. However, I intend to get to the root of this thing. May I have your wrist watch, Lieutenant? Sir? Your wrist watch. Yes, sir? Pauluson. Turn on that Geiger counter. 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 radio activity of this watch? Well, I... I don't, sir. I think you'd better. To whom were you sending those signals? Foundation, Brad, Brad, Brad, Brad. 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's what nation? No nation, Captain. What? I am an agent of the Voltan government. What? The government of the planet of Voltan? They'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. 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 coming in the water. I'll deal with you later, Collier. Yes, sir? Put this man in arms. Take him away. Don't worry, sir. We'll take good care of him. Commander. Run. Gunnery. Gunnery Richardson. What's the range? 10,000 meters. They're closing fast. What's your gun's on radar tracking? Tracking. Coming on the bearing. Fire. Fire Richardson. Richardson, did you hear me? 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 Paulus? Lieutenant Pauluson 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. My men. Don't lie. No, Captain. Every ship that has ever left Earth was controlled by a Volton crew. That's impossible. Those were hand-picked men. And picked 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 beat us. What now? The ship will be taken to Voltar for, shall we say, further experimentation. I see. Of course, there's one thing you hadn't counted on. Just what is that, Captain? Carpenter. Are you in there, Lieutenant Carpenter? You can't hold me dead. There must be one alive. Smelly, Dr. Smithson. Smelly. Smelly. What have they done to you? I'm sorry. I don't talk. I must lean closer. It's not much time. Lewis. Space blues. Space blues. What is it, Smelly? What are you trying to tell me? All men with space blues. Voltans. Will a lippy help you? Oh, Lewis. Get a message back to Earth. Voltan. Fifth. Column. Watch out for it. Space. Oh, Snake. My smelly. Captain Hawthorne. Captain Hawthorne, you can't hide from us now. Come back by the bridge in surrender. All my men will have him get you. Hello. Hello. Stark out calling Earth. Please, God let me get through. You've got it too late. Hello. Stark out to Earth. Come in, please. Come in, please. Hello. Hello. Stark out to Earth. Captain Hawthorne calling... Charlie, come in. Please, hurry. Hello. Oh, hello. Can you hear me, Charlie? Is that you? Are you getting my signal? Is coming in a little louder now, Skip. Keep sending. God, now look, Charlie. Listen to me. Not much time. Yet word to Colonel Harrison. Group mutinate. Most of crew members, photons. What? Photons. Spell that. V-O-L. Photons. That's right. They're from the planet Volta. Skipper. Skipper, are you all right? Not 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 booths. You got that only. Votons get space booth. Charlie, did you hear me? Space blue. I got you. They're ready again, Charlie. I'm depending on you. What, everybody? Captain. They're over the door. So long, Charlie. Tell him. Captain. Captain Thawson. 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'll look a little blue around the gills. Tonight, X minus one has brought you no contact written by George Lefferts from an original story of Lefferts and Ernest Kinoy. Featured in the cast were Louis Van Druten as Captain Donobuka as Collier, Wendell Holmes as Charlie, and Bill Griffiths, Bill Smith, Matt Crowley and Ken Williams. You're announced at Don Pardo. X minus one 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 a sweet 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. The moment of X minus one. Hey there, it's Solomon from Solgood Media. A lot of our listeners have asked how to get ad-free access to our podcast. You asked and we answered. We're offering an exclusive one month free trial to our ad-free streaming platform, packed with over 500 audiobooks, meditation sounds and engaging podcasts. No strings attached, just pure listening pleasure. Sign up today at solgoodmedia.com and dive into a world of stories and sounds that inspire and relax. Don't miss out on this limited time offer. It's your gateway to unlimited audio enjoyment. That's solgoodmedia.com. S-O-L-G-O-O-D-M-E-D-I-A.com. Check it out. We hope to see you over there.