Captain Jet Morgan and his crew aboard Discovery blast off for their epic mission to Mars, in Charles Chilton’s 1954 classic, We continue this week with episode 5!
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The Mutual Audio Network
The Red Planet #5(010825)
Tretchley, backstabbing, murder. Emmy winning the Tretters is back for an all-new season. Here we go again. Join me for the ultimate game of survival. We're making it to the end. There's a matter of life and death. This game is torch on us. I can feel my blood pressure rise. If you carry on with that cocky attitude, you might get yourself in trouble. Oh, I've missed this. The Tretters streaming January the 9th, only on Peacock. You're listening to Wednesday Wonders on the Mutual Audio Network. Be amazed. The following audio drama is rated PG for parental guidance. The BBC presents Jett Morgan in Journey into Space. [SIREN WAILING] For more than three weeks since it left the moon, the Mars space fleet led by Jett Morgan has been coasting towards the red planet. When the great journey began, the fleet numbered nine ships, a flagship discovery, and eight freighters. Now there are only eight ships in all. Well, freighter number seven after being hold via meteor and its crew killed had to be abandoned, together with its precious cargo. Then there was the mystery of James Whittaker, construction engineer, who, according to reports, received from Earth, answered to the description of a man born 78 years ago who had mysteriously disappeared in 1924. And now, a new hazard faced Jett Morgan and his crews. What was thought to be a meteor swarm lay directly in front of us, hoping to climb over it we changed course. But shortly afterwards, the radar showed that once more the object lay directly in the space fleet's path. The tricky maneuver was carried out again, but with the same startling result. Jett then decided there was nothing for us to do, but plows straight through the swarm. After some discussion, we in discovery agreed. And Jett called up the freighters to tell them of his intention. Well, how do you feel about it number six? I prefer to try further than evasive action, isn't that possible? Look, I've just told you we can't spare the fuel. The only course left open to us is to keep on. There can be no turning back. Whatever action you suggest, Captain Morgan, I'm sure it will be right. I wish I could think so too, Whitick, of it. Thanks, all the same. Orders must be obeyed without question at all time. Well, I don't think this is the time to discuss discipline. Now, Peterson, you're going to be happy about this? I wouldn't call it happy, Jett, but I'm with you. What if you say goes far as I'm concerned? Good. Number eight, how about you? If I'm the last to be consulted and everybody else has already agreed to plow on, all I can say is OK, but I don't like it, Jett. I think the risk is greater than you care to admit. Well, that settled. Now, listen carefully, all of you. As a safeguard, suits will be worn from now until further notice. In the unlikely event of your ship being holed, you'll be safe until you can transfer to another ship. If the discovery is hit and put out of action, command will be taken by number one. Well, that's all for now, but keep listening out. Keep your radios on at all times. How far are we off now, Doc? Less than an hour. No solid object visible on the television. No, Jett. Well, gentlemen, we'd better put on our suits. If it is a meteor swarm, anything might happen once we enter it. But it's a risk I'm convinced we have to take. If a large meteor hits us, well, we'll never know the thing about it. Now, stay at your posts from now until further orders, and good luck. A nice, cheerful prospect in it. Don, never mind about that. Let me get over the radio and open her up. Yes, Jett. Mitch, yeah, keep watch on the television. Right, Doc, I'll keep radar watch with you. OK, signals are coming in good and strong now. Still right, smacking our path. Yes, it's uncanny. Anything to see, yet, Mitch? No, not a thing. If it wasn't for the radar signals, I'd swear there's nothing between us and the distant stars. Absolutely nothing. Well, keep looking. It's too right. Hello, flagship. Number eight calling. Come in, please. Hello, number eight. Discovery calling. Here in you. Well, I'm here reception from number eight, ain't too good. Report on radar watch the first 10 minutes. What was that number eight? There's a lot of noise going on. Will you repeat that thing? I can hardly hear you. Oh, it's not just him, then. Hello, number eight. Are you receiving me? Receiving you with difficulty. Have radar report for first 10 minutes of watch. Can you take it, please? Heard you that time, mate. Yes, I'm ready to take it. If I hear it. Signals increasing in strength every minute. Angle of reception of signal increasing proportionately. Estimate object now approximately 25,000 miles away. End of message. Thank you, number eight. Is your reception as bad as mine? It's not good, Libby. We seem to be getting a lot of interference from somewhere. I'll say we are. Any idea what it is? I haven't got a clue. Reception out there should be as clear as crystal. Right, Libby. My next call is in an hour. I hope conditions have improved by then. So do I. Here from you later, then, mate. Hey, Jet. Yes, Libby? First report's from number eight. Just receive. Right, let's have them. And what a job I'd get them and all. How do you mean? Oh, reception was chronic. Weak? Oh, Jet, but there was such a lot of extraneous noise with it. Oh, is it the same with the rest of the ship? I don't know, but number six is due to call in about five minutes. I'll let you note in. All right, let me. I'll get back to Doc. Yes, Mike. There's something haywire here, Jet. Huh? Screen keeps distorting as though there were a lot of static around. There, see? Yeah. I wonder if that has anything to do with Lemmies interference. Oh, he's known as something, too? Almost certainly the same thing. There. Yeah. Look at that. What hope have we of getting true readings under these conditions? Do what you can, Doc. It may be only temporary. Well, let's hope so. [MUSIC PLAYING] [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC] Jet reception is becoming impossible. It's pointless trying to calculate anything while these conditions last. What on earth can be causing it? If you ask me it's something to do with that object we're approaching, the closer we get to what the worst the distortion gets. Hey, Jet. Yes, Mitch? Oh, the tell of your itch. Hope. - Oh, not that, too. - It's like trying to see through a blinding snowstorm. - What is going on? - No, no. 6, flagship calling number 6, trying to contact you. Come in, please. - Sounds as though Lemmy's having trouble, too. - Now, get back to the tell of your Mitch, in case he clears. - Right, but I think I'll be wasting my time. - And you keep at it, too, Doc. Do what you can in the period's free from interference. - All right, yet, but there are so few of them, I don't think I'm going to get very far either. - What was our estimated distance from the object last time you were able to make a calculation? - 45 minutes, so that was five minutes ago. - Yeah. - But it was only based on my own deductions. - I've had no further check reports from the fleet. - Well, I'll have a word with Lemmy, see what's happening. - Hello, number 6, trying to contact you. Can you hear me? - What's your trouble, Lemmy? - Number 6 is five minutes late, but his report, ten times, I've tried to raise him, but I get no reply. Apart from that, everything in a garden's lovely. - Do any of the other ships reply? - I don't know, I haven't called him. - Well, do it now. - Yes, mate. Hello, Space Fleet. - flagship calling Space Fleet. Come in, please. Now. - Listen to it, ah, can we be expected to have anything through this plot? - A flagship? Hello, Lemmy. - Ah? - I thought I heard something. - Then you must have ears, like a cat, I like it. - Hello, flagship. Hello, number 6 calling. Need to hear from you, merchant. - That's number 6? - Emergency, come in, please. - Emergency, he says. - Hello, number 6, Morgan, here. Go ahead with your message. - He's gone again, it's no good yet, with all that route going on, ah, can you expect to? - Hello, flagship. Hello, for Pete's sake. - Answer me, do you hear? Answer me! - I mean, what's happening to it? - Hello, number 6, we can hear you. - What's the trouble over? - Yeah, he's gone again. He's seen pretty upset, too, didn't he? - Hello, number 6, flagship calling. I've lost you again. Come in, please, and send your message. - Hello, flagship. Number 6 calling. - It's Whitaker. - Hello, where'd he go? What's the trouble over there? - Hello, Captain Morgan. There is no trouble. Everything is normal. - Aye. - What do you mean, everything is normal? What was Peterson panicking about? - And you're 10 minutes late with your radar report. - I have the radar report already. Are you ready to take it? - Not yet, I'm not. I want to speak to Peterson. Put him on. - Radar report number 1. Signals, powerful and indicate object now less than 20,000 miles distance. - He's waiting a report, he didn't hear you. - I don't want that report for the moment, you hear? I want to speak to Peterson. Now, put him on at once. - It's the end of message. We'll keep listening, watch, and we'll call again in one hour as per routine. - He couldn't have heard you, Jet. He's still giving the radar report. - I'm not so sure that he didn't. - Whitaker, I want to talk to Peterson immediately. - He cannot talk to you. He is asleep. - Hey, Jet, that's exactly what he said about Rogers, remember? - Sleep? At a time like this? - I cannot wake him. He must remain asleep. - Orders must be carried out without question at all times. - Orders? What orders? I've given the orders about sleeping. Wake him up, do you hear? - He's not answering at all now. There's something fishy going on over there, Jet. Wherever that diesel is, there's trouble. - Even if he was answering, we'd never hear him with all that row going on. - Hey, Jet, come over here quick. - Coming, Mitch. Keep trying, Jimmy. If you can't get number six yourself, ask one of the other ships to try and contact you. - Yes, Jet, but with things as they are, I'll be lucky to get anybody. - Hello, number six, flagship calling. I've lost contact with you. Come in, please. - No, Mitch, what's your trouble? - This tell of yours is completely up the spout. It's just a waste of time sitting here, staring at it. - There haven't been any kind of a picture since you went over to the radio. - That's about handy, too. There's some kind of static or interference upsetting everything. - It must be coming from that meteor swarm. - How are things of the radar, Doc? - Hopeless, Jet. Haven't been able to take any kind of a reading for the last ten minutes. And we must be pretty close to that swarm, but now... - We better put our helmets on and keep them on until we pass through it and out the other side. - If we come out the other side, how about the rest of the fleet? - If we can't see them, how do we know they're still with us? - Any luck yet, let me? - No, Jet, I can't like anybody! - Well, put your helmet on. You can hit your personal radio for the main transmitter and still keep calling. - Yes, Jet. - Now, what makes you think the personal sets will work any better than the main radio? - Nothing. I'm just hoping they will. Right, now put them on. I'll call each of you and turn. - Oh, don't say it, Jet. - Well, that's me fixed. Hello, Mitch, can you hear me? Mitch, can you hear me? Hello, let me. How about you? Doc, you there? - Mitch, can you hear me now? - Yes, Jet. But only now your helmet's touching mine. - I'll beckon Doc and let me over. If we all put our heads together, we can talk. - All touching now? - Yes, Jet. I can hear you. - Now, listen carefully. With the radio's not functioning, we can't talk to one another except by this method. And for safety's sake, we'll have to keep our helmets on until we pass through that swarm. Doc, Mitch, you'll go back to the radar and tell if you're and keep watch. - And let me, you keep calling the fleet every 10 minutes. Now, is that all clear? - Yes, Jet. - If any of you have anything to say, raise your hand and I'll come over. - Right, Jet. - Right, back to your posts, all of you. We must have entered the swarm or whatever it was half an hour later. By that time, most electronic equipment had gone completely dead. Very soon, it was not only the radio, radar and television circuits that were affected. The oxygen, fuel tank, air conditioning, humidity, air pressure, speed and navigational indicators, all were jumping wildly about, almost as if they were alive. This went on for nearly seven hours. It was like a bad dream, a nightmare. The only way we could communicate with one another was by talking with our helmets, touching and picking up the sound vibrations. Of course, during this time, we couldn't contact crater number six any more than we could any other ship, and so we were still no nearer solving the reason for Peterson's panicky call, nor for the almost rebellious tone of Whittaker's replies to Jet. In fact, cut off completely as we were from all things outside the ship, we could not even be sure that the rest of the fleet was still with us. And we would not know until the electronic equipment ceased its eccentric behavior and returned to normal again. Not only were we in discovery a little world apart, but each man was himself enclosed in his own smaller world, confined within the narrow limits of his tightly fitting space suit. Hello, Spice Fleet, flagship calling Spice Fleet. If you can hear me, I can hear you calling. Can you hear me? Yes, Jet, I can. Can you hear me, Mitch? You, Doc? Yeah, yeah. Me too. We must have made it. Pass through the swarm, you mean? Yes, Jimmy. And about time, too. It must have been thousands of miles deep. If our speed's been constant, about 200,000, I'd say, then. I know, meet you, I hate us. We came through safely. I don't speak too soon, Jimmy. There's the rest of the fleet to consider. Yes. And let me, now that the personal radios are working, there's a good chance of you being able to contact them. Have a try, will you? Well, that's exactly what I was doing when you heard me. Keep at it. Keep at it. Can you call them without our hearing you? It'll be chaotic if we're all talking at once. I've already thought of that. I'll feed my personal radio straight into the ship's transmitter and you won't hear a thing. Good. Now, Mitch, how about the telly viewer? Well, she's not showing any picture yet, but she's alive all right. I've got the snowstorm back. Well, as soon as you can get a picture, check up on the fleet and make sure it's still with us. And too right, I will. Jet, when do you propose letting us remove these helmets? Well, nothing until everything in the ship is in good working order again. And we can be sure there's no further danger of being hit. All right. Jet! Jet, yes, let me. Make contact with number one. You want to talk to him? I certainly do. Hook me up, will you? Right. Now, go ahead. He should hear you. Hello, number one. Morgan here. Are you receiving me? I'd like to have you hearing you quite clearly. Are you on your ship okay? Yes, sir. Till if you are in radar, still a bit haywire, but coming back to normal rapidly. All electronic equipment has been completely out of action the last few hours. Yeah, ours has too. Have you been able to make contact with any of the other ships? No, sir. Let me go through before I have a chance. Very well, number one. As soon as your radar is working again, see if you can calculate our distance from that swarm and the rate at which is dropping behind, if it is. Very good, sir. How soon will they take our suits off? Not until I tell you. As soon as you've anything to report, give us a call. That's all. Thank you, Discovery. All right, let me see if you can contact the rest of the fleet. Yes, Mike. Amitch, is that tell if you're working yet? Yes, Captain, better, but I still can't get a picture. Then keep at it. You won't before long, I'm sure. How about you, Doc? Well, if there's anything in front of us, Jet, I believe I could detect it. You mean the radar's working now? Yes, enough for me to get some sort of a signal. Good. Well, sweet areas, sir. See if you find anything there. Sure. Yes, Jet. There you are. As strong as you like. That thing is behind us, we must have passed through it. Good, Doc. Do you think it was media's, Jet? I wouldn't like to say for sure, but I doubt it. So do I. No ordinary media swarm would have upset the equipment like that. And the chances are that at least one of the ships would have been struck. Well, we can't be sure that they haven't yet, Doc. I don't think you need worry, Jet. I've got a hunch that everything is going to be all right. I hope so, Doc. I sincerely hope so. [Music] Contact now made with freighter ships, numbers one, two, three, four, five, and eight. All crew safe and almost all equipment back to full work in order. Still no reply from number six, Limi? No, Jet. None of the other ships can raise him either. Well, that swarm is nearly 40,000 miles behind us now, Jet. It can't be that that's the facting number six radio this time. He should reply. How about the tell of your Mitch? Any picture yet? Coming up gradually, clearing slowly. Can you get a clear image of the feet yet? No, Jet, but it won't be long, I'm sure. All right, gentlemen. I think it's safe to remove the helmets now. You can take them off. Oh, thank goodness. I will begin to feel like a goldfish. As soon as you can, let me get back to that radio. Keep trying number six. Yes, Jet. Hello number six, flagship calling number six. Been trying to contact you. Come in, please. Hey, Jet, come over here. The tell of your is clear. And about time, too. There. Fleet's still in perfect formation. We must have stuck together the whole time. In fact, going through that swarm seems you've had no ill effects on us at all, and... Jet. Now, wait a minute. Hey? Where's number six? What? She's not there. But she must be. No, Jet, she isn't. Every other ship is, but there's no sign of number six. Here, let me see. Well? Good grief, your right, Mitch. It's gone. Number six has completely disappeared. (SIREN WAILING) It's no good, Jet. There's no sign of it. Either behind us, in front of us, neither side of us, up or down. But our whole ship couldn't disappear just like that without trace. But if you think you can find it, you're welcome to try. It's fantastic, unbelievable. After passing through a swarm of meteors, but what happened to number seven? That's no explanation, Lemmy. Even if number six had been hit, the wreckage would still be coasting along with us, and we'd see that. And what's the answer? Well, she must be lagging behind. Too far behind for the tell of your to detect. Then I'd still be able to contact her by radio. But I've been calling her for two hours now. Jet, you don't think the disappearance of number six has anything to do with Whittaker being a baudadoo? Well, it's been at the back of my mind. Yeah, there'd be nothing to stop him turning on the motor and leaving the formation behind. But why should he want to? Where could he go? Besides, he couldn't handle the ship alone, and Peterson would never consent to anything as crazy as that. Uh, the only other explanation is that she was deflected from a course somehow. Why, we were passing through that swarm. But our force powerful enough to deflect one ship would be bound to affect the rest. Well, there just isn't any satisfactory explanation. Not that we can arrive at anyway. You mean we'd just write her off as lost? Ship, cargo, and crew? Yes, Mitch. If we ever see her again, I'll be very surprised. But it's one good thing about all this. We don't have to worry about Whittaker anymore. And if you all ask me, that's a definite advantage. He was beginning to give me the creeps. And how about Peterson, lemme? Oh, yes. Yeah, there's Peterson in there. All we can hope is that number six is still intact. If it is, they'll be safe for a couple of years at least. And in that time, they could find their way to Mars. Or even back to the moon, maybe. I hope you're right, Doc. That didn't really mean it when I said I was glad to be rid of Whittaker. I'm sure you didn't, lemme. I forgot to get Peterson with him. Let me get back to that radio. Call up control. Yes, Jet. Well, Mitch, Doc. If we go on at this rate, by the time we get to Mars, we'll have no fleet at all. Hello, Control. The loss of number seven was just sheer bad luck, Jet. We wouldn't lose another ship by meteor collision in a hundred years. But what are our chances of losing them the way we lost number six? If we knew how we lost her, Doc, I'd tell you. Well, unless we find her again, we'll never know what happened. No. And we'll never clear up that Whittaker business either. And that's something I'd like to get to the bottom of. He's having been born in 1893, even. Yeah, Jet. And a weird effect he had on the cruise of whatever ship he happened to be in. There was something very odd about him. Well, maybe by now, Control will have solved the mystery and have a rational explanation for everything. Yeah, there's no point in my trying to call up Control. It's a complete waste of time. What are you talking about the radio's working, isn't it? Yes, Jet. There's no more interference, is there? No, Jet. Then get back to it once and get Control. I'm sorry, Jet, but I'm afraid you're still talking through your helmet. Look, come to the point, Limi. All right. That meant your swarm, ironized gas or whatever it was we came through. Well. While we were in it, it completely ruined any kind of internship communication, didn't it? It's not exactly news. Which means that it formed a block to all electromagnetic waves. They must have done. Well, that gas now lies between us and Earth. If no radio wave can penetrate it, then Earth can't receive us. Nor can we receive them. What? Or can we? Oh, of course we can. That cloud cuts us off from home completely. At least until the Earth has moved sufficiently in our orbit to be cleared of it. But how long will that take? Ooh, a rough guess, I'd say two months. You mean we'll be out of touch with control all that time? Looks that way, don't. They'll give us up for lost. The last message we sent them was that we were about to enter the Earth's supposed meteor swarm. Well, gentlemen, this loss of contact with base, while serious enough, needn't be fatal. They won't give up trying to contact us for weeks, months, in fact. And we should be talking to them again long before we reach Mars. Meanwhile, let's keep going. We'll have a lot more work to do now we're on our own, particularly in the navigational field, but we'll get by. Then we'd better start right away. The first thing is to work out the necessary increase in speed, to make up for the time we last taking evasive actions. Yes, Mitch. Get back to radar, will you, doctor? Let me call up the fleet. Have them take bearings on the sun, the Earth, and Mars, and report their findings as soon as possible. Yes, mate. Mitch, you and I better get to work on the navigational tables. Yeah. Well, it started all of you. As soon as we worked out our position and velocity, we can eat. And about time at all, I'm famished. [Music] And so now two ships had gone, together with their crews and cargo. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet sped on its way. By now, Mitch and Jet had checked our course and position and found it to be correct. We could expect to arrive above the surface of the red planet at the appointed time. Always supposing, of course, that some other mishap didn't delay us. By now, the sun was only about four-fifths of the size it appears from Earth, but because of the clear viewing conditions out in space, was a much more beautiful object. It hung in the sky, a great gleaming blue-white disc, surrounded by its corona. As for the Earth, which later one side of the sun, it appeared bluish in color, with reddish-green patches indicating the land masses, and the whole being covered with irregular white cloud formations. And at both poles were the incredibly bright ice caps. To the naked eye, the Earth's moon system looked like a huge double star, which grew and shrank as the moon encircled its parent Earth. But the most interesting and remarkable object in the whole heavens was Mars. As we observed through the small navigational telescope, it already appeared much larger than we'd ever seen it. Deep pink in color, the darker portions of its surface showing up sharply in olive green. Even at this distance, we could detect a few cloud masses floating in its atmosphere. And the dark thin lines of the canale were certainly no optical illusion. But whether they were dry or filled with water, as many people down on Earth believed, it was impossible to say. So we coasted on for another month. We had covered nearly 119 million miles since taking off from the moon. No contact with Earth had yet been made, nor could we hope to establish it for at least another two weeks. Life and our ship had settled down to routine. Two men on watch, one sleeping, and the fourth off duty, but standing by, should he be needed. Hello, Doc. You're still right in that book? Hello, Lenny. Thought you were asleep. I woke up an hour ago. I haven't been able to sleep a week since. Must be the weird conditions we live under. I seem to get along more right without the sleep I needed back on Earth. No, it's the same with all of us, Lenny. Even Mitch never sleeps some more than four hours at a time. How about a game? A Cheshami? Yes, Doc. I'll beat you just once before we get back home. I made up my mind to it. You'd better learn the game first, Lenny. But isn't that what I've been doing these last two weeks? Instead of the board, I'll give you a rook and knight. Oh, that's very generous of your Doc. I'll do it the same for you, won't I? Which hand? Left. White. It would be. That gives you the advantage. Hardly makes up for the loss of two pieces. Oh, I'd only go miss them all that much. Oh, that, we'll see. It's a good thing that this is a metal board and that these men have all been fitted with magnetized boots. Or they'd go shoot in all over the cabin every time we touched them. You say that at the beginning of every game, Lenny. Oh, do I? Well, you start, Doc. Hi, Oi. The usual crafty move. A very common one. Shouldn't present any problem. Oh, it doesn't. It's the ones that follow to worry me. Now, I'll put this little fella there. And most unorthodox opening, Lenny. Foxy, hi. And there's my answer to it. Ah, then see what you make of, uh, that. Check, hi? Well, isn't it? Ah, wait a minute. Doc, good. Doc, Sonic, must have gone wrong with my plan of attack. Hello, Space Fleet, control call. I mean, what I should have done, Lenny. The radio. Control calling flagship discovery. The radio, it's controlled. Yeah. Trying to contact you. Come in, please. Lenny, Doc, did you hear that? It's controlled. Of course, we heard it. Let's get over to the radio. Quick. Hello, control. Morgan calling. Hearing you loud and clear. Repeat. Loud and clear. Over. Well, there's a turn up for the book. I didn't expect to hear that. Be beautiful, Australian accent, for another two weeks, at least. Beautiful, it calls it. Lenny, any accent from control would sound beautiful at this moment. Even yours. What do you mean by that? I don't know. Any discovery, control calling. Have page and message for you. When can you take it? Any time you like. Switch on the recorder, Lenny. Recorder on. Control to discovery. Message will be transmitted in one minute. Stand by, please. Standing by. Yeah, wait a minute. Oh, what's up, Lenny? He answered you pretty smart, didn't he? How do you mean? Well, the last time we had a message from Earth was a month ago. The time lag between calls then was 10 seconds. Well, but now the lag should be at least 20 seconds. But I'd also come back this time in five. Are you sure? Of course, I'm sure. The times I've spoken to Earth I reckon I should notice a thing like that, shouldn't I? But if you're right, Lenny. If the delay was that short, that would put the Earth about a quarter of the distance from us that it should be. Oh, that's impossible. Lenny must have made a mistake. We can soon see. Get them to call you again, yet. I like flagship. Are you ready to take the message? Sorry, control. Didn't hear you. Will you repeat that? One second. Two. Three. Four. Control to flagship. Repeat. Are you ready to take the message? M is right. It was five seconds. Sorry, control. Cannot take message at this moment. We'll call you again in a few minutes. You know, what on Earth is going on? The ship must have turned itself round. We're going back home. Oh, turn it up, Lenny. We're heading from Mars. Correct, cross, correct position. Just as we should be. Then how can you account for that message? There's only one explanation. That can't be controlled. What? Then who is it? Search me. I'm no clear voice. I'm just a radio operator. If it's not controlled. It sounds like them. They... Well, they must be fairly close to us. Somewhere within the region of half a million miles. And that's why they sound so strong and clear. We never receive Earth at that strength. Then who can it be? Oh, look, it must be controlled. A short delay must be due to some freakish way. The wave travels or something like that. Oh, you shall loaf. Mitch, do me a favor. How could that be? Lots of things can block a radio wave. But nothing can change its speed. Call them up, Jeff. Let's take the message at least. Yes, Doc, we can argue about it afterwards. Switch it on, Lenny. Transmit or on. Hello, control. Morgan calling. Now ready to receive your message. Go ahead, please. One, two, three, four. Control to flagship. There. You see? Five seconds again. Here is your message. Urgent. Control to flagship discovery. You've been listening to episode five of Journey into Space. With Andrew Folds as Jet Morgan, David Cossoff as Lenny, Guy Kingsley Pointer as Doc, Bruce BB as Mitch, and with David Jacobs and Anthony Marriott. The orchestra was conducted by Van Phillips, who also composed the music. Journey into Space is written by Charles Chilton and produced by him in the London studios of the BBC. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] (gentle music)
Captain Jet Morgan and his crew aboard Discovery blast off for their epic mission to Mars, in Charles Chilton’s 1954 classic, We continue this week with episode 5!
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