Guardian of Piri
| "Guardian of Piri" | |
|---|---|
| Space 1999 episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 8 |
| Directed by | Charles Crichton |
| Written by | Christopher Penfold |
| Episode chronology | |
"Guardian of Piri" is the eighth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold.
The moon is in range of a planet but Computer has not offered any prediction as to whether it would support life. Kano informs Koenig that it has been scanning the planet continuously since they became aware the planet existed but still has insufficient data to make a prediction.
Koenig does not understand how Computer can remotely control a reconnaissance flight to the surface yet at the same time not determine whether that surface could sustain life. Kano replies that the Computer would not be so irrational as to guess.
Meanwhile the reconnaissance Eagle, piloted by Peter Irving and Ed Davis, is moving into a low orbit for final descent, two hours ahead of schedule. They are making good time - either that or Computer made a mistake.
Carter thinks the Eagle is too low and is descending too rapidly but Kano counters that they are doing just fine by Computer. Irving reports that they are on course and holding and that everything is fine, but Carter observes that they are too close and too fast.
Irving playfully flies the Eagle in circles above the surface and jokes with Carter that he must be jealous. As he continues to fly in circles and laughs, all transmissions from the Eagle suddenly cease and they disappear from scanners.
During a staff meeting Carter is frustrated over the loss of the pilots and demands to know why Computer fouled up on normal flying data - time, distance, orbital velocity, rate of descent. Kano insists that Computer does not make mistakes; it cannot assess the planet unless it is fed the right information.
What bothers Commander Koenig is why Irving and Davis had no sense of danger. Carter insists it is because they believed what Computer told them, which is why Koenig wants Carter to return to the planet and fly on manual all the way and not to rely on Computer at all.
After Carter leaves, Bergman explains to the remaining staff that the curve of their course is tightening - they are closer than they expected. That could be either good or bad - if the planet can sustain them then they have more time to explore and make up their mind about settling there; however, if it's affecting them badly then the closer they get the worse it will be.
Suddenly Koenig notices that Bergman is not feeling well. Bergman says he'll be alright and then promptly collapses. Dr. Russell examines him - she finds him “unconscious, rapid heartbeat,” yet according to his monitor he is fine.
After Dr. Russell has examined Professor Bergman in Med Lab she discovers that the amounts of oxygen in their atmosphere has been slowly decreasing. Bergman's mechanical heart did not make a natural adjustment the way an organic heart would, hence his collapse. Koenig concludes that they can't even rely on Computer for normal internal services. He orders Sandra Benes to put Alpha atmosphere control on manual and to keep her eye glued to it.
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