surrounding lights and colours could be the alien language, but Koenig reminds her of the voice contact. A humanoid male with an enlarged cranium materialises inside a transparent column. Both face and voice are emotionless as he tells the Earthmen to state their case. Koenig accuses the alien of ignoring their peaceful hails, launching an unprovoked attack, and leaving them without the means to live. The alien's response is simple: they have no place in space. Humankind is nothing more than a contaminating organism, a plague of fear. A female alien appears, stating their presence on this world would destroy a billions-year-old civilisation. Koenig refuses to accept their verdict of extinction. He tells them how, against insurmountable odds, they have survived the rigours of space since leaving Earth orbit. Whether by the strength of the human spirit or the grace of a higher power, they will endure. Unmoved by his proclamation, the aliens go silent. Desperate, Koenig employs a different method of persuasion: he begins to vandalise the fragile artefacts around him. The two aliens are suddenly standing outside their columns, wielding heavy-duty Earth-style laser rifles. Koenig is caught in a cross-fire and falls to the floor, dead. A weeping Helena cradles his burned body. The aliens move toward her and she draws her stun-gun; the female informs her that any force she uses will be turned against herself. One instant, she is backed into a corner; the next, she is clad in the same robes as the aliens and seated in one of their column-habitats...completely at peace. As if reading her thoughts, the male informs Helena this world has evolved beyond fear. Regarding Koenig, the female states it was fear that killed him. She offers Helena the opportunity to share their power and bring substance to her desire that he live. The doctor concentrates, and Koenig stands alive and unmarked. He moves to free her, but is repelled by an energy field. Helpless, Koenig returns to the Eagle and takes off. Contacting Alpha, he tells Bergman they can live on this planet—but will have to fight for a foothold. He orders the last laser-equipped Eagle launched to rendezvous with him in space. Upon docking, Koenig changes places with the co-pilot. Johnson flies the reconnaissance Eagle back to the Moon while Koenig and Carter set course for the planet. During this, the evacuation is completed. Bergman is among the last