"War Games" is the seventeenth episode of the first series of Space: 1999. The screenplay was written by Christopher Penfold; the director was Charles Crichton. The final shooting script is dated 15 October 1974. Live-action filming took place Thursday 24 October 1974 through Thursday 7 November 1974. Story The Moon is travelling through a binary star system, where sensors detect a habitable planet supporting an advanced civilisation. For days, introductory hails go unanswered. As the mood on Alpha grows apprehensive, tracking radar picks up three objects speeding toward the Moon without advance warning from long-range scan. The staff is stunned when the craft are seen to be Mark IX Hawks—space fighter-ships developed on Earth. With recognisable war machines approaching from an unresponsive planet, John Koenig deploys Combat Flight One. Led by Alan Carter, three armed Eagles lift off to intercept. Moonbase Alpha mobilises for battle: Combat Flight Two is put on stand-by, defence screens are activated, and rescue and emergency medical units prepare for action. In space, the Hawk squadron easily evades the defending Eagles. Flight One gives chase, but the Hawks' top velocity is twice that of the Eagles. Koenig is reluctant to fire pre-emptively, hoping his fear of an attack proves to be wrong. The interlopers continue to close on Alpha; just before they can move out of the Eagles' weapons range, he gives the order to fire. The Hawk squadron is destroyed. After Carter expresses concern that his victory was too easy, a second Hawk squadron is detected approaching from the opposite direction. Koenig orders Flight Two into action. Eagle Four has barely cleared Alpha when it is struck; debris from the explosion smashes into the Main Mission building, bringing the ceiling down on the staff. Eagle Five is two metres off the deck when struck. Eagle Six is still rising on its lift as a Hawk destroys the launch pad. An adjacent building is hit and the occupants of its breached compartments are swept out into space. The Hawk squadron regroups, giving Eagles One, Two and Three time to intercept. The dogfight is short and brutal. Carter is the only member of Flight One to escape destruction. His ship damaged by flying debris, he powers down and plays dead. The surviving Hawk descends on Moonbase. Emergency bulkhead doors seal off all sections as non-essential personnel are sent to the underground shelters. Koenig and a skeleton crew