they should die on Alpha... ...where Koenig and staff watch the approaching Hawks from an undamaged Main Mission. They are at the moment before Koenig gave the order to fire. When events seem doomed to follow the same cycle of destruction, Helena enters and she and Koenig lock eyes. Struck by a sudden flash of insight, he commands Carter to stand down...after which the Hawks literally vanish from existence. When Bergman wonders if this is a sign they will be permitted to land on the planet, the aliens reply with a resounding negative. The entire sequence of events has been an illusion, played out in an instant of time to show them the consequences of contact with this civilisation. As demonstrated, humanity's mere presence would destroy this perfect world. To keep them away, the aliens' only defence was to make the Alphans' worst fears appear real—the Hawks, the dreadnought, the planetary force-barrier. As each diversionary measure failed, another was created from the fear dominating their minds. The aliens hope they will voluntarily choose to stay away. Feeling like chastised children, the staff looks to Koenig and Helena as they try to make sense of the experience. Helena can only recall the lingering memory, both strange and beautiful, of a world without fear... Cast Starring Martin Landau — Commander John Koenig Barbara Bain — Doctor Helena Russell Also Starring Barry Morse — Professor Victor Bergman Guest Artist Isla Blair — Female Alien Guest Star Anthony Valentine — Male Alien Featuring Prentis Hancock — Controller Paul Morrow Clifton Jones — David Kano Zienia Merton — Sandra Benes Anton Phillips — Doctor Bob Mathias Nick Tate — Captain Alan Carter Uncredited Artists Suzanne Roquette — Tanya James Fagan — Astronaut Pete Johnson Sarah Bullen — Kate Robert Atiko — Alphan Operative Paul Weston — Alphan Man One (Explosive Decompression Victim) Colin Skeaping — Alphan Man Two (Explosive Decompression Victim) Music In addition to the regular Barry Gray score (drawn primarily from "Breakaway" and "Another Time, Another Place"), Mike Hankinson's composition 'The Astronauts' is used during the dogfight sequence as well as the Alpha attack scenes. Production Notes Originally proposed in George Bellak's list of potential stories, "War Games" was penned by story consultant Christopher Penfold. Along with "Black Sun" and "Collision Course", it is considered to be one of the programme's most successful installments by actors, production staff and fans alike, exemplifying Space: