[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Episode 3

Cygnus Alpha

By Terry Nation



On the alien vessel, Blake, Avon and Jenna discover its highly advanced computer - Zen. Using Jenna's thoughts Zen names the ship Liberator. Unbelievably for Blake they discover a teleport system which the Federation had been working on without any success, Blake volunteers to be the guinea pig as they test the system out with huge success.

The Liberator has caught up with the penal ship London which has left its prisoners on Cygnus Alpha. Vila and Gan find themselves at the mercy of a sinister cult. Back on board the Liberator much to their pleasure Jenna discovers the ship has a huge wardrobe and Avon delightfully declares the vault has as much wealth as the Federation banking system.

After a bloody battle with the cult members Blake only rescues Gan and Vila from Cygnus Alpha, the rest of the prisoners were unfortunately killed in the fighting. All safely back on the Liberator Zen alerts the crew that Federation pursuit ships are on the ships detectors, Blake tells Zen to lose them for now as "when we can handle this ship properly, we'll stop running. Then we'l fight"

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Cygnus Alpha is a planet straight out of a Hammer film. Cloaked figures lurk in the shadows of dark temples. The monastery is a place of candle lit alcoves and used for ritualistic sacrifice. Brian Blessed plays the High Priest and Pamela Salem the Priestess.

This was the first episode to really introduce Olag Gan and give him a meaty speaking role rather than just hired muscle from the previous episode. Avon shows his real side of deviousness when he finds the ships vaults and suggests ti Jenna they leave Blake on Cygnus Alpha as he would waste the money on his futile war with the Federation.