“Catacombs of the Moon” is episode thirteen of season two of Space: 1999.
Charges are being planted in the catacombs under Alpha as they’re searching for tiranium. Two of the people are concerned that too many charges have been planted and the roof will collapse. Given the tunnels are pressurised, a justified worry. The chief engineer is not so bothered and goes himself. It seems he hasn’t been himself as his wife is dying. The charges explode and he’s sent flying, seeing a vision of his wife in a flame-ringed bed.
Dr Russell’s status report says that the wife, Michelle Osgood, needs a new heart. Tiranium, as well as its medical uses, is used in their life support, and priority has been given to finding it, with Chief Engineer Patrick Osgood in charge. He’s had recurring visions of Alpha being destroyed by fire.
The other two find Osgood and help him. Still no tiranium.
In medical. Dr Russell is telling Michelle that they’re testing a new heart when Osgood returns. He wants to see his wife alone, waving off the doctor as she tries to look at the cut he got during the explosion. Osgood tells his wife that he has seen the future. Alpha will be destroyed and only they will be saved. If they have faith.
Waves of heat with no identifiable source pummelling Alpha and Commander Koenig is taking Eagle 1 to investigate. In the command centre, Sandra reports its hot and getting hotter. Tony wants to know where the heat is coming from. Sandra reminds him that’s why the commander is in space. Tony apologies and asks where Maya is. In life support, trying to squeeze more from the air conditioning.
Dr Russell and Dr Vincent are working on an artificial heart. They have the specs, but lack the tiranium. This is the tenth attempt and Ben is sceptical. Osgood arrives and makes Ben look like an optimist. He has faith in something else. The test fails and Osgood starts ranting about blasphemy and medical quackery, with only true faith being able to outface death. Once he’s gone. Ben asks Dr Russell if she thinks Osgood is off balance. Until his visions started coming true, yes.
Osgood has gone to see his sedated wife. He has a plan to save her.
The commander is talking to Sandra, Tiny and Dr Russell. Sandra has nothing new and Tony wants to evacuate the surface if things get critical before Koenig returns. Koenig tells Tony he’s in command. Dr Russell wants some tiranium, but the commander can’t release any in their current situation.
Tony is having some explosives – that have been stored rather lackadaisical – sensitive to heat shifted to a lower level when Osgood arrives. Osgood has decided he is his wife’s salvation. Only faith can give life and beat death. At least Tony will die like the rest of Alpha, not flee like the commander. Tony says the commander hasn’t fled; he’s on long range recon. Osgood wants to take his wife away to save her. Tony wants him to go see Dr Russell. A fight breaks out as Osgood grabs Tony’s gun and Maya, who is passing, changes and disarms him. Osgood runs off.
Osgood is injured and in another explosives room. Tiny goes to see Michelle and reassures her, speaking to Dr Russell afterwards. She’s trying another attempt on an artificial heart that used an alloy before tiranium was used. It worked. Sometimes. Briefly. Tony tells her about Osgood, then wonders what Osgood was doing in the explosives room anyway and posts security on the others.
Osgood is found, but he’d already done what he planned with the explosives. He says the catacombs will be safe. Visionary prophet, deranged individual, or a combination of both? Whichever, if he survives, he probably shouldn’t be in a position of power again. Commander Koenig is trying to find the source of the heat and Alpha is on the verge of going up in flames.