“Conflict” is episode four of season one of UFO.
A ship in Earth orbit destroys some space junk, Vostok 2, but doesn’t destroy Apollo 8. There’s something hiding behind it.
Straker arrives at the International Astrophysical Commission. Its head has heard about his total clearance programme and intends to fight him on the issue.
Freeman is on MoonBase and saying that Straker wants space junk cleared. He’s asked if the Astrophysical Commission takes care of that. According to Freeman, Straker thinks that the space junk is being used by aliens to crack their defences. The problem is Henderson.
Henderson has many reasons not to do the clear up. Straker says they could do it in weeks. The Commission has just cleared navigational hazards and Henderson complains about the cost. Straker wants all the junk cleared but Henderson isn’t interested.
Straker contacts Freeman on MoonBase; he wants the report Freeman is working on and doesn’t care what shape it is in.
Lunar Module 32 has been cleared to take-off from MoonBase. As it passes Apollo 8, the device moves and attaches to 32. It alters 32’s angle of re-entry and makes it too steep. The device detaches before 32 explodes.
Straker has gone back to see Henderson. He wants another 48 hours. Henderson says he can’t hold up the Commission, but Straker could withdraw his report. Henderson thinks Straker is looking for an alibi for the pilot who killed himself and the other crewman. Henderson wants all lunar flights suspended until the Commission investigates the incident. Henderson wants to prove that Straker’s organisation is an expensive and unworkable luxury in its current form.
Straker cancels all lunar flights. MoonBase is informed. The pilot of 32 is being blamed for the crash, but Foster doesn’t believe this is the case and tries to prove it. Henderson doesn’t seem willing to listen to anything, as he’s sure he’s right. However, Straker is just as sure he is and tries to prove it.