Koenig and Alan are exploring a jewel-like asteroid which has wandered into Alpha's vicinity. In a cavern that looks like a hall of mirrors, Koenig is duplicated by an unknown alien force. The duplicate overpowers the real Koenig, steals his jacket and commlock, and returns to Alpha in his place.
He orders an energy beam be directed at the asteroid. The others, particularly Helena, think he has gone mad. The beam will use up Alpha's remaining power. She also notices he has become cold to the touch...
Suspecting something, Maya and Tony flee the Moon in an Eagle. The fake Koenig orders that it be shot down...
One of the best episodes from 'Star Trek' was 'The Enemy Within' in which an evil Captain Kirk was created as the result of a transporter malfunction. Here 'Space: 1999' ( ahem ) pays homage, with Commander Koenig undergoing a similar division of personality. Alas, Martin Landau isn't given much of an opportunity to make the 'bad' Koenig particularly interesting. Its a one-note performance.
At the heart of the asteroid is the seed of an alien race known as 'the Kalthon', which the fake Koenig wants revived at all costs. Its never explained what the Kalthon intend doing once they regain corporeal existence. They can't live on the asteroid, and Alpha will have been destroyed as a result of the energy drain. Unless there's an underground hangar full of spaceships we haven't been told about, their chances of survival look very slim. That was the trouble with many of the Fred Freiburger produced '1999' episodes, an idea would be created, but never properly developed or explored.
There are other disappointments too; no big name guest stars, and none of the spectacular S.F.X. we expect from this show. Even the cave looks like the hall of mirrors at Coney Beach Fun-Fair, Porthcawl, Wales. One of the weaker Year 2 stories.
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