Signals coming from Mars have scientists puzzled, and Spectrum Captains Black and Scarlet are sent to investigate. The two captains are sceptical about the source of the radio emissions, but whilst exploring the surface of the red planet, they discover a city that appears from nowhere before their eyes.  The instruments in their vehicle detect a power surge, and Black opens fire on the city, believing that they are under attack. Just one rocket sets off a chain reaction that destroys the whole city. Scarlet realises that the surge could very well have been a scan of some sort, but Black defends his actions.  As Scarlet muses over his partner's actions, the Martian city reappears  once more, intact. Black flees the scene, but the aliens pursue, manifesting their presence as two luminous green rings, crossing the Martian landscape. Black crashes the vehicle, and the aliens catch up.


As Scarlet and Black regain their senses, an eerie voice fills the vehicle.
"EARTHMEN, THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE MYSTERONS. WE HAVE WATCHED YOU FOR CENTURIES. YOUR VIOLENCE DISGUSTS US, AND NOW YOU VISIT IT UPON US. YOU CANNOT DESTROY US, EARTHMEN, BUT NOW WE WILL CRUSH YOUR WORLD."
The cockpit fills with green light.

 On Earth, Captain Black's girlfriend, Destiny Angel, returns to Skybase with the Angel pack. She is greeted by a solemn Captain Blue, who breaks the news that Spectrum have lost contact with the Mars Expedition.

Captain Scarlet regains consciousness some time after the Mysteron attack, but Captain Black is dead. He is buried upon return to Earth, in the graveyard of St. Saviour's Church.

After the funeral, Colonel White reports that the signals from Mars have stopped and the Mysteron city has disappeared again.

  That night, the Mysterons appear whilst Captain Scarlet is sleeping. The green rings seen on Mars sweep across him. The Voice of the Mysterons speaks:
WE WILL CRUSH YOUR WORLD, EARTHMEN. WE WILL DESTROY YOU AS YOU DESTROY YOUR OWN KIND. YOU WILL BE OUR INSTRUMENT OF DESTRUCTION, CAPTAIN SCARLET.
Scarlet sits up. His eyes glow bright green as he opens them.

 Scarlet makes his way to Engineering on Skybase and  disables the door controls before advancing towards the control console. The engineer on duty manages to raise the alarm before Scarlet knocks him out and shuts down the engines. Lieutenant Green tries in vain to contact Engineering whilst Blue calls up the security footage and discovers that Scarlet is behind the failures. Blue breaks into Engineering through an emergency hatch and shoots Scarlet. Scarlet falls into bowels of the engine room, through a matter stream. Quickly, Blue restarts the engines before turning sadly to the broken body of his friend.

 Scarlet is rushed to Sickbay, where the doctors do all they can, but he dies on the table. Destiny Angel asks for a few minutes alone, and she watches in amazement as Scarlet's injuries miraculously heal and he revives!



Scarlet is interrogated, but can only answer that the Mysterons were in control of his body. Dr. Gold comes to his rescue, and reveals that Scarlet has been altered at the sub-atomic level by the Mysterons, and now possesses the ability of retrometabolism - the ability to heal from almost any injury, leaving him virtually indestructible.

The Mysterons, thwarted by Scarlet's failure, quickly realise that they have a second person they can use as their Instrument of Destruction, and turn their powers to the grave of Captain Black:
CAPTAIN SCARLET HAS FAILED US, BUT THE MYSTERONS WILL NOT FAIL. WE HAVE ANOTHER INSTRUMENT OF DESTRUCTION.

In the brig on Skybase, Scarlet knows that Black has been resurrected, and takes advantage of a visit from Captain Blue to escape his cell. After a scuffle, Scarlet manages to lock Blue in the cell, behind a force field. Scarlet reveals his knowledge to his friend, then makes his way to the flight deck. Before he can escape in a Falcon Interceptor, Blue tracks him down. They fight again, and Blue manages to corner Scarlet with the aid of two security guards. However, Scarlet has backed up against an airlock, and he skydives from Skybase before anyone can stop him.

Captain Blue pursues Scarlet on a Raid bike. Scarlet lands first and requisitions a Cheetah. Scarlet makes good use of his head-start and the Cheetah's ability to fly over obstacles to elude Blue when a tractor crosses their path. Scarlet gets away, but Blue notices a sign for a familiar place, and knows exactly where Scarlet has gone.

Blue catches up with Scarlet in the graveyard of St. Saviour's Church, and they examine Captain Black's empty grave.

Captain Black kidnaps a wealthy businessman Hank McGill and kills the man by locking him inside his limo and crushing it. The Mysterons recreate McGill using their mysterious powers.

TO BE CONTINUED

Quotable Scarlet
Scarlet: "You know, Conrad, just because Spectrum designated you 'Black', it doesn't mean you have to be negative all the time."
Black: "I know, but are the odds the coffee's cold? You want some anyway?"

McGill: "Hey, what is this? This isn't my way home, you idiot."
Black: "This is a short cut. I'm cutting short your life."



Did you spot...?
During the Cheetah/Raid bike chase, the sign that Blue blows up is for "Anderson Orchard".
When Blue loses Scarlet, he stops next to a signpost. The road Blue and Scarlet drove down is the way to "Pinewood".
The Daily News, the paper being read by McGill, is dated Saturday 17th August, 2068. I assume this is a misprint - either Friday 17th or Saturday 18th.
When Scarlet and Blue are fighting in the Brig, there's a quick shot of Blue and his hair is black (spotted by Serena Lewis)
When the Colonel asks Green if there's any word from Mars, and she answers, his shoulder pips disappear. (spotted by Serena Lewis)


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