Message From Moonbase Alpha

Static rolls across the screen
as a familiar voice tries to
make itself heard. The image
slowly stabilizes to reveal...
Sandra Benes. But this is not
the Sandra we recall, this is
a more mature, weary Sandra.
She is addressing her message

to the people of planet Earth,
an Earth which may or may not
remember the people of Alpha,
or the tragedy that sent them
hurtling through the vastness of
space on a runaway Moon
almost twenty years ago. She
tells of Alpha's life support

systems showing increased signs
of decay, with failure inevitable.
The Moon has been pulled into
a solar system with a single
habitable planet. With only six
days before Alpha passes out
of reach, the painful decision
was made to abandon Alpha

to attempt colonization of the
planet. Operation Exodus is
almost complete. One eagle
waits for Sandra as she records
her message. John Koenig and
the rest of the Alphans have
already begun their new life
on the mysterious Terra Alpha.

It has been calculated that the
Moon's current trajectory may
cause it to slingshot back within
range of Terra Alpha twenty-
five years from now, but that is
not certain, nor could it be
factored into the final decision
to colonize the planet.

Sandra is certain of one thing.
"Moonbase Alpha is no more."
Although Alpha has now been
abandoned, it will always be
remembered as their refuge
in an unpredictable, and often
dangerous universe. It was their
home, bearing witness to

times of great happiness and
great sadness. Sandra explains
that her reason for making this
recording is to tell, those aware
of the Alphans, what became
of them, and those who were
not, that they did, in fact,
exist. To let them know that

they, as human beings, have
made an impact on the universe,
and that their journey was not
without purpose. She tells
us that Professor Bergman,
Paul, Michael, Luke and Anna,
will not be forgotten, and
that hopes of reunion with

Alpha will not fade. She closes
saying goodbye to the people
of Earth, and asking one thing
of those who receive her message.
"Remember us." Computer
encodes the transmission using
a device created by Maya, in
hopes that it will help the

signal to navigate the
complexities of time and space
to reach it's desired destination
on Earth. As the message is
encoded, one can't help but
notice the converted signal looking,
and sounding eerily familiar.

Screenplay....................................................................Johnny Byrne

Producer/Director............................................................Tim Mallett

Starring

Sandra Benes.............................................................Zienia Merton

Cast and Crew

Music..............................................................................Barry Gray

Post Production....................................................Kindred Productions

Director of Photgraphy...................................................Glenn Pearce

Sound Recordist......................................................Andrew Frampton

Makeup................................................................David McLaughlin

Set......................................................Kit Bevan & David McLaughlin

Production Team................................Maxine Cook and Nick Williams

When I first heard about Message from Moonbase Alpha, it was immediately after the Breakaway convention in Los Angeles, California. Not only did this reaffirm how upset I was that I was unable to attend, but it sparked my curiosity about this "fan film made as a gift to other fans". The phrase I heard most, from people who had been there, to describe seeing it at the convention was "not a dry eye in the house". After cursing myself for missing this once in a lifetime opportunity, I decided that nothing would keep me from the next convention. As luck would have it, lightning struck a second time. The short film that was only supposed to played the once (or so I understood) was going to be played for the attendees of Main Mission: 2000! I was thrilled to see Zienia Merton reprise her role as Sandra Benes, reading a script penned by Johnny Byrne. For a "fan film" this had awfully good "pedigree". I thought they did a great job of leaving the future open for a potential continuation of the series, should anyone choose to make use of it, and also tied it back to Breakaway in a clever and unexpected way. While there were likely a few more dry eyes "in the house" that day, we didn't have the benefit of it being the surprise finish to an emotionally charged weekend, as it was at Breakaway.
As for me... my eyes were more than a little moist.

I am pleased to know that this precious gift of a film did not disappear into the mists of time and memory. With the hard work of Scott Bosco, and many fans contacting A&E, this film has been made available to many fans, in it's entirety, on (Region 1) DVD. TF1 in France (Region 2) released it sans the musical score as they could not attain rights to the music in time for its release. For those fans around the world unable to see this wonderful film, I have uploaded a video clip of it to the video page in the Media Centre.

Replies to comments made here are always welcome. You can contact me by using the commlock in the Communication Centre.

	"This is Moonbase Alpha calling Earth..."
	Sandra explains how the Alphans come to leave Alpha
	"...Alpha is no more."
	Sandra tells us why she is making her recording.
	Sandra says goodbye and transmits her message.
	Background sound.