New Year's Eve 2049, and the Ilea is buzzing: students partying, and bursar Rosie playing mother hen to the newcomers, while work continues on the Daedalus in preparation for its voyage to Parkinson's Star.

Fears that Victoria has a space virus prove unfounded, fortunately. Finbow's insistence that there's an anomaly across the route to Parkinson's Star is dismissed by Prof Brelan. 14 year old Timothy gets his final warning for hacking.

Finbow's obsession with the anomaly only he can see leads Eliot to request his removal from the Ilea, while Herlinde regrets leading him on. Mercedes' arrival causes friction.

Finbow asks physicist Chantal to examine the anomaly data: she agrees there is cause for concern. Mercedes and Rosie are at loggerheads over Cats. And why is Victoria so desperate to leave the Ilea?

Finbow's anomaly, now proven to be real and dangerous, is approaching the Ilea at great speed. Eliot orders the ship moved to a higher orbit, but can the approaching shuttle alter course in time to avoid a collision?

The Ilea is engulfed by the anomaly and apparently moving with it, and with Petra offline the ship is also effectively blind and deaf. Cats volunteers to take out a centaur scout ship to see where they are.

With the Ilea still enveloped by the anomaly, rumours of aliens and space serpents run rampant, not helped by the finding of a stranger in the airlock. Is he a survivor from the shuttle, or something more sinister?

Tension and frayed tempers do not help Eliot decide whether to risk escaping the anomaly and establishing the Ilea's current location. Newcomer Alex looks likely to be a disruptive influence.

With the Ilea's propulsion systems still down, and Alex trying to find the problem, they aren't going anywhere. Jean-François and Victoria examine the alarming, apparently-alien dust shrouding the ship.

The midwinter ball helps take everyone's minds off the danger. With Alex refusing to go outside to fix the computer because of the risk of radiation, Finbow volunteers, despite knowing it will kill him. But someone else goes instead.

Alex reluctantly goes EVA to fix what James couldn't. With everyone strapped down in their quarters, an attempt to move Ilea detaches a store module: to re-balance the ship Petra starts a countdown to jettison the girls' living module.

Although everyone is safe, Ilea only has 5 months worth of supplies left and Eliot doesn't dare trying to move the ship again. Opinions of Alex are changing. Chantal wonders if there's an intelligence controlling the anomaly.

Melody overhears Finbow and James in the dome: with the carbon dioxide filtering out and the oxygen processor damaged the atmosphere will only be breathable for another 4 weeks at most.

Jean-François retrieves Melody from the dome. Rosie and Piers discover Alex and Tim have stolen rations, but can't yet prove it. Alex tries to talk Mercedes into helping him steal the command shuttle and escape the Ilea.

Alex' plans are foiled. Chantal believes she has discovered what the anomaly is - and more importantly, how to get back to their correct location.

With Eliot refusing outright to take any action, Finbow takes control of the Ilea. The data seems to show that Chantal is correct and the ship is in the tail of a comet, but the plan to break free depends on Petra operating correctly.

With Petra still behaving erratically, and the escape window just hours away, Fiona and Tim may be the Ilea's last hope.

With more onboard systems malfunctioning, the best - and the worst - of those on the Ilea are revealed as tensions rise. Can Tim get Petra operational in time for the launch window?

Piers is forced to operate the old-fashioned way on Victoria's perforated appendix. Embittered and obstructive, Eliot refuses to take back his post. Action taken to escape the cloud, all they can do is wait to see if it's been successful.

With Ilea now safely out of the comet's tail and set for home, Eliot resumes his post and promptly arrests Finbow for mutiny, to everyone's disgust. With the oxygen running low, attempts to contact Space City for assistance fail.

Alex gets possessive. Rosie organises a Valentine's Day party. Cats is on the way from Space City with a replacement carbon dioxide filter. Eliot is still refusing to forgive Finbow.

The storm generated by the comet ripped apart the mining ship Victoria's father was on. Space City is in poor shape, but Cats arrived at the Ilea safely with the carbon dioxide filters.

Eliot relents and works out a way to let Finbow off the hook - which Finbow himself foils. As Finbow pilots the Ilea to Space City for the last time, Eliot holds a service of celebration for their survival.

Professor Brelan, head of the Daedalus Mission, and Harriet Bullock, new Principal of Columbus College, arrive together on the Ilea but with completely opposing goals. Alex threatens to tell the truth.

Alex tries to persuade Mercedes to join him. Eliot learns he's to face a Board of Enquiry for his actions - or lack of them - during the recent crisis.

Herlinde, Sara and Timmy play a prank on Captain Eliot Creasy; new principal Harriet Bullock meets with each student individually; Captain Creasy and Finbow Lewis are finally face to face since Finbow's arrest.

The hearing of the mutiny on the Ilea convenes; Fiona and Timmy search for a replacement for Anna for the international quiz competition.

Hartmann recruits Timmy to help fix the ship's computer; Jean-François begins his new job at Space City; Professor Brelan tries to recruit James for the Ganymede mission.

Brelan, still determined to use Ilea's power source for the Daedalus mission, had Fiona and Tim hunt through Petra's archives: they discover hidden, mysterious data about an ancient Mars mission.

Professor Brelan continues to pressure both Commissioner De Gracy and James; Daniel pursues Melody while she fears for Jean-François; Captain Creasy is acquitted.

Professor Brelan attempts to split the computer Petra, and must turn to Timmy for help; Mercedes questions her desire to take part in the Daedalus Mission.

Alex blackmails Mercedes, forcing her to turn to Brelan; Captain Creasy and Finbow return to their posts; Timmy develops a strange rash.

Timmy's condition worsens; Harriet disciplines the students; Brelan and Rosie confer; Star City scanners discover something unusual.

Brelan has Mercedes and James attempting to find out more about the "Sam files", making Mercedes miss the quiz. Daniel takes her place, but cheats. James is furious that Brelan wants Petra for Daedalus.

Sara is convinced that Daniel cheated on the quiz; Jean-François is banned from the Ilea; Fiona helps crack the "Sam files".

Brelan sets up another scan of Amalthaea; Victoria and Piers have their night out; the Ilea heads toward the Copernicus.

Melody and Sarah, stuck at Space City after missing the last shuttle back for 15 days, seek out the holidaying Rosie. Brelan offers to take some lectures while the Ilea travels to Amalthaea. Tim's condition appears grave.

Rosie provisionally accepts the invitation to go to Himalia as a researcher, to Harriet's dismay. It's still uncertain whether there's anyone alive on the Copernicus. Tim has to go to Mars for treatment.

As Ilea attempts a difficult descent to Amalthaea, avoiding the problems caused by Io's nearness and violent activity, the situation is made worse by defective radiation shielding in the dome, the result of meteor damage.

With Petra refusing to allow the Ilea to dock with the Copernicus, Cats has to take the shuttle over to the ship to check for survivors. Rumours of Mercedes and Brelan's relationship run riot. Confinement does not suit Finbow.

Cats returns, unable to dock with the Copernicus or make contact with anyone inside. Finbow thinks there might be a way to open the hatch from outside. Alex is called to Comcen to hack into the other ship's systems.

Cats goes EVA to break into the Copernicus: it seems one person may still be alive. Alex's hacking into Herlinde's personal details is discovered, and he's ordered onto a ship leaving for Mars.

Alex and Piers EVA to the Copernicus to help Cats retrieve the injured crewman, but can they get him back to the Ilea before the spume from one of Io's more dangerous volcanoes kills everyone? And is he Victoria's father?

While the survivor struggles to recover, Brelan holds a funeral for the crew members of the Copernicus. Herlinde pursues Alex with determination: all he wants is her money. Jean-François asks Harriet for a job.

Despite a setback, it seems that survivor Henry will pull through. Jean-François teaches his first seminar. Herlinde proves herself a selfish brat. To Sarah's relief, only 2 more days until the Ilea returns.

Mercedes tries to warn Herlinde about Alex. Commissioner De Gracy offers the job of Ilea bursar to newcomer Rebecca - possibly a mistake as she doesn't actually know what a bursar is.

Worried about losing his job after his interview with Commissioner de Gracy, Eliot returns to the Ilea to find the heartbroken Finbow determined to leave the service.

De Gracy suggests Eliot start exploring other employment options. Jean-François is jealous of Melody's new fame. Chantal wants to join the Daedalus mission to be with James. Mars refuses to accept Tim: the ship is returning to Space City.

Mars nor Moonbase will take Tim due to his possible virus, leaving him a virtual prisoner on the Ilea. Eliot speaks to the Carena Corp about joining them. Relations are strained between Chantal and Mercedes, and Melody and Jean-François.

Tim sneaks off to Space City to try to talk Brelan into letting him join the Daedalus mission. Stephan, Carena exec and temporary lecturer, gets a nasty surprise on joining the Ilea.

Tim's plight makes the interplanetary news. Still prevented from seeing Alex, Herlinde approaches De Gracy about making a formal complaint. Rebecca proves to be less than scrupulous.

While Piers is at a medical symposium, Rebecca fakes Tim's test results and convinces Brelan to authorise his transport to Mars for medical treatment. But Piers returns early and is not at all happy.

Everyone wants Tim to go to Mars for potentially life-saving treatment: Piers hesitates, torn between anger at Rebecca forging his signature and his wish for Tim to be cured.

After intimating to everyone he may be moving on and up, Eliot learns that his age and drinking habits preclude him from ever being offered a job with Carena. Melody and Jean-François's relationship is under increasing pressure.

Fed up with Rebecca's meddling and flippant attitude, Piers locks her out of Medicom. She recruits Melody, with Tim's distant help, to get her access back, and sets off the security alarms, locking all the access doors.

Stephan shuttles up to the Ilea, deeply suspicious about Tim's blood test. Despite his fears for his job, Piers supports Rebecca and Harriet's united front, saying everything was legitimate.

Vanda, sponsored by Carena, is on the Ilea to paint the Jupiter system. Fed up with mushrooms, Jim and Daniel investigate taking on the catering. Finbow is worried about the appearance of the Santa Maria, purportedly a university ship.

Anna spreads malicious rumours about Jean-François and Victoria. Commissioner de Gracy is suspicious of the Santa Maria crew, who've asked for information about rare metals on Jupiter's moons.

Eliot invites the Santa Maria captain aboard the Ilea: Finbow wrangles a return visit to the other ship. Anna's nastiness seems to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Clueless Melody thinks meddling Sarah has argued with guilt-ridden Victoria and tries to put things right. Finbow is highly suspicious of the Santa Maria's crew, but Eliot, again, dismisses his concerns.

Jean-François and Victoria's guilty relationship intensifies. After the Santa Maria's crew try to intimidate Eliot, it's discovered the real ship is nowhere near Jupiter system.

The criminal ship escapes Space City and heads for Ganymede: de Gracy orders the Ilea to track them. Piers has some very worrying news for Harriet, Rebecca and Melody.

Finbow's obsession with observing and recording everything happening in Jupiter system leads to the discovery that the Santa Maria crew have been strip-mining Leda, a rich source of rare molybdenum, needed for the Daedalus mission.

Everyone's getting tense as the exams grow closer. The Ilea is still heading for Leda. Brelan wants to know if Daniel and Jim can build a laser-guided rail gun.

Jim and Daniel start work on the gun. Ilea is still tracking the Santa Maria. Sarah gets a most distressing call from Bob, the fiancé she left on earth a year ago.

Paul Lockwood arrives to deputise for Harriet while she's in quarantine, and proves to be a much tougher principal. Brelan has some very suspicious packages delivered to the physics lab, currently out of bounds to non-Daedalus personnel.

Ilea will catch up with the Santa Maria in 2 days. Finbow confronts Brelan about the rail gun. Drunk and distraught, Sara blurts out Victoria's secret to Melody.

Victoria is forced to move to another cabin. The rail gun is installed and tested. Daniel and Vanda discover the shocking contents of Brelan's mysterious packages.

Jean-François' birthday party is not exactly a success, the hangovers Daniel's cocktails produce not helping matters. Brelan tries to justify his actions to the crew as the Ilea catches up to the Santa Maria.

Lockwood tries to organise post-exam jollifications. The rail gun's aiming trial is successful on the second attempt. Jean-François tells Melody his decision. Finbow is enjoying a pirate lecture in Comcen when Ilea's optical systems fail.

With all optical systems knocked out by the laser blast from the Santa Maria, Brelan and Lockwood have to go EVA to realign the backup telescopes, just in time to see the pirates heading for rendezvous with the molybdenum-carrying shuttle.

Tensions run high at the post-exam party. First shots are exchanged between Ilea and the Santa Maria as the shuttle approaches the pirate ship.

The Ilea's attack does not cause the Santa Maria much damage, but it certainly get the message across. Eliot invites Armado over to talk.

Daniel takes bets on who might have accomplished what in their exams. Armado tries to bribe Eliot, makes a deal with Brelan, then passively-aggressively attacks the Ilea.

The blast from the escaping pirate ship damages the Ilea and injures a lot of people: pursuit is impossible, and the Daedalus mission is now in jeopardy. Amidst all the chaos Brelan proposes marriage.

As the Ilea limps back to Callisto with no communications and damaged engines, and Eliot incapacitated, Finbow is in command, and with the hub engine losing power, orders an emergency evacuation drill.

Daniel and Jim, with a little help from Vanda, devise a way to temporarily restore communication with Space City, and a rescue mission is mounted.

Brelan desperately searches for another source of molybdenum, Jim and Daniel wait anxiously for the exam results, Victoria and Jean-François settle happily into his new staff cabin, and Anna startles everyone with her grades.

Ruthless journalist Sabine interviews an evasive Brelan about the Daedalus Mission - then collars a hapless Finbow at Space City, deviously grilling him about the Santa Maria. Anna's exam results could mean disaster for Daniel and Jim.

Jean-François waits anxiously to hear whether Hamburg University on earth will accept him on the strength of his thesis. Eliot tears Finbow off a strip, while Brelan attempts damage limitation.

Brelan and Mercedes' relationship continues to be stormy while he tries to ensure funding for Daedalus in the wake of the Santa Maria debacle. Daniel and Jim open a Japanese tapas bar. Melody returns to the ship.

Desperately trying to keep the Santa Maria event under wraps until funding is secure, Brelan promises Sabine the whole story - in a few days. Sarah starts counselling. Melody's jealousy gets the better of her.

Jean-François makes an unfortunate mistake. Tiring of Brelan's delaying tactics, Sabine decides to go ahead and run the story of the Santa Maria and the molybdenum - just as Victoria makes a discovery that could save the Daedalus mission.

Having scored against Sabine, Brelan wants the Ilea moved to the Achilles asteroid group. Melody starts receiving counselling from Christophe. Jean-François comes up with a way for he and Victoria to stay together.

Paul and Brelan, with Christophe's half-hearted help, conspire to keep Jean-François and Victoria apart. Daniel and Jim persuade the hapless Finbow into 'investing' in their latest venture. Ilea will head off to Achilles in five days.

A radiator leak from one of the gantries has Finbow going EVA to make repairs, much against Paul and Eliot's better judgement. Jean-François packs for his exile to Ceres to complete his thesis.

A rescue crew shuttle up from Space City after Finbow collapses while EVA. The Ilea starts its journey to Achilles. Things are still a little tense between Mercedes and Brelan. Sarah and Jim enjoy a little intimacy.

Rebecca discovers what has happened to her missing culinary supplies and is not at all happy. Christophe finds himself inundated with relationship problems. And what is wrong with Mercedes?

Mercedes gets good news. Tim is on his way back to Jupiter system. G33, the molybdenum-rich asteroid, will cause problems. Victoria and Melody call a truce, then are injured as the Ilea's alarms sound.

Eliot is scared he'll fail the compulsory navigation exam and lose his job: while working through a trial paper the Ilea's solar panels inexplicably start shutting down. Victoria is convinced something evil is cursing the ship.

Eliot's fears prove to be valid. Mercedes comes to a decision about her relationship with Brelan. Daniel mocks Victoria and Sarah's 'supernatural' experiences but is then attacked himself.

With Daniel clutching at crucifixes to protect himself, Christophe worried about both Sarah and Mercedes, and a maudlin Eliot mooching around the Ilea, tensions are rising.

Finbow tries to help Eliot through his resit, but the captain has given up, and applies for a job as a desk-bound systems commander at Space City. The Ilea is really beginning to show her age as yet more systems start playing up.

Finbow, Daniel and Melody try to track down vital files for their mission to G33. In doing so, they inadvertently trick Petra into believing she's in charge of the Achilles on the ancient Michaelangelo mission.

Finbow and Brelan work together to 'exorcise' the virus that has been causing all the recent problems and return Petra to normal. Eliot and Sarah are dropped off at Pasiphae.

Fiona and Anna return to the Ilea with Commander Drummond: Fiona organises a party to celebrate being back. Finbow commences the manoeuvres to take the ship out from Jupiter and towards the Achilles group. Melody hears some shocking news.

Victoria and Daniel's moral-boosting EVA is ruined by gossip. Hearing that Drummond refused the offer of captaincy of the Ilea, Finbow starts to take more control, refusing to back down to Brelan.

Anna and Fiona are rivals for the post of student social secretary. Mercedes and Paul go EVA to fix damaged sidethrusters, but make the problem worse. Daniel receives some frightening news.

Brelan and Christophe go EVA to rescue Paul and Mercedes: the latter is taken straight to medicom for an operation to repair damage to her brain. Brelan and Rebecca are distraught.

Brelan refuses to accept Finbow's resignation. Mercedes regains consciousness and the signs are good. Melody gives Victoria the good news. Drummond and Daniel pilot the Ilea out of Jupiter system and towards the Achilles group.

Mercedes tries to reassure Finbow. Melody still hasn't decided what to do, despite Daniel's pressing her for a decision. Finbow and Drummond spot something worrying right in their course for Achilles.

The object in their path proves to be a plasma cloud: Brelan invites the students to comcen to observe, despite Finbow's worries the cloud is unstable. Fiona wins the elections 27 - 7: Anna is furious and demands a recount.

Anna's recount left her with 6 votes, making Fiona the student's undisputed social secretary. Now just ten hours from the Achilles group, the Ilea's path is crossed by a second and far more dangerous plasma cloud.

Gabriella is upset at being teased about her dream of accomplishing a space 'first'. The Ilea reached G33 and Drummond takes a shuttle down, unaware he has a stowaway on board.

Drummond returns the stowaway to Ilea to face Brelan and expulsion, then takes the shuttle back to G33 to mine molybdenum samples, only to face engine problems that leave him marooned. Daniel's desperate for a resolution to his situation.

Two of the shuttle's legs have sunk into the permafrost, preventing take off, and the surface itself may be comprised of explosive elements. Victoria investigates further. Meanwhile, Anna believes Daniel has found religion.

Gabriella is on probation. Melody makes her decision, which makes Daniel very happy.

Tim and Sarah arrive back on the Ilea. Finbow finds his job advertised on the bulletin board. An angry Brelan views Phillipe's presentation on space economics and summons him for what turns into a very unpleasant confrontation.

The Daedalus team take over one of the Ilea labs from midday, every day until further notice, much to the students' anger. Phillipe and Gabriella organise the students to occupy the Daedalus gantry in retaliation.

Things escalate quickly, with the students occupying gantry 2, Brelan refusing to budge, and poor Finbow caught in the middle. Tim's breaking into Brelan's cabin, however, may prove the final straw.

The standoff continues. Finbow is unable to break Tim's override of the life support systems and the Ilea's temperature drops to below freezing everywhere but gantry 2. But hungry Tim is caught raiding for food by Brelan.

Daniel and Gervaise raid the dome for food, as there's none on gantry 2. Brelan makes Tim reverse the temperature commands: cold and hungry, the protesting students start drifting back to the main part of the ship.

Approaching Io, Ilea finds the Interworld Chemical plant, which had been experimenting with propulsion mixes, in trouble. Offering the remaining protesters a face-saving way out, Brelan asks for their help in dealing with the crisis.

Conditions on Io are too hazardous for Drummond to land. In the light of Christophe's devastating news, Finbow decides to take down another shuttle, overriding all the safeties in a last ditch effort to rescue the survivors.

Despite all the odds, Finbow rescues the survivors and makes his way back to the Ilea. But will turbulent, violent, sulphur-jet spewing Io cooperate?

Finbow's being hailed a hero makes Brelan jealous. Good news about the first officer's medical problem is overturned by bad news from the Space Commission. Auditions start for the student production of Romeo and Juliet.

After a student petition and Mercedes' persuasion, Brelan tries to get Finbow's fate reversed. Anna is causing trouble again.

Christophe talks Finbow through the operation. Brelan, angry at Spacer Command's reprimand, tries again but probably makes the problem worse - and the friendship between Mercedes and Drummond rouses his jealousy.

Mercedes takes Chistophe's advice to take break at Island 5, as much to escape Brelan's jealousy and self-pity as anything. Io survivor Natasha is offered command of the Ilea, but will only accept if Finbow stays as 1st Officer.

Finbow and Christophe prepare for the operation. Natasha finally gets her way. Melody is worried - what is Tim up to?

Jim takes Sarah out to dinner at the Starlight, only to find Tim and Fiona acting mysteriously. Natasha isn't pleased to have Space City security demand to interview the young hacker. Finbow's operation begins.

The animal Tim rescued from the experimental lab is found to be less harmful than believed - until it escapes onto the Ilea. Finbow anxiously awaits the results of his operation.

Finbow's crush is now general - and embarrassing - news. Gabriella is torn between her role in the play and an EVA that will advance her career. Fiona and Tim are playing a dangerous game.

Gabriella is afraid, but determined - and seems to be growing fond of Zadok. Tim and Fiona are in trouble. Natasha find herself looking more favourably on Finbow.

Natasha and Finbow behave outrageously. The Thought Police arrive for Tim and Fiona. Gabriella, playing a lead role, won't make it back for the first night of the play. And Brelan comes to the rescue. It's all too much for Byron.

Rebecca is promoted - maybe. Victoria's extra work for Brelan pays off. Sarah's 20th birthday party is spoiled by a package from earth.

The challenge of her situation finally sinks in for Melody. Victoria is torn between joining Jean-François on Island 5 and teaching on the Ilea while researching her PhD. Anna is sure she's got her degree.

Mercedes, still on Island 5, is never available to take Brelan's calls. Victoria is determined to join Jean-François, despite Brelan's persuasion. Anna may have been the victim of a cruel hoax.

Due to fraternisation regs, Natasha and Finbow may be on dodgy ground. Anna involves Daniel in her plans for revenge.

Anna's revenge could backfire. The baby starts kicking. The latest news is that there could be an ocean on Ariel 9.

Ilea is headed to Pasiphae: the students visit the Stardust for a last celebration only to find it wrecked and Lili arrested. Mercedes returns, to Brelan's delight. Melody is in pain.

Melody's pain has a physical cause that may cause future problems. A jealous Mercedes is not a pleasant person. There may be an intruder on the Ilea.

The tension between Natasha and Mercedes increases. Anna has a religious experience in the dome. And Tim is up to something again.

Brelan's attempt to ease the tension with a dinner party does not go well. Tim is involved with the Ilea's stowaway.

The mystery of Anna's experience in the dome is explained. Finbow starts his follow-up course of treatment. Things remain tense between Mercedes and Natasha, with Drummond caught in the middle.

A comet storm from the Oort cloud threatens Ilea's trajectory: can Mercedes saved the day? Tranquillity is rumbled by Brelan, and forced to join the students until the ship reaches Pasiphae.

Finbow is awarded the Space Service's Medal for Gallantry due to his rescue of Natasha and her crew from Io. Tranquillity causes more problems.

Daniel's career is in jeopardy, Jim has upset Sarah, Natasha has upset Finbow, and Melody is on the warpath. Things are definitely tense aboard the Ilea.

Finbow jeopardises his recovery with an unauthorised EVA to repair the back up cryo unit. Daniel delivers his presentation for entry into the Space Service, and asks Melody to move in with him.

At Brelan's order, Byron's five year stint as a student is rapidly coming to an end, to his dismay. Natasha and Finbow finally talk about their feelings and their possible futures.

Tranquillity meddles with the safeties on the Ilea, causing Melody to fall, jeopardising her health and the baby. With Tim's help, Daniel heads off to hunt Tranquillity down.

In a last ditch effort to remain on the Ilea as full time entertainment officer, Byron throws a 'Childhood Revisited' party. Tranquillity refuses to agree not to tell Victoria the rumours about Jean-François.

Byron makes his presentation, in the hope it's so bad he won't get his degree. His application successful, Daniel, now an officer cadet, takes his first solo watch in comcen - and Petra plays up.

Petra's erratic behaviour means delays in getting to Pasiphae. Byron resurrects the Galaxy Girls for the talent show - with Tranquillity taking Melody's place. Victoria is devastated by the Jean-François rumours.

The winner of the talent contest comes as a complete surprise. Mercedes is shocked at Victoria and Brelan's behaviour. Jim and Anna collapse with a mysterious illness.

A furious Mercedes visits Victoria, but doesn't have it all her own way. Mercedes and Brelan finally define their relationship. Tranquillity is found to be a rubella carrier.

Ilea's course becomes very dangerous when external conditions worsen and the ship's sentinel software malfunctions.

The dismay at finding Eliot's tampering was the cause of the malfunctions is overridden when fire breaks out. Daniel proves himself a hero, staying in command to allow the shuttles to evacuate the students.