By The tripod carrier leaves orbit of Mars and sets course for Earth. Danny asks Eiji to make contact with the American fleet heading their way. He then tells Rohan to take care of things while he interrogates Eiji. Gale’s shuttle also breaks out of Mars orbit and picks up the American fleet, which they’ll encounter before Eiji does. Gale orders his pilots to prepare for combat. Danny grills Eiji for specifics about the Grados fleet, but Eiji counters that he only came to warn Earth. Elizabeth interrupts and says that Eiji isn’t a spy, and Rohan announces that he’s made contact with the Americans. Danny takes the radio and speaks with Col. Mellow, whom he warns about going to Mars. Danny explains that both the American and Soviet bases were wiped out by aliens, but Mellow doesn’t believe him. He then states that they can’t change course because their orders are to investigate what happened on Mars. Mellow is suspicious that Danny might be a Soviet spy and cuts off communication. Rohan reports that the American ships aren’t changing course and are on a different heading from them, so they won’t cross paths. Gale decides to sortie in his Grimekaisar. Eiji adjusts the radio so that they can listen to the American communications, and they hear them encountering the Gradosians. The radio eventually goes silent, and Rohan confirms that the ships have vanished from radar. Elizabeth thinks it’s stupid and that the Americans could’ve lived if they’d listened. Danny thinks the next fleet will listen to them, but Arthur asks what happens if they don’t. The Gradosian forces confirm the destruction of the American ships and return to their shuttle. Rohan can’t pick up any ships on radar anywhere, but David wants him to keep calling. Elizabeth tries to comfort Anna, and Arthur declares that they’re done for. Danny keeps calling the U.S. Space Force and gets no response. Rohan picks up other ships on radar, and when they don’t respond, Arthur wonders if they’re Soviet. David tells Rohan to try to find the Soviet code, but Danny thinks they’re probably already listening. Danny gets on the radio again and requests help through the International Space Distress Law and warns the Soviets to stay away from Mars.
Danny repeats his warning about aliens attacking Mars, and the Soviets finally respond and give permission to dock. Arthur is excited about going to Earth, and David asks Danny if he’s going to hand Eiji over to the Soviets. Danny answers that he’ll probably have to, but Eiji assures them that he doesn’t mind being a prisoner if he can succeed in warning Earth. The tripod carrier docks with the Soviet flagship, and everyone is greeted by the fleet commander, Chevrenko. Eiji gives David his helmet before he’s taken away by Soviet soldiers. Danny speaks with Chevrenko and says they have to warn Earth immediately and prepare for invasion. They receive a call about incoming Gradosians and head for the bridge. Danny pleads with Chevrenko to retreat, but he thinks their fleet can fight. Danny notes that this conflict goes beyond a single country, and Chevrenko has him removed from the bridge. The Soviet ships launch their space fighters, which are quickly destroyed by the Dimarges and Dtols. Gale decides to split into two groups to destroy the Soviet ships. The students wonder if Eiji will be ok, and David wants to go find him. Simone thinks they should all leave together and find Eiji. Gale destroys several space fighters and shoots the bridge of one of the ships. Eiji is held in the brig, but his guards get knocked out by Danny. Danny frees Eiji and comments that it’s harder to communicate with fellow Earthlings. He still can’t believe what they’ve been through, but Eiji tells him that he’s a believer now. Gale hopes that Eiji surrenders before it’s too late. Rohan searches through the computer to find Eiji, but just then he and Danny arrive. Danny tells them all to get into the shuttle while he opens the hangar for them. Everyone floats down to the bottom of the hangar as Danny gets the hatch open. Soviet soldiers shoot him and leave him cornered, but he tells everyone to escape without him. Everyone manages to get into the tripod carrier just before the ship explodes. Eiji transfers energy from the Baybull and Buldy so that they can escape. Anna thinks about how Danny’s sacrifice wasn’t any relief to them.
It’s been a hard road for everyone to escape from Mars, but a more difficult path awaits them. The radio contact with the American fleet ends poorly, as they ignore Danny’s warning and pay with their lives. Chevrenko appears more open to what Danny has to say, but he’s still arrogant enough to believe that his junk weapons stand any chance against Grados. It’s a continuing theme in this series that soldiers are stubborn and arrogant about their strength, and they simply can’t believe what’s going on until it’s far too late. Danny was one of these guys and managed to barely survive, and what he’s seen has changed him. He valiantly sacrifices his life so that everyone can escape and warn Earth about the Gradosians. However, the question remains, will any of these stubborn fools on Earth be more open-minded about the threat they face?
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