Horizon Zero (Episode 108)

A long-planned international mission to Mars was unexpectedly canceled because it was deemed "unnecessary." Da'an (Leni Parker) offered Captain Paul Chandler (Bobby Johnston) and his two-person crew a chance to join the Taelon inter-dimensional flight training program instead. They flatly refused and Chandler stormed out, but showed up later at the fitness course where Boone (Kevin Kilner) and Lili (Lisa Howard) were working out.

Chandler and Lili were old friends, having met years before during F-22 flight training at Valdosta. They caught up over lunch and, mentioning Da'an's offer, Chandler convinced Lili to take him for a ride in the shuttle.

The next day, the shuttle disappeared and Lili, stung by Chandler's betrayal, was criticized for her actions. Da'an was unusually vehement that Chandler and the shuttle be found immediately, but was vague about the reasons why.

 

Boone and Lili were able to track Chandler to a farm where he and his crew were attempting to take the Taelon shuttle to Mars -- with little success. Boone contacted Augur (Richard Chevolleau) and together they were able to overcome the Taelon-programmed navigational block. Narrowly escaping capture by Sandoval (Von Flores), Chandler and his crew blasted out of the Earth's atmosphere and headed for Mars. They were able to bring back evidence which explained why the Taelons were so concerned about human space exploration.