(snipped number and itinerary of prison transports)

Jacqui >> And could the 'missing four months' on the Liberator be accounted for by the incident with negative hyperspace?

Neil > I see the 'missing four months' simply as a script anomaly (and a careless Nationism). I tend to think that Blake's bid for freedom was made pretty much towards the end of the voyage.

David You possibly got this impression that Blake's bid for freedom occurred near the end of the voyage from two places

from Space Fall Raiker: I can get them out of there, sir. ... I want a free hand to take whatever action I think necessary. Do I have your permission, sir? Leylan: All right. Raiker: Come on. Jenna: What do you think they will do? Blake: Their time is running out. Jenna: So is ours.

David The idea that their time was running out can suggest this event occurred towards the end of their voyage, but Blake might simply have meant their air supply is getting low, or the as yet unidentified Liberator will threaten the London, or the space battle that holed the London might engulf them again, or such like.

Blake: Follow the London to Cygnus Alpha. Then we can free the rest of the prisoners.

David Since the London takes another four months (so some say) and since the Liberator followed the London, they both must arrive in another four months. But this cannot be (from your next statement below) so the second lot of four months must therefore be an anomaly.

Neil > Very little time seems to pass between boarding the Liberator and reaching Cygnus Alpha. In fact, right at the very last minute, since we first see the London arrive over the planet, *then* cut to Blake et al exploring the ship they have *only just* acquired. It might be that a day or two has passed since Jenna pulled the Liberator away from the London, but even this seems a bit generous.

David Only a little amount of time did pass on the Liberator. It is, as you imply, only hours ship-time between the Liberator's exit from the London and the establishment of orbit 1,000 spatials above the surface of Cygnus Alpha. Artix, on the other hand, is tired. Leylan is tired but regretful too. These two have travelled longer.

Neil > Jenna sends the ship hurtling through 'negative hyperspace' after the London is spotted over Cygnus Alpha but before the prison ship makes a landing. Liberator reaches the planet while the London is still on the surface (and is still in orbit when the London takes off, though London fails to notice Liberator).

David There were several witnesses to that region of space: The London's scans were working, Artix looked out the window, The eagle-eyed devotee spotted London but not Liberator.

When Liberator was in orbit, Vargas saw it plainly enough. The Liberator couldn't have been there.

from Cygnus Alpha Artix: [looking at Cygnus Alpha] It doesn't look very hospitable, sir. ... Cygnus Alpha. It doesn't look very hospitable, sir.

David The planet was dark blue planet amid dark background. Compare this with the background behind the Liberator immediately after the following scene

Artix: We have confirmation. Will they go after Blake? Leylan: They have no choice. Artix: They'll never find him out there. I said, sir they'll never find him out there. Leylan: They won't have too. He'll find them. [Scene switches to Liberator in flight]

David There are two large-ish planets at the lower left and a smaller planet at the top. There is also a star giving off a warm brightness. The contrast between Liberator's background and Cygnus Alpha's background is shown in order to indicate that Liberator and London were not in the same general area.

Neil > So assuming we see events in the order that they actually happen, the negative hyperspace trip can't have delayed Liberator's arrival by more than a few hours at most.

David The assumption of seeing events in order may be seen to be incorrect if the difference between Leylan's two reports is considered.

Leylan's Flash-Back Leylan's Report:- He sat pensively as his report was emailed: This is Civil Administration Ship 'London' in transit from Earth to Cygnus Alpha transporting prisoners to the penal colony. We have sustained crew Blake & Jenna, also pensive, casualties during an stalked along a corridor. attempted mutiny by Jenna warned Blake, who spun prisoners: Five dead, around and fired at Raiker. including Sub-Commander Raiker & Artix took cover, Raiker. as did Blake & Jenna. Three prisoners Blake eased out from under escaped in a cover to look. in a spacecraft Raiker fired at Blake, missed. of unknown origin: Prisoners Blake and Jenna were called Blake, Stannis into the computer room by Avon. & Avon. The London is again under authorised control & proceeding to destination. Message ends. Retransmit to Earth on priority circuit. Confirm please.

Artix: We have confirmation. Will they go after Blake?

David Leylan's body language while his report was being emailed is that of one having a flash-back. The flash-back was in Black & White and referred to events in the past. (Some say the recent past, I say four months past.)

Blake, Jenna, & Avon on Liberator Leylan's Memorised Report: We have sustained crew casualties during an attempted mutiny by prisoners: Five dead, including Sub-Commander Raiker. Three prisoners escaped in a spacecraft of unknown origin: Blake is walking Prisoners Blake, into teleport bay, Jenna is handling Stannis, teleport bracelet, Avon is placing weapon and Avon. onto the teleport console.

Blake: Avon, what do you think?

David Leylan's second flash-back - while the report is recurring in his memory - is in colour. The intention of the programme editor is that whereas Leylan's first flash-back referred to past events, his second flash-back referred to present events (which he, Leylan, doesn't know, but the viewer knows).

In this way did the programme editor handle the passage of time in the second lot of four months. What was four months on the London was four hours on the Liberator.

Neil > In other words, the 8 months cited early in Spacefall and the 4 months mentioned later on are incompatible. One or the other is probably wrong.

(snipped Raiker's eight months v. Blake's four months)

David The eight months are mentioned a second time

Leylan: We have ground zero contact. All off. Artix: All off, sir. Leylan: Right, disembark the prisoners, Mr. Artix. Maintain full security until they are in the holding bay. I will program the computer for the return. We lift off in d plus thirty. Artix: Thirty minutes? Sir, we have been in space now for eight months. I wouldn't mind stretching my legs a little. Leylan: Not on this planet, Mr. Artix. Now get the prisoners off and let's go home. Artix: Yes, sir.

Neil > All in all, a very tricky anomaly to explain.

David That there might be a time-difference between any two ships travelling at different speeds is given by Raiker

from Space Fall Raiker: The voyage to Cygnus Alpha will take approximately eight months ship time. During this period, you will obey every order and instruction that is given you.

DC, who answers Jacqui in the affirmative