Gerald Simmonds is the ILFC Commissioner with direct responsibility for Moonbase Alpha and associated missions, such as the Meta Probe in the period leading up to the Moon's departure from the Solar System.
History[]
Breakaway[]
Commissioner Simmonds is the one who informs John Koenig that signals are being received from the newly discovered planet Meta, via the unmanned probe ship, Spacefarer 9, prompting the belief that Meta could be supporting life as we know it. Simmonds explains that Koenig's job is to put a man on Meta, and emphasizes that not even the virus infection affecting the astronauts must not be allowed to threaten the launch of the Meta Probe, which is preparing to dock with the launch platform.
After Koenig lands at Alpha, he learns from Victor the situation is far worse than Simmonds let on, and that people are dying from what looks like radiation sickness, but there is no radiation.
Following a call from Koenig, Simmonds agrees to stop sending nuclear waste until he can figure out what is going on, and admits he lied about the "virus" because they had to avoid any hint of failure, or else funding for their mission would be cut off.
Unable to reach Koenig, after the latter has Paul contact the commissioner using emergency code Alpha 1 Simmonds comes to Alpha to find out what the emergency is. Koenig explains, and after a brief discussion with Victor, they decide to distribute the mass of the nuclear waste of Area 2 over a larger area.
When Simmonds states that the situation is under control, and wants to issue a communiqué to that effect, Koenig remarks it's too early to declare success, while men are still out risking their lives to avert disaster, just as the destruction of Nuclear Waste Disposal Area Two triggers Breakaway.
Earthbound[]
After sitting in on a command conference, Commissioner Simmonds berates Koenig for not focusing on trying to locate Earth, and attempting a return home. When Koenig responds that it would be a waste of their time to attempt something scientifically impossible, Simmonds replies that the impossible takes a little longer.
When a Kaldorian ship arrives, en route to Earth, Simmonds immediatly tries to take charge, only for his suggestion to sieze the alien ship to be rejected by Koenig, who states that Computer will select who from Alpha will undergo the required conditioning, to permit one of them to use the spare stasis chamber, and join the Kaldorians on their 75 year journey to Earth.
Unfortunately, Simmonds uses force to ensure he is chosen, and enters the stasis chamber without the required conditioning, resulting in him being trapped in the chamber, with no hope of release. Ironically, Computer had selected Simmonds anyway.
Trivia[]
- In the early script Zero G, the equivalent character is named General Heineman, head of Earth Command. An early draft script has the name Grivas. "Grivas is an older, once important scientist who, now worried about his position, has left science behind and is much more subservient to the political winds that blow." Grivas is responsible for the nuclear waste disposal and has allowed a new "metal" to be deposited which Professor Sabatini (the Bergman role) is worried about, but Grivas thwarts all research. The initial draft of The Void Ahead has the name Symonds, which by Turning Point had become Simmonds.
- No first name is given in the scripts and episodes, although E C Tubb named him "Gerald" in his novelisation.
- He was scripted to appear in Dragon's Domain, but Roy Dotrice was not available to film the role in January 1975, so the lines were assigned to Commissioner Dixon, a predecessor.
- In Alien Attack, after the breakaway and the news cast finishes, t he Chairman announces that during the last transmission from Alpha they learned Simmonds had died, contradicting the events from Earthbound..
Notes[]
- ↑ The Catacombs Character Guide entry for Simmonds lists his approximate age as 52 years. (Age based on the age of the actor in 1975)