The Annotated Blake’s 7 - ‘Star One’ 3

I will pick up where I left off, but first -

Why Here?

‘Why is always the most difficult question’ Servalan observes in this episode. Too right, babes. Because I have to ask several difficult ‘whys’ this time, and even muster an attempt at some answers.

So let’s begin with the biggest why of all, not only in this episode but possibly of the entire run of our show. Deep breath.

Why did the Federation position Star One, the vital control centre of their empire, at the most vulnerable spot in their territory? Indeed, at the closest possible point to the hostile power from whom they were expecting an invasion by technologically superior aliens?

You can just about make a case for the control mechanism of the anti-matter mine field to be placed at Star One, as it presumably requires proximity to the actual mines. (We’ll overlook for now that the other Star One systems can operate across vast interstellar distances perfectly happily.) Ok, that’s fine. No alternative. But also plonking, in the same spot, the nerve centre for your economy, military and civilian infrastructure, etc? It is madness. When the invasion you’re expecting occurs, your opponents will likely destroy your computer control centre in short order. It will be, after all, the very first of your assets that they will come across. As indeed they do, at the beginning of the next episode.

I’ve tried to find some method in this space madness. A look at the real world perhaps helps me, a bit.

Today, right now, nearly all of the semi-conductor chip manufacturing vital to the continuance of every aspect of millions of lives in the Western world is done in … Taiwan. Which is right slap bang next to China, the hostile superpower which threatens to invade it every couple of days. And in Britain, our essential infrastructure is maintained by undersea cables, which Putin’s wandering warships are constantly hovering around, shears aloft for a sneaky snip.

Okay, but these are both examples of human folly mixed with a history of perverse market incentives and short-term political decisions. They are the result of Western governments painting themselves accidentally into corners. The Star One site, however, must have been a conscious decision taken at the highest level by … somebody. (Certainly not Servalan or the President and High Council, none of whom know where it is.) Servalan’s immediate reaction to Jenna’s message from the Liberator suggests that she knows about the Andromeda threat (though Durkim doesn’t, seeming to assume it’s a crank call). But sadly, we cut away before the next scene, which must be Servalan screaming ‘WHY THE FUCKING FUCK IS STAR ONE FUCKING THERE!?’ while rending her gown.

I now offer a theory. It’s not much, but after much thought it’s the best I can come up with.