Relic Radio Sci-Fi – “No Contact” by The Chase

Aired: February 2, 2026
Podcast: Relic Radio Sci-Fi (Old Time Radio)
Original Broadcast: The Chase, NBC
Story by: George Lefferts

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners into a classic 1950s radio drama, dramatizing humanity’s relentless drive to unravel the mysteries of outer space. “No Contact” tells the suspenseful and ultimately chilling story of the Star Cloud, a rocket ship attempting to surpass the mysterious and fatal “Galactic Barrier”— a mission from which no ship has ever returned. As the Star Cloud’s crew battles tension, unexplained illnesses, and ultimately sabotage, the episode explores timeless themes of trust, paranoia, loyalty, and the unknown.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

The Mission and The Galactic Barrier

• Introduction:
  The year is 1987. Previous expeditions to the planet Volta have disappeared at the same spot — the “Great Galactic Barrier.”

  • [00:01] Opening narration frames the story as a universal “chase,” now pushing into deep space.

• The Crew & Takeoff:

  • Captain Thorson is in command, with his trusted doctor (Smitty) and young navigator Lieutenant Collier (son of a lost spaceman).
  • Tension builds as a stowaway (Charlie, a loyal old spacehand) is discovered and sent off the ship; Collier deftly recalculates a course after the delay, impressing the captain.
  • [05:45] “If he can’t do his job, I’d rather find out now than at the galactic barrier.” (Captain Thorson)

First Signs of Tension: Space Blues

• En Route:
  • As they approach the barrier, half the crew shows symptoms of “space blues” — blue lips/hands, eye sensitivity. The doctor debates if it’s physiological or psychosomatic.
  • Collier is affected; he’s driven by a personal motive — finding his lost father, believed dead in the barrier.
  • [14:05] “I have a special personal reason for wanting this expedition to reach Volta.” (Lieutenant Collier)

The Galactic Barrier & Unexpected Triumph

• Approaching the Unknown:
  • Tension heightens as the Star Cloud nears the galactic barrier. Radio signals bounce back rapidly, marking their proximity.
  • At the critical moment… nothing happens! The crew erupts in relief — they believe they have made it through the deadly barrier for the first time.
  • [19:15] “We made it… No radiation, no time warp, no nothing!” (Pollison, crewman)

A Sudden Threat: Radioactive Sabotage

• Strange Radiation:
  • Moments after celebration, ship detectors sound: unexplained radiation is filling the vessel.
  • The trail leads to a locked cabinet in Collier’s quarters, containing a foreign transmitter. Collier’s Geiger-hot wristwatch incriminates him.
  • [24:55] “How could you have known it was in the wall cabinet?” (Captain Thorson)

The Enemy Revealed: Voltan Infiltration

• Collier’s Confession:
  • Confronted, Collier reveals his true identity: an agent of the planet Volta, resembling the real Collier, a victim of prior expeditions.
  • Shocking twist: Voltans have infiltrated every Earth expedition with disguised agents detailed down to appearance and background.
  • [26:15] “I am an agent of the Voltan government.” (Collier)
  • Voltan ships approach; Collier calls for surrender.

Break of Control: Mutiny and Desperation

• Star Cloud Under Siege:
  • Collier escapes custody, confesses most of the crew are now Voltans; communications break down, chaos erupts.
  • Captain Thorson tries to rally his crew; one by one, he discovers allies fallen or revealed as Voltans.
  • Dying Dr. Smithson shares the clue: only Voltans get “space blues.”
  • [29:00] “All men with space blues… Voltan!” (Dr. Smithson’s dying words)

Last Message to Earth

• Desperate Warning:
  • With the enemy closing in, Thorson fights to send a last warning to Earth. He reaches Charlie, now on the ground.
  • Delivers the vital clue:
    • Voltans = crew with “space blues”
    • Fifth column infiltrating Earth.
  • [31:10] “Only Voltans get space blues… get the word to Colonel Harrison!” (Captain Thorson)

Final Irony and Ominous End

• On Earth:
  • Charlie, shaken, is told by Colonel Harrison he looks “a little blue around the gills”…
  • The story leaves the listener questioning: is Earth already lost to Voltan infiltration?
  • [32:35] “You look a little blue around the gills.” (Colonel Harrison)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On leadership and responsibility:

  • “If he can’t do his job, I’d rather find out now than at the galactic barrier.” (Captain Thorson, [05:45])

• On the nature of the Galactic Barrier:

  • “Radar signals bounce off it like they were hitting an invisible glass wall… destroys our ships and crews in some way.” (Captain Thorson, [10:10])

• A chilling twist:

  • “I am an agent of the Voltan government.” (Collier, [26:15])
  • “We have had agents operating on Earth since 1955.” (Collier, [27:10])

• Warning to Earth:

  • “They have a fifth column on Earth… only Voltans get space blues.” (Captain Thorson, [31:10])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | Introduction & mission setup | | 04:30 | Takeoff, stowaway drama | | 10:10 | Debating the galactic barrier—scientific theories | | 14:05 | Space blues, Collier’s motivation revealed | | 19:15 | Passing through the barrier, celebration | | 21:55 | Radiation alert—tracking the mysterious source | | 24:55 | Collier confronted; sabotage and betrayal revealed | | 26:15 | Collier’s confession: Voltan agent | | 29:00 | Smitty’s dying clue: “All men with space blues… Voltan”| | 31:10 | Desperate warning to Earth: “Only Voltans get space blues” | | 32:35 | Final ominous line: “You look a little blue…” |

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains an atmosphere of mounting suspense and impending doom, with moments of camaraderie giving way to paranoia, betrayal, and revelation. It moves swiftly from classic space adventure to psychological thriller, ending on an eerie, unresolved note that lingers.

Summary Takeaway

“No Contact” is a prototype of classic mid-century science fiction, blending the era’s anxieties about infiltration and identity with the wonder and terror of space exploration. The story warns of silent enemies within, and ends with a question that still resonates: how can you be sure who is truly among you, and is it already too late?