The orbit of Jupiter, the 25th century. Arriving back on the Nerva Beacon much earlier in history, the Doctor and his friends discover the satellite beset by space plague while its crew struggles to keep space traffic away from Voga, the newest moon of Jupiter. But what is the connection between Voga, the plague, and some old enemies of the Doctor?

The Doctor transmits Sarah Jane and Harry down to Voga to cure Sarah Jane of the Cybermat's poison but Kellman's sabotage means he is unable to bring them back.

The Cybermen force the Doctor, Stevenson and Lester to carry bombs to the centre of Voga while Sarah Jane, Harry and Tyrum decide to contact Vorus.

The Doctor, Harry and Lester try to destroy the Cybermen's relay device, while the Vogans prepare to destroy Nerva even though Sarah Jane is still on board.

The TARDIS lands on Earth six years out of date, stranding the Doctor in 1983 while leaving Tegan and Nyssa to look for him in 1977. Both parties also encounter former companion, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, though curiously, he has no memory of the Doctor at all.

Mawdryn and his eternal mutants reveal the truth: they are exiles, they are in pain and need the Doctor's future 'lives', as afforded by each of his remaining regenerations.

As the Doctor's ethics are challenged and the two Brigadiers finally meet, Turlough plots with the Black Guardian to bring the Time Lord down once and for all...