Cockerill was charged with watching for meteorites hitting the surface. On one occasion, he spotted Norna, Tegan and Turlough trying to steal an acid jar. As he turned to stop them, the jar struck his head, dazing him. When it became known that Plantagenet had been "eaten by the ground", Cockerill decided to join the deserters. The other deserters attacked him and he fell and began to be pulled through the ground.