Roman Citadel Mystery Solved (short story)

Roman Citadel Mystery Solved was a Dateline 2066 short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe.

Summary
An apparently genuine Roman citadel is discovered on the bed of the Pacific Ocean, leading the world's top historians and scientists to come and examine the scene. However, a week later, some of them become very embarrassed when it turns out the citadel is the set for a new film and that its construction dates back a mere three months. World Press Inc. unveils this news to a mass of eager journalists one evening, explaining the set had been made for an underwater science fiction production. They further state that the building of the citadel had been kept secret for company security and it was simply an unfortunate coincidence that salvage teams happened upon the location, before apologising for the inconvenience caused and expressing their gratitude for "a fine piece of accidental publicity".

Meanwhile, just as the papers are going to press, news and pictures reach the Fleet Street offices detailing the collapse of the newly constructed Senate Building in Louville to rubble. A report wired from Jupiter by a special correspondent informs Earth of the situation, explaining that the planet had been experiencing the worst meteorite storms in years and that several buildings, trees and cars had previously been overturned or otherwise damaged. Rescuers rush to the scene of the disaster in an attempt to save the forty-five people trapped in the Senate from being buried in the debris. Ambulances, hoverjets and a patrol from one nearby army training camp also offer their assistance. The correspondent reports efforts are ongoing and that workers are currently trying to clear the rubble from the main streets so business can get back to normal.

On Astra, Acting World President Shaw Jansen stands in for Nikita Bandranaik during his planned state visit. Jansen is met on arrival by World Senate representative Kableta 1, on behalf of the Kaplan, and then taken to the residence of the Kaplan, where he attends a dinner in his honour.

Elsewhere, all the inhabitants of Anderly, a provincial town in Southern Mars, are evacuated to the nearby city of Gabling following the eruption of the volcano Kranos. Experts predict the volcano will erupt again within the week as it rumbles its warning across the terrain.

Characters

 * Shaw Jansen
 * Kableta 1

Story notes

 * This story marks the second time a sitting World President has been shown to visit Astra as Nikita Bandranaik visited in Andromeda Or Die. Conversely, the 610th Kaplan and the soon-to-be 611th Kaplan both visited Earth in Assassination!.

Continuity

 * Shaw Jansen is acting World President, substituting for Nikita Bandranaik who is recovering from a skiing accident. (PROSE: GA34R Hunt)