Hero Award (short story)

Hero Award was a short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe. Framed as the front page of an in-universe periodical, both of its articles made reference to the untitled Captain Scarlet comic story within the issue, which was a crossover with the DWU.

Summary
En route to an important peace conference at Unity City, the Mysterons target the jetliner carrying President Polenski of the newly-established Bratvian Republic. They severely damage the craft, with the fire and toxic fumes released as a result slowly working their way towards Polenski's compartment. Meanwhile, in the flight room, the pilot gets word of their situation to the outside world and a Spectrum jet is promptly despatched to the scene. Arriving in time, Captain Blue ejects from his jet in the direction of the jetliner and puts out the worst of the flames with a fire extinguisher. He then rushes to the controls and eases the jetliner upwards seconds later. Blue subsequently lands the craft, with the knowledge that he has saved both President Polenski and world peace.

For his actions Blue is slated to receive the Valour Star at 16.20 hours on Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace, making him the first person to be bestowed with the World Government's highest honour for bravery while still alive.

Characters

 * Captain Blue
 * Polenski
 * Pilot

Worldbuilding

 * Captain Blue will receive his Valour Star before an audience of world leaders.
 * Five other men are being recognised for their bravery during the same proceedings as Blue, all of them from the World Army-Airforce.

Story notes

 * By stating that the Valour Star is the World Government's highest award for bravery, this story harkens back to one of the earliest Dalek cover stories, namely Tempest Awarded V.M., in which Troy Tempest receives the same honour (though the specific decoration is instead referred to as the Valour Medal). Although this makes the claim that Captain Blue is the first non-posthumous recipient of the award technically incorrect, Tempest was missing on active service at the time of his induction.

Continuity

 * The investiture of the servicemen would be targeted by the Mysterons, though Captain Scarlet was ultimately able to avert their deaths. (COMIC: Captain Scarlet)