January to June (short story)

January to June was a Dateline '69 short story printed in TV Century 21, specifically the 1970 annual.

It was a crossover with the Doctor Who universe by featuring the Astrans and their homeworld of Astra, first introduced and mentioned in The Daleks comic story Duel of the Daleks and the Doctor Who television story The Rescue respectively. Notably, it also confirmed the in-universe death of another DWU character, World President Nikita Bandranaik, who had previously retired due to ill health.

Summary
The Virus-X epidemic breaks out in Australia on 3 January 2069, hospitalising thousands. Although vaccine supplies are sent to the country, medicists are clueless as to the original cause of the virus. On 5 February, its cause is found to be an illegal immigrant from Kahra, who is immediately put through immunisation procedure.

On 9 January, new planets in Alpha Centauri system are spotted on superpowered mapping videoscopes. On 30 January, the World Government names these planets Zodiac and Price. Meanwhile, Captain Scarlet returns to Cloudbase after a successful mission involving the USA rodeo tragedy.

A statue of the late World President Bandranaik is unveiled in a small town in Bereznik on 13 January, leading to Bereznik officials being forced to deny rumours that they are losing influence. On 23 February, Bereznik business rivals are accused when the Cory Finance President goes missing on a mountaineering expedition. They are finally located in the Alps on 6 March. Later, on 18 June, a revolution breaks out in Bereznik, with fierce mob roaming occurring in its north-eastern sector intent on destroying the dictatorial establishments of the government. The rebellion is crushed on 27 June as thousands are murdered by the regime.

On 17 January, Paris is attacked by a band of fire-raisers. A plea is sent out for International Rescue to assist with the evacuation of trapped residents from buildings. The organisation arrives the following day while Agent 21 is summoned to trace the arsonists. He is eventually victorious on 29 June.

Troy Tempest is said to be investigating a new undersea mystery on 24 January. Stingray radios Marineville from within an undersea volcano on 11 February but is recalled by Commander Shore. They report that they have recorded rumblings which have since stopped. On 27 February, the volcano erupts though Stingray is clear of the danger zone. The pressure of the eruption causes a tidal wave on the Portugeuse coast and International Rescue attends to devastated towns. The power of the volcano is completely exhausted on 26 March when Stingray neutralises it by using a new magnetic-based chemical.

On 16 February, the Astran Empire is subjected to an invasion from outer space. The ambassador informs Space City and Fireball XL5 immediately blasts off in response. Steve Zodiac and his crew land on Astra on 1 March to find chaos and carnage in the capital city as Venus is kidnapped. Steve states in a report on 20 March that enemy forces have taken over government buildings and describes the invaders as humanoids. Fireball finally returns to Earth on 19 April following an intense battle and the defeat of the robot attackers, proved to be from a distant galaxy.

Fort Knox is attacked on 15 March, with Captain Black spotted in the area as Spectrum forces fly in. Captain Scarlet enters but does not return. The following day, the entire complex is destroyed and retro-metabolises in front of the Spectrum agents on the scene. Scarlet finally emerges from Fort Knox on 31 March but Spectrum release no statement, not even to TV 21. Meanwhile, Zero X returns to Earth after a Venusian mission in a dramatic crash-land courtesy of a malfunctioning retro-system. On 14 May, following months of secrecy, Captain Scarlet at last tells of the foiled Mysteron plot to transform Fort Knox's gold into tin which would have ruined the world's economy. Captain Black heavily fought Scarlet to regain control of the gold but was ultimately unsuccessful.

The Kahra City Trade Exhibition commences on 3 April while the Martian President arrives for its opening. The President disappears on 7 April, the blame attributed to SOFRAM infiltrators. Agent 21 soon uncovers a plot to cause an interplanetary war and goes on the hunt for the missing Premier. The President is found and reinstated on 22 May as rebellious Kahra officials threaten to take over. The militants are swiftly deposed, however.

On 11 April, the Regis is launched for the first time. The ship explodes on 23 April, slaying thousands. The World Government quickly sends investigators to the disaster area to discover the cause. Sometime later, on 30 May, the Regis wreckage is examined and Mysteron influence is suspected. The original passenger list is rescreened and many individuals are found to have officially died in the original crash, months prior.

Characters

 * Captain Scarlet
 * Troy Tempest
 * Steve Zodiac
 * Agent Twenty One
 * Captain Black
 * Commander Shore
 * Venus
 * Cory Finance President
 * Ambassador
 * Martian President
 * Kahran immigrant

Worldbuilding

 * Paris has recovered to some extent by 23 January, when a 1970 Moon capsule is among several items in a history of space exhibition held in a new wing of the Louvre.
 * Great Britain names the date for the "second generation" decimal coinage change on 28 February. One new penny will equal two decimas.
 * The Regis incorporates a revolutionary atomic rotor-propulsion system. It is manned by a skeleton crew with computer controls and operated from land.
 * Cory Finance starts work on the rebuilding of London Car Vue on 19 April.
 * On 25 April, a large meteorite crashes into the tundra region of Siberia, registering shock waves throughout a radius of one hundred miles.
 * The World Government meets on 3 May to discuss the various crises on and beyond Earth territories.
 * A floating oil rig off the Argentinian coast blows up on 4 June, causing a substantial loss of life. An investigation reveals the malfunction of the control-computer.
 * British Electronics make a take-over bid for a French industrialist's cahelium manufacturing company on 30 June.

Story notes

 * This story is a crossover with many of the series featured in TV Century 21 including Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, and 21.

Continuity

 * Astra would be struck by another conflict, in this case a civil war, later in 2069. (COMIC: Flash: XL5 Crew Held on Astra)
 * Former World President Nikita Bandranaik has died, having previously resigned the presidency due to ill health. (PROSE: Solar Streak A.O.K., Information Service)