Rescue Search for International Rescue (short story)

Rescue Search for International Rescue was a TV21 Stop Press short story printed in TV Century 21 in 1968. It featured as one of its primary settings the location of Unity City, first introduced in The Daleks comic story Duel of the Daleks.

Summary
In a "strange" twist of fate, the World is given a chance to repay some of its debt to International Rescue as search teams are launched to find the missing members of the organisation, following their disappearance in the Antarctic. Officials at the Supreme Headquarters Earth Forces inform on-the-spot reporter Spencer Howard that ten submarine aircraft carriers have been dispatched to the disaster zone with orders to quickly find the Thunderbirds while Chile-based Spectrum helicopters begin a massive search on the continent itself. The rest of the world can only wait and hope for the rescue of International Rescue.

Meanwhile, World President T.J. Younger arranges an emergency cabinet meeting in the wake of attacks from opponents of the World Government regarding its handling of two major world crises. On the Border war, Senator Hans Klaus of Germany tells reporters at a Berlin press conference that the heavy fighting currently occurring ten miles from the capital is a direct result of the deliberate kidnapping of Professor Loots by Spectrum agents. Klaus further claims Spectrum sent fifteen men into Bereznik the previous night, who bound and gagged Loots and his daughter before dragging them over the border. Klaus then proceeds to call for Younger's resignation and the dismissal of Spectrum chief Colonel White. The second attack on Younger comes out of the Space Defence Organisation at Unity City. Head of the organisation Doctor William Boyd vehemently complains of the ineptitude, indecisiveness, and lack of understanding demonstrated by the World Government as the invasion of Earth by the metal-eating race from Myton gets underway. Following the meeting of the cabinet, an official states Klaus's accusations are "untrue in most respects" and that "decisive action" is being taken to restore peace, before going on to say: "As for the Space invasion, the President himself, has been in constant touch with Space City and has been assured that Space Patrol have the matter under control".

Elsewhere, the news emanates from the World Aquanaut Security Patrol that the disgraced Troy Tempest has escaped his improsonment. Tempest makes his getaway using Stingray, the ship he captained on so many successful missions, pursued by the security services of the world.

Finally, the refitted Zero X disappears on her first intergalactic mission, with Captain Paul Travers and his crew lost somewhere in the Boroshone Galaxy. Glenn Field announces this fact at a press conference. The following week, in an atmosphere of sombreness and tension, press officer Sard Fraser states that there is still no news on the situation.

Characters

 * Troy Tempest
 * T.J. Younger
 * Hans Klaus
 * William Boyd
 * Sard Fraser
 * Spencer Howard
 * Official

Worldbuilding

 * The search for International Rescue marks one of the biggest air-sea rescue operations in ten years.
 * Captain Tan takes a photograph of a Spectrum helicopter in the Antarctic while co-piloting another helicopter.
 * TV 21 notes while Troy Tempest might be a coward and a traitor, it is evident that the "dare-devil skill and flair for action" which saw him rise through the ranks of WASP have not deserted him.

Story notes

 * This story is another crossover with Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons.

Continuity

 * Several members of International Rescue disappeared as they were attempting to rescue hovertruck drivers trapped in their cabs at the bottom of the Antarctic Ocean. (PROSE: Stingray Downs W.A.F. Bomber, Thunderbird One - Vanish Mystery)
 * The World Space Patrol is currently tackling an invasion of Earth by metal-eating creatures. (PROSE: Invasion Threat?)
 * Troy Tempest was court martialled and dismissed from the World Aquanaut Security Patrol for allegedly shooting down the World Airforce bomber LSR 20. (PROSE: Stingray Downs W.A.F. Bomber, Thunderbird One - Vanish Mystery, Invasion Threat?)
 * Zero X is exploring the Boroshone Galaxy and was fitted with new engines and fresh armaments before setting off. (PROSE: Stingray Downs W.A.F. Bomber, Thunderbird One - Vanish Mystery)