Scoop of the Year (short story)

Scoop of the Year was a Dateline 2066 short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe.

Summary
Radio waves from outer space are picked up by Bayton Observatory on Jupiter. A week later, they are turned into pictures, answering many questions and proving there is really life beyond what has been charted. The pictures pose many new questions, however, with the press eager to learn where the planet is, if its inhabitants are hostile and threaten the safety of the Solar System, and how long it would take an expedition to reach the planet. Bayton Observatory cannot answer most of these questions without further study, though they reveal their estimate that the pictures took 45000 light years to reach Earth.

In Unity City, World President Nikita Bandranaik opens an interplanetary phone system. It links the nine planets of the Solar System, allowing people to get direct contact by phone to any city or town throughout the Universe. Also, thousands of workers are late following a strike by the men who control Unity City's moving pavements, protesting the decision to switch to control by computer in 2067. Additionally, it is announced that the Solar Flight, the first rocket to put a man on Mercury, is to be put on display in the Museum of Light as part of an exhibition depicting man's progress in outer space.

On Uranus, the worst meteorite storm in recorded history, at velocity 78 in size, attacks the planet bringing chaos and destruction. The storm eventually blows itself out, with rescue attempts being mounted as the danger passes. Meanwhile, actor Tolon Vike heads to the planet from Earth in order to star in a new film called The Brink of Disaster.

Elsewhere, it is announced that the space freighter Electrode 909 is to fly again after having been brought back from Mellates by salvage ships. Experts claim the ship has been rebuilt and faults which developed on her maiden flight have been ironed out. Unrelatedly, several dozen motor car manufacturers and buyers from all over the Solar System fly into London Spaceport in order to attend the preview showing of the 2066 Motor Show, to be held in a week's time.

Finally, Saturn launches its first weather controlled satellite in the early hours of the morning. This achievement means that Saturn becomes the third planet in the Solar System to have controlled weather after Earth and Mars. On the subject of weather, announcements indicate it will be sunny from 10AM to 2PM for the coming day on Earth with rain for the rest of its duration while on Neptune a freak solar storm approaches at Force 74 in velocity.

Characters

 * Nikita Bandranaik
 * Tolon Vike

Worldbuilding

 * The cost of the link up is well over ninety billion pounds and each one of the nine planets has contributed to the cost.
 * Whole towns are destroyed in seconds during the meteorite storm on Uranus.
 * The Electrode 909 was stolen on its maiden flight by three astronovices who ultimately wrecked the ship.

Story notes

 * This story, set in 2066, states that there are nine planets in the Solar System, presumably with Pluto as the ninth. In the real world, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Most stories since have attempted to stay true to this belief but earlier stories with a futuristic setting, most notably The Sun Makers, still usually describe it as the ninth planet.

Continuity

 * Space City previously reported on the crash of both the Electrode 909 and Fireball XL5 on Mellates. (COMIC: The Archives of Phryne)
 * Tolon Vike won an Oscar for his role in The Edge of the Galaxy. (PROSE: Beatty Trial Sensation)
 * Saturn's weather satellite was designed from Earth's Leute 2 satellite, which is currently on display at the Kahra State Fair. (PROSE: Thieves Steal Million Dollars, Universal State Fair)