Stingray Downs W.A.F. Bomber (short story)

Stingray Downs W.A.F. Bomber 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 an official communique to the WASP Headquarters in Unity City, Commander Shore relates that Captain Troy Tempest has been arrested by Inter Service Security Forces and charged with treason following his unprovoked attack on a World Air Force experimental bomber which was on a test flight, resulting in the crash of the bomber and the loss of its crew. In doing so, Shore shatters the legend of Tempest and ends the four year long hero worship of Stingray's commander. Reacting to the news, TV 21 speculate that Tempest felt the World had turned its back on him after losing more and more public attention to the likes of Spectrum and International Rescue ending in him eventually selling his services and shooting down the unarmed bomber as part of an "angry revenge".

At an exclusive press conference held on Cloudbase, Colonel White announces the launch of a newly-devised system to increase the efficiency and all-round effectiveness of Spectrum Shades. Speaking for forty-five minutes and answering questions from reporters for another thirty, White explains that the new project involves "exciting" competitions between all of Earth's Operational Areas, with prizes and opportunities of promotion for Shades in the outstanding divisions.

Somewhere in space, a mysterious explosion rocks the cargo ship Goliath as it travels on a routine trip back to Earth. Officials of the World Space Patrol offer no explanation as to the cause of the explosion, though Steve Zodiac and Fireball XL5 are promptly dispatched to the area of the disaster with instructions to apprehend those responsible and to bring them to justice.

Elsewhere, the news emanates from Glenn Field that Zero X is star-bound, on course for the Boroshone Galaxy on the very edge of the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Brent Cleever tenders his resignation from the Universal Secret Service and purchases himself a hundred acre Gloucestershire farm from which to develop various advanced engineering discoveries. Finally, reports from International News indicate trouble on the new Antarctic-Australia road as eight trucks skid from the bridge section and into the icy ocean. International Rescue is quickly alerted and just as quickly sets a plan in motion to assist.

Characters

 * Commander Shore
 * Colonel White
 * Steve Zodiac
 * Brent Cleever

Worldbuilding

 * The official tone of the communique issued by Commander Shore against his old friend "lays bare Tempest as a man".
 * The wording of the official message about the space freighter Goliath's difficulties indicate that space pirates are suspected of being responsible.
 * Twenty One, known under his correct name as Brent Cleever, is the most famous Universal Secret Service agent ever known.

Story notes

 * This story is another crossover with Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and 21.

Continuity

 * Troy Tempest is a holder of the Valour Medal. (PROSE: Tempest Awarded V.M.)