Thunderbirds Film for Sale! (short story)

Thunderbirds Film for Sale! was a TV21 Stop Press short story containing elements from the Doctor Who universe which was published in 2014 as part of Network Distrubuting's Supermarionation boxset.

The story featured the inhabitants of the planet Astra, which was first mentioned in Doctor Who's The Rescue. The Astrans, meanwhile, were a semi-regular fixture during TV Century 21's original run, having been introduced in the The Daleks story Duel of the Daleks.

Summary
In a leading auction house in Paris, a collection of art objects from the estate of a deceased collector is put under the hammer. However, normal proceedings are interrupted when a film cannister, depicting International Rescue in action, is produced, prompting "a flurry of furious bidding" across the floor and causing a sensation around the world. It is Tin-Tin Kyrano, seen in conversation with Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward outside the auction room, who leads as TV 21 goes to press.

Meanwhile, Zero X completes its mission to tackle the so-called Zero-Star currently threatening the Sun. The "agressive stellar object" is "blasted into oblivion" as the Linktan ship, which had converted into a Heliotomic Bomb, launches into its heart. On the way back to Glenn Field, Captain Paul Travers tragically reports that the Linktan crew sacrificed their lives so that the peoples of the Earth and other neighbouring planets might live.

Also, following dramatic developments on Astra, Colonel Steve Zodiac is granted a pardon by the Kaplan and sets off in pursuit of Fireball XL5, his own spacecraft, when it is snatched by the traitorous Kaplan Major. Reporting back to his superiors, he proclaims he is "prepared to destroy Fireball" if no alternative presents itself.

Back on Earth, Colonel White assures reporters there will be "no repeat of history" as Spectrum officers prepare to oversee security arrangements at the opening of London's rebuilt Car-Vu. With the World President in attendance, a maximum security screen is thrown around the city while Captains Blue and Grey taking charge of operations. Elsewhere, the World Intelligence Network are reported to be investigating a possible link between the linking VIPs' Swiss bank account details and a new mathematical computer program being developed by staff at a leading public school.

Characters

 * Tin-Tin Kyrano
 * Steve Zodiac
 * Paul Travers
 * Colonel White

Worldbuilding

 * Tin-Tin is believed to be a graduate of Tokyo University with degrees in higher mathematics and advanced technical theory.
 * The Zero-Star was previously responsible for the destruction of several other stars near the Sun.
 * A memorial in honour of the Linktans is to be erected at Glenn Field.

Story notes

 * This story introduces the rank of Kaplan Major. Although the nature of the position is not elaborated upon, it is implied they hold a high place in the Astran hierachy. The Kaplan Minus was previously established to be the second-in-command of the Kaplan while the Kaplan Minor was the Kaplan's child.
 * This story is also another crossover with Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, Zero-X, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Joe 90.

Continuity

 * Steve Zodiac is pardoned following his trial and death sentence for seemingly destroying an Astran flagship. (COMIC: Flash: XL5 Crew Held on Astra, PROSE: Stingray Strikes Back!, Zodiac Death Sentence!)