Crash Dive! (short story)

Crash Dive! was a short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe. Framed as the front page of an in-universe periodical, the titular article instead made reference to the Captain Scarlet content in the issue with a smaller piece tying-in to the Thunderbirds comic story City of Doom, which was a crossover with the DWU.

Summary
A TV 21 reporter stands with Captain Scarlet of Spectrum in a desert blockhouse as they watch an F5 strike aircraft flying steady at fifteen thousand feet suddenly begin to plummet downwards at a speed nearing Mach 5. It remains on this course until almost on a point of contact with the ground but then pulls out of its dive and proceeds on a horizontal path, continuing its flight as if nothing has happened save for a small sandstorm brewed in the F5's slipstream. This reporter eye-witness later writes up his account for TV 21, explaining that the display was organised to demonstrate a new top secret computer with the ability to take over the controls of any object operating on electronic circuits.

Meanwhile, a radio report coming from Project City indicates the Mole has been loaded with thousands of volts of electricity while trying to bore through the maximum security door separating the city from the radiation-smothered outside world. Moments before going to press, TV 21 learns International Rescue is launching the Domo in an attempt to rescue the stricken Mole and its pilot, with the caveat that the report has not yet been confirmed.

Elsewhere, Captain Paul Travers gets the order from World President T.J. Younger to return Zero X and its crew back to Earth. However, he disregards the instruction and, instead, Travers and two crewmen return to the planet of Verspona. Unrelatedly, the World President also awards a special valour medal to TV 21 reporter Spencer Howard.

Characters

 * Eye-witness
 * Captain Scarlet
 * Paul Travers
 * T.J. Younger
 * Spencer Howard

Worldbuilding

 * No news has been received regarding the condition of Virgil Tracy, the Mole's pilot.
 * Spencer Howard is currently accompanying International Rescue as it bids to save Project City.

Story notes

 * This story is another crossover with Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and Thunderbirds, as well as the Thunderbirds spin-off Zero X.

Continuity

 * The Domo has been called to rescue the Mole following its failed attempt to penetrate the maximum security of Project City. (COMIC: City of Doom)