Shore Slams Tempest (short story)

Shore Slams Tempest was a TV21 Stop Press short story printed in TV Century 21 in 1968. It mentioned Unity City, a location first introduced in The Daleks comic story Duel of the Daleks.

Summary
At a meeting of the World Security Council, Commander Shore of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol delivers an impassioned argument critical of the World Government's failure to capture Troy Tempest. In his speech, Shore questions why his "frequent" appearances during which he constantly protests his innocence have been tolerated for so long, declaring that his actions make a mockery of the World Government and are interfering with government affairs. He closes by stating he how "want[s]" Tempest caught within the next twenty-four hours which proves to have an effect because renewed efforts to find him are launched soon afterwards.

Elsewhere, World Army troops move in on Camp Lenin and round up the mutineers present, successfully ending the missile crisis. TV 21 gives all the credit for this result to Brent Cleever, who was not only able to initially negotiate a surrender, but masterfully navigated the situation after being locked in a cell when a World Air Force bomber was flown over the camp. While the mutineers are being detained, Cleever states his willingness to argue their cause at the upcoming court martial, making severe sanctions unlikely.

Meanwhile, a herd of buffalo is driven down the Strand as part of a marketing campagain to promote a new brand of luncheon meat named Buffalo Brand. TV 21 interview the manager of the responsible advertising agency about the stunt, asking him why they went to the expense of bringing the buffalo to England instead of simply filming them in their natural surroundings. He states in response "We thought it would be much more effective this way. You know what they say — a herd in the Strand is worth two in the bush."

Later, the news comes in that Scott and Virgil Tracy are now "in severe difficulties" after attempting the rescue of a young British schoolboy from Devil's Crag due to the lack of co-operation demonstrated by the boy. Also, Professor Adrian Buxley determines after analysing data from Trojax that the effect on animals could result in the reversal of human dominance, thus raising the possibility that the crew of Zero X have been captured by these animals. Finally, TV21 begins a new feature in which queries from Spectrum area captains are answered by letters from junior Spectrum Shades.

Characters

 * Commander Shore
 * Brent Cleever
 * Scott Tracy
 * Virgil Tracy
 * Troy Tempest
 * Prince Philip
 * Adrian Buxley
 * Manager
 * Schoolboy

Worldbuilding

 * Shore accuses Tempest of "bare-faced impudence" and claims he is "sick and tired" of hearing his name.
 * The hovercraft SRN6 is photographed while on a journey through the Casiquiare of the Upper Orinoco in the Amazon, a region inhabited by Stone Age Indians and infested by many disease-carrying pests.
 * The Duke of Edinburgh is quoted as saying "A message of goodwill would be much more convincing if I did not feel so jealous" with regards to the SRN6 expedition which set off in spring 1968.
 * The firm of advertising agents bought their buffalo from the North American bush especically for the purpose of promoting Buffalo Brand.

Story notes

 * This story is another crossover with Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and 21.
 * Although this story stated that Camp Lenin is located in the Nevada Desert, the first part of the 21 comic story Cold Comfort Camp suggested it is actually in Siberia.

Continuity

 * Commander Shore references Troy Tempest being convicted of "the most serious crimes". (PROSE: Stingray Downs W.A.F. Bomber, Thunderbird One - Vanish Mystery, Invasion Threat?)
 * Tempest has been at large as an escaped convict for "many" weeks, with the combined forces of the World Government apparently unable to catch him. (PROSE: Rescue Search for International Rescue, Brains Dies in New York)
 * Brent Cleever is responsible for the de-escalation of the crisis at Camp Lenin, though his efforts were hampered when a World Air Force bomber was sent in. (COMIC: Cold Comfort Camp)