Marineville Blackout (short story)

Marineville Blackout was a short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe.

It mentioned Unity City, first introduced in The Daleks comic story Duel of the Daleks.

Summary
In Marineville, radio communication suddenly blacks out causing ground troops of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol to rush to the scene. Forces from the 17th, 22nd and 39th Wasp Task Corps surround the base and move in simultaneously while cruisers and aircraft carriers from the surface patrol take up positions opposite the sea door entrance.

In Unity City, a correspondent for TV 21 reports that details are incoming about an air battle off the coast of Bermuda in which one aircraft was destroyed. They elucidate that, according to an International Press Agency release, one of the aircraft was piloted by Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her chauffeur Parker. The correspondent further states Lady Penelope was believed to have been trailing Igor Slanovitch, Bereznik's chief executioner, but that it is not yet certain which of the two was aboard the plane that met its end.

In Jacksonville, sixty people, including Doctor Venus of the Fireball XL5 team, mysteriously disappear during the night. The kidnappings subsequently baffle the police, with the only clue being an unsubstantiated report of a flying saucer sighting in the area on Friday. Venus's friends and colleagues Colonel Steve Zodiac and Professor Matic are quickly told she is missing and immediately hurry to Jacksonville in response. On Venus's disappearance from the Jacksonville Hotel, its proprietor tells reporters she went up to her suite immediately after dinner to watch television and gave no indication she would be going out again that evening.

Elsewhere, TV 21's interplanetary crime correspondent reports that a break-in at Century 21 Toys Incorporated in Kahra has been mysteriously hushed up by factory officials. At a press conference, Captain Lalo of the Kahra Police states the factory officials are to be handling the case while an official of Century 21 Toys comments that a full statement will be issued at a later date.

Meanwhile, disturbing news emanates from the Black Rock establishment in the Nevada Desert where Supercar is based. Chief test pilot Mike Mercury reveals that Supercar had been stolen while he and other members of the team were in a drug-induced sleep. Professor Popkiss continues, telling a reporter for TV 21 it is too early to determine conclusively who was responsible for the crime though some evidence points to the involvement of Masterspy and Lavin. Meanwhile, Doctor Beaker, another member of the team, expresses his confidence that Supercar will come to no harm. To this end, he decides not to call in the police for the time being, remaining hopeful he or Professor Popkiss will soon be able to bring the craft under remote control.

Characters

 * Penelope Creighton-Ward
 * Steve Zodiac
 * Matthew Matic
 * Mike Mercury
 * Professor Popkiss
 * Doctor Beaker
 * Captain Lalo
 * Jacksonville Hotel proprietor
 * TV21 reporter
 * Unity City correspondent
 * Interplanetary crime correspondent
 * Century 21 Toys official
 * Venus
 * Jimmy Gibson
 * Zoonie
 * Mitch the Monkey

Worldbuilding

 * According to Tracking Station 7, contact with Marineville was lost shortly after Stingray returned to base.
 * The Bereznik government has sworn to kill the World President, suggesting Igor Slanovitch's presence in Unity City is for an assassination attempt.
 * Venus was enjoying a quiet holiday in Jacksonville and was due back on duty at Space City on the morning of her disappearance.
 * It has not been disclosed how the thief or thieves gained access to the factory or what (if anything) they escaped with.
 * Details of FAB 1 have been on the secret list for months but TV 21's editor has finally secured permission to release some of the design facts about the Rolls Royce.
 * Popkiss is one of the inventors of Supercar, an all-purpose machine.
 * The last attempt to steal Supercar ended in utter chaos.

Story notes

 * Although the format of this story closely matched that of the later TV21 Stop Press series printed within TV Century 21, it was not officially connected to any particular series.
 * This story was another crossover with Fireball XL5, Stingray, Lady Penelope and 21, as well as the first fully-fledged crossover with Supercar.

Continuity

 * Lady Penelope and Parker were indeed trailing Igor Slanovitch, with it being the latter who perished in their mid-air battle. (COMIC: The Enemy Spy)
 * Lady Penelope is a special reporter for TV 21. (COMIC: Duel of the Daleks, The Return of Mr. Steelman et al.)