Is Scarlet Dead? (short story)

Is Scarlet Dead? 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 made reference to the Captain Scarlet comic story We Will Destroy Unity City, which was a crossover with the DWU.

Summary
Rumours that Captain Scarlet is dead spread in World Government circles. However, the authorities dismiss the idea as alarmist nonsense while official statements deny all knowledge of trouble on Cloudbase. TV 21's special correspondent at Unity City weighs in on the matter, noting that their publication had already revealed the Mysteron attempts on Cloudbase to have only narrowly been avoided. They also refer to the publicitly surrounding Scarlet after he crashed his plane into what was virtually a flying bomb. The correspondent points out this assumed Scarlet had survived the ordeal and that if he did not, as the rumours claim, then Earth's hope of victory against its Martian menace are fading fast.

Meanwhile, the earthquakes causing widespread devastation throughout Persia are tracked to their source. Thunderbird 1 and Thunderbird 2 receive confirmation of this after discovering a secret headquarters with proved to be instigating the tremors. However, the latest reports from the area state the earthquakes have increased in violence, possibly threatening the entire country. Equally worryingly, Thunderbird 5 reports total radio silence.

Elsewhere, time continues to rapidly run out for Stingray to halt Seaspear, a hijacked explosive-carrying submarine, before it collides with a research island. Its crew are no help, having been struck unconscious by a paralysing gas.

Finally, a criminal calling himself Al Capone launches a raid on the Tower of London with the intent of stealing the Crown Jewels. The police are notified but treat the report as a publicitly stunt.

Characters

 * Captain Scarlet
 * Unity City correspondent
 * Al Capone

Worldbuilding

 * Captain Scarlet is described as Earth's "greatest weapon" in the fight against the Mysterons.
 * Thunderbird 1 and Thunderbird 2 located the source of the earthquakes after the discovery of a clue found by a dead man in the desert.

Story notes

 * This story is another crossover with Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Thunderbirds and Front Page.
 * Notably, this story styles the name of Captain Scarlet's organisation in full capitals, as "SPECTRUM". "Spectrum" was the more common spelling and became almost-universally accepted as TV21 went on.

Continuity

 * The rumours of Captain Scarlet's death come "so soon" after "definite official statements" that he is absolutely indestructible. (PROSE: Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Indestructible)
 * Previous statements have denied all knowledge of any trouble on Cloudbase. (PROSE: Mysterons Destroy Cloudbase)
 * Captain Scarlet crashed his plane into what was virtually a Mysteron flying bomb and the news at the time reported his survival. (PROSE: Indestructible)
 * TV 21 has revealed that the Mysteron attempts on Cloudbase were only narrowly averted and that Captain Scarlet's indestructibility has saved SPECTRUM on several occasions. (COMIC: We Will Destroy Unity City et al.)
 * International Rescue are still in Persia assisting with and investigating the earthquakes there. (PROSE: Indestructible, Mysterons Destroy Cloudbase?)