Border Flare Up (short story)

Border Flare Up was a Dateline 2066 short story printed in TV Century 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe.

Summary
Bereznik patrol cars cross the border into Germany, thus violating the Geneva agreement of 2036. Angry shots of gunfire are exchanged as two armoured cars of the World Army Patrol come into contact with their counterpart vehicles from Bereznik. The battle rages on for about an hour though neither side sustains any casualties, with the Bereznik forces ultimately retreating back into their own country, all the while firing rockets and shells. A constant watch around the town of Szezenin is soon ordered in case similar violations occur. Additionally, Senator for Poland and Germany Horst Kowsky calls for a special meeting of the World Government to be held in Oslo, with Kowsky telling reporters ahead of the meeting that he wants the border to be hevily guarded and constantly patrolled day and night.

Meanwhile, Uranians face the grim reality that Uranus is moving away from her orbit around the Sun following the violent meteorite storms of the preceding months. Scientists state the severe storms have caused the planet to tilt and wobble into outer space and that it minutely, yet steadily, moves further towards destruction. The Uranus Government announces they have given to go ahead for a plan which is "one chance in a million". It involves two holes being bored into the polar caps and two cobalt bombs being simultaneously detonated inside them. It is hoped the effect of the two explosions will force the planet back on its original orbit, though Uranians can only wait and hope for its success.

In Unity City, Norrie Kama, the World President's Press Secretary, announces that Nikita Bandranaik will make a state visit to Mars at the end of the week. Among other attractions, Bandranaik is said to be making a special journey to go to the Universal State Fair in the capital city of Kahra. Meanwhile, two young Britons Michael Young and Murray Snow make their own arrangements to reach Kahra, planning to cycle across space using Velo-jet cycles and hoping to make the journey in under four months.

On the British Isles, it is announced that violent hail storms will fall in the morning from 08.46AM to 12.19PM. After this, the afternoon will clear and give rise to outbreaks of scattered sunshine in London and the Home Counties, Bristol and Manchester.

On Jupiter, Earth trade delegates arrive at Louville Spaceport with the intention of meeting with the Jupiter President to discuss plans for future trade between the two planets.

Finally, on Mercury, the Mercury Government grants the committee for space sport and recreations a sum of five hundred million dollars to be used to pay for the preparations for the 2068 Planet Games.

Characters

 * Horst Kowsky
 * Norrie Kama
 * Michael Young
 * Murray Snow

Worldbuilding

 * The World President's visit is scheduled to last five days.
 * The Planet Games are being held on Mercury for the first time in twenty years.

Story notes

 * Nikita Bandranaik's Press Secretary is unnamed in this story but was previously stated to be Norrie Kama in Battle in Space.

Continuity

 * Whole towns and cities have been destroyed by the storms on Uranus. (PROSE: Scoop of the Year)
 * The first attempt to plant the two cobalt bombs in the polar caps of Uranus ultimately failed, with the Space News Agency reporting that violent gales and rough [[seas prevented the convoy of boats from reaching its destination. (COMIC: The Terrorkon Harvest)
 * The Universal State Fair is a major tourist attraction. (PROSE: Thieves Steal Million Dollars, Universal State Fair)