Zero X: Four Crew Missing (short story)

Zero X: Four Crew Missing was a Dateline 2088 short story printed in Action 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe.

Summary
The jinx affecting Zero X strikes again as contact is lost with the Martian Excursion Vehicle. Navigator Brad Newman, still aboard the main body of the ship, reports that this happened six hours prior when the MEV was enveloped by a freak dust-storm. Meanwhile, the controller of Kahra reiterates his established position that the Zero X crew could expect no assistance from the colony, explaining again they did not have the required fuel to search the wastelands, adding that the Mysteron City on their doorstep gave Kahrans "enough to worry about".

Also, in the midst of tensions surrounding a potential war with Astra, World President Lhomel urges trust in the people of Astra while speaking from his Unity City office. He states that where humans have evolved physically, they have evolved mentally. Lhomel further says that, though he is not yet in possession of all the facts, he believes the battle on the Astran border was somehow caused by the influence of the Mysterons.

Finally, Captain Scarlet is confirmed to be alive, with the first pictures confirming this available on page 8.

Characters

 * Brad Newman
 * Captain Scarlet
 * Lhomel
 * Controller of Kahra
 * Paul Travers
 * Greg Martin

Worldbuilding

 * The controller of Kahra voices his concern that if he sent men out searching for the Zero X crew they might never come back.

Story notes

 * This story was a tie-in to the Zero X story Rock Snakes of Mars, the Fireball XL5 story Ceasefire — But War Tension Mounts..., and the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons story We Will Destroy Unity City.

Continuity

 * The Zero X "jinx" was previously mentioned in PROSE: 'Jinx Ship' Blasts Off For Mars.
 * Controller of Kahra Lionel Lurie had earlier explained in a press conference why the Zero X crew could expect no help from them, as seen in PROSE: 'Jinx Ship' Blasts Off For Mars.
 * World President Lhomel urges trust in the people of Astra, preceding his efforts to arrive at a peaceful solution in COMIC: Ceasefire — But War Tension Mounts... and COMIC: President Offers Peace....
 * Lhomel accuses the Mysterons of causing the battle on the Astran border, a claim he had made in PROSE: Captain Scarlet in Death Crash!.
 * Lhomel states that even the threat of destruction could not keep him away from Unity City, referencing the Mysteron threat from COMIC: We Will Destroy Unity City and his return to the city against Spectrum's advice in PROSE: Captain Scarlet in Death Crash!.
 * Although thought to have died in a mid-air jet collision in PROSE: Captain Scarlet in Death Crash!, Captain Scarlet is alive.