A HELIJET belonging to the Global Defence Force was making its way across the Nevada Desert towards a secret rendezvous point. Quite a few weeks of planning and preparation had gone into this, so there was a large amount of pressure for everything to go smoothly.

Inside the helijet was Colonel Martha Casey, the head of the GDF. She was looking through one of the portholes at the brown and uninviting ground below. Such a large open area was perfect for a secret rendezvous point.

"How long have we got?" Colonel Casey called to the pilot.

"Our ETA is three minutes, ma'am," replied the pilot.

"Good," said Colonel Casey. "Then prepare for landing." She then went over to a young woman who was sitting in a chair with a blindfold over her eyes.

"Forgive me, ma'am, but are we there yet?" the woman asked.

"Almost, Ballard," replied Colonel Casey. "Just another couple of minutes."

"Thank goodness," said the woman. "If I wear this blindfold for much longer I'm going to fall asleep!"

Colonel Casey gave a chuckle as the helijet began to descend. Its VTOL engines changed from horizontal to vertical and the thrust was beginning to throw sand and dust in all directions. The landing wheels came out and it landed softly on the ground.

"We're here, Colonel," said the pilot. "Is the package ready?"

"P-package?!" Ballard spluttered indignantly.

"Calm yourself, Ballard," said Colonel Casey before speaking to the pilot. "Yes, she is, Tedford. Open the door."

The pilot pressed a button which opened the large cargo door at the front of the helijet. Colonel Casey walked down the ramp first holding Ballard by the arm. She needed to help guide her as she didn't want the blindfold to be removed just yet. Behind them, two GDF officers were carrying Ballard's belongings, not that she knew that.

"Can I take this off yet, please?" asked Ballard in annoyance. "Why all the secrecy, Colonel?"

"Not yet," said Colonel Casey. "Here will do." She stopped Ballard and then gestured to the officers to put the suitcases down. "Now, Ballard. You are to stay right here for five minutes before you take the blindfold off. Once you've done that, you will wait."

"For how long?" asked Ballard.

"Until your new employer comes to collect you," Colonel Casey said. "Good luck."

Ballard was confused. "New employer?" she asked. "What new employer?"

But Colonel Casey didn't answer for she and the two officers had already walked back into the helijet. The door closed and its engines roared as it lifted off. Ballard was alarmed by the sound and despite Colonel Casey's insistence, she removed the blindfold and watched in disbelief as the helijet flew away into the distance.

Now that she'd got over that, Ballard looked around. No wonder it was so hot, she thought for she was in the middle of the Nevada Desert. Then she noticed her two suitcases. "Great!" Ballard said out loud to herself. "This is just bloody great! I've been marooned in the middle of nowhere and now what the hell am I going to do?!"

Before she could shout any further, she heard the sound of something approaching from above. She looked up and nearly fell over in surprise, for there was a strange grey capsule descending towards her. It had four small rocket thrusters that were slowing its descent, and on the top was a cable that stretched right up into the sky. Ballard was most confused for there didn't appear to be anything hovering in the sky for the cable to be attached to. Ballard felt afraid, she reached to grab her sidearm only to find it wasn't there. Colonel Casey had removed it. Dismayed, Ballard clenched her fists ready to engage whoever or whatever was inside this mysterious capsule.

The capsule had now landed about ten metres away from where Ballard was standing and the engines powered down. There was a hiss and two doors opened in the side revealing another young woman with blonde hair. Ballard's eyes widened with surprise as she recognised the other woman. "Katrina?!"

"Hey, Becky," said Katrina Pullman. "It's been a long time."

Becky ran up to her old friend and threw her arms around her. "Oh, my God – it's been so long!" she gasped. "Where have you been?"

Katrina smiled. "Come with me and I'll show you," she said.

Together they managed to load Becky's luggage inside the capsule before sitting in two very comfortable seats on opposite sides. The doors closed and safety-bars came down to protect them. Then the engines fired up once more as the cable began to lift it back into the air.

"What is this thing?" Becky asked Katrina. "It's like being in an elevator."

"That's exactly what it is," Katrina replied. "Space elevator to be exact."

Becky was astonished. "Space?!" she repeated. "But…" She broke off and looked out of the window. No wonder she hadn't been able to see what the cable was attached to. They were now climbing through the upper atmosphere heading into space.

The elevator eventually reached its destination and docked inside a very large space-station.

"Here we are," said Katrina as the safety-bars retracted and the doors opened. She stepped out, but Becky was a bit hesitant.

"Err…where are we?" Becky asked. "Katrina, nobody's been telling me anything. Colonel Casey said I have a new employer, but I don't know who. What's going on?"

"She didn't tell you?" asked Katrina. "Well…in that case, I'd better tell you. Welcome to International Rescue!"

5! (DUN)

4! (DUN)

3! (DUN)

2! (DUN)

1!

*Title sequence*

"THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!"