Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

Operation Delta.

By Lee Homer

Disclaimer: All rights reserved.

Chapter One

It was midnight over Southern America. High above the country at a safe altitude, Cloudbase remained on it's ever continuing vigil against the Mysterons. A Spectrum Magnacopter touched down on the flight deck under the secure cover of Darkness. Colonel White had been expecting a very important visitor. The new Vice President of Space Defence. The Vice President had arrived to discuss a plan of his that would wage a secret attack against the Mysterons. Sadly, he had expected opposition on the matter, and Spectrum was no surprise to him.

As he entered the conference room, he was greeted by the Colonel himself. Captain Scarlet and Captain Blue sat at the crystal clear ring table. After the somewhat awkward pleasantries, the Vice President took his seat and began to tell it straight to the officers.

"Colonel, Thank you for organising this meeting. Now I'm aware of Spectrum's concerns regarding the proposed Operation Delta, but I felt that telling you in person would help quash any problems."

"Mr. Vice President, Spectrum are quite aware of the details surrounding Operation Delta." Colonel White replied. "However, it clashes with Spectrum's motives. For the past year, Spectrum has made endless attempts to put personnel on Mars. We hope to force a peaceful settlement on them."

"With all due respect Colonel, that hasn't worked now has it?" the Vice President replied. "We've tried reasoning with them, bargaining with them and look at what it has done. Our political powers were threatened, our bases and vital installations have been destroyed. The way I see it, we've finished reasoning with them. It's about time we destroyed them on their home ground."

"You clearly underestimate the power of the Mysterons." Captain Blue interjected. "They have powers we still can't understand. We still need to learn about them. What tactics they use?"

"You forget Captain, when you retrieved the pulsator from Crater 101, you inadvertently placed your own organisation in danger. That's what the Mysterons do. They play deceitful mind games. Well, we're done with that. Now while we're on the subject, the World President has instructed me to ask for Spectrum's co-operation during the talks."

Colonel White grunted. "We will co-operate with the President's request. I'll send Captain's Scarlet and Blue to accompany you at the Maximum Security Centre in Sydney, Australia. I've already spoken with President of Space Defence and the other delegates. The meeting will be held there under our security."

"Very well Colonel. Thank you." The Vice President replied. "I trust I'd get to learn a lot more about you, Captain Scarlet."

"There will be plenty of time for that sir," Scarlet replied.

As the Vice President left the conference room, Scarlet turned to face his superior officer.

"He is a very ignorant man." he moaned. "He made it out as if we were ignorant!"

"That will do, Captain," White replied calmly. "Naturally I agree with you, but I fear the Mysterons will somehow find out about Operation Delta. They may try to assassinate him. Despite their powers, they have become quite predictable."

"What are our orders, sir?" Blue asked.

The Colonel briefed them of their orders. "Our primary objective is to persuade him to drop the project, but I also want you to serve as his protection. I want you both to accompany him to the meeting in Australia and watch out for any suspicious activity. If we're successful, we'll be able to continue our efforts as well prevent another Mysteron attack. Right, that's all."

"S.I.G." Scarlet acknowledged. "we'll leave right away."

"This is the voice of the Mysterons. We know that you can hear us Earthmen. Your ignorant attempts to destroy us have been revealed. We will silence Operation Delta. Hear us Earthmen. Operation Delta will be no more..."

A small black military sedan cut across the Australian countryside. Inside were two of the delegates that were heading for the meeting. At the wheel, Colonel Daniel Ford had kept a close eye on the clock. They were making good progress. His passenger was Colonel Ethan Francis. He was carrying a black briefcase which contained secret documents for he meeting. The case had been locked to his wrist.

"We should be there in an hour," Ford said as they travelled down an empty lane. "Have you got our security passes ready?"

"Yep, I have right here," Francis replied as he tapped his breast pocket. "Fancy having Spectrum on security detail.

"Well as far I'm concerned, they are the best when it comes to security. This meeting will be over before we know it."

Unbeknownst to the confident men, Captain Black lingered by the entrance to a small tunnel. He had placed charges at either end of the tunnel in an attempt to trap the men. He quickly made his way to a safe spot and waited. Using his binoculars, the Mysteron Agent spotted the car on the horizon. He followed the car with his deathly gaze as it entered the tunnels entrance. He picked up the small pocket sized trigger and hit the button. The charges detonated, forcing the tunnel to cave in on itself. The two colonels couldn't have stood a chance. Captain Black made a hasty walk towards the other end of the tunnel. A black sedan materialised outside the caved in entrance. As it began to crawl along the road, the two green Mysteron rings appeared, scanning their replicated car and it's occupants all over. Just like their previous replications, the Mysteron agents proceeded towards their destination quickly and calmly.

Meanwhile, Spectrum made their way through the streets of Sydney. Captain's Scarlet and Blue had accompanied the Vice President in an MSV which had arrived to collect them at the airport. They MSV had an escort comprised of two Spectrum Saloons and the Angel fighters that combed the skies overhead. Spectrum's secret truck transporter followed them, transporting the Vice President's staff. They were accompanied by Captain Ochre.

The Vice President sat comfortably in his seat, treating the ride as if it was a sightseeing tour. Captain Scarlet sat next to him. He had just received a call from Cloudbase. His cap microphone swung up into position.

"That was Cloudbase. It's just as we thought. The Mysterons know about Operation Delta." he said as he told the others. "We've been ordered to remain on red alert."

The Vice President found the news hard to believe. "Destroy it? That's impossible! Operation Delta hasn't even been discussed yet, how could they have known about it?"

"They Mysterons seem to have a sixth sense power much like Captain Scarlet," Blue explained. "This demonstrates how unpredictable they can be."

"Well, just how do they intend to do it?"

"We don't know, but they will have Twenty-Four hours in which to strike," Scarlet replied. "The Mysterons tend to carry out their War of Nerves in day periods. Anything could happen."

"We better radio ahead and alert the security teams at the centre," Blue suggested. "I don't like this one bit."

"S.I.G. Captain Blue."

The Mysteron replicants arrived at the maximum security centre. They pulled up in the main parking lot and calmly made their way towards the security check post. Three security officers manned the screening post. Two men were positioned at the front wielding rifles while the third man sat behind with a Mysteron detector. The Mysteron Ford stared at the detector from a distance. He used his powers to disable the detector's circuits, rendering it inoperative. He then replaced it with a fake lens in order to fool the guard.

"Gentlemen, can I see your Identifications please?" the guard asked them.

"Certainly." Ford complied as he handed the man their ID's. "I am Colonel Ford and this is Colonel Francis. We're two of the delegates."

The Security Guards combed their ID's passes. With a stern look, he returned the passes to the men.

"Okay, they check out. You may proceed. Sorry for the delay Gentlemen."

As soon as the two Mysteron replicants disappeared from view, The MSV motorcade arrived. The doors opened and Captain Blue stepped out to show the guards there ID's.

"Is everything okay here, Gentlemen?" he asked them.

"Everything is okay here sir." One of the security guards said. "We've just finished screening the delegates but the last two seemed to have a look of thunder on their faces."

Scarlet overheard the guard. "What were their names?"

"Colonel Daniel Ford and Colonel Ethan Frances. They're ID's checked out so I cleared them." The guard explained. "They just seemed strange that's all."

"Okay, we'll keep an eye on them," Scarlet replied as they headed for the elevator.

"Something troubling you Captain?" Blue asked him.

"I don't know," Scarlet replied. "I just have this feeling something is about to go horribly wrong."

a few hours had passed and all the delegates had gathered in the main conference room. The Vice President took his seat. Captain Scarlet and Captain Blue sat beside him. The tension in the room was so thick that anyone could cut it with a knife. Ford sat down at the opposite end of the room. Frances had managed to sneak out of the room. He was waiting in the parking lot in case there was more to be done. The Vice President began the meeting, passing the classified documents across the room as he went.

"Gentlemen, what you are looking at are the classified designs of the Delta B13 Missile. It's been designed specifically to travel to Mars. Onboard amongst the live warhead itself is a specialised guidance system that will allow the missile to reach the Mysterons undetected. Once it locates their complex, it will dive right into it, destroying everything within a fifty-mile radius. Now it's our best effort to rid our universe of this menace once and for all. We've let this war wage on far enough Gentlemen and I think it's time we made the move. Now naturally I would like you all to study the designs and make a decision before we vote on it."

"Did you tell him about their retro-metabolism abilities?" Blue whispered to Scarlet.

"No, and it's not like he would listen anyway. This is ridiculous." Scarlet replied.

After the delegates had discussed the missile, Ford rose from his seat. Scarlet began to feel a heavy presence in the room. It was coming from the Colonel. He reached for the emergency exit button and waited for the moment. He knew that Ford was a Mysteron Agent. Blue looked over towards him and noted the look on his friends face. The Vice President rose from his seat to find out about the vote.

"So gentlemen. Do I have your complete support?" He asked them.

Suddenly, Ford spoke. "Earthman! You will never build that missile!"

"Everybody out now!" Scarlet bellowed.

Scarlet and Blue drew their guns as the delegates hurried for the exits. The Vice President hurried towards the emergency elevator. The Mysteron agent drew his gun and fired, narrowly missing the two Spectrum officers.

"Get to the elevator," Scarlet said to Blue. "I'll cover you and draw his fire."

"S.I.G."

As the gunfight continued, Scarlet called out to his opponent.

"Drop your weapon! Don't be a fool."

"It won't make a difference Earthman. You will all die!"

Suddenly, the Mysteron agent began to smoke. Scarlet recognised this sign once too often. He dived for the emergency elevator and closed the door. The elevator whisked the three men down into a secure bunker that was deep underground. Within seconds, the building exploded into dust. Debris was thrown about the place. A huge fireball erupted, catching the eye of Destiny Angel who flying high above. She reported the event to Cloudbase.

"Angel Leader calling Cloudbase control. There has been an explosion at the Sydney Maximum Security Building. Report total destruction."

Deep beneath the ground, the two Captains, and the Vice President had successfully made it to the bunker. They headed for the secret exit which houses an SPV in the parking lot. Blue wiped the sweat and soot off of his face.

"Phew, that was a close one. Are you alright?" he asked his comrade.

"I'm fine. Ford was a Mysteron agent." Scarlet replied. "Somehow they were able to get past the Mysteron detectors."

"We better find the security teams and examine their detectors," Blue said. "I can arrange the search."

"Later. First, we must return to Cloudbase." Scarlet instructed. "There's still Eight hours yet. The Mysteron threat isn't over yet."