Thunderbirds To The Rescue
By Lee Homer
(homel001)
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of the characters and ships that are associated with "Thunderbirds." They are the rights of TV Century 21st and Gerry Anderson. The idea is mine and it is purely fan fiction.
The story takes place after the events in "Thunderbird 6." The Tiger Moth idea isn't one of my personal favourites so I've decided to scrap it and probably have it mentioned once or twice throughout the story. Enjoy.
TIEO (The International Exploration Organisation)
Today was going to be a day that would make it's mark in the history book of space travel.The International Exploration Organisation or "TIEO" was about to initiate the project of manning a scientific research space station that was already in high orbit about the Earth. They had devoted their time into the project as it was their job to study the planet Saturn and her moons. After the success of the Zero X mission to Mars, TIEO wanted to take it to the next step and decided to see if they could get a manned space station around Saturn. The station was designed to act as a ship at first before locking itself around the planet. It was a very expensive and time consuming project to carry out, but after three years of planning and four years of construction, they were ready.
Up in the control room at a place called "Lester Field" the controller was about to brief the crew with their final instructions. Sitting infront of him, were the four astronauts that were ready to travel up the station. They all looked very nervous as it was the first mission of their careers.
"Okay Gentlemen." The controller said as he stood up straight with his hands behind his back. "These are your final instructions. It is imperative that you carry these out before you take off for the station. When you arrive at Saturn, you will lose all radio contact with us. Should danger occur and you have to abort the mission, initiate the Code Red procedure. It will start up the engines and it will automatically send you back to Earth on a fixed course. Is that clearly understood?"
He then looked at the crew members and called them out by individual names. He was proud to be doing his job and he knew that the crew would do him proud as well.
"Captain Roger Adams, Lieutenant Joe Morgan, Doctor Carter Freeman and Doctor Alex Riley. You are TIEO's finest men and it is also the first mission of your career's. I'm confident that you'll succeed in this mission and that you'll do this country proud. It may sound scary for you all, but you'll be making history and that's surely worth something. Good luck and away you go."
The four men stepped into the elevator behind them and the doors closed. They were now heading down towards a small transporter which was going to take them across to their space shuttle. A few minutes later and the elevator came to a halt. The men stepped into the transporter bus and took a seat as the bus left the main control building. They were amazed at what they saw. Amongst the fuel domes and the maintenance trucks sat the Mark 10 shuttle which was sitting there, fuelled and ready to go. The bus came to a halt and the four astronauts stepped out. The shuttle loomed over them as they climbed the service ladder and entered the entrance hatch.
Minutes later, the hatch was secure and the Astronauts were ready to go.
"Shuttle Comos to central control." Roger said clearly over his helmet microphone. "We're all set here. Ready for sixty second launch countdown?"
"Roger that Shuttle Cosmos." The controller replied. "Sixty second launch countdown will commence in five minutes."
As he switched off the microphone, the controller turned to face a young, beautiful woman with blond hair and blue eyes. Her pink outfit made her distinctive from the rest of the control tower staff. It was none other that Lady Penelope Creighton ward. She was there to see the countdown herself as she had helped TIEO with the funding of the project.
"Well Lady Penelope." The controller said as he looked over to her. "I'd like to thank you for all your help. Your generosity help made this project possible. As our token of our appreciation, we are honoured to have you present here for the launching."
"It was a pleasure to help." Penelope replied. "This launching will be a triumphant one and it will certainly make history?"
"Indeed." The controller agreed. "The very thought of man even reaching Saturn has to be a huge achievement and now we have achieved it."
"I see. How long is it now to lift off?" Penelope asked, fascinated.
The controller looked at his desk clock. As he made note of the time, his face lit up with a smile.
"They should be imitating the automatic countdown sequence in three minutes." He said. Why don't you take a seat up in the observation lounge?"
"Thank you. I'll do just that." Penelope accepted the offer.
As Penelope left the control room, the controller turned to his microphone and made an announcement to the base.
"This is central control. Will all non essential personnel please evacuate the launch area. Countdown will commence in two minutes."
At the launch pad, every vehicle rushed in all directions to get clear, fuel tanks descended below ground and the pre-launch sirens whaled in the clear blue sky.
Shuttle Cosmos
Onboard the shuttle, Roger and Joe were about the ignite the thrusters. Sitting behind them were Carter and Alex. Carter had kept his eyes on the countdown timer as it had now reached into the last thirty seconds. Roger hovered his finger over the ignition button. Ten seconds ticked by followed by another ten seconds.
"Ten…Nine…Eight…Seven…Six." Carter began.
"Initiating primary thrusters." Roger said as he hit the button.
"Three…Two…One…Lift off!" Carter finished the countdown.
The shuttle's engines roared to life, engulfing the launch pad in a bright yellow glow. The support clamps detached themselves and the shuttle lifted off into the air. It's speed increased within each passing second, that built up tremendous G-Force inside the cockpit.
"Shuttle Cosmos to central control." Roger reported in. "Height, Two Thousand Seven Hundred Feet. Speed, Five Hundred miles an hour and increasing. On course for entry."
"Confirmed, Shuttle Cosmos." The controller replied. "Initiate secondary thrusters at Eight Thousand Feet. That will get you through the atmosphere swiftly and safely."
"Roger that control." Roger replied. "Will maintain radio silence until we've passed through the atmosphere."
"Height now Four Thousand Feet." Joe said as he studied the height gauge. "Wow, we're really travelling?"
"Carter, get those secondary thrusters online, will you?" Roger ordered. "I've been reserving their power for the exact moment. When we reach Eight Thousand Feet, we should get a kick from them."
"I'm on it, Roger." Carter acknowledged. "Give me Five minutes?"
"You've got Seven?" Alex replied as he sat tight next to the fellow doctor.
"Height now Four Thousand Five Hundred Feet." Carter continued. "Our speed is now incredible."
"Cut primary thrusters in Five…Four…Three…Two…One." Roger commanded. "Cut thrusters!"
"Primary Thrusters are now offline." Carter replied as he carried out the command. "Now all we can do is decelerate to the target height."
TIEO control
"It's looking great from down here." The controller said as Lady Penelope re-entered the control room. "What did you think of that remarkable launch?"
"It was amazing." Penelope replied. "Unfortunately I have to go now. I have some important business to take care of that simply mustn't wait."
"Are you sure?" the controller responded. "Won't you stay for a little celebratory drink?"
"Thank you, but no." Penelope replied. "Thank you for inviting me to the launch. If you should ever require my help with future projects, you know where to find me?"
"Of course." the controller said, as he stood up to show Penelope out. "Take care, Lady Penelope?"
Later, Penelope stepped out of the control tower entrance, where Parker was sitting there in FAB 1 waiting for her. Penelope had Brains develop and create another FAB 1 after the original car was destroyed onboard Skyship 1 few years ago. She wasn't one for new advanced technology and simply asked the designer of International Rescue to build the original car from scratch. She loved being in it and Parker sure loved driving it.
"Home Milady?" Parker asked as Penelope took her seat.
"Home Parker." Penelope replied and the passenger door closed.
The car left the parking lot and sped off towards the interstate. They were now heading towards the airport where Parker had booked the first Fireflash flight home. It was a silent trip home and it gave Penelope the chance to contact Jeff Tracy. She opened her portable compact and spoke into it loud and clearly. Suddenly, Jeff Tracy's face appeared on the small rounded screen, replacing the mirror.
"Hi Penny." He said with a smile. "How did the launch go?"
"It was according to plan, Jeff." Penelope replied. "I had Parker check out the base for saboteurs and he there were none to be found. I think that this will be a successful mission from the start."
"That's excellent news." Jeff said as his voice echoed over the small radio receiver. "We both know how dangerous and serious this project is? We'll keep our ears open from the news broadcasts and John up in the space station. I don't want to ruin the moment, but at some point, International Rescue could be needed?"
"I understand, Jeff." Penelope replied calmly. "I will also keep you informed."
"F.A.B." Jeff acknowledged as he cut the communication line.
The screen returned to it's mirror disguise. Penelope sat back and enjoyed the ride home.
Shuttle Cosmos
The team had now reached Seven Thousand Feet. The sky had began to turn dark as the clouds below them were nothing more than tiny specks of fluff. Inside the cockpit. The remaining minutes whisked by as Roger finally gave the order to fire up the secondary thrusters. They were now at Eight Thousand Feet and Carter hit the switch. The secondary thrusters roared to life and the shuttle propelled forward at an even faster rate. The team looked on as the stars began to emerge. The blue sky had began to fade away as the cold darkness of space enveloped the craft. The engines suddenly cut and before the team knew it, they were orbiting the planet.
"Good flying gentlemen." Roger said as he mopped the sweat from his forehead and radioed back to TIEO control.
"Shuttle Cosmos to TIEO control. We are now successfully in Earth's orbit. Expected arrival at the station, fifteen minutes."
"Roger that Shuttle Cosmos. Well done." The controller replied clearly over the radio. "It's all over to you now."
Suddenly, just as Roger switched off the radio, Carter was distracted by a red blinking light.
"Erm, Roger." He said. "We've got a problem back here. I have a light in our orbital thrusters?"
"What is it?" Roger asked.
"They've not responding." Carter replied. "They must have melted or fused during take off?"
"Can you correct the problem?" Roger said as his voice began to escalate.
" Negative." Carter replied as he flicked the numerous control buttons. "They're all unresponsive. I guess we'll burn up if we don't reach the station?"
"Do we have enough height reach the station?" Alex asked.
"I'm afraid not." Roger answered worryingly as he pointed to their location on a small computer screen. "Look at our position? We're no longer in orbit. At our rate of speed and decent, I estimate that we'll burn up over Washington D.C in two hours."
"Well what are we going to do?" Carter shouted as he began to panic. "We have to contact control?"
"What are they going to do?" Roger replied "They can't help us, but I know who can?"
"Who!" Carter barked frantically.
"International Rescue." Roger said. "Control did say that they were supporting the project. Send out a message on any frequency and they'll pick it up."
"Right." Carter responded as he got to work on the radio. "Shuttle Cosmos to International Rescue. Calling International Rescue."
Thunderbird 5
John Tracy stood there and watched out his view port as Thunderbird 5 made another pass of America. It was all quiet up there until Carter's transmission was picked up.
"Shuttle Cosmos to International Rescue. Come in!"
John walked over to the radio and picked up his thin men shaped microphone.
"This is International Rescue. We are receiving you Shuttle Cosmos. What appears to be the problem."
"Our orbital thrusters have been destroyed during take off. We are now burning up. estimated impact zone, Washington D.C. We need your help? Estimated time till impact is two hours!"
"Okay Shuttle Cosmos." John replied as he used a calm assuring tone in his voice. "International Rescue are on their way."