Positive response, that's what I like to see :)

Now, I would just like to mention something that I think I should clear up now. I realise that John/Kayo is quite a popular ship now, and that their interaction in the last chapter was quite flirtatious, but chances are that it won't be happening in any of my stories. Sorry :(

This is for two reasons. One is that I ship Kayo/Alan (for obvious reasons) and the other is that I have the head-canon that John is asexual, preferring the solitude of space :). So I'm very sorry to anyone who reviewed and expressed an interest in Jayo, but it won't be happening I'm afraid :S.

I hope this won't discourage you from reading the rest of the story. Please read and review :)

…..

"Scott? Scott, what's wrong?"

Scott pushed past his brother, his hand still pressed firmly against the lump at the back of his head. "Nothing, where are the rest of the terrorists?"

"In the pod, many of them are still unconscious, but those who aren't are secure. We're going to transport them to the GDF…do you need me to look at that head wound?"

Scott shook his head and winced, "I'm good. I'll put some ice on it during the journey."

Virgil frowned as he watched Kayo climb into Thunderbird S and take off. "I'm sorry?"

"I'm coming with you to the GDF. Colonel Casey and I need to have a chat."

…

"You just can't help yourself can you? You just had to get involved!"

Colonel Casey didn't even glance up from her paperwork at Scott's entrance, "Yes, please do come in Mr Tracy…and I needed the information on that ship as General Cooper is certainly not giving me any details."

"I need to be informed if someone has another mission, I could have brought along another agent to help with the hostages!"

"I don't need to tell you anything Mr Tracy…"

"Yes you do! Especially when lives are on the line!"

"International Rescue was brought in to ensure that didn't happen…"

"We were told the ship was sinking, which it wasn't. International Rescue work as a natural disaster response team, not as your personal covert team! If everyone is off doing their own thing, it becomes chaotic and people get hurt! Or people escape, like Klattenhoff!"

Colonel Casey frowned at Scott before indicating that he should follow her. They walked into an elevator which then began to descend. "I'm assuming your brothers won't mind being kept waiting?"

Scott shrugged, "Virgil said that it might take a while to process the men that we did manage to stop. He and Gordon will be here a while I think…why?"

Colonel Casey smirked as the elevator came to a stop, "Are you aware that the crime rate has gone up worldwide, by almost five percent. Now I know that doesn't seem like a lot to you, but I can assure you…it's becoming a problem."

"I hope this isn't your 'International Rescue should work as a separate police force' recruitment speech…"

The doors opened to reveal a large warehouse-like complex, men bustling around three large air-bases which appeared to be heavily equipped with weaponry. The pair walked through the complex, Scott's eyes widening with every new sight.

"These are our response to the rising crime levels…" stated Casey, "…no need for International Rescue to get involved. Of course, we had some help from your tech expert and your space operative in the design of these bases, but aside from that, your organisation has no reason to be anything other than a response team."

"What are they?"

"This is Project Dōsatsu. Three air-bases that are synced to a triad of satellites. Thanks to your brother and Brains, these ships never have to come down, the new rockets guarantee this. The information that is sent to them via the satellites can spot a terrorist before they even have chance to attack someone. With the new weaponry that we have been developing, we can reduce the number of global threats and make this world a little safer."

"Did you tell John or Brains what the designs were actually going to be used for?"

"We decided not to fully inform them. As far as they're aware, these are merely surveillance bases."

"You do know John is practically a pacifist right? Brains as well, they would be horrified to know what these designs are being used for!"

Colonel Casey shrugged, "Sadly, it's the way of the world. I'm sure they'll understand eventually."

Scott glanced around, "You know…Dad always used to say that the punishment should only come after the crime. It practically became his catchphrase at one point, especially when Virgil, Alan and I would catch Gordon preparing one of his pranks. We'd yell and scream at him until Dad came in. He'd say that it wasn't our job to punish Gordon, even if it seemed like he was doing something he shouldn't, because we had no proof that the prank would have been harmful in any way. The punishment should fit the crime, not precede it."

"We can no longer afford to wait that long…" sighed Casey, "…it's gotten to the point where, now that we know the Hood is a legitimate threat, the world is in grave danger. It took all of my influence to persuade the army, air-force and the navy that this threat is bigger than all of us combined and that we needed something extra in order to combat it. The world is safer because of these."

Scott rolled his eyes, "Yes, by pointing a gun at everybody's head and calling it freedom…" he scoffed, "…this isn't freedom, it's fear!"

His communicator beeped and he turned away, walking back to the elevator, "Now, if you'll excuse me Colonel Casey, I have somewhere to be."

….

"Today marks the anniversary of our Father's disappearance…" Scott stated into the microphone, the radio host frowning in sympathy, "…and I wish that I could say that it's gotten easier for me and my family. The truth is that it hasn't…in fact, it can be argued that it's gotten harder, not knowing whether he's dead or alive. But, I would like to take this time to thank the media for its support during this difficult time and we thank you for respecting our privacy."

The host nodded, "We are sorry for your loss. Now, when you came in this afternoon, you told our producers that you will be having your Father declared legally dead over the course of the net year. Can you explain your reasoning behind the decision, after all, Jeff's body hasn't been found!"

Scott sighed, "We can't live like this anymore. Every time there is news of a fallen aircraft being found, I can see the hope in my little brothers eyes grow, and then fade when it is revealed that the plane is not our Father's. By having him declared dead, a little bit of that burden is lifted and maybe we'll be able to move on."

"And if your Father is found?"

"Then we'll retract the document to the best of our ability, but if I'm honest…the process will take a while anyway and if our Dad does show up in that time, then we'll have some peace of mind. Thank you for speaking to me, but I need to be at home for my brothers right now."

…

The mid-afternoon sun cast shadows over John and the gravestone. "You would have been proud of him Mom…" he whispered,"…Scott's suffering just as much as the rest of us, yet he was willing to speak to hundreds, even thousands of people!"

He glanced at the ground, "I could never have done that…not as well as Scott anyway."

"You underestimate yourself Star…" chuckled a voice from behind him. Spinning around, he saw his Grandma approaching, "…you could have done it just as well."

John shrugged, "Maybe…is he back yet?"

"Not yet…though Brains tells me that it shouldn't be long now."

"Okay…" John gently patted the top of his mother's grave, "…I'll speak to you later Mom…I promise. But right now, I need to be with my brothers."

….

Colonel Casey sighed as she was refused access to the information on the hard drive once again. She had tried everything, using the top access codes that were only available to her and several leading officers within the armed forces and even decryption programs. Picking up the phone, she made an important phone call.

"Lady Penelope?...Yes, this Colonel Casey, I was wondering if you would be able to pick something up for me. Something that requires a delicate touch…You can be here in an hour?...Excellent, you know the code to my office and even if you didn't, I'm sure Parker could deal with that problem. It'll be in a package on my desk…No, I have someone to see."

45 minutes later, Colonel Casey found herself striding up the stairs towards General Cooper's office. Sitting just outside of the door, was Cooper's personal assistant, who was just as unfamiliar to the colonel as Cooper himself.

The man was skinny, with black greasy hair and dark eyes, a snake-like smirk on his face. "Can I help you?" The man, who was called Christian Braun, asked.

"Yes, I'd quite like to see General Cooper."

"I'm afraid he's in a meeting right now, may I take a message?"

"No…what you can do is pull him out of the meeting. I'm sure that whatever it's about, can wait. I need to speak with him."

Christian shrugged, "I don't know Colonel. General Cooper said that he was discussing national security. Probably something to do with the incident earlier today…"

"Consider me to be uncaring Braun…now will you please go and fetch him, or will I have to go in there myself?"

Christian scowled, before speaking into his desk microphone. "General Cooper, Colonel Casey is here to see you…she is rather persistent."

There was silence before the door behind Christian opened to reveal a large, bald man with a bushy moustache. General Cooper himself.

"I had hoped it would be the last I would see of you today Colonel Casey. If this about the information on the ship that was held hostage today, then I'm afraid I can't help you."

Casey tilted her head, "I think you might want to listen to this…I have reason to believe that there is going to be an attack on either the US armed forces, the GDF or possible both. Project Dōsatsu needs to be put off, at least until I'm more aware of what this threat may entail."

General Cooper frowned, "According to reports, you were the one who persuaded my predecessor to pursue this course of action, and from what I've read, this project may be the best thing for this country."

"Yes, which is exactly the reason why we need to sort out this problem. I have a feeling that if we just ignore it, then the last thing we want is for those air-bases to be in the air."

General Cooper frowned, "Hmph, and what makes you think that there is actually a problem…or is it just a feeling, because if that's so, then there is nothing I can do!"

"No, it's not just a feeling…one of the rescuers found something suspicious that made me doubt whether this project is the best thing to be doing right now."

"What did they find?"

Colonel Casey glanced suspiciously at the General, "Nothing to worry about. I've got a London agent on the case. She'll find out what's going on and then once I know, you'll know. Is that alright General?"

There was silence for a few minutes before the General reluctantly nodded, "Alright Ma'am."

"Thank you General. Now, I have paperwork to do and you have a meeting. Good day" Casey saluted and left. The General and his assistant watched, uneasy looks on their faces.

….

"Scott! Scott!"

Scott grinned as he entered the main living area to hear his younger brother, Alan.

"Hey, Speed. What's up?" Scott exclaimed tiredly.

Alan frowned at Scott's tone of voice, "Virgil said that you were stressed. When he dropped you off, he said that you had a bad time during the mission?"

Scott sighed, "I just bumped heads with Kayo a little…and then Klattenhoff's steel pipe bumped my head…hard. So yeah…I'm a little annoyed."

Alan smiled in sympathy, "Aah, understood…we all listened to that speech by the way. Thanks for volunteering with that, I know I couldn't have done it…"

Forgetting everything that he'd been through earlier that day, Scott pulled his brother into a large hug. "Thanks Alan…I think I needed to hear that today."

Suddenly Scott's communicator began to ring. Pulling away from Alan, Scott answered. "Lady Penelope. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Lady Penelope's face appeared, "Scott…we have a situation. Colonel Casey has just given us a usb that may contain sensitive information. We haven't been able to access anything on it so we're going to head on over to the island…well, at least when we get onto a clear stretch of road. Brains and John may have better luck than us."

Scott nodded. "FAB…" he closed down the communication and sighed, "…there goes my hopes of having a quiet evening together."