The Ransom (Part 20)
By Jenny Taylor
"Right, everyone knows what to do?" Scott asked everyone in the room.
He had briefed everyone in the house, including Colonel Casey and their London agents, Lady Penelope and her trusty chauffeur Parker via the holo-calls, about the plan on how to rescue Virgil.
On the way back from the Sydney Tower rescue mission 20 hours ago, Scott alongside with John, Gordon and Alan, decided not to mention the name of their long-lost friend Doctor Jaycee Anderson, whom had suggested a plan on how to rescue their kidnapped brother.
Scott felt that, given that they haven't received the full story on what happened between Cr. Anderson and the colonel, it's too risky to mention her as that may cause more problems, plus they need to hear from their military family friend, her side of the story, once they freed and rescued Virgil, in order to get to the bottom of the situation between the two females.
They had told her what they had learned about the kidnapping and the threats being made. And from that information, she was able to formulate a fool-proof plan on how to rescue Virgil, which was accepted by the brothers with hope and delight.
This made Scott wished that he wants her to join International Rescue, not only for her skills (of which he doesn't fully yet), but also to comfort and reunite her into the family, especially for Virgil. But he decides to wait until the right moment comes and once the situations are finally sorted out.
Jaycee's plan involves Thunderbirds 2, 4, 5 and S and it comes in stages.
The first stage involves Scott, Gordon, Alan and Kayo. The boys will be in Thunderbird 2 carrying Module 4, pretending to be out on a mission, when in-fact that they'll be flying circuits around the island, while Kayo in Thunderbird Shadow hovers around the last known location where the transmission of the Hood's threats were made.
The second stage starts when The Hood tries to make contact with the family, by this point John forwards the signal to Thunderbirds 2 and S as well as the International Rescue base, so that Scott distracts and tries to delay the Hood.
The third stage involves John, alongside with Brain's genius at base, will use the powerful sensors of Thunderbird 5 in order to locate Virgil by using his stolen personal communicator which will be used by the Hood.
The fourth stage starts when John has located the Hood and sends the co-ordinates to the 2 Thunderbirds, by which the 2 machines will head towards it at top speed, until they're at the location which they cannot be seen by the crewmen of the villain's ship.
The fifth stage starts when they reach a suitable distance away from the Hood's ship, unseen, when Thunderbird 2 deploys Module 4 and allows Gordon in Thunderbird 4 to reach the location underwater.
The sixth stage starts when the Hood has run out of patience and orders his minions to dump Virgil into the ocean, by then Gordon, in Thunderbird 4, would be in position to retrieve the second eldest of the brothers from the freezing depths of the ocean blue.
The seventh stage starts when Virgil is retrieved, Gordon then takes him back to Thunderbird 2 and then the green giant of the fleet will take its owner back to base for medical assistance, while Kayo deals with the Hood.
Even though this rescue plan was thought up by Jaycee, she refused to include the GDF, which doesn't surprise the boys in the least, but…after they left her back in Sydney and on their way home, Scott decided to include the GDF in the plan, because he wants justice to what the Hood did to his dad but also to his gentle giant and intermediate younger brother, Virgil. And the only way this can be done is with the aid of the Global Defence Force.
His younger brothers had agreed to this for 2 reasons, first is to make everyone else think that it is them who came up with the idea and not Virgil's long lost girlfriend. And secondly the GDF has the authority and fire power to take down the world's most wanted criminal.
Now, they are at home going through the details of the amended plan one last time before getting into positions for the next stage of 'Rescue Virgil'. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We've got less than an hour before the Hood calls." John informed the others.
"Thanks John," Said Scott before turning towards the other members of International Rescue. "Right! Let's get the 'birds' ready. We take-off about 15 minutes before the deadline." He ordered them.
"We've already checked the Thunderbird 2, like…12 hours ago Scott." Wailed Alan.
"Yeah," Gordon nodded in agreement with his only little brother. "And I've checked Thunderbird 4, 3 days ago." He complained, but Scott shook his head sadly.
"I know that, but if we're going to pull this off and successfully rescue Virgil. We need these required Thunderbirds in tip-top condition and to be ready for anything unexpected." He replied calmly in reassurance to the Terrible Two, before turning to the eldest to the two. "Gordon, I want you to double and triple check your 'bird', while Alan and I do the same with Virgil's 'bird', okay?"
Gordon nodded, got up and walked towards his entrance to his little yellow submarine to do the required checks. Then Alan followed Gordon, but not Thunderbird 4 but 2 in order to make a start of the checks. Scott stood to look at Brains and Kayo. Kayo nodded at the unspoken request and headed towards her 'bird' for the same checks.
"I-I take it th-that you want me t-to liaise with J-John with the scanners." The scientist asked the Field Commander, with was replied with a simple nod. And with that, Brains got up and walked towards his lab, followed by his creation M.A.X. Scott gaze followed the scientist, his face was filled with concern and doubt.
"What's the matter Scott? Are you feeling alright?" The voice of the British aristocrat broke Scott's thoughts and brought him back into reality as he turned to face his British bound agents and the military colonel, which all three were looking concerned about the eldest of the brothers.
"I'm fine Lady Penelope. I'm just worried that if the plan doesn't work and we may never Virgil again." He looked down towards his feet.
"It will work Scott." Scott looks up towards the military voice of confidence and determination. "YOU explained the plans several times now within the past 19 hours or so. And I've agreed to that, plus I've got my men on stand-by and are about to leave to the last known co-ordinates when that transmission had last occurred, as well as the men and equipment that I can spare around the Pacific Rim coastline.
"All you need to do is to do your part of the plan and follow through. Also the plan you told sounds fool-proof, which I find most curious though." Scott looked a bit worried as Colonel Casey voiced her thoughts, which the British agents and Grandma became curious. "Although you said that you came up with the plan, but the plan seems a bit more detailed than anything that you would normally come up with."
Scott held his breath, had he just blown his cover? He shook his head to get rid of those thoughts quickly so he could make an excuse. "Sometimes it takes situations like these when people do something unexpected." He shrugged as he tries to hide his panic, but his voice betrayed him and Grandma's glare shot at him down like a ton of bricks.
"DON'T even lie to me young man!" She got up and stormed straight up to her eldest grandson, pointing her right index finger at him. Even though that Scott is taller and stronger than his elder, but the fierce look in her eyes tells him that he won't be able to escape from the glare which made him feel like a little kid again.
"I maybe older than you and I can tell that your lying, because the length of time I spent with you boys almost every day since your mother's accident." Scott winced at the memory of his mom's death but stayed still in shame as Grandma continues to speak. "I won't ask you again Scott. Who gave you boys the idea on how rescue Virgil? Not that I'm complaining."
Scott gulped nervously. He wants to get away from the interrogation of the elders, (Grandma and Colonel Casey) so he can get help Alan checking Thunderbird 2's console. Alan, Scott smacked his forehead with the balls of his palm. How the hell did I forget him? I promised him that I would help him! He looked up to see faces of confusion to his actions, so he stood up straight and went into command-mode.
"Sorry Grandma, but this conversation would have to wait until we get Virgil home, could you and Brains get the infirmary ready just in-case of Virgil needing medical attention?"
The old lady nodded and walked towards the direction of the medical room, but she stops temporarily to give Scott the glare saying this conversation isn't over, before continuing in the direction of travel. Scott sighed. He knew that he and his brothers would have a load of questions aiming at them when Virgil arrives home safely.
But now, it's the case of rescuing him and bringing him home unharmed.
"You did that on purpose, Scott!" Came an unhappy commander-in-chief of the Global Defence Force. He spun around to face her hologram.
"Sorry colonel, but I need to go and help Alan with Thunderbird 2 and get her ready for the mission in…" He paused as he looked for the time. "Half an hour. Later everyone." He turned and headed down towards his intermediate little brother's favourite Thunderbird.