Participation II - Eight.

1 = first name

"Mobile Control to Thunderbird Two." Scott's voice sailed out of the radio.

We both jumped. "How do we operate the radio?" I wondered out loud.

"Don't worry I can hear you." Scott said. "I'm just going to keep you up with the play. There's about ten people trapped in a bunker at the centre of the factory. The walls of the bunker are solid concrete about a metre thick. They can't get out because the explosion happened directly outside their only exit. AND" he said with emphasis. "The plant's owners installed a 'security' mechanism whereby if there was any form of disruption, all locks would be instantly fused shut."

"Security!" I exclaimed. "Whose security."

"Obviously not their employees." Scott said grimly. "As an additional 'security' measure the owners ensured that all systems in the plant would shut down automatically. That includes ventilation."

"Nice!" Trixie commented sarcastically.

"Virgil's going to go in first in the 'Firefly' to clear the way for John. John's going to operate the 'Laser Cutter Vehicle' to cut a hole in the door to get them out. While he's doing that Virgil'll come back and get the 'Firebus' to collect the victims. I'll keep us all on open communication so that you can hear what's going on too. From now on though, I'll only contact you directly if it's essential, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks Scott." I said.

"What do you suppose the 'Firefly', 'Laser Cutter Vehicle' and 'Firebus' are?" Trixie asked me.

"I have no idea. I've only ever seen the 'Mole'. And it looked weird. I wonder what the others will be like."

One of the video images that Virgil had set up for us, started vibrating, telling us that we would soon find out.

We craned our necks to peer out of the flight decks windows. We could see Scott, still seated at Mobile Control, looking towards Thunderbird Two's open pod, but as yet no sign of any of International Rescue's fabulous equipment.

I glanced at the video monitor. The image moved and then tilted down suddenly as the machine negotiated the pods ramp.

"There it is!" Trixie exclaimed.

At first all I could see was a huge bulldozer scoop, but as the machine trundled away from Thunderbird Two I could make out it's squat shape and yellow and red colour scheme. It turned to make for its objective, and above the caterpillar tracks it ran on, I could make out the word 'Firefly'.

"How's he going to get in there?" Trixie asked. "There isn't a gate big enough here..."

Without stopping, or even slowing down, Virgil drove the 'Firefly' directly through the security wall of the plant, pulverising the concrete as he went.

"Oh!" Trixie exclaimed. "Well that was easy."

The 'Firefly' disappeared behind a building and we turned our attention to the video screens. Ahead of us the fire raged.

"'Firefly' to Mobile Control." We could hear Virgil's voice.

"Mobile Control." Scott acknowledged.

"I'm inside the complex. There's pipes everywhere. I'm going to have to plough through some of them. Can you get me any info. as to which I should be avoiding?"

"F.A.B." There was a short pause. "The smaller ones are for water, coolants and electrical ducting and have been shut down. Anything over a metre diameter should be avoided as being possibly explosive or corrosive."

Virgil was silent for a moment as he digested this information. I looked at his video link. I could see the pipes he was referring to. Most appeared to be at least a metre round. Eventually he spoke. "Scott. I'm gonna need more help than that. Going by what you've just said MOST of these pipes are dangerous. Can't someone do something about them?"

"Negative. That's one system the owners didn't want shutting down."

"Well no one said this job was going to be easy." Virgil sighed. "Guess I'll just have to make my own bridge." Through the video camera we could see him start to scrape the debris he'd just created near one of the larger pipes.

Another of the other video images started to move. John was shifting one of the other bits of equipment outside, ready for use. Once again Trixie and I strained to see this new mechanical marvel.

This one was quite small, at least compared to the 'Firefly' and its colour was solid rescue red. The operator sat in a small cabin above the machine's caterpillar tracks. The only remarkable item was a long probe thing that stuck out in front of the operator.

"It doesn't look much like a bus." Trixie thought out loud. "It must be the 'Laser Cutter Vehicle'."

As John climbed out of this machine and ran back towards Thunderbird Two, I had to agree with her.

Looking back at the 'Firefly's' video I could see that Virgil was still piling up bits of concrete. It seemed that every time he got it to a reasonable height the weight of the 'Firefly' would cause the 'bridge' to sink back down again.

International Rescue's final masterpiece of engineering was being manoeuvred out of the Pod. It was the 'Firebus'.

It was yellow and red.

It had no windows.

It looked like a bus.

"Well that's exciting." I said dryly to Trixie.



There was a slight jolt and Thunderbird Two started descending, we assumed back over Pod Five.

"Going down." Trixie said impishly." Next floor fire sale."

"I wish they'd think to warn us first." I said a trifle crossly.

"Oh 1." Trixie laughed. "You've got no sense of adventure."

"'Firefly' to Mobile Control." We could hear Virgil's voice.

"Mobile Control" Scott acknowledged.

"What are these buildings in my vicinity?"

"Canteen, locker rooms, administration rooms..."

"Anything dangerous stored inside."

There was a slight pause. I guessed that Scott was conferring with someone nearby. "Negative."

"Good!" We watched the video image as Virgil reversed the 'Firefly' and then rammed a building head on.

Looking out the cockpit windows we saw one of the concrete monstrosities collapse.

Trixie and I started clapping and yelling, urging Virgil on.

"'Firefly' to Mobile Control."

"Go ahead Virgil."

"Could you tell the cheerleading squad to quieten down? I can't concentrate with all that noise. I don't want any of these buildings falling in the wrong place."

We could hear Scott chuckling as he replied with a "F.A.B." He then added, "Did you two hear that?"

We quietened down.

Bits of Canteen, locker rooms, and administration rooms were piled up on either side of the obstructing pipe. The pile of debris grew higher and higher.

"Right." We heard Virgil grunt. "I'm going over."

"F.A.B. 'Firefly'. Good luck." Scott told him.