Chapter Eleven

The Hoods Submarine

A Few Minutes Earlier

Transom kept her full attention on the displays for the sensors that were trained on the Thunderbirds island which on the surface looked like any other tropical paradise island that you would find in the South Pacific. A few minutes had passed since she'd fired the missile at Thunderbird Five causing severe damage to the space station and they were now detecting an emergency beacon signal transmitting from the wounded space station to the island. Now it was only a matter of patiently waiting for International Rescue to respond and dispatch Thunderbird Three to assist the damaged space station.

After a few minutes of waiting the first signs that they were beginning to respond came when the subs sensors suddenly recorded a change in the power levels of the islands perimeter security sensors. Power levels suddenly underwent a dramatic drop dropping right down to the point where the underwater scans at least would not penetrate the subs stealth system. Almost simultaneously the surface scan sensors mounted on a secondary periscope that they had raised so it was sitting above the surface of the sea showed the islands surface scan profile waver for a second then vanish completely. A look through their main periscope would show that the island was still there but as far as their sensors were concerned the island was gone. For a moment Transom allowed herself a feeling of admiration. The stealth technology that International Rescue had was very impressive and she would love to get her hands on the plans for it. And she would soon.

"Sir the sensors are recording a significant drop in the power level of the islands security sensors. And some sort of stealth field has just appeared around the island," she reported to the Hood.

"They must be preparing to launch," the Hood replied drawing the logical conclusion. "Can we approach the island without being detected now."

"Yes. The underwater scanners no longer have enough power to penetrate our stealth system. However if we surface they will detect us immediately. But we already knew that would most likely happen."

"Yes we did," the Hood replied knowing that Transom spoke the truth. Transom had designed and built this submarine she knew its strength's and weaknesses better than anyone and she had never hidden them from him. Her honesty was one of the reasons why she was his favourite minion and his most trusted. So much that she had become a sort confidante to him as her loyalty was absolute. "Helm take us in."

"Yes sir," the helmsman replied.

"Transom block their communications."

"Yes sir."

The Hood permitted himself a slight evil smile as he heard and felt the submarines engines start up again. Everything was proceeding almost exactly as planned. The time for revenge had come at last. And he was so going to enjoy it.

Tracy Island

Minutes Earlier

Alan Tracy sat in quiet contemplation on one to the islands beaches of pure white sand looking out at the ocean. He had only wandered for a short time after leaving the house before inevitably coming here to the beach. When he was troubled or needed to think and he was on the island this was usually the place he came to.

Predictably his thoughts were dominated by the fact that he was a metahuman no. Reluctantly he had accepted that fact, the fact that his family and close friends seemed to accept it and not consider him any different because he was one had helped him accept it. But accepting it didn't mean that he had to like it. But whether he liked it or not he was going to have to live with it as well as lean how to control and use his powers. And just how am I going to do that, he thought, somehow I doubt there is an instruction manual out there entitled 'how to control metahuman powers.'

He looked down at his hands for a moment as an idea occurred to him on how he could possibly control his powers. Pointing a hand at a nearby lump of dead coral that had been ripped from the reef surrounding the island by a storm he imagined a jet of water striking it.

For a moment nothing happened that he felt what he could only describe as a spike from the energy within him. With really thinking about it he let the surge of power through the barrier that normally contained it and the hand he was pointing began to tingle. The shimmering blue nimbus appeared around that hand and grew brighter until a beam of blue light leapt from the glowing hand to streak through the air towards the coral chunk. A moment before impact the beam turned into a powerful jet of water that tore into the block quickly starting to eat away at the naked limestone skeleton of the coral.

Well that was easy, Alan thought to himself as he stopped the energy flow and the beam and glow vanished. He was surprised to find that he did it almost without thinking. Maybe controlling these powers I've got won't be so difficult after all, he thought.

 Alan thought to himself as he stopped the energy flow and the beam and glow vanished. He was surprised to find that he did it almost without thinking. he thought.

He was about to try something else when out of the corner of his eyes he noticed that Tin-Tin was watching him.

"Hi Tin-Tin," he said turning so he could look directly at her. "How long have you been standing there?" he asked.

"Hi yourself Alan. I only just got here," Tin-Tin replied coming forward and looking at the chunk that Alan had just blasted. The jet of water had struck with such force that a sizeable piece of it had been eaten away. "Impressive demonstration. What did you…."

"Do it for," Alan finished. "Simple to practice. I didn't ask to be a metahuman but since I am then I just have to get used to it. And I have to learn the full extent of my powers and how to control them. And to do that I need to practice."

"I can understand that," Tin-Tin replied and it was clear from her tone of voice that she really did understand. Alan looked at her curiously wondering how she could understand. He was about to ask her when a distant powerful thrumming caught their attention.

They both looked around for the source of the sound of powerful motors. It didn't take them long to see that the library was moving splitting into its three component elements like it did when Thunderbird Three was about to be launched. A moment later there came a tremendous roar of sound and smoke rose from the centre of the peak almost as if the volcano that it had once been had suddenly burst back into life. Then the familiar sleek form of Thunderbird Three came shooting up through the plume of smoke riding a pillar of fire as it climbed into the sky. The booster rockets engaged and the great red rocket picked up speed so that in seconds it was impossible to see the craft directly only its trail of smoke and stream.

Alan and Tin-Tin inclined their heads watching the craft as it streaked spaceward both wondering exactly what was going on, why Thunderbird Three had been launched. John wasn't due to return to Earth until the end of next week and as far as they knew there were no astronaughts on the International Space Station at the moment and no shuttle launches were scheduled.

The sound of rustling in the bushes lining the shore caught their attention and they looked in the direction the noise was coming from. A moment later Fermat came running out of the bushes.

"Alan, Tin-Tin," Fermat panted coming to a stop and doubling over slightly his hands resting on his knees. "Thunderbird Five has been hit," he wheezed.

Alan stared at his best friend in shock and horror. Thunderbird Five hit, he thought, John! Is John okay?

"Do you know if John's okay," Alan demanded.

"I don't know Alan," Fermat replied. "All I k…kn….know is the sta…sta…station is se… sev… severely damaged."

"International Rescue can deal with it," Alan said confidently though he was deeply worried about his older brother. He hoped he was all right.

Before he could speak again he heard a loud splashing noise coming from the ocean. They all spun around to see the impossible.

A submarine had just surfaced in the lagoon. All three of them stared at the submarine in shock as it moved in closer and closer. Closer than they would have thought possible considering that the water in the lagoon was quiet shallow. Thunderbird Four could manoeuvre in the shallow water but for a sub as big as the one that had just appeared it should be impossible. Obviously whoever was behind it had technology that was comparable to their own.

The sub came close and close and they could see hatches starting to open on its top deck.

"Run," Alan said and the three of them disappeared into the jungle not wanting those emerging from the sub to see them.

Control Room

The sudden sharp bleeping of the security alarm made Brains, Peter and Gear all jump. Brains turned to look at the offending control panel and his eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"I...in…intruders," he stammered.

"What!" Peter exclaimed.

"A su...sub ha….has appeared in the la…la…lagoon."

"Are they landing anyone," Peter demanded to know.

"Yes." Peter looked at Gear and Gear knew immediately that Peter would be going out there to confront the intruders. He couldn't let him do it on his own it was his duty as a superhero to help. Even though Peter was probably fully capable of holding his own in a fight.

"You are going out there aren't you," he asked Peter.

"I have to," Peter replied determined. "I cannot allow intruders to waltz in here unchallenged."

"Then I'm coming with you," Gear replied.

"I would have been surprised if you weren't coming," Peter answered. "Brains contact Thunderbird Three and advise Jeff what's going on. Something tells me that the arrival of this sub right after Thunderbird Five being damaged is no coincidence and I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the damage was caused not by meteor impact but a missile strike. The people on that sub must also be the people who tagged Thunderbird One."

"A l....l…logical conclusion," Brains replied. "I'll call Mr T…Tracy."

Peter couldn't help but smile at hearing Jeff being referred to just as Mr Tracy. While he would call the boys all by their given names Brains never called Jeff by his given name. It was always Mr Tracy never Jeff. He knew Jeff had tried to get Brains to stop doing that to actually call him by his first name but Brains always stuck to formality just like Kyrano and Onaha did.

"Let's go Gear," Peter said to Gear heading over to the reinforced door to the command centre and using his palm print to open it, Gear followed him out of the control room bracing himself for action.

Left alone in the command centre Brains turned on the communications link.

"International Rescue to Thunderbird Three respond," he said. He was greeted only by static. "International Rescue to Thunderbird Three respond please," he tried again only to once again be met with static and silence.

Frowning Brains fed commands into the main console. A felt desperation drop on him like a ton of bricks as he saw that something – presumably the submarine – was blocking the islands communications.

Tracy Island was completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Thunderbird Three

Approaching Thunderbird Five

From his command position in Thunderbird Three Jeff Tracy observed the approach to Thunderbird Five with growing concern.

Debris from the massive explosion littered the surrounding space plunging slowly downwards into the atmosphere where it would produce a spectacular but short-lived light show for anyone on the ground that saw it. As they approached he could see the massive chunk taken out of the outer ring of Thunderbird Five the impact that had to have caused it must have been massive. It was a miracle that the station hadn't been cracked open like an egg when it had been struck.

As it was the station was very badly damaged. The main lights were off with only emergency marker beacons pulsing. Small thrusters around the outer ring were still firing sending out bursts of yellow chemical flame in an effort to counter the ominous wobble that the station had picked up.

They had managed to establish some short-range radio contact with the station and what John had reported was not encouraging. Emergency power was rapidly failing and the remaining control thrusters weren't able to re-establish a stable orbit. The station did still have its emergency batteries independent of the secondary generators, which were the ones that were rapidly dying.

"Dad Thunderbird Five's auto docking system isn't working," Gordon reported from the pilot's station.

"Switch to manual docking. Give me thruster control," Jeff ordered taking hold of the control joystick on his own panel. While the boys had been trained to do manual docking they'd never done it out of the simulator whereas he had. Granted it was many years ago but he had done.

"FAB."

With careful precise bursts of power from the thrusters Jeff manoeuvred Thunderbird Three into docking with the crippled Thunderbird Five. Thunderbird Five's docking arm latched onto the side of Thunderbird Three.

"We're locked on," Virgil reported as hard seal was established.

"Emergency breathing gear boys lets get in there," Jeff ordered.

The interior of Thunderbird Five was dark and gloomy. Thick acrid smoke filled the air and the emergency lights were barely able to penetrate the gloom. Broken bits of bulkhead panelling, circuitry and conduits were everywhere. Periodically damaged wires sent out massive sprays of multicoloured sparks.And underscoring it all was the wail of emergency klaxons and the occasional groan of stressed metal from the hull of the station.

They moved quickly but cautiously through the damaged darkened corridors towards the control room. As they entered a battered looking, sweaty and soot covered John appeared out of the gloom.

"Am I glad to see you guys," John said.