Disclaimer

Thunderbirds and all the characters etc. belong to Gerry Anderson and Working Title films, I'm just borrowing them.

I don't usually answer reviews, but as I got 4 reviews so quickly I thought that I would for once.

RaeTucker, zeilfanaat and killhill2003 – I'm glad you like it, here is the next chapter.

white rose01 – The film is actually quite good, but I still prefer the puppets, that's all

Sorry that this chapter is so short, but if I didn't end it there I would have to finish it in the middle of the rescue, and that really would be a cliff-hanger!

Next chapter – The Rescue (the real action starts!)

Accidents

Chapter 2 – Successful Missile Launch

"Right, we'd better be going. Good luck" Virgil said genuinely, while shaking Colonel Roberts' hand. He and Brains needed to head back to base before the missile was launched to co-ordinate the combined effort

"Thank you, for everything you've done" Colonel Roberts said, before reaching behind him and pulling out a large bottle of champagne "A number of people here at NASA Control thought that we needed some way to thank you, and someone suggested this, so here you are." He handed the bottle to Virgil.

"This really isn't necessary…" Virgil started, but stopped when the look on the Colonel's face told him he wasn't going to take no for an answer "I'll make sure that everyone at base gets some" The Colonel nodded and Virgil and Brains headed towards the door leading to where Thunderbird 2 had been 'parked'.

The Colonel shook his head again, amazed "They really are an incredible bunch of people."

"Five…Four…Three…Two…One…Launch!" an automated voice blared over the speakers

"Missile away, speed climbing to escape velocity" a technician reported from his console

"Good, how does it look from up there?" Colonel Roberts asked John

"It looks good" John replied "Lift-off was successful and the missile is on course to detonation co-ordinates."

"Right, detonation in 3 and 1 half minutes from now" another technician added

"Okay, John. We'll give you a 30 second warning before detonation, so you can cover your eyes" Roberts said jokily

"You really think it will be that bright" Reporter Acclebourne asked amazed from the back of the control centre, clearly not seeing the joke.

"Oh, it will be Miss Acclebourne, it will be"

"30 seconds to missile detonation, 25…" a technician counted down to them detonating the test warhead on the missile. Colonel Roberts already had his finger on the button to send the remote signal and was anxiously watching the timer on the console wind down. 15 seconds…12…10.

"Detonation systems activating, all controls are go" the timer hit zero and a finger hit a large red button.

Although there was no way for the personnel in the control centre to hear the explosion, everyone in the room listened and watched impatiently to the telemetry coming from Thunderbird 5.

"Phew, that was some blast" John said after a few seconds "Readings coming in now, but from the way it looks so far, it was very good for a first attempt"

"Send the readings down here as soon as you can. Also, do you think you could get us a picture, I'm sure the viewers at home would love to see it."

"Sure, coming up"

"Well done, fellers, we did it." Roberts congratulated the other men (and women!) in the control centre for a job well done. "As soon as we've been through these readings we should be ready for a second test flight" there was a loud round of applause at this, before everyone slowly went back to work.

Well, that certainly made my day more interesting, John thought to himself while going over the scans he was transmitting down to NASA. They didn't all seem that important, but he was sure that someone knew what they were doing. Something odd caught his eye and he had to look over the information again. Odd, I don't remember them saying anything about that in the specifications.
"Why didn't it work, what went wrong?!" an angry voice yelled at another, almost quivering, figure. He is far from the easiest person to deal with at the best of times, the man thought hopelessly

"I…I…we don't know, master. We think it was in the control system we installed, our scientists are modifying it now" the small man said hesitantly

"Well, you'd better hope it works next time, or you may find yourself out of a job" the angry voice threatened darkly. "Now go!" the small man nodded and quickly backed away from his 'master'.

"Yes, you'd better hope it works, for I will not tolerate my plans being delayed for much longer."

TBC…