September 29th, 2061 - 04:14 BST
A broken bridge, known as the Allington Suspension Bridge, has collapsed under the high winds due to maintenance on the bridge being neglected for the past few months. This sudden collapse has left a Global Defence Force truck teetering on the edge with the driver still stuck in the cab.
"...That man doesn't have an hour." Casey says, "This bridge won't last 10 minutes." Just then, the engines of Thunderbird 1 are heard overhead and out of the think cloud, the mighty bird comes into view.
"Colonel Casey, looks like the Global Defence Force could use a hand," Scott says switching to her frequency.
"International Rescue, you boys are a welcome sight," Casey says, "My driver and the bridge."
"FAB Colonel," Scott replies, "Thunderbird 2, how quickly can be stabilize this bridge?"
"Faster than you can say 'Thunderbirds are Go'," Virgil says as Thunderbird 2 arrives on the scene.
"Okay, you get the bridge, Virgil, but be careful of that downdraft. I'm on the driver. Marion, can you keep Thunderbird 1 steady for me?" Scott asks.
"FAB," Marion says getting up.
"Good, Thunderbirds Are Go!" Scott says.
"Alright. Maybe I was exaggerating a little," Virgil says, "Foam stabilization pods deploy." In Module 2, the bay doors open below to allow Alan and Gordon to exist and start work on the bridge. Virgil than fires two grapples from inside the module, which grabs onto each side of the bridge and bring it up. "This should keep the bridge from falling but we can't do much about that twist until the pods are in place."
"FAB, Thunderbird 2," Scott says, "Open Bay doors Marion."
"On it," Marion says and opens them up to allow Scott to jet pack down to the man.
"Careful!" the driver shouts, "Hurry! She's about to go over."
"Need a lift?" Scott asks as he hands the driver the harness he'd brought down.
"Is this thing safe?" the driver questions.
"Scott, heads up!" Marion yells.
"Huh?" Scott asks looking up before quickly ducking under one of the loose cables of the driver that is flapping about in the wind.
"Heads up? Don't you mean duck!" Scott asks.
"Sorry," Marion replies but watches as another cable snaps and heads in Scott's direction, "DUCK!" This came too late, and Scott's jetpack gets struck knocking it out of use and sending the harness flying. The jet pack fails completely but Scott manages to grab onto the end of the truck.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
"This may not be as bad as it looks," Scott says.
"Really?!" the driver screams just as the truck slips completely as starts to fall into the ravine.
"Shit! Scott!" Marion says and starts Thunderbird 1 up and dives into the ravine after Scott and the driver.
"Scott, heads up!" Virgil says.
"Do you mean duck?" Scott asks.
"Not this time!" Virgil says as a bit of road hits Scott and the driver in the face. They craw to the top of the section and jump down as Thunderbird 1 comes into view.
"This is Thunderbird 1. Everyone is alive and well," Marion says.
"FAB, deploying stabilizing foam," Alan says as he works on one side of the bridge while Gordon works on the other side.
"Foam's away," Gordon says.
"Pods, disengage," Virgil says as his hologram of the bridge turns green, "That ought to do it."
"Fine work, International Rescue. Many thanks," Casey says.
"We're just happy to help," Scott says, getting back into the cockpit after seeing the pods safely return to the module. Just as he's preparing to land, the bridge begins to creak dangerously. "Huh?"
"Huh?" Casey asks also seeing the bridge worsening.
"What?" Scott asks.
"It's settling. All structures do," Virgil tries to reason before the bridge breaks even more and plunges to the ground. "Oh no!"
"It's times like this that I'm glad we're up here," John says joining the call.
September 29th, 2061 - 04:37 BST
Colonel Casey is now on the ground beneath the bridge when Scott and Marion walk over to join her. As they do, the sound of a GDF plane engine whines overhead as it comes into land beside Thunderbird 1. Someone dressed in a Colonel uniform similar to Casey's walks out and approaches the trio.
"Who's that guy?" Scott asks.
"Colonel Martin Janus," Colonel Casey says, "My newly appointed second-in-command. Apparently, he knows the right people."
"Colonel! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Colonel Casey asks.
"I'm have been sent to relieve you pending investigation on your role in this... fiasco," Janus says.
"Fiasco?" Casey asks confused.
"Now hold on a minute," Marion butts in, "You weren't there. We had to make a spilt-second decision."
"And this wasn't the first time," Janus says, "International Rescue has been answering to no one for too long."
"That's the way we like it," Scott says.
"Then I should remind you that International Rescue operates at the pleasure of the Global Defence Force," Janus says, "And right now we're not pleased."
"Meaning?" Scott asks.
September 29th, 2061 - 17:07 NZST
"From now on, we have to get GDF's permission to deploy!" Scott states angrily as he stands in the lounge with a hologram of Penelope in front of him. Alan, Marion, Brains and Sally had all taken seats around the table to listen to what's going on. "We've been grounded!"
"Scott, you haven't technically been grounded," Penelope says, "You just have to ask Colonel Janus for permission."
"That little control freak wants to get his teeth into everything," Parker says, appearing behind her.
"Parker's right! We can't let Janus do this to us," Alan says determined.
"I wasn't talking about the Colonel," Parker complains as a growl is heard in the background.
"I'll talk to Janus and see what I can do. I suggest that in the meantime you not rock the boat," Penelope says, "My father's had run-ins with Janus before he's known to be tightly wound."
"FAB, Lady Penelope," Scott says with a sigh and turns to face the others while Marion brings up a hologram of the collapsed bridge, "We did everything right. The bridge collapsing like that makes no sense."
"Scott, lives were saved. No one was hurt," Sally says, "Your dad would have called that a win."
"Maybe you're right, Grandma," Scott sighs, "Still... Brains, any chance the stabilising foam may have failed?"
"Well, anything is p-possible." Brains says, "I'll need someone to take me over to check it out."
"You could call Kayo in," Alan says hopefully, "She'll be happy to take you over."
"No, no," Scott says, "We'll need Kayo to investigate Janus from the inside seeing as she's at one of the GDF's bases."
"I would need to do a molecular analysis to be certain," Brains says, "I'll take Thunderbird 6 out to investigate."
"Great idea, Brains," Scott says as the alarm beeps.
"Guys, we have a situation," John says appearing on the hologram, "I'm picking up a cargo ship in the middle of the Pacific that's taking on water. I've alerted the captain that we're on the way."
"I've got this," Scott says.
"Don't forget to get permission," Alan says.
"I'll take care of that," John says.
"Marion you can stay here it should be a quick one," Scott says.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
"John, I need you to tell the captain, eta two minutes," Scott says.
"I need you to standby," John says.
"Uh, okay," Scott says.
"Well, that took a while. So, are we clear to proceed?" John asks to the GDF operator when he gets through to him.
"Sorry, International Rescue, but..." the guy says.
"Permission denied? How can they do that?" Scott asks angrily.
"Scott, you need to turn around. We really have been grounded," John says.
September 29th, 2061 - 18:24 NZST
Virgil and Gordon had joined the meeting on the sofas with Scott standing up at the table again throwing jesters around left, right and centre.
"It's just not right. Those people needed our help!" Scott states.
"It's okay, Scott," John says, "I found a fishing trawler in the area and directed them to the sinking cargo ship. They got the crew to safety, barely."
"And what about next time? The Global Defence Force can't always get there. What is this Janus guy trying to prove?" Scott asks.
"Scott, breathe," Penelope says, "I'm on my way to see Colonel Janus now."
September 30th, 2061 - 14:38 NZST
John calls in to Tracy Island to find everyone sitting around with angry looks on their faces. They were having another meeting over what to do about the GDF. Worryingly, they still hadn't heard from Kayo either from the base in the Middle East which has left Alan in a pit of worry which no matter how hard he tried; everyone could see it.
"We have a situation. The Dubai Desert. Oil sucked from the ground, add gravity, equals massive cave-in," John explains, showing on the holo-diagram, "For now, it's affecting an unpopulated area, but the sinkhole is rapidly expanding toward... Sa'd Madeena. At 300 stories, soon to be the world's tallest city."
"Or the world's shortest," Gordon jokes.
"Call the principal's office and secure a hall pass," Scott says sarcastically.
"Way ahead of you," John says, "I requested permission via text link while we spoke. Hang on. And..."
"This time we won't take no for an answer," Scott says.
"The answer is no," John says.
"Those construction workers' lives are at stake!" Scott says, "We have to act!"
"We can't," Marion says.
"Then we'll stand by outside the perimeter, just in case the GDF needs help," Scott says, "If they are getting it done on their own, International Rescue won't assist. We'll all go together in Thunderbird 2. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" everyone says and gets up.
"All right then. Let's gear up. Thunderbirds are go!" Scott says and everyone heads to the passenger bay, except for Virgil who runs over to the painting of a rocket.
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
September 30th, 2061 - 07:59 GST
Thunderbird 2 arrives on scene and stops above a growing sinkhole in the ground that has started to affect a newly built section of motorway. A few cars are on it still coming down the road, but traffic is starting to build up on both sides.
"That is one big hole," Alan says.
"And the GDF are nowhere in sight," Gordon says.
"The construction crew! Virgil take us up," Scott says.
"FAB," Virgil says and takes Thunderbird 2 into the air and opens a hologram of the building scan John had sent, "The building is already tilting past its rated wind tolerance of four degrees."
"It's coming down fast," Scott says and Thunderbird 2 breaks the cloud at the top of the tower.
"That worker is trapped on the roof," Virgil points out.
"We gotta act now. Virgil, take us in," Scott says, "I'll evac the construction crew. Gordon, you and Alan find a way to stabilize the building."
"We could try the foam again," Gordon says.
"Guys, this isn't the time," John says.
"Ah, John's right. We've still had no word from Brains if it's effective," Scott says.
"Sorry, Scott, I really need to work on my phrasing," John says, "What he meant to say is... you have a situation." The four brothers and Marion look around and see GDF planes breaking the cloud surrounding them, preventing any escape.
"Are we glad to see you guys. There are workers trapped on the roof who need your help," Scott says.
"International Rescue, you are in violation of my directive. I'm escorting you to the nearest base and impounding your ship," Janus says sternly, "Come peacefully or be fired upon.
"Well, I definitely wasn't excepting that response," Marion comments.
"Huh?" Scott and Gordon ask.
"That motherfu—" Alan says.
September 30th, 2061 - 08:13 GST
"International Rescue, open the hatch or be boarded by force," Janus says.
"Don't let Janus in. Stall them while I track down Lady P," John orders, "Maybe her connections will help."
"If she doesn't torpedo us for rocking the exact boat, she told us not to," Gordon says.
"You have the right to ground us but not to enter our ship," Scott says.
"Wait... Isn't this the base Kayo is working at?" Marion asks.
"Guys, the buildings gonna fall any moment," Gordon says as he continues to monitor the situation from the back of the cockpit, "And Janus hasn't evacuated the workers. They need rescue now." Just a Gordon finishes, they hear a loud clang from the GDF soldiers trying to break into Thunderbird 2.
"Colonel, you've made your point. But the construction crew..." Scott says.
"Is no longer your concern," Janus says, "I'm handling it. You are ordered to remain where you are."
"Ah, Janus runs Global Defence. You heard him," Scott says, "He must have ordered in a rescue team.
"On my own authority, I'm arresting all of you and confiscating your ship and equipment," Janus announces, "Permanently."
"And I'm challenging your authority to do so, Colonel," Scott says sternly.
"Yes! That's what I'm talking about!" Alan says.
"Scott, as far as I can tell, he's not lifting a finger to help those trapped workers," Gordon calls.
"Then this was never about us violating Janus' rules," Scott realises, "I think he's just after Thunderbird 2."
"And he's willing to sacrifice those people just to get it?" Virgil asks.
"Dad taught us to respect authority," Scott states, "But Janus, he's not acting like a good guy. If saving lives makes us outlaws, so be it. Thunderbird 2, defence protocol Gamma. Light her up, Virgil."
"It would be my pleasure," Virgil says with a nod and flicks a couple of switches as they hear Janus' scream from the outside where he got electrocuted.
"Thunderbird Five, we're going in. Any luck with Lady Penelope?" Scott asks.
"As a matter of fact." John says trails and from what the brothers and Marion could see, Thunderbird S and a GDF flyer comes into view above the airbase.
"Colonel Casey? Kayo?" Scott asks, "Sa'd Madeena?"
"We've been given the all clear Scott," Kayo says, "Off you go." With that, Thunderbird 2 takes off again, heading towards the collapsing building.
"Scott," Brains calls, appearing on the hologram, "My metallurgical analysis shows the steel in the bridge had been artificially fatigued. It was sabotage, not our equipment."
"I knew it," Alan says.
"Alan, Gordon, you're up," Scott says.
"FAB," they say together and head down into the module to configure two pods: the Mole and a foam stabilisation pod. Virgil lands Thunderbird 2 at the bottom of the tower and releases the module to allow Alan and Gordon to bring out the pods and head into the sink hole.
"Pods away," Alan says as starts to dig into the ground so Gordon had a safe way to go down after him. The Mole is stopped just in front of the falling tower supports as rocks start to cave-in. "Er..." woah," Alan mutters.
"Yeah. Let's do this," Gordon says and being to spray the foam around the crumbling supports.
September 30th, 2061 - 08:22 GST
Thunderbird 2 arrives by the tower and Scott; Marion and Virgil are relieved to see the tower beginning to straighten up. Virgil lowers the rescue harness to them with Scott and Marion going down with it to assist the workers, to ensure they get on safely.
"Well, is it working?" Gordon asks. Marion and Scott help the last of the workers get off the tower before flying back to Thunderbird 2 to take them away.
"I'm not sure I'd wanna live in it," Virgil comments.
"But at least it won't fall on anyone. Good work guys," Scott replies to Gordon and Thunderbird 2 returns to the ground to pick the pods up before lowing the lift and releasing the two workers they saved to meet the other three on the ground before taking off again and heading back to the island.
"Your father would be darn proud of what you boys did here today," Casey says, "Thank you International Rescue, for a job well done."
"Thank you, Colonel Casey," Scott says, "We're always happy to help."
September 30th, 2061 - 17:14 NZST
Virgil plays the piano to create a pleasant atmosphere for everyone after a painful couple of days. Kayo decided it was to return to Tracy Island with Thunderbird 2, cutting her break off by a few days. Scott is currently trying to clear up the incident with the World Council and sighs after another meeting with them ends.
"If Martin Janus was an alias..." Scott starts
"Who is he really?" Gordon interrupts asks.
"Who'd you think?" Alan asks.
"If you're thinking The Hood, that's a big negative," John says, "Just heard from Colonel Casey. It's not him."
"Strange," Alan says and walks away from the piano and over to where Kayo is sitting on the sofa. "Hey, can we talk?"
"Depends," Kayo says seriously, "I still haven't fully forgiven you."
"Oh," Alan sighs looking downcast but looks up again when he hears sniggering.
"Oh Al," Kayo giggles smirking, "Of course I've forgiven you silly. I've missed you this past month."
"Really?" Alan cries, "I mean sure that's cool." Kayo laughs again at Alan's expense.
"Definity," Kayo states, "Though I do think the break did us good."
"If you say so," Alan replies, "If I'm being totally honest with you, I've been quite lonely without you by my side."
"Lonely?" Kayo questions, "What do you mean? You're surrounded by four brothers, one of which has a girlfriend walking about the place."
Alan gives a sad smile in return, "Sometimes it's those surrounded by people who are the loneliest," he states, "I can't lose you K."
"I feel the same way Al," Kayo explains and pulls Alan into a hug, "You won't lose me."
"You promise?" Alan asks.
"I promise," Kayo returns.
"And no secrets between us, right?" Alan queries, not noticing the flash of worry that takes over Kayo's face for a quick second.
"No Al... No secrets..."