The next time I set up mobile control in the middle of a storm, reflected Scott, I will do it inside a building rather than outside a building.
He had been under the eaves for an hour, now, the rain had been coming in horizontally for at least half of that time so he hadn't had much protection. He had to keep wiping water off the screens as he attempted to help Virgil.
Virgil was not happy, either, and Scott could hear his exasperation on the radio even over the sound of the wind.
"I can't make it any easier for them," Virgil moaned.
The pair of them were at the port of Bristol, on the south west coast of the UK. The rescue had been brought about by hurricane force winds which had affected the area, with the gloom of the evening also hindering the situation. Bristol was an industrial port which mostly served the oil industry and the tankers had been able to take shelter in the harbour before the gale hit.
The problem for International Rescue was a cruise ship which has been heading across the Atlantic from the U.S. It was aiming for Southampton on the south coast but had been given permission to dock at Bristol to ride out the storm. However, it had not made it in time and was stuck outside the harbour.
The Harbour Pilot had not been able to board the liner due to the weather and the captain of the liner did not have enough local knowledge to attempt the navigation into the harbour himself.
In the end, the risk to life of the two and a half thousand passengers, not to mention the one thousand officers and crew, had led to a call to International Rescue.
Thunderbird 2 was now in the air above the ship with Virgil trying to attach hooks to the liner so he could steer it into the calmer waters of the harbour. Despite powerful magnets on the attachments and good views of the deck from both Two's monitors and those of Mobile Control's it was not turning out to be an easy job. Virgil was getting grouchy and Scott was trying, as usual, to keep everyone happy.
"Give them a break, Virg, they're doing their best. The guys on deck are harnessed up well enough but it must be pretty scary being tossed around out there. Try and aim a bit more to the port side and see if that guy can confirm attachment. Then we'll worry about starboard."
"FAB. Look, it's pretty hairy up here as well, you know."
"I know, but you can handle it." Scott sighed to himself. When Virgil was grumbling it meant he was stressed and that meant that the rescue was not going well. Why was it that the rescues that should be the simplest often turned into a nightmare?
And the nightmare for the whole of the Tracy family was only just beginning.
"How's it going, Scott?" Jeff Tracy had a deep frown on his face and was rubbing his chest which was aching. He couldn't understand why his boys weren't already done and on the way home.
Scott's voice was a bit hard to hear over the storm. "We've got one hook attached; Virgil's working on the other. The conditions are like that hurricane off the Bahamas a couple of weeks ago. It's a real struggle to make sure Two's got the ship secure before we start to tow it."
"Maybe I should have sent Gordon or Alan as well?"
"No, Virg and I have the best view on the situation possible and there's no way I'd send either of those two down in the rescue cage dangling on the end of a wire. Way too dangerous. I'll give Virgil a few more minutes and if he's still having problems I'll get up there with One."
"Okay, son, well you're the one who's there. I trust your judgement."
Jeff leaned back in his chair reflecting how his late wife had often said that he trusted no one's judgement but his own. He continued to rub his chest as he contacted Kyrano.
"Kyrano, could you bring me some peppermint tea, please? I've got indigestion."
Back off the Bristol coast Virgil let out a big sigh of relief as all the monitors and eyes on the ship told him he had a firm hold on the cruise liner which meant he was now able to tow it. He upped the power of the thrusters and started the easier task of bringing her into port. Input from Scott, John in Thunderbird Five and the Captain made it a swift end to the rescue and soon all parties were considered safe.
"You see, I told you it would be easy," said Virgil cheerfully over the comms. John and Scott both decided that commenting on Virgil's quick change of mood would be a waste of effort. Instead, Scott moved things on.
"Okay, Thunderbird 2, head back to base as soon as you're ready. I'll be right behind you."
"FAB," replied Virgil as Scott gripped Mobile Control as a huge gust of wind almost blew him off his feet. The rescue may be over but the storm wasn't. He needed to get all his kit back into One and then get himself home to a hot shower.
He was heartened by the sight of a fluorescent jacketed man walking towards him. During the rescue a few people from the Harbour Master's office had been to check on him but had mostly stayed indoors and he had kept in contact via the radio. Maybe this guy would be able to help him with his gear.
"Hey there!" said the guy, hand held up in front of his eyes to keep off the worst of the rain. "The Harbour Master would like you to come to his office for a quick word."
"Oh, it's fine," replied Scott. "We don't need any personal thanks. We're happy to be of service."
"Right, well I've no idea if he wants to thank you or what, he just told me to come to get you."
"Okay, but I'd rather just get on out of here. He can contact me by radio if he needs a further conversation."
"Look, mate," the guy was shouting to be heard over the wind and rain, "Do us a favour - just come and see him will you? If I go back without you, it's my job on the line. He's a bloke who likes his orders followed."
Scott inwardly sighed but he was a kind-hearted man and the thought that someone might lose their job because he wanted to get home quickly didn't seem fair. Besides, Scott liked his orders followed too.
"Okay, I'll make a deal. How about you take me to the Harbour Master and then come back here with me to help get this equipment stowed away?"
Even through the rain, Scott could see the relief on the man's face.
"That's great, follow me."
Scott tagged along behind his companion, the bright jacket being easy to follow. However, it wasn't long before he became concerned that they were heading in the wrong direction, away from the bright lights of the harbour offices. He tapped his new friend on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Is this the right way?"
"Short cut," stated the man as he led them through darkness between large containers where the tall site lights barely reached. Scott's vague concern rapidly turned to suspicion and he grabbed the guy by the shoulder, swinging him around.
"Hey, what's going on?"
The man's face remained passive. As Scott waited for a reply, the noise of the wind and the fierceness of the rain meant it wasn't until the last moment that he saw a glimpse of another person at his right shoulder. He felt a sharp pain in the side of his neck and, before he had time to react, his legs turned to jelly and he slid to the ground, blacking out.