CHAPTER EIGHT

Luckily the radio wasn't damaged, Brains quickly called bases.

Tintin felt ready to faint "Mr. Tracy, what are we going to do?" she asked.

Jeff felt skeptical about sending a rescue. "I know it's the right thing to do, but can we risk it?" he kept asking himself.

"Father, we're just going to have to." Scott said.

"Come on, Mr. Tracy." said Jimmy "We can't just leave Mike and Brains down there. They'll die!"

Mitch hooted and screeched in agreement.

"I realize that, Jimmy." said Jeff "But can we do it without breaking our cover is all."

Dr. Beaker reminded Jeff "If you recall... earlier, Brains did mention his formula, and then two... Virgil suggested a high altitude flight, with coverage from the clouds above."

"I agree with them, Mr. Tracy." Popkiss said.

Jeff finally gave in and realized "You're right, all of you. Well, I guess we better move it."

Popkiss had already pinpointed Supercar's location, "But it's hard to keep a lock on. We're going to need more power."

Jeff realized that Thunderbird 5 could help by homing in on Brans' telecom watch. He called up John, and John hated to admit it "I'm going to need some help up here on this one, Father. I'm having a hard time maintaining full and complete communications with Supercar's systems blocking the signal."

"All right, John. I'll send Alan up there to help you." Jeff answered. "Now, Scott you know the position. So get moving fast."

"Yes, sir…!" Scott said.

"Sounds like Thunderbird 4 will be needed." Gordon said

"Well, come on. What are we waiting for?" snapped Virgil.

Alan kissed Tintin goodbye and patted Madelyn's little head "Don't worry honey; Daddy's going to be just fine." he said to his little girl. Then he joined Gordon over at the passenger chute.

"Come on over here, Jimmy." Jeff called inviting him behind his desk. "Would you like to launch them?

Jimmy felt ever so giddy. "Wow! I get to launch the Thunderbirds. Did you hear that, Mitch?" he couldn't see Mitch anywhere.

"Mitch?"

No response.

"Where is he? Did he wander off?"

"Well, we can't worry about that now." said Jeff.

The boys all took their places. "Everyone set…?" asked Jimmy. The boys acknowledged, and following Jeff's instructions Jimmy pressed to correct switches to activate the systems, and off the boys went as their crafts were ready. "Gee, this is so exciting!" Jimmy said. Jeff couldn't help but chuckle "Kids... always so excited."

As Parker watched the boys head up, down, and through the walls and floor to their crafts, he couldn't help but sigh to Penelope, "Sure wish that we was goin' too."

"I'm afraid that there's not much we can do, Parker. Except wish them good luck."

"Yes, Milday..."

Soon, the boys we're set and all the hangars were open.

"All right, Jimmy, you know what to say?" asked Jeff.

Jimmy smiled proudly, "Sure do, Mr. Tracy..." and he called loud and clear "...Thunderbirds Are Go!"

Then all the Thunderbirds launched in their respective order- 1... 2... and finally, 3!

"I say…" exclaimed Beaker "Professor, are you seeing this?"

"Yes, Beaker…" Popkiss chuckled "I can see zem all from here, zere just passing by."

Sure enough, Thunderbirds 1 and 2 passed over the Supercar workshop and began to climb rapidly into the sky to avoid being seen. "International Rescue from Thunderbird 1…" Scott called "Climbing to a-hundred and fifty-thousand feet and proceeding west for the pacific.

"F-A-B, Scott." said his father "Virgil's about fifteen minutes behind you. Once Alan reaches the satellite I'll get him and John to give an exact course to steer on. The Professor's still trying to reach Supercar as we speak, but they must be in a really bad way."

"Right, Father…" said Scott and then he headed off to the west.


Meanwhile, it didn't take too long for Alan to reach the satellite. He and John immediately rang the bases when Alan docked and they got straight to work trying to pinpoint the precise location form Brains' watch. "Try it again, Alan."

"Thunderbird 5 to Brains. Thunderbird 5 calling Brains in Supercar; come in."

John still couldn't raise much "Nothing! Not a peep."

"Hold it, John! I've got something!"

Sure enough, Brains' signal was breaking through; it was weak, but readable.

"Alan…

…thank goodness it's you."


"Keep talking, Brains. We'll hone in on your signal. The boys are on their way"

"Well, that's certainly something." Mike said "I just hope they get in here in time, I don't like the looks of the rig."

The fire on the rig was getting worse, and the oil crevasse was starting to split wide open leaking oil into the water and causing the rig supports to break up. If the boys didn't get there soon, the whole thing would fall right down on them and crush Supercar like a bug!


Inside the diving sphere just a few yards away from Supercar, Masterspy and Zarin were still unconscious, while The Hood was still trapped on the rig in the net and the flames were getting bigger.

"It is… getting… hot!" he groaned. "I must… try… and escape!" he began to yank and pull on the net with all his might, and eventually it came loose and he fell smack onto the rigging. As he rubbed his sore head, he could hear the distinctive sound of aircrafts approaching. "International Rescue?! So, they have taken the bait." Unfortunately, he knew he couldn't stay on the rig much longer, but he was loaded with miniature cameras, and more of them on the chopper.

He silently crept to it and took off behind the rig where Scott wouldn't see him.


"Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 2- Have arrived at danger-zone, and it looks pretty bad. The whole rig is on fire. What is your estimated time of arrival?"

"Arriving in fifteen point seven minutes, Scott." answered Virgil.

"Well hurry it up, Virgil! That rig looks in bad shape and we can't let it explode, otherwise it's going to cause those time alternations we've been warned about."

While Scott kept Thunderbird 1 on free float, as there was no place to land, The Hood had him in his sights and was ready to take pictures. "Now, Thunderbirds, your secrets will be mine!"