July 19th, 2060 - 06:40 NZST
It's morning on Tracy Island and the brothers were all sitting down at the table with a bagel on a plate in front of them and a glass of milk. They are all chatting while Marion and Kayo standing off to the side having their own private conversation. John is being quite, being one of those few occasions were he isn't in Thunderbird 5. He also had breakfast in front of him but he was more interested in the sky and slightly wanting to be back on Thunderbird 5. While he loved his family, he would always go for an opportunity to be alone.
Brains enters the room with Max following him after an early morning spent in his workshop.
"Forty-Eight hours without a major global emergency. This must be an International Rescue record!" Virgil says.
"The record's fifty-one," Gordon comments.
"Ahh," Scott sighs, "We haven't just hung around the house like this since we were kids."
"Hey Brains, don't you ever take a break?" Alan asks.
"Of course, Max and I were using my infrared c-chamber to make biscuits," Brains responds.
"Er, we do have an oven, Brains," Alan indicates.
"Proper baked goods can only be prepared under laboratory conditions, Alan." Brains replies.
"Well, this has been fun," John says as he gets up with a hand to his head and starts leaving. He trips over Max who whirs on his way out. Scott and Virgil get up to follow him.
"Hey John, where're you going?" Scott asks causing John to stop in his tracks.
"It's hard to think with all of this..." John trails.
"Noise?" Brains offers.
"Gravity," John says, "I'm going back to the office."
July 19th, 2060 - 06:52 NZST
John enters the space elevator in his uniform and sits down and prepares for launch. The doors shut and John's chair turns a 180 degree angle.
"I told the life-support system you wouldn't last three days on Earth, John," EOS jokes, "Looks like I was right."
"Just retract the space elevator, please, EOS," John asks. The space elevator launches, from Tracy Island heading back to Thunderbird 5.
"I'm amazed every time you trust your life to that tiny cable. The slightest failure and splat! You're a little dark spot on Tracy Island," EOS says.
"Everything Brains designs has a HUGE safety margin and you know it," John says, "Are you sure you aren't still an evil computer program?" EOS laughs at this.
"Let's ask my programmer, oh, wait, that was you." EOS says with a giggle.
John sighs and looks out of the porthole. "Whoa, nasty hurricane brewing over the Indian Ocean. Must be where CIRUS is."
"Those clouds aren't even remotely cirrus," EOS says.
"Not the cloud type." John says as he moves his hand to his sash and turns on the holographic projector which displays CIRUS Station, "It stands for Climate Research of the Upper Stratosphere. Another project of Langstrom Fischler. He means well but he has a tendency to get himself into... trouble."
"Langstrom sounds like a challenging human," EOS observes. John scoffs with a laugh.
"That's a good way to put it," John says, "They may not be entirely in space... but they are our closest neighbours. Better check in." John hits a button to call CIRUS and Langstrom answers the call.
"International Rescue to CIRUS station," John says.
"Hello International Rescue," Langstrom Fischler replies as his hologram appears in front of him.
"How are the... studies going Mr. Fischler?" John enquires.
"Very well thank you," Fischler answers, "We have determined that there is indeed a storm down there. A-A big one."
"Well er... that's sure to rock the scientific community," John stutters.
"Yes, I think you're right," Fischler says, "Did I also mention we've broken the altitude duration record? Another first for Fischler Industries!" Fischler is about to continue but a large crackle of interference hits and the signal is violently cut off.
"EOS?" John says as he looks at the disrupted signal, "Try to boost the signal."
"Too much interference. But they just had a sudden change in altitude and not in the direction you'd expect," EOS explains.
"Contact Tracy Island," John says, "We may have a situation."
5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Thunderbirds are Go!
The Space Elevator connects to Thunderbird 5. John enters the main section of Thunderbird 5 with the holographic Earth projection to meet EOS on the track above.
"Confirm— It's going higher?" John asks.
"Confirmed! CIRUS station is rising," EOS explains as the gravity ring starts to lightly move again and John moves across to look at the holo-map, "I have no explanation, but I have managed to regain the signal."
"International Rescue to CIRUS. Can you explain how you're falling up, Mr. Fischler?" John asks.
"CIRUS stays in place by a rather ingenious balance of hydrogen-filled balloons and downward-pushing heli-blades," Fischler explains, "Which the electrical storm has shorted out."
"And without them, the balloons are pulling you upwards," John realises, "Once they reach critical altitude, the balloons will rupture, and the station will drop like a rock."
"We will experience a marked change in direction," Fischler says and then hangs up on him.
"Tracy Island, did you get all that?" John asks.
July 19th, 2060 - 07:06 NZST
"I worked b-briefly with Fischler after university. He had a tendency to compromise safety for the sake of p-pretty much everything," Brains explains.
"Hmm," Scott ponders, "Brains, keep trouble shooting from the ground. Virgil, Gordon, take Thunderbird 2 and rendezvous with CIRUS. Use a Repair Pod to fix those rotors. I'll follow you there with Marion."
"Let me guess. I stay here?" Alan asks.
"In case we need Thunderbird 3 as backup," Scott says.
"Scott, I was taking advantage of the downtime to do some deferred maintenance on Thunderbird 1. I just need a few minutes to put it b-back together." Brains says, "Come on Max!"
"We will launch as soon as the ship's ready," Scott says.
"There goes our three-day streak," Virgil says.
5
Virgil runs over to the painting of a rocket and gets suited up.
4
The pod equipment is loaded into Module 2.
3
Gordon boards Thunderbird 2 via the passenger elevator.
2
Thunderbird 2 taxis down the main runway and comes to a halt allowing the ramp to raise.
1
The blast shield rises.
Thunderbirds are Go!
"On route to CIRUS. I'm plotting a course to stay well above that hurricane," Virgil informs as Thunderbird 2 sores across the ocean in the direction of CIRUS.
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it," Gordon says, and Virgil looks at him with a raised eyebrow, "Get it because hurricanes have an eye in the middle of it."
"I get it. It just wasn't actually that funny," Virgil shrugs, "Go configure a pod will ya?"
"Aye, aye Cap'n," Gordon says as he undoes his seat belt and gets up with a mock salute.
July 19th, 2060 - 07:19 NZST
Alan and Brains have moved to the lounge and connected to the link that Thunderbird 5 had established with Fischler. Displayed on the holo-table is a large image projecting the hurricane that the CIRUS in above. A small amber dot is shown above the hurricane, where the approximate location of the craft is. Next to it call is a hologram of Fischler.
"Okay, Fischler, let's walk through the steps," Brains says, "Backup systems."
"Rather redundant, don't you think?" Fischler asks.
"That's k-kinda the point," Brains states, "What about restart?"
"Start something that's already started," Fischler questions, "Sounds a little daft to me."
"Slow release valves?" Brains enquires.
"We do have those." Fischler nods, "We didn't actually install them though. We found them too..."
"Slow?" Brains offers with a sigh.
"Brains, Brains, Brains, you can't invent things if you're going around all worried about safety, can you?" Fischler asks.
"Actually, you can," Brains says.
July 19th, 2060 - 00:32 IOT
Thunderbird 2 arrives on scene and prepares for a rescue attempt on CIRUS.
"We're a little pasted Thunderbird 2's operational limits, but she should hold long enough for us to repair the station," Virgil explains, "Doctor Gordon, your patient is ready."
Gordon flicks the switch inside the module and the Repair Pod is configured. A series of red metal robotic arms get to work attaching different compartments to Pod B's body. This includes four rotor blades and a repair arm to the front. He gets in and prepares ready to launch. "Repair arms in place. The doors, please, Doctor Virgil."
"Don't let them hit you on the way out." Virgil says and opens the hatch doors below Module 2 allowing for Gordon to exit in the Repair Pod and fly over to the station. The Pod struggles slightly due to the high altitude and turbulence.
"Woah, rough skies," Gordon comments as the small pod rocks from side-to-side, "Okay, I've located the access panel." As the CIRUS stations also swings wildly in the wind, Gordon extends the repair arm to try and grab a hold of the access panel. However, the swaying prevents from getting anywhere close to CIRUS. "The patients being uncooperative. No way I can perform a repair with all this turbulence."
"Standby, I'll use Thunderbird 2's forward landing struts to stabilize the station," Virgil says and brings Thunderbird 2 over, "Struts deployed."
July 19th, 2060 - 07:35 NZST
"Wow, the static dampening blades are so well designed I can't even see them," Brains observes as he analyses a hologram of the station. Fischler is still talking to him over holo-communications.
"The er... dampening what now?" Fischler asks.
"You don't have them?!" Brains cries.
"Contact in five... four..." Virgil says over the communicator.
"If Thunderbird 2 makes contact, it'll be electrifying," Brains shouts, "ABORT!" However, it was too late and Thunderbird 2 gets electrocuted in a bright flash causing the systems short out. As a result, Thunderbird 2 begins to rapidly lose altitude.
July 19th, 2060 - 00:37 IOT
"Ah, that-that's bad," Fischler says as he watches Thunderbird 2 fall rapidly towards the ground.
"All panels dead!" Virgil lists, "Response negative!"
"CIRUS just sent an equivalent of a hundred lightning bolts directly into Thunderbird 2's system," Brains explains.
"I'm going down!" Virgil says struggling to try and get control of his bird again, "Repeat! Mayday! Thunderbird 2 is going down!"
"Virgil status!" John says.
"Thunderbird 2 unresponsive. Control systems are completely fried!" Virgil says.
"Hang on Virgil," Gordon says, turning the Repair Pod around and away from CIRUS starts to swoop rapidly downwards in order to catch up with Thunderbird 2. He does this successfully and dives below. "I'm attempting a redock," he explains as he re-enters Module 2, by lowering his thrusters and manages to lock onto the clamp that rests on the ceiling. "Magnetic dock engaged. Tying my pod systems into Thunderbird 2," Gordon states as he attempts to reconnect the pod systems to Thunderbird 2's. Eventually, a green hologram appears in Repair Pod and Gordon takes control of Thunderbird 2, activating the VTOL engines. "Virgil, I've slaved your console to mine," Gordon explains, "I now have control of Thunderbird 2." Thunderbird 2 is brought to a hover, as Gordon stops the fall.
"Thanks Gordon, now let's get back up to CIRUS," Virgil says.
"Negative Virgil. You're just a flight hazard now. I've got it from here," Scott orders.
"F-A-B. Thunderbird 2 breaking off," Virgil sighs, "Take it away, Gordon."
"F-A-B." Gordon acknowledges.
July 19th, 2060 - 00:43 IOT
Scott than takes over communications with Fischler and starts to talk to him. "CIRUS, I'm on approach to you now," he states as Thunderbird 1 rockets upwards through the clouds and past the slowing Thunderbird 2, that has been reduced to a sails pace. He flies around the balloons assessing the external damage. "Can you give us a status report?"
"Well so far you're rescue attempts appear to be unsuccessful. International Rescue? Ha!" Fischler scoffs, "International Slowcoach more like."
"I meant a report on your status not the..." Scott pauses to takes a breath, "Never mind. The only choice now is evacuation."
"You'll have to use your escape pods to get clear," Brains interrupts, "If you eject at an angle of— let me guess, the escape pods took too long to manufacture?"
"Yes, that's right. We do hover, have these high altitude jumpsuits with rather nifty Fischler Industries logos," Fischler says indicating to one of his crew to turn around and show them.
"Parachute into a category five hurricane?" Brains questions, "You'll look very stylish as the gale force winds tear you to pieces."
Scott sighs and looks over in hope to Marion who in return gives a small smile. "I've mapped CIRUS' position," she says.
"Good, I'll give you control to maintain distance," Scott says and he prepares to leave via his jetpack.
"Thunderbird 2 absorbed the static charge you should be safe," Brains says.
"How sure is 'should be'?" Marion asks.
"Ninety-Nine percent," Brains replies.
"And what happens if it didn't absorb all of the charge?" Scott enquires.
"Let's focus on the positive shall we?" Brains winces in hope the conversation can move on.
"Ye-ah," Scott grimaces. Thunderbird 1's under carriage opens. Scott quickly gets a fix on CIRUS as the lock light turns from red to green, and fires a clamp that is attached to a zipline. This latches onto one of the railings that is attached to a walkway by the escape door. "I'm coming aboard."
"Right, I'll put the kettle on," Fischler replies and cuts the comms.
"Alright," Scott chuckles and lands on the station, "I'm aboard." Suddenly, something sparks near the station which catches him off guard. "Okay... what was that?"
"Sprites," Brains states.
"As in Pixies?" Scott asks.
"High energy plasma discharges. They only occur in the upper atmosphere," Brains explains.
"Wonderful," Scott says, "Inform the crew to make their way up as soon as possible—" but is cut off as a sprite goes off right next to him causing him to go over the edge.
"SCOTT!" Marion yells and disconnects for CIRUS. She refires the zipline in the direction of Scott and catches him. Using the wince, she pulls Scott back to safety aboard Thunderbird 1 when the monitors start to beep.
"Engines are stalling," Scott says.
"The air is getting too thin, I'm breaking off!" Marion says and directs Thunderbird 1 back down to Earth while Scott buckles up in the passenger seat.
"CIRUS is at 100 kilometres and rising," John explains.
"No balloon should be able to fly that high. Unless..." Brains trails.
"Unless you fill them with super-hot hydrogen ions!" Fischler exclaims, "Extremely clever, don't you think?"
"Extremely dangerous! Those balloons won't just burst, they'll explode!" Brains cries.
"Thunderbird 1 failed," Scott confirms.
"Okay. They may be beyond the limits of our aircraft. But we have a rocket," Brains says.
"Alan, you're up," Scott says.
"That's awesome. I mean... um... Thunderbird 3 is Go!" Alan says and calls into his earpiece, "Kayo, make your way down to Thunderbird 3."
5
Alan takes a place in his seat and start to descend to get suited up.
4
Alan and Kayo are lifted on a crane from the bottom of the hanger into Thunderbird 3.
3
Thunderbird 3's blast door closes.
2
Alan and Kayo's chairs roll up to the controls.
1
The rockets start up.
Thunderbirds are Go!
July 19th, 2060 - 01:36 IOT
It doesn't take long for Thunderbird 3 to arrive on the scene of CIRUS. As they get closer, a hologram of John and Brains appears on the console unit.
"Careful, guys. That altitude is prone to atmospheric tides," John explains.
"Completing our suborbital approach," Alan says.
"You can't risk b-bursting those balloons. You'll have to approach the station from below and pull it downward," Brains says.
"Alright, should be no problem," Kayo says as Thunderbird 3 begins to rotate from horizontal flight, back into vertical. Alan expertly moves Thunderbird 3 into position below CIRUS.
"Latch onto uninhabited support module at the base of the station," Brains explains.
"Deploying grasping arms," Alan says. The three large hydraulic arms, expand outwards from the base of Thunderbird 3 and rotate round to face the nose-cone. Each of the pads on the end of each arm open up with grabbers attached to the end of each. "I see it! Contact in three… two… gotcha! Engaging retros." Slowly, but surely, Thunderbird 3 begins to pull CIRUS back down to Earth
"It's working! CIRUS is lowering in altitude!" Brains says.
Then there is trouble, the section of CIRUS that Thunderbird 3 had attached to turned out to be not very secure and it breaks away from the main station. "Ah!" Kayo exclaims, "The tri-grapple has broken away!" Not a moment later, a lose bit of metal falls from the tri-grapple and hits Thunderbird 3.
"We've lost our number two engine!" Alan cries. Alan detaches from the tri-grapple and begins to rapidly fall back down to Earth. The loss of one of the three main engines cause the red rocket to go into a spin.
"Thunderbird 3, you're rolling like a log," Scott says.
"I've got to try again!" Alan says, "CIRUS—"
"It's too fragile now!" Kayo realises, "We can't risk anymore damage to it."
"But..." Alan says and groans angrily, "F-A-B. Engaging emergency thrust-vectoring to compensate." Slowly Thunderbird 3 makes her way back to Tracy Island.
July 19th, 2060 - 07:59 NZST
Everyone is in hologram form now except for John, feeling completely defeated from the events that had occurred over that last few minutes.
"We could try Thunderbird Shadow," Virgil says.
"That would be a negative boys," Kayo says, "Thunderbird Shadow could never reach that altitude."
"Can they risk using those halo-suits?" Scott asks.
"I'm sorry, but the chance of survival is exactly zero," Brains says.
"Maybe we can create a slow leak," Alan suggests.
"Yeah, use a smart projectile, hit those balloons with a scatter shot of needles," Gordon suggests.
"Great idea. The slightest perforation and they explode," Virgil deadpans.
"Do you have to shoot down every idea?" Gordon asks.
"I'm not the one shooting things down," Virgil says.
"At least he's trying," Kayo sighs.
"We're not just giving up," Gordon states.
"Who are you saying is giving up?!" Virgil demands.
"Since when did you call the shots?!" Gordon yells.
"QUIET! Everyone!" Marion shouts, "As much as we hate to admit it, International Rescue may have met its match this time."
"We've exhausted all our vehicles." Scott says, "There's no one else left to save them."
"Actually, there maybe someone who can save them," Brains says with a smile causing everyone to look at each other confused.
"WHO?" everyone asks.
"Me," John says as he finally appearing on the call. It turned out, he was getting ready to move Thunderbird 5 over to the Indian Ocean.
"John, how can you save them? You're 22,000 miles in orbit," Virgil asks.
"Exactly," John says.
"Did someone invent a teleporter without telling me?" Gordon asks finally taking his seat back in Thunderbird 2 as they descend on Tracy Island.
"Thunderbird Five has p-powerful thrusters. John can slingshot to a position directly above CIRUS." Brains explains.
"Then I can use the space elevator's cable and mooring claw to latch onto CIRUS." John says, "Once the balloons burst, I'll lower it to the ground. Physics, couldn't be simpler."
"Hold on, you're gonna go fishing from space?" Alan asks, "Cool!"
"I only have one concern. Aside from having to hit a m-moving target from orbit, the cable wasn't intended for that kind of weight-" Brains says.
"Everything you design is over-engineered, Brains," John says, "Safety and excellence first, remember? We'll push the limits. It's just physics."
"Do it," Scott calls.
July 19th, 2060 - 08:03 NZST
John gets ready to move Thunderbird 5 using the holo-map to work out the position they need to move to but gets into trouble. In order to move Thunderbird 5, the space station needs to be at a certain weight. Too heavy and they fall back down to Earth, too light and they could rocket out of Earth's orbit. The holo-map console that is displaying Thunderbird 5 and the Earth flashes yellow and red, with a red cross covering the lock symbol.
"No... No, we're too heavy," John says, "EOS, dump all non-essential equipment and supplies from the cargo bay."
"I hope you're happy. There go my spare processors," EOS says.
"YES! Orbital vectors calculated," John says as he gets a fix on the holo-map, "Firing thrusters. Maximum burn in three, two, one..." Thunderbird 5 then starts moving and rockets through space.
"We'll be in position above CIRRUS in 3.2 minutes," EOS says.
"Get ready, it's gonna be a rough ride," John says.
July 19th, 2060 - 08:06 NZST
Thunderbird 5 soon arrives and John gets ready. He slows Thunderbird 5 down rapidly sending it into a spin, that rotates the station 180 degree, but brings it to a stop. "Breaking manoeuvres complete."
"John, at that distance are you sure you can operate the mooring claw with enough p-precision?" Brains questions.
"You've obviously never seen me on the claw machine at the local arcade," John jokes as he walks over to another hologram showing CIRUS and cracks his knuckles, "This is just one more stuffed toy. Targeting sights aligned." At the top of the hologram is a orange hook that represents the mooring claw and John presses a button below the console that brings up two yellow dots either side of the hologram, which he will use to direct the mooring claw in the direction of CIRUS. The space elevator's mooring claw is fired downwards through the sky heads towards CIRCUS. John frowns as he tries to steer the mooring claw in the right direction as CIRUS is moving all over the place. "No," John comments as the first of CIRUS' balloons pop.
"Ah, hello?" Fischler calls, "You're too late! The b-b-b-balloons… they're… you know… BURSTING!"
In quick succession, the rest of the balloons pop and CIRUS starts plummeting towards the ground. "Accelerating cable," John says as the space elevator increases its speed. He watches the holographic screen carefully as the mooring claw gets closer and closer to the weather station. It speeds downwards towards CIRUS, which has started to re-enter the lower reaches of Earth's atmosphere. Soon, the images of CIRUS and the claw overlap and both go green indicating that John had got a lock on them. "Gotcha. Preparing to lower CIRUS to clear ground."
"The hurricane has doubled in size. There is no clear ground," Scott informs.
"Ugh. If down isn't an option..." John says.
"You go up! Good thinking, John. I might just work," Brains states.
John stops wheeling out the cable and lets CIRUS hover for a moment. "Reversing cable. I'm pulling CIRUS into space." He starts to wheel in the cable by manipulating the holo-diagram in front of him. However, Thunderbird 5 suddenly jerks and John is almost thrown off his feet.
"The winch is slipping, John," Brains informs, "You're going to need a bigger real."
"My thoughts exactly," John smirks and gets rid of the hologram of the mooring claw and replaces it with one of Thunderbird 5. He brings the gravity ring to a stop and starts to rotate the whole of Thunderbird 5 like a giant fishing real. The real is enough to start lifting CIRUS upwards
"He's using the gravity ring — like a spool! He can't, can he?" Alan questions.
"Looks like he can," Gordon shrugs.
"Careful, John," Scott says.
" I almost can't bear to watch," Marion winces.
As Thunderbird 5 spins, the warning systems begin to beep as John is thrown hard to his knees.
"Three G's," Brain notes.
"That much gravity?" Virgil gasps.
"Four G's," Brains continues.
"Can Thunderbird 5 take that much strain?" Marion questions.
"Can John?" Gordon adds.
"Thunderbird 5 is loosing it's orbit," Scott points.
Brains continues to note the increase in G's in the background as John tries to move forward on his hands and knees towards the shutdown button. He winces in pain as he feels the full force of several times of Earth's gravity push down on his body.
"Ten G's," Brains gulps.
"CIRUS still hasn't cleared Earth's atmosphere," Kayo says.
"Fifteen G's… Twenty," Brains quivers, "Twenty-Five!"
John is now lying on the floor, unable to start up and has very little strength to move at all.
"John, Thunderbird 5 is venting atmosphere," EOS cries, "We need to get your helmet on! John?"
"EOS…" John rasps out weakly as he remains stuck of the floor, his back firmly presses against the glass of the gravity ring. On the holo-screen on both Tracy Island and Thunderbird 5, the image of CIRUS goes from orange to green, indicating that is has finally cleared Earth's atmosphere.
"Oh, he did it, he pulled it into space," Alan celebrates.
"John, stop the ring now. The m-momentum will carry it now. John?" Brains calls but gets no response, "John? Respond!"
John struggles to pull himself up onto his knees and uses all his strength to crawl along the ground until he is at the base of the wall where the shutdown button is. He shakily reaches his right hand towards the stop button on the wall, but it is pulled away due to the high G-force. John falls the the fall utterly exhausted but knows he needs to stop the spin of Thunderbird 5 if her and the CIRUS crew are to survive. Again, he attempts to pull himself up and this time manages to press the button making the space station come to a halt.
"John, CIRUS is still heading towards you with no way of stopping!" Brains shouts over the comms. Slowly getting back to his feet, John stutters over to the holo-diagram of Thunderbird 5.
"Initiating thrusters," John wheezes, activating Thunderbird 5's thrusters and moving Thunderbird 5 out of the way just in time, with CIRUS swinging around it instead of into it.
"Yeah! Alright!" everyone on Tracy Island celebrates.
"That's was just about the slickest manoeuvre anyone's ever seen," Scott chuckles.
"Oh, my subroutines are killing me," EOS complains.
"Begin docking manoeuvres. I'm just going to drift for a while. Physics, couldn't be simpler," John breathes making his way over to the airlock, "Cycle airlock please."
The airlock opens to reveal Fischler and his two crew members behind him. "Two doors on an airlock, Mr Tracy? That's a bit excessive don't you think? What do you like the sound of the airlock, do ya'?" Fischler says and mimes the action with his hand, "Psst. Psst." He laughs at his own joke.
"Welcome aboard, Mr Fischler—" John starts but is cut off by Fischler talking to his crew.
"You there, take note. My next project is to be a space station. We'll want it lean and mean," Fischler orders and floats away.
"Yes Mr Fischler," the guys groans and follows him.
"And staff, you're all dismissed I think. I'm going to go with monkeys from now on. A lot easier. Monkeys with helmets. Actually, no helmets, we'll just put the logo on the monkey's forehead," Fischler muses and goes off out of sight leaving John by himself. He sighs and watches them go.
"Tracy Island?" John calls.
"We've already contacted Global Defence. They've revoked Fischler's Space Operations Permit," Kayo says.
"Fantastic. Now please get this man off of my station before I have a sudden unexplained airlock failure!" John cries causing everyone to laugh.