Ghost Ship! (short story)

Ghost Ship! was a cover story printed in Action 21 that contained elements from the Doctor Who universe. Framed as the front page of an in-universe periodical, the titular article made reference to the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons crossover comic We Will Destroy Unity City.
== Summary ==
International Rescue pilot Scott Tracy makes his way towards the Northwest Territories of Canada in Thunderbird 1, ready to assist two men who are trapped by an ever-worsening forest fire. His flight path takes him past Cloudbase, which continues on a course across the Pacific in the direction of Australia. Scott attempts to identify himself on the usual frequency but receives no reply, noting the absence of the Angels describing the base in a subsequent message as a "lifeless hulk".
Meanwhile, World President Lhomel announces a "major facelift" for the Martian city of Kahra at a surprise press briefing. Kylie Walker reports for Action 21 that "massive" cash boosts, enterprise zone status, tourist attractions and a new World Army Air Force base are among the improvements to living conditions Kahran residents could expect. The reforms, however, come too late to aid the crew of the Zero X Martian Exploration Vehicle. Feared lost in the desert, a Kahran spokesman explains the predicament with the statement "Even if we knew where they were, we just don't have the fuel to launch a rescue mission".
== Characters ==
* Scott Tracy
* President Lhomel
* Kahran spokesman
* Pete Tracker
== Worldbuilding ==
* Cloudbase is the headquarters of Spectrum.
* The new World Army Air Force base is intended to protect the colonists from the Mysterons.
== Story notes ==
* The titular article of this story is a joint tie-in to We Will Destroy Unity City and the Thunderbirds story Blazing Danger. Such an interaction between the two comics was impossible upon their original publication in TV Century 21; Blazing Danger was published in January and February 1966 which was over a year before the premiere broadcast of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons on 29 September 1967 and the release of We Will Destroy Unity City soon afterwards.
* This story is also a tie-in to the Zero X comic Rock Snakes of Mars.
== Continuity ==
* Lieutenant Green would reveal to the world in PROSE: Zero X Beats Space Curse! that Cloudbase had been attacked by knockout gas, explaining their prior radio silence.
* Pete Tracker is in Yellowknife, Canada to report on the forest fire deliberately started by Sam Lincoln. Previous articles Tracker had written on the developing situation were seen in PROSE: Thunderbirds Ready for Action! and PROSE: Captain Scarlet in Death Crash!.
Category:Stories set in 2088
Category:Action 21 short stories
Category:1988 short stories
Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series