Zero X Beats Space Curse! (short story)

Zero X Beats Space Curse! 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 Zero X content in the issue while a smaller piece tied-in to the Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons crossover comic We Will Destroy Unity City.
== Summary ==
Captain Paul Travers proudly proclaims "We made it! We beat the jinx!" as he announces the return of Zero X from Mars. Action 21 reports that the ship and its crew are on their way back, but not to Earth, as Glenn Field has diverted them to "a secret location". The publication notes they refuse to say why but promises to bring its readers the latest pictures.
Elsewhere, Cloudbase finally breaks its prolonged silence, with Lieutenant Green explaining that the Spectrum headquarters had been attacked by knockout gas. He goes on to say Cloudbase's personnel have now recovered and pledges on behalf of Spectrum to send agents to Unity City to assist with the ongoing search for the Kaplan's assassin as soon as an "internal security matter" is cleared up. Meanwhile, the new Kaplan is formally invested on Astra, reiterating his intent to declare war on Earth unless his predecessor's killer is found.
== Characters ==
* Paul Travers
* Lieutenant Green
* The new Kaplan
== Worldbuilding ==
* Cloudbase is currently positioned over the Coral Sea.
* A picture of the MEV undergoing its Arctic trials "last year" is printed.
== Story notes ==
* This story was a tie-in to the Zero X comic story Rock Snakes of Mars but also heavily teased its next instalment, The Stowaway.
== Continuity ==
* Further references are made to the Zero X "jinx" which was previously mentioned in PROSE: 'Jinx Ship' Blasts Off For Mars and PROSE: Zero X: Four Crew Missing.
* The first three attempts to explore the uncolonised regions of Mars all ended in disaster, as noted in PROSE: 'Jinx Ship' Blasts Off For Mars.
* The Zero X expedition was lost in a magnetic storm "for what seemed like an eternity" on this latest voyage. Brad Newman reported he had lost contact with the MEV after it entered a dust storm in PROSE: Zero X: Four Crew Missing.
* The new Kaplan repeats his vow from COMIC: Assassination! to resume the Space War if his predecessor's murderer is not brought to justice.
* World Government forces are continuing to search Unity City for the assassin, priorly seen in PROSE: Get the Gunman!.
* Captain Black's attack on Cloudbase with knockout gas was depicted in COMIC: We Will Destroy Unity City.
* Cloudbase has been maintaining a "nerve wracking" silence, as also stated in PROSE: Ghost Ship! and PROSE: Get the Gunman!.
Category:Stories set in 2089
Category:Action 21 short stories
Category:1989 short stories
Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series