Earthquake

**Earthquake** is the twenty-first *TUGS: The Bigg City Chronicles* story.

## Plot

Zak and Zeus are finally released from dry dock after threatening Zug, Zip and Zilly with an 'accidental' Final Firing last year. Captain Zero puts them on dredger duty. On the way, they almost bumped into Zilly and almost threaten him but Zebedee sends them on their way. Despite Zebedee encouraging Zilly, the submarine isn't so sure.

Captain Star informs the Star Fleet about Zak and Zeus' return and warns them to keep a distance from them. The tugs set off for work whilst Captain Star and Captain Zero decide to polish the medals that some of their fleet members were rewarded with on the night of the munitions disaster.

As the tugs are hard at work, an earthquake strikes Bigg City and causes all sorts of problems such as Zebedee losing control of one of his barges, Big Mac's barge resurfacing underneath him for a second time and Little Owl crashing into rubble from a collapsed building, for which she blames Zilly who ran away the moment the earthquake started.

Meanwhile, Top Hat notices the railway bridge is about to collapse and sends a warning to Henney who stops just in time. Zob sees the bridge collapse and alerts Mr. Lloyd who cancels all trains.

Captain Star clings to his desk for safety and is worried for his tugs' safety. After the earth stops shaking, Captain Star hears a loud cry of pain from the Zero Dock and rushes over to see that Captain Zero had hurt his leg. Quickly, Captain Star sends for an ambulance to take Captain Zero to the hospital and asks Captain Lucky to look after the Z-Stacks whilst he's away.

The Stars and Z-Stacks all gather at the Star Dock and are briefed on Captain Zero's absence. The tugs then give a report on the damage that's occured and Captain Star informs that he'll be sending for the Salvage Fleet to help out. Then Davy Jones arrives and informs about Litte Owl's accident. Ten Cents, Top Hat, Zip, Zug and Zob are sent to collect Frank, Eddie and Little Ditcher and rescue her. Zilly is horrified at hearing this and feels guilty.

Captain Star then explains to the reader about the Salvage Fleet's history such as their captain Jennifer Salvage as well as its tugs: an ocean going tug named Pisces, four harbour tugs called Mystic (or "Misty" as she prefers), Scorpio, Ember and Stormy and two switchers named Hail and Moonlight, the latter of whom is Sunshine's older brother. Captain Salvage informs the Salvage Fleet about the damage caused in Bigg City Port and sends her tugs to help out.

Stormy and Hail go to assist Ten Cents, Top Hat, Zob, Zip and Zug. Whilst Top Hat, Zob and Stormy rescue Little Owl, the four switchers assess another building, who has been empty for years. Just as Stormy and the two railway tugs finish rescuing Little Owl and her cars, the Salvage harbour tug hears a noise and warns the switchers that the building is about to collapse. Ten Cents, Zip, Zug and Hail get clear just in time.

Meanwhile, Sunshine and Moonlight are helping to steady Mighty Mo when an aftershock from the quake almost rips him from his moorings. Luckily, Zebedee is nearby and decides to help. Thanks to Zebedee, Mighty Mo holds steady. Zilly watches from afar and doubts he would have done any good.

Hercules, Big Mac, O.J., Warrior, Zorran, Ember, Pisces, Scorpio and Misty have gone to rescue a tramper, which had been tossed onto a mudbank near the estuary as a result of the earthquake. Pisces takes up the lead whilst the rest take the side push. It is hard work and another aftershock hits them, but none of the tugs give up and the tramper is freed from the mudbank and back in open waters with only minor damage.

The calvacade brings the tramper to Lucky's Yard. Captain Lucky congratulates the tugs before noticing a downcast Zilly. After Zilly explains what happened with Little Owl, Captain Lucky tells him that he's braver than he realises. Grampus agrees and asks Zilly if he's like to help him, Top Hat and Zob assess the debris in the canal near the bridge. Zilly agrees to this.

On the way, Zilly spots Davy Jones in a small dock near another building. Davy Jones explains that the building was closed off after being damaged by the earthquake but he ran out of fuel. Zilly promises to get Top Hat and Zob to tow him back to the dock but another aftershock and the building starts to collapse. Zilly is scared but realises that Davy Jones is in danger of being crushed. The submarine bravely throws a towline onto Davy Jones and drags him away just in time as the building hits the ground with a loud crash. Top Hat, Zob and Grampus see everything and Zilly is hailed a hero. Davy Jones thanks Zilly who gives a small smile.

That evening, Captain Star, Captain Lucky and Captain Salvage praise everyone for their bravery today, but Zilly gets the biggest praise of all for saving Davy Jones.

Over the next few days, the Stars, Z-Stacks and Salvage Tugs worked hard to get the harbour after the earthquake and are proud of themselves, especially Zilly. When Captain Zero returns to work, he congratulates Zilly for his bravery and informs him that he is to receive a medal for saving Davy Jones.

Little Owl is still angry with Zilly and rants about him being rewarded for saving Davy Jones, much to the other engines' annoyance but Mr. Lloyd warns her not to spoil Zilly's special day. Whilst Zilly is still nervous and jumpy, everyone gains new respect for him, especially Davy Jones.

## Characters

* Captain Star
* Ten Cents
* Big Mac
* O.J.
* Top Hat
* Warrior
* Hercules
* Sunshine
* Grampus
* Captain Zero
* Zorran
* Zebedee
* Zak
* Zug
* Zip
* Zeus
* Zob
* Zilly
* Captain Salvage
* Pisces
* Misty
* Scorpio
* Ember
* Stormy
* Hail
* Moonlight
* Captain Lucky
* Mr. Frederick Lloyd
* Puffa
* Little Owl
* Porter
* Henney
* Kirke
* Sally Seaplane
* Davy Jones
* Mighty Mo

## Voices

### Official

* Simon Nash as Ten Cents
* Sean Barrett as Big Mac, Hercules, Zebedee and Captain Zero
* Ian James Corlett as O.J.
* John Baddeley as Top Hat and Puffa
* Chris Tulloch as Zorran
* Shaun Prendergrast as Zak
* Nigel Anthony as Zug and Davy Jones
* Lee Cornes as Grampus
* JoAnne Goode as Sally Seaplane
* David Menkin as Porter

### Fan chosen

* Peter Dickson as Captain Star
* Jeff Bennett as Warrior
* Michelle Creber as Sunshine
* Tara Strong as Zip and Misty
* Richard White as Zeus
* Catherine Cavadini as Pisces
* E.G. Daily as Scorpio
* Ali Milner as Ember
* Nicole Sullivan as Stormy
* Katie Leigh as Hail
* Shaun Prendergrast as Moonlight
* Lenore Zann as Little Owl and Captain Lucky
* Phyllis Smith as Henney
* Alan Tudyk as Kirke
* Paul Dobson as Mr. Lloyd
* Jennifer Martin as Captain Salvage

### Trivia

* This marks the first appearances of Pisces, Misty, Scorpio, Ember, Stormy, Hail, Moonlight and Captain Salvage.