- "And you Zodiac - you trapped us... then listen to this. Find the killers in thirty six hours, or it's war... to the end!"
— Kaplan Minus
"Assassination!" is a two-part comic strip story published in TV Century 21 issue 19. Published across the issue's Fireball XL5 and Lady Penelope strips, the story acted as a crossover between the two mostly seperate continuities. Illustrated by Mike Noble and Eric Eden, the true authors are unknown, although they are likely Tod Sullivan and Alan Fennell (respectively). The story's events are dated to the afternoon of May 29, 2065.
The majority of part one is presented as a live television report by Universal Television, right up until just after the assassination, where it veers off to follow Steve Zodiac as he scours the surrounding rooftops. This is an important narrative element, as it sets up the Lady Penelope half of the story, which is kickstarted by Lady Penelope having witnessed the assassination on television.
Cover Story[]
As is usual for certain stories published in TV Century 21, a narrative cover story in prose was written to lead in and provide context for the story. Two stories were published on the front page, one for each part.
Fireball XL5[]
The Kaplan is dead! This afternoon, while on a state drive through Unity City, the Kaplan, leader of the Astrans, was shot down by an unknown gunman. The Kaplan had been leader of the Astran Empire for twenty seven years. At the last elections, held in 2061, he was returned to office by a massive 90 per cent poll. Now he is dead, the office of Kaplan is automatically transferred to the Kaplan Minus, a young, ambitious politician who rode to office on the Kaplan's bandwagon. For people everywhere, this will be a sad day, not only from the point of view of a great being's end, but because of the fears of repurcussions. Unless the killers are caught, space war seems certain.
Lady Penelope[]
Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, who only recently returned from a visit to Bereznik, is already on the move again, reports our correspondent. She made a sudden departure this afternoon for Unity City by Fireflash Airliner. It is believed that she may have gone there to investigate the assassination of the Astran Empire's Kaplan.
Plot[]
Part One[]
The aftermath of the Kaplan's assassination
Universal Television reporter Bob Newawk reports on the arrival of the Astran race on Earth, in order to sign a peace treaty and end the months-long space war between the two planets. Greeted by the World President, the Astran royals (consisting of the Kaplan and ther Minus) are taken on a procession through Unity City before signing the treaty. While the Kaplan sits with the President, Steve Zodiac accompanies the Kaplan Minus, who despite Zodiac's resassurances, still suspects the whole thing is a trap.
As the procession enters the city, everyone's worst fears come true - a bolt of laser energy blasts the Kaplan, killing him in the car. As Newawk notes, chaos erupts in the street below, with police, officials and other Astrans running around. Steve notes the general area in which the blast came from and rushes onto the building's rooftop, but finds it empty. Returning to the motorcade below, he finds the Kaplan Minus berating the World President, accusing the Solarians of murder. The Minus issues Steve a final ultimatum - he has only 36 hours to find the Kaplan's killer before the war between the two races would continue. Steve protests the issue, but the Minus is backed up by both the World President and Commander Zero.
Halfway around the world, a blonde aristocrat and her manservant are watching the newsreport. She notes that while the entire world will be watching Colonel Zodiac, no one will be watching them, and the manservant offers to fetch the Rolls Royce.
Part Two[]
Lady Penelope and Lugosti play cards
Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and Parker, having witnessed the Kaplan's assassination on television, spring in to action. Parker, with his first-hand knowledge of the criminal network, suspects Count Lugosti is responsible as he is the "king pin gunman" of the underworld - although he is so well hidden behind a network of agents that it will be impossible to personally contact him. Speed is key, as they aim to track down the culprit before they leave Unity City. Taking a Fireflash into Bermuda, Parker elaborates further on what he knows of the count, saying he is a big gambler. Lady Penelope realises that he will be hiding in the casino waiting for the police hunt to die down, and as she knows almost all the world gamblers it should be easy to pick out the Count.
After landing in Unity City, and arriving at the casino - sure enough Lady Penelope sights an unfamilar face playing an "excellent" game of Century, and determines he can't be just a tourist as he has no sun tan. Lady Penelope decides to play against Lugosti in an attempt to draw him out into the open. Wearing a special pair of glasses that allow her to view a camera feed, and positioning Parker with an invisible infra-red transmitting light, Penelope is able to read Lugosti's card and ensures she wins. After winning everything from Lugosti, Lady Penelope and Parker promptly depart the casino, but Lugosti follows them out and confronts them in quiet street nearby. He attempts to rob the pair to recoup his losses, and Penelope dispenses a pressurised cannister of gas at him, knocking him back. The gas is a truth drug, and when asked he admits to killing the Kaplan with a rifle. One anonymous phone call later, and Zodiac and Zero find Lugosti tied up to a lamp pole, and bring him in for questioning.
When the two return to England, Parker notes that the truth drug used on Lugosti wouldn't be accepted in court, but Lady Penelope notes that it is now Colonel Zodiac's problem to prove what they know is true.
Characters[]
(in order of appearance)
- Bob Newawk
- World President
- Kaplan
- Harry
- Count Lugosti
- Steve Zodiac
- Kaplan Minus
- Commander Zero
- Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward
- Parker
Trivia[]
- The Assassination! title was published in that week's Fireball XL5 strip. No name was given for the Lady Penelope strip, but as the two stories are direct continuations of each other, both stories can be referred to under the same title.
- The story had continued before, and would continue after issue 19, which would include a further crossover with Stingray. However, as issue 19 is the only part that connects with the direct Thunderbirds universe, it is the only part covered by the wiki.
- The Astrans hail from the planet Astra, which had originated in the Doctor Who serial The Rescue. This implies the story is yet another crossover with the Doctor Who universe.
Cover Tie-In[]
