"The New System" is the first Thunderbirds story published in the Countdown magazine, the 'spiritual' successor to TV21. It was published across the first five issues of the magazine over late February and most of March in 1971.
The title of The New System comes from an introductory panel in part one of the story - as it has never been reprinted, there is no other name to attribute to it.
Synopsis[]
The International Rescue team are testing a new automatic ground control system for Thunderbird 3, which allows for remote control of the ship via a magnetic beam. However, a solar flare disrupts the test, and Thunderbird 3 finds itself stuck in a decaying orbit, slowly descending towards Earth, with Alan unconscious at the controls. Their only hope lies in a spare part manufactured at one of their component factories, but as Thunderbird 3 could land anywhere on Earth, they may be forced to destroy their spacecraft - with Alan on board - to save a city.
Characters[]
(in order of appearance)
- Alan Tracy
- Jeff Tracy
- Brains
- Tin-Tin Kyrano (cameo)
- Scott Tracy
- John Tracy
- Virgil Tracy
- Mercenary soldiers
IR Equipment Used[]
Trivia[]
- Thunderbird 3's interior resembles Thunderbird 1's redesigned interior from season 2, meaning the artist probably used stills from Atlantic Inferno as reference.
- Thunderbird 3's hull is said to be made out of polyarcanium.