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The Phantom Freighter! – A Gerry Anderson A21 News Report

by A21 Reporter Andy Clems

Phantoms roam the waves! Reports received from the World Navy Destroyer WNS Parzival, have identified the freighter Imperial sailing in the South Pacific. However, the Imperial was confirmed destroyed by a Spectrum submarine three days ago during a training exercise.

Speaking from Cloudbase’s control room, Lieutenant Green verified that he had personally fired the torpedo that sank the Imperial. He stated, “Colonel White assigned me to the training exercise due in part to past experience in the World Aquanaut Security Patrol before joining Spectrum. I was joined by Captain Grey, also a former WASP man and several members of the World Navy. The submarine was the latest Clam-class attack vessel, the Predator, and we were scheduled to take part in several war game encounters during the course of the exercise.”

After completing a series of speed trials, including the setting of a new record for the class, the Predator commenced combat operations against radio controlled target vessels. The first target was an old 20th century aircraft carrier, the Vanguard. Setting maximum range on the torpedoes, Lieutenant Green fired on the target and scored two direct hits on the huge vessel. Captain Grey explained, “The Vanguard was sunk in an area destined to become an artificial reef, there was nothing random about the spot she went down. I guess it wasn’t long afterward that we picked up the Imperial on our surface scanner.”

The Imperial, also under remote control, was sailing on an intercept course, mimicking the action an enemy vessel might take. Packed with recording equipment, the old ship transmitted a log of everything happening right up until the Predator began its attack. Lieutenant Green confirmed that the second torpedo attack was carried out exactly as expected. “We move as close to point blank range as possible, under orders to verify the rapid-arming system on the torpedoes. The freighter was dead ahead, closing on us. I fired a single torpedo and stood by at the ready with another, but the weapon caught the Imperial amidships and blew it to pieces. There was very little left and what there was sank very quickly. That makes the report from the Parzival all the more troubling. If they really did see the Imperial after her destruction, it could only have been a Mysteron reconstruction. The question is, why would they rebuild the ship and what are they planning to do with it next?”

Spectrum are now on the alert for a potential Mysteron strike, so be sure to stay tuned to A21 for further news as it develops!

Written by
Andrew Clements

A writer, film maker and self confessed Gerry Anderson fanatic. Free to good home.

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