by Ronda Curtner

A source close to Spectrum has revealed to our reporter Ronda Curtner the following details from a file in Spectrum Intelligence. We are unable to confirm the veracity of the following.

Colonel White was listening with profound concentration as Captain Ochre tried to explain just what had happened on his last mission - to Ulan Bator.   The captain’s explanation – whilst detailed and almost certainly accurate – was confusing enough without the interruption from Lieutenant Green.

“Excuse me, Colonel, but I have the World President on your private line,” Green called, with only the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.     

Colonel White glanced across the Control Room at his senior communications officer and frowned.  The lieutenant’s face was a picture of virtuous innocence.  White decided it was probably a genuine interruption.

“Very well, Captain,” the colonel said, with a wary glance at the dark-haired American officer sitting before him, “we will continue this conversation at a later date.  Dismiss.”

“S.I.G., Colonel,” Ochre said with alacrity, and hurried away with a grateful glance at the grinning lieutenant.

Colonel White punched up the relevant channel and spoke into his desk microphone.  “Good day, sir. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“Ah, Colonel, it is nice to speak to you.” James Younger had a politician’s knack of making every word sound as if it came from the heart.  Colonel White had known him long enough to take his words with a pinch of salt.  When the World President called Spectrum it was not usually for polite chit-chat.

“Thank you, sir,” White said with much less fulsomeness.

“Colonel, as I am sure you are aware, the annual budgetary commission is due to meet in the next few months – here at Futura…”

“The date is engraved in my memory,” White replied quietly.

“Well, I have to warn you that there are several World senators who are… shall we say, baulking… at the estimates for Spectrum’s financial requirements for next year…”

“Yes,” White murmured, “let’s say baulking…”

“I have been working behind the scenes to ensure that their concerns are laid to rest – and you are aware that I have every confidence in your organisation and absolute faith in your ability to deliver an effective defence against the Mysterons.”

“Uhmmm,” Colonel White replied non-committally.

“I… er…” Younger hesitated.  The colonel’s heart sank. “Well, I have been speaking to several wavering senators in the hope of convincing them to give their support to the estimates. You know how these things are handled, Colonel, and it has been impressed on me – from several quarters - that Spectrum needs to raise its public profile…”

“I beg your pardon, sir?  We are a security organisation – there is no question of us having a ‘public profile’ to raise…”

“Hmmm – and that is part of the problem, Colonel.  Spectrum is far too clandestine to win general approval.  Several senators have said to me that they have no ammunition in the battle to win the support of their constituencies with regard to the finances – and there are elections coming up.... 

Colonel White actually groaned.

“So it occurs to me that Spectrum – and its officers – should be seen to be making some all-embracing gesture to win over hearts and minds…”

“Sir…”White began to protest.  The World President ignored him and carried on smoothly.

“So, after consultation with my advisors and the publicity department, we have decided to authorise an official Spectrum calendar…”

“A what?”

“…To raise money for the World Government’s charity funds, naturally.”

“But… but…”

“My publicity office manager, thought that twelve of your … how shall I put this… most presentable personnel should feature on a calendar, which would be sold to raise funds…”

“Mr President…”

“…And I am in full agreement.  I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to bring Spectrum’s valuable work and dedicated personnel to the public’s attention in a most suitable and … timely manner.  So I have authorised a photo-shoot, here in Futura, with one of the most prestigious fashion photographers…”

“Fashion!” White was nearly choking on the idea.

“Ms Mary-Sue Mackay-Wells – a thoroughly charming young lady… I have met her several times.  She has experience in photographing some of the most prestigious people in the film and music industry.  I didn’t think you would want her wandering about Cloudbase, so I have assured her that you will send a selection of your most personable officers – and the charming young ladies of the Angel Flight, of course – to meet her here, next Thursday…”

“Mr President…”

“I am so glad that is acceptable to you, Colonel!  Well, I must dash… such a lot to do!  My personal secretary has the details…Goodbye…”

Colonel White spluttered as the line went dead. “Well, I… er… I… well… good grief!”

Captain Scarlet was in a good mood as he strode into the conference room, his cap at a jaunty angle and a smile on his face.  It had been a busy week so far. He had been instrumental in foiling a Mysteron attack in Vienna and had eaten far more chocolate Torte than was good for him – then he’d been shot in Tokyo and stabbed to death in Mombassa.  He felt that he could do with a few days rest – somewhere nice and peaceful - and he was contemplating asking Rhapsody to request a few days off as well.  A dirty weekend in Brighton would just about make his week…

His feeling of satisfaction ebbed slightly at the look on Colonel White’s face.  When the old man looked like that, there was something serious in the offing.  He nodded at Captain Blue and saluted before slipping into the spare seat next to Destiny.   From across the table -where he was sitting slightly too close to Symphony for it to look entirely accidental - Blue rolled his eyes, directing his partner’s gaze, with a warning frown, towards the colonel.

Scarlet grimaced and sighed, waiting for the bombshell he had no doubt was coming.

“Ladies and gentlemen of Spectrum,” Colonel White began at his most funereal, “I am afraid we have a serious problem…”

“Not another traitor in our midst, Colonel?” Blue asked.

“No, Captain – although we are under attack from a dangerous and unexpected quarter.”

“The Mysterons, Colonel?” Scarlet said, his voice deep with portentous concern.

“Not even them, Captain – far, far worse.”

“Worse than the Mysterons?” Symphony gasped. “Oh, give us a break…” she murmured, slipping her hand under Blue’s arm.

“Yes indeed, Symphony.”  Colonel White stared sternly at her until she removed her hand from its cosy resting place and clasped both her hands before her on the table, as a blush rose steadily from her neck to her face.

Colonel White continued, “I have had a… conversation with President Younger and he has authorised – indeed, ordered me - to allow twelve of you to be photographed for a … a charity calendar…”

There was a startled silence and then Captain Ochre burst out laughing. “Jeez, I thought it was something serious!”

“It is, Captain,” White asserted. “Spectrum’s efficient operation depends on our anonymity.  But how do you expect us to retain that anonymity, with all of your faces plastered over the bedroom walls of the planet’s teenage population?”

Ochre fell silent and gave the matter some serious thought. White cleared his throat.

“I have argued this with the President, but he is adamant that – without our compliance in this fund-raising charity event – he will not have the support of enough World Senators to get our finances passed in the Senate, without a divisive and protracted debate.”

“Oh, politics…” Blue said in sudden loathing. “Almost one-third of the Senate are up for re-election, so I guess a cut in our budget might look good to them as a vote-winner.  That way, at least, their expense accounts are safe for another term.”

“Oh, come on, Adam,” Scarlet reasoned, despite the colonel’s glare at his use of a personal name.  “They wouldn’t risk our lives just to save their expense accounts.”

Blue’s eyebrows rose in ironic dispute. “I think we need to discuss that statement further... so, everyone, what is wrong with this sentence…? ‘They wouldn’t risk our lives just to save their expense accounts’?”

"You are turning into a proper cynic in your old age," Scarlet grinned.

"I’m merely being realistic," Blue retorted. "And not so much of the old... if you don't mind!"

“That’s enough, gentleman!” White snapped. “I am afraid we have no alternative.  The pictures must be taken – although I will fight every step of the way to stop their publication.”

“Sir, with the greatest respect, have you explained to the World President that this might be a dangerous thing to do? Never mind the potential security breach, if anyone were to recognise Captain Magenta or Captain Ochre their very lives might be at risk,” Blue persisted. He had personal experience of being in the public eye, as his family were wealthy socialites. He did not like it and had long taken personal measures to avoid the limelight before he ever joined the WAS security force – never mind Spectrum.

“I am only too aware of the dangers, Captain Blue,” White assured him. “But at the moment, I am having no success in swaying the President’s decision. I do not give up hope that the pictures will not be published or will be obscure enough to leave doubt about the identity of the sitter.”

“What sort of pictures are they planning to do?” Ochre asked. “Distant shots of people in Spectrum vehicles wouldn’t hurt as they could be pictures of anyone…”

“I am not sure, Captain. President Younger has arranged for a photographer to take photographs of you all at Futura… on Thursday.”

“All of us?”

“Twelve of – what the President referred to as – the most presentable of you…”

Ochre sniggered.  “Tough going, Scarlet.  I guess that means you stay here…”

Destiny waved a finger at him in reproach, then addressed the colonel. “What kind of photographs…?  I mean, Futura is a nice place, but it is very hot and I don’t wish to have a picture of me all shiny in a leather suit in much sunshine…”

“I have no idea – that will be up to the photographer – who is to be a Ms Mary-Sue Mackay-Wells.”

“Tiens, but she is a genius!  Mon pére – he has several of her pictures in his collection.  This could be wonderful…”

“What kind of pictures?” Ochre asked again.

“Of all kinds, but she is best known for the portraits of famous people – glamorous portraits…” Destiny enthused.

Colonel White’s face grew even more angst ridden.  This is even worse than I first thought! It will be a complete disaster! And half of my officers are NOT taking this… threat… seriously enough!

“Who’s going to go?” Symphony asked, her interest piqued by Destiny’s enthusiasm.

“Well, the President insists that five of the pictures must be of the Angels,” White explained.

“Well, they’re all certainly very presentable,” Ochre smiled. Destiny preened and Symphony flashed him a smile.

“Quite, “White agreed. “As I have said before – Spectrum is not totally devoid of elegance and charm…”

“And who else will go?” Symphony asked, giving Blue a surreptitious glance from beneath her lashes.

White sighed and rattled off the names, “Captains Ochre, Grey, Magenta and Blue, Lieutenant Green, Doctor Fawn and Captain Scarlet.  Along with the Angels that covers every month of the year – by birthday.”

“You’ll make a splendid Playmate of the month, Destiny.  Miss July, unless I’m mistaken …” Ochre teased, a wicked grin on his face.

“At least,” the Frenchwoman retorted in kind, “as your birthday is in février, we shall have the least days to have to regard it!”

The officers all laughed.  Colonel White sniffed. No, not seriously at all… “This is no joking matter. Captain Blue is quite right – your identities could be revealed…”

“Hey,” Symphony grinned, “if someone‘s going to take a glamour photo of me – I’ll make damn sure that my face is the last thing anyone notices!”

“Symphony!” Colonel White and Captain Blue deplored in unison.  She roared with laughter – and her infectious laugh soon had the other members of the conference joining in.

“Only joking, guys…” she smiled at Blue and then gave an apologetic smirk at the colonel.

“This will be an unmitigated disaster – I just know it…” Colonel White moaned.

Mary-Sue Mackay-Wells supervised the unloading of her equipment from the aircraft cargo hold, something she - or her personal assistant - always did. There were some very expensive cameras in those metal boxes and no-one was going to throw them about.

Mary-Sue was at the height of her professional standing – a highly paid and much-sought-after photographer.   This shoot was one she had squeezed into her busy schedule, purely as a favour to the World President and in return for his agreement to pose for a formal portrait photograph in the very near future.  That would be a valuable commodity.  Younger was a popular President, but - since some kooks had taken pot-shots at him and some nutter had tied to kidnap him – access to him was restricted and rarely granted. She could make money from a decent, up-to-date portrait of the good-looking Younger – so she could afford to waste time photographing a bunch of fancy-dressed policemen and some battle-axe female pilots. 

And it is all in a good cause, she thought cheerfully, mine!

She followed the trolley into the terminal building, hopeful that she could wrap this Spectrum shoot up as fast as decently possible and get back to doing what she did best – making a decent living from her talents.

Futura was a wonderful place.  The hotels were of a universally high standard, the beaches all of white, shining sand, fringed with palm trees, the wide streets were all clean and traffic flowed along them without ever getting grid-locked.  Peopled almost exclusively by bureaucrats, it had – in Captain Blue’s colourful phrase – all the charm of a half-eaten pizza; the sort you find under the bed a few weeks after you abandoned it there.

Captain Scarlet loathed the place too.   He trudged from the bright, warm sunshine into the air-conditioned hotel lobby with resignation.  The other members of the party were already clustered around the check-in desk, where a good-looking clerk, with a permanently fixed smile, was sorting out their accommodation.  Scarlet dumped his kit-bag on the floor next to Melody and leaned on the counter top, pushing his red cap back on his forehead and sighing.

“That is all there is, madam,” the clerk was saying to Destiny, “the reservations were made by the President’s office and there is no mistake.  Double rooms were booked.” His fixed smile grew even wider. “President Younger is careful not to throw the government’s money about…”

“How shall we do this?” Destiny asked her companions.  She made a quick count. “There are eight of us and four rooms…”

“Eight into four goes… two!” Ochre counted on his fingers in exaggerated confusion. “I guess we share,” he leered, grinning wickedly.

“Three of the eight are women…”  Symphony snarled at him. “And don’t even suggest it, Rick, not if you don’t want to have your picture taken with two black eyes and a broken nose…”

“Hey, it’s not my fault Blue got confined to Cloudbase as duty-officer,” he placated her, adding, “or I guess the whole question of who doubles up would’ve been an academic one…”

“Meaning?” she snapped in reply.

“Stop it you two!” Scarlet intervened, placing a hand on Symphony’s arm.  “Leave her alone, Rick.” He wasn’t that pleased either, as the colonel had decided that two of the Angel pilots had to remain behind as well – flying down with Captain Blue and Lieutenant Green to have their photographs done once the main party had returned.  The two unlucky Angels were Rhapsody and Harmony.

“Well, I’m having this room.” Symphony grabbed a key and picked up her bulging suitcase. “I don’t mind which of you girls wants to share… but the first officer that walks through that door had better be good at self-defence.”

“I never appreciated just how often Adam takes his life in his hands…” Ochre whispered to Magenta as they watched her stalk across the lounge. Magenta gave him a forbearing glance.

Destiny picked up her case and glanced at Melody.  “You go after her, Honey,” Melody smiled. “I can handle anything any of these guys throws at me…” Destiny smiled and hurried after Symphony who was just getting into a lift.

Grey had been studying the itinerary left by the President’s office.  “This photographer doesn’t plan to hang about for long.  We’re all slotted in by the hour!”

“Good job I’m so photogenic then,” Ochre grinned, reaching out to collect a key.  “Coming… anyone?”

Magenta followed him across the lobby and Grey and Fawn followed them.  Melody picked up the last key and gave Scarlet an appraising glance.  He grinned.

“It’s okay, Mags, you have the room.  I can just dump my stuff in with a couple of the guys and grab a shower.   I’ll sleep in a chair in the lobby – if I need to sleep at all…”

“You’re a real gent, Paul,” she drawled, and smiled at him.

“Yeah,” he teased, “I know.”

Two hours later, the Spectrum personnel congregated in their dress uniforms in the plush lounge set aside for their use by the management. 

“Well, we’re all here on time – so where’s this big-shot photographer?” Ochre complained, running a finger around the high collar of his tunic and grimacing.  “I don’t wanna wear this a minute longer than I have to…”

“If it is down to me, you won’t have to wear it at all…” a voice said in a clear Scottish accent.

Ochre spun round and looked down.  Standing a few feet away, regarding them with ironical blue eyes, was a petite, dark-haired woman, dressed in a cool, pink sundress, and white sandals, a floppy sunhat dangling from her left hand.

“Excuse me?” he stammered.

“I’m not going to take pictures of you looking like that!” the woman announced.  She advanced further into the room.  “Allow me to introduce myself; I am Mary-Sue Mackay-Wells – at your service, ladies and gentlemen.”  She eyed up the Angel pilots.  “Aren’t you lassies awfully hot in those suits?”

“Sure, so we’d appreciate you getting a move on,” Melody responded.

“Och, forget it.  I’m getting quite different ideas about this whole shoot, now I’ve seen what you all look like.  There’s potential for some really good photos here – but you’ll look right Charlies out on the beaches in that get up.  Don’t you have any casual wear with you?”  The officers gave a startled nod.  “Well, I suggest you get changed then, and meet me on the veranda in about… thirty minutes?  Okay?”

They nodded and trooped back up to their rooms abuzz with speculation.

Melody was first down, wearing an oversize T-shirt over her orange retro-style bikini.  Mary-Sue was waiting for them, sitting sipping a cool drink beneath the overhanging veranda.

“Hi there,” Melody called, standing hesitantly beside a table.

“Hello, would you care for a drink?”

Melody shook her head.  “What kind of pictures are you going to take, Ms Mackay-Wells?”

“Mary-Sue, please, there’s no need for formality, surely?  Now,” she glanced at a sheet of paper before her on the table, “which one are you?”

“Melody Angel.”

“Is that what your mother calls you?”

Melody smiled.  “No, but I’m not supposed to tell you that.”

“Och, not to worry about it – I meet so many people for such a short time – I forget their names as soon as I move on.  I will call you Melody if you want me to – but I find names give me an insight into the person…”

“Magnolia,” Melody grimaced, “my name is Magnolia – never did figure out why my folks called me that.”

“Parents have a lot to answer for, don’t they?  I mean – fancy lumbering a poor wee babe-in-arms with a moniker like Mary-Sue… it’s the bane of my life.”  She smiled at the Angel and Melody relaxed slightly, tensing once more as the photographer produced a camera and pointed it at her.  “Relax, Magnolia, I am just taking a few light readings… could you take off that T-shirt?  It’s reflecting too much light for me to get a clear reading…?”

Obligingly, Melody stripped it off and watched warily as the other woman snapped off a few pictures.   I wonder if I can trust her, she thought. I know the colonel’s not happy with this project… and I’m sure he wouldn’t approve of what she seems to have in mind? Surely, she can’t intend to take our pictures in swim-wear? I’d rather she portrayed the Angels as the full and important members of the Spectrum team that we are, rather than as… little bimbos, allowed to tag along with the big, strong men. I betchta…the pictures of the guys will be macho and ours will be all kittenish and soppy.

“That’s good…” Mary-Sue murmured as the camera shutter whirled quickly. She could see the hesitant expression in the woman’s dark eyes and she prattled on, trying to set her at ease.   “You should relax though, you look like you are about to attack me with that knife at your belt… is it real, by the way?”

“Oh yes,” Melody replied evenly.  “I like to have a weapon when I’m on duty… a knife is always useful.”

“Oh, how right you are,”  Mary-Sue said with an edgy smile, and dropped the camera from her eye. “Well, that’ll do for now… maybe you’ll relax after I’ve taken a few of the others…”  I doubt it though, she thought, this one’s a nervy type…

Melody did begin to relax somewhat as the other Spectrum personnel started to arrive.  The other Angel pilots came out onto the veranda; Destiny was wearing a classic white, one-piece bathing costume, with a fetching bandana over her blonde hair and strappy sandals on her feet.  Melody doubted that the swim-suit had ever gotten wet.  The Frenchwoman was smiling at Mary-Sue with the disarming friendliness for which she was so well-known. 

In contrast, Symphony wore a petulant expression. She slouched into the room wearing a garish polka-dot bikini, beneath a plain muslin robe, with no sign of her previous enthusiasm for the project.

Melody shrugged at Destiny when the older woman made a pleading gesture for her to ‘leave Karen alone’ – she knew, as well as the other Angels all did, there was little chance of charming her fellow American into a sunny temper when her problem was to do with the absence – or even, in some extreme cases, the presence – of Captain Blue.

Mary-Sue Mackay-Wells chatted cheerfully to the newcomers, feigning not to notice Symphony’s sulkiness, but in truth, soaking up the individuals and their personalities with a true artist’s eye.   She began to think that this job would take far longer than she expected –for, while Destiny seemed eager to co-operate, Melody was jittery, and Symphony so unresponsive that any attempt to photograph her in this mood would only result in a charmless portrait.

She managed to keep her exasperation well hidden, despite the fact that any delay in Futura would have knock-on effects in her busy schedule. There was a slight frown on her face, however, as she turned her head towards the door when the men arrived. 

Captain Ochre led the way and it was towards him that Mary-Sue gave her attention, after an appreciative glance at the other hunky men walking behind him. She had taken more notice of him at their initial meeting than he realised. She recognised that, under the less than flattering Spectrum uniform, was every appearance of a fine body and, besides, he was a handsome man with a lively - and attractive – personality, whereas his companions were rather more staid and formal.  No doubt, she mused, they are obeying their orders with more diligence than Captain Ochre – but he is, by far, the most fascinating of the group.

Ochre was wearing Bermuda swimming trunks, in a colour that approximated to his uniform.  There was a discreet Spectrum logo on the right leg.  Slung over his left shoulder was a beach towel and in his hand a red-plastic holdall – the kind a lifeguard might carry.  He grinned across at Melody, expressing his approval at her smart orange bikini.  Melody, unusually flustered for her, struggled back into her over-large T-shirt and assumed an air of disapproval.  Ochre smirked.

Behind him, deep in conversation, came Grey and Fawn, both in jeans and casual shirts. They greeted Mary-Sue with stilted politeness and nodded at the Angels who were watching the officers’ arrival with varying degrees of interest.

Magenta and Scarlet ambled in at the rear of the procession.  Like Ochre, they too wore colour-coded swimming trunks with the discreet logo, and Scarlet was struggling with a bright yellow surfboard, which had drawn the amused attention of a group of hotel residents who were sitting in the lounge as they went through.

“Where did you get that thing from?” Melody asked him in astonishment.

Scarlet grimaced and cast an apprehensive glance at Symphony.  “It’s Blue’s.  Apparently, he had his mother ship it out; once he knew we were coming.  The desk-clerk stopped me and asked me if I would take delivery of Captain Blue’s property, as it was blocking their office.”

“Tiens, we are to be here hardly any time – why would he want a surfing board?”  Destiny asked in bewilderment.

“Well…” Scarlet hedged in reply, “he likes surfing… and I suspect it is all part of a cunning plan not to be available when it’s his turn to have his picture taken.”

“Fou – vraiment fou.”

“There isn’t much surf up anyway,” Symphony said, gazing out at the calm ocean.  “Even Adam would have difficulty riding those pathetic waves…”

“Why don’t you look after the board?” Scarlet asked her hopefully.  In reply she gave him a look that made him cringe and sigh. There were limits even Symphony’s devotion did not extend to, it seemed.

Mary-Sue had been watching all this and she spoke for the first time since the officers arrived. “If you don’t mind…?”

“Captain Scarlet.”

“Oh, sure.  Look, everyone, I have already told Magnolia that I like to know real names – it gives me an insight into the characters of the people I’m photographing.  Some film stars’ real names are closely guarded secrets, but I know them – so, we’ll have some proper introductions before we go any further – if you please.”

“It’s against the regulations,” several voices explained in unison.

Mary-Sue raised a dark eyebrow.  “I can always check with the World President, but he did say I could expect complete co-operation… ”

The Spectrum personnel exchanged wary glances. Colonel White’s last orders had been to maintain a professional distance from the photographer and to avoid revealing any more information than they had to. Whilst they were obeying their orders and being photographed, Colonel White was still trying to talk the President out of the whole scheme.

Mary-Sue sighed and reached into a pocket for a cell phone.

Immediately, Ochre stepped forward, his hand extended.  “Richard,” he smiled.  Mary-Sue took the proffered hand and if he held her hand in his a little longer than was necessary, she didn’t try to remove it.

“Good, and you are?” she turned to Magenta.

“Patrick.” Another handshake.

“Bradley…”

“Edward.”

“Paul.”

“I’m very pleased to meet you all.  Magnolia, I know.”  She turned to the remaining Angel pilots.

“Juliette.”

“Karen.”

“Splendid – now, normally I work with a couple of assistants, but, as your boss seemed to think that was excessive, I only have one assistant with me at the moment and she’s busy. But the light is perfect, I think I can take some decent pictures on the beach… shall we crack on and get the pictures taken?  Paul, I suggest you bring that board with you and that we all go down to the water.  You three… bathing beauties, can get be the first ones to get your suits wet…”

“That sounds like a pretty neat idea,” Melody laughed.  “Can we watch?”

“Hey,” Ochre interjected.  “I protest at being treated merely as a sex-object...”

“You do?” Magenta asked with surprise.

“Uh-huh.”

“There’s a first time for everything, Pat,” Fawn grinned at them.

 “Och, well, Richard – or do you prefer Rick? – we’ll have to see what we can do about that… a little later on,” Mary-Sue smiled. 

She bent to collect a large heavy canvas case of camera equipment and was gratified when Ochre and Grey both moved to carry it for her.  She gave it to Grey and slipped in to walk alongside Ochre as they left the veranda. 

“Ready to take a lesson, guys?  You are about to see an example of the famous Fraser charm offensive!” Magenta smiled, watching Ochre take the petite photographer’s arm over the uneven sand.

“You reckon?” Melody asked.

Startled that she had even heard his comment, Magenta blustered slightly.  “I just meant that Rick’s turning on the charm…”

“Lucky Mary-Sue…” Melody smiled and winked at the embarrassed captain, and, as Magenta scooted down to the beach in hot pursuit of his friend, her laughter floated after him.

Mary-Sue proved adept at setting everyone at their ease. Fairly soon they were all larking about on the beach, like any crowd of people on holiday. The three swim-suited captains tried to do as they were asked by the photographer, but Mary-Sue soon realised that these were not going to be as biddable as professional models and they had no concept of ‘selling themselves’ for a picture. She was going to have to take hundreds of pictures and hope the perfect one was amongst them.

From the sandy beach the Angels, Fawn and Grey watched, calling encouragement to their friends and teasing Scarlet about the surfboard – which was making his life a misery. It was well known that Scarlet did not share – nor even really understand – Blue’s fascination with a sport Scarlet described as ‘floating about on a lump of fibreglass trying to avoid being eaten by a shark…’ and the irony of having him photographed with a board was not lost on his friends.

At one point, he had left it to its own devices until Melody pointed out that it was drifting gently out to sea, and he had to race after it, causing a fountain of splashing. Thereafter, he kept a hold of it.  He didn’t want to have to explain to Captain Blue that he had lost his favourite surf board.

Throughout it all, Mary-Sue’s camera whirred and clicked. She concentrated on one captain at a time, although she sometimes got her best shots when they didn’t realise she was photographing them. She was quite sure that Patrick wasn’t going to be too pleased with the series of pictures she had of him, posing affectedly in the shallows – as he tried to show Captain Ochre how – he thought- it should be done!

She hoped to entice the Angels into the water, but Symphony refused flatly, and Melody swam out into deep water, which messed up her hair so much, she wouldn’t submit to being photographed. Destiny dipped a toe into the warm water, shivered dramatically and declared that it was too cold to go any further in.

The captains protested that the water was great and splashed at her – to prove it… but she steadfastly refused to venture any deeper. Symphony muttered to Captain Grey that, in their room, Destiny had revealed that her costume turned transparent once it got wet, “which is the dumbest thing for a swimsuit to do…” Symphony concluded.

Grey declined to comment, but privately continued to hope that Juliette might be enticed into the water anyway….

As the light began to fade, Mary-Sue called a halt and they trooped back to the hotel, Captain Scarlet dragging the big yellow surfboard after him with an expression close to martyrdom.

The party met again for dinner in the hotel’s restaurant. The officers had brought dinner jackets and the Angels had elegant dresses to do justice to the ambience of the place. The setting was magical, as the warm breeze blew in from the sea and the deep blue-black sky sparkled with a million stars. A huge, silver moon hung across the calm bay, casting an enchanted light over the beach and the lapping water.

Everyone was relaxed and out to enjoy themselves… everyone except Symphony, who stared moodily out at the view, her chin in her hand and a pout on her lips.

Mary-Sue, who - as ever - had a camera in her hand, joined them, explaining that; once again, her assistant was too busy - processing the shots from that afternoon - to accompany her. She was delighted to find herself the initial centre of attention, as the officers politely vied with each other to impress her. Although, by the end of the meal, Grey was talking quietly to Destiny, Magenta was doing sterling work trying to cheer Symphony up, and Fawn and Melody were teasing Captain Scarlet about his dislike of surfing.

Captain Ochre, however, remained at her side, all attention and charm.

Noticing that Magenta wasn’t having much luck with Symphony Angel, and seeing Destiny slip away to the ladies’ room, Mary-Sue excused herself from her escort, and followed the Frenchwoman.

By the time she arrived, Destiny was washing her hands and then, with a smile of acknowledgement at the photographer, she began to repair the imagined damage to her make-up.

Mary-Sue decided to do a little probing research.

“Tell me about the other Angels,” she said encouragingly.  “They seem nice lassies.”

“Oh, they are,” Destiny smiled.  “All of the Angel pilots are great girls… we get on so well!”

“Then maybe you can tell me what is wrong with Karen? I cannot get close to her, at all.  She’s in a terrible mood.”

Destiny pouted.  “She is pining…”

“Whatever for?”

“Her lover – he’s been left behind on Cloudbase until the second shoot you will do?  She hoped to have the time with him here.” The Frenchwoman sighed and settled herself on the edge of the sink in lieu of a more comfortable seat, preparing to chat. “I think that because it is so romantic outside tonight, she feels the absence of him more? Our colonel – he pretends he does not know of their affaire - but I think, this time he was being deliberate at keeping them apart.”  She shrugged.  “It is his job, after all, to make sure we obey the rules… but Karen is not pleased – not one tiny amount.”

“The poor lassie.  I guess you must all be involved with the officers up there?  Not much chance to find any other talent?” Mary-Sue winked.

“Ah, non.  There are 600 peoples on the base – but we do see most of the colour officers.   They are nice men…”

“And which one do you like the best?” Mary-Sue asked conspiratorially.

Destiny pouted and then gave a coquettish smile.  “I cannot tell you… I knew Captain Scarlet – Paul? – from long before Spectrum – but he has other ‘romantic interests’ now… and I, well, I look elsewhere when I need a little companionship.”

Mary-Sue smiled. She thought Destiny’s preference was more than obvious, if you paid attention. “They are all rather cute, though aren’t they?” she said sweetly.

“Mais oui, and when you meet the missing captain you will see why Symphony pines so sadly…” Destiny chuckled. 

“Really?  That good, eh?”

Destiny gave a very Gallic shrug.  “Oh, there is always a first among even the best… n’est pas? … and our Adam has the advantage of being a blond amongst all the tall, dark and handsome men.”

“I’ll look forward to meeting him…” Mary-Sue laughed.  She raised her camera to her eye and shot off a series of photographs, while Destiny posed happily. 

When Captain Ochre set himself to be charming he was very good at it.  Mary-Sue was not averse to flirting with a good-looking man and the evening was a most enjoyable one.  As the others started to drift away to their rooms, Ochre suggested a walk along the beach before turning in.  They strolled together along the deserted beach, beneath the luminous moon, which made the white sand sparkle and gilded the palm trees with a magical glitter.

“I guess places like this must be the norm for you?” he asked, squeezing the hand that lay so comfortably in his.

“No, I go where the work is – this kind of shoot doesn’t happen as often as people think.  Nor do moonlight walks with handsome men… unfortunately.”

“I’m flattered you consented to come with me.”

She gazed up into his deep velvet-brown eyes and her self-restrained wilted.   “Oh… I think you knew I would come along, if you asked me… didn’t you?”

He smiled. “I kinda hoped you might…”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed his rough cheek gently.

“Much easier like this…” Rick murmured, gently pulling her down onto the soft sand…

“I knew you were an intelligent man… what a wonderful idea….”

The sun rose early over Futura and woke Captain Scarlet from his fretful doze in the armchair on the veranda. He stretched and scratched his head, running a hand over his chin and wondering if it was too early for breakfast yet. He would have to wait a few hours before he went and barged into the room where his luggage was, so it seemed that he was condemned to wearing his dinner-suit to breakfast anyway.

He heard voices approaching along the beach and peered over the banister to see Mary-Sue and Ochre walking hand in hand back towards the hotel. Ochre had his dinner-jacket slung over his shoulder and his shoes in his free hand. Mary-Sue was swinging her strappy sandals around as she laughed up into the face of the tall man beside her.

Scarlet grinned and slithered as low as he could in the chair. Maybe he wouldn’t have to wait too long for Magenta to wake up after all… Ochre was going to have to go back to his room now…

The couple had hardly reached the lifts, when Mary-Sue saw Symphony emerge from the staircase and walk straight out onto the beach. This was too good a chance to miss and with a kiss on Ochre’s cheek, she left him and hurried after the Angel pilot.

“Hello, Karen,” she called and quickened her pace to walk beside the tall American.  Symphony was still wearing her muslin robe, but quite a different bathing costume from the day before.  This one was a remarkable garment in vivid blues and green that moulded itself to her figure, accentuating every generous curve.

“Hi,” the Angel replied.  Her temper had improved somewhat and she knew she had behaved badly towards the photographer.

“That’s a nice bikini…”

“Thank you.  I bought it for Adam… well, for Adam to see, I mean,” she explained.  “I thought it deserved to see the light of day before it goes back into the suitcase until we get a chance to take a break together.”

“He means a great deal to you, doesn’t he, this Adam?” Mary-Sue remarked.

Symphony stopped and gazed out at the horizon. “He’s the most wonderful man I’ve ever met…”

“Tell me about him,” Mary-Sue suggested quietly.

The American at her side almost melted as her face broke into an affectionate smile.  “How long have you got?” she laughed at her own infatuation. 

Mary-Sue laughed too.  “Destiny told me he was ‘the first amongst the best’… a nice turn of phrase, I thought.”

“Destiny did?” A slight frown appeared on the woman’s face.  “I never thought she liked him that much…”

Oh-oh, jealousy alert!  Mary-Sue thought and back-peddled furiously.   “Hey, I don’t mean she fancies him!  She just meant he’s a good-looking man. Besides, I think her …interest, lies elsewhere…”

“Yeah, so did I…” Symphony’s earlier relaxed mood had evaporated.

“Why don’t we walk along to that mini-obelisk-thing, in the sand there and I could take a few pictures of you in your swim-suit and you can give them to Adam…?” Mary-Sue suggested enticingly.

“I could?”

“Sure, you can have copies, if you like…”

“That would be nice – I could get one framed as a present, couldn’t I?  It’s always hard to know what to get him for birthdays and Christmas – he has money and his tastes run to expensive…”

“Och, every man is a bugger to buy for…” Mary-Sue agreed as they approached the obelisk.  “Now, Karen, just you tell me all about Adam, and smile…”

Symphony needed no second prompting and the resulting photographs were spectacular.  Mary-Sue smiled.  It’s easy when you know how…

The session lasted until they heard the others approaching from the hotel. They were all in high spirits and joined in with the fun, larking around on the beach like teenagers, as Mary-Sue’s camera whirred and clicked.

 The party were still on the beach when Mary-Sue heard a familiar voice calling her name.  Excusing herself she turned towards the approaching stranger, who was trudging over the sand as if every grain was a personal affront. “It’s my personal assistant, Jane Simpson,” she explained as she waved.

“Mary-Sue, I’ve just heard the weather report!  That tropical storm we heard about – well, it’s got much worse and not only that – it has changed direction completely.  It’s now called Hurricane Conrad and is heading straight for us!” The woman came to stand beside the group and looked at them all one at a time, pausing to slide her heavy glasses up the bridge of her nose every so often.

“A hurricane?” Captain Scarlet stared out to sea as if expecting to see the storm’s approach.

“Sounds ominous,” Magenta murmured, under cover of the snatches of surrounding conversation.

“This is going to cause a real problem.   I have an appointment I can’t miss in Rome in a few days’ time.” Mary-Sue said, turning back to the Spectrum officers.  “We might not be able to get the photographs of the remaining personnel done, if the city has to be evacuated.”

“Is that likely?” Fawn asked.

Mary-Sue looked at her informant.  “What exactly did they say, Jane?” she asked. 

Jane Simpson flushed as the Spectrum officers and the Angels all turned their gaze towards her.  She was a stout woman with heavy-rimmed glasses that had been out of fashion for years and untidy hair, which had originally been cut into a bob – and badly needed a reminder of that fact. She was almost the exact opposite of what the term ‘fashion photographer’s personal assistant’ had led the Spectrum officers to expect. She pushed the glasses’ frame higher up the bridge of her nose and reported: “The weather report said the hurricane is the fiercest in decades and advises anyone who can leave to do so, as soon as possible.  The politicians are already rushing for the airports and all the flights out are booked – I checked.” Her flat-vowelled, northern accent made the news sound all the bleaker.

“Well, it looks like we’ll have to sit it out, if all the planes are full,” Mary-Sue said unhappily.

“We should get Cloudbase to give us a report on why it’s changed direction towards us, all of a sudden,” Doctor Fawn suggested. Like the captains, he was doubtful that this unexpected change in the weather was mere chance. The Mysterons had been known to use any weapon they could in their war of nerves with Spectrum.

“No,” Scarlet said brusquely.  “Magenta is right – Hurricane Conrad is too big a risk.  We’ll all go back to Cloudbase in the SPJ before the airport closes.  Perhaps you can take the remaining pictures there, Mary-Sue?”

“On Cloudbase?  Would that be allowed?” Fawn gasped.

Scarlet shrugged.  “I see no other option,” he said loftily.  “Let’s get our stuff ready and make our way to the airport.”

“S.I.G., Captain Scarlet,” his colleagues chorused.

Mary-Sue and Jane sat in the passenger compartment of the SPJ and were waited on hand and foot by their rescuers, whilst Symphony flew the plane, with Captain Scarlet as her co-pilot. Jane seemed pre-occupied. She had taken longer than Mary-Sue expected to pack up all the equipment and see it stowed aboard the Spectrum Passenger Jet. Then, just as everyone began to get impatient, she clambered aboard the plane with her most oversize handbag – ‘full of bricks by the weight of it, Mary-Sue thought as it thumped into her arm as Jane scrambled past to her seat.

“I’m sorry, Mary-Sue,” Ochre said as he gently removed the miniature camera from her hand, “but there’s no way we can let you photograph Cloudbase – that’d get us all in serious trouble. You’d better let us take care of the equipment until Colonel White says it’s okay for you to have it back to use on base.”

“You don’t trust me, Rick?” she asked. 

Jane gave the pair of them an appraising glance.

“I do, I’d trust you anywhere, but Colonel White is a real stickler for the rules and his word is law.  I don’t know that Paul’s even told him you two are with us… I suspect he hasn’t… knowing Paul.”

“We’d better drop back into using our code names too,” Brad advised.  “The colonel gets very prickly at the use of personal names.”

“Okay, I guess we can do that okay, can’t we, Jane?”  Her P.A. nodded.  “He sounds formidable – this Colonel White…?”

“He’s not too bad… sometimes.” Ochre’s comment was greeted with snorts of laughter from his colleagues.

“Approaching Cloudbase, fasten your safety belts.”  Symphony’s voice came over the tannoy.

The visitors strained to look out of the window at the floating base.

“Wow…” Mary-Sue breathed.  “I doubt even the best picture I ever took could do it justice.  It is …magnificent.”

“Yeah…” Ochre agreed, seeing the graceful structure with fresh eyes once more.

“Look at the way the sun just gleams off those planes on the deck area.  Och, I can’t do it justice with words, Rick, I need my camera!”

He shook his head.  “The pictures’d be wiped – or confiscated,” he assured her.

“Oh, look at that…” she gasped as the plane banked for its approach.  “What if we miss the runway?”

“Symphony’s flying the plane – she’s never been known to miss,” Magenta reassured her.

“Sure her mind is on her work?” Mary-Sue asked.

Ochre smiled.  “Look at it like this – Blue’s on Cloudbase and she’d land this plane on a postage stamp to be with him… You couldn’t be in safer hands.”

Jane had her nose pressed against the porthole for the best possible view. She pointed out the rapidly approaching runway. “Cross your fingers,” she said, nervously pushing her glasses higher.

“Oh, gosh, that’s amazing!” Mary-Sue said as the plane touched down and the complex landing gear swung into operation, bringing the plane to a halt with the merest of jolts.

“How do we get out?” Jane asked barely turning from her window.

“The plane’ll descend into a hangar,” Ochre explained.  “See?  We’re on our way.”

The visitors looked at each other and said simultaneously, “Wow…”

Colonel White stared at his newly returned captains in disbelief.  “You brought her and h