Tragan Dead (short story)
Tragan Dead was a TV21 Stop Press short story printed in TV Century 21 in 1968. It was partially set in Unity City, a location first introduced in The Daleks comic story Duel of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Duel of the Daleks (comic story)"].
Summary
In the midst of a short but vicious battle in the dock area of Washington, Tragan makes the realisation that he and his men will be defeated by International Rescue. As part of a final desperate attempt to disrupt the peace treaty between Earth and Jupiter, Tragan resolves to murder his father Kranol, the Jupitan ambassador of peace. However, Kranol foils this plan, taking a weapon from near his bed and using it to kill his son in an act which gives "new life" to the peace negotiations.
In Unity City, hope that a satisfactory solution to the World Army mutineers of Camp Lenin begins to fade. Although Brent Cleever was initially successful in convincing President Younger not to bomb the camp in spite of the danger posed by the missiles kept at the base, the World President reverses his decision on this matter and orders World Air Force bombers to the area. This provokes fear in some circles that this development can only serve to escalate the situation, potentially ruining any progress made by Cleever, who was allowed by Younger to move in first and attempt negotiations but is yet to bring in news of his efforts.
Elsewhere, the World President is attacked while attending the World Aquasports championships which are being held off the coast of Florida. He escapes unharmed from the attack by making a swift departure from his ship using the latest ejector seat technology. Commander Shore of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol is not so fortunate, with reports emerging that he has been shot while holidaying on his Los Angeles-adjacent private island, though the information is still unclear, with the identity of the perpetrator, the seriousness of Shore's injuries and whether he has survived at all still unconfirmed. Theories entertaining a connection of some sort between the two attacks quickly spread and some suggest an organisation formed to disrupt the highest levels of the World Government could be responsible.
Later, the peace treaty between Jupiter and Earth is successfully signed, with it agreed that Kranol and his people may live as they wish on their own planet. Meanwhile, anxiety grows at Glenn Field due to the silence of the ongoing Zero X mission. Search parties are alerted to stand by as the chances that Paul Travers and his men have fallen into danger continue to increase. Finally, a violent explosion is reported in the missile control room of Camp Lenin, prompting commenters to state there is "little hope" of a settlement being reached.
Characters
Worldbuilding
- Jeff was quoted as saying "A personal victory for Kranol...".
- The vast majority of students at the Washington school for aliens which Tragan attended were persuaded to forget what they had learned and follow him. With his death, a new school can be built up.
- A camera manages to capture the exact second of time just after a sugar cube is dropped into a cup of tea.
- The signing of the Earth-Jupiter treaty is hailed as an "important step" towards interplanetary peace.
Story notes
- This story is another crossover with Stingray, Thunderbirds and 21.
Continuity
- The soldiers at Camp Lenin mutinied because they were no longer willing to tolerate the continual bullying from their superior officers. They have held the camp for several days. (COMIC: Cold Comfort Camp)
Gallery
A WAF bomber.
A photograph of a cup of tea at the moment a sugar lump has been dropped into it.
