Chapter 17: Catching A Lethal Weapon

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Thunderbird 2, Off The Coast Of Western United States.
A Few Kilometres  Off The Coast Of California.
(Virgil's POV)
I was closing in on the missile, in fact I was pretty much above it now and was preparing to deploy the magnetic - grapple but I was also coming dangerously close to the shoreline and more importantly the randomisers trigger point for which it would then pick its target,
Thunderbird 2 to Tracy Island" I say over the communications link
"Tracy Island here, Virgil you don't have long to catch this missile if you want to avoid it targeting a city" Alan says answering the call
"we can't avoid that then but we can avoid it touching down" I state
"shit, you passed its trigger point" Alan says
"damn it, where's it heading?" I ask
"well from what I'm getting back now it's heading for San Francisco" Alan answers
"right I'm deploying the magnetic - grapple now" I say as I press the button to deploy it
Magnetic - Grapple Deployed.
Charging Magnets.

Thunderbird 2s computer says as the skyline of the city appears on the horizon,
"Alan, is there anything we can do to clear the city? anything at all?" I ask
"Like was said before, a mass evacuate of that magnitude couldn't be done in time Virgil, the only thing we can do is catch it before... well you know" Alan explains as I let out a sigh of frustration " I'm sorry Virgil I wish there was more that I could do" Alan apologises
"It's fine Alan, it's just annoying that we can't do anything apart from this" I say " anyway I'm about to to try and grab this thing" I say before I maneuover Thunderbird 2 into a better position above the missile
Magnets Activated.
The computer says as I press the buttons to extend the magnets so that they enclose around the missile, I had only one chance at this thing and I hope that this worked.

As the skyline of San Francisco came further into view I lower the magnetic - grapple further until I can hear the sound of the magnets attaching to the missile,
"Virgil, you have it but you're still heading towards the city" Alan says
"I know, I'm fighting against the thrust of the missile" I say as I begin to try and turn Thunderbird 2 away from the city
"you have 10 kilometres before you hit the city" Alan states
"shit, I'm trying but this isn't easy" I say and damn it this wasn't easy but I was slowly turning away from the city and out to the Pacific Ocean, as I continue to try and turn Thunderbird 2 it becomes easier to move as the skyline of San Francisco leaves my field of view and is slowly replaced with the vast openness of the ocean,
"Alan, make sure that John is ready to take this off my hands, I'm going to begin climb in altitude soon" I say
"F.A.B Virgil, I'll keep tracking you, Just try not to stall Thunderbird 2" Alan says
"what do you take me for?" I question
"Calm down I was joking, all of us know that you wouldn't let anything happen to your bird" Alan teases
"Yeah, but with this it might not be able to be avoided" I say as I finally turn back towards the ocean and begin to ascend
"I'm watching John's flight path and he should be at your location soon" Alan states changing to subject
"F.A.B Alan, I'll get in touch with John, since we'll need to make sure this doesn't fail" I say
"right, I'm going to see how Scott and Gordon are going in Russia" Alan says
"F.A.B Thunderbird 2 out" I say ending the communication connection before I see Thunderbird 3 approaching, this was where we needed to get it right or god knows what would happen, the fate of San Francisco depended on us getting this right.

As Thunderbird 3 began to turn to match Thunderbird 2s altitude and  climbing speed I switched the commlink to call Thunderbird 3,
"Thunderbird 2 to Thunderbird 3" I say
"Thunderbird 3 here" John answers
"I'm ready when you are to do this" I say
"Magnetic - Grapple is in position, let's get up higher" John says as the sky begins to turn as black as space
Danger! Reaching Maximum Altitude.
Current Altitude: 69 000 Feet

Thunderbird 2s computer says as we continue to climb into the sky
"John if we're going to do this we need to do it now, I've got six thousand feet before Thunderbird 2 begins to stall" I state
"F.A.B lets do this then" John says and with that we begin to perform what was probably to stupidest thing I'll ever do.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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