#fireflash

[coco9728]

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Finally got the chance to watch Fireflash!

Here are some quotes for the Eos Log Book.😁

“He doesn’t actually expect us to just wait here does he?”

-Virgil

“So…where is the saboteur trying to sabotage my sabotage?!”

-The Hood

[scramjettracy]

Journal of a Flyboy-Smotherhen

a.k.a. Scott’s Therapist-Mandated 100 Word Diary

Fireflash

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It was nearly Kayo today.

If it hadn’t been for Virgil ignoring my instructions we’d have lost her and all those passengers.

Shoulda checked landing gear sooner, diverted for a water landing to neutralise sparks. Not my best moment. Some Commander.

Would Dad have made a better call? He always held Two back until we were sure of the ask. But that’s the second rescue in a row Virgil’s ignored me and been right to do it.

I think Kayo has lost confidence in me. She’s been weird with me ever since we got back.

Next time, I’ll do better.

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Other entries

[cookidoughlilac]

I'm not sorry

[sailing-on-a-puddle]

Fireflash/Trapped in the Sky comparison

Sooo ... these two are probably the closest in terms of TOS/TAG episodes. So I thought I'd do a comparison, and say which I thought was better on certain bits. Obviously my opinion :D

Fireflash itself: TOS was better

The Fireflash aircraft on TOS is pretty impressive. Not just the super glam interior but the exterior too. The TAG one looks like I made it out of plasticine. I like my plasticine models, but it doesn't have the style and intricacy of the Gerry Anderson models.

Length of episode: TAG was better

Trapped in the Sky was supposed to be 30 mins long (with adverts? Anderson experts will know) which is fairly similar to TAG, but then it was elongated to 50 mins. Because of that, parts of it feel very slow and the failed rescues don't really work as filler. CLOSE THE HATCH. Please.

On board action: TAG was better

Kayo is absolutely kicking butt in this episode. 'Spoiling your plans is the best part of my job' 'I didn't throw it' - YES! We seem to forget Tin-tin is on the aircraft and she does nothing. We never see her during actual rescue attempts.

The Hood: TAG is better (marginally)

The Hood is pretty terrifying in both really. These two showcase that he's quite a different character with different skills. He still talks to himself in both, and in both of these has an apparent motivation for his villainous actions. I just find him more scary somehow without the psychic powers.

The actual International Rescue Rescue: TOS was better

This may be controversial but for me the TAG rescue doesn't work as well as it could. We know those PODs can be remote controlled, why are Gordon and Alan in them? Then the actual landing is majorly problematic even with Virgil's Big Rope (not the Really Big Rope). The TOS one however, somehow without any CGI, manages to be great even with a very wobbly puppet Virgil. He is also The Right Virgil :-)

After the rescue: TOS was better

What are they doing in TAG? Why are they as big as the plane even taking into account perspective? Why is getting them home Virgil's problem with his imaginary Really Big Rope? It just rounds off a good Kayo episode with cringe for me. Meanwhile, the Tracy Island Piano tune is very nice and the doctor bit is quite clever.

Overall for the build up I prefer TAG, but then for the dramatic rescue bit and aftermath I prefer TOS. It's odd it works out like that because with CGI you'd think the dramatic bit could be improved. Then again the original Thunderbirds cost a LOT and TAG never got anywhere near the equivalent.

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What did you spot in...

Reblog or comment with any Anderson-media references you spotted in this episode.

(We know there are lists of them out there, don’t just copy those, the fun is in the hunt 😁)

[the-time-lord-oracle]

Scott and Captain Hanson at the controls of Fireflash in Operation Crash-Dive. Always surreal to see a member of International Rescue operating a non-IR vehicle!

[idontknowreallywhy]

Watching TAG Fireflash… a glorious Kayo masterpiece.

And some lovely lines in this one.

“I didn’t catch your name…” “I didn’t throw it.”

🔥🔥🔥🔥 don’t even try mr patronising man.

“Have you ever seen me Panic, Thunderbird Five?”

Yes, Scott. He has. Every time a bro is in danger or the super-shiny is running low…

“F.A.B. little brother”

“So, where is the saboteur trying to sabotage my sabotage?”

Think you’re so funny Hoodie… alright that was quite good.

“Your timing is terrible.”

“Ruining your plans is the best part of my job!”

It’s essentially her tag line now.

“Why does everyone else get to have the best toys?”

Petulant much little guy? 🙄

“It’s about time you stopped this hero nonsense and came to work for me.”

I reckon the whiny toys line really tipped the balance in your favour, huh.

“International Rescue is going to lose so much more.”

ORLY? Whatcha gonna do? Try to steal the island and all the thunderbirds in one swoop? Hoping Jeff had definitely installed a “handover ultimate control to the person with a gun to the back of any of the residents” button? Nah… that would be insane.

And John totally underestimating One’s nyooominess:

“You should have visual contact with fire flash in 5,4,”

“Contact!”

YEEESSSSSS NYOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

“Fireflash will become fireball!”

“It’ll never get here in time!”

“Actually we left right after you. Sorry thunderbird one, didn’t really feel like waiting.”

“Work on your confidence building skills boys”

That moment when they bring the original TOS drama cue in… YEEEEAH!

Then Kayo’s attempt to do an emotional goodbye (bit premature mate, you’ve got a load of passengers there also) and the bros keep interrupting.

Then Virgil’s “no seriously, you need to hold on to something”

Because the big green turtle’s gonna give you a carry 🥰

And finally…

“Err… a really big rope?”

[brains-ir]

Brains' Notebook

Fireflash

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To-Do List:

Fix the Elevator Cars

Upgrade the Elevator Cars so they can support greater weights

Deconstruct The Hood's cloaking device

Contact engineers in charge of Fireflash about repairs

Finish upgraded to Thunderbirds Shadow

Notes:

The Elevator Cars were nearly completely destroyed. Luckily, after assessing the damage, I have concluded that they can be repaired rather than having to build new ones. I can also upgrade their strength in the process.

Hopefully, by studying the Hood's cloaking device, there might be a way to override it in the future. It might not be possible, but it's worth investigating.

Since I assisted the Fireflash team with upgrades to the aircraft, they may also appreciate my help with repairs. I need to contact them as soon as possible.

It is a shame that all that hard work on the Fireflash was for nothing. She is quite an impressive aircraft.

I've almost finished the upgrades to Thunderbird Shadow. She should be OK to fly soon.

It was a close call today with Kayo, I'm just glad everyone got home in one piece.

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[little-vulpecula]

Missed out on the bingo again 😔

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[jackietheyeen]

Posting ALL our Art - Day 125 'Fireflash Doodle'

A small doodle of a friends sona.

[tenth-sentence]

Startled, scrabbling wildly to keep himself balanced, the officer let his sword fall as he clung desperately to the dragon's neck.

"DragonLance Chronicles: Dragons of Spring Dawning" - Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

[astranite]

Aaahh all the emotions here

So much has changed since you’ve been away…

[sailing-on-a-puddle]

Bingo, and eventually, actual bingo!

Cards for Unplugged (pink markup) Fireflash (yellow) and Trapped In the Sky (green)

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🩶💚🧡💛❤️ Check In Post!!! ❤️💛🧡💚🩶

Press ❤️ when you’ve (re)watched:

TAG - FIREFLASH

[the-time-lord-oracle]

Fireflash appreciation:

When it comes to guest vehicles in Thunderbirds, Fireflash is pretty much the best known. The supersonic airliner appeared in several episodes and was a great-looking design. Not sure about the flight deck in the tail, though.

[ghostclangen]

When Hornetstar was given her nine lives, it was nightmarish. That’s what she’d told him (despite Marshlily’s protests about confidentiality) when she first spoke to him about Waterfur. But when Fireflash wakes up after reluctantly touching the Moongem, he awakes into a brilliant shining day.

“This must be StarClan,” he murmurs, looking around. Second only to the Cavern and its ethereal glow, it’s the most beautiful place he’s ever seen. A slight breeze ruffles the long grass around him, and a forest, leaves dappled with light, lies in the near distance. Clear blue ponds dot the landscape, reflecting the cloudless sky. For the first time that day, he feels a sense of relief; not enough to wash all the stress away, but he’d been expecting far worse.

“It is indeed.”

Fireflash turns around and is unable to keep back a gasp. Behind him stands what must be hundreds of cats, their coats shimmering as if made of stars. Their eyes are ablaze, but Fireflash senses no hostility, simply expectant curiosity—though admittedly, he’s still intimidated; with no idea what to expect from a real leader ceremony, he simply stands there, overwhelmed.

As his eyes flick from face to face, some of them familiar but most not, his eyes finally fall on a group of nine cats at the front, and his heart skips a beat at the sight of some of his most beloved cats. Before he can say hello to them, though, the crowd speaks in unison once more: “Welcome, Fireflash.”

Fireflash chuckles nervously. “Um. Hi?”

A little laugh comes from the front of the crowd, and from the group at the front, a dark tabby tom steps forward.

“Charredtail!” Fireflash breathes, more in amazement than in greeting. It’s not that he didn’t know what StarClan was, but still, to see all of his departed loved ones again … It’s not something anyone can prepare for.

After giving him a fond smile, Charredtail touches his nose to Fireflash’s forehead. “With this life, I give you sympathy and understanding. Use it well to support your Clanmates through their suffering.” Then, after a pause, he adds sheepishly, “Sorry about this next part.”

“What next pa-”

As soon as he says it, Fireflash is swept away in a sensation unlike anything he’d felt before. Every inch of him feels like it’s on fire, every nerve set ablaze as the fur rises along his spine. His mind, too, spins out of control; all at once, the only thing his eyes and nose pick up is the tang of blood, and mortal fear washes over him—but it’s slowly replaced with a feeling of acceptance. 

Fireflash takes a deep breath in, struggling to maintain composure. He’d been prepared for intensity, he supposes, but the pain of gaining a new life was still almost unbearable. He balks at the concept of eight more lives rushing through him.

The next cat to approach is Havenpool, and a wound that he thought had healed opens in Fireflash's heart at the sight of him. As much as he loved- and still loves- Rapidspeckle, he'd always regretted never properly confessing his feelings to him and Crageagle. Call it a flight of fancy, but he'd bonded with Crageagle over their outsider origins, and he'd quickly fallen in love with both him and his mate. But now they were both gone, and Rapidspeckle, too.

Before he can start to fully spiral, Havenpool's nose is on his forehead and says, "With this life, I give you truth. Use it well to stay loyal to your heart."

Fireflash takes in another sharp breath as the life courses through him. With grit teeth, he shuts his eyes tight, struggling to bear the vertigo from the spinning of his mind, shot through with lightning-like pain.

As Havenpool turns away, not one but three cats step forward, and Fireflash’s heart aches at the sight of his family: Flamenco, Cobaltshine, and Miteskitter. His eyes fill with tears of happiness and melancholy, but he blinks them away before anyone can see—hopefully.

Flamenco is the first cat to touch his nose to Fireflash’s forehead. “With this life, I give you love. Use it well to nurture what needs healing.”

This life, thank StarClan, goes down smoother. There’s still a background noise of pain, but most of what he feels is affection—platonic, familial, and romantic, all swirling together. The faces of his loved ones, living and dead, flit through his brain, and despite the ache in his bones, he can’t help but smile. “Thanks, Dad,” he says softly, but Flamenco is already walking away to sit with Cobaltshine. 

Miteskitter steps forward next. “With this life, I give you judgment,” he says. “Use it well to tell what’s righteous from what’s not.”

Pulsing pain races through Fireflash’s body once more, and he grits his teeth, tempted—though unable—to run. While the dizzying feeling should be disorienting, he finds that his brain becomes sharper instead of confused. He takes a deep breath in, then another one out, feeling more stable than before, more ready to accept the next six lives. It’s the right thing to do, he knows; GhostClan needs a strong leader.

That leaves only Cobaltshine. Fireflash is hit with a pang of guilt; even if she had been under the influence of the curse, he was still close friends with Hornetstar, and he doubts she’d be nearly as forgiving of the cat who killed her than Charredtail had been. 

If Cobaltshine harbors any resentment toward him, however, it doesn’t show. Like the first three cats, she touches Fireflash’s forehead and says, “With this life, I give you determination. Use it to fight for your Clan until the very last moment.”

A surge of energy washes over him, and he gasps. This is the most powerful he’s ever felt in his life—was this how the tigers of legend felt? His muscles grow tense, aching as the life runs through him. It’s a good ache, though, the ache that comes after a good run or a victorious battle. He knows in his bones that nothing could stop him now.

When he opens his eyes, though, Fireflash is faced with a sight that makes his shoulders slump. His mate and child … How could he face them? He was the one who sent them on the border patrol they never came back from. If he’d just had them go train, they would still be alive. “I’m sorry,” he croaks, hanging his head. “I’m so sorry.”

As he looks back up at her, Rapidspeckle gives her mate a forgiving yet sad smile, then bumps her shoulder against Pearstripe’s to urge him onward. 

For as confident as he was in life, Pearstripe seems more daunted now. He doesn’t look afraid, exactly, but … Fireflash frowns as he recognizes the feeling of having to break bad news in his expression. “With this life, I give you stubbornness,” he says, not looking him in the eye. “Use it well to keep going even when your first plan fails.”

A violent spasm wracks Fireflash’s body, a painful jerk that leaves him gasping. Before he can collect himself, he’s hit with another, then another, then another. Though he’s half-convinced they’ll never stop, he pushes through, digging his claws into the ground and gritting his teeth hard until the pain relents.

Fireflash’s heart sinks at the meaningful look Pearstripe gives him before he leaves. His first plan? Surely he doesn’t mean …

As he stares down at the ground, renewed stress flooding down his spine, Fireflash feels the soft touch of Rapidspeckle’s muzzle against his forehead. Despite his anxiety, he begins to purr as she says, “With this life, I give you bravery. Use it well to face the fears that hold you back.”

A million feelings swirl in Fireflash’s mind: the rush of flinging himself into battle, the excitement of climbing his first tree, the exhilaration of swimming in a tumbling river. While the life of bravery hurts like any other, a thrill runs through him, a new itch in his paws to search for the next challenge.

But it was facing your fears that got you killed, he almost says after the rush seeps away, but bites his tongue. Instead, he rubs his cheek against Rapidspeckle’s, wishing desperately that he could stay. Still, as afraid as he is about becoming a leader without almost any of his family alive to support him, Fireflash manages to build the courage to let her go.

The next cat that greets him isn’t a loved one, but Fireflash is grateful to see her nonetheless. “With this life,” Nettledawn says as she touches his forehead, “I give you hope. Use it well to brave the long journey ahead.” 

Expecting it to be a gentle and painless life to receive, Fireflash jolts as he’s hit with the most painful one yet. His heart beats so quickly and so strongly that it hurts, and terror fills him at the concept that it might give out. The rest of his body feels like it’s gone up in flames, filling him with burning pain that seemingly emanates from his chest. Through the pain, though, there’s a sense of overwhelming power, and as the agony seeps away, something new blooms in his heart: an unmistakable feeling of hope. 

As Nettledawn walks back to the crowd of starry cats, she brushes against Hornetstar. A wave of grief washes over Fireflash at the sight of his closest friend. What’s he going to do without her to guide him? Nothing would ever be the same. How could it be, with her not by his side?

Hornetstar walks much more confidently than usual when she approaches him, giving him a warm look of pride. Despite the newfound swagger, though, she’s still a little sheepish when she says, “With this life I give you leadership. Use it well to make decisions with confidence.”

Hornetstar’s life whips up a whirlwind of emotion. Inexplicable fear and grief strike Fireflash like burning lightning, nearly driving him to tears. Through the disorienting sensation, he smells the distinct scent of sickness and blood. Is this Hornetstar’s kithood? He’d heard about RoseClan’s plague, but to live it now, in this moment, is something else entirely. Then, stress clutches him, and in the back of his mind, he hears the sound of violence—loud, eerie shrieks of pain. Long before he was born, as Hornetstar told him once, there was a war between GhostClan and MoonClan that ended in the death of their first deputy. This, he realizes, is the echo of that war. How much more of this can he take? How much more of Hornetstar’s long life can he take?

 Just when it feels like his heart will explode from anxiety, it—along with the pain—suddenly washes away, and he opens his eyes with a gasp. Trembling and haggard, he attempts to steady his breathing. Despite his body’s exhaustion, though, his heart is filled with strength of a thousand cats. 

He looks up at Hornetstar as she begins to speak again. “I hail you by your new name, Firestar,” she declares. “Your old life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of GhostClan. Defend it well; care for the young and old; honor your ancestors and the warrior code, live each life with pride and dignity.”

“Firestar! Firestar! Firestar! Firestar!”

As the countless cats of StarClan cry out his new name, Firestar stands up straighter and looks around, a bit embarrassed at the sheer extravagance of it all. He’s just some cat, really … 

“I’m so proud of you,” Hornetstar says as sits down beside him, curling her tail over her paws. “You’re going to be great. I know it.”

Firestar gives her a smile, warm but tinged with melancholy. “I’ll miss you,” he says softly, and leans his head against hers. He tries to hide the desperation and grief in his voice, but it still cracks.

“I’ll be here,” Hornetstar says, and smiles. “Now, go on. Your Clan needs you.”