#Hugh Creighton Ward

[scribbles97]

Left Behind - Where We Left Off

Oh look... after two years I've fixed that big old cliff hanger that I left lying around!

Thank you to those that have missed me and welcomed me back into the fandom after being absent for so long, the biggest of hugs to all of you... I hope I don't end up leaving you all on another cliff hanger!

For those that I haven't met yet, Hi!

I was here in the TAG fandom right at the very beginning and somewhere around the time the series finished I thought it'd be fun to imagine an AU in which Lucy was alive and well... this monstrosity of a fic is the outcome of that.

Looks like I was pretty rubbish at posting the last few chapters on here so check Ao3 for the fic in its entirety.

For those that don't want to re-read the entirety of what's already there... have a little recap under the cut.

Beware, there be spoilers ahead!

So... where were we?

Part One of this fic was basically about losing Jeff. That's right folks we hit off from the day the Zero-X blows up and Jeff vanishes.

This leaves Lucy, her brother Lee, and Val Casey as the main leads of International Rescue as we know it.

In this universe Lucy demanded that IR could not be run by their family alone and spearheaded what we call the IR academny, from where Scott is about to graduate. Kayo and Penelope are also about to graduate, but in a much quieter private ceremony for our two espoinage specialists. Both of these ladies have their fathers present and playing a big part in both International Rescue and Tracy Industries.

As for the rest of the family, John is working for NASA and about to shoot off into space. Virgil and Gordon are about to join the IR academy (which momma bear Lucy is absolutely having mixed feelings about). And Alan is being the kid that he should rightfully be at such a young age.

Part Two sees us skip forward four years.

We start to see a little more of IR as we know it here, though Virgil and Gordon are very much still learning, and Alan is barely getting away with being allowed to play on the simulators.

Lucy is afraid because of whisperings of Gaat (The Hood) returning and what this might mean for the safety of her family and IR as a world-wide organisation.

What nobody expects is that new camera angle from the Zero-X, leading to the suggestion that Jeff could still be alive.

Gaat tricks Lucy into thinking he has a new ship capable of the same flight, it's aboard this ship where she meets an engineer known as Michael and promises to free him from Gaat's grip. They then discover that Gaat has found his way onto the Island and is threatening the whole family (think Legacy).

Then the ship goes boom.

Part 3 starts out with the aftermath of Lucy being on a ship that exploded. She's in a coma and all of her boys are a little bit lost as to what to do now.

Scott takes over the business and the running of their IR team with John leaving Nasa to take his rightful place aboard TB5. Lee does an excellent vanishing act when it's decided to return Lucy to the island, and we haven't heard from him since.

We also discover that Lucy and Hugh Creighton-Ward might have been more than just friends at some point in the last four years.

Part 4 Lucy wakes up! Then promptly wonders what her place is in the family now that Scott and Hugh have taken so much of her role on for her. Their main concern is seeing her get stronger before they consider letting her take over some of the reins again.

Scott is quite happy to go on regular business meetings as it gives him an excuse to meet up with Tia, his off-island security that may also be turning into something more.

Speaking of which, Virgil and Kayo are also up to something and have a hilariously cute moment in telling Lucy as much.

Alan is also up to something, being the baby of the family and far too young to actually join the academy yet, he's trying hard to find a way to be involved in IR.

More importantly though, thanks to Eos, we find that Jeff is alive!

Part 5 is the most recent part posted... honestly? If you're not going to re-read the whole thing I'd at least read from here as a refresher.

Scott finally talks to people about his hopes and fears, but then his entire world comes crashing down around him is the most summary I can really say without spoiling what happens next. Val starts to question Lucy if they've done the right thing bringing the boys into IR, and Lucy starts to question her own relationships.

But Jeff is alive and there's a whole lot of figuring out how to get him home.

So... that's the fic in summary so far. Honestly, if you have the time and energy please please re-read the whole thing to refresh your memory. I did just that the other week and it opened my eyes as to how much there is that I left myself open to fix so you might find some interesting threads if you look hard enough!

#thunderbirds are go #scott tracy #thunderbirds 2015 #virgil tracy #gordon tracy #john tracy #alan tracy #scribbles writes #jeff tracy #Lucille Tracy #Val Casey #Lee Taylor #Hugh Creighton Ward #Penelope Creighton Ward #Kayo Kyrano #Left Behind #Scribbles writes

[gumnut-logic]

Sherbet  (Bit 4)

Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3 | Bit 4

Inspired by the amazing @flyboytracy​  Really, it’s all their fault :D

Apologies for the slowness of this one, plus this is just a little bit, a tiny little bit, because, honestly, I’m falling asleep as I type.

This bit was a challenge. I hope it makes sense as I make up a bunch of stuff as I go along.

I hope you enjoy this snapshot in any case ::hugs::

-o-o-o-

Penny C-W had a flying car.

Well, technically speaking, her mother had a flying car. But really, no other families had flying cars, so on the status list of car owners, Penny considered her family at the top.

Always a good place to be.

And she secretly enjoyed riding in said flying car and if she wasn’t as dignified as she was, she should love to throw open the sunroof and yell into the wind waving her arms as they skimmed over the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

But of course, she was dignified and instead sat very much lady - because there was no ‘like’ about it - in the rear seat of FAB beside her father, quietly and very much the nobility she was.

If she was yelling into the wind in her imagination, well, that was a lady’s private prerogative, wasn’t it?

Her father was on his phone talking to a prime minister. She wasn’t sure which one, but he had been saying ‘no’ an awful lot for the last quarter hour.

Parker had once again volunteered to be chauffeur.

Honestly, as if her father would allow anyone else to fly FAB.

Except for the Tracys, of course.

They were the reason Penny was currently skirting the Coral Sea into the middle of nowhere.

Her mother was out on assignment, necessitating a break in Penny’s training. Her father had jumped at the opportunity to take her halfway around the planet to visit the secret base of International Rescue.

Of course, she had known the Tracy family for the majority of her life, but this would be her first visit to the Island.

She had meant to visit earlier. After all, she was of the mind to eventually work for Jeff Tracy, if he would have her. Her mother had already thwarted at least one attempt on the technology at the core of International Rescue, saving Scott’s life in the process. And her father had been instrumental in gaining World Council support despite many obstacles.

If anything was clear, doing the right thing with these Thunderbirds the family had created was going to continue to be an issue both criminally and politically.

It had become an unspoken mission of the Creighton-Ward family to exercise their specific skills to ensure the Tracy family could continue to use theirs.

And Penny C-W was quite determined to be part of it.

“We are on approach, m’Lord ‘n’ Lady.”

“No, I’m sorry, Prime Minister, I can’t agree with that degree of action.” Her father paused as the voice on the other end of the line expressed its outrage. As the car began losing height, her father caught her staring at him.

He rolled his eyes dramatically and smirked.

She couldn’t help but smile in return.

“Yes, yes, sir, but no. I’m sorry. And I have to go. I will speak to you soon.” The phone yelled at her father. “Goodbye, Prime Minister.”

Her father didn’t even wait for a reply before killing the connection. He let out a sigh.

She knew better than to ask anything. It wasn’t her business and her father likely couldn’t speak of it in any case. So instead, she glanced out the window, finally catching sight of the dot in the middle of nowhere that was likely their destination.

“It will be good to see the Tracys again.”

She felt like rolling her eyes, but kept it to her imagination. “Yes, indeed.”

“Looking forward to renewing friendships with any particular Tracy?”

She glared at her father and didn’t answer.

To her annoyance, he grinned at her. “You did say you enjoyed Scott’s company.”

“He is an intelligent young man, why would I not?”

Her father’s smile was, quite frankly, irritating.

“FAB to Tracy Island, requesting permission to land.”

“Permission granted, FAB. Welcome.”

It was probably her irritation at her father, but Scott’s voice definitely sounded far too cheerful.

There must have been something in her expression because her father’s grin nearly split his face in two.

She grit her teeth.

Infuriating.

-o-o-o-

TBC

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #Penelope Creighton Ward #hugh creighton ward #Aloysius Parker #nuttyfic #pre-series #not canon #not fanon #just whatever

[thedryswan]

Sneak peek (JT & PCW)

Must come up with a title for this so I can post it on AO3!

It had started during the summer before seventeen year old Penelope left for Switzerland and finishing school. They had known each other since they were children, meeting quite by chance onboard a cruise ship from India to Britain when she was only eleven years old and he was fourteen. Jeff Tracy had decided to take his children on a world tour, in some part to distract them from their mother’s recent death only eighteen months previously, and John and Penelope had struck up a friendship. She had not reacted well to the Indian climate and her parents had decided it would be best for her to return to Britain in the care of her governess, Miss Petherton, a rather severe Devonian woman from Ilfracombe. Penelope had been distressed to leave her mother behind and while Miss Petherton was kind and most solicitous for her charge’s well-being, there was no depth of affection between them. John saw almost in an instant that the pretty English girl was unhappy and decided to devote the duration of their cruise to cheering her up if he could. Penelope, for her part, saw how grief stricken John was and how, because he did not show his grief in the same way as his brothers and father, they believed that he was no longer affected by the loss and left him very much to himself. Their friendship endured over the years that followed, in some measure fuelled by the isolation each of them felt, John at Harvard and Penelope as a full boarder at Rowden School.

Their first kiss had been one of many stolen moments while the Tracy family were guests of the Creighton-Wards on their private island in French Polynesia, spending most of the months of June, July and August together. Penelope had been planning to inform her parents after dinner one evening in early September of the relationship budding between herself and John but some rather boastful comments from Sir Hugh over the table about how preciously guarded his little princess was and how no gentleman would ever be worthy enough to attain her daunted her resolve.

Lady Amelia smiled and shook her head at her husband.

“Honestly, Hugh, the way you talk. One might think you’d already found someone for our darling girl.”

“Perhaps so, Melly, perhaps so.” he replied, with an enigmatic wink over his wine glass.

“Well, if you have, and if he’s a proper English gentleman, I do hope you’ll let me in on your little secret? And we must, of course, inform dear Lady Conway before we announce anything.” she said, while Penelope’s heart began to sink and a blush spread across her cheeks.

She caught John’s eye across the table and the look of despondency on her face dampened his spirits also. That evening, before going to bed, Penelope had crept along to her mother’s dressing room and begged to know what her father had been talking of, was there really some engagement being planned for her?

“Why, dearest,” began Lady Amelia, patting the low stool next to her, “What has happened to trouble my Honourable Miss so much?”

Penelope sat and fidgeted with the ribbons on her dressing gown, unable to decide where to begin.

“Now, you must know, Penelope, that Papa and I want only the best for you. Yes?”

She nodded forlornly.

“And you must trust that we know what’s for the best. Not every gentleman is suited for the life you are destined to lead, so allow yourself to be guided by Papa and I.”

“But if my heart, my feelings, are… are not…”

“Not what? Oh dear, have you developed a tendre for someone? Hopefully not your tennis coach, Pierre? Is that his name? Most unsuitable.”

“Not him, no.”

“Oh!” Lady Amelia stared at her daughter in concern, “But there is a someone?”

Penelope’s silence betrayed her.

“Well, whoever it is you must tell me. Now.”

“Don’t be angry Mama, I know you and Papa are very determined that he should be English-”

“As long as he isn’t French.” put in Lady Amelia.

“He’s not-”

“Or American.”

There was an awkward silence.

“Oh heavens. He’s an American, isn’t he? I knew it. I knew when Miss Gadsby wrote from Rowden to say they had engaged an American to teach art that there would be consequences. You will write an electronic letter to him immediately and call it off. Show me the draft message before you send it. Do it now.”

Penelope had trailed along the elegant hallway to her room and wrote the note, a complete fiction of course, then showed it to her mother who had read it briefly, lips pressed together.

“Excellent. Send it now. And dearest, it stings now, I know. But young hearts do heal remarkably quickly. Off to bed with you.”

And while Penelope did indeed go to her bed, it was not the one in which she spent the entire night.

#thunderbirds fanfiction #thunderbirds 1965 #john tracy

[edutainer2022]

On WIP Wednesday I'm challenging myself with this bit to maybe finish the story - it's been written out in my head for months, but it doesn't translate to pixels. Jeff is really trying in this one, but it ain't easy. Scott gets in a lot of trouble.

ANYTHING HE COULD EVER DO WRONG (Bit 1)

Jeff could maybe remember why it seemed like a good idea at the spur of the moment. Lord Hugh Creighton-Ward had unexpectedly arrived accompanied by his daughter on a visit to Tracy Headquarters in NYC. A courtesy visit on paper, it was to be a trial run of Brains' newest development - the heavily augmented, armored state-of-the-art limo-jet FAB0. Besides, the two men had a lot to discuss on a different project Jeff had in the works, that was to change everything.

As it was summer break, Jeff had Scott with him for an impromptu internship at the office (and a bit of bonding time, as Jeff Tracy was in so many words scolded by his mother, who stayed behind on the farm with the rest of the boys). Scott was to shadow Jeff in meetings and to get to know the grassroots workings of different departments. In whatever free time was left the boy was taking extra credit courses over the summer, fully intent to graduate early. So Lord Hugh's visit with his girl formulated an obvious easy plan - have the adults talk shop, and have Scott be a cordial host and show Penelope around the Tracy Towers. Penelope, about John's age, prim and precocious, was already every inch a lady. And if Scott's disarming smile and roguish demeanor was a bit of a bane of feeble hearts among the co-ed interns and younger assisstants, Jeff tried to chalk it up to the boy's blooming people skills for his own peace of mind. It was good to see his son smile again, at least. All in all, what could possibly go wrong?

Well... A LOT it turned out, as Jeff was looking at a smoking pile of pink-tinted cahelium and chrome in mind-spinning horror. Nobody knew how the kids managed to sneak away from the Creighton-Ward driver/bodyguard - Parker - hotwire the controls and take the prototype FAB0 for a spin in the air. Well, Jeff maybe had a vague idea of the Actual British Princess and the fifteen year old Han Solo wannabe situation possibly going on, but that was the furthest on the list of his concerns at the moment. Penny was conscious and for the most part appeared unscathed, when a blanched Parker and Lord Hugh helped her out, but Jeff could see the brown locks slumped on the safety cushion at the wheel and a trickle of blood down his son's face. Scott was unmoving. And Jeff's mind blanked out on the spot.

It was a testament to Brains' engineering genius and safety measures obsession, or the fact Scott grew up at flight controls in his father's lap and was naturally predisposed to fly anything, or maybe Jeff had used up all his lifelong limit of tragedy and loss - the kids were, indeed, alright. Relatively so. Penelope was shaken and more afraid for getting Scott in trouble, it appeared. Admittedly, it was her idea. Or maybe a dare. Scott got a broken wrist and now sported a bright blue cast, and a gush on the forehead that needed stitches. And a vehement, if admirable, insistence to take the fall for the lady.

Jeff wasn't particularly proud of the way he handled it - there might have been yelling, a grounding for the rest of the year, a confiscated phone, no TV or movies, or games privileges, and a strict prohibition to use the computer or tablet for anything other than schoolwork, a crisp "Yes, sir" and possibly a slammed door at the upper level of their Tracy Tower penthouse.

To his credit Jeff had to say that a sight of a son, unconscious amidst the metal debris, covered in soot and blood, was to haunt his sleeping and wakeful hours for many, many years to come, liberally transforming the former into the latter. It was unable to rest a wink and needing a stiffer insentive than an Advil, that Jeff staggered down from the master bedroom to the sitting area, nearly stumbling in the dark over something soft, warm and slumped against the wall on the stairs. The ball of tousled curls and blue pajamas keened painfully in his eldest voice. Scotty!

#thunderbirds are go #scott tracy #scott tracy needs a hug #scott tracy needs his dad #jeff tracy #jeff tracy needs a drink #methinks i have astronomy #thunderbirds 2015 #my fic #thunder wip #scott whump #lady penelope

[kaijuboarcreations]

Into the Andersonverse: A full timeline of events for the confirmed continuity of Gerry Anderson Supermarionation shows (Fireball XL5 to Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons)

(Disclaimer*: i actually opted to follow Thunderbirds are Go canon for ages *don't ask me why it's a process plus the actual ages and birth order for the boys is heavily debated in both the og series and are go so don't at me* Also yes I took a few creative liberties to fill in some blanks they are marked by ** so you know what isn't canon, and yes it doesn't always make sense *aka how Venus is a war orphan if the war ended before she was born* but you can't blame me for that, that's just how it was written)

Anyways yall better love me for this it took me three days to make

1988: Sally "Grandma" Tracy is born (maiden name unknown)

2012: Professor Mathew Matic is born in Britain -Aloysius "Nosey" Parker is born - Jeff Tracy is born in Kansas to Grant and Sally Tracy**

2015: Commander Sam Shore (real name Samuel Arthur)is born in Kansas

2017: Charles Grey (Colonel White) is born in England

2028: European Atomic War and Mass Riots in France

2029: Conrad Turner (Captain Black) is born in Manchester, England

2030: Steve Zodiac is born on Mars -Sam Shore leaves home to join the navy

2031: Edward Wilkie (Dr Fawn) is born in Yalumba, Australia

2033: Professor Matic graduates with 22 degrees in astrophysics, robotic, and astronomy, and becomes a navigator for Zero-X interplanetary missions -Sam Shore is given command of a World Security Service submarine -Bradley Holden (Captain Gray) is born in Chicago

2034: Sam Shore befriends Admiral Jack Denver -Patrick Donaghue (Captain Magenta) is born in Dublin Bay, Ireland -The European Atomic War ends (the war left Venus and Conrad Turner orphaned)

2035: Venus is born in Paris -George Lee "Phones" Sheridan is born in South Carolina -Adam Svenson (Captain Blue) is born in Boston -Richard Fraiser (Captain Ochre) is born in Detroit

2036: Paul Metcalfe (Captain Scarlet) is born in Hampshire, England

2037: Jeff Tracy becomes a Colonel for the US Air Force and later transfers to the Space Agency -Patrick Donaghue and his parents immigrate to the US, living in poverty in Manhattan

2038: Troy Tempest is born in New York City -Jeff Tracy marries Lucielle** -Charles Grey graduates from the University of East Angila -Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward is born to Sir Hugh and Lady Amelia**

2040: War damage fixed -Sam Shore marries Elaine MacDonald -Scott Tracy is born**

-"Brains" is born -The Southeast Asia revolts -Juliette Pontoin (Destiny Angel) is born in Paris

2041: Atlanta Shore is born from Elaine and Sam in California -Seymour Griffiths (Lieutenant Green) is born in Trinidad

2042: John Tracy is born** -The Iceland Dispute -The Panama-Ithsmus rebellion begins -Karen Wainwright (Symphony Angel) is born in Cedar Rapids -Chan Kwan (Harmony Angel) is born in Tokyo

2043: The Panama-Ithsmus rebellion ends -Magnolia Jones (Melody Angel) is born in Atlanta -Dianne Simms (Rhapsody Angel) is born in London

2044: Virgil Tracy is born**

2045: Professor Matic takes the role as a professor for Universe University -Conrad Turner joins the British Air Force

2046: Marina is born -Gordon Tracy is born** -Charles Grey moves up to the rank of 'Captain' -The British Civil War begins (during which Conrad Turner is badly wounded)

2047: Steve Zodiac joints WSP Academy -Tanusha "Kayo" Kyrano/Tintin Kyrano is born** -Britain joins the World Government -Charles Grey becomes Admiral while commanding the World Navy Destroyer fleet -Conrad Turner joins the World Air Force

2048: Charles Grey joins the Universal Secret Service and marries his field partner Elizabeth Sonmers -Edward Wilkie starts medical school in Brisbane

2049: the British sector of the USS is reorganized by Charles Grey

2050: Professor Matic designs and builds the world's first Nutomic Hyperdrive Motor and is given an honorary position as Major while heading the XL project -Alan Tracy is born** -Charles Grey is promoted to the head of the USS British sector

2051: Steve Zodiac becomes an astronaut and sub-lieutenant at Space City -Prototypes of the XL project are debuted including XL1 Alpha -Adam Svenson receives a full ride scholarship to Harvard University at age 16

2052: the Anti-Bereznik Riots (of which Patrick Donaghue was involved where he was later arrested and imprisoned for 90 days)

2053: Steve Zodiac befriends space explorer Jim Ireland who sets off on a 10 year voyage -Seymour Griffiths loses his parents in an air disaster

2054: Richard Fraiser joins the World Government Police Corps after being rejected from university and the Air Force -Bradley Holden graduates from the World Navy Academy in San Diego immediately enlisting in the World Navy submarine service

2055: Steve is promoted to captain and is assigned to co-pilot Fireball XL5 -Conrad Turner joins the World Space Patrol and mans Fireball XL3 -Adam Svenson joins the World Aeronautic Society as a test pilot -Patrick Donaghue finishes his studies and graduates from Yale University with degrees in physics, electrical engineering, and technology and he takes a job as a computer programmer for a firm in Brooklyn but soon quit for a life of crime -Edward Wilkie graduates from Brisbane with degrees in medicine and biology and joins the Australian sector of the World Medical Organization as assistant medical controler. Later that same year he is promoted to health controller of the Scandinavian sector.

2056: Venus joins the World Space Patrol -Colonel Grange suffers a mental breakdown while piloting Fireball XL5 leaving Steve to bring them to safety -Marina's mother dies -Troy Tempest joins the World Navy Academy in San Diego -Lucielle Tracy passes away

2057: All Fireball XL ships are outfitted with the Nutomic Hyperdrive Motor -Paul Metcalfe graduates from Winchester University with degrees in History, Technology, and Mathematics -Adam Svenson is promoted to active field agent for WAS -Patrick Donaghue becomes a kingpin for organized crime in New York due to his leadership over several gangs and hacking abilities -Edward Wilkie revolutionizes the WMO's medical technology through robots which places him in the position of Administrator for Advancements in Medicine and Medical Science -Juliette Pontoin attends University in Rome

2058: Elaine Shore suffers a heart attack and passes away -Phones takes on work as a mercenary -Karen Wainwright attends Yale University at age 16

-Lady Penelope becomes chief operative of the Federal Agents Beareu where she meets Jeff Tracy (wait...... F.A.B..... so that's what that stands for....)

2059: Paul Metcalf begins study at West Point Military University in New York -Richard Fraiser transfers to Chicago and takes on one of the toughest crime syndicates in the country

2060: An attack on his vessel causes Sam Shore to lose use of his legs. He and Atlanta move to Marineville to command the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (which is newly established)

-Gordon Tracy interns with WASP** -Troy Tempest is captured on a failed mission and is rescued by Phones who he convinces to join the navy -Troy Tempest arrives at WASP Marineville -Juliette Pontoin joins the World Army Air Force and is transferred to the Intelligence Corps where she hones her skills as a pilot, leads the Woman's Fighter Squadron

2061: Magnolia Jones joins the World Army Airforce at age 18

-Gordon Tracy suffers an accident while working with a high speed hydrofoil**

2062: the start of the events of Fireball XL5 -Jeff Tracy establishes International Rescue -Seymour Griffiths graduates University in Kingston Jamaica with degrees in telecommunications, technology, and music and joins WASP as a junior hydrophone operator (his brothers followed but were killed in an accident which Seymour transferred as a telecommunications operator at Marineville) -Bradley Holden joins WASP as the Lieutenant commander security chief and takes the role of piloting Stingray in her prototype years -Karen Wainwright becomes a full fledged field agent for Universal Secret Service after several years of training -Magnolia Jones becomes lost while taking the XKF 115 aircraft on a test flight and loses contact with control -Chan Kwan graduates University and is determined to fly solo around the world

2063: Venus earns a degree in Space Psychology -Steve Zodiac is awarded Astronaut of the Year -Paul Metcalfe graduates from West Point and joins the World Air Force -Juliette Pontoin leaves WAAF to start her own pilot contracting firm -Magnolia Jones returns after being lost for almost a year after rebuilding her craft from the wreckage. She shortly leaves to focus on flying and setting up a freelance air taxi service -Dianne Simms meets Lady Penelope and is offered a position in the FAB to train as an agent

2064: Bradley Holden receives a severe back injury taking him out of the line to duty and landing him a desk job at Marineville -Troy Tempest becomes captain of Stingray and takes on Phones as his co-pilot -Chan Kwan attempts her voyage around the world but stops to answer a distress call to rescue a group of men from a burning tanker ship in the Pacific. Six months later she tries again and succeeds

2065: the events of Thunderbirds begins -the Spectrum Organization is established and Charles Grey turns down the position of Supreme Commander of the USS to take on his role as "Colonel White" for Spectrum under the Spectrum Selection Committee -Seymour Griffiths joins Spectrum under the codename "Lieutenant Green" -Conrad Turner joins Spectrum under the codename "Captain Black" and quickly climbs the ranks as Spectrum's top agent -Paul Metcalfe joins Spectrum under the code name "Captain Scarlet" (thanks to recommendation from Conrad) -Adam Svenson joins Spectrum under the code name "Captain Blue" -Patrick Donaghue is pardoned for his crimes and is offered a position as an agent of Spectrum under the code name "Captain Magenta" -Dr Edward Wilkie is approached by Spectrum to become the Supreme Medical Commander of Cloudbase and given the codename "Doctor Fawn" -Juliette Pontoin is approached to join Spectrum's squadron of fighter pilots and is given the codename "Destiny Angel" -Magnolia Jones is selected by Spectrum as a fighter pilot and is given the codename "Melody Angel" -Lady Penelope quits her role in the FAB to focus on her work with International Rescue. The FAB dissolves soon after. -Dianne Simms is forced to leave the FAB and becomes a chief security officer for the Euro-Charter Airline company -Chan Kwan's father dies and she takes over the family air taxi company 2066: Richard Fraiser fakes assassination and joins Spectrum under the code name "Captain Ochre" -Bradley Holden clears a health check under Spectrum and is recruited as an agent under the codename "Captain Gray"

-Karen Wainwright quits her work with the USS to become a pilot full time. Shortly after she passes her exam to join Spectrum and joins the Angel squadron under the codename "Symphony Angel" -Dianne Simms is approached by Spectrum to join the Angel squadron and is given the codename "Rhapsody Angel"

-Chan Kwan is approached by the Spectrum Selection Committee to become an Angel pilot, in which she is accepted and given the codename "Harmony Angel"

2068: the events of Thunderbirds end and the events of Captain Scarlet begin (the Mysterons declare war on Earth after the Zero X Mars expedition comes across their settlement and attacks)

#gerry anderson #Supermarionation #fireball xl5 #stingray 1964 #Thunderbirds #thunderbirds are go #captain scarlet and the mysterons

[soniabigcheese]

TAG Advent Calendar Reboot - December 20th

December 20th

Not exactly a Christmassy start now, is it? But war never was a pretty sight.

A Tale of Two Santas

The Global Conflict had been harrowing, affecting everyone, including the aristocracy. They chose to dig their heels in, trying to ignore the fact that their precious world was falling apart around their bejewelled ears. That was how the GDF was created afterwards. They had the right idea of bringing back national service, making sure that this time, everyone was prepared.

As the war progressed, the economy collapsed in every country involved, meaning that there would be severe cutbacks etc.

It was horrible.

Faithful staff had to go at the Creighton Ward manor, whilst Lord Hugh went off to battle, leaving his precious daughter behind with a governess and a handful of staff to keep her company.

He wasn’t stationed long, he took quite a bit of shrapnel, which tore a gaping hole in his leg. It could have been worse, but for the quick action of an Aloysius Parker, who threw himself at the man, pinning him down on the muddy field. Avoiding a missile that, had he still been standing, would have literally blown off the top of his head. It whistled past them and buried itself into a bunker further along, killing the men inside.

War is never pretty. But the thing that kept Lord Hugh going, were the letters from his dearest Penelope. Her childish scrawl gave him a smile. And as Christmas was coming up soon, her letters took on a more serious note.

In one, she told her daddy that she’d sent a letter to Santa, asking him to forget all the presents that she wanted. All she wanted was her Daddy to come home.

He always replied back, I’ll put in a good word, but Santa’s a little busy. So he might not get the message.

As luck would have it, he and Parker received compassionate leave, due to Lord Hugh’s injuries, and the fact that Parker was getting too old for active duty.

Exhausted, filthy and holding one another up, they arrived home … for Penny to charge towards them and give her daddy a hug.

It was Christmas Eve.

She looked at Parker …

… and said …

“Thank you Santa.”

And gave him a hug too, despite the fact that Parker was only wearing his muddy clothing. Not a red suit trimmed with white anywhere to be seen.

Fast forward a couple of years.

The Global Conflict had ended and everyone was slowly rebuilding their lives. The Creighton Wards never re-employed the staff that they had to let go for several reasons.

1. The economy was rough 2. The staff were elderly and had decided to retire 3. They found that they could run the estate with a skeleton staff, if they closed off some of the wings

Christmas once again and Penny was out with her governess and her father, when she came across a Santa’s grotto. A line of children, all in a line, waiting for the man in the red suit.

Who happened to be Parker.

He’d had it really rough, ever since his leave of duty. Resorting to petty theft to make ends meet. He was lucky that the store had employed him with his criminal record. Plus, he was using this as a cover to scan the place so he and a few guys could raid it later.

The little girl who climbed upon his lap, looked familiar as most kids do after a while. She studied his face completely.

“You brought my daddy home,” she declared loudly.

It was enough for her father to turn and look. He hated these shopping trips, but he’d agreed because Penelope had insisted and if he didn't take her, she threw a fit. And here he was, looking right into the eyes of the man who’d saved his life…

… or was it the other way around?

He couldn’t remember.

But he never forgot a face, even though it was covered with a long white fake beard. The cheekbones looked drawn in, and the suit hung on Parker like a sack tied in the middle.

It was there and then that Lord Hugh decided to return the favour. He employed Parker on the spot, giving the man a deserved title of bodyguard to his beloved daughter.

Fast forward to the present day.

Parker groaned at the whole idea of doing this. But … the children from the local village persisted quite avidly.

You see, their local Santa Claus had fallen on some ice and broken his hip. So he couldn’t take on the role of the man in red. Penny heard of this plight at the toy drive and volunteered Parker to replace the poor man.

Temporarily.

That was three years ago.

And he STILL dons the suit, albeit reluctantly.

But Penny does remind him that he did bring her daddy home, all those years ago.

#tag advent calendar #lady penelope centric #parker #lord hugh creighton ward #thunderbirds are go fanfic

[tsarisfanfiction]

Phantom

Fandom: Thunderbirds/Detective Conan Rating: Gen Genre: Mystery Characters: KID, Lady Penelope, Gordon

So this is a response to @flashfictionfridayofficial and their weekly prompt “deceiving fragrance”.  This one clocks in at 707 words, according to MSWord.

This links in to a few snippets I’ve written in the past exploring a potential crossover between these two series: ONE | TWO | THREE. This time I’ve brought in a new character from each series into the mix...  I also have to thank @elaendorlien for pointing out what certain DCMK characters would think of Penelope.

This follows TOS’ idea that IR’s identity are secret, and the movie canon that KID knows about Shinichi/Conan.

There was no sense that couldn’t be ensnared, given proper preparation and opportunity – of course, part of said preparation was creating an opportunity.  Magic was (should be) a thing of fantasy, but illusions were something else entirely.  Illusions were real, created by whispers and suggestions and everything that he was good at.

Sight was the easiest. People relied too much on their eyes, to the point of blindness.  No matter what their eyes saw, it only took a suggestion for what their brain thought they saw to differ.  Hearing was equally simple; sounds could sound like other sounds with just the barest of a hint.  Touch and taste – well, those were less present in his repertoire, but no less valuable or harder to ensnare.

As for smell?  Well, the sweetest scents often hid the foulest truths.  Flowers enticed in the unwary prey, and so did women, dousing themselves in deceiving fragrances until their true nature was thoroughly concealed.

Which was why the pretty blond woman walking down the street, arm-in-arm with the Olympian that had been sniffing around Tantei-kun and his cohort, caught his attention.  He knew who she was, of course – he’d be a terrible Kaitou if he couldn’t identify one of the richest women in the world, as well as the fact that the gem clasped at her throat was a very clever fake – but what was a British aristocrat doing in Tokyo?

Did They have a reach so far out?  Well, honestly, that was a stupid question.  If They didn’t, They wouldn’t be anywhere near as terrifying.

And that was a problem.

KID didn’t get involved with Tantei-kun’s battles, as a general rule (unless the little nuisance blackmailed him into it).  He had his opponents, and Tantei-kun had different ones.  But that didn’t mean he wanted to see Tantei-kun die, and that woman was dangerous.

The man was, too, but KID knew with reasonable certainty why he was in Tokyo.  Most of the world hadn’t linked the disappearance of International Rescue’s commander with Scott Tracy’s sudden refusal to leave his paradise home and insistence on handling all matters via holocall.  The number of people who had linked those two events with the appearance of seven-year-old Scott Carpenter in Tokyo – incidentally the same place the Commander had vanished – was likely less than the fingers on a single hand.

One of those people was KID.

Another of those people, he would bet his monocle, was the Olympian and younger brother, Gordon Tracy. It was possible that he, too, worked for Them, but KID was disinclined towards that theory.  He hadn’t entirely discarded it, but the chances were he’d just come hunting for his big brother.  Neither KID nor Kaito had ever met the Tracy family, but he’d heard the stories.  Rumours – credible ones, from credible sources – put them as the mastermind and manpower behind the secretive International Rescue, and while KID could appreciate the skill that went into disguising that, he doubted International Rescue itself was a front for criminality.

That would be an illusion to surpass all other illusions.

The woman, however, was another story.  Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, public figure and socialite, had so much in common with that one woman – Sharon; what did Tantei-kun call her?  Vermouth? – that he couldn’t possibly view her as anything but a possible threat to his favourite shrunken detective and friends.

The Tracys were known to mix with the Creighton-Wards.  Lord Hugh Creighton-Ward, the father of the woman in question, and Jeff Tracy, late father to the brothers, had worked together on several business enterprises. If KID didn’t miss his guess, there was something beyond professionalism between the pair he was watching pass down the street, too.

However, KID didn’t – couldn’t – trust her.  There was something in the way she moved, the way she held herself, that screamed of lies and deception if you knew what to look for.  As a Kaitou, KID knew those traits intimately.  What he didn’t know was who she was deceiving.

If she was one of Them, Tantei-kun and little Scott-kun – as well as mini-Sherry-chan – were as good as dead.  The Olympian on her arm, too.  If she wasn’t, then who was she?

And more importantly, what was KID going to do about her?

#flashfictionfriday #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds are go fanfiction #dcmk #dcmk fanfiction #tsari writes fanfiction #kaitou kid #kuroba kaito #lady penelope creighton-ward #gordon tracy #scott tracy #crossover #drabbles

[scribbles97]

Left Behind - Chapter 53

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 Chapter 48 / Chapter 49 / Chapter 50 / Chapter 51 / Chapter 52 Read on AO3

Going back to the hospital the following morning was the last thing on Lucy’s mind. Whilst she had been with Scott there had been a distraction for her, the focus on Tia and what happened next for the young security specialist. But once she had returned to the apartment her thoughts had turned elsewhere.

Hugh had always been a friend. Since Sally had introduced him as a potential manager for the Europe base of Tracy Industries, Hugh, Jeff, and Lucy had all talked frequently. She couldn’t count the number of nights they had shared a tipple and a laugh between them, of course it had continued after Jeff.

He had been there. Hugh had lost the woman he had loved all his life when Penelope had been but a babe. When he had listened to Lucy it had seemed different to anyone else’s ear, there were no condolences or words that sounded falsely hopeful, just a quiet reassurance that someone else really did understand.

And she had fallen. She had fallen so hard without even realising it.

But now Jeff was coming home.

“You mustn’t sit dwelling.”

She glared from the sofa at the taller older man, hugging her mug of coffee slightly closer as he closed the door and stepped into the room.

“Good morning Kyrano.” She sighed, looking down into the mug.

“Jeff has been gone for an extended period. Do you not think he would expect your eye to wander?”

Jolting upright, she glared over the back of the sofa, “Kyrano!”

He simply smiled from where he was leaning against the kitchen counter, like the cat that got the cream. His intention was to rile her.

Well she wasn’t going to rise to it.

“Lord Creighton-Ward is an attractive title, not to mention the looks of the man himself.”

“Tia’s fine by the way.” She sniped, sinking back down with her coffee.

“I have just come from the hospital, she and Scott were talking to the neurological specialist.” He stated turning to the kettle, “I take it that it was a discussion with Scott that made you realise how you felt about Hugh?”

Lucy shook her head, he was being pushy, not to mention how overt he was being about it. The man had a point to make and, for once, wasn’t interested in his usual gently-gently approach.

“Would you drop it!?” She sighed, “Yes, I love him, alright? Is that what you want to hear? I love him but I never realised it because I never thought that there would be anyone other than Jeff. He’s coming home though and that’s made me realise that I love Hugh and I don’t want to lose him out of my life just because my actual husband is coming home and--”

The sight of Kyrano sipping quietly out of a cup of tea made her blood boil, “How can you just stand there drinking tea!?”

“I was letting you get things off of your chest.”

His calmness was irritating. How could he understand? His heart belonged to Onaha and he had never so much as looked at another person in lust.

“Have you perhaps considered that you can love someone without it being romantic?” He asked, watching her as he sipped his tea again.

She frowned as she looked across at him, “What do you mean?”

The look he gave her over the top of his cup was pure disdain.

“Come now Lucy, do you not love Evangeline?”

“Like a sister.” She nodded, Val had been part of her life for longer than she could remember. There were things she had talked about with her that nobody else would ever know, but that was different.

“Did you have intimate relations with Hugh?”

“I’ll throw this mug at you in a minute.”

“We all know that you threaten violence as an outlet without ever intending any harm.” Kyrano tutted, “But again, I don’t believe that Mister Tracy would hold it against you. Maybe you should speak to him about it?”

If it weren’t for her aching leg she would have got up and stormed from the room. As it was she had neither the strength or energy to shift from where she sat, even if it weren’t for Kyrano’s eyes pinning her in place.

“I did not sleep with Hugh!” She yelled, “Alright? I didn’t even realise how I felt until yesterday! I mean-- how badly can you screw up? Wait until you find out your dead husband’s alive before you fall in love with someone else.”

Kyrano’s soft snort was emphasised by the cup being raised to his mouth, “I think you fell in love with him long ago Lucy, you simply did not wish to acknowledge it, and now you must.”

He wasn’t her counsellor. She didn’t even know if he had some sort of qualification in psychiatry. Maybe he just knew her too damn well.

“You were in love with the man before Mister Tracy was even gone.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She spat, “I love Jeff.”

“And how many people asked you about Hugh the morning after Scott’s passing out parade?”

The night of the party was vague in her mind, but the conversations with Val and then Scott and Virgil were seared into her mind.

“I was drunk.”

“A drunk mind is quite the expressive thing.”

“Kyrano.” She warned, “Just stop it okay? Hugh and I-- we’re not-- I love him but not like I love Jeff! And he’s coming home. He’s going to need me, he’s not going to need to be questioning if I truly love him or if I’m about to run off with a friend .”

Kyrano set his mug down on the counter top, the soft clink of the ceramic the only sound in the room. He held her eye for a moment and she wasn’t sure if she was meant to say more or if he was waiting to say something.

“Does The Mechanic mean anything to you?”

She spread her hands at the change in topic, thrown by his question and how it related to anything.

“No? I don’t-- what’s this got to do with anything?”

She hated his riddles. Hated how he seemed to know so much but shared so little. What did it have to do with her relationship with Hugh?

“I would talk to them both. Especially Mister Tracy, you may be surprised by their opinions.”

She sat straighter as he headed for the door, “But what about the Mechanic? Kyrano! You can’t just--”

He paused with his hand on the knob, “Tanusha is looking into a new role for Ms Anwar, I must go and discuss it with her and our team.”

“So what? I’m just meant to figure the rest out myself? You want me to tell Jeff that I haven’t had a love affair whilst he’s been gone but now I am? You want me to remember who the hell The Mechanic is?”

Kyrano shrugged, “I never said anything about remembering The Mechanic.”

That caught her, no, he hadn’t. Why did she get the feeling she should be able to remember him?

“I’ll speak to you later Lucy.”

Before she could protest he was gone and she was alone. Sinking back into the sofa she sighed heavily, wondering what the hell she was meant to do next.

#thunderbirds are go #Lucille Tracy #Kyrano #thunderbirds 2015 #scribbles writes #thunderbirds #Left Behind AU #left behind part 5

[gumnut-logic]

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Bit of a challenge to write this today, but here it is :D

For @soniabigcheese​ for Gordon and Bedlam :D

-o-o-o-

Scott gave up his verbal battle at some point, choosing to ignore Wainwright and her blathering. No doubt there would be hell to pay later, but there were more important things to attend to. 

Thunderbird One joined her sister hovering above the platform.

Virgil and Gordon secured their rescuees in Two’s medbay, Virgil helping Gordon cap the bleeder and stabilise the GDF captain he’d saved.

Returning to the cockpit revealed little had changed. The airjacks were still supporting the platform. It was secure for the moment.

“Where are those people carriers?” The sky was empty of the needed rescue relief.

It was Scott who answered. “Wainwright killed the order.”

“What?! You’re kidding me?! There’s a thousand people down there. We don’t have capacity to evac that many!”

“I know that, Virgil.”

Of course, his brother did.

“Thunderbird Five, any word on those escape capsules?”

“Eos reports she is almost done, but we will need one of you on the platform to reconfigure the safety overrides and do some rewiring.”

Virgil didn’t hesitate. “FAB. Send me details.”

Virgil’s wrist beeped almost immediately and a touch of his fingertips brought up the location of the connectors he would have to jimmy.

“Thunderbird Two, we have a problem.” Scott’s voice could only be described as exasperated.

Virgil stared at his sensor read outs. People were running out onto the remains of the landing strip, waving their arms and shouting up at the hovering Thunderbirds.

“Shit. The structure isn’t safe. We need those people back in their capsules.

Scott didn’t quite sigh. “I’m on it. Gordon, you’re with me.”

“FAB.” His aquanaut brother bounced out of his seat and slammed his helmet back on. 

Virgil slipped Two into position and his brother rappelled the distance down to the platform. “Watch your step down there, Gordon.”

“I’ve got it, Virg. Stop knitting grey hairs.”

Virgil grunted a reply before moving Two into position above the massive stadium at the end of the landing strip. The platform was one of a handful. Virgil had the privilege of watching an airshow from one of these a couple of years ago. While Scott oggled the planes and rattled off specs, Virgil had been more interested in the structure itself and its simple yet complex design. 

Each member of the audience was assigned to a pod. These pods were stacked up on each other not unlike cabins in a cruise liner. The difference was that the pods could, in an emergency, separate from each other, acting as escape capsules. Each pod had its own hoverjets and the stadium would simply disassemble.

In this case, that would require the people to actually be in their pods in the first place. As Virgil lowered himself down to the control panel at the top of the structure, the crowd below on the tarmac increased as Scott and Gordon strode to meet with it.

“Thunderbird Five, give me loudspeaker on comms.” Scott’s voice was firm.

“FAB.”

Out of the corner of his eye as Virgil unlatched the control hatch, he could see Scott holding up his hands as a swarm of holocams hovered above him.

“This is International Rescue. Please stay calm and return to your designated pods. This area is unsafe.”

“I’m with the World Security Council.” Virgil blinked at the strange voice. John had linked in his brothers’ receivers? “That is Thunderbird Two, is it not? Why haven’t we been taken aboard.”

“Sir, we do not have capacity to rescue everyone using the Thunderbirds. We are in process of engaging the platform’s emergency protocols. Please return to your pod so you can be evacuated safely.”

Virgil pulled up the schematic John had sent him and located the circuitry that had to be rewired.

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m with the World Security Council.”

Virgil could almost hear his brother’s mental sigh. There was always one.

“Sir, please return to your pod.”

“I demand you let us board.”

“Jeremiah, will you please shut your mouth?”

Blink. That sounded like...

“Hugh Creighton-Ward. My apologies, Commander. Some members of the Council have become anxious.” That anxiety spluttered loudly in the background.

“Understandable. However, for everyone’s safety we need you all to return to your capsules. We will be evacuating you soon.”

Penelope’s father raised his voice to the point Virgil could almost hear it without the comms. “Everyone, can I have your attention please. International Rescue will be evacuating us as soon as possible. Please return to your pods and await instructions.”

The uproar at that was able to be heard without comms. A glance down at the tarmac and Virgil saw most of the crowd moving back towards the pods, but there was a core bunch still hovering around Gordon and Scott. Several claiming their right to be evacuated via Thunderbird immediately.

“If you do not return to your pods, you may miss an opportunity to be evacuated, sir!” Scott’s ‘sir’ was firm and aggravated.

The protest continued, Hugh’s strident voice arguing in favour of obeying IR’s requests. Jeremiah didn’t like that very much and continued to argue. Virgil swore under his breath as he jimmied the last of the wires. Eos acknowledged over comms when the connections slid into place. She tested the circuits and Virgil switched over full control to Thunderbird Five.

“How can we trust you after New York?” It was a woman’s voice and Virgil froze.

“Ma’am, I’m afraid you don’t have a choice in the matter.” Scott’s tone was professional but bore a touch of sadness that clenched Virgil’s heart.

But further thought was suddenly distracted. “Sir, you can’t go over there! It’s not safe!” Gordon’s voice was sharp over the general grumble.

Virgil stood up and far below he saw the aquanaut chasing a man running towards the broken edge of the runway. What the hell was he doing?

“I need a Thunderbird!”

Alarmed, Virgil grabbed his connection with Two and started the retrieval process, the cable pulling against his harness and drawing him up towards her forward hatch.

Gordon yelled. “No, sir! Don’t!”

The man suddenly disappeared, the fragile section of tarmac crumpling beneath his feet and throwing him into a free fall towards the vast ocean so far below.

And with zero hesitation, Gordon jumped after him.

-o-o-o-

Next

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds fanfiction #thunderbirds #Virgil Tracy #Scott Tracy #Gordon Tracy #nuttys fandomversary

[thedryswan]

"I believe my brother is somewhat enchanted by Miss Creighton-Ward." spoke Captain Tracy in a low voice, looking across the room to where Mr Gordon was in conversation with the Baronet's daughter.

"Hm. Then he would do well to keep that enchantment to himself." replied Hannah, "He is the fourth of five sons and, however devoted a father he may be, I cannot imagine Sir Hugh bestowing his daughter's hand on anyone other than an English gentleman of means who is the first of his name."

#regency au #thunderbirds fanfiction

[tb5-heavenward]

new arc, new art, and a return to the wonderful and perfect work of the lovely @slashpalooza

the chapter previous to this one has had a r-r-r-r-rrrrrretcon, so if y'all would oblige me by giving it a reread, I'd be very grateful. Possibly with how long it’s been between updates, you’ll need the refresher anyhow. Sorry for the radio silence. This has been one of those years that just unequivocally kicked the motherloving shit out of me, a reality made no better by the fact that I knew ahead of time that it would. ah well. on we go. 

(incidentally, this one gets a big ol’ trigger warning for: maternal death. I don’t know if there’s a specific tag for that, but if there is, I’d be obliged to anyone who could let me know.)

talented amateurs - 53

It was a dark and stormy night, and if it hadn’t been, Penelope might not have killed her mother.

She’s been told versions of this story all her life, of the night she was born, the night her mother died. Over the years, as her ability to understand more of what happened grew along with her, she’d heard it over again from assorted sources—from her father, from her Great-Aunt Sylvia, from Parker—and somehow it’s never quite the same story twice.

What every rendition has in common are the basic facts of the matter, the first and simplest version Penelope was ever told: once upon a time, the Lord and Lady Creighton-Ward were invited to a party in London. On the long drive down from Scotland, on a dark road far away from anyone who could help, their car ran off the road and crashed. Late in her pregnancy, Lady Catherine was badly hurt, and though it wasn’t quite time, the shock of the accident and the severity of her injuries sent her into labour. In the dark and the wet and the cold of Christmas Eve, Lady Catherine died, and by her father’s hand, Penelope was born. And together, newly widowed and newly motherless, Hugh and his tiny, newborn daughter waited for someone to come and find them.

#talented amateurs #gordon tracy #lady penelope #tw: death

[sincerely-michael-mell]

My Audio List

I have a smaller collection that I thought, but at least I have them...

Beetlejuice

Washington, DC

Date: October 14,2018

Notes: First preview

Dear Evan Hansen

Date: May 13, 2018

Note: Mike's last show

Cast: Ben Platt, Mike Faist, Will Roland

The Prom

Date: 10-24-18

​Cast: Caitlin Kinnunen - Emma

Isabelle McCalla - Alyssa

Beth Leavel - Dee Dee Allen

Brooks Ashmanskas - Barry Glickman

Josh Lamon - Sheldon Saperstein

angie Schworer - Angie

Christopher Sieber - Trent Oliver

Coutnay Collins - Mrs. Greene

​Michael Potts - Mr.Hawkins

Ensamble - Mary Antonini, Coutney Balan, Jerusha Cavazos, Shelby Finnie, Josh Franklin, Sheldon Henry, Fernell Hogan, Joomin Hwang, Becca Lee, Wayne "Juice" Mackins, Vasthy Mompoint, Anthony Norman, Drew Redington, Teddy Toye, Kalyn West, Brittany Zeinstra

Waitress

Notes: Jessie's final show

Date: 3-24-17

​Jessie Mueller (Jenna), Charity Angel Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), William Popp (Earl), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Joe Cassidy (Cal), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie)

Bandstand

Notes: Second preview

Date: 4-1-17

​Corey Cott (Donny Novitski), Laura Osnes (Julia Troy), Beth Leavel (Mrs. Adams), Joe Carroll (Johnny Simpson), Brandon James Ellis (Davy Zlatic), Nate Hopkins (Jimmy Campbell), Geoff Packard (Wayne Wright), Joey Pero (Nick Radel)

Be More Chill

Date: Unknown

Dear Evan Hansen

Date: 2-10-19

Cast: Andrew Barth Feldman, Mallory Bechtel, Lisa Brescia, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Alex Boniello, Michael Park, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Samantha Williams

Date: 3-15-18

Taylor Trensch, Alex Boniello, Lisa Brescia, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Michael Park, Sky Lakota-Lynch

Hamilton Chicago

Date: 10-12-16

Cast: ​​Miguel Cervantes (Alexander Hamilton), Ari Afsar (Eliza Hamilton), Joshua Henry (Aaron Burr), Karen Olivo (Angelica Schuyler), Jonathan Kirkland (George Washington), Chris De’Sean Lee (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Wallace Smith (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), José Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Samantha Marie Ware (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Alexander Gemignani (King George III), Jin Ha (Philip Schuyler/James Reynolds/Doctor), José Amor (Samuel Seabury), John Michael Fiumara (Charles Lee), Remmie Bourgeois (George Eacker), José Amor, Amber Ardolino, Remmie Bourgeois, Chloë Campbell, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, John Michael Fiumara, Jin Ha, Holly James, Dashí Mitchell, Justice Moore, Emmy Raver-Lampman (Ensemble)

​Date: 10-5-16

Cast: ​Miguel Cervantes (Alexander Hamilton), Ari Afsar (Eliza Hamilton), Joshua Henry (Aaron Burr), Karen Olivo (Angelica Schuyler), Jonathan Kirkland (George Washington), Chris De’Sean Lee (Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson), Wallace Smith (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), José Ramos (John Laurens/Philip Hamilton), Samantha Marie Ware (Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds), Alexander Gemignani (King George III), Jin Ha (Philip Schuyler/James Reynolds/Doctor), José Amor (Samuel Seabury), John Michael Fiumara (Charles Lee), Remmie Bourgeois (George Eacker), José Amor, Amber Ardolino, Remmie Bourgeois, Chloë Campbell, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, John Michael Fiumara, Jin Ha, Holly James, Dashí Mitchell, Justice Moore, Emmy Raver-Lampman (Ensemble)

Falsettos

Date 1-8-17 (Closing Night)

Cast: ​Christian Borle (Marvin), Stephanie J. Block (Trina), Andrew Rannells (Whizzer), Brandon Uranowitz (Mendel), Tracie Thoms (Dr. Charlotte), Betsy Wolfe (Cordelia), Anthony Rosenthal (Jason)

​Pretty Woman

Notes: Second preview

Date: 3-14-18

​Samantha Barks (Vivian), Steve Kazee (Edward), Orfeh (Kit De Luca), Jason Danieley (Philip), Eric Anderson (Mr. Thompson), Kingsley Leggs (James)

The Lion King

Date: 6-8-13

Andile Gumbi (Simba), Jaden Jordan (Young Simba), Derek Smith (Scar), Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa), Buyi Zama (Rafiki), Chantal Riley (Nala), Teshi Thomas (Young Nala), Jeff Binder (Timon), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Zazau), James Brown-Orleans (Bonzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Enrique Segura (Ed), Derrick Davis, Lindiwe Dlamini, Bongi Duma, Joel Karie, Ron Kunene, Sheryl McCallum, S'bu Ngema, Nteliseng Nkhela, Sindisiwe Nxumalo, Chondra La-Tease Profit, Vusi Sondiyazi, L. Steven Taylor, Rema Webb (Ensemble Singers), Lawrence Alexander, Lamar Baylor, Gabriel Croom, Charity de Loera, Christopher Freeman, Lisa Lewis,

Jaysin McCollum, Ray Mercer, Bravita Threatt, Natalie Turner (u/s Fireflies specialist), Donna Michelle Vaughn, Camille Workman (Ensemble Dancers)

Frozen

Date: 2-22-18

Cast: ​Caissie Levy (Elsa), Patti Murin (Anna), Jelani Alladin (Kristoff), Greg Hildreth (Olaf), John Riddle (Hans), Robert Creighton (Duke of Weselton), Kevin Del Aguila(Oaken), Timothy Hughes (Pabbie), Andrew Pirozzi (Sven), Mattea Conforti (Young Anna), Brooklyn Nelson (Young Elsa), Tracee Brazer, Wendi Bergamini, Ashley Blanchet, James Brown III (King Agnarr), Claire Camp, Lauren Nicole Chapman, Jeremy Davis, Kali Grinder, Zach Hess, Donald Jones JR. Nina Lafarga, Ross Lekites, Austin Lesch, Synthia Link, Adam Perry, Olivia Phillip (Bulda), Noah J. Ricketts, Ann Sanders (Queen Iduna), Jacob Smith, Nicholas Ward

​Ben Platt (Boston)

(Concert)

Date: May 9, 2019

#bootleg #Bootleg List #Trading List #broadway bootlegs

[soniabigcheese]

Fluffember - Day Four, Safe and the Glue Incident

"But, Daddy," Penelope protested, "you said it would be safe."

Lord Hugh Creighton Ward pinched the bridge of his narrow nose and wrinkled his brow in frustration, before taking a long slow breath and letting it out.

"Penelope, my dear," his hands rested on her small shoulders and he looked into her defiant little face, "we have a very elaborate and highly technical security system in place."

He paused, letting that sink in, but she still glared at him.

"There's no need to get the super glue out and ... wait ... where on earth did you find it?"

She flushed a little before folding her arms.

"A lady NEVER spills the beans or gives out important information. You should know that Daddy, you were the one who was always telling me this."

She wagged her finger at him, before standing pondering for a little bit. Then her face lit up.

"Maybe we should get Parker to break into it. I heard you saying that he is good with locks and safes!"

He shook his head. Gosh, she was a fast learner. AND, he had to be very careful on how to conduct himself when she was home from boarding school.

He tried to twist the dial, but it was stuck fast.

"I seriously doubt it."

He scratched his chin, thinking and pondering.

"Exactly what were you trying to keep safe?"

"Does it matter?"

"As a matter of fact, yes, yes it does."

"Oh ... nothing."

She skipped off, satisfied for a job well done. Her father looked around.

"Speaking of Parker," he thought aloud, "I wonder where he's gotten to?"

A faint tapping could only just be heard from inside the safe, along with ...

"'Elp .... h'anyone h'out there?"

#thunderbirds are go #fluffember2021 #tag fluff and fun #Lady Penelope #Parker #safe #the glue incident #not sorry

[scribbles97]

And

A random scene from my Left Behind AU...can be read as a stand alone.

It felt like an impossible situation, one of many that had presented themselves to Lucy in her life. Did everyone go through such predicaments, or did she simply attract them herself, she wondered quietly as she watched the boys playing down in the pool.

Ignoring it wouldn’t change the problem though, wouldn’t hide the frustrated tear stains on her cheeks from the man stood across the room, and definitely wouldn’t make it go away.

Sucking in a breath, she turned back to face him.

“I love you.” She sighed, wishing she could describe the ache in her chest at the thought of either man not being in her life, “But I love Jeff too and we have the boys, our family...”

Hugh nodded, arms folded as he leant against the wall, face like thunder, “I know.” He shrugged as he looked back up to her, the anger faded as his eye caught hers, “I’ve known all along Luce. It’s why I could never say anything, I never wanted you to be in this position.”

She knew better than to think he was upset with her. The situation was hardly favourable for either of them, if she had known what she knew then, she probably never would have fallen the way she had.

“We all thought he was dead Hugh,” She shook her head, hugging herself, “What if we…”

“Hey,” He stopped her, crossing the room to touch her cheek, “No. Okay? No thinking what ifs Lucy. It’ll drive you insane.”

She couldn’t help the harsh scoff as she covered his hand with her own, “It’s already driving me mad. He’s coming home Hugh and I…” She shook her head, screwing her eyes shut against the tears that threatened at the unfairness of it all, “... I don’t know that I can let things go back to how they were.”

Looking to him again, she sighed, “You have both been such a large part of my life. I couldn’t have gotten through any of this without you, but Jeff and I have a whole other life and I can’t…”

“I’m not going to ask you to,” He murmured as she trailed off, blue eye holding her own, “I’ll go back to England, you and Jeff will be fine.”

“No.” She stated, her hands both dropping to grasp his arms. Leaving wasn’t an option, she couldn’t see him simply walk away from everything, not after the last few years.

“Hugh, you’ve misunderstood, I don’t want you to leave. I am saying that I can’t and won’t pick between you and Jeff.”

Both brows dipped as he watched her, his hands wrapping around her arms in the same fashion as hers had his.

“I always believed,” She continued, “That I was unfathomably lucky to have experienced love the way I do with Jeff, just once in a lifetime. Then I found myself feeling the same way for you, and I know that I was the most fortunate person in the world to find something like that twice.”

Hugh sighed, bowing his head to rest against hers, “Jeff is the man you are married to, Lucille.”

The man was at peace with the knowledge, she could tell. His hands on her arms didn’t want to let go, but the soft look on his face told her that part of him already had.

“I believe he loves me enough to understand.” She whispered back, swallowing hard against the fear as she pulled away, “I don’t know where we go next, Hugh, but you’re too important to me, I want you here.”

He pulled her back to his chest, kissing the top of her head with a soft smile as he squeezed her, “If anyone can work out how to make it work, you can Luce.”

#thunderbirds are go #Thunderbirds 2015 #Thunderbirds AU #Left Behind Au #lucille tracy #Hugh Creighton-Ward #Scribbles writes

[gumnut-logic]

Reactions (Bit 5)

Bit 1 | Bit 2 | Bit 3a | Bit 3b | Bit 4 | Bit 5

Throws hands up in the air and stalks off.

Many thanks to @scribbles97 for the read. For @soniabigcheese

-o-o-o-

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Gordon-“

“No, Virgil, this sucks ass and it’s bullshit. You’re telling me we’re back to needing a hall pass? I thought Aunt Val told them to shove that idea where the sun don’t shine.”

They were standing in Lady Penelope’s parlour.

All of them - Scott, Virgil, John, Gordon, Alan, Grandma, Kayo, Brains, Penelope and Parker. It was like Christmas in July...or a perfect storm. The missive had come stamped and sealed not long after Aunt Val had signed off. Virgil had no doubt that she knew it was coming and her urgent communique was the best heads up she had been capable of.

Scott had ordered everyone...well, except Grandma, no one ordered Grandma...into Thunderbird Two and to London. Kayo had secured Tracy Island, the villa stark under its storm shutters. They would be back, but first they needed to discuss the situation without the need for comms.

“Gordon, language!”

“I’m sorry, Grandma, but I think the situation warrants it.”

His grandmother walked over to Gordon and placed her hand on his arm. “Honey, what the situation warrants is calm and clear heads so we can work out a way to cram this order down their throats.”

Russet brown eyes stared at her for a moment before the aquanaut sagged just a little. “Sorry, Grandma.”

She reached up and gently cupped his cheek. “We’ll work this out, honey. It wasn’t your fault.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Scott’s voice was firm, but his eyes held that hint of apology. “And we will work it out.” He turned to Penelope. “What is the situation?”

“Somewhat alarming, I’m afraid. Rumour has it that there has been some serious shuffling in the upper echelons of the GDF. Certain world councillors have been asking questions and demanding answers that they want to hear.”

Gordon bristled. “You mean they don’t want the truth.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Motivation?” The blue in Scott’s eyes was almost electric with energy.

Parker stepped up. “I believe it’s the oldest one in the book, Mr Scott, sir. Power.”

Penelope’s lips thinned. “With a side order of money.” A delicate sigh. “I’m sorry, Scott. It is not the best of news.”

Lips thin, Scott glanced at Virgil a moment before returning his gaze to Penelope. “Do we know who is responsible?”

She straightened her shoulders. “My father tells me there is a new player on the World Security Council. Elsa Wainwright has replaced the retiring US representative.”

Beside Virgil, Gordon startled. “Wainwright? USN Sentinel Wainwright?”

Penelope arched an eyebrow. “Precisely.”

“Oooh, that’s not good.”

“Would you like to share with the class?” Alan’s sarcasm was a physical thing.

A narrow glare at Alan, and Gordon twisted his lips in distaste. “US Navy Admiral Wainwright was the principle lead in the Sentinel program.” Virgil wasn’t sure he had heard his brother say something with such distaste. “A fleet of extremely fast warships commanded by a hand-picked collection of trigger-happy commanders. WASP Command was not impressed. Brandy knew some of the officers killed in the mistaken identity screw up two years ago. Wainwright got off scott-free. That woman is dangerous. She has her own agenda.”

Brandy was Gordon’s former commander in WASP. After the hydrofoil accident, the entire Tracy family grew to know the brusque but loyal WASP officer.

Gordon may have been given an honourable discharge, but Brandy McGee had left a swath of kicks up the ass for those responsible. The initial accusation of pilot error had been swiftly crushed under her military issue boot.

Her opinion was worth an ear.

As for Penelope’s father, he was a long-time friend of their father’s. Hugh Creighton-Ward was the UK representative on the World Security Council. Cool, calm and calculating, his opinion was close to fact.

Scott turned back to Penelope. “Any word from the agent network.”

Blue eyes met blue eyes, Penelope’s calm, much like her father’s. Scott’s fiery, all his brother’s energy just beneath the surface.

“My mother is investigating.” And that was the obvious end to that line of questioning.

There were aspects of International Rescue that the GDF were not aware. In her corner, leaning against a book case, Kayo’s green eyes glittered over the smallest of smiles.

“So, what are we going to do?” Alan was obviously frustrated, if not a little frightened.

Virgil didn’t blame him. There were so many questions. What could they respond to? What was forbidden?

How many people were going to be lost who could have been saved?

He set his shoulders. “What do we do if we are barred from launching?”

John’s movements were graceful as he rose from his seat in the corner. He was finally wearing the new shirt Virgil had bought for him. A deep turquoise, it still had the necessary piping to provide the gravity support tech his brother often needed, but at least it wasn’t that godawful beige brown. Virgil considered finding the other shirt and burning it when John wasn’t looking.

As if John knew what he was thinking, those equally turquoise eyes caught Virgil’s. A copper eyebrow arched.

Who was he kidding? John saw all. Virgil would never get away with it. Eos would probably end up torching his music collection or something.

John’s lips quirked and Virgil stared at his brother.

Neither of them said a thing until John turned to Scott. “Eos is in the nets. We’ll let you know if we discover anything. As a precaution, I have alerted all the local emergency services that there may be an issue. Our priority must be to save as many lives as possible despite these restrictions.”

“It is so frustrating!” Gordon was almost vibrating with aggravation. “We didn’t do anything!”

Virgil took a step closer to his brother and placed a hand on his arm. Grandma who was on the aquanaut’s other side, caught Virgil’s eyes with a worried frown.

Virgil sucked in a breath. “Gords, we will work this out.”

“And how many people are going to die in the meantime?!”

Virgil’s fingers tightened just a little around Gordon’s arm. “We will do what we can.”

“What if it is not enough?” Alan took a step forward.

“It will be enough.” Scott’s voice was cold. “We will not stand by and let people die because someone has a political agenda.”

Virgil let out a breath. “Scott-“

His brother’s eyes hit him like a pair of laser beams. “They tried this on us once before. It didn’t work for Janus and be damned if I’m going to let this Wainwright walk all over us either.”

“Scott-“

“No, Virgil. Dad wouldn’t stand for it and neither will I.”

-o-o-o-

Next

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #Scott Tracy #Virgil Tracy #Gordon Tracy #John Tracy #Alan Tracy #nuttys fandomversary

[junker-town]

We took the worst college basketball program ever to the NCAA tournament in a simulated video game

Western Illinois’ quest for a college basketball national championship in ‘College Hoops 2K8’ turns up in Year 4 and Year 5.

Welcome back to Western Illinois’ chase for a national championship in College Hoops 2K8. We introduced the idea and simmed through the first season in the opening installment of this series, then played through Year 2 and Year 3 in the second chapter. Here’s a recap of everything that happened in the last post.

Year 2 was a disaster on the court — 10-18 overall and a dead-last finish in the Summit League. The saving grace was a terrific four-man recruiting class headlined by three-star shooting guards Wilbur Messy and Tracy Hehn.

Year 3 was incredible. Western Illinois finished 23-9 overall, won an absolute thriller in the Summit League tournament championship game, and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.

Took a No. 13 seed into the big dance against Florida, got blown out.

Signed two promising recruits when the season ended, 6’4 point guard Giovanni Nelke and center Deke Van, both coveted three-stars.

Let’s look at the roster again heading into Year 4:

This is the first incoming recruiting class I’ll have the luxury of redshirting because I finally have enough depth throughout the roster. Both Nelke (who has already grown an inch to 6’5) and Van are sitting the year, and look really promising long-term with C+ potential.

We’re going with a tight eight-man rotation this year (we had been playing nine before this season) and finally have a rotation with only players I recruited. Apologies to long-time holdover SG No. 23, who will be relegated to garbage time this season.

Western Illinois is ranked 83 overall. Next best team in the Summit League is Oral Roberts at 78. This season is conference-tournament-title-or-bust all the way.

I have two scholarships available heading into the season. Going to try to something new this year and recruit junior college players. This serves two purposes:

Getting players on the same timeline as Nelke and Van

Two of the goals I have to hit to get a coaching attribute point are “sign a four-star recruit” and “sign a five-star recruit.” It’s going to be easier to get guys rated that highly at the JUCO level.

I offer two five-star JUCOs on the first week. Point guard Damon Hendriks from Simi Valley, California, and power forward Dawud Byfield out of Los Angeles.

Hendricks’ top priority is reveals itself to be “playing at a big program,” which doesn’t bode well for Western Illinois. I’m still sticking with him. Byfield loves Stanford, but they haven’t offered yet.

I actually have a real non-conference schedule this year. My first game is against Colorado.

Big win, 73-69.

Sophomore shooting guard Tracy Hehn pops off for 18 points, while the starting front court of Bud Richards and Ferdinand Thompson each drop 16 points in the win. Great omen for the rest of this season. Let the rest of America know: the Leathernecks are ready.

Well, shit, maybe not: we lose to Sacramento State in the next game. My team shoots only 1-for-14 from three. Next up is a game with Washington — rated as a 93 overall. We take a 73-67 loss. Another terrible shooting night, 24-of-63 from the field and 5-of-23 from three.

Here’s a rundown of the next month or so:

Blow out a solid Troy team (82 overall), 84-57, with six players in double-figures. Next up: 16-point win over McNeese State.

Beat Montana State, 88-50. Bud Richards goes off for 26 points and six blocks on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 2-for-2 from three. Then crush North Dakota State and South Dakota State.

Lose a heartbreaker to Creighton, 64-63, then get a win against Wichita State, 86-74. Richards hangs 21 points and three blocks on the Shockers. We lose by one to UW-Milwaukee the next game (Richards: 19 points, six rebounds, and five stocks), then beat UT-San Antonio by six (Richards: 24 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks). My guy is having the breakout junior season we’ve been waiting for.

Next up is my first game vs. a ranked team: No. 24 Iowa State, a 92 overall. BUT THE CYCLONES ARE GOING DOWN.

That’s a big win. Ugly game offensively (28-of-63 from field, 5-of-19 from three, 8-of-18 from the foul line) but we gut it out. We lose to Oral Roberts in a conference game next, 79-76, to fall to 11-5 overall.

Next five games: four wins followed by a loss to IUPUI. Rematch against Oral Roberts is next: I get blown out, 101-76. Holy shit. That’s the low point of the season. They score 56 on us in the second half, which just isn’t going to cut it. We go 5-1 over the final six games, with our only loss is to Southern Utah.

At 21-8 overall and 14-4 in conference, we win the regular-season Summit League title and head into the conference tournament as the top seed. The in-season recruiting period is also over, with Hendriks looking like a safe bet to sign, and Byfield likely coming if his leading school — Stanford — is caught without an open roster spot in the spring. I’ve been recruiting a three-star small forward as a backup if I lose out on Byfield.

Before advancing to the conference tournament, I look at the roster again. I suddenly have three players (Richards, Hehn, and Messy) rated in the 80s now. That teaching boost is starting to pay off.

Summit League tournament

We’re opening the tournament with South Dakota State, the same team I needed an overtime thriller to beat in the title game last year. Things are easier this time: Leathernecks win, 83-56. Richards: 21 points. Wiedemann: 19 points.

Next up is Oral Roberts, who has already beaten me twice this year and smoked me by 25 last time I played them.

I really shouldn’t be so worried for this, but ....

Jesus. 89-77 loss. I really just allowed Oral Roberts to score 54 second half points in an elimination game.

We’re 22-9 overall, but it’s a disappointing season without a tournament berth. But just when I think the season is over .... Western Illinois gets chosen for the NIT, with a first-round matchup against Clemson.

NIT

Clemson is 19-12 overall, but they’re damn good: rated as a 93 overall. I don’t have a great feeling about this.

Lose, 86-81. Season over. We end the year 22-10. Maryland wins the title.

OH YEAH: Richards wins Summit League Player of the Year. That gets me a coaching attribute point.

I have three points to improve my coach. I give one each in offense, defense, and teaching. I get offered the Idaho job and turn it down. I also overhaul my assistant coaches and find a gem in Danny O’Sullivan, who is A- at teaching and C+ at scouting. He’s a C- in offense, but we’ll live with it.

Now, it’s time to lock up my recruits. Hendriks — a 6-foot point guard — signs after the second week, giving the program its first-ever five-star recruit as a JUCO player. When Stanford drops out for Byfield the next week, I land both of my targets.

With my first recruiting class set to be seniors in the upcoming season, I’m loading up the non-con schedule for Year 5. I’m opening the year with Illinois, and also schedule DePaul.

This is the last ride for Bud Richards, Marvin Cisse, Ferdinand Thompson, and Andre Wiedemann. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it.

Year 5

Here’s a first look at the roster.

Wow, new arrival Hendriks is a 77 overall. He’s my fifth-best player immediately, but I still decide to redshirt him given my depth at guard. He’s going to be ridiculously good after four years. Byfield also looks solid as a 72 overall with B- potential. I redshirt him, too.

Nelke has grown to 6’6 now. I’m changing him to shooting guard, where he goes up three points to 77 overall as a redshirt freshman. We’ll be going with a 10-man rotation this year, with Waller and Ward rounding out the bench.

Also, I just noticed I have five California guys on this roster, and still no local kids. Chicago Public League coaches are sarcastically calling me “Ricky California.”

We’re rated 87 overall heading into the year and are clearly the favorites in the Summit — Southern Utah is the next best team at 74. No excuses this year.

This is going to be a huge season for recruiting, too

In addition to this being the best team I’ve had yet at Western Illinois, I also have five scholarships to fill. My first thought for recruiting: I need to fill out my starting lineup of the immediate future with a JUCO forward. I already have two guards (Nelke, Hendricks) and two bigs (Byfield, Van) who will all be redshirt sophomores next year, just need one more guy on their timeline to finish out that starting five. The ideal haul for this season would be one five-star JUCO wing paired with four top-150-rated high school seniors.

This five-man class is going to seriously shape the future of the program, but it also won’t be easy given how few recruiting points I have at a school as small as WIU (I covered this in the introduction). Here are my offers on the first day you can do it:

Dane Janiszewski, small forward, five-star JUCO freshman

Burton Ballinger, center, No. 214 (No. 15 C)

Alberto Tangara, small forward, No. 165 (No. 35 SF)

Hugh Spong, point guard, No. 181 (No. 56 PG)

Darell Hicks, power forward, No. 136 (No. 26)

The stakes are at an all-time high in every possible way this year. I think that calls for a press conference.

Coach Rick press conference

Alright, it’s time to start this shit.

First game: @ Illinois.

There would be no better way to open the biggest season in program history than by beating the Illini in Champaign. We want to show the rest of the state that the Leathernecks are the new premier basketball program in Illinois.

Unfortunately that does not happen.

The offense just totally dried up, and we could not defend the perimeter. They had one guy hit 10 threes! I actually watched this game, but there are in-game highlights coming later in the season (spoiler alert), so I will spare Leatherneck Nation the pain of watching the Illini smoke me.

We play in a tournament the next week and go 2-1, but lose to Northern Illinois. Turns out we might not even be the premier directional basketball program in Illinois.

Then comes the recruiting bloodbath. Janiszewski is offered by FIU, Hicks is offered by Green Bay-Wisconsin, Tangara is offered by North Florida, Sprong gets a Robert Morris offer. I drop all over them and completely redo my board.

I do have a big lead for Ballinger, and convince him to sign at the end of the in-season recruiting period. This is the first fall recruit I’ve had Western Illinois — great grab as a top-15 center who averages a double-double and makes a serious impact defensively.

We beat Dayton the next game, 87-81, behind big games from Richards and Thompson. Here’s where I’m at with recruiting:

I have an offer out to Earnest Robertson, a four-star point guard from Los Angeles ranked No. 51 overall and No. 21 at his position. Obviously, this would be the biggest recruit in program history. UCLA and Oregon lead for Robertson, but his recruitment has a long way to go and I’m still his only offer.

I extend an offer to five-star shooting guard Arvydas Kavaliauskas out of Lithuania. I also offer Josiah Taybron, a 6’8 small forward ranked No. 109 overall (No. 21 at his position).

My final offer goes to Ira Willis, 6’7 power forward out of Queens, ranked No. 82 overall and No. 17 at his position.

I’m still chasing high upside guys over lower ranked prospects who I might have a better chance with. I’m hoping I can land one or two of these highly-ranked guys and still have some decent players left to choose from in the spring to fill out my class.

DePaul game is next. They’re an 89 overall, I’m an 88. This would be a huge win — and I get it, 63-47.

Like everyone says: Coach Rick, defensive mastermind. We beat UMBC, 87-54, with all five starters in double-figures the next game, then pound Saint Louis (Richards: 24 points and seven rebounds; Hehn: 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three).

My Leathernecks are 7-2 overall as the schedule full turns over to conference play. Is my team good enough to run the table in the Summit?

I win the first eight games by an average margin of about 15 points. We’re currently 15-2 overall and undefeated in conference on Jan. 23 when we drop 123 points on Oakland in a blowout win where Nelke — possibly my star of the future — scores 19 points off the bench on 5-of-5 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range. This is a demolition.

At the same time, It’s not going as well on the recruiting front. Each one of the four players I’ve offered is slow playing it. The good news is they’re slow playing it for everyone, not just me. It doesn’t make this any less nerve-wracking though considering I have so many scholarships to fill. Here’s what the board looks like right now — none of these guys are even close to committing.

I sim through the regular season and win out. Richards drops a career-high 35 points against UMKC in my last game. We end the regular season at 25-2 overall and 18-0 in conference.

No heartbreak in the Summit tournament this year, please.

Summit League tournament

Despite my sparkling record, I have no confidence I’ll get an at-large bid should we be upset in the conference tournament. First game is against Fort Wayne. I take home a 78-62 win with Richards leading the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Next up is South Dakota State in the semifinals. I win, 93-67, with Hehn dropping 26 points and Thompson finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds.

Now I have Southern Utah in the title game. Let’s go!

Oh, my God. My first conference loss of the year, and it happens in the title game, 84-80. I think I just felt my stomach fall out of my body. If this is Richards’ last game, at least he goes out with a new career-high of 37 points.

But wait! We get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament

I can’t believe it. Is this the first at-large bid in Summit League history?

The Leathernecks are a No. 11 seed against Miami (Florida) in the first round. My team’s overall rating is up to a 90 now, with Richards at 87 overall as a senior, and Hehn and Messy at 84 and 83 overall, respectively, as true juniors. The Hurricanes are rated as a 94 overall.

No. 6 Miami (Florida) vs. No. 11 Western Illinois, NCAA tournament opening round

You know I watched the full game and cut up highlights — as a reminder, I’m not actually playing any of the games throughout this series, just watching the computer play it out.

Leatherneck Nation, let’s do this.

The soundtrack for this game is “The Better Parts of Space” from my bud Patrick Cosmos’ 2017 album Tonal Rotors. Support his music here.

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HELL YEAH.

What a win! Down eight with just over six minutes left, and we battle back. Messy was knocking down everything in the second half, and Wiedemann controlled the game from the opening tip. Love to see it. Also shouts to my center of the future, Deke Van, with the big 8-8-2 game without missing a shot.

WESTERN ILLINOIS IS STILL DANCING.

Next up: No. 3 seed Florida State in the Round of 32.

No. 11 Western Illinois vs. No. 3 Florida State, NCAA tournament Round of 32

This game features commentary from my bud, Zach (@ZM_Baseball), and I. It was incredibly intense from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Please enjoy more than seven minutes of Leathernecks basketball:

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One. Stop. Away. From the Sweet 16. And the refs bail out FSU with a whistle. UGH.

Incredible game, incredible season. Western Illinois will be back.

UCLA wins the national championship. My seniors — my first full recruiting class — have graduated:

Richards exits school with 1,614 points for his career — he somehow didn’t win back-to-back Summit League Player of the Year awards, which is a crime. Wiedemann, Cisse, Thompson ... all of them had great careers. And now the program moves forward.

Western Kentucky and UIC offer me a job. No thank you. Instead, I use my new coaching attribute points to boost my offensive and defensive ratings up to a B- and my teaching up to a B+.

Fall recruiting

I still have a ton of work to do in recruiting and I’m not optimistic.

Robertson — my four-star point guard ranked No. 51 overall — signs with UCLA after the second week. Damn.

One by one, everyone else also signs with another school, with one exception: power forward Ira Wells, who commits to WIU on the last week and becomes the first top-100 prospect in program history at No. 82 overall.

I just went 2-for-5 on open scholarships because I don’t have enough recruiting points at Western Illinois to make up ground late in the spring. This isn’t a death sentence for the program, but definitely a set back. I’m going to have to do major work on the recruiting front next year.

After setting my schedule, I sim forward to my sixth year.

Year 6

Here’s the first look at the roster:

To be continued.

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