For some reason, the first two pages of each 3-page chapter of this
story are in color, with the third page in black-and-white.
This story introduces a new prototype Interceptor model
called a Vanguard.
The two prototype Vanguards are housed in a newly excavated
hangar connected to Moonbase. Note on page 2 of the story
that the Vanguards launch from a door set into a hillside
instead of being raised up on a platform from underground
and through a moon crater as the Interceptors are.
Flying Vanguard 2 on page 6 of the story, Foster disregards
Straker's order and goes after the second UFO, telling him
that SHADO law states battle position takes priority in
battle decision-making.
The Vanguards apparently carry at least two missiles. The
standard Interceptor carries only one.
On page 9 of the story, Straker tells Foster, "Our boffins
think the aliens are using an electrical impulse which
creates hallucinations." "Boffin" is a British slang term
for scientist or engineer.
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
If the aliens were using some kind of electrical impulse to
create hallucinations in the Vanguard pilots, how were they
transmitting it? Why does it seemingly only affect Vanguard
pilots? Did they somehow have someone involved in the
Vanguard project who built some kind of hidden
thought-wave
projector into the prototypes?
Will the Vanguard model defense craft eventually be approved
for deployment by SHADO?
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