Lady Penelope is taken hostage by the evil Dr. Godber while helping Sir Jeremy Hodge investigate the disappearance of Professor Borender, who has developed a means of making rocket fuel out of water.

After Thunderbird 2 is heavily damaged in a mistaken attack, it leaves the team seemingly without a swift means to transport TB4 to New York City when a news crew is trapped underneath the collapsed Empire State Building.

Col. Tim Casey is dismayed to hear that the new aircraft, Red Arrow 1, is having technical problems.