During its flight home, "Thunderbird 2" is mistaken for a hostile aircraft by the USS "Sentinel", the United States Navy's new high-speed strike vessel, and targeted with surface-to-air missiles. Although Jeff (voiced by Peter Dyneley) immediately contacts Washington, D.C. to call off the attack, "Thunderbird 2" is left badly damaged and Virgil is barely able to pilot the craft back to Tracy Island. "Thunderbird 2" is grounded for several weeks while extensive repairs are made. Meanwhile, Virgil recovers from his ordeal.