Re: SHADO Exit Strategy
Posted by Clare Cross on Oct 24, 2020; 8:28am
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/SHADO-Exit-Strategy-tp4024042p4024044.html
It's nice that Franco Desica finally gets a mention, in a fictional setting, having been referenced many times over the years in factual books and articles. He never actually appears in the series, but there's no reason why he couldn't have existed and he does appear in several of the early scripts. And let's not forget that Paula Harris appears in at least one story in the original UFO annual.
As far as Exit Strategies go; my guess would be that it would all depend on the circumstances. If Paul Foster had failed to live up to expectations and wasn't recruited into SHADO, then the amnesia jab would have been the obvious choice - and maybe hypnosis to suggest that after the crash of the XV-104, he'd been in a long coma. Paul Roper? Maybe he'd have been sent to prison for treason or breach of the Official Secrets Act?
I'll also speculate that even after a SHADO operative leaves active service, he or she would still officially be a member of SHADO until death and would be bound by their rules and regulations. Would it be in their best interests to go shouting about Aliens and UFOs and secret bases under film studios? Probably not. I love the idea of a SHADO retirement home - or penal colony - such as 'The Village'. What a shame we never got a UFO / The Prisoner cross-over! Maybe we did? Maybe Jim Regan survived the crash and - totally insane by then - became No. 48. Then again... maybe not.