Within all of the World’s security organisations, Spectrum stands unique.  Although its concept came into fruition in 2065 – and the organisation itself was created in 2067 – many of the security organisations which in 2068 stand beside Spectrum paved the way to its creation, setting the basis on which Spectrum would stand, upholding the same values which are held dear by the free world.  It is not surprising that from these organisations, rich in history and glory, also came many of the members who make Spectrum what it is today.

To understand how Spectrum stands amongst its peers, the following charts illustrate the history, and the place held by these organisations and the importance their specific work had, before and after Spectrum came to be.  The last chart will show Spectrum’s place amongst them, at the moment of its creation.

The information below has been provided by many sources (annuals, comic strips, various TV series from what is called the Anderverse, compilation books and magazines.  The ‘Chronology of the Anderson Universe’ also provided valuable information that helped in the compilation of these charts. We make acknowledgement of all of these sources and thank them.; We took only the information we thought could be related to the Captain Scarlet universe, including references and influences from other TV series when judged necessary.

Other information not provided by these sources, we invented by extrapolating on judicious and logical observations.  Allow us the benefit of the doubt if these don’t seem to agree with your own observations.

The dates shown are for clarity’s sake, and have been drawn from the same sources as listed above.

FROM 1989 TO 2011

BEFORE THE WORLD GOVERNMENT: THE NEW UNITED NATIONS

The drafting of the World Security Forces

As World War III ended, the United Nations gave way to the New United Nations. Many of the agencies and security organisations still in existence in 2067 were born during this era, and their inclusion in the following chart indicates the outlines of what they will one day come to be.

2012 TO 2027: THE WORLD COUNCIL

First move towards the creation of a World Government

In 2012, the New United Nations formed the World Council, uniting the free world countries against their common enemies.  This is considered to be a first move towards establishing a united World Government. The Council  would supervise the security organisations put into place in the previous decades.  At this point, most of these organisations found their place, under the jurisdiction of one body of decision that would answer directly to the United Nations.  The World Council was headed by an “Honorary World President”.  The Council would exist until 2027, during which year it was disbanded, following its failure to successfully manage the crisis in Europe which led to the creation of Bereznik and eventually, the Atomic Wars.  The World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP) was created during this era, as a division of the World Navy Submarine Service.

2027-2034: THE WORLD DURING THE ATOMIC WAR

Return to simplification

When Civil Wars broke out in Central Europe, and Russia,  in opposition to the New United Nations policy, sent troops to stop hostilities and establish military control, the World Council failed miserably to correct the situation, and tensions kept mounting over the years, especially with the formation of the new state of Bereznik in 2027.  The same year, the World Council disbanded.

In 2028, the European Atomic War began, in part due to a communications breakdown in the West (probably following the disbanding of the World Council).  The State of Bereznik was carved out of Poland and surrounding Balkan countries, which from then on were governed by the military.  Military dictatorships also seized power in Great Britain and Russia.

The New United Nations took back control of the many security organisations it had created over the years, probably in an attempt at damage control until such time as the situation would be resolved.  During these times of unrest, the Universal Secret Service was born out of the ashes of Interplanetary Communications Group (2030).

As the World Council had failed before, the New United Nations fared no better, and was unable to stop the war in Europe, but a treaty was eventually signed by all participants in 2034.  It was time to think of a new way to properly offer security to the World.

2045: THE WORLD GOVERNMENT

The dream of a unified world

At the end of the Atomic War in 2034, the idea that a World Government should be formed was proposed.  Although based on the concept of the World Council, this new political body would be fully endowed with the decisional power to make sure that such disasters as had happened in the recent past would not come to pass again.  Between 2034 and 2045, part of the world was still in a state of unrest, with Bereznik and Britain still remaining as military dictatorships.  When in 2045 the World Government was finally created and established in Unity City, Bermuda,  Nikita Bandranaik was elected as the first World President.  Bereznik, Porto Guava, Tong Viet Ken, the United Asiatic Republic and Britain decided not to join.  However, a Civil War overthrew the Military Dictatorship in Britain in 2046 and the next year, the country finally joined the World Government.

With the new formation of the World Government, the organisation chart of the world’s agencies also changed quite a bit.  A World Security Patrol – with the World Security Council as its body of decision – was created to supervise all of the peace-keeping organisations.  Quite a few changes were brought within this new organisational structure over the years.

It would be during this period that the World Government created its own World Government Police Corps, with its Headquarters in Paris. 

2052-2062: A FEW CHANGES

Merging and splitting

From 2045, very few changes occurred within the organisational structure of security agencies, except for one major merge and an equally important split:  the World Army and the World Air Force became one entity in 2052, and from then on, would become better known as the WAAF. And then, in 2062, the World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP) would finally leave the World Navy to become its equal under the jurisdiction of the World Security Patrol .

2065 – TODAY:  SPECTRUM

Creating an elite security force

Although Spectrum was officially formed in 2065, and was truly ready for action in 2067, the creation of the equipment that would compose its fleet began as early as 2064. The elite security force that would be Spectrum was mainly the brainchild of World President Bandranaik, and at first had been created as an entity that would be used to relieve pressure on the World Security Patrol. Also created as the ultimate anti-terrorist organisation, Spectrum would remain answerable only to the World President. To that effect, when the SHEF (Supreme Headquarters Earth Forces) was created to supervise the World Government Police Corps, the Universal Secret Service, and the World Security Patrol (and their subsidiaries), Spectrum remained an independently working entity. However, World Security Patrol Guards would become auxiliaries to Spectrum as well, and all security agencies, when required, would provide support to Spectrum.

It was in late 2067, upon Earth’s first encounter with the Mysterons on Mars, that Spectrum’s mandate expanded to include the fight against the terrible aliens, a task that would rest almost exclusively on its shoulders.