[1] Set in 2068, the series depicts a "war of nerves" between Earth and the Mysterons: a race of Martians with the power to create functioning copies of destroyed people or objects and use them to carry out acts of aggression against humanity.
Earth is defended by a military organisation called Spectrum, whose top agent, Captain Scarlet, was killed by the Mysterons and replaced by a reconstruction that subsequently broke free of their control.
In "Codename Europa", the Mysterons kill and reconstruct an electronics professor as part of a plot to assassinate the Triumvirate of Europe, the three most powerful politicians on Earth after the World President.
Returning to their Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, Scarlet and Blue locate Carney's car and chase the professor as he speeds to the facility containing Henderson.
[1][2][3] The script also included unfilmed scenes in which Carney's reconstruction disposes of the original's body by using a remote-controlled lawn mower to dump it in a pond.
McNamara also notes that Spectrum's victory over the Mysterons, despite being repeatedly outfoxed by their agent, is in contrast with other episodes where the organisation seems to have the tactical advantage yet is ultimately defeated.