Rogue's Rock

- Season 1

(1974)

Rogue's Rock is a small island off the coast of Britain which has been governed by a member of the Rogue family for centuries. Katy Rogue arrives from New Zealand to research her family history, but finds that her uncle, Commander Rogue, is in charge of an impoverished island. A chance discovery at the cemetery, however, could mean a change in the island's finances. Meanwhile Professor Jane Steele arrives from the mainland to investigate reports of strange phenomena in the sea-life in the island's coastal waters.

Valuable minerals have been found on Rogue's Rock and so jurisdiction of the island falls under the UK Ministry of Defence, which plans to clear out the residents and claim the island's riches for the Treasury. Meanwhile a team of deep sea divers investigating claims of mutated fish in the waters surrounding the island uncover ancient bronze Viking runes that give Commander Rogue a surprising degree of power and autonomy over the Ministry.

Westminster wants to keep Rogue's Rock as part of Britain in order to make proper use of its resources and sends Sir Jocelyn Foot-Crankshaw to hold summit talks with Commander Rogue and his 'cabinet' to negotiate the island's status. Meanwhile a diving expedition discovers a hoard of gold treasure and the residents are determined to keep the find a secret.

Commander Rogue refuses to recognise British rule so the Royal Navy sets off to blockade the island. Supplies are running low so the islanders send out a decoy boat to distract the Navy allowing a second boat to take on fresh supplies from the nearest port. Commander Rogue wants to rouse support for their plight and sends out an international distress signal to the people of Britain using the island's transmitter.

The islanders begin preparing for defence by making their own explosives which they hope to use to repel any naval assault. Commander Rogue continues to try and gain international recognition for his independent nation and a further attempt to restock the islands supplies is made using their gold reserves, which is sent to Zurich to back their currency the 'Roguette'. The UK government gives Rogue's Rock 24 hours to surrender.

After winning their dispute with Britain and successfully having the blockade lifted, the island suddenly finds itself being feted first by a Russian delegate and then an American delegate. When the British delegate Sir Jocelyn Foot-Crankshaw starts sniffing around Jane becomes suspicious so she, Katy and Tom decide to check on the activities of Russian, American and British frogmen who are lurking around the shoreline.