History Series / MissionTopSecret

* TechnologyMarchesOn: The PCU (a pocket computer that can be used - amongst other things - as a GPS tracker and to make international video calls) was considered science fiction by viewers in an era where mobile phones were bulky and only used by a select few adults. Nowadays, a smartphone basically does the same and sometimes even ten year old kids already have one.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Every person who sees the Centauri kids video calling each other is amazed, since the concept of kids in different countries casually video calling each other was futuristic for viewers in the early nineties (when the Internet and e-mail were still in their infancy and intercontinental phone calls were expensive and a hassle to set up), but kids growing up today probably have simular technology at home and would wonder what's so special about it.

'''''Mission Top Secret''''' was an Australian TV series that aired between 1992 and 1995, featuring a secret international network of spy kids fighting evil businessman Neville Savage.\\\

Twelve-year-old Jemma lives on a farm that doubles as a secret laboratory for her mother's boss: the brilliant electronics inventor Sir Joshua Cranberry. When she accidentally taps into a disused communications satellite with Sir Joshua's supercomputer, she manages to connect with other kids around the world through their home computers. They form the ''Alpha Centauri'' network (named after the constellation the satellite is in), officially to help each other with schoolwork, unofficially to secretly fight international crime.

In the second series, Jemma, Vicky and Albert no longer live on the farm. Sir Joshua is joined on his travels by the children of his new housekeeper, Kat and David Fowler, while Sandy (one of Savage's henchmen from the first series that turned good) joins Spike at the base. Von Steinforth, the villain-of-the-week from the arc in Germany returned as a recurring antagonist.

A prominent and memorable feature of the series was the use of the futuristic spy-gadgets that Sir Joshua invented, most notably the ''PCU'' (Personal Communication Unit), a high-tech pocket computer, video-communicator, satnav and lock pick (basically a smartphone 15 years before the term was invented) that the Centauri kids use to stay in touch with each other around the world.

* EasilyForgiven: During the Flight of the Golden Goose story arc, several kids leave Centauri, annoyed by the ruses sent by the infected Computer. They happily come back when the sabotage is revealed.

* FreeRangeChildren: The parents and caretakers don't seem to mind too much that their kids are snooping around unsupervised all day. It of course helps that the local Centauri agents are, well, ''local'' and Vicky and Andrew (and later Kat and David) are thus always accompanied by a friend who know the area well.

* HeelFaceTurn: Sandy

* KidHero: A whole bunch of them.

* MeaningfulName: Neville '''Savage'''

* MultinationalTeam: Centauri has agents all over the world (at least in Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Japan, England, Ireland and South Africa)

* OffTheShelfFX: The PCU is a modified Sharp Wizard IQ-7000 Electronic Organizer

* TechnologyMarchesOn: The PCU (a pocket computer that can be used - amongst other things - as a GPS tracker and to make international video calls) was considered science fiction by the target audience in an era where mobile phones were bulky and only used by a select few adults. Nowadays, a smartphone basically does the same.
* TroubleFollowsYouHome: In the last story arc of the first series, Savage decides he has enough of Alpha Centauri and places a spy at the base to infect the Computer with a virus and manipulates Centauri from within.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The idea of kids in different countries casually video calling each other was futuristic for viewers in the early nineties (when the Internet and e-mail were still in their infancy and intercontinental phone calls were expensive and a hassle to set up), but a child growing up today probably thinks this ability is commonplace and would wonder whats so special about it.
* VillainOfTheWeek: In the first series, every story arc has different henchmen who assist Savage and inevitably end up arrested (or otherwise punished for their crimes) during the last episode, while Savage escapes. Von Steinforth (from the series 1 "Eagles from the East" story arc) returns as TheDragon in series 2.

* YouMeddlingKids: How Savage views Centauri.

The plot of the first season kicks off when 12 year old Jemma (who lives on a farm that doubles as a secret laboratory for her mother's boss, the brilliant electronics inventor Sir Joshua Cranberry) accidentally taps into a disused communications satellite with Sir Joshua's supercomputer. She uses the satellite to form '''Alpha Centauri''', a network of children around the world, named after the constellation the satellite is in. Officially the kids help each other with schoolwork, unofficially they fight international crime.

When recently orphaned Vicky and Albert Wiggings (Sir Joshua's niece and nephew) become the target of the nefarious crime lord Neville Savage (who is after technology their parents worked on), Alpha Centauri comes to their aid. After they thwart Savage, Sir Joshua becomes their caretaker, and together with their friend Spike they come to live at the farm. Vicky and Albert travel with Sir Joshua around the world and assist local Centauri agents to uncover Savage's evil plans with the help of Sir Joshua's inventions.

In the second season, Jemma, Vicky and Albert no longer live on the farm. Sir Joshua is joined on his travels by the children of his new housekeeper, Kat and David Fowler, while Sandy (one of Savage's henchmen from the first season that turned good) joins Spike at the base. Von Steinforth, the villain-of-the-week from the arc in Germany returned as a recurring antagonist.

The series featured missions foreign locales, and was made as a co-production with broadcasters in those countries. A prominent feature of the series was the use of the futuristic spy-gadgets that Sir Joshua invented, most notably the ''PCU'': a high tech pocket computer/communicator/satnav/lock pick - basically a smartphone 15 years before the term was invented.

* AdultsAreUseless: The adults aren't useless per se, but it's always the kids that manage to uncover the evil plots which the adults are oblivious to. And while certainly a competent scientist, Sir Joshua is of course also a bit of a BunglingInventor.

* HollywoodHacking: Jemma removes a virus from the Computer using a VideoGame/PacMan style cleanup procedure.

* JailBake: At the start of the second season, the security of the prison Neville Savage is about to escape is demonstrated by having the guards screen all incoming mail with an X-ray machine. The lead guard then triumphantly pulls a file out of a cake.
* KidHero: A whole bunch of them
* MagicTool: Sir Joshua's communicators can be used for video calls, high resolution photography and GPS navigation (basically the same functionality of a modern day smartphone), but can also hack into nearby electronic devices and even pick (mechanical) locks.
* MeaningfulName: Neville 'Savage'
* MissionControl: Jemma and Spike in season one, Spike and Sandy in season two
* MultinationalTeam: Centauri has agents all over the world (at least in Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Japan, England, Ireland and South Africa)
* MultiPartEpisode: The two seasons consist of several four episode story arcs ("chapters")

* PromotionToOpeningTitles: Sandy in season two.
* PutOnABus: Jemma, Andrew and Vicki disappear between seasons one and two. Sandy replaces Jenna to join Spike at the base, and Kat and David Fowler join Sir Joshua on his travels.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Brother and Sister duo Vicki and Albert are replaced by Brother and Sister duo Kat and David in season 2.
* SnoopingLittleKid: A whole bunch of them
* TechnologyMarchesOn / UnintentionalPeriodPiece: In an era where mobile phones were bulky and only used by a select few, devices like GPS trackers and pocket computers that could make international video calls were considered science fiction. Nowadays, smartphones can basically do the same as the PCU. Similarly, the concept of kids casually video calling each other around the globe was revolutionary in an decade where the Internet and e-mail were in their infancy and even international phone calls could be a hassle to set up (and very expensive).
* TroubleFollowsYouHome: In the last series of the first season, Savage decides he has enough of Alpha Centauri and places a spy at the base to infect the Computer with a virus and manipulates Centauri from within.
* VillainOfTheWeek: In the first season, every chapter has different henchmen who assist Savage and inevitably end up arrested (or otherwise punished for their crimes) during the last episode, while Savage escapes. Von Steinforth returns as TheDragon in season 2.

When recently orphaned Vicky and Albert Wiggings (Sir Joshua's niece and nephew) become the target of the nefarious crimelord Neville Savage (who is after technology their parents worked on), Alpha Centauri comes to their aid. After they thwart Savage, Sir Joshua becomes their caretaker, and together with their friend Spike they come to live at the farm. Vicky and Albert travel with Sir Joshua around the world and assist local Centauri agents to uncover Savage's evil plans with the help of Sir Joshua's inventions.

* MagicTool: Sir Joshua's communicators can be used for videocalls, high resolution photography and GPS navigation (basically the same functionality of a modern day smartphone), but can also hack into nearby electronic devices and even pick (mechaninical) locks.

* TechnologyMarchesOn / UnintentionalPeriodPiece: In an era where mobile phones were bulky and only used by a select few, devices like GPS trackers and pocket computers that could make international videocalls were considered science fiction. Nowadays, smartphones can basically do the same as the PCU. Similarily, the concept of kids casually videocalling each other around the globe was revolutionary in an decade where the Internet and e-mail were in their infancy and even international phone calls could be a hassle to set up (and very expensive).

* VillainOfTheWeek: In the first season, every chapter has different henchmen who assist Savage and inevetably end up arrested (or otherwhise punished for their crimes) during the last episode, while Savage escapes. Von Steinforth returns as TheDragon in season 2.

* VillianOfTheWeek: In the first season, every chapter has different henchmen who assist Savage and inevetably end up arrested (or otherwhise punished for their crimes) during the last episode, while Savage escapes. Von Steinforth returns as TheDragon in season 2.

* MissonControl: Jemma and Spike in season one, Spike and Sandy in season two

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The series has seen a very limited release on DVD, an has yet to be released to any streaming service

* CliffHanger: Every episode.
* EasilyForgiven: After the children are annoyed about the ruses sent by the infected AI and leave Alpha Centauri, they happily come back because even computers make mistakes (not to mention they now know it was sabotage).
%%ZCE * FramedClue

* HollywoodHacking: Both the character, and the VideoGame/PacMan cleanup-procedure used to remove the virus-infection.
* InterrogationByVandalism: Neville Savage uses this to interrogate a museum curator. He was even using fakes, which made stark contrast with his decision to execute the curator and his son (along with the heroes' mentor) later in the same arc.

%%ZCE * KidHero
* MagicTool: Those handheld calculators allow the children to communicate, and can even pick a lock using electricity.
* MeaningfulName: Savage.
* MultiPartEpisode: Each episode is in a group of four. First is the introduction, details get discovered in the next two, and the last has everything resolved.
* TroubleFollowsYouHome: Savage finally decides to attack the AI by having it infected it with a ComputerVirus.
* VoiceChangeling: On his first appearance, Von Steinforth uses a voice-changer to mimic the voice of one of the heroes, and lure the Centauri network's adult patron into a trap.

%%ZCE * YouMeddlingKids

'''''Mission Top Secret''''' was an Australian TV series, where a group of kids make an organization named Alpha Centauri, and spend resources fighting against an evil organization composed of mainly one persistent individual, Neville Savage.

The first season featured missions in several foreign locales, and was made as a co-production with television producers in those countries. Von Steinforth, the villain-of-the-week from the episode set in Germany, was the EnsembleDarkhorse of the series, and returned as a recurring antagonist in the second season.

* CliffHanger per episode

* FramedClue

* KidHero

* MeaningfulName: Savage

* YouMeddlingKids

The first season featured missions in several foreign locales, and was made as a co-production with television producers in those countries. Von Steinfurt, the villain-of-the-week from the episode set in Germany, was the EnsembleDarkhorse of the series, and returned as a recurring antagonist in the second season.

* VoiceChangeling: On his first appearance, Von Steinfurt uses a voice-changer to mimic the voice of one of the heroes, and lure the Centauri network's adult patron into a trap.

* HollywoodHacking: Both the character, and the PacMan cleanup-procedure used to remove the virus-infection.

The first season featured missions in several foreign locales, and was made as a co-production with television producers in those countries. Von Steinforth, the villain-of-the-week from the episode set in Germany, was the EnsembleDarkhorse of the series, and returned as a recurring antagonist in the second season.

* VoiceChangeling: On his first appearance, Von Steinforth uses a voice-changer to mimic the voice of one of the heroes, and lure the Centauri network's adult patron into a trap.

* EasilyForgiven: After the children are annoyed about the ruses sent by the infected AI and leave Alpha Centauri, they happily come back because even computers make mistakes.

* BigBad

* InterrogationByVandalism