'There is a small object approaching us. A one-man shuttle or a spying device,perhaps?'
'I don't know what you're talking about...' She glanced aside for a moment andspoketosomebodyoutofshot,thenturnedbacktothecamera.'Apparently
wehaveitonourscreensaswellnow,butI'venoideawhatitis.'
'Itstrajectorywilltakeitbetweenourselvesandthederelict,'Vegasaid.'Have
youmodifiedaprobetoovercometheinterference?'
'We'reworkingontheinterferenceproblem-justasyouare,Iimagine,'
Lanchardadmitted.'Butnoneofourshuttlesorprobeshavebeendeployed.'
Vegawasreceivingmorewhisperedinformation.'Itappearstobeunmanned,
withanunfamiliarenergysignature.'Hefrowned.'Itwillpassclosebyus.Asit
is not displaying a standard navigation beacon I could consider that a hostile act.'
'Perhapsitcamefromthealiencraft,'Lanchardsuggested.
'Impossible. We would have observed anything leaving the craft. And we
detect no other vessel in the vicinity but your own. What are you trying to do, Captain?'
Lanchardsighed.'Nothing!You'reactinglikeatypicalparanoidNimosian.'
'AndperhapsyouarebeingatypicallydeviousEmindian.Recalltheprobe.'
'HowcanI?It'snotours.'
'Then you will not object to its destruction - since it is clearly a hazard to navigation.'
'Goahead.Butifyouthinkashowofforceisgoingtomakemeabandonmy
position,you'resadlymistaken.'
'Weshallsee,Captain.'Vegaturnedaside:'Mainbattery,targetunidentified object...'
The Doctor frowned.'What are they talking about?There's no other ship
aroundhere.'
'Besidesus,'Samremarkedidly.
Nodding solemnly, the Doctor cut the visual element of the intercepted
conversationandanimageoftheNimosianwarshipfilledthescreen.Samsaw
thatanotheroftheteardropblistersontheforwardsectionhadopenedtoreveala turretbearingacomplex-lookingcoiledbarrel.Itliftedandswungabouttopoint directlyatthem.
'Fire!'saidVegaoverthesoundchannel.
'Doctor!'Samshouted.
The screen filled with searing light as an incandescent plasma pulse
envelopedtheTARDIS.
Chapter2
TheDiplomat
Acurioussoundechoedalongthenarrow,dimlylitaislesbetweenthestacksof
cargocontainers.
Itwasaraspingsigh,risingandfallingrhythmicallyandsteadilydeepening
in pitch. A flashing light appeared, hovering in midair like a will-o'-the-wisp.Thenaghostlyobjectmaterialisedunderitandtookonasolidform.
The sound became a harsh throaty whir, then ceased abruptly with a final dullreverberatingthud.ExternallythenewarrivalresembledabatteredBritish
policepubliccallbox-adevicemadeobsoletebyadvancesincommunications
technologyoverathousandyearsbeforethecurrenttime.
Thelanternonitsroofceasedtoflash.Anarrowdoorinitssideopenedand
the Doctor and Sam stepped out. For a moment the console room was visible behindthem,itsspaciousnesssomehowcontainedwithinanobjectnomorethan
twometreswideandthreehigh.ThentheDoctorclosedthedooronthepocket
universe of folded time and space, leaving only its incongruous exterior on show.
'What do you know,' said Sam.'A narrow escape. Haven't had one of those forhours.'
The Doctor was looking about him with satisfaction. 'Right on target: the liner'scargohold.TheTARDISseemstohaveanaffinityforsuchplaces.Ifeel
quiteathome.Many'stheeventfulhourI'vespentinthemhiding,beingarrested
asastowawayorevadingtheclutchesofsomeshamblingmonstrositywithbad
breath.Actually,cargoholdsaretheidealspotforaclandestinearrival.Nobody abouttoaskyouawkwardquestions.Atleastnotusually...'
'You should write a book on them,' said Sam. 'Bestseller material, cargo holds.'TheDoctorlookedathersharplyfortracesofsarcasm,butherblueeyes
were wide and innocent. 'So now we're free again with a single bound,' she continued,'whatdowedonext?'
'First,findoutwhatcourseofactionthesepeopleintendtotakeregardingthe
alien ship. I don't want them interfering with it until I've had a chance to examineitmorecloselymyself.There'sobviouslynolovelostbetweenthemand
the crew of the warship.They mustn't goad each other into acting rashly.' He looked about him again. 'We might as well work from here; clearly drifting in freespaceclosetothederelictwillonlyincitemoremisunderstandings.'
'Andyouthinkthey'lltakekindlytostowaways?'
'They won't have to,' the Doctor said mildly. 'We'll establish ourselves
legitimatelytoprevent awkwardquestionsbeing asked.Wemight havetostay for a while and somebody would inevitably notice if we kept popping down here. Yes. Let us be upwardly mobile and acquire some conventional lodgings moresuitedtoourstatus.'
'Youmeanfindsomecabins.Andjustwhatstatusdoyouhaveinmind?'
'Something appropriate to the circumstances which we may turn to our
advantage should the need arise.' He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. 'Can we take advantage of our relative isolation? I wonder. What were Vega and
LanchardsayingabouttheFederation?Ah,yes.Justaminute.'
And he slipped back inside the TARDIS again, leaving Sam alone to
contemplatethelimitedattractionsofthecargohold.Shekickedashelfbracket
moodily.'Realbestsellermaterial.'
BeingtheDoctor,heactuallydidrejoinheroneminutelater.
He was carrying a coil of cargo binding tape identical to that securing the cartons around them. With Sam's help he wrapped several bands around the TARDIS,stillallowingroomforthemtoduckbetweenthemtousetheinward-openingdoor,andtiedareplicacargolabelinplace.Itboreonlytheirnames-
theirroomnumbersanddestinationwereblank.
'We'llfillinthedetailslater,'heexplained.'Nowyou'dbettertakethis.'
Hefishedoutacoupleofthinrectanglesofplasticcardfromhispocketand
handedonetoSam.
'Ever thought of going into forgery in a big way, Doctor?' she said, as she examinedtheimpressiveidentitycardbearingherface,codedretinapatternand
thumbprint.'Ifthisisme,whoareyou?'
Heshowedherhiscard.Shewhistled.
'Canevenyoucarrythatoff?'
'Naturally,'heassuredherairily.'Ifoneisgoingtobeanimpostor,onemight
aswellimpostinabigway.Now,shallweseeifwecanfindalift?'
Thehold'screwdoorwaslocked,butafewseconds'workwiththeDoctor's
sonic screwdriver persuaded it to open for them. At the end of the utilitarian corridor beyond was a lift. Several deck levels were listed beside the control panel, together with their amenities. Sam thought the Hydrosolaria and Games Courtssoundedinteresting,buttheDoctorchosePassengerDeck2:Library.The
liftascendedsilently,andinafewsecondsthedoorshadopenedontoawide,
thicklycarpetedcorridor.TheDoctorheldSambackforamomentuntilacouple
ofpeople,casuallydressedinshortsandbrightlypatterned,looseshirts,walked past.Thentheyslippedout.AstheliftdoorsclosedbehindthemSamsawthey
werelabelledCREWON
LY.
Following the signs, they found the library with its banks of book disks,
reader screens and computer stations.The room contained only a handful of peopleandtheDoctorrapidlyfoundafreeterminal.Heselected
'keyboardfunctiononly',cuttingtheaudioresponses.
'Justmakesurenobodylooksovermyshoulderforacoupleofminutes,'he
saidquietly.
As Sam kept watch his fingers flew across the keyboard faster than any human hands could move. His own eyes were wide, intense and unblinking, a slightsmileturningupthecornerofhismouth.Afewtimesthescreenflashedin protest at his delving into files he should not have accessed, but evidently whateverpasswordsandsecuritylocksthesystempossessedwerenomatchfor
his hacking skills. He really looks like some wild musician, Sam thought, playingasymphonyofdeception.
The Doctor tapped the last key with a flourish and sat back, flexing his fingers.
'You can relax now. We are officially passengers of the G&C Lines Star CruiserCirrandaria,registeredonEmindar.Weonlyboardedtheshipatitsthird port of call, Renaris 5, two days ago, which explains why our faces will be unfamiliar to the other passengers and crew. We have two adjoining first-class cabins.Notetheirnumbersanddecklevelsincaseanybodyasks.We'llprobably
be invited to sit at the Captain's table when the computer, belatedly, alerts the stewardtooureminence.'
Samshookherheadinamuseddisbelief,andtheDoctorbeamedandflicked
animaginaryspeckofdustfromhiscoatcollar.'Alittleluxuryonceinawhile
neverhurtanyone,'heobserved.Thenwithasuddenrushofenergyhesprangto
hisfeet.'Butthat'sforlater.Firstwemustfindoutexactlywhat'sgoingonhere.'
Therewasafoldedpamphletlyingonasidetablebearingthelegend,'Guide
to the SC Cirrandaria ' .The Doctor opened it to reveal a plan of the ship.
Scanning it intently, he strode out of the library, turned sharply left and disappeared down the corridor. A moment later he reappeared heading in the oppositedirection,followedbySam,whowastryingtokeepastraightface.
***
Captain Coryn Lanchard glared across at the distinguished personage sitting opposite, and wished once again that J. Kale Rexton, HC, had chosen another ship to grace with his presence; preferably one belonging to another shipping line.Therewasstillamilitaryedgetohismanner,thoughhe'dbeenaCouncillor
fortenyearsandontheHighCouncilforthree.HewastippedasthenextFirst
CouncillorwhenKapoursteppedaside,whichdidn'tmakethetaskoffacinghim
down any easier. That was why she'd invited him to join her in her day cabin, wheretheycouldspeakinprivate.Therewasapossibilityshewouldhavetouse
language unsuitable for the ears of junior officers, and of which G&C Lines'
boardofdirectorsmightnotapprove.
'I'm as much a patriot as you are, Councillor,' she assured him, as soon as theywereseated.'ButIhaveadutytomypassengersandcrewwhichmusttake
priority. I have been as firm as I can with Vega, but at the first sign of any physicalthreateitherfromhimorthatalienship,Iwillhavetogiveway.'
Rextonleanedforward,chinthrustoutintimidatinglyevenashisclearblue
eyestransfixedher.
'I don't doubt your patriotism, Captain, just your inexperience in situations like this. If you stand fast the Nimosians will not dare to use force against us.
Theoffworldersaboardareaguaranteeofthat.'
'AndyouheardmepointthatverythingouttoVega.Butsupposehedecides
tocallmybluff?'
Rexton made a dismissive gesture, as though brushing aside the lives of almostthreethousandpeopleasinconsequential.
It is a calculated risk. All that matters is that the Nimosians must not be allowedtotakepossessionofthatcraftoutthere.'
Lanchardslammedthearmofherchairwithherclenchedfist.'Butwhy?
What'ssospecialaboutit?Givemesomereasonforallthis.'
Rextondidnotrisetohershowofangerandhisfacemerelybecamestonier.
'I'm afraid I cannot tell you anything more at this time. Just be assured it is a matterofthehighestpriority.ThesecurityofEmindaritselfmaybeatstakehere.
Youmustholdthispositionuntilareliefforcearrives.'
'Butwhenwillthatbe?We'realongwayfromthenearestnavalbase.'
"They'llcomeatmaximumspeed,Iassureyou.Meanwhileyouwillremain
onstationandmakeeveryefforttoboardthecraftbeforetheNimosians.'
'You are aware,' she pointed out carefully, 'that this may be a first-contact situation - if there are any crew left on that ship. We are neither equipped nor trained for this sort of operation. Presumably the relief force will be.There are rulesabouthandlingsuchsituationswhich-'
'Thereareguidelines',Rextoncorrectedher.'Andtheyaresubjecttochange
dependingoncircumstance.YoucanbesuretheNimosianswon'tletthemselves
behinderedbythemintheleast,sowecannotaffordtobeeither.Theevidence
suggeststhevesselisabandoned,butshoulditproveotherwiseIknowallships'
captains are briefed on the correct procedure. If you feel unequal to the task I will take full responsibility for the consequences and you may complain to the properauthoritiesinduecourse.ButmeanwhileyouwilldoasItellyou.'
Hedidn'traisehisvoiceparticularly,butthentherewasnoneed.Shenoted thatRexton'shandsastheyrestedonhiskneeswereclenchedsothatthecorded
tendons showed across their backs. His greying hair still bristled in a severe military cut, reminding her that he was still a general in the spacefleet reserve.
Hiseyesweresteady,implacableanddetermined.
Lanchard knew then that he was absolutely set on his course of action and that no arguments, reasoned or otherwise, were going to sway him. She could callinhermaster-at-armsandhavehimconfinedtohisquarters,ofcourse,but
then her career would be over as soon as they reached home port. It would be shewhowouldhavetocompromise.
'At least let me have the lifeboats readied in case some sort of emergency arises.Thatcan'tdoanyharm.'
Rexton considered for a moment. 'Very well. But it must be done
unobtrusively.'
'Naturally,'Lanchardsaid.'Wedon'twanttoalarmthepassengers.'
'Not them,' Rexton corrected her, 'the Nimosians. They mustn't detect any changeinoursituationortheymightinterpretitasasignofweakness.'
Before Lanchard could respond he continued, 'Now, how are the
modifications to that shuttle proceeding? Your engineer said she thought she couldshielditssystemsfromtheinterference.Thenyoumustcallforvolunteers
to take possession of the alien vessel. The crew will understand when you tell themthefutureofEmindarmaybeatstake.'
***
TheCirrandaria'sport-sideupperpromenadedeckwasthrongedwithpassengers
looking through its multilaminated and screened observation windows at the alienvessel.Mostwerehuman,oratleasthumanoid,withonlyasprinklingof
more exotic species. All were too intent to recognise Sam and the Doctor as newcomersastheymingledwiththem.
Somesixtydegreestotheleftofthederelict,and
alsoreceivingitsshareof
the passengers' attention, was the irregular speck of light that marked the positionoftheNimosianwarship.Samsawthatthestarsappearedtobeturning
slowlypasttheothertwoships,eventhoughbothweremaintainingtheirrelative
positions.
'Areweinorbitaboutthatthing?'Samwondered,staringatthederelict.
TheDoctorhaddrawnoutagoldhunterpocketwatchandwastimingtheir
motion.
'Apparently,'heconcludedafteraminute,snappingthelidofhiswatchshut
again. 'It must mass at least as much as a small asteroid, which suggests it containsdegeneratematter.Stabilisedneutronium,perhaps.Thatmightgosome
waytoexplainthedistortionit'scausinginhyperspace.'
'But why would anybody want to stack a ship full of neutronium?' Sam
wondered.
'Ah,nowthat'saquestionforlater.Meanwhile,mouthshutandearsopen...'
The air was full of the usual mixture of gossip and rumour - ten per cent reasonable, ninety per cent wildly ill-informed - that permeated all such gatherings, dominated by the voices of those self-opinionated few who always thoughttheycouldrunthingsbetterthantheprofessionals.Butgradually,froma scoreofeavesdroppedconversations,theyassembledapictureofrecentevents.
TheCirrandariahaddetectedanenergydischargeofunknownoriginssome
eight hours earlier. The Captain had announced they were dropping out of hyperspacetoinvestigate,astheywereobligedtodobyinterstellarconvention
in case a vessel was in distress.They discovered the alien ship, but aborted a close approach when the erratic energy field it radiated began to disrupt the Cirrandaria's systems. At about this time one of the VIP passengers had been seenmakinghiswaytothebridge,anditwasassumedhewasnowadvisingthe
Captain. Why the alien ship should be worth such attention nobody knew, but therewasnoshortageofspeculationonthepossibilities..
There had been no reply to multichannel friendship messages or even the emergencysignallamp,sothenatureofitscrew,ifany,wasstillamystery.
Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken Page 2