Doctor Who - The 8th Doctor - 14 - Vanderdeken

by Christopher Bulis (pdf)

  'Iwillbeleadingthemission,'Rextonsaid.ThenhesmiledatBendix.'ButI'd

  likeMrBendixtoaccompanyme.'

  'Anhonour,sir,'Bendixreplied.

  'Yourrequestisnoted,MrBendix,'Lanchardsaidcurtly.

  She knew Bendix admired Rexton, while Lanchard herself had never quite

  accepted the distinguished soldier turned politician at face value. Perhaps she saw too many similarities in the two men's characters. Or perhaps she was gettingoldandsetinherways.ShouldsheletBendixgo?Hewasfullycapable.

  From the tone of her instructions, perhaps he was just the sort of man the undertakingrequired.Butothersamongthecrewmightvolunteeroutofloyalty

  because she asked them. She might be sending them to their deaths - and for what?

  Meanwhile,she'dbetterrelayasuitableversionofthislatestcommunication

  totherestoftheship.Keeptheminformedaboutdevelopmentstopreventwild

  rumours spreading. For a moment she found herself envying Vega. At least he didn'thaveiratepassengerstomollify.

  ***

  ThornVegasatbeforethedeskscreenofhistinyprivatecabinandcontemplated

  onceagaintheordersfromFleetCommandthathadcausedhimtosendagood

  mantohisdeath.

  '... the involvement of Kale Rexton, as revealed in intercepted transmission I/NFC/739X, indicates situation to be of highest priority. You will use every meanstosecurethealienvesselforthesoleuseoftheNimosianpeopleatthe

  soonestopportunity.'

  Andhehaddonejustthat,notwaitingforthealternativearrangementstobe

  completed for fear that the Emindians would beat them to their common goal.

  He knew command would agree it had been an acceptable risk in the

  circumstances.Buthecouldnotescapethefeelingthathehadallowedhimself

  tobepressuredintotakingit.Asaconsequencetheyhaddelayedtheotherwork

  andlostfacebeforetheenemy.

  Damn the Emindians! What was so important about the derelict that was

  makingthemriskacivilianvesselanyway?WasitmerechancethatRextonwas

  onboard,orpartofsomeclandestinedeception?Well,hewasn'tgoingtomake

  the same mistake again. Nobody would approach the alien ship within the critical boundary in any craft that was not completely reliable and fully controllable.Iftheywerecaughtinanymoreofthosegravityshiftstheyhadto

  beabletoholdtheirstation.Thebriefimagethetelescopemonitorhadmanaged

  tocatchofKerven'sfallwouldhaunthimforyears.Hewishedtheycouldhave

  found his body, but all they'd recovered had been his mangled pod drifting in space.Presumablyhewasstilllyinginsomecrannyonthealienship.Thatwas

  anotherreasonfortakingpossessionofthecraftforNimos.Atleasthewouldsee

  Kervengotaproperfuneral.

  Heblankedthemessagefromthescreenandcalleduptheengineeringbay.

  FirstTechReng'sfaceappeared.Vegacouldheardrillinginthebackgroundas

  heavycableswererunthroughthesuperstructureofaClassTwoshuttle.

  'How'sitgoing,Lio?'Vegaasked.

  'About as expected, Commander. The new emitter circuit will generate a

  counter-fieldtoneutralisetheinterference.We'llrunthesystemoffasensorand invertersothatit'salwaysinoppositephase.Thatshouldblanketatleastninety-fivepercentoftheemissions.Theadditionalpassiveshieldingwe'veputinwill

  handletherest.'

  'Verygood.Whenwillthemodificationsbefinished?'

  Reng scratched his chin, unconsciously smearing it with a streak of

  grime.Vega thought he looked more than just tired, but then that was understandable.Kervenhadbeenoneofhislongest-servingtechnicians.

  "Threehourstofinishtheinstallationandhookituptothesecondarypower cells.Then I'd like a test run to calibrate the system and establish performance tolerances.I'dsaythat'lltakeanotherhour.'

  'All right. But make your tests close to the ship. We don't want to give anythingawaytotheEmindians.'

  Vegabroketheconnection.

  So,hecouldsetthemissiongotimeforzeroninehundred.Whattimewould

  that be by the Cirrandaria's clock? Zero two hundred: virtually the middle of theirnight.Good.Withanyluckthewholebusinesswouldbeconcludedbefore

  theirpassengerswokeup.

  Chapter5

  Moderator

  'You'reactuallygoingtohitthemwithyourrealname?'Samsaid,amischievous

  glint in her eyes, as they stepped into the lift.The Doctor occasionally went underthetransparentpseudonymofJohnSmith,butSamhaddiscoveredthathis

  realnamewassomethingquitealienandvirtuallyunpronounceable.

  'It's what I registered under,' the Doctor replied, as he played his sonic screwdriver over the lift's control panel, causing it to take them to the bridge deck against its programming.'With the greatest respect to the Smiths and Jonesesofthegalaxy-'hepausedwhileshecurtsiedgraciously-'therearetimes when a more individual cognomen has its advantages when one wants to

  impress.'

  Samsmiled,thenasked,'Ithoughtyou'dgoallouttoputLysetWynteroff

  going.Youthinkthatderelict'sdangerous.'

  Heshrugged.'Thechoiceishers.Shefullyunderstandsthepotentialdanger.

  Atsomepointeveryspeciesmustallowitsmemberstobehaveasadults.It'sthe

  innocent and those forced to follow orders that need protection.But also -'for a moment a faraway look crossed his face - 'I had a feeling it was... destined, somehow...'

  'Well,atleastshe'sgotDonDelray,manofaction,tolookoutforher,'Sam

  pointedout.

  'So she has,' the Doctor agreed, brightening again. 'But I don't think Mr Delray is enjoying the responsibility as much as he might. What tensions are hidden within that outwardly amicable relationship? You humans do lead such complexlives.'

  Sam saw he was beaming now, pleased to enter the fray despite his

  misgivings.Justlikeabigkid,shethought.

  Theliftdoorslidbacktorevealacorridorlessplushlyfinishedthanthoseon

  the passenger decks, with a solitary guard at the far end. Sam straightened up andtriedtoappearsuitablyself-assured.

  'OK,tothebridge.Leadon,Macduff!'Samsaid.

  Acommonmisquotation,'theDoctorcorrectedherastheystrodeforward.

  'Thephraseisactually"Layon,Macduff.Macbethwasinvitinghisopponent

  tohefthisswordandcontinuecombat.ItoldWillpeoplewouldgetitwrongin

  thefuture,buthewouldn'tlisten...'

  Samtutted.'Fancysomeoneelsethinkingtheyknowbetter,'sheteased.

  Theguard,Samnoticedastheyapproached,lookedtiredandirritable.

  Clearlyhehadbeenforcedtodealwithtoomanyiratepassengersinthelast fewhours.Hefrownedatthem.'Youshouldn'tbeonthislevel.Nopassengers

  allowedinhere.'

  The Doctor smiled at him beatifically as though he had just been given a heartywelcome.

  'WewishtotalktotheCaptain,'hesaidmildly,holdinguphisidentitycard

  for inspection.As the guard's eyes flicked across it a new image flashed into beingoverthestandardinformationbars.'TellherFederationModeratorDoctor

  —wantstoseeherconcerningthealienvessel.'

  Thename,ifit
hadbeenaname,spokeninthemiddleofthesentencehad

  obviouslybeenquiteincomprehensibletotheguard.Buthecertainlyseemedto

  recognisetheFederationshieldreadilyenough,accompaniedbythescarlet-and-

  black band of the Moderator's office. Almost everywhere, the Doctor had told Sam, those symbols were known and respected. A Moderator was an

  independent troubleshooter with virtually unlimited plenipotentiary powers,

  backedbytheforcesoftheFederation.

  Evenonnon-FederationworldsaModerator'sopinionwasvalued,andthey

  mightbecalledupontoactasanimpartialjudgeandjuryinthemostseriousof

  disputes.

  Theguardswallowednervously.

  'Yes, Moderator Doctor... er, I'll tell her you're here. If you'd just wait a moment.'Andhespokeurgentlyintohiswristcom.

  The Doctor beamed benignly at him and Sam tried to copy his nonchalant stance.

  Inhalfaminutethedoorwasopenedbyajuniorofficerwhousheredthem

  deferentially inside. 'Captain Lanchard will see you in her day cabin,' he informedthem.

  Samthoughtthebridgelookedalmostdesertedwithonlythreecrewpresent.

  Mostoftheliner'sfunctionswereevidentlyhandledautomaticallybythetiered

  sweep of consoles with their shimmering displays that ran along the rear wall.There was, however, a single deep chair set before the main forward viewport, which served as a reminder that the ship still had a sole captain in whomultimateresponsibilityresided.

  Theywereescortedtoasmallercompartmentleadingoffthebridge,which

  was comfortably furnished like a lounge-cum-office. Captain Lanchard and

  Councillor Rexton were waiting for them. Sam read perplexed interest in the Captain's face and barely concealed annoyance in Rexton's. Once again the DoctorpresentedhisimpressiveidentitycardandSamfollowedsuit,hopingher

  features displayed the right expression of serious high-minded professionalism.

  Without a word Rexton took their cards and fed them into a tabletop scanner.

  Samfelttheexpressionfreezeonherface,whiletheDoctorexhibitedatolerant

  smile. After what seemed an eternity a green light flashed on the machine.

  Rextonhandedbackthecards.FromhisgrimaceSamsuspectedhewouldhave

  been happier if he had discovered they were impostors. Now he had to spare themalittletimeandrespect.

  'My assistant, Ms Jones,' the Doctor said, introducing her formally. Rexton noddedcurtlywhiletheCaptainshooktheirhands.

  'MsJones,Doctor...er...'Shehesitated.

  The Doctor waved a negligent hand. 'Don't trouble yourself. "Doctor" will suffice.I'mquiteusedtoit.'

  'I didn't know we had Moderators on board,' Rexton said as they seated themselves,withmorethanatraceofsuspicioninhisvoice.

  'We don't normally advertise our presence when not on official business, Councillor,' the Doctor explained.'We are simply on holiday. However, as the situationremainsunresolved,Ithoughtitbesttomakeourselvesknowntoyou

  andformallyofferourservices.'

  'Inwhatcapacity?'Lanchardasked.

  'Intheinterestsofpeaceandgoodwillbetweenplanets,naturally,'theDoctor

  said.

  Sam felt Rexton's intense scrutiny pass over them. He's a politician, she thought.Heknowshecan'tignoreaModerator,sohe'stryingtomakethebestof

  it.

  'Then you should talk to the Nimosians first,' he suggested. 'They're

  obviously more in need of your services than we are. Remind them they're infringingourterritorialspace,andthatwehavepriorclaimonthederelict.'

  'OhIwill,ifitbecomesnecessary,'theDoctorassuredhim,leaningforward

  toemphasisehiswords,hiseyesglitteringintensely.'InfactIwilldoanythingto avoid unnecessary harm coming to any occupant of the Cirrandarta or the Indomitable-oreventhecrewofthealienvessel,ifithasone.Ihopeyouwill bearthatinmind.'

  Rextonbristled,takingthewordsasathinlyveiledwarning.Hegloweredat

  theDoctor,asthoughtryingtocowhimwiththeforceofhiswill.Samsawtheir

  eyeslockandrealisedRextonassumedtheDoctorwasasmildandyouthfulas

  he looked. But after just a few seconds it was Rexton who turned aside, as thoughhehadseenunexpecteddepthsinthosecoolblueeyesoppositehim.

  Lanchard tried to lower the tension. 'We're very grateful for your offer, Doctor.Ofcoursewehopethatthesituationcanberesolvedpeacefully.'

  'Thenyouwillstaywellclearofthederelict?''Wecannotweakenourclaim

  tosalvage,'Rextonsaid.'Youhaveovertwothousandciviliansonboard,'

  the Doctor reminded him.'You cannot involve them in your dispute with

  Nimos.''Wedon'tintendto,'Lanchardsaid.'AFederationevacuationshipison

  its way. By the way, do you wish to contact the Assembly yourself to confirm thearrangements?Youarewelcometouseourprioritychannel.'

  "That won't be necessary,' the Doctor said quickly. 'I'm sure it's coming as fastaspossible.'

  'Aslongasthepropermeasureshavebeentaken,'Samexplained,'weliketo

  keepalowprofile.Ourmainconcernisthealienvessel.'

  She saw Rexton frown suspiciously but continued,'Obviously if it is the

  property of a previously unknown alien race then the Federation must be fully briefed. For all we know their sphere of influence may border on Federation territory.Itrustwecancountonyourcooperationinthismatter,whichI'msure you will appreciate is clearly in the best interests of both the Federation and Emindar.'

  Thatsoundedprettysmooth,Samthought.Outofthecornerofhereyeshe

  caughttheDoctor'stinyapprovingsmileandfeltawarmglowofpleasure.

  'Naturally,'Rextonassuredher.'Wewanttomaintainamicablerelationswith

  theFederation.'

  'Thatbeingthecase,'theDoctorsaidbrightly,'howsoonwillyourmodified

  shuttlebereadytoattemptalandingonthederelict?'

  Rextonlookedtakenaback.

  'Oh, it's inevitable you'll make the attempt,' the Doctor said.'As will the Nimosians,Ishouldthink.Butdon'tturnthisintoarace,Councillor.Youmight

  allloseintheend.'

  'Youcan'tstopuslandingonthederelictandclaimingsalvagerights,'

  Rextonsaid.

  'EvenafterwhathappenedtotheNimosians?'Sampointedout.Rextondidn't

  troubletoreply.

  'No,Ican'tstopyou,'theDoctoradmitted,'thoughIdomoststronglyadvise

  against it.' He looked hopefully into Rexton's face but saw only stubborn defiance.'No, I thought you wouldn't change your mind. In that case I request placesbesetasideforustoaccompanythemission.'

  'I'm not sure that will be possible,' Rexton said quickly. "The capacity of a shuttleislimited.Wewillneedtosendafullteamover.Technicalexpertsand

  suitablyqualifiedpersonnel,youunderstand.'

  'Butweareexperts,'Saminsisted.

  'Andsupposingtherearemembersofthealiencrewstillonboardtheship,'

  the Doctor pointed out. 'Having Federation representatives with you would

  be an advantage - one the Nimosians would not have should they land before you. We do have considerable practical experience in similar situations which you would benefit from. Post-spaceflight
industrial archaeology is a hobby of mine.IoncewroteanarticleonitfortheInterstellarPangraphic.Haveyouread it?No?Remindmetosendyouacopy.'

  Sam saw Rexton's expression change subtly. 'Very well, Doctor. I accept

  your arguments have some merit. You and Ms Jones may accompany the

  boardingparty.'

  'Ah, and I promised to ask, on behalf of Lyset Wynter and Don Delray, if theycouldalsojointheexploratoryparty,'theDoctoradded.'MsWynterwould

  liketorecordeventsforposterityandtakeacloserlookatthederelict.'

  "Thephotographerandtheactor?'Rextonscowled.'Ridiculous!''Foolhardy

  on their part, perhaps,' the Doctor said, 'but not necessarily ridiculous. I would have thought a professional photographer would be quite useful to help

  document the interior of the craft.' A fresh thought appeared to strike him.

  'Unless you think there's something about it that should be kept secret?' he musedguilelessly.

  'I will not speculate on the matter,' Rexton replied stiffly. He frowned. 'I suppose Wynter may come as long as she submits her pictures for official vetting before they are published.' The Doctor beamed at him.'I'm sure she'd agreetothat.''AndDonDelray?'Samasked.

  'No. This is not some juvenile adventure vid,' Rexton said firmly. 'No, it's merely the investigation of a derelict spacecraft which you're turning into an interstellar incident,' Captain Lanchard interjected.'And it's making the

  passengersandcrewuneasy.Delrayisapopularfigurepeoplecanidentifywith.

  If he and Wynter want to go along - and they'll sign waivers absolving the companyofanyresponsibility-thenitmighthelpreassurethem.

  Remember, you need this ship to remain calm for another couple of days untilreliefforcesarrive.Thinkaboutit.'"TheCaptainmayberight,'theDoctor said. Rexton sighed. 'Very well,' he conceded with bad grace. 'We'll let you know when the shuttle modifications are complete,' Lanchard said to Sam and theDoctor.'Abouttwohoursfromnowwasthelastestimate.'

  'Good,' said the Doctor, rising from his chair. 'We have preparations of our owntomake.'