have been a self-propelled energy cannon, though it was now reduced to a twisted pile of wreckage. It was impossible to tell who had been attacking or defendingtheasteroidbase.
'This did not happen recently,'Vega said.'But many years ago there was
certainlyabattlehere.Ourinstrumentsarepickingupradiationtraces.
Possiblyweaponresidue.'
'We can't afford the time to examine them properly,' the Doctor said.'Let's keepgoing.'
The tunnel ran on before them as they glided cautiously forward. Side
passages opened off it but all seemed quite empty. Occasional blast marks scarredthewalls,buttherewerenosignsofghostsortheircaptives.
Bendixcalculatedtheyhadtravelledaboutfourkilometreswhentheycame
to a pair of doors.The outer had been twisted and buckled while the inner was intact but standing open. Bendix took them carefully through. A rock ledge under them faded away into the darkness on either side.The Doctor stared throughtheforwardportintently.
'There'ssomethinghere,'hesaid.'Turnofftheexternallightsandletyoureyes
adjust.'
They did so. Slowly, like a moonlit landscape growing into being, their surroundingsbecamevisible.Itwasanothercavernslightlysmallerthantheone
thathousedthealienship.Butunliketheroughwallsoftheformer,thesewere
sculptedintosweepingglassedterraces,pickedouthereandtherebythefeeble
glimmerofemergencylights.Betweenthemwereprojectingdockingboomsand
transfer tubes and the dark mouths of hangars and launchways. It was
unmistakablyacommercialstarport.
Orwhathadoncebeenastarport.
The glass on the terraces was shattered, docking booms were bent and
twisted, wreckage littered the lowest levels. It had not been spared by the conflict that had apparently swept through the rest of the base. But what filled Bendix's mind, as he took in details of the ruins, was a growing sense of shockingfamiliarity.
'We'rehome,'hechokedout.
'Whatareyoutalkingabout?'Rextonsnapped.
'Don'tyousee?Thederelictmustbeinthenavybase.We'vepassedthrough
tothecommercialsection.ThisisStarportonEmMinor.
Cirrandaria'shomeport!'
'He's quite correct,' Delray said simply with infinite sadness, causing the Doctortolookathimcuriously.
ButBendixhardlyheardhim.'What'sgonewrong...What'shappened...?'
HetookthecontrolsandsenttheDoriaskimmingacrosstheporttowherea
palediscoflightappearedtohangintheroof.TheDauntlessfollowedintheir
wake.
'That's the main access shaft,' Bendix said breathlessly. "There's only one likeit...'
TheDoriasoareduptheshaftthatcutthroughhalfakilometreofrockand
burstintoopenspace.Thecrater-pockedsurfaceofasmallasteroidmoonshrank
beneaththem.OverheadhungEmindaringibbousphase,fillinghalfthesky,the
outlinesofitscontinentsunmistakable.
Butitwasnolongertheblueandwhiteglobehehadlefttwentydaysbefore.
The oceans were grey; where green forests had been there were only brown stains. Ugly phosphorescent glows played about the horizon of its nightside hemisphere.Theywerethescarsoftotalplanetarywar.
Emindarwasadeadworld.
Rextongapedopenlyindisbelief,hisironcontrolbrokenbytheimageofthe
onethinghehelddearaboveallothersinruins.EvenfromtheDauntlesscame
gaspsofdismay.
'A corridor through space... and time,' said the Doctor, filling the awful silence. 'I said you couldn't manipulate one without affecting the other. I think thisisyourfuture.'
Chapter29
Standoff
LanchardcouldtellthatCaptainSargrooftheHermesofCyrenewasnotahappy
man.Butorderswereorders.Hisshipchancedtobetheonlyoneinthesector
within range, and with the necessary capacity to evacuate their two hundred or soFederationpassengers.
Now theHermes was docked with the Cirrandaria and Sargro was
contemplatinghisnewchargesgloomily.Hewasmoreusedtocargothatdidn't
expect four-star accommodation and cuisine.The Hermes was a freighter with limited passenger space and personal facilities. It would be a long trip to the nearestFederationportforbothevacueesandcrew.
Evan Arcovian had also returned to his vigil on the bridge, looking more distraughtthanever.However,atleasthewaskeepinghisopinionstohimself.
Lanchardwouldhavelikedtosparehimalittletimeforconsolation,butshehad
otherworriesofherown.
Several Emindian citizens wanted to join those leaving on theHermes and
had to be told bluntly that there simply wasn't room for non-Federation passengers.TocomplicatemattersfurtherafewFederationpassengers,whohad
lostfriendsorrelativesintheghostattack,wantedtostaybehindinthehopethat therescuepartymightyetbringthemback.TheEngerseswereofcourseamong
them. Eventually, on advice from head office, Lanchard had them all sign waivers confirming they were staying of their own free will and absolving the companyofanysubsequentliability.
InthecircumstancestheabilitiesoftheCirrandaria'screwwerestretchedto
theirlimitstocalmupset,anxiousorplainbelligerentpassengers.Butuntilthe main engines were repaired or their own forces arrived, those who were left wouldsimplyhavetobepatient.Howthecompanywashandlingthematterof
thoseFederationcitizenskilledortakenbytheghostswasajobforlawyersand
politicians,Lanchardcouldonlyputacopyofherordersinthesafereadyforthe inevitable board of inquiry. For the moment she was concerned only with ensuringtherewerenofurtherlosses.
Thatdependedonmaintainingaveryfragilestatusquo.
She assumed the Indomitable would not instigate any overt action against themafterhavinggonetothetroubleofsavingthemonlyhoursbefore-
even though she felt Fayle.Vega's second in command, was a less than
sympathetic character. But what if the Nimosian reinforcements arrived before theirown?
AnhouraftertheHermesdockedwiththem,thatwasjustwhathappened.
The detectors gave little warning before dark-grey predatory forms slid out of the darkness like sharks. They could identify the bristling bulk of a carrier, accompaniedbytwoheavycruisersandtwodestroyers:anentirebattlegroup.
ThecarriertookupstationbesidetheIndomitable,disgorgingfighterwings
which began circling like bees round a hive.The other craft took up sentry stationswheretheycouldwatchspacefortheinevitablearrivaloftheEmindian
forces.ItwasnotlongbeforeaprioritycallcamethroughforLanchard.
'This is Admiral Mokai, commanding the carrierStarfire ', said the severe, beribbonedfigureonthescreen.'YouareinNimosian-controlledspace.Youwill
relinquishanyclaimonthealienvesselandleavethissectorimmediately.'
Lanchard had been expecting something like this and was ready with a
suitablereply.
'Ourgovernmentdisputesyourrighttoanyclaimonthissectorofspace,but,
in addition to that, be informed that we cannot leave. First, our main drive is under repair and won't be fixed for anot
her day at least. Second, we have a shuttledowninsidethealienvesselonahumanitarianmission.
They are looking for some of our passengers and crew who have been
abductedbyhostileforces.YoucancheckwiththeIndomitable.Theysawwhat
happened and have a shuttle down there as well. Now if you will excuse me I haveashiptorun.'
She cut the connection, wondering whether Mokai was merely being
perverse or hadn't been fully briefed on the latest situation. A sudden thought struckherandshecalledupthepurser'soffice.
'Have the last of the Federation passengers transferred to the Hermes yet, Oscar?No?Good.Losetheirbaggage.That'sright.Anddon'tfinditagainuntilI tellyou.'
Sheswitchedtoengineering.'Nel,sendatechtothedockingport.Makesure
there'saproblemwiththetubestotheHermes.Yes,youheard:findaproblem.
Anything,justkeepthatshipnexttousuntilfurthernotice.'
Suddenly Captain Sargro and his ship had become their best insurance
against the Nimosians. They wouldn't dare try anything while a neutral
Federationvesselwaspresent.Nowitwassimplyaquestionofwaitingfortheir
ownforcestoarrive.Forsomereasonthatprospectdidnotreassureher.
***
Lester took his headache along to the clinic. He felt slightly guilty because he knew they were still treating far more serious cases in there. But the pain was
gettingquiteintenseandtheannoyingbuzzing,whisperingsoundwasstillwith him.Andthere,quiteunexpectedly,wasIngrid,wearingawhitesmockoverher
casualwear,assistingthenursesastheytendedthebedsoftheinjured.
She smiled when she saw him. He could manage only a foolish,'So you're helpingouthere.'
'Wellthey'reveryshort-staffedandIdiddoabasictherapeuticcourseonce.
Areyouallright?Youdolookpale.'
He felt embarrassed explaining his relatively trivial complaint, but Ingrid was very sympathetic. She found him a seat in the extended waiting area and promisedshe'dfindanurseassoonasonewasavailable.
hiduecourseanursecame,examinedhimbrieflyandsaiditwasprobably
delayedshock.Sheputasmallcerebralmodulatoronhisforeheadandgavehim
a couple of pills. After a few minutes the headache eased and even the whispering buzz seemed to fade a little, possibly masked by the bustle in the surgery. Lester found himself strangely content to sit quietly in the corner, watchingtheactivityaroundhimandknowingIngridwasnearby.
'Atlast,thereyouare!'
Rhonda's voice jerked him back to reality so forcefully that the modulator felloff.Ashescrabbledonthefloortorecoverit,hebecameawarethatRhonda
wasstaringacrossthebusywaitingroomwithadeepfrownonherface.
'Whydidsheleavelikethat?Whoisshe,Lester?'
'Who,dear?'
'Youknowperfectlywell,who.ThewomanIsawyouwithinthecorridor.
Shewastalkingtoyou.ButIseenowitwasn'taheadpieceshewaswearing:
itwasbandages.Quiteunsightly.Don'ttellmeyoudidn'tseeherthistime.'
'ButIdidn't,'heprotested.
'Nonsense!Whyareyoulyingtome?Whatisgoingonbetweenyou?'
'Nothing,mydear.'
But he pleaded in vain. For the first time ever he saw serious distrust and suspicioninhereyes.And,whichwasalmostmoreshocking,ahintoffear.
***
Theunexpecteddiscoverythathisbrotherwasnowonlyafewkilometresaway
fromhimdidnoteaseRaskChen'stroubledmind.Hecouldstillnottalktohim
directlywiththeEmindianforcesexpectedatanymomentandageneralalertin
effect. So he sat hunched over his section of the control board with his head bowed,occasionallypinchingthebridgeofhisnoseinthehopethatitwouldall
goaway.
Faylere-enteredthebridgelookingsternerthanusual.He'dbeenonthelink totheStarfire,briefingAdmiralMokaiforsometime.Vegahadlefthimwitha
lot of explaining to do and it didn't appear as though his report had been well received.Faylewasclearlylookingforsomebodyorsomethingonwhichtovent
hisangerandChenwastheunluckyonewhocaughthiseye.
'Sitstraightwhileyou'reonmybridge,MrChen!'hesnapped,ashetookhis
ownseat.
'Sir!' said Chen, trying to pull himself together. But Fayle wasn't to be so easilysatisfied.
'Areyousick,MrChen?Orareyouhavingmoreofthosetroublesome
"feelings"?'headdedwithmorethanatraceofsarcasm.
Thisdrewcuriouscovertglancesfromtherestofthebridgecrewandmade
Chenfeelevenworse.'Iwouldrathernotsay,sir.'
Fayle'sfacedarkened.'Iaskedyouaquestion,MrChen.Iexpectananswer.'
'I...justcan'ttellyou,sir,'Chengrated.
"Thenyouarerelievedofduty,MrChen.Reporttosickbay.Ifthesurgeon
cannot find anything wrong with you, go to your quarters and stay there until youdohaveasatisfactoryexplanation!'
Stiffly,awarehewasthefocusofmanypairsofshockedeyes,Chengotup
andleftthebridge.
***
'Whatsortofshipareyourunning.CaptainLanchard?'Sargrodemandedanhour
later, his face pushed up close to the camera pickup so it filled the screen.'I've never known it take so long to embark twenty people, or fix a pressure coupling.'
Lanchard was listening with only half an ear. Her attention was divided betweenmonitoringtheprogressoftherepairworkontheenginesandwatching
theNimosiansonthehigh-magmonitor.Theirdestroyershadmadeseveralclose
passesoverthealienshipbuttheyhadsofarnotattemptedanyactuallanding.
Wastheirreticenceduetocautionortechnicalproblems?Andwhenwouldthe
rescuepartyreportback?Whathadtheyfoundontheothersideofthatthing?
'Sorry, Captain,' she said vaguely.'We've had a difficult time here.Just be gratefulyou'llbeleavingsoon.'
'Butwhenwill-'
Lanchardsawanewsetofblipsappearonthemasternavigationscreenand
interrupted.'Veryshortly,Ishouldthink,Captain.Yes,anyminutenow,infact.
Goodbyeandgoodluck.'
Sheswitchedchannels.'Oscar,findtheFedevacs'luggageandgetitaboard topspeed.Callofftheengineerandbereadytosealoff.Let'sgettheHermesout ofhere.Wedon'tneeditanymore.'
Sixbattlecraftdroppedoutofhyperspaceandspiralledcautiouslyintowards
the alien ship, the Nimosian squadron and the Cirrandaria . As the Hermes finally undocked and sped away they took up their positions in a defensive sphere,spillingfightersandattackcraftfromtheirhatches.Thescreensshowed
adreadnought,twoassaultcarriersandthreelightcruisers.Thetwosideswere
veryevenlymatched,Lanchardthought.
Anewfaceanduniformappearedonthescreens.
'ThisisCommodoreGelbertJ.SternbyfromtheESSKorgon,commanding
Task Force Alpha.This is an Emindian protectorate zone. All Nimosian-
registeredvesselsmustleavethisareaatonce.'
Mokaicamebackonthegeneralbroadcastchannel.
'Thissectorofspacewasclaimedillegally.Wehavedeclaredanemergency
exclusionzone...'
Thebattleofwordscontinued.Lanchardwonderedifeithersidereallyknew
&nbs
p; whattodonext.Theycouldn'tsimplysnatchthealienshipawaywithatowline
orbeam,andthepresenceofpartiesfrombothsidessomewhereinorthroughit
complicated matters even further. Still, while they were arguing at least they weren'tfighting.Whohadsaid:'Tojaw-jawisalwaysbetterthantowar-war'?
Sherealisedjusthowsickofthesightofthealienhulkshehadbecome.It
almostfeltasthoughshewouldneverbefreeofit.TheDoctorhadbeenright:it shouldbedestroyed.
A call from the Emindian fleet came through on another channel. It was a harassed-lookingtechnicalofficer.
'LieutenantProthero,'heannouncedhimselfbriskly.'Captain,Ineedtospeak
to your engineer urgently. We've duplicated the neutraliser according to her design,butthefieldcollapseswhenwetrytoexpandittocoveranyvesselover
thirtymetreslong.'
'She'stoobusytryingtorepairourengines.Look,can'tyoutowusclear?
We'vestillgottwothousandEmindianciviliansonboard.'
'We can't spare a ship at the moment, even for civilians.You can see how evenlymatchedwearewiththeNimosians.'
'Well,Ican'tsparemyengineer.Ofcourse,ifyoucouldsendateamoverto
lendahand...'
UnderstandingdawnedonProthero'sface.'Ah.I'llseewhatIcando.'Andhe
broketheconnection.
Almost immediately a call came through on her wristcom direct from Dr
Gilliam.Therewasastrainededgetohernormallycontrolledvoice.
'Captain,willyoupleasecometoStateroomThreeCatonce.'
'Why?That'sDelray'scabin,isn'tit?'
'Yes. A servo cleaner found... something in here and alerted a steward. He calledme.Pleasecomedownnow.'
"Thisishardlyagoodtimeformetoleavethebridge.Whatisit?'
'Sorry,butIcan'texplain.Youhavetoseethisforyourself.'
There was something disturbing and compelling in her tone. Lanchard
handedoverthewatchtoherthirdofficerandmadeforthelift.
Therewasasickly-lookingstewardstandingguardoutsidethecompartment.
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