Doctor Who: Space War (3 page)

The Doctor smiled. ‘Well, that’s some consolation, but not much use while we’re locked up in here.’

The Draconian voice repeated its warning over the ship’s loudspeaker. ‘If you surrender your cargo you will not be harmed.’

‘I bet they always say that. They promise not to harm you, then they come on board and kill.’ Stewart’s mind was filled with thoughts of his comfortable two-roomed bachelor apartment on Earth, and of the girlfriend he had hoped to see after this trip. He was twenty-five and strongly believed he was too young to die. He desperately wished he could open his eyes, wake up and find this was all a nightmare.

‘You’re the one who said it would all blow over,’ Hardy reminded his young companion.

‘I meant there wouldn’t be war,’ said Stewart, not now with very much conviction. ‘It’s madness for the Draconians to carry on like this. They’ve got so much to lose, just as we have.’

‘Maybe they
are
mad,’ said Hardy. ‘They look mad enough. I had half a mind to shoot those two prisoners instead of locking them away. Anyway, let’s try again.’ He spoke into the stalk microphone. ‘Emergency, emergency. This is Earth Cargo Ship C-982 on co-ordinate 8972-6483—’

The Draconian voice came again over the loudspeaker. ‘It’s no use, Earthmen. We know your emergency wavelength and we are jamming it. No one on Earth will hear your cries for help now.’

Hardy pushed the microphone away. ‘So that’s that.’

Stewart could still feel his heart pounding. ‘They must have heard our first message on Earth. They’re probably already sending help, a battle cruiser with a commander who’ll reason with them.’

Hardy shook his head. ‘Listen, son, I’ll tell you what they’ll do on Earth. They’ll send a polite note of protest round to the Draconian Embassy. That stupid President you voted for, she’ll be inviting the Dragon Ambassador round for afternoon tea. I tell you, the Government should have blown the Dragons out of Space years ago.’

In his nervousness Stewart tried to joke. ‘You’re a real warmonger, Hardy.’

‘What do you think this is? It’s as bad as war.’

Stewart avoided Hardy’s eyes. ‘Look, the door of our spaceship is pure durilium. They’re not going to get through that in a hurry.’

The Draconian voice broke in on his words. ‘Earthmen, we are losing patience. This is your final warning. Surrender your cargo now or you will be destroyed.’

Stewart felt a terrible dryness in his mouth. He looked at the two blaster guns Hardy had laid on the floor. Slowly he reached down and picked one up. As he felt the heavy metal in his hands strength seemed to grow in him. At least he would die fighting. ‘We’d better get down to the air lock,’ he said quietly.

Hardy hadn’t yet touched the second blaster gun. ‘Going to be a hero for a cargo of flour?’

‘I’m going to kill a Dragon before they kill us.’ Stewart rose from his seat and walked down the corridor. After a few moments Hardy stood up, picked up the gun, and followed Stewart.

Alone in her white office, the President of Earth watched the news on television. At the touch of a button, the wall facing her instantly turned into a huge television screen; the news-reader’s face in close-up was twelve feet high, in perfect natural colour, with totally realistic depth.

‘... and the Bureau of Population Control announced today that the recently reclaimed Arctic Areas are now ready for habitation...’

As a democracy, Earth’s news service was independent of government control. What was said on television affected the thinking, and therefore the votes, of hundreds of millions of Earth people. The President always watched the news two or three times each day, to find out what her voters would think of her peace policy.

The newscaster was starting now on another item. ‘News is coming in of another Draconian attack on an Earth cargo ship. This is the third attack on Earth spaceships this month. As usual the Draconian Government, through its Embassy on Earth, denies all knowledge of the attack. Our President has not yet made any comment, but Congressman Brook, Leader of the Opposition, told one of our reporters—’ The newscaster’s face was replaced on the screen by that of Congressman Brook, the President’s main opponent in the Earth Senate. He had a strong yet kindly face, auburn hair and twinkling eyes. He always spoke slowly and convincingly, as though each word had been carved in granite. Hundreds of millions of Earth people adored him.

‘The people of Earth will no longer tolerate these unprovoked attacks,’ he announced. ‘It is time for Earth to take a stand and issue a final ultimatum to the Draconian Emperor. Since the days of St George, Earthmen have been perfectly capable of putting Dragons in their place

The President pressed the button again and the television screen vanished. She was disgusted by Brook’s use of the word ‘Dragons’, a direct appeal to people’s emotions. Because Brook had no power on Earth, he could say anything he pleased that might gain him votes. The President, however, had always to observe the diplomatic niceties.

She looked up to see General Williams enter by the round door. She burst out angrily, ‘I ordered a complete security blackout on this present incident, yet here it is on television.’

Williams shrugged his powerful shoulders. ‘The news services have their own Space radio monitors, Madam President. Probably they picked up the cargo ship’s distress signals.’

She looked away from him. ‘Or someone leaked the information.’

Williams knew what she meant by that insinuation. He preferred to ignore it. ‘I came to tell you, Madam President, that a rescue ship should rendezvous with the cargo ship in seven minutes from now.’

‘Good. Thank you.’

He continued. ‘It’ll be too late, of course. All they’ll find will be dead men and an empty ship.’

‘We can’t be sure,’ said the President. ‘There have been survivors in other attacks.’

‘Yes, one or two.’ He paused for effect. ‘I’m sure that’s a great consolation to the people of Earth.’

‘The people of Earth want peace, General Williams. That’s why they made me President.’

‘Moods change, Madam. You were elected before the Draconians started raiding our ships—and getting away with it.’

The President’s hand strayed to touch the locket that contained his photograph, the one he didn’t know she had. ‘Are you now on the side of the Opposition, General Williams?’

He moved uneasily. ‘I believe an ultimatum should go to the Draconian Emperor, Madam. All attacks must cease immediately and they should be made to pay for stolen cargoes.’

‘I see. And what happens if they reject such an ultimatum?’

‘They wouldn’t dare. Once they see we mean business they’ll back down.’

The President had heard this argument many times before. It was a simple way of thinking that failed to consider all the consequences. ‘But what if they don’t back down? What if they continue to deny any knowledge of these attacks? And before you answer, remember that they claim our battle cruisers attack their cargo ships.’

He gave a short laugh. ‘They have to say that. We know it’s a ridiculous allegation. Our armed fleet is under strict orders not to interfere with any Draconian ships, except to defend our own.’

‘All right,’ said the President, ‘let’s presume that we are above reproach. I come back to my main question: if we issue an ultimatum and the Draconian Emperor rejects it, what am I supposed to do?’

He looked her straight in the eyes. ‘Should that happen, Madam President, there would be only one course open to us.’ He stopped.

‘Well? Tell me what it is.’

Now he could no longer hold her gaze. ‘You know the answer, Madam President.’

‘But I want you to say the word, General Williams.’

He straightened his shoulders defiantly. ‘War.’

The President sat back in her chair. ‘Exactly. You began your military career by starting a war with the Draconians. Are you so eager to begin another?’

The General’s face was suffused with sudden anger. ‘If you will excuse me, Madam President.’ He turned smartly on his heel to go.

‘Please, wait.’ Her voice was soft. She could not afford to make an enemy of General Williams. ‘I had no right to say that.’

The General turned back to face her, ‘It was over twenty years ago, Madam, yet you’ve forgotten nothing.’

‘Have you?’ she asked softly.

‘I remember that you refused to see me or speak to me on the journey home.’

‘Because you’d destroyed everything we had worked for,’ she reminded him. ‘We went to meet the Draconians and make peace. Once you opened fire on them, war was inevitable.’

‘They were about to open fire on us,’ the General protested. ‘I did what had to be done—I struck first. If it’s necessary, I shall do the same again.’

She shook her head. ‘There will be no second war with the Draconians if I can prevent it.’

‘But, Madam, don’t you see, you’re doing everything possible to start another war.’

The force of his words surprised her. ‘I, start another war? What do you mean?’

‘By giving way to them,’ he pleaded. ‘Don’t you see, they’re testing us with all these spasmodic attacks. They want to see if we have the nerve to fight back. Convince them that we will not tolerate their attacks and they’ll treat us as equals!’

‘And if not?’

‘They will despise us,’ said the General. ‘They’ll make Earth and its colonies a part of the Draconian Empire. We shall be their slaves.’

While the President and General Williams talked on Earth, in Space Hardy and Stewart prepared to do battle for their lives. They stood in the corridor of the spaceship, blaster guns aimed at the durilium air-lock door. A section of the door already glowed red hot as the boarding party on the other side applied thermal torches to burn their way in.

Hardy spoke laconically, ‘So where’s the battle cruiser that’s going to rescue us?’

‘We’re a long way from Earth,’ said Stewart. ‘But they must be sending help.’

‘Some hope.’ As Hardy watched, more of the metal door began to glow red hot. ‘The Dragons will be through any minute.’

In the cubicle further down the corridor, the Doctor had taken his sonic screwdriver to pieces and was adjusting its internal structure. Jo watched impatiently.

‘What are you doing?’

The Doctor concentrated on his work for a full half minute, until he had the sonic screwdriver re-assembled. ‘I’ve reversed the polarity of the screwdriver’s power-source, converting it into an extremely powerful electro-magnet.’

‘What’s that going to do for us?’

‘Wait and see, Jo. Wait and see.’

The Doctor had already put his hand through the grille in the door, groping to find the bolts that held them prisoner. His long slender fingertips could just touch both bolts, but he had failed to grip them. He put his hand through again, holding the screwdriver to the end of one bolt. As he manoeuvred the screwdriver, now a strong magnet, he and Jo could hear the bolt starting to slide in its bed.

Jo was excited. ‘Can you open both of them?’

‘With patience, Jo.’ The Doctor continued to manoeuvre the screwdriver until he guessed the first bolt had been pulled clear. Then he re-positioned his arm and applied himself to sliding back the second bolt. This one moved quite easily. He withdrew his arm and pocketed the screwdriver. ‘Perhaps this time, Jo, I’d better go first.’ He opened the door and found himself looking straight into Hardy’s blaster gun. ‘Oh dear, how very embarrassing. Sorry about that, old chap.’

The Doctor tried to close the door again but Hardy put his foot in the way.

‘Out,’ ordered Hardy.

Jo asked, ‘What for? I thought you wanted us in here.’

‘We’ve changed our minds,’ said the space pilot. ‘We’re going to meet your friends.’

‘We keep ourselves very much to ourselves,’ said the Doctor. ‘We don’t have any friends.’

‘Any arguments and I kill one of you right here.’ Hardy’s finger tightened round the trigger. ‘Out!’

The Doctor looked at Jo. ‘Out,’ he said.

Once more the Doctor and Jo were propelled along the corridor at gunpoint. They arrived to see Stewart aiming his blaster at the now completely red hot durilium door.

‘I wish you’d listen to us,’ shouted Jo. ‘We aren’t Dragons or whatever you call them. I’m human, the same as yourselves.’

‘You’re part of their boarding party,’ snapped Stewart. ‘You arc going to stand in front of us and get killed first, by your own side!’

The Doctor tried to argue. ‘My dear fellow, since they haven’t boarded you yet, how can we be part of their boarding party? Try to be logical.’

Stewart looked confused by the Doctor’s reasoning. " ‘I’hen he shook his head as though trying to clear it of difficult thoughts. ‘’They’re coming to rescue you.’

‘Look out!’ screamed Hardy. ‘They’re coming through!’

The whole door was finally dissolving in a cloud of smoke. Two giant figures appeared through the jagged opening. Huge man-like creatures with bald ape heads, wearing belted metal tunics, both carried handguns.

Jo screamed, ‘Ogrons!’

‘Well, I’ll be...’ For the Doctor this was an entirely unexpected development. He had met the Ogrons more than once in his travels, great hulking brutes with minds little more advanced than Earth’s early cave-men. As he recalled, Ogrons had neither the wit nor cunning to get up to any devilry of their own, though they had been used by the Daleks and other advanced Space species to do their dirty work.

Hardy shouted, ‘Keep back, you Dragons, if you want to save your friends.’

The Doctor turned to him. ‘They’re not Dragons, they’re—’

But Hardy wasn’t listening. He was convinced he faced two Draconians. ‘I mean it. I’ll shoot!’

Realising this was no time to argue, the Doctor ducked under Hardy’s gun and sent the space pilot cannoning into one of the Ogrons. The Ogron fired wildly, hitting Stewart at close range. The Doctor, meantime, had grabbed Jo’s arm and was dragging her down the corridor back towards the TARDIS. One of the Ogrons felled Hardy with a single blow from its huge furry hand and lumbered after the fleeing couple.

The TARDIS in sight, the Doctor fumbled in his pocket for the key.

‘Watch out! ‘ yelled Jo. Coming up behind them was the pursuing Ogron.