Cold Fusion - Lance Parkin [70]
The gunner turned his attention away from the monitor. The ravine was filling up with rock, snow and other debris. A great cloud of snow rose, obscuring the more delicate sensors. The gunner switched to a lower definition. The carriage was still mostly intact, but it had half a mountain on top of it. After a couple of seconds, the targeting computer conceded that the target had been killed. The mission directives were complete and they could head for home.
Chris flipped open the sim-map A three-dimensional plan of the spaceport sprang out like a picture in a pop-up book.
Chris turned his attention back to Nyssa. ‘I have been here for a month, trying to discover exactly what the Adjudicators are doing. At the moment we’re not even sure how big the “peacekeeping” force is. If I can get into one of the Adjudicators ships at the spaceport I can access the secure databases, uncover their sealed orders.’
‘They must be well guarded.’
‘Oh yes, troops and droids on the ground, full electronic surveillance, transmat bafflers, the ships’ crews are on full defensive alert.’
‘So how do we get in?’
‘We don’t.’ He tapped the side of the book and an orbital platform appeared above, the spaceport. ‘Skybase One, local name Icarus Station. It’s where the ships too big for atmospheric landing dock. It’s also where the hyperlink relay is based. Although the Adjudicators have a garrison up there, it’s owned by the Scientifica.’
Nyssa looked at the station. It resembled a molecular model – spheres linked by thick tubes. The structure was roughly square. In all, judging by this hologram, each side was about a mile long. It looks heavily armed.’
‘The skybase is a flying fortress: the first line of defence in the event of an attack from space. During the Third Draconian War, bases like that proved they could keep back an entire warfleet long enough for reinforcements to arrive: They can outgun a battlecruiser, but inside the security is relatively light. They won’t be looking out for a young, unarmed, married couple. We buy spaceline tickets transmat up there and then sneak into the Relay Room. A couple of minutes monitoring transmissions and tactical data and I’ll know what’s going on here. Then we just beam back down.’
Chris smiled and snapped the sim-map shut. ‘Easy, really.’
Before Adric could even brace himself, the transmaterialization process was complete. A little man stood on the transmat platform, facing away from them. He wore a scruffy fur coat and carried a long black umbrella with a red handle. Although he was clearly rather bewildered, he was aware of their presence. He turned around warily, then broke into a broad grin. He raised his hat and took a theatrical bow.
‘Wait a moment,’ Forrester frowned, ‘It’s you.’
The man’s thick eyebrows furrowed. ‘Of course it’s me.
Hello, Roz.’
She removed her helmet. ‘No, it’s you you.’
‘That’s right,’ he said a little impatiently.
‘No, no. You changed. Remember, you became all...’ she did a little mime.
‘What, all frock-coat and youthful appeal?’ he scowled.
‘Well, perhaps I did but I haven’t yet.’
Forrester whirled to face Adric, stabbing a finger in his visor. ‘You told me that he had regenerated,’ she snarled.
Adric took a step back. ‘That’s the Doctor?’
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake,’ the little man said, turning around to face him, ‘how many times do I have to –’ he stopped in mid-sentence. ‘Isn’t he a bit short for Cwej?’
Adric struggled at the catches to his helmet, finally managed to unfasten them. ‘Forrester, I don’t recognize this man.’
The new arrival cocked his head to one side, and this
‘Doctor’ gave him the strangest expression. ‘Hello, Adric,’
he said finally. ‘I’m not sure the armour suits you.’
‘Well, he knows you,’ Roz told Adric.
‘Adric used to travel with me, a long time ago,’ the little man explained to Roz. ‘I’m from what you think of as your future’ the Doctor beamed at him. ‘If you are here, then I take it that one of my past selves is, too. Which one: Boggle or Bland?’ There was something about the man. Once again, he didn’t look like the Doctor,