Doctor Who_ Empire of Death - BBC Worldwide [69]
Vollmer was still contemplating the feasibility of Doulton' plan.
'It's possible, but problematic. I would suggest Lance Corporal Clark be put in charge of creating the dam upriver, he has experience of demolition work. But any such structure could only be a temporary measure. Also, the cotton mills at New Lanark will be grossly affected. The residents should probably be evacuated to higher ground for safety until the waters recede. If the river is completely and permanently blocked, there will be no water for the mills. The owners would be outraged, general. You will have stolen their livelihood: Doulton acknowledged all this but remained undeterred. The evacuation would be necessary even without the safety considerations,' he said, ìf only to safeguard Her Majesty during the royal visit. Once we have laid claim to the afterlife for the Empire, we can search for other gateways, ones hopefully in more convenient locations. The owners of the mills can be compensated, their workers tumid new homes and jobs elsewhere. Right now, they are not my major concern. We must press ahead with my plans immediately. Is that understood?'
The sergeant nodded and saluted. He was about to leave before remembering the telegram. 'This was just delivered Mr you, sir.' Doulton opened the envelope and read the contents with interest before handing it to Vollmer. The sergeant quickly took in the message: UTMOST URGENCY: GENERAL
DOULTON COMMA DOCTOR SMITH AND LADY NYSSA ARE IMPOSTORS STOP ADVISE CAUTION IN DEALING
WITH THEM STOP GUARD AGAINST ANY PRECIPITOUS
ACTION STOP YOURS COMMA SIR HENRY PONSONBY
STOP.
Vollmer finished reading the telegram and handed it back to the general. 'What are your orders, sir?'
Doulton smiled. 'Have two guards keep watch over the 'Whir and his female conspirator during the night. Give the men orders to shoot if either of these impostors should attempt to approach or interfere with the gateway.' Vol mer nodded his agreement. The general crumpled the telegram in his fist.
'Plainly this pair are enemy agents and anything they say cannot be trusted. They may be set on claiming the afterlife for whatever foreign power they represent. Well, their plans have been thwarted by our vigilance. Good work, Sergeant.
Your part in this shall be noted.'
`Thank you, sit If you have no objections, I will go and begin setting your orders in motion' Vollmer received a cursory nod from the general and withdrew. Once outside the tent he turned to the two sentries standing guard. `Where are Johnson and Hawthorne?'
Extract from Observations and Analysis, A Journal:
The Doctor and I spent several hours examining the findings generated by the TARDIS during the dive. The force-field generator had been successful in allowing the Doctor and Doulton to slip inside the rift without disrupting the dimensional buffer, despite the artron energy spike at the moment of entry. But the general had been pulled through the rift alone, his egress rupturing the delicate membrane. The Doctor was dismayed by the results.
Ìt's as if a cut just starting to heal had been torn apart from the inside out. Whatever lies on the other side is seeping through the wound, infecting this world. And the infection is spreading'
The Doctor rubbed his eyes, weariness evident in his features.
‘That settles it. Nobody else can be allowed to pass through the conjunction until we know more about it. At first light I will try to convince Doulton further dives are too dangerous. Hopefully he will listen, but the military mind can be a dense and obstinate thing'
My curiosity got the better of me and I asked what it had been like beyond the rift.
`Blazing light and utter disorientation,' the Doctor replied.
'I can understand why minds unused to temporal and spatial displacement might interpret the experience as akin to a journey beyond death. The effect is most perturbing.
`No, I meant... on the Other Side'
`Did I meet any dear