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Èver killed a live target?'

`Yes, sir.'

`Well, I hope that will not be necessary today. You are our insurance policy.'

* * *

Nyssa was surprised to see more' than thirty British soldiers waiting outside the portal, gathered around a body slumped on the ground. Behind them a pulsing black aperture towered over the scene, tendrils of darkness stretching outwards from it across the sky. The troopers seemed unaware of its throbbing, malevolent presence.

`Those soldiers should be with the others.' Tremas lurched towards the men. 'Where is your commanding officer?' The troopers parted to reveal General Doulton lying on the ground, a livid gash across his forehead.

Private Johnson cleared his throat. 'He seems to have been injured, sir. We came through the gateway with the general but just afterwards he cried out in pain. We've been waiting here for him to recover.'

`Nyssa!' a voice whispered. She turned to see James step out of the shadows beside the aperture, clutching his slingshot. `Now's our chance to go back!'

The Doctor watched Morrison creep across the empty riverbed above Corra Linn to the opposite riverbank, the private staying in a low crouch to avoid being seen by the doppelgangers below. Doulton appeared at the Doctor's side, bloody hands clutching a small wooden box. 'Got it,' the general hissed. 'Let's see those scoundrels blow anything up without the detonator.'

`How many did you kill to get that?' the Doctor asked quietly.

`Just one. Cracked him across the head with a rock, opened his skull like an egg'

The Doctor shook his head sadly. 'That wasn't necessary.'

Ì am a warrior, Doctor. I fought for what's right all my life and I fully intend to die fighting' Doulton wiped the worst of the blood off his hands. 'Now what?'

Ì have to resolve a dilemma,' the Doctor replied. 'My friend Nyssa, the boy James and your soldiers are still trapped on the other side of the rift. The leader of the British Empire is being held captive by beings from another world. The fabric of time and space is about to be ripped apart, the TARDIS isn't ready for another trip yet and in a few minutes a flash flood will sweep down this valley, drowning everything in its path' He sighed.

'No matter what I do, I can't save everyone'

`Where do you think Nyssa and the boy will be?'

`Hopefully trying to find their way back to this side of the rift.

But I can't risk trying to rescue them and becoming trapped on the other side. I will need the TARDIS to repair the damage if those explosives around the rift are detonated: Doulton glanced at the tall blue box nearby. 'Your equipment, it can fix the - how did you put it - fix the hole in the paper bag?'

`Yes, I think so'

Ìn that case, the solution is simple,' the general said. 'You distract those invaders long enough and I will go through the rift. With any luck I can rally my men and get your friend and the boy back here before it's too late. But you must also protect Her Majesty.'

The Doctor looked at Doulton closely. 'You realise what happens if you don't make it back through the rift?'

The general nodded. 'In all conflicts, some sacrifices have to be made.' He handed over the detonator. 'This should provide excellent bait for your diversion. Good luck, Doctor.’

At the temporary dam, Vollmer and the two household guards had almost finished preparing the explosives. The Doctor had given precise instructions about the best positions in which to place the charges and how to wire them in sequence.

'Once the first one blows, it will set off a chain reaction. That should destabilise the structure enough for the weight of the water beyond it to start pushing through the gaps. When that happens...'

'But how will I know when to detonate?' the sergeant had asked. 'From that far upriver we'll have no idea if it is safe for you and the others to set off the explosives.'

The Doctor had nodded grimly. 'We have one advantage over our enemy - surprise. When we hear the explosions we'll know what's coming. I estimate anyone