Doctor Who_ Space War - Malcolm Hulke [8]
‘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