Doctor Who_ Storm Harvest - Mike Tucker [92]
‘What do you suggest, Doctor?’
‘Teleport the lot into space.
‘Not possible, Doctor. You, I believe, saw to that. The mass transport of the Krill eggs to the ship completely overloaded the teleport systems. It will take days to repair them.’
‘Then strengthen the tank’s force fields. Divert your external shielding.’
‘And leave ourselves defenceless?’
‘General, the enemy’s in here with us, remember.’
‘Do as the Doctor says.’ Mottrack was convinced.
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‘It still might not be enough,’ said the Doctor. ‘You must stop fighting and evacuate the ship.’
‘Impossible,’ Mottrack barked. ‘The Cythosi do not make peace with insurrectionist scum – nor do they abandon their ships. Evacuation is impossible. The matter transmitters are down, and there are not nearly enough shuttles for the evacuation of Cythosi, let alone humans.
Cythosi ships are not built to be abandoned.’
‘We must still make peace with the humans,’ the Doctor insisted. ‘I need to get a look at the holding tank – to find a way to strengthen it.’
A dolphin scuttled forward in a metal walker. ‘I say we attack.’
‘Ah, you must be Blu’ip,’ said the Doctor. ‘From what I’ve heard about you, I’m not surprised you take that view.’
‘Think what it would mean if you were to negotiate with these humans,’ the dolphin continued. ‘Cythosi society is built upon absolute human servitude. This would be the beginning of the end of Cythosi civilisation.’
‘Civilisations based on slavery rarely stand the test of time,’ said the Doctor acidly. ‘Shall I tell you what will happen, General, if we don’t sort out some kind of agreement with the humans? If the Krill break out before I get to the tank? They will kill everyone – Cythosi, humans and dolphin alike. Then they will attack the ship itself, which, if it falls from its present orbit, will crash down on to Coralee. The Krill will be released into the oceans, and the energies released by the destruction of a ship this size will almost certainly cause more eggs in the sea to hatch. The colony will be utterly destroyed. General, your war is with the Zithra, not with the people of this planet. Your mission has failed.
No one can use the Krill as a weapon. Your only remaining duty is to save your crew, and the people of that planet. They made you welcome... Please, talk to them.’
‘General,’ a Cythosi trooper stationed at a communications console said suddenly. ‘The rebels are trying to contact us.’
‘General Mottrack here. Who am I talking to?’
‘My name’s Peck.’
‘Peck, I call upon you and your people to surrender.’
‘What? And be executed or eaten by you?’ Peck sneered into the captured communicator. ‘You’re on the menu this time!’
There were cheers all around the barracks. Bavril remained grim.
‘Surrender your ship,’ Peck demanded, ‘or we’ll take it from you.’
‘Listen!’ Another voice. The little man – the Doctor. ‘We’re all in great danger. The Krill in the holding tank are hatching. You know what that means.’
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Bavril stared at Peck, who licked his dry lips.
‘You’re bluffing,’ he said. ‘The tank will hold them.’
‘For a while, perhaps,’ said the Doctor. ‘A day, at most, I’d say. Of course, it will be your problem before it’s the Cythosi’s...’
‘I don’t think he’s bluffing,’ said Bavril. ‘Perhaps we should listen to him.’
‘Shut up, Bavril!’ Peck snapped.
There was a hurried muttering on the other end of the transmitter.
‘Bavril, is that you?’
Bisoncawl.
‘Listen to me, Bavril. We are not trying to dupe you. If you won’t do anything else, at least give us access to the tank.’
‘Let me come down there,’ said the Doctor. ‘I’ll come alone.’
Mottrack was angry. ‘I am in command of this ship. I would counsel you all to remember that.’
He levelled his gun at Bisoncawl. ‘I could shoot you on the spot. The next time you undermine my authority, I will.’
‘Sir!’ barked Bisoncawl.
‘Nevertheless,’ said Mottrack, ‘a temporary cease-fire would seem advisable.’
Blu’ip whistled in irritation.
Mottrack ignored him. ‘Very well, go, Doctor, he said.
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Chapter Twenty
The handover