The Taking of Chelsea 426
Page 16
He paused, his hand still gripping the lever.
'Actually,' he said, 'I think I've had enough of hotels for a little while. Maybe some other time. Let's go for pot luck, shall we?'
He pulled the lever, turned a dial and hit a button with a triumphant thump.
The glowing transparent columns in the centre of the console rose and fell, accompanied by a metallic roar, and, with that, he was gone.
238
TWENTY-ONE
The monstrous black ship had come to the very edges of the solar system, driving on past the spectral Oort Cloud, with its trillions of icy fragments faintly glittering in the dim light of a distant sun.
In his quarters, General Kade stood before the sample of the Rutan plant, still housed beneath its glass dome. He was pleased that he had managed to rescue it before the colony was completely destroyed. It would be heralded as a key victory by many back on Sontar, even if those in the Battle Fleet failed to appreciate its significance. The higher ranks would clamour to see it; something which satisfied him tremendously.
Leaving his rooms and making his way to the bridge, Kade passed several of his crew, all of whom stopped 239
DOCTOR WHO
in their tracks and saluted him. Though Sontarans were rarely anything less than respectful of their superior officers, it seemed that they were making an extra effort in the aftermath of their experience on the human colony.
Perhaps, Kade considered, it was a respect inspired, in part, by his victory over Colonel Sarg. That too was satisfying.
On the bridge, the crew were plotting the coordinates that would take them to their home world. The mood there was almost impossible to gauge. Surely they would appreciate that the Rutan threat had passed, almost without incident. The humans and Rutans alike had, no doubt, been consigned to the destructive cyclone of Saturn's greatest storm, just as he had assured them. All the same, he could sense dissatisfaction, even if no one dared voice it. Too many of them had been defeated by the Rutans in direct combat. Theirs was, perhaps, a hollow victory.
As Kade stepped out onto the bridge the crew stood and saluted him in unison.
'At ease,' said the General, taking to his position at the head of the bridge. He turned now to his chief navigator.
'Commander
Strom,'
he
barked,
and
the
commander saluted him once more. 'Have we plotted our course to Sontar?'
'We have, sir.'
240
THE TAKING OF CHELSEA 426
'Excellent, then prepare to enter hyperspace immediately.'
'Yes, sir,' replied Strom, with enthusiasm. That would be agreeable.'
241
Acknowledgements
Thanks firstly to everyone at BBC Wales and BBC
Books, namely Edward Russell, Gary Russell, Justin Richards and Steve Tribe, all of them indispensable fountains of knowledge and advice (not to mention suppliers of Sontaran episode DVDs. Yes, Edward
-that's you). Special hugs and kisses, also, to Lee Binding for designing another great cover!
Personal thanks to Benjamin K. Flambards (aka Lord Tinlegs), my trusty sounding board and the organiser of my 'Who-Mitzvah', and to Ceri Young for his helpful tips on Latin. And lastly, thanks to Terrance Dicks and the late Robert Holmes for creating such great villains to play around with, and to Russell T
Davies, David Tennant and all the writers of the show, for making the writing of this book so much fun.
243
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctorandRose
asplayedbyChristopherEcclestonandBilliePiper:
THE CLOCKWISE MAN
by Justin Richards
THE MONSTERS INSIDE
by Stephen Cole
WINNER TAKES ALL
by Jacqueline Rayner
THE DEVIANT STRAIN
by Justin Richards
ONLY HUMAN
by Gareth Roberts
THE STEALERS OF DREAMS
by Steve Lyons
AlpoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctorandRose
asplayedbyDavidTennantaidBilliePiper:
THE STONE ROSE
by Jacqueline Rayner
THE FEAST OF THE DROWNED
by Stephen Cole
THE RESURRECTION CASKET
by Justin Richards
THE NIGHTMARE OF BLACK ISLAND
by Mike Tucker
THE ART OF DESTRUCTION
by Stephen Cole
THE PRICE OF PARADISE
by Colin Brake
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctorandMartha
asplayedbyDavidTennantandFreemaAgyeman:
STING OF THE ZYGONS
THE LAST DODO
by Stephen Cole
by Jacqueline Rayner
WOODEN HEART
FOREVER AUTUMN
by Martin Day
by Mark Morris
SICK BUILDING
WETWORLD
by Paul Magrs
by Mark Michalowski
WISHING WELL
THE PIRATE LOOP
by Mark Morris
by Simon Guerrier
PEACEMAKER
MARTHA IN THE MIRROR
by JamesSwalow
by Justin Richards
SNOWGLOBE 7
THE MANY HANDS
by Mike Tucker
by Dale Smith
THE STORY OF MARTHA
by Dan Abnett
with David Roden,
Steve Lockley & Paul Lewis,
Robert Shearman
and Simon Jowett
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctorandDonna
asplayedbyDavidTennantandCatherineTate:
GHOSTS OF INDIA
by Mark Morris
THE DOCTOR TRAP
by Simon Messingham
SHINING DARKNESS
by Mark Michalowski
BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
by Gary Russell
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctor
asplayedbyDavidTennant:
T h e E y el e s s
byLance Parkin
ISBN 978 1 846 07562 9
£6.99
At the heart of the ruined city of Arcopolis is the Fortress.
It's a brutal structure placed here by one of the sides in a devastating intergalactic war that's long ended. Fifteen years ago, the entire population of the planet was killed in an instant by the weapon housed deep in the heart of the Fortress. Now only the ghosts remain.
The Doctor arrives, and determines to fight his way past the Fortress's automatic defences and put the weapon beyond use. But he soon discovers he's not the only person in Arcopolis. What is the true nature of the weapon? Is the planet really haunted? Who are the Eyeless? And what will happen if they get to the weapon before the Doctor?
The Doctor has a fight on his hands. And this time he's all on his own.
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctor
asplayedbyDavidTennant:
Judgement of the Judoon
by Colin Brake
ISBN 978 1 846 07639 8
£6.99
Elvis the King Spaceport has grown into the sprawling city-state of New Memphis — an urban jungle, where organised crime is rife. But the launch of the new Terminal 13 hasn't been as smooth as expected. And things are about to get worse...
When the Doctor arrives, he finds the whole terminal locked down. The notorious Invisible Assassin is at work again, and the Judoon troopers sent to catch him will stop at nothing to complete their mission.
With the assassin loose on the mean streets of New Memphis, the Doctor is forced into a strange alliance.
Together with teenage private eye Nikki and a ruthless Judoon Commander, the Doctor soon discovers that things are even more complicated — and dangerous — than h
e first thought...
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctor
asplayedbyDavidTennant:
T h e S l i t h e e n E x c u r s i o n by Simon Guerrier
ISBN 978 1 846 07640 4
£6.99
1500BC — King Actaeus and his subjects live in mortal fear of the awesome gods who have come to visit their kingdom in ancient Greece. Except the Doctor, visiting with university student June, knows they're not gods at all. They're aliens.
For the aliens, it's the perfect holiday — they get to tour the sights of a primitive planet and even take part in local customs. Like gladiatorial games, or hunting down and killing humans who won't be missed.
With June's enthusiastic help, the Doctor soon meets the travel agents behind this deadly package holiday company — his old enemies the Slitheen. But can he bring the Slitheen excursion to an end without endangering more lives? And how are events in ancient Greece linked to a modern-day alien plot to destroy what's left of the Parthenon?
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctor
asplayedbyDavidTennant:
P r i s o n e r o f t h e D a l e k s byTrevor Baxendale
ISBN 978 1 846 07641 1
£6.99
The Daleks are advancing, their empire constantly expanding into Earth's space. The Earth forces are resisting the Daleks in every way they can. But the battles rage on across countless solar systems. And now the future of our galaxy hangs in the balance...
The Doctor finds himself stranded on board a starship near the frontline with a group of ruthless bounty hunters.
Earth Command wil pay them for every Dalek they kil , every eye stalk they bring back as proof.
With the Doctor's help, the bounty hunters achieve the ultimate prize: a Dalek prisoner — intact, powerless, and ready for interrogation. But where the Daleks are involved, nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe. Before long the tables will be turned, and how will the Doctor survive when he becomes a prisoner of
the Daleks?
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctor
asplayedbyDavidTennant:
Autonomy
by Daniel Blythe
ISBN 978 1 846 07759 3
£6.99
Hyperville is 2013's top high-tech 24-hour entertainment complex - a sprawling palace of fun under one massive roof. You can go shopping, or experience the excitement of Doomcastle, WinterZone or Wild West World.
But things are about to get a lot more exciting - and dangerous...
What unspeakable horror is lurking on Level Zero of Hyperville? And what will happen when the entire complex goes over to Central Computer Control?
For years, the Nestene Consciousness has been waiting and planning, recovering from its wounds. But now it's ready, and its deadly plastic Autons are already in place around the complex. Now more than ever, visiting Hyperville will be an unforgettable experience...
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
featuringtheDoctor
asplayedbyDavidTennant:
TheKrilitaneStorm
byChristopherCooper
ISBN 978 1 846 07761 6
£6.99
When the TARDIS materialises in medieval Worcester, the Doctor finds the city seemingly deserted. He soon discovers its population are living in a state of terror, afraid to leave their homes after dark, for fear of meeting their doom at the hands of the legendary Devil's Huntsman.
For months, people have been disappearing, and the Sheriff has imposed a strict curfew across the city, his militia maintaining control over the superstitious populace with a firm hand, closing the city to outsiders.
Is it fear of attack from beyond the city walls that drives him or the threat closer to home? Or does the Sheriff have something to hide?
After a terrifying encounter with a deadly Krillitane, the Doctor realises the city has good reason to be scared.
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks:
MONSTERS AND VILLAINS
by Justin Richards
ALIENS AND ENEMIES
by Justin Richards
CREATURES AND DEMONS
by Justin Richards
STARSHIPS AND SPACESTATIONS
by Justin Richards
THE SHOOTING SCRIPTS
by Russell T Davies,
Mark Gatiss, Robert Shearman,
Paul Cornell and Steven Moffat
THE INSIDE STORY
by Gary Russell
THE ENCYCLOPEDIA
by Gary Russell
THE TIME TRAVELLER'S ALMANAC
by Steve Tribe
AlsoavailablefromBBCBooks
Companions and Al ies
bySteve Tribe
ISBN 978 1 846 07749 4
£ 7.99
The Doctor has been travelling through space and time for centuries, showing his friends and companions the wonders of the universe. From Sarah Jane Smith and the Brigadier toMartha Jonesand Donna Noble, Companions and Alies celebrates the friends who have been by his side and the heroes that have helped him battle his deadliest foes. Find out:
How the First Doctor uprooted schoolteachers Ian and Barbara from their twentieth-century lives
Why the Third Doctor worked for UNIT
How the Fifth Doctor sacrificed his life for Peri
Who helped the Eighth Doctor save Earth from the Master
What became of Rose Tyler and her family And much more. Beautifully illustrated and including — for the first time — a complete story guide to the adventures of all ten Doctors, this is the definitive guide to the Doctor's intergalactic family.
ComingsoonhumBBCBooks:
Th e Ultimate Mon ster Guid e
byJustinRichards
ISBN 978 1 846 07745 6
£14.99
With The Ultimate Monster Guide, Doctor Who historian Justin Richards has created the most comprehensive guide to the Doctor's enemies ever published. With fully illustrated entries that cover everything from Adipose and Autons to Zarbi and Zygons, this guide tells you everything you need to know about the many dastardly creatures the Doctor has fought since he first appeared on television.
Featuring a wealth of material from the current and classic series, the guide also includes behind-the-scenes secrets of how the monsters were created, as well as design drawings and images. Find out how the Cybermen were redesigned over the years, and how Davros was resurrected to lead his Daleks once again. Discover the computer magic that made the Beast possible, and the make-up wizardry that created the Weeping Angels. Learn how many incarnations of the Master the Doctor has encountered, and which other misguided Time Lords he has defeated...
Lavishly designed with photos and artwork throughout, The Ultimate Monster Guide is essential reading for al travel ers in time and space!