Attack and Return of the Swarm

by Vanya

Part 2

Third incarnation

The Doctor looked hurriedly round the room, the situation was bad and they needed to get out of there. This was a hostile force that couldn't be negotiated with and had every exit covered. Seeing only one way out he took a deep breath and then let an unearthly, high pitched screech. Jo covered her ears, horrified by the sound. Even more disturbed were the insects, who broke their formation and began to run for cover. The Doctor turned to face the door, making sure to clear all the hostile bugs from the exit then grabbing Jo's hand he pulled his startled assistant out the farmhouse. As soon as they were outside the quickly jumped into Bessie and sped of towards the UNIT checkpoint.

"What was that noise?" Jo asked breathlessly once they were in motion.

"The hunting call of the Dykallis bat," explained the Doctor, "A most fearsome creature. You see, deep down everything has a fear of predators ingrained in them, no matter how advanced they are, it's one of the most basic survival instincts. I simply manipulated that fear, but I doubt it will work a second time, we've lost the elements of surprise."

After a few minutes drive he slowed down and glanced over his shoulder and to his relief could see they were not being followed, by ground or by air. The Swarm seemed to find it advantageous to defend their perimeter rather than peruse the intruders. For now they were safe, and so he proceeded to drive back to the UNIT checkpoint.


Upon their arrival they were greeted by the Brigadier and Colonel Jennings. The military men were briefed about what went on at the farm and the two of them quickly disappeared to discuss strategy with their superiors, leaving the Doctor and Jo alone. Fearing the worst a medical tent had been established, and while the facilities were not ideal it provided the Doctor with somewhere to study his Grarnian insect. Hours passed, but eventually the Doctor was summoned to UNIT's mobile command centre, where the Brigadier outlines the plans.

"Air strike," he said simply, "HQ wants the situation contained as quickly as possible. We've been given to go ahead to fire-bomb the area, kill everything. The planes are fuelling up as we speak."

"Bravo Brigadier," the Doctor's response had a hint of sarcasm, "Nice to see you haven't lost your delicate touch. It won't work you know."

"And why is that Doctor?"

"Well for one these insect reside underground where they could easily hid from your bombs, rendering your strike ineffective. And you also seem to have forgotten that some of the Grarnian insects are capable of controlling human hosts. This means that at least some of the population is still alive somewhere and I believe they can be saved."

The Brigadier nodded, as infuriating as the Doctor could be it made sense. It was best to proceed on his terms, and that meant you start with the gathering on intelligence, "So tell us Doctor, what do you know about this Grarnian Swarm?"

"They appear to be operating on a highly advanced hive conciousness, able to act and communicate as a single entity. At present we have encountered only two varieties, one that appears to to be soldiers, and another who's purpose is to control larger hosts, which I have designated 'controllers'. The one I was able to recover was quite a fascinating specimen. Through a specialised nerve cluster it's tail it is able to gain complete control of a host's body. When damaged......."


Tenth incarnation

".... It secretes a highly concentrated nerve toxin killing the host." The Doctor was standing in the office of Armon Voyle, the resort director of Sumpara.

"Very informative Doctor, and what do you propose I do about this?"

"Evacuate, get everyone off this planet as soon as possible."

There was a silence as Voyle weighed up what the Doctor had told him. They did sound like a threat but he was sceptical, he needed more evidence if he were to shut down his entire business, "Tell me more Doctor, where did this Grarnian Swarm come from?"

"They have developed some kind of interstellar spawning. Last time I encountered them an egg struck the planet like a meteor, carrying a small colony of them. Have you had an meteor strikes recently?"

"No Doctor, we haven't."

"What, nothing? It could have been weeks ago, months even?"

"Nothing."

"Maybe one of your guests smuggled them in?"

"Impossible, everything that comes onto my world is thoroughly vetted."

The Doctor was getting frantic, "Look, it doesn't matter how they got here, you need to get everyone out of here now!"

"No."

"What do you mean 'no'?" Haze spoke up for the first time, angrily approaching Voyle's desk, "It doesn't matter how they got here! You heard the Doctor, the Grarnian Swarm is dangerous, you need to get everyone out of here now!"

"I take it that you to have seen this swarm in action before?"

"Well, no. But the Doctor has, you need to trust him, you need to..."

But Voyle wasn't listening, instead he was carrying out his own conversation with his earpiece, "Yes, thank you, send him a fruit basket but keep him under observation," he then turned his attention back to the Doctor and Haze, "So tell me again Doctor, what happens when one of these 'controllers' is damaged."

The Doctor took a deep breath, he had a bad feeling about where this conversation was going, "It secretes a powerful nerve toxin."

"I see, well that was my chief of security on the coms, not only is Mr Wri alive but he's also awake. I would say that destroys just about any credibility your story has wouldn't you say Doctor?"

"There must be a reason, maybe......"

"I think you've taken up enough of my time. Best case scenario you two are simply paranoid, worst case you're deliberately trying to undermine my businesses. Either way I want you out of here and off my planet."

"You're making a mistake," the Doctor protested, "You're all in great danger."

"Then you'll be safer elsewhere. Now leave before I call security."


"Well that could have gone better," Haze commented as they waked away from the executive huts, "What's the plan now?"

"We talk to Wri," relied the Doctor, "Even if he doesn't know what they are he should be able to give us some insight as to what's happening here."


Third incarnation

The Brigadier and Colonel Jennings listened intently to the Doctor's report on the situation, nodding in agreement. What he said made sense, the Grarnian Swarm were a dangerous enemy, but there were people that needed saving, this was a hostage situation, albeit an extremely strange one. After a moments deliberation Jennings spoke up.

"In that case Doctor I propose a chemical attack. We hit them with insecticide, I can get my hands on some pretty potent stuff."

"How do you propose you do that Colonel? You can't simply pump it in at the entrance."

"I will lead a team of men into the town and deliver a surgical strike to the heart of the colony. I can also get hold of a delivery system designed for dispersing chemical weapons, once we're inside that should be sufficient to hit the whole hive. I can have everything I need here within a couple of hours."

This was starting to sound promising, this Jennings seemed to have a better grasp of the situation than the usual bull-headedness of the military, "And where do you think best to deploy this weapon?"

"Well Doctor I'm not an entomologist, but shouldn't eliminating the queen cripple the colony?"

The Doctor smiled, "Yes, that would do it." His strategy was crude, but nevertheless it should be effective.

"Right then, I'll begin assembling the men, I'll have have a whole squad of UNIT's finest ready to go before you know it."

The Doctor shook his head, "Too many, we'll be in a confined space, they'll be tripping over each other and quite possibly shooting themselves as well. At most you want six men down there."

"Right you are Doctor, six it is, but I shall have more standing by to secure the hostages. I will personally lead the expedition to liberate the town and I hope you will accompany us, it would be helpful to have an expert along. As long as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart doesn't mind me putting his best man at risk."

"Not at all," the Brigadier replied, "I've seen the Doctor pull off some impressive feats in my time, I have no doubt he'll be able to handle himself in there."

"In that case Colonel I'd be delighted."


"How are you feeling Jo?" the Doctor asked, gently placing his hand on his assistant's shoulder.

While Jennings's team hurried to assemble the Doctor found a few moments to himself. He had his own preparations to do, but he needed to check on Jo first.

"I'm OK," she replied, although was still a little shaky, "Those things were horrible. I don't fancy going back in there."

"Don't worry, you don't have to, and this time I'll have Jennings and a squad of soldiers with me, everything will be fine."

Jo smiled, already feeling better.

"Now come on, I have some preparations to do and I could use a hand."


Tenth incarnation

The hospital on Sumpara was the only part of the resort that looked like it didn't belong. While everywhere else utilised local building materials, allowing them to blend with the planet's aesthetic, the hospital looked like it had been shipped in from another world, which it had. It did attempt to blend in, it's numerous mirrored windows reflected the planet's beautiful landscapes. These mirrored walls allowed the patients to see out, but masked the sick and injured from the people outside, after all this was a place to relax, best not to be reminded of the negative side of life.

In the basement the TARDIS door creaked open and the Doctor strode out, Haze only a few steps behind him. Despite their protests they had been ordered back to the hanger, where they put on a good show of leaving for the resort security, but in reality had only travelled a mile or so. Entering the lift the Doctor quickly consulted the plan of the hospital before announcing "Psyche ward." and pressing the button for the corresponding floor.

"Surely they don't think he's crazy?" Haze asked, "I mean, they must have seen that Grarnian insect too."

"It doesn't matter what they think, he's shown violent tendencies and until they can get an expert to take a look at him that's the only secure part of the hospital, they're not really used to dealing with prisoners round here."

For a moment they ascended in silence, so Haze decided to put forward a question that had been bothering her, "Doctor, I've been wondering, how did Wri survive the nerve toxin?"

"I couldn't tell you without running a whole battery of tests, but right now my best guess would be his Chorvite physiology, specifically the extremely high body temperature. It must have been sufficient to burn off the toxin. Good enough?"

Haze nodded, "For now. "

The doors slid open and the customary bell announced they had arrived. Two guards had been posted outside Wri's room, but they seemed unsure was to whether they were dealing with a patient or prisoner.

"Hello there, I'm Dr John Smith, I'm an expert in the field of parasitic infection, and this is my assistant Miss McCall," said the Doctor, introducing himself to the guards. Haze had already expressed her dislike of being introduced to everyone as his assistant, now she was convinced he was doing it to annoy her. "We just happened to be on holiday here and we were told about the incident earlier. Since there was supposedly some kind of weird insect involved I thought I could take a look at him for you. I have Voyle's permission, in fact he insisted."

The Doctor waved the psychic paper in their faces, it corroborated his story. The door was open and and they were admitted to the secure room.

"Doctor...." Wri began nervously.

"Relax Wri," the Doctor replied in a hushed voice, "I haven't come back for round two. We need to get you out of here."

Then, after a brief pause, the Doctor cried out "Oh dear God!"

As the guard attempted to get the door open the Doctor continued, "No, stay back, they're hatching! Run, run now while you can!"

"How long do you think we've got?" Haze asked as the two guards tore town the corridor and into the stairwell.

"Long enough."


Not wasting any time the Doctor Haze and Wri were soon back aboard the TARDIS. Once they were secure Wri began his account of what had happened to him that day.

"I'd gone out early to explore one of the grottos with the hot springs, the one they use as a natural jacuzzi," he explained, "You see I was never interested in the resort, according to records this planet has never been mined, or even surveyed. Voyle won't let any of the ordinary prospects and their equipment in, but I don't need tools, I can smell a valuable deposit. I thought if I could find something on my own then I could negotiate exclusive rights with Voyle. Anyway, I was in the cave, slipping through the cracks and I come across this gelatinous orange wall. I assumed it's some kind of insect colony, but I pushed on anyway. I thought it was just going to be a basic hive, but the cavern beyond the wall was incredible, it webs and the orange wall interacting with the tunnel system. Must have taken years to build."

"Oh of course!" the Doctor was beginning to put the pieces together, "There was no evidence of the swarm arriving because they were already here, this could even be their home world. Which is why there was never any indigenous life on the surface. Some time ago the swarm became the dominant species, wiped out all others, spread their seed across the galaxy and then hibernated. And it seems you've just woken them Wri."

Wri hung his head in shame, "I'm sorry Doctor."

"Never mind about that now, what happened then?"

"Everything seemed dead, so I started exploring the hive, but then this buzzing sound started and before I even saw it I felt a sting on the back of my neck. I tried to swat it, by my hands stop responding. I begin walking, badly, further into the hive, and I know I'm for it, I'm going to become this thing's dinner. They don't just control, there was a little flow of thought between me and it, I could hear what the hive were thinking and what they had planned for me. But then I thought of you Doctor, just for a second and it stopped. And then I find myself turning round and going out again." Wri shuddered as he recalled that detail, "They want you Doctor, whatever they are they want you."


Third incarnation

"Next." Colonel Jennings barked, signalling the final soldier to enter the medical tent, once inside he was met by the Doctor and Jo. This was the twenty-fifth, and thankfully final time they had carried out this routine, but for the young soldier it was the first, and still nerve wracking. Trembling he held out his arm for the Doctor, who just shook his head and said, "Not for this one."

"But I thought I was reporting for immunisation?" replied the nervous soldier.

"Oh, you are," said the Doctor, a large syringe in his hand walking round his patient, "Tilt your head forward please."

"It'll be over quickly." Jo added helpfully.

The soldier followed the Doctor's instructions, then felt the cold anaesthetic swab on the back of his neck, and winced as the needle was pushed into his spine.

"OK then, off you go." the Doctor said, withdrawing the syringe. The soldier muttered thanks before leavening the tent, nursing the sharp pain in his neck.

"That's the last of them," Jo commented, ticking his name of the sheet, "So what happens now?"

"Now, we go into town."


Evening was drawing in as Jennings assembled the men for the final briefing. Throughout the day military trucks had been coming to and from the UNIT camp delivering the vital supplies that Jennings had requested. He drew his men's attention to a round cylindrical piece of equipment with metal grills running down the side.

"This is the weapon we will be deploying, the boys in the lab call it 'the ventilator'. It's a state of the art delivery system for a chemical agent and has been loaded, it's the most potent insecticide known to man. Four men will accompany the Doctor and I into the hive, two of you will be in charge of this weapon, getting it into the hive is to be your top priority. The other two more of will be armed with pressurised sprays loaded with liquid insecticide, you will be used to clear a path for us." He turned his attention, and the attention of his men to the next weapon, "All of you will be issued with tranquilliser guns, the towns people are under enemy control and need to be saved. Once down the Doctor will administer his anti-toxin hopefully this will allow us to save them. Doctor, you're briefing if you please."

"Alright," said the Doctor, taking centre stage, "The plan is relatively straightforward. We go into the hive and locate the central chamber where the queen and place the ventilator. While in there we search for and neutralise any towns people under Grarnian influence, if there are any great numbers then we call in reinforcements to help move them. Twenty of you will be standing by for that purpose, but while we're down there I want to keep our numbers to a minimum. I've studied the plans of the town and I've come up with a most likely colonisation scenario. We concentrate out efforts here." the Doctor pointed to the map.

"St Stephen's?" Jennings said, "What makes you think they'd go for the church?"

"The catacombs beneath provide the best space for establishing in a hive. If they're trying to establish a foothold then it makes sense to use and existing tunnel network and the church is the perfect entry point, for them as well as us. Now if there's no more questions we need to be ready to move."


Tenth incarnation

Haze winced as the Doctor withdrew the needle from her neck, he's given her the same inoculation he'd given to the UNIT soldiers years before. She was never a great fan of needles at the best of times, spinal injections even less so, but she appreciated the need, and certainly felt better knowing that if nothing else she wouldn't succumb to the effects of the nerve toxin. Of course there were still plenty of other ways to die.

Opening the main doors the Doctor asked "Is this the cave where you found the hive Wri?"

"It is."

"Great," said Haze, "Let's grab some caving gear and the bug spray."

"No," replied the Doctor, "You're not coming with me, either of you. I need to do this alone this time."

"But I know those caves Doctor," Wri protested, "My place is down there with you."

"No, the Swarm will kill you as soon as you set foot in there again, but I have a feeling they want me alive, for the moment at least. And Haze, I need you up here, it won't be long before these things come up to the surface and I need you to go back to the resort and warn the people, try and get as many of them to leave as you can. Spread the truth." he added with a wink.

"Well OK then, in the interests of saving the people," said Haze, secretly thankful for not having to having to go underground, "In that case good luck Doctor," as she approached the doors she turned back and added, "And try not to get eaten." With that she jogged off towards the resort.

The Doctor smiled, and muttered, "I'll try."


Third incarnation

The Doctor pulled on his gas mask as he stepped into the church, followed closely by Jennings and his soldiers. The inside was a wreck, a huge section of the floor had been collapsed and a crude ramp, formed from stones, webbing and a strange orange secretion, led under the church.

"Just as I thought," the Doctor said, "They must have used this to take the population underground."

He hopped down and followed the path which took them deeper into the crypts. Soon after that they were confronted by a wall that separated then from the hive, one constructed by the colony.

"Fascinating." the Doctor muttered as he ran his hand across it. The wall had been constructed using a framework of webbing and strengthened with protein secretions, a dull orange in colour. The structure was riddled with small octagonal holes, providing access for the instincts.

"Knife." He commanded, and the hilt was placed in his hand by one of the soldiers. He plunged the blade into the wall, and using all of his strength brought the knife down to cut an opening for them.

Once through the outer wall and into the catacombs the whole area took on a much more alien appearance. The walls were coated in the in the same orange protein that blocked the entrance, but it was still a work in progress. Large, purple spider-like insects, skittered along the ceiling spinning webs and fortifying them with their regurgitated protein secretions. Constructors, the Doctor thought idly, for all the danger and seriousness of the mission this was his first encounter with an new species and he was determined to catalogue all of them. Another variety ran along the floor, shifting debris, the Doctor named these workers.

After a moment he signalled the soldiers to stop, "Listen."

The now familiar harsh buzzing noise issued from the darkness as the Grarnian soldiers swarmed forwards. In response two of the UNIT soldiers stepped up, armed and ready. Jets of liquid leapt forward dousing the insects and the buzzing turned to a pained, fearful shriek. Satisfied the Doctor and the military team pushed forward.

As they progressed deeper into the catacombs the Doctor became uneasy, "I was expecting more resistance."

"Maybe they're not as formidable as you thought." replied Jennings.

"If there's one thing I've learned Colonel it's to never underestimate your enemy. And I would have thought we would have encounter some of towns people by now."

Jennings was about to reply when once again a buzzing noise filled the air, but this was different softer and more high pitched. The Doctor strained his eyes against the darkness, trying to find it's source. Whatever was making the sound moved quickly, flitting round at an alarming rate. His hand flashed out, successfully swatting one against the stone wall. Feeling the tiny feet on his neck his other hand slapped his own skin, hard, and withdrew with the remains of the Grarnian controller on his glove. The soldiers too were swatting frantically, and then everything went quiet.

"Doctor...." Jennings began nervously. Suddenly his body twitched momentarily, he looked up with a new sense of malice in his eyes. "Doctor." he said again, and drew his revolver.


Tenth incarnation

The cave was exactly was Wri described, except that an opening had been formed. As the Doctor had suspected the Swarm was expecting him, row upon row of Grarnian soldiers waited in the mouth of the passage.

He looked down and and raised his hands, showing they were empty, then went through a show of opening his coat and turning out his pockets. Finally he said, "I'm unarmed, take me to your queen."

The sea of insects parted, forming a path deeper into the hive.

End of Part 2