'Periscope up.' Captain Waterman, once more in the control centre of Skydiver, held onto the periscope handles, looking through the viewscreen at the surface of the ocean. He could see remnants of the UFO still floating; pieces of ultra lightweight material scattered chaotically over the water and the greasy, rainbow-hued slick pinpointing the exact site where the enemy craft plunged to its destruction. Turning in a circle, he was following a gently bobbing section of outer hull when a green tinged face loomed into view, a face distorted not only by the refraction of the water but also by the effects of rapid decompression and loss of its protective oxygenated liquid.

'Shit.' Waterman lurched back from the periscope, his heart pounding with the sudden shock. He took a deep breath and stepped forward to grasp the handles once more.

'Okay,' he reported to his crew, recovered from the unpleasant surprise, 'one alien corpse, suffering severe facial injuries, note co-ordinates on my mark…Mark. Let's surface gently so we don't create a wash and lose it. Straker will probably give us a medal for this.'

Shortly afterwards, SkyDiver 4 was once more running silent and deep in the Pacific Ocean, unseen by any casual observers.

Captain Waterman helped his navigator carry the dead-weight body of the enemy through to the miniscule sickbay, where it was strapped to an examination table.

'Hmm. Not very pretty is it? I've never seen one this close up before.' his navigator remarked, grimacing as he covered the battered corpse.

'Pretty or not, this guy could provide us with some answers. He's unusual in that he isn't as green-tinged as the other aliens I have seen. Let's get him back to the rendezvous point. I think HQ will want to get their hands on him as soon as possible.' Lew Waterman ordered the crew to plot a course for the rendezvous with the SHADO Pacific carrier. A transport plane would then airlift the corpse to HQ for examination and further study. Waterman anticipated that it would take at least 12 hours to get his extra passenger back toEnglandeven using SHADO's supersonic aircraft. .

He headed for his cabin, planning to get a few hours sleep before his next shift.

SHADO HQ was gearing up for the arrival of the transport with its precious cargo. Straker in particular was impatient. There had been previous alien bodies recovered from crashed UFO'S, but on the majority of occasions they had suffered from premature aging. Waterman hoped that this corpse would be the exception to the rule. He was certainly an odd one, with his almost human colouring.

Hours later the private ambulance pulled up outside Mayland's SHADO Unit, doors swinging open to allow the scientists access to their target. The shrouded body, in its refrigerated container, was wheeled inside and they set to work.

Straker was back in the Control room after a break for a few hours. He had showered and changed, and was now anticipating the scientists report. He no longer felt compelled to pace outside the examination room, but he was acutely aware of the implications that this body could have for SHADO. He was particularly intrigued by the lack of colouration in its skin and wanted answers.

Mayland Unit to SHADO Control. Put me through to Commander Straker please.' The senior scientist called in.

'Straker here.'

'Commander, are you in your office right now?' Dr Shroeder enquired.

''No, I'm in Control. Is there a problem?'

'I need to speak to you on your secure line Commander. Urgently. Please call me back from your office, and make sure you are alone.' Shroeder was insistent.

Straker looked askance at Ford, before heading for his office, and closing the door. 'Ford, secure line please.' He waited. 'Straker here. What do you have for me?'

'Commander, this alien corpse is not what it seems. We have doneDNAtests on all the organs as per usual, to establish which organs have been harvested. Commander, are you sure this line is absolutely safe?'

'Yes Shroeder, now just what exactly do you need to tell me.' Straker was getting impatient by now.

'This is absolutely unexpected Commander. From theDNAresults we have established beyond all doubt that the alien body is human, is in fact the body of a man whoseDNAwe have on record.'

'For heaven's sake doctor, get to the point.'

'Commander, the body appears to be that of Colonel James Packard, the IAC liaison officer assigned to General Clifford Buckley.'

'Ford, get me Alec Freeman immediately.' Straker ordered Lt. Ford over the intercom, and returned to his secure line. Shroeder, how positive are you of this.'

'As sure as I need to be Commander. The body is Packard. And yet it can't be. James Packard was here just two days ago, to discuss our requirements for the next financial year.'

Straker answered his flashing intercom.

'Straker.'

'Ed, do you know what time it is here? We're eleven hours behind you. This had better be important.' Alec Freeman sounded half-asleep, as well he might. It was three in the afternoon GMTand the middle of the night in Hawaii. Freeman was not pleased.

'Alec. The production of Protocol Agreement 7 has run into problems with copyright issues. I need you to contact the scriptwriters and arrange for them to meet the author in Los Angeles first thing in the morning. If we don't get it sorted out quickly, then we could be looking at delays in filming.'

Colonel Freeman stopped blustering when he heard the word Protocol, SHADO code for serious security breach.

'Okay Ed. No problem. I'll sort something out as soon as possible. How are the actors holding up?' Freeman decoded the message; Copyright – urgent problem in HQ, your presence required. Protocol 7 – use alternative ID and passport. First thing – immediately.

'Fine Alec, anyway I'll let you get back to sleep. Enjoy the rest of your holiday. Straker out.' He put the phone down. Alec would be on his way back to HQ within the next few hours depending on the availability of flights. He had a bank card for his alias account and a standby passport with bogus name. Straker was probably being ultra cautious, but Packard had arranged the flight toHawaiiand Straker didn't want him tracking Alec home from the islands.

David Michaels, aka Colonel Freeman, deplaned at Heathrow and wearily walked to the exit. He had travelled light, hand luggage only, and had been careful not to attract any attention on the flight. It had been one of the rare times he had flown economy as a matter of security; people tended not to notice the 'cattle class' passengers, and anyone looking for him specifically would have been concentrating on the business section of the plane. He was stiff, cramped and tired. It had been a mad rush to arrange for the safe storage of the Gulfstream's precious cargo of updates until someone could return to Hawaii to install them in the telescopes. He needed, boy, how he needed, a decent meal, a long hot shower and some sleep, not necessarily in that order. He grimaced as he realised that Colonel Philips was waiting to collect him from the airport; no chance of going home then.

He smiled at her as he approached, then, mindful of the need to maintain his cover, hugged her and planted a kiss on her mouth. 'Darling, good of you to pick me up. Hell of a flight; I'm absolutely knackered.' The weary business man, being met by his wife. It might just sidetrack anyone who had suspicions about him.

She looked at him, appraisingly, for a minute fraction of a second, a quirky smile on her face, and then fell in with his plan.

'Yes dear, you look worn out. Come on, the car's waiting and you can tell me all about it on the way home. Did you manage to get everything done?' she chattered on as she led the way. The car, innocuous enough, was parked near to another SHADO vehicle; the two agents inside the second car nodding to Colonel Philips as she walked past.

Rachel got in the driver's side. 'Sorry Colonel, I know you don't like being driven, but this does fit in with your cover story, besides which, you look too tired to be safe behind the wheel.' She drove off steadily, followed at a discrete distance by the security agents.

'I bet Ed wants me at HQ immediately.' Alec spoke reluctantly. 'I really want a shower and a change of clothes after nearly sixteen hours of travelling, but I don't suppose there's time.'

Rachel looked briefly at him, before bringing her attention back to her driving. 'Actually Colonel, I agree. You really do need a shower.' She smiled at him understandingly. She knew how exhausting long haul flights were, especially in economy class. 'Ed doesn't need to know exactly what time I picked you up. I think SHADO can spare ten minutes for you to get changed and so on.'

He smiled at her, thankful that this intelligent, thoughtful woman had been assigned to collect him. He felt perfectly comfortable with her and relaxed as she radioed the tailing car to tell them of the alteration to the plan.

Rachel escorted Alec to his apartment and waited inside while he hurried through a shower and quick change. He looked much more presentable when he reappeared and she handed him a mug of coffee. He drank it quickly, mindful that Ed would be waiting at HQ and would not appreciate any unnecessary delays.

Dr Shroeder and Ed were in the Commander's office when Alec Freeman arrived. He joined them at the large conference table and Straker, after one look at his executive officer's tired face, poured him a measure of Ardbeg.

'Here, you look like you need it.' he commented sympathetically as he handed Alec the glass. 'Good flight?'

'What red-eye flight in economy is ever good?' Alec took an appreciative sip, savouring the heady smokiness of the pure malt, then put the glass down. 'Right, you've not dragged me back from the other side of the world to drink your whisky, good as it is. What's going on?'

Straker picked up a folder from the table and handed it to Colonel Freeman. 'That alien corpse Sky 4 retrieved. It was unusual, to say the least. Read the report. I'd like to have your unbiased opinion.'

Freeman flicked through the details, reading swiftly and occasionally going back to check a previous paragraph. Eventually, putting the papers down, he looked at Ed.

'Is this for real? Not some kind of joke?'

'The report is completely accurate Colonel.' Dr Shroeder answered in an aggrieved tone.

'Alright Alec. Your first impressions. What do you make of it?' Straker stared at him, eyes meeting in an unspoken understanding. Both men knew that this was a serious development in the aliens continued assault on Earth.

'Well, the way I see it, Packard can't be in two places at once. We know that the aliens have cloned humans before, but those have only been SHADO operatives. The IAC Packard must be, can only be a clone considering the level of genetic manipulation detailed in this report. But why? It doesn't make any sense. I can't see what benefit it would give the aliens; he has been supportive of SHADO all along.'

'So, think outside the box. Let's go over the facts again, as we know them. One, this alien does not have the green colouring we have come to expect from being immersed in oxygenated liquid for months. Two, his DNA is, to all intents and purposes identical to that of a man who has connections to this organisation. Three, we know that the aliens have the technology to clone humans. Four, the aliens, in the past have used cloned humans under their control, to replace operatives. Now let's twist those facts around. We are making assumptions based on the little evidence we have gathered about the aliens. What if….' Straker was silent for a moment, wondering if Alec Freeman would be able to make the same intuitive leap. 'What if the alien Packard was the clone? What if our Packard, our unimaginative, blinkered liaison officer is the original? Could that be the case? It would explain the lack of green colouration. Dr Shroeder speculates in his report that this reproductive clonal manipulation could affect the skin's ability to absorb the pigmentation.'

There was a stunned silence from the other two at the conference table.

'That would mean that the aliens have managed build themselves a power base on Earth. I'm not comfortable with that hypothesis, Ed.' Colonel Freeman mused. 'but let's explore it a little further. You are speculating that the aliens have been using humans as the basis for creating clones that are, to all intents and purposes, aliens. Are these clones then taken back to the aliens' home world? If so, how?'

'Perhaps the basic genetic material is the only thing that is transported and the clones are matured on the home world, ready to be used as pilots for attacking Earth. Straker countered, 'But that still doesn't explain Packard's involvement.'

Dr Shroeder leaned forward. 'Cloning on this level involves complicity on behalf of the donor. We know that previous clones have been very immature mentally, unable to speak or act as naturally as humans. If, as you suggest, Packard has been the donor he must have undergone several medical procedures. I doubt if he would have become involved without some form of recompense or reward.'

Straker was even paler than usual. 'You are saying that Packard is voluntarily working for the aliens? Is, in fact, betraying his own people for either financial reward or some other incentive?' He looked sickened at the thought.

'That is a strong possibility, Commander.' Shroeder confirmed. 'By participating in the cloning procedure Packard would be providing the enemy with vitally important genetic material that could be used to develop a whole legion of healthy, strong humans under alien control. It is also possible that the aliens simply want to avoid using their own people as UFO pilots due to the fact that the attrition rate is so high. A civilisation that is virtually sterile and facing extinction may well be reluctant to put its own people at risk, but would not object to clones being used. The clone is, itself, sterile, so it cannot be used for reproduction purposes, and cloned organs at this level of genetic manipulation are still not as viable as healthy organs harvested from living human donors, which is why the aliens continue to attack Earth. Human clones will not provide them with what they really need; a regular supply of vigorous donors of all ages from which they can take the organs they need.'

'And Packard has been helping them.' Straker looked across at Alec. 'Suggestions?'

'Let me bring him in and question him.' a blunt answer from a blunt man.

'Okay Alec, he's all yours.' Straker stood up. 'Let me know what you find out. Dr Shroeder and his team can help you.' He leaned on the table. 'I need answers Alec, and to be honest, I really don't care how you get them.'