Chapter 14
Torchwood - On Air
Exciting, drum laden music played, as the MIV zoomed back to Canary Wharf. Internal cameras showed Duncan driving and the team in the back preparing all their equipment for a hostile alien capture. Archive footage of an MIV travelling at speed down a main road, with blue lights flashing, and sirens blaring, was edited in to the scene.
David Rea was sitting in the front passenger seat, filming Duncan.
"We are making our way back to base, where we can take the airship over to Cardiff to apprehend the suspect. The Cardiff team are keeping an eye on the suspect for us, so that we can plan a quick and effective mission," Duncan said.
The MIV drove down the slope into the underground garage, where the team quickly jumped out of the vehicle with their gear, and ran to the lifts with the camera jogging along behind them.
["The Special Operations Unit has a 'bullet' lift which takes them either to the third floor, or to the roof. Today they will be going directly to the roof hangar,"] Tennant said.
In the lift, the team members joked and chatted as they normally did before a potentially dangerous mission; it helped to ease the tension and stay calm. Alice DiMaggio had told them that a dark sense of humour was a healthy release for stress before and after a mission, and they embraced the concept with enthusiasm.
David Tennant explained the operation of the lift that the agents were travelling in. ["The 'bullet' lift travels so fast, that it builds a pressure wave in front of it. Powerful air pumps on the roof suck air out of the lift shaft to form a partial vacuum to allow a rapid ascent, and pumps in the basement allow a rapid descent."]
The lift doors opened, and the city of London could be seen in front of them, as the triangular walls of the pyramid had been lowered in preparation for take off. The camera followed the team as they ran over to the airship and up the ramp into the cabin, where they strapped themselves into the seats. Outside the airship, Camera Director Will Hustler filmed the airship as it rose vertically to clear the roof, rotate to the west, and then accelerate away as Captain Wallace opened the throttle.
["During the thirty minute flight, Duncan contacts his colleagues in Cardiff, and starts to plan the mission."]
"Torchwood Three, this is Duncan Prescott in Sky Hawk, over," Duncan said into his head set.
"Hello Duncan, this is Laura in the Hub. Gwen has apprised us of the situation, and I'm sending you the video feed of your suspect, over."
On one of the screens, a group of six people could be seen sitting around a table in a bright, glass walled restaurant, with the suspect highlighted by the computer software.
"Good work Laura, that's our alien. Where is this restaurant?"
"It's on the pier in the bay. We've discretely closed the walkway to prevent anymore people from entering the restaurant, and we've got a man in there drinking coffee and feeding us information."
"Has he managed to find out anything?"
"Oh yes, we've been busy while you've been travelling. All six people at the table are interacting socially as though they've know each other for a long time," Laura told him.
"So they could be family?" Duncan said, remembering what John and Rose had told him about their universe's version of the aliens.
"Yeah, I suppose they could. The local police have cleared an area on the roof car park of Mermaid Quay so that you can put down; it's a short walk past Cafe Rouge to the pier."
["Duncan looks at the map on the screen and sees where the airship will land,"] Tennant said.
"The building of the Cafe Rouge, should mask the airship if we approach from the north, can we do that Captain?"
"Roger that Duncan, adjusting the flight plan now," Wallace said.
"Good, that means we can make a covert entrance to the restaurant and control the situation. Bart and John Boy get your body armour off, you're going into the waiting trade," Duncan said with a grin.
"Wha?" they replied, together.
"Laura, can you get your man on the inside to have a word with the manager? Tell him he's got two new waiters coming on shift," Duncan said into the radio.
"Ah, I see what you're up to. Okay, consider it done."
The airship approached Cardiff to the north of the city, and banked to head south towards the bay. The external cameras showed the city from above, as they descended towards the landing area, where a police patrol car and two officers were waiting.
["The team are now approaching the landing site, and during the flight, Duncan selected a preset mission profile, and allocated roles for each of the members of the team. This is similar to an American football team selecting a particular play, which is used to move the ball down the field. The agents have looked over the floor plans of the restaurant, and know the location of the suspect and her five accomplices, exits, kitchens and storage areas. In effect, they know there is no where for the suspects to run where they can't get them."]
The airship touched down, and the door dropped down to form the ramp. All the seat harnesses sprung open as one, and the team leapt to their feet, following Duncan down the ramp onto the roof car park. The two police officers were walking towards Duncan; one of them was carrying some clothing bags.
"You must be the Torchwood lot," the officer with the clothes bags said. "Someone called Laura said you'd be needing these."
Clive and Danny took the bags and unzipped them to find black trousers, white shirts, and a small apron; it was their waiters' uniforms.
"Right, go and get changed, and we can get this show on the road," Duncan said, before turning to the police officers. "Duncan Prescott, Special Operations, I wonder if we could impose on you to supply a van to contain our suspects? We thought there was only one when we set off, but it looks like there's half a dozen of them."
"Hang on, I'll just get on the radio and call for back up," one of the officers said, reaching into the patrol car for the handset.
"Hey, how do we look?" Danny called out a few minutes later from the top of the airship ramp where they'd changed out of their black uniforms. The screen split into two, and the left hand pane showed Danny, in his black uniform, the camera zooming in as it usually did.
Name: Danny (John Boy) Walton.
Position: Special Operations Field Agent.
Time with Torchwood: 15 Years.
Likes: Bugs Bunny (a cool dude).
Dislikes: Romantic movies (they make him cry).
Clive was fastening the cuffs on the sleeves of the crisp, white shirt, as the screen split into two for him, and the left hand pane showed him in his black uniform, and the camera zoomed in again.
Name: Clive (Bart) Simpson.
Position: Special Operations Field Agent.
Time with Torchwood: 16 Years.
Likes: Football.
Dislikes: Confidence tricksters.
"You two sweethearts look lovely…, now get over there, and start waiting on tables," Duncan said with a laugh.
The two agents laughed and made their way to the corner of the car park, where they descended the metal steps onto Stuart Street.
David Rea filmed them walking across the road and disappearing from view between the Cafe Rouge and the Woods Brassiere. He then turned to film the rest of the team walking towards him, carrying their helmets and stun guns.
"You'll have to stay outside for this one David; it could get a bit messy in there. The building is mainly glass though, so you should be able to film what's going on, and you'll have the audio from our intercoms," Duncan told him, before descending the stairs onto the street.
They stood on the street and waited for traffic to pass, before crossing the road, when they saw a white police van turn the corner out of Adelaide Street onto Stuart Street.
"Ah, here we are, the cavalry has arrived," Duncan said. "Just hang on a minute while I have a word."
The officer driving the van wound down the window. "Blimey, it looks like you lot are expecting trouble."
"Nah, we just like to be prepared…, can I have a look in the back?" Duncan said.
"Er, yeah, if you like…, but it's just a standard security cage." The officer climbed down and walked to the back and opened the door. "There you are, a mobile police cell," he said as he opened the cage.
Duncan reached into one of the pouches on his utility belt, and held up a weird looking handheld device with wires and knobs on it, and a bell…, and a whistle. 'Is John taking the Mickey or what?' Duncan thought before switching it on and putting it in the cage.
He recalled the conversation he'd had with John when he gave him the gadget. ['Before you go and apprehend the suspect, switch this on and leave it in the holding cell..., just in case.']
['In case of what?']
['Oh, nothing..., much..., really. It's just a precaution.']
"Just keep that locked until we get back will you," he said to the officer, before leading his team towards the restaurant.
Clive and Danny approached the short pier walkway, and saw a workman wearing overalls, who they presumed was from Torchwood Three.
"Er, excuse me sirs, we're just doing some work on the walkway, should be done in half an hour or so," the workman said.
Danny discreetly took his ID out of his pocket and nodded to it for the workman to look at. "Torchwood One; hopefully it will be less than half an hour."
The workman grinned at them. "Good luck, our man is in the corner nearest the door reading a newspaper."
Clive and Danny nodded in acknowledgment, and set off for the restaurant. As they arrived at the restaurant and went inside, they nodded at the Cardiff agent sitting in the corner, before going through to the kitchens.
"You're the manager, yeah?" Danny asked a man in the kitchen.
"Yes, will someone tell me what's going on?" he asked, with a certain degree of fear and frustration.
"In a word... No! But you'll get an idea pretty soon," Danny told him. "When it kicks off, some customers and staff will be directed through here, just follow the instructions that our people give you."
"How will I know your people?" the manager asked.
Clive and Danny looked at each other and laughed.
"Trust me, you'll know," Clive said. "Now, can I have six cups of vinegar please?"
The manager was so flabbergasted by these apparently loose cannons, that he didn't question it, he even put milk and sugar on the tray.
"Danny and Clive ready to go, standing by, over," Danny said quietly into the air. His sensitive in-ear communication unit relayed his message to the rest of the team.
Duncan's voice replied in their ears. "Okay, start the distraction, and we'll move in, over."
"Roger that, it's show time!" Danny said, and moved into the restaurant, heading for the suspects table.
"Six drinks for table three," he said cheerfully, putting the tray in the middle, next to the small flower arrangement.
"Oh, but we didn't order drinks," one of the suspects said. Another of the group looked at the cups of vinegar and cautiously sniffed at it, recoiling in horror.
"But this is vinegar!" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, best balsamic," Danny said with a smile. "I thought it was a bit strange myself, but if you've got a taste for it..."
"A TASTE FOR IT?" one of the group said in disbelief.
"You idiot!" Clive said behind him. "I said 'they hate vinegar', not 'they've got a taste for vinegar'. It interferes with their calcium metabolism, makes them explode."
"What?!" one of them said.
"What did you say?" another asked, as the group suddenly became alert to danger.
"Isn't it like putting vinegar on bicarbonate of soda? Only in your case it doesn't froth, it explodes," Clive said menacingly.
"Who are you?" the mother in law asked them.
"Torchwood," an electronic voice from Duncan's helmet public address system said from behind them.
The group jumped to their feet, knocking over chairs. Clive drew his stun gun and guided customers and staff into the kitchens. Danny covered the side entrance nearest to him, as Stuart came through the opposite door, kitted out in full body armour and helmet. The Cardiff agent emptied the restaurant through the main entrance, leading them down the short pier, as Pete came through and blocked off that line of escape.
"This is a bit excessive for a group of pensioners isn't it?" the mother in law said.
"You are under arrest on suspicion of six counts of murder, failure to register your arrival on a level five planet, and living on a level five planet without a permit. You have the right to remain silent; it may harm your defence if you do not mention now, something that you later rely on in court; anything you do say can and will be used in evidence, do you understand the caution?" Duncan said, pointing a stun rifle at the group.
"Perfectly," the mother in law said, as the group touched watches, pendants and brooches, and promptly disappeared.