The planet Lirot was a low-gravity world. The people had once fought wars on the backs of birds, but over time had found ways to reach the moons of this world, Nud, Pel, Guse, and Heid. On the third moon, Guse, sat the Lirot-Space Fleet, small but a well-trained and efficient force, the best of which were the Sharp-Birds, which spent much of their time on standby on an orbiting base. It was on the Guse Sharp-Birds base that a blue box materialized.
The Warrior strode into the base, to be met immediately by five troopers with weapons. "Not the reception I was expecting" he said.
"Nobody is allowed in here" said one of the guards.
"I'm allowed in here" said the Warrior in a tone pleasant but with force. "It is very important I meet the commander!"
"Who are you?" asked another guard.
"I was told this would explain matters" replied the Doctor, holding up a small identification pod. One of the soldiers put it under the identity scanner and a blue light appeared, as a mechanical voice read "Doctor John Smith. Please report immediately to Marshal's office."
A few minutes later the Warrior was in the office of Orbital Marshal Erzor Ultridge, late middle-aged and stern-looking. "Interesting, recommendations from Callidus Dominus himself" said the Marshal.
"Yes. I have been sent here... on the matter of the Virmoks. They are currently..."
"I know they are in negotiations with our neighbors of Jempewol" interrupted Ultridge. "I know that the Malphans wish us to move against them. But we are in negotiations with the Virmoks." The Marshal pressed a button and an image appeared, of a large Virmok ship, within orbit of the moon.
"You are allowing them this close?" said the Warrior.
"Scans do not show a heavily-armed ship, merely standard defences. And they merely wish to make terms. For the past six days we have been negotiating with them."
"But you cannot trust them!" said the Warrior. "They're only delaying you. Once they have Jempewol, they will not hesitate to conquer your system."
"As it happens, we are facing our own problems" said the Marshal. "Currently there are troubles on our moons. We are undergoing economic difficulties, lack of commerce and food shortages..."
"Which have been caused by Virmok expansion."
"Perhaps so, but billions think otherwise. They blame the Malphans for our troubles, their expansion throughout the Galaxy on a much greater scale, and think those of Virmok could counter them."
The Warrior felt uneasy. He knew the Malphans were also attempting to gain control of the Galaxy. But he knew the path of history, the Malphans needed to be the dominant force in their Galaxy for the end of the century, where they would take a pivotal part in the Dalek Wars.
"The Malphans are... not as violent" said the Doctor. His experience in the war had taught him sometimes you needed to make alliances with those you would usually oppose. "And they hold more to their treaties."
"There is another, even greater problem. Currently there is a plague on Guse. And four days ago the plague reached this facility" said Ultirdge.
"A plague? What type?" asked the Doctor.
"A highly infectious one. We've had to close of most of the facility and we're trying to keep the news secret. If word got out that the best defense force of Lirot was under attack by the plague... it could spell disaster. We can't let the Virmokians know we are negotiating from a weak position."
"How many of your troops are infected?"
"31% of those here have been infected by it and the entire place is under quarantine. But you say you are a Doctor?"
"I have done medical training" replied the Warrior. "And I will be ready to treat the plague."
"We have the best doctors on Guse working on the plague. But we haven't had any luck."
"Well, I've had experience with the medical practices of many worlds. We will see how well I can treat the plague. Give me the notes on the plague."
"Really? Very well" said the Marshal, printing out a set of notes. The Doctor looked at the notes, scanning them in detail.
"Any thoughts?"
The Doctor looked up, having just finished reading. "I will require a personal lab" he said. "And your most advanced equipment."
"And why should I give you those?" asked the Marshal. "Already, my medics..."
"Callidus Dominus and the Malphans said my importance. I would not be wasting your time when so much is threatened by the Virmokians" said the Warrior angrily. He stood. "Ready the lab. I will look at the infection personally."
A short while later the Doctor was in the medical facility, wearing protective clothing. All the beds were full. The Doctor looked over the infected Liroti, who were covered with bulging spots, and many of them were shouting for water. The Time Lord frowned. There was something vaguely familiar about this infection.
Doctor Kerpy stepped over to him. "Doctor John Smith" she said. "I have heard you are a medical expert and can help us. Your lab has just been made ready."
A middle-aged man with a sour look glared at the Doctor. "Why should you get a private lab? You're only just here."
"Flight Lieutenant Mesot" said Kerpy. "Doctor Smith has been recommended to us by the Malphan..."
Mesot looked angry. "The Malphans? Why should we listen to them?"
"Because" said the Doctor angrily, "it is important that..."
"Mesot, it is time you got back to work" said Kerpy.
The Lieutenant walked away angrily.
"His brother is one of those infected" whispered Kerpy. "He is not one of the easier soldiers, and he is naturally worried."
"Then it is best I develop a cure" said the Doctor. "I need a sample of the plague and the best technology you have."
He spoke with an authority that showed he was used to giving commands, and Kerpy found it hard to disagree with him.
The Doctor was soon sitting in a lab, working over the plague. Vials of blood from the infected were around him, and he was performing a variety of experiments on it, extracting the plague. The Doctor was a bit out of practice in medical matters but still knew enough.
Finally, after over an hour of work, the Doctor called for Kerpy. A few minutes later the door slid open and Erzor entered, followed by Flight Lieutenant Mesot and Kerpy.
"Why are you here?" inquired the Doctor.
"I wanted to personally see how your work was progressing Doctor" said Erzor. "And Mesot insisted on coming when you heard you had information."
"Yes. It has taken me some time, but..."
"Get to the point! Can you make a cure?" asked Mesot angrily. "There are hundreds close to death!"
The Doctor held up a sample of plague. "I have not seen a plague like this for many years. It is based on one developed by my people."
"Your people?" said the Flight Lieutenant angrily. "You are responsible..."
"He would not tell us this if he were part of the plague" interrupted Erzor, shooting a stern look at Mesot. "Can you cure this?"
"It's a mutating form of plague, based on regenerative DNA. A Gallifreyan-based weapon, but not so advanced. I remember working on a similar project 20 or so of your years ago, but we only dropped it in concentrated packets, designed to die within the bodies of the species it was not suited for. We finally had to sterilize the planets it was in due to the risk of mutation, 341 soldiers allied to us died from it."
"What war were you fighting in?" asked the Lieutenant suspiciously.
"One which I have so far kept out of this... area, for about another 50 years" said the Doctor. "But this plague seems to have been developed from the same principles, and I can cure it, with the use of this."
He pulled a vial out of his jacket.
"Gallifreyan restorative. Standard procedure for combatants of my rank. I used to carry it in an umbrella."
"And this can cure us?" asked Doctor Kerpy, reaching out.
"Of course not!" said the Doctor, snatching it away. "The raw product would kill one of your species within an hour. But if I isolate the right ingredients, and combine it with your DNA, I should be able to come up with a cure... perhaps even by midday!"
"Well we've lost..." The Marshal checked a machine. "...253 of our troops, so continue with this cure Doctor!"
"Yes. Doctor Kerpy, if you could assist me."
"Why are you sitting here? Get the cure ready!" shouted Mesot.
"It will help if you do not distract me!" said the Doctor angrily. "Now leave, and I'll get the cure ready soon!"
Doctor Kerpy sat down, pulling on a pair of protective gloves as the Doctor handed her a hastily-scrawled set of complicated-looking instructions. "I just need you to form this part of the compound. I'll do the rest."
"What species are you?" Kerpy asked curiously, as she injected a sample of a thick blue chemical into a clear chemical.
"I'm a... Time Lord" replied the Doctor.
"You say that like it is something to be ashamed of" said Kerpy.
"Shouldn't you be putting Irode into the Eoxtosor?" asked the Doctor.
"Ratio 1 to 3, I know" said Kerpy, mixing a green liquid in with the Eoxtosor. "You're quick to change the subject."
"Many of the people I've met haven't been... happy with Time Lords."
"I've seen people think the same things of other races" said Kerpy. "But what does it matter? We should just find the cure."
The Doctor smiled. "That's the spirit!"
A few hours later the Doctor sat back, having finally engineered the cure with Kerpy. She had just come back from testing it and smiled at the Doctor. "It's working! I've given orders for it to be mass-produced immediately!"
"But we still have another question. How did it get onto the ship?"
"It just... appeared. We suspected the embassy, but there was little we could do against them."
"Bring me all information on the spread of the plague" said the Doctor. "Now! We need to find this out quickly!"
The Doctor was reading frantically through the information and looking at a screen when Erzor entered. "The security footage... how did you... do you have clearance?"
"It was a basic system" said the Doctor. "The first recorded case of the plague was five days ago... third cycle of the day..."
"You really should have asked for the footage. You may be on special..."
"...And I cured the plague, now please be quiet!" The Doctor scanned through. "So these security blips began appearing the day before the plague?"
"Apparently the warp-engine used by the ambassadors-ship interferes with the feed."
"Interesting. If I just look through the feed, while looking at the places where the plague started..."
"The first recorded cases of the plague were on Guse, eight days ago. We thought it was brought by a supply ship. We perform checks on the pilots but the plague was new... we might not have recognized the early signs."
The Doctor turned to Erzor. "I found that blips appeared around ventilation leading to the areas where the first plague victims were."
"So... the blips were coordinated. This was planned."
"Yes" replied the Doctor. "But I think I will know who's behind this in a moment." He gave a shout "There!"
A man was on the screen, just above lowest-rank. He was of average-height with brown hair, an ordinary-looking man.
"You think this is him?"
"Yes. And if I look at the current security scan..." The Doctor looked through the base. "He is..." There was a crack and blips began to appear on the security screens.
"The power systems!" cried the Doctor. "He must be there!"
"But you can't see" said Erzor.
"The scans show interference in the power systems" said the Doctor. "I'll go and investigate."
"Doctor, you can't..." But the Doctor was already running out. Suddenly, the lights dimmed, and an automatic voice said "There is a power problem. Unnecessary power outages being turned off. Repeat, unnecessary power outages being turned off."
The Doctor, having gathered five guards on Erzor's orders, saw a door leading to the lower levels slam shut.
"We can blast it open" said the woman leading the guards pulling out her gun.
"No, I have a quicker way." The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and ran it over the door, opening it.
"It does seem dangerous, we don't know if there could be other agents down there" said Corporal Yolt. "Should we maybe wait..."
"We will continue" replied Sergeant Zulek.
At the bottom of the stairs the Doctor saw the ordinary-looking man walking away from the scene.
"Stop!" he shouted, running after them.
The man looked up and stepped round the corner.
"After him!" shouted Corporal Yolt, running forward.
The Doctor was wary. "Wait, it could be a trick..."
As Yolt ran to the corner there was a sudden explosion of something, blowing her off her feet. A chemical mist was filling the air, catching all non-agents by surprise.
A drawling, smug voice was heard from round the corner. "A concentrated dose of the plague is now filling this area. I've already been treated against it... but all of you..."
The Doctor coughed, watching as the soldiers staggered. The plague seemed to have been mainly created for Lirotians, though would effect other species. However, the plague it was based on was one which Time Lords could quickly shrug off. The Warrior prepared to pursue the man, but looked back at the troops, now infected by the plague.
"We need to get... treatment" said Zulek.
"Yes... All back... Up there..." Yolt staggered.
The Doctor was carrying a vial of the cure in his bandolier. The soldiers might be able to get a cure in time. But how strong was the concentrated plague? Should he immediately run after the enemy or go back and help them? Was he a Warrior or a Doctor? The Warrior wavered for a second, then threw the vial of cure at the feet of Zulek, who had doubled over in pain. Fortunately it was made of a glass strong enough to withstand being in a barrel of gunpowder.
"The cure is in there, send more troops down when they're wearing protection!" yelled the Doctor. Without looking to see if they had picked it up he ran on. Other incarnations might have given the cure personally, but in war pragmatic decisions needed to be made quickly.
The Doctor was soon gaining on the man, he could hear them ahead. He turned a corner, then gave a leap back as they fired at him. Reaching into his bandolier, the Warrior pulled something out and threw it round the corner. There was a bang, smoke filling the area. Pulling on goggles, the Warrior stepped cautiously round the corner, to see the man pointing his gun, looking around. He stepped forward cautiously, then realized his foe was turning their weapon on him.
The Warrior ducked under their shot and crashed into the agent, taking them by surprise, and pulled them to the floor. The smoke was clearing.
"You may be wondering how I saw through the smoke" said the agent. The Warrior felt a sudden sharp stab of pain, and looked down to see blood flowing from his hand, and bloody claws from the agent's hands as they wriggled free. The man had looked Lirotian when the Doctor first saw them but was slightly shorter now, with different eyes, paler skin, and baldness.
"How did you change?" asked the Doctor.
"A DNA Patch" said the agent. "Lieutenant Delos of Covert Virmok Operations. I was sent by Governor Arma Faber, inventor of the DNA Patch."
"It looks like he's done some more tinkering with your genes" said the Doctor.
Delos smirked. "I am well suited for intelligence missions." His eyes darted for his weapon and he made a sudden movement. However the Doctor had been anticipating this and moved after him. He kicked the gun away and with a deft movement hurled Delos over, striking them against the floor.
"Stop right there" said an authoritative voice.
The Doctor turned to see the other woman with the soldiers, Corporal Yolt, with her gun out.
"The others?" he asked.
"I volunteered to go on after taking a sample of the cure. The others said I should wait, but I ran ahead."
"But... the plague doesn't seem to..."
The Doctor realized what had happened. "Were you also responsible for the plague?"
The woman smirked at the Doctor. "Yes. I was."
"What motivated you?"
"Things are changing in the Galaxy. I was planning to leave with the Virmokians, before they begin their conquest of Lirot. I may not be accepted in this system but I have been promised a comfortable life in one of the Virmok systems for helping this agent.
"Of course. There are always Quislings on civilized worlds. But for you... it just comes down to comfort."
"It's a difficult life. Guse is not a pleasant place" said Yolt. "There are people all over the four moons ready to support Virmok's forces... thousands!"
"What do you plan to do with me?" inquired the Doctor.
"Arma Faber said a man like you might be present" said Delos. "A man called the Doctor."
"I prefer not to use that name" said the Warrior.
"From what I heard you were a doctor" replied Yolt. "Curing the plague."
"Yes, I do have some medical knowledge" replied the Doctor.
"We were explicitly told by Faber not to kill you... but to bring you to him" said Delos. "So, come with us. Quickly!"
"Or what? You'll shoot me?" inquired the Doctor. "I know the gun you're holding only has a kill setting. And if I'm shot in the leg I'll have trouble moving quickly."
"There is a stun setting on my gun" replied Delos. "So move! I could make things very unpleasant for you on the journey..."
"Then we will return to your ship" said the Doctor.
He began moving along at a brisk pace, Yolt just behind him. The Warrior recognized the route from the security footage, they were moving towards a small shuttle-bay.
"What were you doing with the power?" asked the Doctor.
"A mere weakening of the defenses" smirked Delos. "You should know what our plan is soon." He opened a door. "We will soon be at the shuttle-bay."
Just as they turned another corner, the Warrior stopped. Yolt almost crashed into him, and the Warrior moved, ducking under her gun as she fired, and wrestling it upwards as he turned round. The Lirotians were physically weaker then him and the Warrior quickly got the gun from her grasp. With a snarl, Yolt tried to pull a knife out of her leg-holster, but the Warrior struck her hand and his fist crashed into her face.
Delos had been walking to his shuttle but saw what was happening and ran over, aiming his gun. However the Warrior held Yolt in front of him.
"Using her as a shield?" asked Delos.
"I know you won't fire a killing blast" said the Warrior, edging back.
"I can move swiftly, eventually I will hit you" said Delos.
"How long will that take?"
The sound of people running could be heard. "Reinforcements" smiled the Doctor.
Delos wavered, then ran. The Warrior snatched Yolt's gun from her, aimed and threw. Delos crashed to the floor, unconscious despite his helmet.
Seven people in protective clothing came round the corner. "What..." began a short man.
"Good. I was hoping for some help taking these agents back" said the Doctor.
Captain Ojrime sat in the main deck of his ship. He was getting old and wished to return home and see his second grandson, born recently. He had been sent on the diplomatic mission as he was known as a man of honor. There was wariness from some in this system on accepting diplomacy with Virmok after they had broken their treaty with Ohes. Ojrime had argued against this quite prominently, and suspected this was why he had been kept out of battles and was being sent on this mission. He had heard rumors that there had plans against him, but millions had been against breaking the treaty, and Nidotre couldn't afford much more discontent on Virmok. Ojrime blamed Arma Faber for what had happened. He had appeared suddenly, gaining the trust of Nidotre just before the death of Falwost, when Nidotre had quickly taken over government. After that Nidotre had begun his expansion of the Virmok Empire, aided by Faber's technological advances.
There was a bang, and Orjime saw a blast come from his ship, striking the base. He turned in a fury to the communicator, turning it to the Chief Gunner.
"Who ordered that shot?"
"Lieutenant Pojril" said the Gunner.
Captain Ojrime turned to see Lieutenant Pojril entering the main deck. He rounded on him. "Why did you fire on their base?"
"We had orders from Nidotre. When we got the signal we were to begin the attack."
Ojrime hadn't liked those orders. He glared at Pojril. "We are a peace mission. We should not break terms. And now they will crush us."
The Lieutenant laughed. "You are forgetting our weapon."
"I am uncertain how useful this will be."
"Oh don't worry. We were assured they would work perfectly."
There was a bang and the Sharp-Bird base shook. "The Virmoks are attacking!" shouted the Doctor.
"But they have only one ship" said Erzor. "How can they hope to win?"
"I have already readied some ships" said the Flight Lieutenant. "They should soon be flying out to meet those treacherous Virmokians!"
"We should be more cautious, why would they attack if battle looked so hopeless?" asked the Doctor.
"They must have realized the failiure of their plan and attacked despite the hopelessness" said the Lieutenant. "I am thankful for you helping to cure so many of our troops, including my brother, but you are a doctor."
"I am a warrior and I know war!" replied the Warrior in a fierce manner. "And I know it is dangerous to underestimate an enemy."
"Excuse me" said a man, sitting at the scanner showing the battle. "I think you should see this."
"Alert! Alert!" came a crackle of communication. "Under severe attack! Virmokians deploying something unknown."
The Warrior looked at the scanner in horror. 16 ships had left to combat the Virmok ship but were being assailed by a series of probes.
"Enlarge the images of the probes" said the Doctor.
The scanner-man did so. Each was several meters in diameter, but constantly shifting in shape, tearing at the ships.
"They're using reforming probes!"
"What?"
"Reforming probes. A useful weapon... watch!"
One of the ships struck a probe with its cannons. However as the pieces whirled in the vacuum of space, they began to reform, within a few seconds the probe was mostly back together.
"How can we defeat such a weapon?" asked one of the Captains.
"I know them, I have fought them many a time, I can beat them" replied the Warrior. "But I'll need my travel machine."
"How long will you be?" asked Erzor, a moment later as the Warrior entered the room where his TARDIS was.
"From your perspective, not that long" said the Warrior. He closed the door and a moment later there was a wheezing groaning sound from inside. Erzor wondered what the Doctor was doing in there, but just as he decided to go in he heard the same sound and a door opening and closing. A moment later the Doctor was out, carrying an advanced-looking piece of machinery.
"There! Finished!"
"In such a short span?"
"I'd prefer not to explain. Now, hopefully a ship is ready!"
The Warrior moved into one of the ships. "Prepare to launch!"
"We've just lost our 4th ship, you'll be killed!"
"I have a plan" said the Warrior. "Now let me out!"
The ship moved out, the Warrior flying straight at a cluster of probes that began surrounding him.
The Warrior moved the ship nimbly away and fired, catching two of the probes. The pieces began to swirl together again... but somehow missed each other, scattering outwards.
On the Virmok ship the Captain looked furious. "What is happening?"
"We cannot say!" replied one of his coordinators. "They just won't come together!"
"Well make them! Or you will be replaced!"
The remaining 9 ships, inspired by the Warrior, began to move against the probes.
"Concentrate your fire!" ordered the Warrior.
"Now, you don't have a position!" began the Squadron Commander in the base, but his Marshal cut them off. "Obey Doctor Smith! He seems to know what he's doing."
The ships complied, moving into formation with the Warrior.
"Fire to your close right, that cluster!"
They complied, blowing apart a mass of probes just moving apart.
"Far left! Then close right again!"
The Warrior had a presence of command, and clearly a mind honed for tactics. Under his leadership the tide of battle began to turn.
"Retreat! Retreat!" shouted the Captain.
With the ship moving at sub-light speed, the Chief Pilot began to tap in calculations for the fastest route back to Virmok-controlled space, when suddenly the lights began flickering in the ship.
"You will surrender to us" came the transmitted voice of the Marshal. "Eject your missile banks, allow my troops aboard, surrender your weapons, and if you comply you will not be harmed."
"Why aren't we in hyperspace?" snarled the Captain.
"I'm sorry, there's a problem with the power supply, I can't divert energy quickly enough."
"What!" cried Lieutenant Pojril. "What did you do?"
"It is me who is responsible" replied a voice on the intercom, a voice the Captain recognized from the recent battle.
"You? How have you stopped us? Where are you?"
"Currently in the lower mid-engine rooms. While the battle was happening and your attention was diverted, I knocked out the guard and made a few alterations to the speed adjusters. You should be able to repair them in a quarter hour, but, well... I don't think you have that much time."
"How did you... But you couldn't have got there so quickly!"
"You are speaking to me half an hour from now" replied the voice. "These sorts of methods were commonplace in the War I fought in. It is surprisingly easy without Vortex Shields in place."
"Your ship..." The Captain turned to the controls. "Find his ship!"
"I formulated this idea before now" said the Warrior. The scanner showed his craft returning to the base. "I would advise you surrender."
Meanwhile troops had burst into the lower engine rooms, and were hunting quickly.
"And why shouldn't we just destroy my ship?" whispered the Lieutenant. "I could take you with me."
"Kill all your soldiers? It would hardly help you" came the reply.
"I am the one who gives the command" said Ojrime angrily, though he could understand this thought.
"Captain Ojrime! We've found a blue box below decks!" came the report from one of his troops.
"And the saboteur?"
"No trace of him. We believe him to be in the box!"
"I am in the box" came the Doctor's voice.
"Open it!" shouted Ojrime.
"I will tell you it is useless trying to break in" came the reply from the Doctor.
"Why haven't you left?"
"Well, I want you to surrender."
The troops were blasting the TARDIS but to no avail.
"Tell your troops to stop attacking the TARDIS. They can't get through."
"What about the explosion of this ship?" asked Pojril.
"The destruction of your ship won't destroy mine."
"I'm dead anyway" replied the Captain. There was a frantic note in his voice. "When General Nidotre finds out..." said Pojril, leaving the sentence unfinished.
His hand reached towards the control panel and he began moving through the options.
This incarnation of the Doctor may have been more inclined to violence but he still tried finding ways to avoid it. "If you surrender you can still live. You still have life, and it can get better."
"But what happens to the families of disgraced officers?" asked Pojril. "What of your wife? What of your daughter? Her sons? Your son? Your sister? Die now, and they can at least keep their property."
"I once heard of a man like you" said the Doctor. He had done some research in the TARDIS on Ojrime. "His name was Rommel, and like you he was a commander for an evil regime, a man more decent then most in that regime. He may have slain himself because his family was threatened but you don't have to."
"He slew himself, as should you!" said Pojril.
"Wait. He must have some point to telling me this" said Ojrime.
"You are not in the midst of this regime. You can survive this. Soon we will depart and fight Nidotre. If we defeat him all you will have achieved by blowing yourself up is the death of you, and many of your men. What do your men think?"
Ojrime turned to one of his officers.
"What do you think?"
"We have to be loyal, obey our superiors..." said the man.
"What do you truly think?"
"I... I would prefer to... live" said the man nervously.
"And you?" Ojrime asked another officer, older then the first.
"I cannot say" said the officer. "But I respect you and will go with what you say."
"See! Your opinion is important!" argued Pojril. "So..."
"It is my opinion and I am making my mind up" said Pojril. He turned to one of the younger officers. "You?"
"To live" said the officer. "I have a daughter like you... I would like to see her again."
"And why listen to this man who argues death?"
"For our protection!" said Pojril.
"But why should I trust you?" asked Orjime. "After the trouble you brought!"
The Captain turned to one of the communicators. "Tell the Lirot... we surrender."
"No!" cried Pojril, panic in his voice. "We can't surrender, we can't!"
"I am your Captain. This is my ship and my command!"
Pojril moved towards the console.
"Restrain him" Ojrime commanded, and two men seized the Lieutenant.
"You fools! We'll die painfully for this!"
"Perhaps. But at least... at least I will have a clear conscience" said Ojrime.
A wheezing groaning sound was heard through the lower decks as the TARDIS dematerialised, before the astonished men surrounding it.
The Doctor stepped out of his TARDIS a few minutes later and walked over to Erzor.
"Doctor... but you just went that way" said Erzor on seeing him.
"Two minutes early. Must have been my haste to return" replied the Doctor. "But I believe Ojrime has surrendered his vessel?"
"Yes. It is currently being towed to Guse."
"How many have you treated?"
"Most of the infected."
Mesot stepped over. "Doctor... thank you for your help. I'm sorry about earlier. My brother was cured. Without you..."
"He survived, good. But how many didn't?" asked the Doctor.
"274 still died from the disease" replied Erzor. "And more are still recovering."
"But hopefully..."
"We can send our troops to Jempewol now" said Erzor. She smiled at the Doctor. "You have been a great help to us."
"I am glad of that" said the Doctor. "But we cannot rest now. Virmok is readying its attack and you need to send your troops as soon as you can!"
"Will you be joining them?" asked the Squadron Commander.
"Yes" replied the Warrior.
"You've certainly proved your effectiveness, in both healing and war" said Mesot.
"Giving and taking life... Yes, I do have skill at both" said the Doctor, lost in his thoughts for a moment. He shook out of it. "But we need to get ready quick as we can! The fate of the Galaxy could hang on this battle!"
Looking back, the Doctor realized how much he had enjoyed this. Not fighting, not killing, just being a doctor. It made him feel like his old self. It made him act more like his old self, away from the constant war, from the horrifying sights he saw, as stars burned and innocents were slaughtered. But now it was time to be a warrior again. Sometimes fighting was necessary. When a power like the Virmok Empire threatened these people, when unprovoked violence occurred, then fighting was necessary.
"I suppose we should give some speech to the troops" said the Warrior.
"No need. We have heard of how the Virmokians infected us while claiming they were here on a peace mission. We are ready for an attack. The other parts of the Space Fleet are sending troops to make up for those of us who still need recovery or... died."
"Very well. I will fly with my force" said the Warrior.
"And your Travel Machine?"
"You will have support vessels, keep it on one of those" said the Doctor. "But we must be quick! The battle for Jempewol is fast approaching!"
Later that day a fleet lifted from Guse and began its journey to Jempewol. The Warrior had insisted on communication silence, so the Virmokians would not know they were coming. Not even the Malphans were aware, in case of infiltration. As the fleet sped from the system the Warrior allowed himself a smile. Sometimes violence was necessary, and against the Virmokians was such a case.