CHAPTER 46
CONQUEROR
The TARDIS materialized in the manipulator room on Enol in the exact spot it had occupied two days earlier. The Doctor emerged and crossed to the damaged device, giving it a quick once over. "You're going to have to wait, I'm afraid," he muttered regretfully. He strode across the room, cautiously opening the enormous double doors and peeking out into the corridor. Just as l'X'el had told him, it was in darkness and completely deserted. The Doctor nodded approvingly and gave a satisfied grunt. Time to put the final step of this plan into place and set everything in motion, he thought. Turning on his heel, he returned to the TARDIS.
Several hours after his arrival, the Doctor was being marched through the legislative building by two very large guards. He had used a map provided by l'X'el to get to the common areas and wandered aimlessly for more than an hour before finally finding someone to arrest him. Before he could demand to be taken to the Council Chamber, he was informed that this was where he was being taken.
"All right, all right, don't push," he protested as he was dragged into the room. "I can walk, you know!"
A final shove sent the Doctor staggering in front of the throne at the end of the chamber. He gave the occupant an appraising look. The rotund individual was dressed in a gray/green military uniform with a ridiculous number of medals pinned to the front. He had a smug expression on his pale, porcine face and it was obvious just from this cursory examination that he was not the council President.
"How do you do?" the Time Lord said, bowing slightly. "I'm the Doctor. Would you be the person in charge?"
"I am General Roogg of the Gres-Fa-Raayn," the monstrosity announced grandly.
The Doctor gave him his best expression of awe. "The same General Roogg who subdued the Wieonol single-hand?" he said in an awestruck voice.
The flattery had the desired effect. The General puffed out his chest, glowering in disgust at the cowering members of the Wieonol Council before turning in pride to his own retinue. "You hear that? My fame grows by the day." He held out a hand in the Doctor's direction. "Already the lesser races come to pay homage."
This verbal slap in the face caused the Doctor to stiffen involuntarily. Lesser races, indeed, he thought angrily. He did not allow his annoyance to show and bowed again. "Of course…er, you're still called General?" He allowed a hint of bewilderment to creep into his voice.
"Do you doubt my rank?" Roogg snapped angrily, leaning forward in his seat.
"No, no," the Time Lord replied placating, throwing up his hands. "I just thought…" He paused for affect, saying finally, "Well, General is a military rank. As conqueror of the Wieonol, I'd've thought you'd have a more suitable title. Monarch, perhaps, of even…Supreme Ruler."
"You are right!" Roogg blurted out, thumping his fist on the arm of his chair. "I am Roogg, Supreme Ruler of Enol!" He threw a disapproving glare at his retinue as a chorus of snickers erupted in response to this remark. Settling himself back into his seat, he looked appraisingly at the Doctor. "What else have you heard of me, little man?"
"Oh, many great and terrible things, your Supremacy," the Doctor replied, adding hesitantly, "Although I have my doubts about them all."
"What!"
Lowering his eyes, the Doctor went on, "I meant no offense, your Supremacy. It's just that… well, your enemies will have spread lies about you. All great men do have their detractors."
There was another chorus of derisive snickers and guffaws at the phrase "great men," which brought another dark look to the General's face. He then nodded, accepting the explanation. "What do they say?"
Drawing a deep breath the Time Lord said, "They say you arrived among the Wieonol…er, by accident."
The newly self-appointed Supreme Ruler thumped his chair again. "This is true."
"Really?" came the surprised reply.
"I may have arrived by accident, but any good soldier will take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves," Roogg said proudly, giving his men a quelling look before adding, "What else have you heard?"
"Oh, please, your Magnificence," the Doctor said imploringly, adopting a pleading stance. "I know I am merely a poor insignificant, but would you tell the story yourself? It would be such an honor to hear it from your own great lips." He winced inwardly as he said this, knowing he was getting himself into several hours of boasting.
A laugh burst forth from the throne. "An honor to hear me tell my tales! Do you hear that?" He turned another dark look at his subordinates "Some would disagree with you, little man," he said, waving a hand in direction of his men who were already pulling faces.
"Yes, your Magnificence. I did mention your enemies." The Doctor watched in amusement as his words had the desired effect. Every Gres-Fa-Raayn present began clamoring for their leader to tell his story. Even though they might not agree with anything he said, none wanted to be labeled a traitor, the punishment for which was death.
Settling back in his seat, Roogg began his tale, which was interspersed heavily with boasts of his brilliant military tactics and acts of bravery. The edited version simply verified what l'X'el, K'ell'k and then Pr'Ce'el had said already. The Gres-Fa-Raayn had discovered the fault in the defense screen, landed and found the planet devoid of weaponry but brimming with technology that was used to their advantage. After the population was subdued, their technologies, more specifically the star chats, were utilized to expand the reaches of the Gres-Fa-Raayn military forces. It was at that time the unincorporated planets on the fringes of the Alterran Empire were discovered. Somewhere along the way, the Gres-Fa-Raayn Elite placed General Roogg in charge of Enol.
Once in place as regent, Roogg implemented the standard procedure of hostage taking; a member of each of the ruling families being taken in order to guarantee the cooperation of the leaders. Roogg took special pride in his little brainstorm to remove the hostages from Enol and hide them on the fringe world of Heladin Alpha.
"A bold stratagem, removing the hostages from their home world," the Doctor observed urbanely. "But won't the upcoming summit put your plans in jeopardy?"
"Never. I hold all the cards." With a grin, Roogg said smugly, "You might say I've stacked the deck."
"I admire you confidence." Shaking his head, the Time Lord said, "It was my understanding that Ambassador Krystovan had other claimants—" He broke off when the monstrosity on the throne started to laugh. "Did I say something funny?"
"You're out of touch, little man. There's no need to send a delegation to Earth. Ambassador Krystovan is dead."
"What?" the Doctor gasped in a horrified voice. He forced himself to say in an admiring tone, "Another one of your brilliant plans, your Magnificence?"
Roogg grinned, displaying a set of horribly blackened and crooked teeth. "As an added step in favor of the Gres-Fa-Raayn claim, I sent three dozen stinger ships disguised as Sharks to intercept him on his way to Earth. The Ambassador's ship and his entire escort were completely destroyed," he informed proudly.
The Time Lord drew himself to his full height, meeting the General's gaze with a cold, accusing look. "So you admit that the Gres-Fa-Raayn were responsible for the attack on the SILVER TRIUMPH and its escort."
Roogg got to his feet, not liking the Doctor's sudden, accusing tone. "Not only do I admit it," he stated proudly, "but if I could do so again, I would lead the attack myself!"
The Doctor's reaction to these words was not what the General expected. He folded his arms and looked him up and down as though sizing him up. "Indeed? I wonder how the Ambassador would feel about that? Outraged, I should think."
To the General's bewilderment, a reply came from the public address system. "I think outraged is a bit of an understatement, Doctor."
"I thought it might be. Did you get all that, Jason?"
"Yes, we got it. Every bombastic word."
"Who is that?" the General thundered. He turned accusingly to his communications officer only to see him working feverously at his console.
"That is the not-so-late Ambassador Krystovan," the Doctor informed mildly. "You should've sent your delegation to Earth, General. The summit began as scheduled. Not long after I arrived on this planet, as a matter of fact. And they've been monitoring your every word since I walked through that door."