"War?" But Doctor can't these aliens be negotiated with?" Elizabeth Winters asked.
"Possibly, it all comes down to how you handle their arrival."
"You don't have to worry about that, I'm skilled in matters of diplomacy." Winters stated.
"I'm sure you used that diplomacy back when the ship crashed."
"What do you mean?" Winters asked.
"Something has been confusing me about the crash. When the ship entered your atmosphere it sent out a distress call. What I don't understand is why you didn't help them. Surely in this time you have the technological means to stop a ship from crashing." The Doctor berated.
"We do but we were ordered not to help them. Instead we…" Elizabeth Winters softly said.
"You fired at them didn't you?" The Doctor realized.
"It was not my choice we were ordered too." Winters said.
"By who?" Rose asked.
"They were ordered by me." Katherine Winters said walking into the Communications Control room.
"Katherine I thought you were dead. I was afraid the person that tried to kill me had murdered you." Rose was relieved to see her.
"I'm touched by your concern, you little twit. I was the one that tried to kill you. No one will interfere with the project. Thankfully the alien pest has given me the perfect test that will decide the fate of this town." Katherine yelled.
"This project it's a weapon." The Doctor understood.
"How perceptive of you, I don't believe we have been formally introduced. I'm Katherine Winters. Who are you?"
"I'm the Doctor and since now there aren't any secrets between us I'm going to offer you help."
"How can you possibly help me Doctor?" Katherine laughed at the thought.
"I can help by saving all your lives!" The Doctor yelled.
"Guards take these two to a holding cell."
"Mother, don't do this if what he says is true…" Elizabeth tried to say.
"I have military jurisdiction over you. I will not be overruled by my own daughter. Guards keep her under guard until the test is over. They'll be no one to stop me now."
The Doctor and Rose were led into a dark grey cell where the door was slammed behind them. Rose leaned back up against the wall and slid to the ground. Meanwhile the Doctor was trying to unlock the door with his sonic screwdriver. The light glowed brightly at first but then quickly faded. He put the device away in his pocket and pushed on the door but nothing happened. Suddenly behind him he heard a loud laugh come from Rose.
"I'm sorry is my complete lack of usefulness amusing to you?" The Doctor said referring to his now powerless sonic screwdriver.
"I almost got killed by a granny!" Rose continued to laugh as the Doctor smiled and came to sit beside her.
"You stupid apes, all you want is power and stop at nothing to get it. Honestly, I don't know how the human race has come this far." The Doctor said looking over at Rose who was looking straight down.
"Yes I do. Rose, its people like you. People that stand up and fight for what they believe in, that's how your race has survived, people like you." He said as Rose looked up at him with a wide grin on his face.
"Good to hear it. Now do you have a plan on how we're going to get out of here?"
"Not a clue. My sonic screwdriver is dead, looks like we're stuck here for the moment." The Doctor said as the once dark holding cell was now filled with a bright light.
Suddenly the door flung open and the alien appeared in front of them. He started to approach them. The alien had large black eyes which were a total contrast to the rest of his body that shined a brilliant white. Squinting Rose began to back away.
"No Rose it's ok. If he wanted us dead we would be dead already."
"I mean you no harm; I only wish to return home." The alien said.
"I'm the Doctor I may be able to help you do that."
"I am Jora-tosic of the Altorian-Miconi sector."
"I'm Rose it's nice to meet you." Rose hesitantly said.
"You're an Altorian." The Doctor stated.
"You've heard of them Doctor?" Rose asked.
"We fought them in the first great war, the Time Lords did."
"You are a Time Lord and yet you will help me, your sworn enemy?"
"The war's long over." The Doctor said with a cold look on his face.
Then an alarm began to blare throughout the Communications Base.
"Ma'am we're detecting three ships establishing orbit around the planet. We're receiving a message."
"Put it through." Katherine Winters ordered.
"I am Kal-tih of the Altorian-Miconi sector you will return the Altorian you are holding prisoner." The Altorian commander said.
"He has murder three of our citizens. These are crimes on our planet which are punishable by death." Katherine yelled.
"If you return him he will be punished according to our laws, you have thirty of your earth minutes to decide." The Altorian commander said as the screen Winters was looking at went blank.
"Ma'am, what should we do?"
"Charge the weapon; we're going to end this."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The Doctor said entering the Command center with Rose behind him.
"Guards!" Winters shouted but no one responded.
"I'm afraid all your guards have been incapacitated. We made a new friend." The Doctor said as Jora-tosic appeared beside him.
"You're too late Doctor the weapon is already charged to fire." Winters then looked upwards.
"It's the communications dish, you've converted it into one giant weapon and you're going to use it on those warships."
"You are most perceptive Doctor, when this is all over Torchwood would be lucky to have you even if you are their prisoner. Prepare to fire." Winters said.
"You have no idea what you are doing." The Doctor shouted.
"I'm stopping a war." Winters shouted.
"I've seen war, this is no war. If you fire on those ships you will bring down devastation to this little world, and when the smoke rises there will be nothing left. All of humanity destroyed by one little person." The Doctor said in a clear commanding voice.
"You don't think I know what war is. I've seen what comes in its wake. My grandsons were killed in the war. I won't let someone else's sons die; I have to stop it before it starts."
"You're mad with grief, this won't bring them back, it will just cause more hurt for everyone." The Doctor said.
"He's right Mother, this solves nothing. They were my boys and I would do anything to get them back but it's not possible. I can help you get through what you are feeling." Elizabeth Winters who was now released said to her Mother.
"No, Fire at will." Katherine Winters yelled.
"Yes Ma'am firing at will." One of her staff said as he fired the weapon.
The Doctor watched as a great mass of energy formed in the middle of the dish. Then suddenly it shot outwards in a line straight towards the warships.
"Doctor, do something." Rose urged.
"Rose, wait." The Doctor said.
"Ma'am the weapon had no effect. It's like their shield absorbed all the energy."
"That's impossible, prepare to fire again at maximum power."
"We're getting another message." He raised the message to the screen.
"You have provoked a war between our two species. If you surrender now we will keep you humans alive as slaves, if not you will all be destroyed." The Altorian commander yelled.
"A bit testy aren't you?" The Doctor joked.
"Who are you?"
"I'm this planets protector, maybe you have heard of me, The Doctor?"
"A Time Lord? The Doctor!" The Commander said with an amount of anger in his voice.
"Here's what is going to happen. You are going to pick up my friend here then leave this planet and never return."
"We were provoked, vengeance is entitled."
"By the rites established at the Battle of Kitmantara, I am ordering you to stand down."
"Very well, Doctor, we shall meet again. Trust me when I say I am looking forward to that day." The Altorian commander shouted.
"Ma'am the warships they're heading back out into space."
"They'll be back to destroy us I just know it!" Katherine Winters shouted.
"Fire again!" She commanded.
"Delay that order." Elizabeth Winters yelled.
"I'm now in command."
"What you can't overrule me." Katherine was baffled.
"Yes, I can. I told Torchwood how you almost plunged the world into another war. They thought it was best if you went into retirement and I took your place."
"Retirement? No I can't go into retirement."
"Don't worry mother, Torchwood has set up a nice room for you at their facility." Elizabeth Winters said escorting her mother out.
"Thank you Doctor, I don't know want to think of what would have happened if you weren't here." Elizabeth said.
"Glad to help, I hope I can trust that you will run things around here a little better then your mother."
"You don't have to worry about that now. Come along Mother, retirement awaits."
The Doctor and Rose stepped outside just in time to see Jora-tosic embraced in a brilliant white light. Then he was gone. Walking back to the Tardis, Rose was curious about something.
"Doctor, that Altorian commander acted like he knew you." Rose said.
"We fought each other along time ago, I won. I guess his knickers are still in a twist about that one." The Doctor and Rose shared a smile staring at each other as they entered the Tardis off to another adventure.
The End.