War Footing
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The Doctor was the first off the ship, stopping short when he saw the welcoming committee waiting for them.
Time Lords and humans alike - the Time Lords ranged in two squadrons of official colours and uniforms, saluting him?
"Okay better be a really good explanation for this one, then." He said, stepping off the ramp with Rose beside him.
"ROSE!" Yelled Jackie Tyler excitedly and ran to hug her daughter.
"What no hug for me?" Asked Mickey mock indignantly from where he stood with Jack and Earth Defence Squadron One.
The Doctor heard, and shook his head.
"Sorry you're not my type." He said, and went up to the nearest officious looking Time Lord.
"Identify yourself." He demanded.
"Nafficilonaucalutius - head of the Chancellory Guard." Reported the Time Lord, with a frown creasing his features. Almost as if he didn't want to be there, and certainly not talking to the Doctor.
"Chancellory Guard? But they're the official troops of the President of the High Council?" Wondered the Doctor aloud.
Nafficilonaucalutius saluted again.
"Yes sir"
"So whoose the President nowadays then?" He asked.
"That would be you sir." Answered Nafficilonaucalutius.
"Oh right, well then - you WHAT! I don't remember the election campaign!" He snapped as realisation set in.
"Under the regulations of the articles of war, a President may be elected without his prescence - " Started Nafficilonaucalutius, then wisely shut up when he saw the Doctor's furious look. Mickey chuckled.
"So does this mean you're like the Prime Minister or something?" Asked Jackie curiously.
"No it means I'm the President of the entire planet and domains thereof. Something I could really do without at this moment in time." Said the Doctor with a grimace.
"So what were your orders?" He demanded of Nafficilonaucalutius.
"To protect the President's person, and defend him to the death if necessary"
"Great! You can start by helping the humans get the power plants of the planet tied in together. That should keep you nice and busy." Ordered the Doctor.
"But sir, you cannot be left undefended - "
"The Daleks aren't here yet! And in case you hadn't noticed I'm surrounded by soldiers already. Carry out your orders. And communicate my... thanks to Romana on Gallifrey." He added.
Rose's ears pricked up at this. Who was 'Romana', it sounded like a woman's name. Was she feeling jealousy already? She shivered and took his hand for reassurance and warmth.
"We've lost contact with Gallifrey, Lord President. There has been an uprising of sorts which is now coming under control"
"Very well. The instant communications are reopened then. Well.. go on!" He said, impatiently.
Nafficilonaucalutius saluted and then took his men and went to see about the Doctor's orders.
But as soon as he was a fair distance away, and his men detailed to their various tasks, Nafficilonaucalutius slipped away and made contact with his agents on Gallifrey.
"How goes the battle, my brothers? Do we grow nearer to victory?" He asked eagerly. He was shocked when Romana's terse and cold tones answered instead of his agent.
"No you're not." She said. He hung up and crushed the communications device.
It wasn't over yet. He could still do some damage on Earth. Starting with the removal of the President and his inferior humans!
He slipped away unnoticed.
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As soon as the Chancellary Guards had departed, the Doctor turned to his friends.
"Hello. Here we all are again then. Now, Pete I need a complete rundown of Earth's defenses, also any alien spaceships or weaponry you've managed to get a hold of. This is gonna be about timing." He went back into the TARDIS and brought out a trunk.
"Hi Doctor, it's great to see you again - what have you been up to? Fancy a cuppa?" Said Jackie sarcastially, watching as the Time Lord reemerged.
"It is, not much, love one." Answered the Doctor promptly and drew a smile from Jackie at that.
"What's that you've got there"
"Gallifreyan equivalent of a sunkiller. It can generate enough power to collapse a star - or destroy a fleet of Dalek ships." He said by way of answer.
"So why bother with defences?" Asked Jacke, prodding the device gently.
The Doctor redirected his hand.
"Because in the time it'll take for it to get to it's target - the middle of the Dalek fleet - prime, and detonate the Dalek fleet will be very close to Earth. Too close. And I really don't wanna fry the planet, so hence the shielding and defences. Plus the Daleks will be planetside at that point as well, so it'll be all hands to battle stations"
"What's to stop them from simply retreating?" Wondered Pete as they walked inside Earth Base.
"Our allies. Before I came here, the Time Lords called for assistance - as we did in my Universe. The usual suspects answered, they'll be guarding the back door so to speak." He looked around the base - a converted Torchwood - and whistled in admiration.
"Love what you've done with the place!" He enthused.
Rose chuckled.
"So how'd you get here in the first place?" Asked Jake.
"Long long boring story. Dalek transmat, CVE, loooong discussion with Romana - finally hopped over. Had to leave my TARDIS waiting at the other end though. Too much mass." Said the Doctor evasively.
He clapped his hands and rubbed them together.
"Right, I need some time to program this - you've plenty to be getting on with at the minute so... oh hi. Ummm... Comms Technician Angua, Liz Angua right?" He said, turning around and greeting the young woman.
"Yes, thats right." Her eyes lighted on Mickey, who was definately looking in her direction, and she tried not to blush.
"The Lieutenant wanted to inquire as to what his orders - our orders - are." She asked primly, still glancing at Mickey to see if he was still looking at her. Which he was. So engrossed in that activity she failed to take note of what the Doctor's next words were.
"Sorry, sir. Umm could you repeat that." She had to request.
The Doctor looked amused.
"Why doesn't Mickey tell you? Mickey you and Jake assist Lt Fallen's team with the defence of this base. It'll be the first point of attack for the Daleks and we need internal as well as external defenses up and running." He said smoothly.
"Umm right!" Mickey tried not to look too eager as he passed Rose, who whispered in his ear to go for it.
"Shaddup!" He hissed back at her, and left with Liz and Jake.
"Ahh young love eh Rose." Said the Doctor, and now it was Rose's turn to blush.
Jackie immediately filed that particular expression away for later reference. And discussion.
"Well then, seeing as we appear to have gotten everything in hand... Doctor when was the last time you had a decent meal?" She asked the Time Lord, who was already getting absorbed in the device he'd brought with him. He pretended not to hear.
"Hmm?" Rose snickered lightly, the Doctor clearly had forgotten how her Mum could be when faced with reluctant eaters.
"Food, Doctor. The stuff you put in your mouth and swallow." She elucidated.
"Oh yeah, you're right. Umm go off and eat, I'm gonna be a while at this." He said, misunderstanding her on purpose.
"Very good, Doctor. You should be a comedian and do standup." She snatched his sonic screwdriver out of his hand.
"Oi!" He protested.
"Food first. Proper hot cooked food. Then you can play with your toys." She replied coolly, and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, propelling him towards the door.
"Rose?" He called upon his companion to help him out.
"Don't have the spaghetti!" She called after him, helpfully.
"Fat lot of good you are.." The end of his reply was cut off by the door closing.
"Some things never change, whatever the Universe." Noted Pete Tyler, and hugged his daughter.
"Nope." Said Rose, hugging him back.
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After making the Doctor eat what resembled Cottage Pie, and two helpings of a kind of chocolate cake (which the Doctor didn't mind all that much as he really liked chocolate), Jackie finally let the Time Lord have his sonic screwdriver back and declared him fit for duty.
Just as he was running - ah walking! - for the door, a single sentance stopped him in his tracks.
"I never ever said thank you to you did I? For bringing her back to me, that first time." He turned around to see Jackie looking at him.
"Um... not that I recall. Mind you, we're usually neck deep in it that we don't have time for that kind of thing do we." He pointed out, a little embarrassed.
"I'm talking about that time you sent her back to me, leaving yourself stranded. Why did you do that?" Asked Jackie.
The Doctor walked back to the table and perched on it awkwardly.
"I made a promise. And when I make promises I try and keep them. I promised you that I'd always look after her. When I knew there wasn't a way out, there was no other course of action to take. Not that she stayed, mind you. I'd still like to know how you got the TARDIS open." He said with a smile.
Jackie grinned.
"Trust me, you'd cringe. I know what you're like about that bloody machine of yours!" She chuckled and drank the last of her tea down, setting it back on the table.
"And now, Doctor? Will you stay now for her?" She had to ask the question, she knew Rose never would.
"Honestly? I don't know. I don't know of this plan will work, if we can defeat the Daleks - if we'll survive to tomorrow." He said softly.
"One day at a time yeah"
"Yeah." She nodded and watched the Time Lord leave the cafeteria.
"Don't break her heart, Doctor. Not again." She whispered after him.
But nobody answered.
Jackie stood and cleared away the dishes and the cups.
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The Doctor returned to find Rose and Pete recieving the latest intelligence reports, and discussing them amongst themselves.
He slouched against the doorframe quietly, not intruding, merely watching as Rose made recommendations.
She'd changed so much since he'd last seen her. His Rose would never have dragged him to the cabin onboard the ship, or taken liberties he was only too happy to let her take with him. This Rose was something new, someone older and wiser and perhaps a little less innocent. Had he done that to her?
She sensed his prescence, looked up, and smiled her georgous smile.
"Here comes trouble." She said and held out an arm expectantly.
He sauntered over and let her grab his arm and pull him in towards her.
"How close is the Fleet?" He asked Pete.
"Close. Inside of 48 hours, they'll be on our doorstep." Reported Pete grimly.
"We'll be ready for them!" Said Rose with utter conviction. She turned and looked at the Doctor. "Won't we"
He hesitated for a split second then forced a smile to his face.
"Oh yeah. They're in for a shock!" He said with as much gusto as he could manage.
"Now, I've got to get to work on the Hand of Rassilon..." At their confused looks he explained.
"The device I've brought with me." They nodded in understanding.
"Keep me appriased and send Mickey along would you?" He requested, disappearing into the lab that had been set aside for him.
Rose wondered briefly why the Doctor wanted to see Mickey of all people, but then the next report came in and she dismissed it. There were more important things to think about.
Two and a half hours later, Mickey entered the lab to find the Time Lord knee deep in circuitry boards and wiring.
"You called oh Jedi Master!" He asked cheekily.
The Doctor started, tripping in the wiring and cursing Mickey Smith in all the languages he could think of. Then he remembered what he wanted the man for.
"Yeah. I did. Close the door and come over here a sec." He said, untangling himself from the wiring.
Mickey did as he was told.
"What's up?" He asked casually, although already he was feeling uneasy about this.
"Hows the planetary defenses coming along? Getting all the help you need?" Asked the Doctor.
"Yeah. We've got a crack team of engineers on the job - headed by Tim Pond - he's a good man. He'll get the job done." Assured Mickey. " But thats not why you called me in here is it"
"No it isn't. If things don't go according to plan when the Daleks attack, if we look like we're going to lose then I need you to do something for me"
"Anything." Said Mickey instantly.
The Doctor took the key to the TARDIS he was currently using and placed in Mickey's hand.
"What's this for?" He asked, confused.
"The TARDIS I came in. I've set up another emergency program - your job is to get anyone and everyone you can - especially Rose and Jackie, you get them into the TARDIS. It'll take you automatically to Gallifrey, and deliver a message to Romana and the others declaring you refugees under Presidential Protection. If we don't win here, some of you have to survive elsewhere, got it?" He said solemnly.
Mickey looked in awe at the responsibility he was being handed. That the Doctor trusted him.. he was at a loss for words. Finally though, he found some.
"But Doctor... I'm an idiot." He confided.
The Doctor gave him a shove.
"Get out of here, idiot! And don't forget what I said." He instructed.
Mickey grinned and looked back to see the Time Lord knee deep once more in circuitry.
"Do me a favour then Doctor" He called back.
"Hmm? Whats that then"
"Don't make me have to use it." He said sincerely, and for an instant there was a comraderie between the two.
Then Mickey was gone, leaving the Doctor in no doubt about why he continually saved the human race.
"Stupid apes.." He muttered and got back to work.
But he was smiling as he said it.