CHAPTER 14

THE FLEET

Fitzhugh was on his feet before the extract ended. "Doctor, is it your intention to present all the accused's log entries?" he asked wearily. "If so, I'd like to remind you that the majority have already been entered into evidence."

"The prosecutor has a valid point, Doctor," Eustis agreed.

"My lord, I wouldn't dream of wasting this court's time reviewing evidence that's already been visually entered into the record," the Doctor replied reasonably. With a broad smile, he added, "Anyway, I never got the chance to view the logs. Something else got in the way."

With a quick look at his notes, he pulled up the next extract and pushed the button to begin.

oOo

Mission Day 51

The panel on which the Doctor was leaning started beeping softly for attention. Eventually he opened his eyes and sat up, cursing himself when he realized he had dozed off. In front of him, the monitor displayed the results of his search, ready and waiting for his attention.

"Computer, how long have I been asleep?" he asked.

"Five hours, twenty-three minutes."

"What! Why didn't you wake me?"

"No request was—"

"Alright, shut up" the Doctor said in annoyance as he got to his feet. "I know, I didn't ask you to. Stupid computer." He stretched his arms into the air, pulling the kinks from his body. "That's a very long time to stay in one position." He realized the beeping from the console had not stopped and looked at it in annoyance. "What is that noise?"

Silence.

The Doctor gave an annoyed sighed. Stupid Doctor, you told it to shut up. "Computer, what is that noise?"

"Long range sensor warning. Three Glyateven warships have entered this stellar system."

"What? Display sensor track" The Doctor returned to the command chair at the main view screen. The computer brought up a visual reference of the Eldeberon solar system showing three small dots on a direct course for the planet itself. He scowled when he noticed how close they were to the planet and wondered how long the sensor warning had been sounding before it finally woke him.

"Incoming transmission," the computer announced.

"From whom?"

"Glyateven Fleet Commander Fontraal."

"Not much of a fleet," the Doctor observed unkindly.

"Transmission acknowledged."

The Doctor did not like the sound of that at all. Then he wondered if the Glyateven forces currently on Eldeberon were simply the advanced guard. Had his fears been correct? Had Jason been helping to lay the groundwork for a full-fledged invasion? If so, were the incoming ships the next wave?

"Where did the acknowledgment originate?" he asked.

"Acknowledgment initiated through this unit's automatic response sequence."

This only seemed to confirm the Doctor's suspicions and his eyes flashing over the instruments before him. He was about to begin interrogating the computer further when the main screen changed again.

"Automatic response commencing."

The Doctor sat back in amazement as the Prince suddenly appeared on screen. He was dressed in full Ambassadorial regalia, and had included his elaborate Alterran collar of rank just to add to the effect. "Glyateven Command," he began in an official tone. "I am Ambassador Krystovan. You're receiving this prerecorded message because I haven't the time to sit and wait for incompetents to grace me with their presence. All escaped prisoners have been accounted for and retrieval tags implanted, including those who died upon arrival. The resonance signature codes are being transmitted with this recording." Jason's voice dropped and became slightly threatening as he said, "Your inability to arrive in a timely manner and your government's disregard of this system's restricted status will be highlighted in my report. Krystovan out."

The screen went blank and the Doctor sat staring in astonishment. "It was all one big elaborate deception, wasn't it?" he said, a hint of anger creeping into his voice. He got to his feet, crossing to the transport capsule that held the Prince's inert form. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded angrily. "You thickheaded Alterran! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Removal commencing," the computer announced.

"Shut up!" the Time Lord snarled.

A few minutes later, Telvec's face appeared on the screen. "Doctor?" he called desperately. "Doctor, can you hear me?" He looked at the controls in front of him and then the man beside him. "Damn it, is this thing working?"

The Doctor touched a button. "Yes, I hear you Telvec. What's the panic?"

"Something's gone wrong!" the leader replied. "Tri Global—the Triad—whatever you call it. Their people are pulling out all over the country. They know what we've done and they're regrouping for an attack!"

"Telvec, calm down," the Doctor replied. "They're not regrouping. They're being removed from the planet. You won't have to worry about—" He broke off as the transmission abruptly cut out and an unpleasant looking Glyateven warrior appeared on screen. "I am Fleet Commander Fontraal. Identify yourself."

"Computer, did he just break into my transmission?"

"Affirmative."

"Cheek!" the Time Lord snorted. He pressed the transmit button. "Yes, hello, Fleet Commander. I'm the Doctor. Can I help you?" he asked politely.

"What do you know of our mission here?" the Commander demanded.

The Doctor blinked. Well, nothing like coming to the point. "Well…only what I saw in Ambassador Krystovan's message," he said truthfully.

"Where is the Ambassador?"

"Ah. He's dead, I'm afraid."

Fontraal frowned. "You're certain of this?" he asked suspiciously.

The Doctor threw a quick glance back in the direction of the transport capsule. "Yes, I'm quite certain. I'm in the process of preparing his body for transport back to his people."

"You're not of this world?" the Glyateven asked, his suspicious tone unchanged.

The Doctor wanted to kick himself. "No. I'm a just traveler."

"Then you will travel with us," Fontraal replied, motioning to one of his officers. "No one is to know of this…error."

The flight deck started to hum and the Doctor looked around in bewilderment. Then he realized that Fontraal was attempting to have him transported from the ship. For reasons he did not know at the time, the Glyateven could not get an exact lock on his position and the incoming power sent him staggering. He grabbed at the command chair to keep from falling. He could feel his cells being pulled apart and sank to his knees as the power increased.

"Computer, help me," he gasped out painfully before dropping to the floor. Just as he was losing consciousness, it flashed through his mind that his request had been too vague for Jason's literal-minded computer to understand.

Luckily, in this instance, the Doctor was wrong.

"Activating defense mode. Defense shields raised. Jamming signal activated," the computer announced blandly.

Fontraal's smug expression faded as contact was lost. He turned to the officer beside him. "What happened?" he demanded.

"We lost contact."

"Well, reestablish it!"

"I can't, sir," came the helpless reply. "The signal was being bounced off of the planet's communication satellites. We lost contact before we could get a fix on the transmission source."

Fontraal was less than thrilled to hear this. "What am I to tell central command when this Doctor appears—"

"He won't, sir," the officer replied. "Without a proper transport lock, his body would've been scrambled beyond recognition. I doubt anyone will ever find him."

oOo