A/N: Sorry for the wait to anyone who's actually reading this (meh). But this is quite a long chapter to make up for it. I'm also in the middle of writing the next chapter, so that may be posted soon... Depending if this chapter actually gets more than 2 reviews...Hmpf. But hey, anyone who's reading, I hope you're enjoying it, and don't get too bored by it...
hapter 2
About two hours later, after having been instructed to prepare for battle, the Doctor was in the Weaponry & Armoury Room – a few miles from Arcadia. As he gazed around the large room, he took in the hundred different faces surrounding him, all with the same goal; to fight for Gallifrey, no matter what the cost. And it wasn't just limited to men – there were just as many women in the room, fitting carious pieces of armour on, and slinging guns onto their hips. Neither did all the faces belong to Timelords – scores of different Gallifreyan species (and not all of them humanoid) were clamouring for an assorted collection of weapons. As the Doctor looked around, he knew that there were other rooms identical to this one all over the planet, where billions of Gallifreyans were willing to risk their lives to save their homeland.
"Sorry," a gruff apology came from a blue-furred bear-like creature, at least double the Doctor's height, as he knocked past the Timelord to reach for a bronze helmet.
The Doctor didn't bother with the armour – he knew that if a Dalek was going to kill you, you were going to die – and armour would not be any protection. But if these creatures wanted to feel safe underneath their metal shields, the Doctor was not going to stop them.
He rocked back and forth on his heels. That was another thing – armour slowed down your reflexes considerably and made it much harder to run. In fact, the Doctor was sure that armour caused just as many deaths as it prevented.
He went over to a rack of guns, running his fingers down a smallish silvery one. He picked it up, weighing it in his right hand. He checked all the functions and settings – ever since the first Time war, all guns and artillery had been fitted with anti-forcefield blasts. This meant that the forcefield that surrounded a Dalek and acted as its armour would be rendered useless, and allow the attacker to destroy the creature beneath.
The Doctor grinned humourlessly to himself – a tight-lipped smile, void of any emotion – as he flicked the safety off.
"Doctor," there was a tap on his shoulder and he came face to face with Balkonefarius. "It's time. We should get going."
The Doctor nodded silently and followed him out as Balkonefarius talked. "Now you will be on the southern side of Arcadia. Romana is leading the Northern troops, I am in charge of the Western side, and another General will be leading the Eastern troops."
The Doctor nodded once more.
"We all came to the conclusion that because Arcadia is the capital, the Daleks will concentrate most of their forces here – so we're putting in the most protection on Arcadia's defences."
"What of the civilians?" the Doctor asked, concerned.
"They are being evacuated by air to various secure underground and underwater bunkers… Now, anymore questions?"
"How long?"
Balkonefarius shook his head, "It is impossible to say – I cannot predict. But we have little time left."
So they made their way to the airstrip, where two small streamlined glass pods waited for them. Balkonefarius pressed a button on the side of one, sliding open the door and slipping into the waiting seat.
"Good luck Doctor," he said before the door closed. His pod rose gracefully into the air, and arced over the sky, speeding west.
The Doctor reached a hand out and pressed the button on the side of his own pod. He stooped slightly so as to slide in easier as the pilot greeted him.
"South is it sir?"
"Yes," he replied as the door shut and they lifted off, before spiralling into the sky; sunlight glinting off the glass and dazzling any onlookers.
"What's your name?" he asked the pilot.
"Allestroquan," his pilot laughed nervously, "but I'm mostly called 'Al'."
"Ah, ok then – Al – how long have you been flying?"
"You know, it's funny you should ask – I was just marvelling at it myself. At my last count, it was about… ten minutes."
The Doctor blanched. "What?!"
Al burst out laughing, "Nah, I'm just kidding… just under 80 years, give or take."
The Doctor sighed in relief, "so you have quite a bit of experience then."
"Yep, you could say that. I was even in the last Time War."
"Oh really?" the Doctor asked, intrigued. "And what is it like; flying into battle?"
"One of the most exhilarating experiences of my life," he was honest. "I mean.. I was absolutely terrified as well, but still.."
"Mmm," the Doctor trailed off, thinking about his own experiences in the last war. He imaged that a pilot flying into battle and partaking in dog-fights must've felt far more heroic than being a soldier on foot, marching through marshland and trying not to step on landmines…
He was so lost in thought, that he didn't notice the pod slow down and begin its descent. Indeed, he didn't even notice they'd landed until Al informed him, "We're here," and jolted him out of his memories.
"Oh… Thanks Al," he opened the door, and hopped down onto the concrete landing platform. "Stay safe," he called out before the door shut. Al saluted before taking off and sweeping back into the sky.
"Sir?" a voice behind him called.
He turned around as an orange-skinned humanoid jogged over to him. "Are you the Doctor?" it asked as it grasped his hand in greeting.
"Yes…" came the Doctor's reply. "And you are?"
"Voraynil. I'm your second in command," Voraynil grinned.
"Oh, Ok," the Doctor said dumbly as he was left down off the platform and onto a dirt trail.
"The soldiers are all waiting up there," Voraynil pointed to the small hill in front of them, and the Doctor could just make out a large group of shapes silhouetted against one of the rapidly descending suns. He had to admit it was probably the best place to launch an attack from. When the Daleks came, the hill would be an effective barrier in between them and Arcadia, and a good vantage-point for the soldiers.
They made their way up the hill as Voraynil explained the plan. "Some of the soldiers havn't arrived – the airships are still transporting a lot of them."
"I see. Will they be here in time?"
"Probably. We've been told we have a while… enough time to get prepared and ready for battle at least."
They reached the group of assembled soldiers, who rose upon their arrival, saluting. There were only a hundred or so, the Doctor noticed with concern. If the Daleks were concentrating on breaking through to Arcadia, then a hundred soldiers wouldn't be enough.
Voraynil noticed his expression. "More are coming. Don't worry Doctor."
"How many more?"
"Within the next hour? Well, five airships are due to arrive, with around…. Oh… a hundred soldier in each.
"So around 500 soldiers more.." the Doctor trailed off, calculating the numbers, knowing that it still wasn't enough. He voiced his opinion to Voraynil.
"I know," he agreed, "but we'll just have to fight our damned hardest."
But the Doctor was too busy trying to maximize their chances of survival to hear him.
"Right," he turned to the scattered crowd. "Everyone, come over here," he called out. Gradually the soldiers gathered around him, and he instructed them all in what to do, directing them over to stand in formation. They were soon all standing in silence in blocks of twenty, spread out across the crest of the hill.
Just then, the Doctor heard a quiet buzz behind, and turned to see the five airships on the horizon. They landed three minutes later on the landing platform in turn; the soldiers leaping out and jogging up the hill in organised lines to the Doctor. As they reached him, the Doctor ordered them into yet more blocks; making sure they weren't too far down the hill – he didn't want to lose such a good advantage.
"You," he pointed at one of the soldiers passing. Said soldier peeled off from the line and went over to the Doctor. "Yes sir?" she spoke as the Doctor looked at her – realising that she was barely an adult – she looked around eighteen years old. The Doctor shook his head to rid the though – this was a war, and they needed all the help they could get.
"I need you to organise a barricade. Get that group to help you, he gestured to the group of soldiers nearest.
She nodded. "Yes sir."
Half an hour later, the barricade had been erected, using dead wood and bracken from the forest. The Doctor had to marvel at its ingenuity – it was huge, and fringed the hill. Small gaps had been left for the soldiers to fire through. The Doctor organised all the soldiers behind the barricade; some on the ground, kneeling, with guns pointed through the gaps, while others had managed to climb up and were clinging to the top with their weapons resting on top of the wood.
By this time, the sun had sunk so low, only the tip was visible over the skyline; the thick forest trees in front, obscuring most of the light. It was only a matter of time before the fighting began…
The Doctor had to admit there was something about this waiting that he both loved and hated at once. He hated fighting, and general violence, but there was something about this that filled him with adrenaline. It coursed through his veins; made his nerves tingle with excitement; his muscles flex.
There was a crackle of static from the radio clipped to his belt before Romana's voice came through.
"Doctor? Are you there? Over"
He lifted the receiver. "Yes, I'm here. Over"
"Doctor they're coming. They should be entering the atmosphere in less than two minutes. Is everything ready? Everyone there? Over."
"Everything's fine.. But I don't think there'll be enough sol:-"
"Fine," she interrupted. "I know we'll be heavily outnumbered, but what can we do?" She sounded helpless. "We've just got to fight. Do everything you can to destroy them Doctor… over."
"Understood. And, Romana?" he hesitated. "My TARDIS… Are you sure she's save? Over"
"Doctor, trust me, the stronghold is the most secure room on the planet."
"Ok," he let out a sigh of relief.
"Over and out."
And there was silence, save for the soft sound of the Gallifreyan insects.
As soon as the radio had crackled into life, the soldiers had all stopped their idle chatter and turned to strain their ears to listen. The Doctor turned to the assembled soldiers – their eyes shining up at him – and thank Rassilon that they were too far away to hear his conversation.
He walked to the front of the crowd and addressed them all with a booming voice. "The time is upon us my friends. They will be entering the atmosphere in moments." He saw their eyes; saw their anticipation; the eagerness; the excitement; the fear.
He knew he would never see most of them again, and made himself continue. "I cannot promise you glory. I cannot promise you pity. This is a war, and I cannot promise that you will live – or that I will live. But this is not about you. Nor I." his voice grew as he roared over the groups. "This is for our future generations! For our children! For Gallifrey!"
And on his last words, as the soldiers shouted as one in agreement; as they stamped their boots and roared their approval, the ground rumbled and shook beneath them, and a flash lit up the pitch black landscape as the Daleks entered the atmosphere…
The Doctor muttered to himself under the soldiers' cacophony and the Dalek fleet, "And so the way begins…" But his words were lost; carried by the wind and passed on through the trees of the deep woods.
It only took a few moments before the cry came echoing across the soldiers; "They're here! They're coming!" And as one, the group looked up, and dark shapes could just be made through the sky. Seconds later, and the dark shapes of the Dalek ships loomed into view. As they neared, the dull rumbling of the engines grew to a deafening roar, making the ground tremble beneath the feet of the soldiers.
The Dalek fleet landed within the protection of the forest, and soon the noise of the engines subsided.
Now there was no noise... No murmur of the soldiers' voices… No one dared to breathe… Even the insects had stopped their cries.
They all tensed behind the barricade, eyes squinting at the line of trees for any sign of movement. The Doctor looked across them and knew that some of them were about to snap. "Steady men," he called. It was essential that they waited until the opportune moment – they had to wait for the Daleks to attack them and get near enough for the shots to hit. Then the soldiers would still be protected by the barricade.
Then he saw it – a glint of gold, reflecting the light of the moon.
"DALEK!" a shout rose up from the soldiers.
"Steady!" he bellowed.
The Daleks were approaching in steady formation…
They stopped before the foot of the hill and the two armies regarded one another. The red Dalek at the front lifted its eyestalk to focus on the Doctor. The Doctor didn't blink, and fixed it with his own stare. He smiled coldly down at it; his eyes like steel.
The Dalek broke eye contact and turned to face its army. "Charge," it growled in its metallic voice. And as one, they began to ascend the hill.
"Steady," the Doctor repeated before… "FIRE!" he screamed with his men as they began their assault, amongst the Dalek shrieks of 'exterminate!'
The shots rained down upon the Daleks, who cried out with pathetic voices when they were hit, leaving a small mound of dust as a sign of what once existed…
The first Gallifreyan casualty came when one of the Dalek's beams struck the barricade, and rebounded to hit one of the soldiers perched on the top – his head peering over.
With a scream and a burst of green light, he was thrown backwards; his body crumpling to the ground.
And still the assault went on. But for every Dalek that was killed, it took the soldiers' lives – and yet another Dalek would take its place.
"This is pointless," the Doctor whispered to himself in realisation.
The Daleks were slowly gaining ground and getting nearer and nearer to the barricade.
A beam shot though one of the holes near the Doctor, striking the soldier next to him – who went down without a sound. The Doctor gave a yell of hopeless rage, and began firing frenziedly back out at them.
All sense of time was lost. He had no idea how long they'd been fighting. Had no idea how Romana and the others were doing. He didn't know how many of his own army he'd lost, and was too scared to turn around and see. All he knew, was that he was exhausted. He could no longer hear anything besides the beats of his hearts – he couldn't even hear the blasts of his gun, or the screams and yells issuing from his mouth.
And still thousands of Daleks were getting nearer…
He felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned to see Voraynil, covered in dirt and cuts.
"Doctor!" he yelled over the sounds of the fighting. "There are barely a hundred of us left. We cannot win this battle – we must retreat."
"NO!" he shouted. "We cannot surrender!"
"Then you're sentencing all these soldiers to death!"
"That's there job!" the Doctor's eyes were wild – filled with pure hatred of the Daleks.
Voraynil screamed right back. "It's their job to fight – not to die! We are achieving nothing here. We must retreat to the city and plan a different tactic."
"Fine," he spat bitterly. "Spread the message – we retreat. No soldier is to be left behind."
"And what of the dead?"
Sadness clouded the Doctor's features for a moment before he answered. "We have no means of carrying them. The bodies stay…"
Voraynil nodded before sprinting to the remaining soldiers.
The Doctor took the opportunity to look at his surroundings. Bodies littered the ground where the Dalek beams had managed to penetrate the barricade. Some had peaceful expressions; but most had faces twisted with pain.
"I'm sorry," the Doctor bowed his head in respect. "I'm so sorry."
He lifted his head to see Voraynil rounding up the soldiers, before looking back down at the bodies. "No more lives will be wasted," he vowed before hurrying to join the survivors.
"Retreat," he panted as he reached them. They looked at him in bewilderment.
"But sir:-" one began.
"Retreat," he interrupted harshly. "Too many lives have been lost, and the Daleks have barely lost any soldiers in return… We retreat. Now. To the city." And he wrenched his radio off his belt before speaking into it. "Is anybody out there? Romana? Balkonefarius?" There was no reply. The Doctor swore as a burst of rage swept through him. "WHERE ARE YOU?!" he screamed into the night.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath; calming himself before addressing the soldiers again. "It's unlikely that there will be a spare airship that is not currently being used in battle… We'll be on foot to Arcadia." He turned his gaze to the distant city light. "It's a twenty minute walk… But the Daleks will be close behind – so we'll be running. Does anyone feel that they won't be able to make the distance?"
There were a few uneasy looks, but not one soldier stepped forwards.
"Then I suggest we leave. Now," he said. "Voraynil. Lead them – I'll bring up the rear."
Voraynil nodded before starting off at a jog.
"Go," the Doctor gestured at the soldiers to follow him. And when the last man had gone, the Doctor ran on behind. It was barely a minute later before they all heard the Daleks break through the barricade behind them.
The chase was on…