Chapter Six
The Doctor headed to the console and began pressing buttons "If I can tune this antique piece of kit to move we maybe to land. But we need complete support from Commander Lyons and the rest of the team on Earth."
The Doctor got into the pilot seat and took the controls into his hands "Commander, Commander?"
"We're reading you loud and clear Doctor, what are we going to do?"
Down on earth the telephone had just rung and Commander Lyons' private secretary had answered, "Commander it's that police woman again."
"You talk to her" snapped Lyons "This is a full scale emergency. Right Doctor what do you want us to do?"
"First" The Doctor said "Tell people that you are going to be doing some experimental testing near the base, that'll mask the bang, they may think it'll be a bomb going off. Get the coast guard on standby as well in case we land in the sea"
"On it" said Lyons
Jess was holding Pip's hand so tightly her finger tips were turning purple. "He will be alright won't he?" Jess asked
Pip smiled "when you've known The Doctor as long as I have, you find it's always best to trust him. I also know, he's glad we are down here and not up there." But Jess could see that like her Pip was worried and both women hugged each other tightly.
High in space The Doctor and Ranger were trying to restart the enG.I. , the small reptile creature that had badly damaged the spaceship was now in a containment pod where it had now fully recovered. At the controls they managed to power up the enG.I. for a few minutes before they cut out. "No good" Ranger said "Fuel capacitate cells are completely dry. The only thing keeping us up is the anti-gravitational field and if we cut that we'll fall."
"Not if we guided our descend." The Doctor responded. "Commander are you tracking our progression?"
"Hang on Doctor" Commander Lyons glanced at a nearby monitor "Terrestrial Satellite 'Charlie, Vector Thirty-Seven' and Gamma Powered satellite 'October Ten'. They are sending us regular information. But You have hardly any power left."
"Who do those satellites belong too?" Jess asked
"Either other nations or civilisations that we use as helpful eyes in the atmosphere." Pip explained "in fact those two contain obtain technology to create a… an omega shield" Pip's face lit up "An Omega Shield, Jessica Ringstead you are fantastic, we could use an Omega Shield. To bring them back Commander I have an idea" she hurried up and spoke into the microphone "Doctor we can use the satellite technology to create an Omega Shield."
There was a load of interference then he cried "Pip O'Niell there are times when I could kiss you."
"It was Jess' idea Doctor, I'll get 'Charlie, Vector Thirty-Seven' and 'October Ten' to aim their projection equipment and channel Omega Energy towards you." Pip said
"What's an Omega Shield?" Jess asked
"What's an Omega Shield?" enquired Ranger
"It's a protective zone, that should keep us safe, they won't be strong enough for us to land but they will be able to get us through Earth's atmosphere."
Just then Commander Lyons voice could be heard on the radio "Right Doctor 'Charlie, Vector Thirty-Seven' and 'October Ten' are lined up and ready to activate. Begin. activation in ten seconds"
Far away from them the two satellites spun round and began sending out gamma radiation, The Doctor began moving dials and gauges around. "No we need to get into the small room there, once the Omega Shield stops we will come down quite fast and make a very loud bang."
Ranger helped move Clodax into the small chamber, "Right Doctor" came Commander Lyons' voice "The Omega Shield won't work until you disconnect the gravitational hold."
"But the button needs constant pressure. OK Commander" The Doctor said. He turned "Clodax, what is this ship called"
"USLO Escort Seventy-Five" the alien replied, The Doctor nodded
On the ground Pip O'Niell looked up from the monitor which she was looking at "'Charlie, Vector Thirty-Seven' is now transmitting 75 gigabits of power and 'October Ten' is transmitting 91 gigabits, Commander, Escort Seventy-five can land."
Lyons nodded "You here that Doctor down you come"
The Doctor reached out to the massive lever, which when he pulled would disengage the gravitational hold, "I only this works" he said quietly and he reached out and gave the firm yet gentle pull, is moved with a click and instantly the whole of USLO Escort Seventy-Five began to shake violently again. "Hold On" The Doctor said "We're going down."
Slowly the spacecraft began to decent through the atmosphere. Just then a bleeping sound come on one of the monitor Pip looked up "Trouble Commander 'October Ten's power has dropped by thirty percent and 'Charlie, Vector Thirty-Seven' is starting to fail. "
Commander Lyons' hand shot straight to his headset "Problems here Doctor, Power is failing?"
"I thought that may be the problem" Came The Doctor's voice, which was accompanied with grunts of effort. "We are coming down with a loud bang. Tell the satellites to cut power all together before they overheat and we have three objects falling out of the sky."
"Understand Doctor." Replied Lyons who turned to face Pip "Cut power from the satellites "
Pip sadly replied "yes Commander" then she reached out and tapped at the keyboard "Power coming off now"
On board the escort spacecraft the whole vessel began to shake uncontrollably, "Hang on Ranger, I've got complete control" The Doctor shouted
On the ground Commander Lyons, Jess and Pip raced out into the open, they could see a bright light in the sky it was even brighter than the sun. "That must be them" said Jess happily
"Yeah, but what is he doing" said Pip shading her eyes, "he's not going to land here?"
The light grew brighter and brighter "EVERYBODY DOWN!" Shouted Commander Lyons, there was a massive boom like a bomb had gone off when all three looked up they saw a coloumn of smoke rising over a thousand feet into the air.
Jess and Pip hugged each other tightly "He can't be dead" whispered Jess
Commander Lyons pulled a radio transmitter from his trouser pocket and began talking into it. "'Emergancy, code red, code red. Spacecraft crashed approximately five miles away from main base, rough bearing 217 degree West.' Miss O'Niell Get that special key you use." Just then a jeep pulled and all three clambered in and drove away at top speed.
The craft had made a large crater big enough to swallow a large house, however the banks were steep and all three clambered down and found a hatch nearby, Pip reached up and placed an unusual metallic disc onto the hatch, there were several loud bleeps and the door flew open a plum of vapour escaped into the atmosphere. Just then a tall figure appeared in the hatch way, but the vapour was as thick as pea soup and neither Jess or Pip could see who it was.
Just then it emerged into the sunlight. "DOCTOR!" Both women cried and rushed out and hugged their friend tightly
Commander Lyons stood aside "Where's Ranger?" he asked
"Inside with an alien" The Doctor said, He smiled at Lyons, but the Commander's face was cold and emotionless
"You have crashed a spacecraft in the middle of G.I.N. HQ Base" He said frankly
"I thought something heard something go" The Doctor said
Lyons' face a bright shade of pink "He Ploughes an alien spaceship into the earth, causes millions of pounds of damage AND HE THOUGHT HE HEARD SOMETHING GO!" The last few words he said loudly, his hands were clenched into fists.
"Never mind that" said Pip "At least you are back safe and sound", Ranger and Clodax had also climbed out and all three were taken back to G.I.N. HQ.
Whilst the recovery operation began a mysterious figure dressed in black stood on top of the hill, in one of his hands he led a large metal hook, as his eyes followed the vehicle which carried The Doctor, Jess, Pip, Commander Lyons and Ranger and slowly he began to walk in the direction of G.I.N. HQ.