Chapter Sixteen
"Here we are Doctor?" Miss Barrett said, she had entered the console room of the Tardis with a large box that appeared to be full of junk
The Doctor himself was underneath the console with a set of screwdrivers "There we are" he said "Tuned up the power supply so that'll keep the Skybase safe for a little while yet." He went to the box and pulled out what looked like a pair of massive leather gauntlets and a medieval breastplate, the kind Miss Barrett had seen on suits of armour. "Hoping that this maybe something that can defeat X.R.I.A.C" The Doctor explained
Just then Skylieutenant Harker looked into the Tardis "Doctor, The Skymaster has an idea to stop X10 he's going to use the Skyrocket fleet to defeat them and he and Commander Lyons want you and Miss Barrett to join them on the bridge."
The Doctor's heart sank "Oh no, why can't they leave well alone. I could have sworn someone said that to me? Come on Jemima"
On the bridge Commander Lyons was standing at the main defence console. The Doctor appeared "Ah Commander, now what is this about using Skyrockets against X10?"
"The Skymaster said that the Skybase's main defence system is a fleet of super powered Skyrockets that can swoop down and fire laser blasts onto the target. The Skymaster said that he could have a fleet of twelve ready for the assault."
"Typical human military minds" The Doctor said "whether they come from the 21st Century or the 72nd. The human military mind never ceases to amaze me"
"Do you think it can't be done?" Lyons asked
"No Commander" The Doctor replied "I KNOW it can't be done!"
He paused then continued "X10 is hailed as the most superior terrestrial computer ever created, if McKenzie trying to cut its power socket didn't work, I fail to see what good a massive twelve skyrocket fleet could do"
"I assure you Doctor that the Skybase has facilities which G.I.N. can only dream off. So I think it can be achieved" Lyons insisted
Just then Miss Barrett, Becky Gibbs and the Skymaster joined them "Skyrockets ready" the Skymaster said for the first time The Doctor looked out through the large window which looked out across what appeared the flight deck. As he watched a pair of hydraulic flaps parted revealing a large cavity "Fleet take off, commence countdown" The Skymaster said just then an electronic voice sparked into life
"Countdown commencing Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One. Ignition!" There was a loud booming sound and slowly the Skyrockets slowly lifted from their hanger and took off into space.
Each one was long and sleek and coloured a dark shade of royal blue, each with the word 'Skyrocket' followed by a serial number. A voice crackled over the tannoy "This is Skyrocket 01. Please may have bearings of our target?"
The Skymaster reached out a pressed a button on the console and began speaking "Reading you Skyrocket 01, handing you over to main Earth co-ordinator." The Skymaster said and gestured that it was Commander Lyons' turn to speak
"Listen Skyrocket 01, this is Commander John Lyons senior officer of the General Intelligence Network. Target 'Skylight Electronics' manufacturing facility in Tenworth, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, Western Hemisphere. Objective to destroy to facility and hostile target."
"Roger Commander, Skyrockets engage." The pilot of Skyrocket 01 said
As they headed towards Earth the Doctor was filled with a sense of dread he put his hands into his pockets and crossed his fingers.
Descending through the cloud the Skyrockets made their way towards Britain
From their cockpits the Skyrocket operators that they were drawing closer to the Tenworth planet their computer screens flickered and X10 appeared "Going down" it hissed
On the Skybase there was a loud regular alarm sound and the captain of the rocket saying over the radio "Attention Skybase, Attention Skybase, Mayday, Mayday" then the radio went dead
"What happened?" asked Commander Lyons
"X10 was able to take over their computer navigation systems and caused them to crash." The Doctor said solemnly "But now this has gone on long enough, if X10 wants a fight, he's going to get one." With a tone of determination The Doctor left the bridge.
About ten minutes later Becky Gibbs, Miss Barrett and Commander Lyons found him in the Tardis working on the box of pieces that Miss Barrett had brought in.
Inside the Tardis he put on the breast plate and was soldering something onto the gauntlets. There were then connected to the centrepiece by a complicated array of wires and cables. "Now the finishing touch" The Doctor said, he fell to his knees and began reaching under the Tardis with a pair of tongs and pulled out a small item that was pulsating and glowing in illuminative colour.
"What on earth is that?" Commander Lyons asked
"I timegem" explained The Doctor "Not very big but capable of producing over half of the Tardis' console power
"But the Tardis is broken" Lyons said
"I told you before" The Doctor said "It isn't broken; it just can't travel in time at the moment. Now all I need to do" he added, pressing a button small compartment opened in the chest plate into this The Doctor put the timegem. And put on the gloves he went to the scanner screen, he pushed a lever and began to talk! "Come in X10, Come in X10 I wish to engage in conversation with you X10"
"Are you mad?" Miss Barrett hissed
"I know what I'm doing" The Doctor said quietly so that X10's microphones wouldn't be able to hear it. "Are you listening to me X10" he said louder "I wish to converse with but just us I won't come armed provided that you don't bring any droids."
The scanner flickered and the image of X10 appeared "Why?" it rasped "Why should I converse with a simple human"
"Because I'm not a human, I'm The Doctor. President elect of the high council of Timelords, Keeper of the legacy of Rassilon, Defender of the Laws of Time and Protector of this planet, and I should warn you. That if you don't stop this invasion then I will stop you." The Doctor said. Becky Gibbs shivered the sophisticated yet silly Doctor was gone and a new determinate almost scary version was standing in front of her. X10 laughed his terrible metallic scraping laugh.
"Very well" it grated "Teleport down" and the screen went black
"I'm going" The Doctor said
"X10 will kill you?" Miss Barrett said
The Doctor smiled "No, I'll be ok! I have a few tricks up my sleeve." He said "Now Miss Barrett I have a job for you. X10 thinks he has access to the Tardis he doesn't instead I've managed to lock The Tardis onto him so we can have temporary control, When I shout 'lights' flick this switch and the lights will come on. The main trouble with X10 is that because it's a machine it can't sustain emotion so I can't tell if it's bluffing or not. But don't worry, I'll be alright" he finished and standing on the teleport pad The Doctor disappeared.
"God speed" whispered Commander Lyons
"Good Luck" Miss Barrett said.