Chapter 4

Gravitational effects were being felt on Moab Four as fortification efforts continued. Meanwhile, the TARDIS had moved to a parallel course with the core fragment.

Nita, the Doctor and Carolyn were in the Control Room at the console. They had to adjust its trajectory by a minimum of one-point-two degrees to insure the colony's safety.

"I'll bring us within range of the fragment."

Dey and Michelle were in the Cloister Room at a science station.

"You may proceed, Michelle."

"Ok." Michelle turned to Dey. "Good luck."

Dey smiled… she was wired, eager for this challenge. "You, too."

"Engage tractor beam."

She worked at the console.

The tractor beam flared out from the TARDIS and melded with the fragment.

"Okay, let's give it a try." Michelle worked panels. "Shutting down noncritical systems."

In the Control Room, the Doctor was working the panels. "Increasing power to tractor emitters. Power levels rising."

"Emitter circuits one hundred and seventy percent over standard."

"Transferring artron energy to tractor beam generator."

"Graviton generators operating normally… surge pulse now synchronized… emitters radiating at three hundred and twenty percent over standard."

"Control Room, we need more power."

"Should we reduce life support to minimum requirements, Doctor?"

"Yes."

The tractor beam was tied to the fragment… it was pulsing.

Dey was checking readings on separate monitors. "Three hundred and ninety percent over standard."

"Come on… come on."

"No change in the fragment's course."

Michelle was on the move. "We've gotta increase the pulse frequency."

"The emitter circuits won't hold for long."

"We won't need them for long." Michelle started to work the panels.

"Four hundred percent over standard."

"All right, now we're getting there."

Dey moved to a new monitor. "The fragment's moved point-four degrees off its previous heading… point six-five… it's working."

In the Control Room, the Doctor pressed panels, taking readings. Suddenly a warning sounded from the console. They began to hear significant sound bumps and whines from the TARDIS, the Doctor reacted. "We have lost one of the emitter circuits."

"Life support failure, decks nine, twelve, and thirteen. Michelle, I'm gonna need power back soon."

"Acknowledged."

Dey checked readings. "Fragment's new heading adjustment is at one-point-zero-one degrees… is it enough?"

Michelle was poised to cut it off at the right time. "Not yet… hold on."

"We have lost the second lateral emitter circuit."

"Losing life-support systems on decks five to nine."

"Michelle…"

"Hold on, Doctor."

"Shipwide life-support failure in fifteen seconds…"

"Almost there, Michelle. Course shift is at one-point-one-six degrees."

Light levels were dropping, flickering.

"Termination of all life-support in five seconds. Now, Michelle."

"One-point-one-eight."

"Yes Doctor." Michelle rapidly made adjustments. "Shutting down all tractor emissions… transferring power back to life-support."

"One-point-two… we've got it." She almost jumped off the floor with exhilaration.

The tractor beam retracted.

In the Control Room, light levels resumed normal intensity.

"Life-support normal on all decks."

"The fragment's course has been altered by one-point-two-one degrees. Hail the colony."

Snyder appeared on the viewscreen. "Yes, Doctor."

"Success, Mister Snyder. With the upgrades to your biosphere, the core fragment should no longer be a serious danger."

"I cannot adequately express my appreciation to your crew."

Carolyn studied him, he was tired and worn, and she wished she could reach out to him.

"Is Dey able to hear me?"

In the Cloister Room, Snyder was on a monitor. Michelle was beaming, showing Dey how to use the companel… she was as excited as a child, exhilarated after this heady experience. "Yes, yes, go ahead John."

"This is an historic achievement, Dey. You've done a wonderful thing for our people."

"Thank you."

"We look forward to honoring you appropriately when you return." And those words bring Dey back to the reality, as her smile faded a bit.

"Thank you again, Doctor. Snyder out."

The realization sunk in: now she had to go home. The moment of triumph had lost its joy.