(Note: My tales treat the BBC TV series as the only canonical Doctor Who, ignoring whatever later depictions of these characters there may have been in other media.)
- 1 -
"Lord Ravenglass, is one of the founders of UNIT," said the Brig. "Brilliant chap. Served in World War One, though he was just plain Private Charley Miller then. Afterwards he started his own business manufacturing early electronics and began investing in the stock market. Very good at it too. Made a fortune and managed to avoid the Wall Street crash. Richer than Croesus now. He was always a big believer in the need to have a group tasked with keeping a watchful eye out for possible extra-terrestrial threats, and after World War Two he began pushing for the formation of what eventually became UNIT."
"A visionary, then," said the Doctor, shifting through the gears as they took a turn, "one of the precious few on this planet! He sounds like my kind of fellow."
The Doctor and Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart were in 'Bessie', the Doctor's nippy little antique roadster. That bright yellow conveyance was currently hurtling through the Essex countryside towards a destination they both knew well. It was an unseasonably hot day, so the top was down and the warm breeze invigorating.
"What more can you tell me about Ravenglass?"
"Well, he's a bit of a health and fitness fanatic, does lots of exercise, watches what he eats, and doesn't touch alcohol. His only vice is that pipe of his. Seems to work. He's in his late-seventies, but grey hair aside he could pass for twenty years younger. He's usually based in Geneva, but has been back in blighty for the last six months or so."
"Any idea why he wanted to meet us at that temporary base of yours near Epping?"
"None whatsoever," sniffed the Brig. "Odd him choosing somewhere about to be mothballed, but given his position in UNIT he can have us meet him wherever he pleases."
"Jo wasn't very happy at being left behind."
"Miss Grant needs to remember she's attached to UNIT and so required to follow orders. Lord Ravenglass was quite specific about only wanting to see you and me. After what you both just went through at Stangmoor Prison you'd think she'd be happy to have a break. And this *is* only a meeting, after all. It's not as if we're gallivanting off on some adventure."
"Let's hope that's all this is. From what you told me this Ravenglass chap wasn't very forthcoming about exactly what this meeting is about."
"No, he wasn't."
Eventually they reached their destination, a small town to the east of London. They drove into the nondescript establishment built under Victorian railway arches, on through an underground area, and parked next to a staff car. Beyond this was a door. As they stepped out of Bessie so a familiar figure emerged from it.
"My dear Captain Munro," said the Doctor, shaking his hand, "I haven't seen you since that first Nestene affair!"
"Good to see you too, Doctor," said Munro, before snapping to attention and saluting the Brigadier. "Sir!"
"At ease, captain," said the Brig. "Bit of a surprise, seeing you back here."
"Not really, sir. I'm working as adjutant to Lord Ravenglass while he's in the UK. He's just sent me to pick up someone from the railway station."
"Then don't let us delay you."
"Very good, sir."
They watched him get into the staff car and drive off before going through the door. Just inside, at what used to be a full checkpoint, was a solitary receptionist desk. Sitting behind this was a bespectacled, somewhat overweight woman with a great thatch of dark, unruly hair. She was wearing a UNIT uniform and leapt to her feet as they entered, saluting sharply.
"And you are...?" enquired the Brig, as the Doctor studied her thoughtfully.
"Corporal Branford, sir," she replied in a thick West Country accent. "His lordship is expecting you. He told me to send you and the Doctor straight through when you arrived and that you knew the way."
"Indeed we do. Thank you, corporal."
At the end of the corridor, which had vent ducting running along the ceiling for its entire length, lay the office that had briefly been the Brigadier's. He knocked once on the door when they reached it.
"Come in," said a voice inside.
They entered.
- 2 -
Lord Charles Ravenglass was a tall, thin man, his grey hair and beard neatly trimmed. He was wearing a well tailored three-piece grey suit, an open-necked silk shirt, horn-rimmed spectacles, and looked like nothing so much as a company executive. He greeted his guests warmly.
"Ah, gentlemen!" he said. "Good to see you, can I get anyone a coffee?"
He indicated the coffee machine, and both men politely declined. Apart from the shelf on which that important device resided the office also contained Ravenglass's desk, arrayed in front of which were four metal chairs of slightly curious design having thickly upholstered back and arm rests, with legs terminating in metal disks around four inches in diameter. The Doctor took note of this, but it didn't seem worthy of comment.
"It's an honour to finally meet you, Doctor," said Ravenglass, offering his hand, "after reading so much about you."
"Oh?" said the Doctor, shaking his hand and looking enquiringly at Lethbridge-Stewart.
"His Lordship has the highest possible security clearance and so of course got to see completely unredacted reports on the help you've given us over the years."
"If all the aliens we encounter were like you UNIT wouldn't be necessary," said Ravenglass, taking out his pipe and filling it from a tobacco pouch, "but events in recent years have proven that forming it was a wise precaution."
He lit his pipe, puffed on it, then smiled at them apologetically.
"My one vice," he said, "though I only indulge it a couple of times a week. Never trust a man with no vices, don't you agree?"
The Doctor didn't, but held his tongue.
"It's only through the good graces of his Lordship that we've been able to so quickly supply you with the many expensive devices you've required, Doctor," said the Brig. "If we had to go through the penny-pinching bureaucrats we have to deal with for ordinary equipment procurement we may never have received any of them."
"Then it appears I'm in your debt, Lord Ravenglass."
"Nonsense, I was glad to help in any way I could."
"I see there have been a few additions made since I last used this office," said the Brigadier, indicating the ceiling-mounted overhead projector.
"An important aid to my presentation, that," replied Ravenglass, picking up the remote control from where it lay on his desk. "Speaking of which, when will it begin?" asked the Doctor. "I'm curious to know why you've summoned us here."
"I'm expecting one more person to show up and then we can start.
"If I may ask, why choose 'Ravenglass' as a name when you were made a life peer?"
"Because we used to stay there with relatives every summer when I was a child. It's the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park and sits at the estuary of three rivers: the Esk, the Mite and the Irt. Charming little place, dating back to Roman times. You'd love it."
The Doctor resisted the urge to tell Ravenglass that he'd already visited the village. In Roman times.
There was a knock on the door and Captain Munro entered, accompanied by a couple the Doctor recognised. He was tall and well-built with a physique befitting the rugby player he was, while she was more petite, with long blonde hair and dressed in salmon pink mini-dress, pantyhose, and knee length white go go boots.
"Liz!" said the Doctor, opening his arms to hug her. "And you've brought Adam with you!"
He was genuinely delighted to see Liz. Her War Chief persona had been excised leaving only the very human Dr Elizabeth Shaw, and the Doctor had always liked *her*.
"My orders were to meet just Dr Shaw," said Captain Munro, "so I was surprised her husband was with her when she got off the train. Not knowing what else to do I brought him along, too. I hope that was alright, my Lord."
"Quite alright, Captain. That will be all."
"Very good, sir."
"Most irregular of you, Miss Shaw," said the Brig after Munro had left.
"She insisted I come with her," said Adam Foster, sliding an arm around his wife's waist."
"We're still newlyweds," explained Liz, smiling up at him adoringly, "and I don't want to be apart from my man for a minute longer than I have to be."
"I quite understand," said Ravenglass. "Welcome, Mr Foster. I'm sure you'll find this meeting as illuminating as everyone else."
And there was a chair for him, the Doctor realised - four people, four chairs, almost as if Ravenglass had been expecting Adam to turn up, but how could he have? The Doctor shook his head, dismissing this paranoid speculation.
"Married life suits you, Liz," he said. "I've never seen you look happier."
"Oh, I am," she said, "very happy. The only thing that would make it better is a baby. We're trying, but no luck so far."
"Right, if you'll all please be seated, the meeting can start," said Lord Ravenglass, smiling as everyone chose a chair, "and I can then explain why I've called you all here."
As soon as they were seated, in that brief moment they all had their arms on the arm rests while getting comfortable, he pressed a button on the remote. This caused steel bands to spring from within the thickly upholstered back and arm rests of the chairs, clamping their stunned occupants in place.
"What is the meaning of this?" spluttered the Brigadier, the first to find his voice. "I demand you release us at once, my Lord!"
"Now why would I do that," said Ravenglass, amused by the suggestion, "when I've only just captured you?"
He watched them struggling in vain against their bonds as he calmly knocked the dottle from his pipe.
"The remote has also activated a powerful electro-magnet that's now clamping your chair legs to the metal plate beneath the carpet," he explained as they glared at him. "The dummy overhead projector is there so you wouldn't question the presence of the remote."
"The man's an imposter, Doctor, he must be!" said the Brig.
"I assure you I'm not, though it is true that that there are things about me that are significantly at odds with what everyone believes about Lord Ravenglass."
"Such as?" asked the Doctor.
"Such as the fact, my dear Doctor, that I won't be born for another three decades."