Doctor Who: BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures [014] - Vanderdeken's Children by Christopher Bulis

Author:Christopher Bulis
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780563405900
Publisher: BBC Books
Published: 1998-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Suspicion

Fayle turned away from the bed where Tane rested and followed Vega out of the Indomitable’s sickbay. Behind him Tane continued to stare sightlessly up at the ceiling. Feeding tubes and lines connected him to a medical support monitor, hi the corridor outside Fayle spoke to his superior in low angry tones.

‘Commander, we must take action against the Emindians.’

Vega looked at him through tired eyes. For the first time since he had taken up service under Vega, Fayle began to wonder if the man had the right character for command.

‘To what purpose, Mr Fayle?’ Vega said.

‘Do you not find it the least suspicious that a party of Emindian civilians escaped from the alien ship with minor losses, while we have lost all but one of our own professional, well-armed crew? And that one they return to us so severely traumatised, that he may never recover sufficiently to give us a coherent report of what went on down there?’

‘I consider that they were simply luckier than we were, Mr Fayle. For all we know more of our men are still alive and well inside that ship, but without detailed knowledge of the conditions down there we can only speculate. When the second modified shuttle is ready we will learn more. Until then we can only wait.’

‘But what about that thing we saw on the Resolve! It was using Argen’s body to steer it towards us.’

‘Possibly an alien life form, maybe an inhabitant of the ship. We shall assess the threat they pose and take whatever action is necessary against them in due course. What has that to do with the Emindians?’

‘Their shuttle seemed to suffer no such misfortune. Why did they escape so easily?’

‘You suggest they are somehow in league with these aliens?’ He shook his head. ‘I think it’s still better to put it down to chance. After all, we were lucky to intercept their original signal reporting the discovery of the alien vessel.

Though perhaps that does not seem so fortunate now,’ he added darkly.

‘What if we were meant to hear that message?’ Fayle said. ‘Perhaps this is all part of some plot to lure us here. Is it coincidence that Kale Rexton himself, the most outspoken militarist on the Emindian High Council, was on the Cirrandaria?’

‘Yes, because if this was all planned as you say, why hasn’t Rexton come at the head of a battle squadron?’

‘Perhaps there is one, Commander, waiting somewhere just out of detector range.’

‘What would be the purpose of such a deception?’

‘I don’t know, but it does all focus on the alien ship – and as you already admitted, Commander, we do not know enough about conditions on board it.’

‘That at least we can agree on. Have you any other suspicions you wish to inform me of, Mr Fayle?’

Fayle replied stiffly, ‘I am just performing my duty, sir: informing my commanding officer of possible scenarios relevant to the current situation.’

‘Consider me duly informed. Is there anything else?’

‘The… fortuitous presence of the Federation Moderator on the Cirrandaria.

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