The Ambassadors of Death by Terrance Dicks

Author:Terrance Dicks [Dicks, Terrance]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science-Fiction - Doctor Who
ISBN: 9780491037129
Publisher: Target Books
Published: 1987-06-14T22:00:00+00:00

10

‘An Attack On The Space Centre?’

‘I think I’ve got it now,’ said Liz.

Reegan, who was no kind of scientist, had found the operation of Taltallian’s communications device beyond him and had handed it over to Liz. Despite her worries, Liz found the task was a fascinating one.

‘Send “stand up”,’ ordered Reegan.

Liz twisted the dial set into the device and pressed the transmitter button. The device gave out a low beeping sound – and the three figures in the radiation chamber rose slowly to their feet.

‘Send “come forward”.’

Liz made another adjustment, there was another low sound and the three figures began to advance towards the glass.

‘Send “stop”,’ ordered Reegan hurriedly.

Liz obeyed and the figures stopped.

Reegan took the device from Liz and studied the call-sign list. ‘I think I’ve got the hang of it. Nothing can go wrong?’

‘It’s simple enough; even you should be able to manage.’

Liz paused. ‘Taltallian brought you this thing, didn’t he?

‘Never you mind.’

‘That case you gave him – what was that for?’

Reegan smiled. ‘A way of killing two birds with one stone…’

The Brigadier and a somewhat dishevelled Doctor were watching a UNIT team sort and tidy the debris of the wrecked computer room.

‘You seem to have been right about Taltallian, Doctor,’ observed the Brigadier.

The Doctor brushed dust from his clothes and hair.

‘Much good it did me – or him!’

‘He was obviously trying to plant a time bomb on you. Lucky for you the mechanism was faulty.’

‘I’m not so sure it was. Look at this.’ The Doctor turned to a bench and picked up the twisted remnants of the bomb’s timing mechanism. ‘This was set at zero. Taltallian thought he had lots of time to get clear. But the bomb was set to explode straight away.’

‘So whoever gave it to him wanted to get rid of both of you?’

‘Yes,’ said the Doctor thoughtfully. ‘Taltallian was a bit of a weak link and his employers wanted to be rid of him. Luckily his body was between me and the bomb, so…’ The Doctor waved towards Bruno’s huddled body, as the UNIT stretcher-men began carrying it away.

‘A dead end then?’ said the Brigadier, with unconscious black humour.

‘I’m afraid so…’ The Doctor wandered over to Taltallian’s locker. The door was hanging open, sprung loose by the blast, but the contents seemed undamaged.

The Doctor reached onto the top shelf and took out a small metal box with controls set in the lid.

‘Brigadier, look at this.’

The Brigadier turned. ‘What?’

‘It’s a communications device, very like the one I’m trying to build – and Taltallian had one all the time.’

‘Time is running short,’ said Quinlan pettishly. ‘Cornish is nearly ready to send up that rocket.’

General Carrington said reproachfully, ‘You were supposed to stop him, sir.’

‘Do you think I haven’t tried? I’ve tried every possible delay. Now, that Doctor’s volunteered to pilot the recovery rocket.’

‘He must be stopped!’

‘We could tell him the truth,’ suggested Quinlan.

‘No! We know too little about him. He must be stopped. If that rocket goes up it means disaster for the entire world…’

After

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