Doctor Who and the Final Confrontation (The Future Doctor Chronicles Part Two)

Chapter Fourteen

Rassilon scanned the corridor and waited for a technician to pass before speaking.  

"This decision didn't come easily but I believe it's the only option left to us. Romana I'm sanctioning the release of the Doctor from his prison. It's imperative that he puts to good use all of the knowledge and skills he's amassed from his wanderings to stop the Master's diabolical plan. I don't think for one minute that he'll stop once the Doctor is released. He has us in his sights so our destruction is all that will truly satisfy him." "Aren't you forgetting something Lord President? He's been there for quite some time. He'll be old by now. I'd imagine he'd have trouble walking two hundred yards let alone taking on the Master." 

Rassilon moved closer to her and placed a hand on each shoulder. 

"I think you already know what needs to be done Romana and believe me if there was any other way I'd do it." 

"Are you sure there's no other way. There must be others here who could come up with an appropriate strategy." 

"Have you ever studied the Master's file? To call him a genius would be an understatement. The Doctor is the only person who comes close to matching his intellect. He's the only one that's ever defeated him. The coordinates have been sent to your Tardis. You must leave straight away. Every moment we waste means more lives lost."

The Brigadier paced up and down the operations room. He hated not knowing what his enemy was up to and when they'd strike. It was times like these that he was almost eager for a fight just to break the monotony. For what seemed like the hundredth time he glanced up at the huge blank screen and willed it to come to life. Even the banks of computer terminals in front of it stood silent. He did an about turn and continued to pace across the room. 

A flash of light at the very edge of his vision caused him to return his attention to the screens. The terminals had switched themselves on and the large screen was flashing red. 

"Sergeant Carter." he shouted above the noise of an alarm that'd just begun to sound. 

"Yes Sir." 

"Status report if you please Sergeant." 

Sergeant Carter handed him a folder marked 'Top Secret' and stood to attention. He could see the look of surprise on the Brigadiers face as he scanned the contents. 

"Excellent a Tardis has been detected. I thought the Doctor was never going to join us. Bring him straight to me the moment he arrives." 

"Sir I don't think it's him." 

The Brigadier looked confused. How could it not be him? 

"Explain yourself Sergeant." 

Sergeant Carter moved to the nearest terminal and typed in a set of coordinates. The red flashing screen disappeared to be replaced by a real time image of the earth from space. He pointed at a multitude of metallic discs that almost blotted out the planet.  

"I don't think it's him because they're in orbit directly behind the Tardis. It's safe to assume the person flying it is aware of their presence." 

"Whose ships are they?" 

"The round disc shaped craft belong to the Daleks." 

"Oh my God!" exclaimed the Brigadier. 

"That's not the worst of it Sir." 

He zoomed out so more of space was visible and saw out of the corner of his eye the Brigadier's mouth drop open in shock. 

"We've identified the second fleet as the Cybermen and the third are the Sontarons. I don't think they plan to invade Sir. With a force of that size annihilation is the most likely outcome." 

"How many are there?" 

"Our best estimate is seven Hundred and fifty thousand Sir." 

They both stared in disbelief at the sheer number of enemy ships. Then without warning the image changed to static. 

"What's going on Sir?" 

"We're receiving a communication and I've a feeling I now know who it's from. If I'm right he has no great love for UNIT or indeed the planet Earth.