Free Doctor Who: Earthshock by Ian Marter Page B

back of her seat with sudden impatient savagery, glaring at Ringway. At once he pulled himself together and strode obediently out.
    'You must isolate the affected section,' the Doctor advised.
    'Not while we're in warp drive,' Briggs snapped.
    'It's the only way you'll stop them.'
    Torn between suspicion and helplessness, the Captain turned in frustration to the Doctor. 'But who are they?' she demanded.
    The Doctor shrugged. 'I don't know yet, but I suspect that whatever is tapping your power circuits wants a lot more than just control of your ship.'
     
     

36
    Berger jumped up in alarm as more warnings flashed on the console in front of her. 'Captain, we must come out of warp drive now,' she pleaded. 'If we continue to lose power like this the thrusters could mis-phase.'
    'No!' Briggs shouted, with a ferocity that surprised everyone. 'I am not risking my bonus just because of a few miserable stowaways.' She walked contemptuously away.
    'You must listen,' the Doctor insisted, rushing over and seizing her by the shoulders. 'The story about the bomb is true. Whoever planted it is now concealed in your hold.'
    Briggs shook her head vehemently. 'I will not stop this ship,' she bellowed.
    'Our transponder would inform Earth Security that we had deviated from our flight schedule. We would be intercepted and hove to. I'd be penalised for delayed delivery.'
    'Are you sure you know what you're delivering?' the Doctor challenged her, a gleam of victory in his eyes. 'You could be giving the enemies of Earth a guaranteed free ride.'
    Briggs shoved the Doctor aside and dropped heavily into her command seat.
    'Ringway,' she snapped into the intercom, keeping her eyes closely on the Doctor,
    'position your squad along the first level. Make sure that whatever's down there stays there.'
    'Yes, Captain,' Ringway answered smartly.
    'I have no reason to believe your fairy tales,' Briggs told the Doctor.
    The Doctor had completely crushed his hat between his hands in his anxiety.
    He glanced helplessly at Adric and at Berger for support. 'Then at least believe your own instruments!' he finally yelled in exasperation.
    Briggs leaned intently over her command panel. 'We go on...' she said firmly.
     
     
    Ever since the departure of the Doctor and Adric, the atmosphere in the TARDIS had grown steadily more tense. In the oppressive silence, Tegan and Professor Kyle were gazing apprehensively at the vague shadowy images on the viewer screen. Scott was pacing around like a caged animal, and the troopers were hanging restlessly about, desperate to get to grips with the enemy - whatever it might be. Nyssa had been fiddling at the console for some time, biting her lip and frowning at strange readings on the instrument panels.
    Eventually Scott could contain himself no longer. 'I think we've waited long enough,' he said, checking his watch.
    'I agree. Something must have happened to them,' the Professor murmured.
    Nyssa looked up sharply. 'My instinct is to wait,' she objected.
    'Why? They've been gone ages,' Tegan protested.
    'I'm as concerned as you are,' Nyssa replied, 'but things do not feel right out there.'
    'Is the magnetic field still increasing?' Kyle asked.
    Nyssa shook her head. 'It's reducing now, but it's still massive.'
    They all stared at the mysterious shadows on the viewer.
    'Could it hurt them?' Tegan asked quietly.
    Nyssa looked very worried. 'I can't tell without knowing what is causing it,'
    she said. 'We shall just have to wait until it stabilises.'
    Reluctantly they waited. Time dragged by and still the screen showed nothing but deep, jagged shadows. At last even Nyssa could bear it no longer. 'The field is much weaker now. It might be safe now...' she said uncertainly.
     
     

37
    Immediately Scott and his squad snatched up their equipment and stood poised for action, while Nyssa completed a final check.
    'I want to come with you!' Tegan suddenly blurted out, grasping the Lieutenant's arm.
    Scott shook his head firmly. 'It's