The Thanakian ship arrived outside the ruined capital. It simply faded in without fanfare, unlike a TARDIS. \u201cYou\u2019re making the right decision, Madame President,\u201d purred Miss Tarae, always eager to get a word in. \u201cWe\u2019ll put their secrets to good use.\u201d She was lightly caressing one of Romana\u2019s shoulders. Romana decided to show Miss Tarae that such an act was a no-no by grabbing Miss Tarae\u2019s fingers and squeezing tightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI make the decisions on what to do with another race\u2019s secrets, Miss Tarae,\u201d she reminded, \u201cnot you.\u201d The Thanakian ambassador then appeared in the doorway. \u201cGreetings, Ambassador,\u201d said Romana. \u201cWe welcome you to Gallifrey, such as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe appreciate what hospitality you can give us, Lord President,\u201d replied the ambassador. \u201cWe just hope the Rutan Host cannot penetrate your barriers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo worries,\u201d assured Rassilon. \u201cThe Transduction Barriers are still in operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe pray they will hold. We heard the Daleks tried to-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe barriers have been strengthened,\u201d assured Romana. \u201cNo one can get in without our knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe shall stay here to plan our campaign,\u201d said the ambassador. \u201cWe ARE grateful for the hospitality you can provide.\u201d The ambassador retreated back into their ship and the door shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Something just isn\u2019t adding up!\u201d muttered the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside the Thanakian ship, the ambassador smirked. \u201cFools,\u201d they remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, how much longer?!\u201d complained another Thanakian. \u201cMy fingers ache to pull the trigger-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCalm yourself, Trooper,\u201d replied the ambassador. \u201cThis is a necessary part of the plan. Once the Time Lords figure out what\u2019s going on, THEN we drop the act. Until then, the disguise is to be maintained. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d replied the Thanakian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Time Lords returned to the citadel and rejoined with Amy and Lurra Rus. \u201c\u2026Rassilon,\u201d said Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHm? Yes, Amy?\u201d asked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said something about making a new Eye of Harmony?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, the contradiction in my earlier statements,\u201d Rassilon sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Doctor twigged to that earlier than I did,\u201d explained Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid she send you to gather information?\u201d asked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe doesn\u2019t know I\u2019m asking,\u201d replied Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone has their secrets, I suppose. Perhaps I had best spill mine. The original Eye was found, yes. But it had suffered damage. Recall how we said the Eye was made?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, using the potential time energy of a star trying to collapse into a black hole, only it can\u2019t,\u201d replied Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, the energies keeping that time field alive are starting to transform into something else,\u201d explained Rassilon. \u201cSomething that can\u2019t maintain the field around the singularity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026And the collapse into a black hole will happen,\u201d realized Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOmega left copious notes on the creation of the Eye of Harmony, but I need to find them within the Matrix,\u201d continued Rassilon, \u201cbut every use of the Eye accelerates the moment it collapses!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow much of a strain was it in using the time scoop?\u201d asked Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot as much as the transduction barriers,\u201d replied Rassilon. \u201cAnd there\u2019s a lot the current Eye is running. The barriers, communications, security, all of it, even when I\u2019ve set it to reduced power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we\u2019re on a time crunch.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRomana has spent a few lives being an archivist,\u201d explained Rassilon. \u201cThat\u2019s why I need her newfound research skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo find Omega\u2019s notes faster,\u201d realized Amy. \u201cAnd hopefully before the Eye collapses in on itself and takes Gallifrey and the people on it with it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPrecisely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Well, Lurra Rus is a mechanical engineer. I\u2019m just the muscle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome now, the Doctor sees something beyond that,\u201d soothed Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s right, Amy,\u201d agreed the Doctor\u2019s voice. Amy and Rassilon yelped as they turned to see the Doctor approaching a nearby console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMust you do that?!\u201d protested Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmy, you\u2019re an empathetic woman,\u201d said the Doctor as she started working the console. \u201cA big hint of that is you making the offer to find a home for Lurra Rus and reignite her hope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026She\u2019s not wrong,\u201d agreed Rassilon. Her curiosity then took over. \u201cDoctor, what ARE you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s just say the math isn\u2019t mathing here,\u201d muttered the Doctor. She keyed up visual footage of the ships over Gallifrey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Those ARE what Rutan ships look like,\u201d remarked Rassilon. Then she blinked. \u201cHang on a minute, those ships belong to the Rutans at an earlier time. Before they started fighting the Sontarans. But that Thanakian ship is from\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom a later point in the Sontaran\/Rutan war, far later,\u201d finished the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA time loop?\u201d guessed Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd from what you told Amy about the strain on the Eye, I daren\u2019t run a full temporal scan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to risk a small one,\u201d replied Rassilon. \u201cIf that IS a time loop, then there\u2019s an illusion being played on us. And whoever is making that hypothetical illusion-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProbably has nasty designs on Gallifrey,\u201d finished Amy. \u201cBut Miss Tarae probably has nasty designs of her own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, so who would backstab who first?\u201d mused the Doctor. \u201cAs you say, we\u2019ll have to risk a cursory scan. Monitor the strain on the Eye, Rassilon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNaturally,\u201d replied Rassilon as the Doctor began her scans. The Doctor\u2019s brow furrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere IS a form of temporal energy,\u201d she remarked. \u201cAnd it\u2019s looping. It\u2019s a recursive time loop of events that happened BEFORE anyone arrived on Gallifrey. Months before I dropped you off here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut that would take an impressive amount of power,\u201d replied Rassilon. \u201cPower that we currently don\u2019t have what with the Eye decaying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think there\u2019s something else with our Thanakian friends,\u201d mused the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026If they ARE Thanakians,\u201d muttered Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, I was rather hoping you DIDN\u2019T reach the same conclusion I did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor, you can\u2019t seriously believe they\u2019re camouflaged?\u201d asked Rassilon. \u201cThe only ones who are capable of that are\u2026are the Daleks!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot entirely true,\u201d replied the Doctor. \u201cThere ARE a few races that developed time machines like ours, but their versions of the Chameleon Circuit are more short-term disguises instead of long-term ones like the ones installed in a TARDIS. \u2026Then again, there are two that developed Chameleon Circuits that function like ours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor, do you think the Daleks-?!\u201d yelped Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, they DO have that DARDIS,\u201d remarked Amy. \u201cBut would they use the Thanakians as their disguise or use the Rutans as part of their time loop?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No, they wouldn\u2019t!\u201d realized the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor?\u201d asked Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Daleks view the Rutans as the least deadly threat to their supremacy, unlike the humans!\u201d explained the Doctor. \u201cBut there\u2019s one race in particular that WOULD use them as part of a disguise!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No!\u201d realized Rassilon. \u201cThey wouldn\u2019t dare! Not again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy not?!\u201d asked the Doctor. \u201cThey\u2019ve already developed methods of time travel, like the Osmotic Projector!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd it was on those grounds that both us and the Daleks forbade them from fighting in the Time War,\u201d recalled Rassilon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor, Rassilon, who are you-?\u201d asked Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoctor,\u201d called Romana\u2019s voice as she, Lurra Rus, and Susan entered the room, \u201chave you seen Miss Tarae?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe was right behind me a minute ago,\u201d replied the Doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir!\u201d called the Thanakian Trooper. \u201cThey\u2019ve detected the Time Loop of the Rutan Fleet!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent!\u201d praised the ambassador. \u201cAnd knowing their intelligence, they\u2019ll figure out it was an illusion!\u201d The ambassador keyed in a command on a nearby communications console. \u201cScout Party 1 to Temporal Mothership, confirm that Gallifrey has detected the time loop!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGallifreyan time loop detection: confirmed,\u201d replied a gruff, male voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen deactivate it! It\u2019s time to put all our power into weapons! We go to a war footing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir,\u201d called another Thanakian trooper, \u201cour Time Lord dupe is approaching our ship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet me my flag and meson rifle!\u201d ordered the ambassador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside the citadel, the console beeped. Susan checked it. \u201cGrandfather, the time loop\u2019s dissipating,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d asked the Doctor. She checked the console and goggled in horror. \u201cOh god, they duped Miss Tarae!\u201d she said. \u201cEveryone, outside now!\u201d Everyone ran to the citadel\u2019s exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside the Thanakian ship, Miss Tarae approached it. \u201cCome on, my dear little Thanakians,\u201d she purred. \u201cTime to serve your master.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMISS TARAE, GET AWAY FROM THAT SHIP!\u201d called the Doctor as she and her friends approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot this time, Doctor!\u201d cackled Miss Tarae. \u201cWith the Thanakians as my slaves-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose aren\u2019t Thanakians!\u201d argued Amy. \u201cThey\u2019re Son-!\u201d She was interrupted by someone inside the ship opening the door and shooting Miss Tarae in the back. The ambassador stepped out with a smoking gun and a flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, drop the illusion!\u201d scoffed the Doctor. \u201cWe know you\u2019re not Thanakians, Corporal!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s GENERAL to you, Doctor,\u201d replied the ambassador as it tore off something from its collar. As Miss Tarae started glowing, the ambassador\u2019s illusion dispersed and in its place was a Sontaran General waving his flag! \u201cIn the Martial Year 76,042,\u201d he laughed, \u201cI, Trev the Temporal Terror, General of the 14th<\/sup> Sontaran Time Fleet, hereby claim Gallifrey, its moons, and satellites for the greater glory of the Sontaran Empire!\u201d He then planted his flag, unfurling it to reveal the symbol of the Sontaran Empire as the ship he was using shimmered until it assumed the familiar spherical shape. Sontaran soldiers then stomped out of the ship, more than what the external dimensions would allow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Thanakian ship arrived outside the ruined capital. It simply faded in without fanfare, unlike a TARDIS. \u201cYou\u2019re making the right decision, Madame President,\u201d purred Miss Tarae, always eager to get a word in. \u201cWe\u2019ll put their secrets to good use.\u201d She was lightly caressing one of Romana\u2019s shoulders. Romana decided to show Miss Tarae […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[959,1067],"tags":[35,963,962,997,1068,1069,63],"class_list":["post-7527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-doctor-who-crossings","category-the-specials","tag-doctor-who","tag-fan-companion","tag-fan-doctor","tag-rassilon","tag-romana","tag-susan-foreman","tag-the-master"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7527"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7527\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7528,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7527\/revisions\/7528"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}