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.'Romana smiled.'You're too modest, Doctor.''I know.It's always been one of my most endearing features!''The problem will not arise,' said Commander Sharrel confidently.'The moment we are in space, the Nova Device will be detonated, and this planet will fry in its own atmosphere.Davros will finally be destroyed!'The Doctor stared at him in horror.'But there are still dozens of Dalek prisoners on that planet.What about them?'Commander Sharrel turned away.'I am sorry, Doctor.In war some sacrifices are unavoidable.'Lan sat in a rocky hollow, the Nova Device beside him, waiting patiently for the signal that would destroy a planet and end his own existence.He heard the rattle of a stone and jumped up.'Who's there?'There was no answer.Then he heard a groan.Blaster in hand, Lan made his way towards the sound.On the other side of the rocks he saw Tyssan sprawled out across the path.He knelt to examine him - and another slave worker appeared in the rocks above him.Lan whirled round, raising his blaster.Tyssan came to life, jumping up and snatching the silver tube from Lan's belt.Lan staggered about jerkily for a moment or two, and then collapsed.Tyssan slipped the cover from the silver tube, revealing a mass of printed micro-circuits.Before his capture, Tyssan had been a very fine engineer, and robotics had been one of his specialities.He produced tools from a tattered pouch at his belt and set to work.'Here, and here, I think,' he muttered.'And if I reverse this circuit here.' He worked for a while longer, put the tube together again, and advanced on the prostrate Lan.'Now let's see if the Doctor was right!'An aide was delivering a report to the Dalek leader.'Surface scanners indicate Movellan ship preparing for launch.Estimated lift-off time, twenty-one minutes.Audio scanners have detected non-Movellan voices inside space vehicle.Computers identify voice prints as Doctor and companion.'Davros said agitatedly, 'The Doctor! The Movellans must be prevented from escaping at all costs.The Doctor could programme Movellan battle computers as well as I could yours.He would counteract any advantage I could gain for you.The Movellans must be stopped.'The Dalek leader said, 'Present strength will not permit open attack.Only seven Dalek units still operational.'Davros's withered hand clenched and unclenched.'The Movellan ship must be destroyed - at whatever cost!''Available fire-power will be ineffective against Movellan hull.''Then we must manufacture more fire-power!' Davros began wheeling up and down the control centre, ranging about restlessly as his mind grappled with the problem.He reached the rack that held the explosives and halted his chair.'Wait! I have it! Unpack the explosives!'12 Suicide SquadThe Movellan crew were busy with preparations for blast-off - all except the crewman who had been left to guard the Doctor and Romana, and a second guard by the door.The two prisoners were engaged in a desultory game of 'Scissors cut paper'.'Scissors,' said Romana, triumphantly cutting the Doctor's paper.'You're cutting it a bit fine aren't you, Doctor? Isn't it time we got out of here?''Yes,' said the Doctor gloomily.'Trouble is, I haven't the faintest idea how to go about it!''Well, do something - anything!''All right.Be ready to make a dash for it when I give the signal.' The Doctor rose and took a step towards Commander Sharrel.'Excuse me, Commander.'The guard put the muzzle of his blaster to the Doctor's neck.Hurriedly the Doctor sat down again.'What happened to your plan?' whispered Romana.'It never really got off the ground!''Well, we will, if you don't get a move on!'Romana held out her hand.'Paper!''Jelly baby,' said the Doctor and dropped a jelly baby into her hand.Romana looked at it in amazement.'Jelly baby?'The Doctor grinned.'Unpredictability! In other words, humanoids catch robot!'They saw Agella move across to Commander Sharrel.'Excuse me, Commander, I've just checked Lan's communication circuit, and he doesn't answer.'Commander Sharrel frowned.'It is vital that we stay in touch with him.You'd better go and check up.''Immediately, Commander.'Agella moved away, and Commander Sharrel returned his attention to the flight deck.'Commence launch programme.''Launch programme commencing - now!'Agella came down the ship's ramp and saw a silver tube lying on the ground.(Although she didn't know it, this was the tube the Doctor had taken from the Movellan who had tried to capture him earlier.)Puzzled, Agella bent to pick it up, but as she straightened up her arms were pinioned from behind.She struggled wildly, but despite her enormous robotic strength, her captor held her powerless.Agella opened her mouth to shout, but a hand came up and clamped over her mouth.With unbelieving horror, Agella saw that it was a robotic hand like her own.She was being attacked by another Movellan.Tyssan darted from behind a rock, and snatched the silver tube from Agella's belt.Her captor released her, and she staggered a few paces and collapsed.'Well done, Lan,' said Tyssan, and patted the Movellan on the back.He opened Agella's silver tube and began making rapid adjustments to the circuits.Lan looked on with calm approval.A ragged group began to appear from over the rise - Dalek slave workers, ready to fight for their freedom.Patiently, they waited for Tyssan to finish his task.Davros addressed the six Daleks ranged in a semicircle before him.'Now, understand me clearly.You will not deviate from your task, no matter what the provocation.'He surveyed the group.Each Dalek wore a kind of harness, a belt loaded with a double row of the canister bombs [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]