Max Eilerson watched as the latest planet the Excalibur had travelled to slowly orbited around it's axis. "Why is this planet so important again Mr. Matherson?"
"This is another of the Captain's hunches." Matherson smiled as he sat back in the command chair. Suddenly his PSI senses began to pick up a feeling of great danger.
"Why does Captain Gideon insist on ignoring good advice? It wasn't enough that Galen ran screaming to his ship when he heard our co-ordinates but he also ignored me. I might almost think he didn't like me, if I didn't know him better."
A blast of blue energy sliced through the vacuum of space and impacted against the Excaliber's skin.
"Captain Gideon to the bridge." Matherson ordered into his wrist comlink. "Sensors to full sweep, find out where that came from."
"What do we have?" Gideon came onto the bridge.
"Unknown hostiles fired a superheated compression beam at us sir."
"This is supposed to be a planet of peaceful people called Daleks." Gideon felt that the Apocalypse Box had been lying to him again. "Launch Starfuries, defensive pattern Theta."
There was a strange wheezing/grinding/scratchy sound and the bridge was bathed in a flickering blue and yellow light. A blue box began to form from nothing. It opened and a long haired man emerged. "Ah hello. I do hope I'm in time."
"Who the hell are you mister and how did you get on my ship?"
"I'm the Doctor and I do hope I can be of some help."
"Are you the one firing on my ship?"
"Ah no, that would be them." The Doctor pointed towards a fleet of Dalek saucers.
"That's a whole lot of ships Captain." Matherson's jaw dropped open.
"You shouldn't have come here, not yet. Humans aren't ready to counter a Dalek assault force yet. Grace, you'd better bring that feedback induction phase inverter out."
"There's another person inside that crate?" Gideon was amazed. "You're not a Technomage are you?"
"No, my people, The Timelords, are much more advanced than that secular cult."
"Why haven't we heard about your people before now?"
"They're very secretive and they never interfere."
"But you do?"
"Sometimes. You could say I like to see the underdog win. This bridge, it's so dull. Have you ever thought of a more pleasant colour scheme?"
"The last person who said that was almost spaced by Mr. Matherson."
"Yes well, once your crew get that gizmo fitted you might stand a chance."
Max laughed. "In case you two hadn't noticed that fleet haven't fired on us again."
The Doctor turned and looked at the stationary fleet. "Hmmm only a single warning shot? That's most unusual, Daleks aren't known for their peaceful platitudes. Genocide is their favourite past time. Oh Captain." The Doctor pushed Grace towards Gideon. "This is my best friend Dr. Grace Holloway."
"Ah hello." Gideon smiled and shook her hand. "What is that noise?"
The Doctor took the sound crystal out of the data port. "California Dreaming by the Mamas and the Papas. I always think best with a little music in the background."
"It was full volume."
"Really? It must have been working as I hardly noticed. Ah ha, it's so simple. You're here because you are expected, right?"
"How did you know that?"
"You might say a little practice goes a long way."
"Yes I was informed the Daleks could help us find a cure for the Drakh plague."
"And you believed them? Oh of course I'm forgetting humanity hasn't had much dealing with them yet."
"My souce told me they might intercede with the Drakh on ourside for the cure."
"Yes, they would. And you have to give them the benefit of the doubt. Fire now before you allow any of them on board."
"I never fire without provocation Doctor."
"Good, there's hope for you yet."
"Sir, Dalek fleet is taking up attack positions..."
"Treachery is endemic to their nature, they are compelled to betray without a second thought."
"Multiple jump points forming sir. It's the Drakh sir, hundreds of them."
Grace stared at the ships. "There's a lot of them isn't there."
"Launch all fighters, set up a killing zone and get ready to jump as soon as we punch a hole in their defences." Gideon strolled over towards his chair.
It was obvious the Excalibur was out gunned, out matched and out of options but the Doctor's 'gift' had given them the necessary firepower to combat the dalekanium hulls of the Dalek saucers.
Gideon gave the retreat order and a jump point formed. The Starfuries and Thunderbolts followed the larger ship into the swirling yellow vortex that led to hyperspace.
The Doctor began to tremble, hyperspace always set his whole system on edge.
Eventually they reached a safe place and they jumped back into real space.
"Well that was a disaster."
"The Daleks and the Drakh together, Earth really needs friends now Captain. You should try and contact the Draconians and get them to help. They are a very approachable people but rather stuck on protocol and ritual, rather like the Alpha Centauri in that respect." The Doctor went back to the TARDIS.
"If you're people are so advanced then do you know of a cure for the plague."
"If I was to help what would you learn? This is humanity's quest and I cannot get further involved and I don't give advice. I might say this to you though, I have seen the future and it is blue and green and very friendly."
Before Gideon could press for more questions the Doctor and Grace were in the TARDIS and away.
Gideon took out the Apocalypse Box and glared at it for a few seconds as it glowed yellow/green. "You lied to me."
"I said you would find a people who would help you."
"Those Daleks have sided with the Drakh."
"Did you not learn of a people who could help you?"
"The Draconians?"
"They can help if you are willing to ask."
"No one has heard of them before. I don't know anything about them."
"A meeting is possible." The box went silent.
Gideon walked back on the bridge and gave the co-ordinates for the Draconian Empire. Perhaps this new race would prove to be a valuable ally. Only time would tell and she never revealed anything all at once.
