043 - Doctor Who and the Monster of Peladon

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Fifty years after his first visit to Peladon, the Doctor returns to find that Queen Thalira has inherited a troubled

kingdom from her father.

Membership of the Galactic Federation was expected to bring peace and prosperity to the planet, but the

spirit of the sacred monster Aggedor is once more spreading terror and death.

The Doctor uncovers a treacherous plot to steal the mineral wealth of Peladon, and is again confronted by his

old enemies - the Ice Warriors.

DOCTOR WHO AND THE MONSTER OF PELADON

Based on the BBC television serial by Brian Hayles by arrangement with the British Broadcasting

Corporation.

Novelised by Terrance Dicks.

A Target Book Published in 1980 By the Paperback Division of W. H. Allen & Co. Ltd A Howard & Wyndham

Company 44 Hill Street, London W 1X 8LB

British Broadcasting Corporation

ISBN 0 426 20132 9

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired

out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that

in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the

subsequent purchaser.

Made and printed in Great Britain by The Anchor Press Ltd, Tiptree, Essex

Contents

01 Return to Peladon

02 Aggedor Strikes Again

03 The Fugitives

04 The Hostage

05 The Wrath of Aggedor

06 The Intruder

07 The Ice Warriors

08 The Madman

09 The Return of Aggedor

10 Trapped in the Refinery

11 The Threat

12 Aggedor's Sacrifice

01 Return to Peladon

On the remote edges of the galaxy was a planet called Peladon. It was a bleak and mountainous place,

lashed by howling storms, lit at night by the fierce blaze of three moons. A primitive, barbarous world,

inhabited by warriors, hunters, and savage beasts, fierce bear-like creatures with tusks and one mighty horn,

who roamed the wooded slopes of the high mountains.

The warriors of Peladon both hunted and worshipped the beast called Aggedor. No young Peladonian was

reckoned truly a man until he had slain one in single combat. Because of its strength and valour, Aggedor

became the sacred symbol of the Royal House of Peladon. Unfortunately, it also became very nearly extinct.

Time brought other changes. Under a young and progressive king, Peladon joined the Galactic Federation,

allying itself with other more civilised planets.

The alliance was not accomplished without difficulty. Hepesh, High Priest of Peladon clung fiercely to the old

ways, rebelling against his king and combining with a treacherous Federation delegate called Arcturus to

keep Peladon isolated. The plot was foiled by a wandering Time Lord called the Doctor. He arrived on Peladon

apparently by chance, was mistaken for a Federation delegate, and later vanished as mysteriously as he had

come.

Time passed, and King Peladon was succeeded by his daughter. The Galactic Federation became embroiled

in war with Galaxy Five, and suddenly Peladon was a planet of vital strategic importance. The mountains and

rocks of Peladon were rich in trisilicate, a mineral vital to the war effort.

Now more intensive mining began, and Federation technicians were brought in to speed up the process.

The war with Galaxy Five dragged Peladon towards a technological future with brutal speed. Clashes between

the old ways and the new were inevitable, and once again there were rumblings of mutiny from the more

traditionally minded Peladonians. Was this all the benefit of joining the Federation - more toil in the mines,

now under alien overseers?

Affairs on Peladon were moving towards a crisis. Then the Doctor reappeared. .

A little party of miners toiled through an immense cavern deep in the heart of Mount Megeshra, sacred

mountain of Peladon. They wore rough working-clothes, and their hands and faces were grained deep with

trisilicate dust. The cathedral-like cavern was the meeting point of many tunnels and mine galleries, and its

strangely twisted stalagmites and stalactites gave a weird subterranean beauty to the scene.

Between them the miners trundled a sonic lance, a device like a small wheeled cannon, newly introduced into

the mining operation. Ettis, the squad leader harried them along, a thin, wiry young man, sharp-featured and

sharp-voiced.

`Come on, come on, keep it moving. Mustn't keep our lords and masters waiting.' He pointed to a tunnel

directly ahead. `Straight down there.'

Suddenly a glowing spot appeared on the cavern wall. With terrifying speed it grew into a blazing corona of

light, and in the heart of the fireball appeared a familiar and terrifying form.

The miners staggered back, before the blast of heat, covering their eyes and bowing their heads in fear.

A ray of light sped from the heart of the apparition. It touched one of the miners, his body glowed brightly, and

he screamed once and vanished. His fellows turned and fled in terror. Behind them the glowing apparition

faded from the cavern wall.

In a tunnel not far away, two relative newcomers to Peladon were engaged in an earnest technical discussion.

One was called Vega Nexos, a mole-man from the planet Vega. Most of the inhabitants of Vega lived in

tunnels of one kind or another, and the Vegans were famous mining engineers, who sold their skills all over

the galaxy. The second was an Earthman called Eckersley, a tall, lean man with a wry, sardonic face. Like

Vega Nexos, he was a mining engineer. Both wore light silver cover-alls - the badge of the technician

throughout the galaxy.

Eckersley was brandishing a chunk of rock, shot through with gleaming metallic veins. `I agree, the quality's

marvellous - but we're not even producing enough to refine yet.'

Vega Nexos gave a snort of discontent. `How can we, when these primitives cling to their picks and shovels?

We bring modern equipment here and they refuse to let us use it.'

`Oh, they'll come round in time,' said Eckersley tolerantly. `At least they agreed to try out the sonic lance.'

There were yells from down the tunnel, and the sound of rushing feet. A group of terrified miners rounded a

bend in the tunnel, shot past them and ran on.

Eckersley reached out a long arm and grabbed the last of the group, forcing him to a halt. `Hey, Ettis, what's

going on? What's all the panic?'

`It is Aggedor! We brought the sonic cannon as you ordered and the spirit of Aggedor appeared and slew one

of us for blasphemy.' Ettis wrenched himself free. `Do you think anyone will use your alien equipment now,

Earthman?'

Before Eckersley could reply, Ettis had followed the others down the tunnel.

In the throne room of the Citadel of Peladon, the great castle on the peak of the sacred mountain, a meeting

was held to discuss the crisis.

The huge stone-walled chamber was richly draped with hanging tapestries. Torches flared smokily in holders

formed in the shape of the snarling face of Aggedor.

At the end of the great hall on a raised dais was the great ceremonial throne, now occupied by the slender

figure of Queen Thalira. A frail and beautiful girl, still very young, she seemed almost crushed by the weight of

her crown and ceremonial jewels. Behind her towered the massive figure of Blor, the Queen's Champion,

powerful arms folded over his mighty chest. At the Queen's right hand, a little behind the throne, stood Ortron,

who was both Chancellor and High Priest. An ornately robed, impressively bearded figure, he was the

Queen's chief adviser and the holder of the real power on Peladon.

A strangely assorted group was assembled before the throne. At the centre were the two engineers,

Eckersley and Vega Nexos. Beside them stood Alpha Centauri, Ambassador of the Galactic Federation. To

the Peladonians, unused to the infinite variety of intelligent lifeforms, his was an extraordinary figure. The

body was a single column, draped in a cloak emblazoned with the insignia of a Federation Ambassador. The

head was octopoid with a single enormous eye. Six rippling tentacles projected from beneath the cloak. They

waved and stirred continuously, like branches in the breeze, reflecting every shade of Alpha Centauri's

feelings. For all his rather intimidating appearance, Alpha Centauri was a gentle and sensitive creature. He

was finding the position of Federation Ambassador on a primitive and strife-torn planet a considerable strain

on his delicate sensibilities.

Chancellor Ortron surveyed the motley group with disfavour. He was no lover of aliens, however politically

distinguished or technically qualified. His glare settled on Eckersley. `One of our miners has been killed; the

others are terrified and refuse to work. Explain!'

Eckersley had worked on a lot of planets and it took more than an angry Chancellor to intimidate him. `Not up

to me to explain, is it? The miners say it was the spirit of Aggedor, whatever that means.'

`Do not blaspheme, alien,' rumbled Ortron.

Alpha Centauri said `I am sure no disrespect was intended, Chancellor.' His voice was high-pitched and

twittering, a fitting expression of his nervous temperament.

In his low grunting voice, Vega Nexos said, `I am a practical engineer. I find it difficult to accept that this

incident was brought about by supernatural means.'

`Then what is your explanation?'

`Sabotage.'

`And who are these saboteurs?'

Eckersley said, `Saboteurs or spooks, the result's the same. Your miners are refusing to use the sonic gun.'

Queen Thalira spoke for the first time. `The use of this sonic cannon is essential to you?'

Eckersley shrugged. `It will increase output tenfold, Your Majesty. Save your miners a lot of hard work with

pick and shovel.'

`Then arrange an immediate demonstration. If our people see that we have faith in the new technology, it may

calm their fears.'

Alpha Centauri's tentacles rippled as he inclined forward in a bow. `Allow me to thank Your Majesty on behalf

of the Federation.'

Thalira raised her hand. `Thank you, Ambassador. The audience is at an end.'

The aliens left in a group, and Ortron leaned closer to the throne, dominating the Queen with his bulk. `I must

protest, Your Majesty. To expose yourself to danger...'

`You know as well as I, Ortron, that it was my father's dream to see Peladon a member of the Federation. He

signed the treaty, and now I must honour it - even if it means my people must make sacrifices in a quarrel not

their own.' Queen Thalira sighed. `We must accept the duties of Federation membership, Ortron, as well as

its privileges.'

Ortron bowed, `I shall go to the temple, Your Majesty, and seek guidance from the spirit of Aggedor.'

In one of the tunnels just beneath the Citadel, a guard on routine patrol was astonished to hear a strange

wheezing, groaning noise and even more astonished to see a square blue box appearing out of thin air.

Strange rumours of terrifying events in the mines below had been circulating through the Citadel, and

overcome with superstitious terror, he turned and fled.

Since he was a brave and conscientious man despite his fear, he stopped at a bend in the tunnel keeping the

box under observation from a safe distance.

He was amazed to see its door open and a tall white-haired man in strange clothes step out, followed by a

female alien, equally strangely dressed.

The Doctor looked around him and rubbed his chin.

`Well, according to my calculations, Sarah, we should be in the Citadel of Peladon, one of the most

impressive sights-'

`Well, we're not, are we?' interrupted the girl. Her name was Sarah Jane Smith. She was an independently

minded freelance journalist from the planet Earth in the twentieth century, and she had been the Doctor's

more or less unwilling companion on a number of adventures.

She was already regretting that she had let the Doctor talk her into this trip. He had persuaded her with the

promise of a fascinating visit to a picturesque and primitive planet, just making the transition from feudal

savagery to technological civilisation.

Sarah looked round disgustedly. `We're not in your precious Citadel of Peladon at all, we're in another rotten

gloomy old tunnel!' For some reason tunnels seemed to feature largely in their adventures-and there was

usually something nasty at the other end.

`I'm afraid the scanner must still be on the blink.'

`There's more than the scanner on the blink,' muttered Sarah darkly.

`I'm afraid the spatial co-ordinates must have slipped a bit,' said the Doctor apologetically. `We may not

actually be in the Citadel, but we're not far away. It's built on the peak of a mountain, you see, and the

mountain is honeycombed with mining tunnels.'

`I don't suppose we could just get back in the TARDIS and go home?'

`Have a heart, Sarah, I've been looking forward to a return visit to Peladon for ages.'

The Doctor set off, and Sarah sighed and followed him.

Silently the watching guard slipped away.

In the main cavern a party of miners was setting up the sonic cannon, supervised by Eckersley and Vega

Nexos.

Ettis looked on gloomily. Beside him was an, older man, a burly, thick-set miner, with an air of natural

authority. This was Gebek, leader of the Miners' Guild. Fiercely loyal both to his Queen and to the miners he

led, he was having a difficult time reconciling the conflicting claims.

They looked up as Queen Thalira swept in, attended by Blor, her Champion, Chancellor Ortron and a squad of

guards.

Gebek fell to one knee. `We are honoured by your presence, Your Majesty.'

`And we are grateful for yours,' said Thalira regally. `Can your miners be persuaded to overcome their fears?'

`The demonstration may help, Your Majesty. But as Ettis will tell you . . . '

Ettis threw himself on his knees before the Queen. `I beg you not to permit this blasphemy, Your Majesty. I

have seen the wrath of Aggedor . . . '

`You have seen the work of alien spies and saboteurs, agents of Galaxy Five,' interrupted Vega Nexos

peevishly.

A guard ran in and threw himself down before Ortron. `Aliens, my lord. They appeared in the tunnel as if by

magic.'

Ortron turned to the Commander of the Queen's Guard. `You heard him! There are aliens in the tunnels,

enemies of Peladon and the Federation. They must be found and destroyed.'

As the guards ran from the cavern, Eckersley said, `Everything is ready, Your Majesty. May we begin?'

Thalira inclined her head.

Eckersley said, `If you will kindly keep your eyes on that section of wall over there . . . ' He pointed to the

rock face on which the sonic cannon was trained.

Vega Nexos bent over the controls, there was a hum of power, and a circular chunk of the rock face exploded

into fragments, instantly creating a miniature cave.

`Direct access to the main seam in a matter of moments,' said Eckersley proudly. `Take weeks to do that by

hand.'

A fierce light blazed from inside the newly created cave, and a shattering savage roar filled the cavern.

The Peladonians were transfixed with fear, but before anyone could stop him, Vega Nexos hurried forward to

the gap. `Do not be afraid, it is only some trickery . . . '

As he reached the hole there was another terrifying roar and a beam of brilliant light shot out. His body

glowed brightly and vanished.

`You see,' screamed Ettis. `It is the curse of Aggedor! Now do you believe?'

`Come, Your Majesty,' shouted Ortron. `You must leave this place at once.' He led the Queen away, and the

others hurried after them.

The Doctor stopped at a tunnel junction and looked thoughtfully around him.

`Go on, admit it, Doctor,' said Sarah. `We're lost!'

`Well, a little mislaid possibly.'

`Why don't we go back to the TARDIS?'

'For two very good reasons, Sarah. Firstly I don't want to leave Peladon without seeing my old friend the King.'

`Name-dropper!'

`And secondly-we're lost!'

The Doctor led the grumbling Sarah along the tunnels. `Cheer up, Sarah, we're nearly there.'

`As far as I'm concerned a tunnel is a tunnel is a tunnel,' muttered Sarah.

They heard voices and the sound of marching feet. `That'll be the palace guard,' said the Doctor cheerfully.

`We'll be all right now.'

A squad of savage-looking soldiers, armed with spears, swords and pikes, swung round a bend in the tunnel.

`Don't run,' said the Doctor. `As soon as I explain who I am . . .'

They heard the voice of the guard Captain. `There they are! Kill them!'

`I've changed my mind,' shouted the Doctor. `Run!'

The guards clattered after them as they fled down the tunnels. There were tunnel openings on all sides and

the Doctor took first one and then another, apparently at random. His last choice seemed to be a bad one,

since the tunnel ended in a blank wall, in which was set a single flaring torch.

They could hear the sound of the guards running up behind them. `We're trapped, Doctor,' gasped Sarah.

`Oh no we're not,' said the Doctor cheerfully. `I've been here before.' He reached up and twisted the

torch-holder. It turned sideways, a section of wall slid back and they hurried through.

The door closed behind them and the pursuing guards turned the corner to find only a blank wall.

The Doctor and Sarah were in a dark and gloomy chamber, lit by flaring torches. The walls were decorated

with rich tapestries, and at the far end was an altar, dominated by an immense stone statue, a bear-like

beast with a single terrifying horn.

`There we are, Sarah,' said the Doctor. `The Temple of Aggedor in the very heart of the Citadel of Peladon.'

`Very impressive. What about those guards? I thought you said they knew you here?'

`Oh, just a little misunderstanding, I imagine we startled them. Take a look at old Aggedor, there he is - bless

him!' The Doctor beamed affectionately at the terrifying statue.

Sarah came to join him. `Doesn't look very loveable to me.'

`Well, this is a symbolic Aggedor, the real animal is very different.' The Doctor stared up at the statue. `You

know, when I first came here, Peladon was just on the point of joining the Galactic Federation. There was a

good deal of trouble . . . '

`Not now, Doctor,' whispered Sarah suddenly.

The Doctor was hurt, `Well, of course, if you don't want to hear about it.'

`It isn't that, Doctor - but I think there's going to be some more trouble. Look!'

The Doctor turned.

Armed soldiers were filling the door to the temple.

As they were marched into the throne room the Doctor was saying cheerfully, `Don't worry, Sarah, as soon

as we see King Peladon. . . '

He broke off in astonishment, at the sight of the slender young woman on the throne.

The bearded figure beside the throne stepped forward. `You stand accused of both sabotage and of sacrilege.

Do you wish to confess, before you die?'

`No, we don't,' said Sarah spiritedly. `I don't know what you're talking about.'

`Silence, slave. I addressed your master.'

`He's not my master,' said Sarah indignantly.

Ortron ignored her, glaring at the Doctor from beneath bushy eyebrows. `Well, alien?'

The Doctor bowed low before the throne. `May I ask who I have the honour of addressing?'

`I am Ortron, Chancellor and High Priest. This is Her Majesty Queen Thalira of Peladon.'

The Doctor bowed again. `And King Peladon?'

`King Peladon was my father,' said Thalira. `I was the child of his old age. He died when I was still a baby.'

`Name those who sent you alien,' boomed Ortron, `and your life may yet be spared.'

The Doctor waved him away. `Yes, yes, in a minute, old chap.' He turned back to the Queen and said gently,

`I am called the Doctor, Your Majesty. Your father and I were good friends long before you were born.'

Thalira looked wonderingly at him. `I have heard stories of the Doctor since I was a child. How you fought

Grun and spared him, and tamed the sacred beast . . . '

`And so has every child on Peladon,' said Ortron scornfully.' What better disguise for an alien spy and

saboteur than to claim to be a legendary hero of our people?'

The Doctor sighed. `You really are a suspicious old fellow, aren't you?'

Ortron's face flushed with anger at the Doctor's insolence. Turning to the guard Captain he roared, `Take

these alien spies away and cut off their heads!'

02 Aggedor Strikes Again

Guards seized their arms, and began to drag them out. Then a strange figure bustled into the throne room,

and bowed before the throne.

Sarah gasped. `Doctor, what's that?'

`The answer to all our troubles. Alpha Centauri!'

The Ambassador swung round, his tentacles waving wildly. `Doctor! Is it really you?'

`Indeed it is!' Shaking off the astonished guards, the Doctor went over to his old friend. `Alpha Centauri, my

dear fellow! What a well-timed entrance!'

`It's like a miracle, Doctor! All these years, and you haven't changed a bit!'

`Neither have you. A touch of grey in the tentacles, perhaps, but still the same old Alpha.'

To Sarah's astonishment, the Doctor enfolded the many-tentacled alien in an affectionate hug, which was

affectionately returned by all six tentacles.

`Ambassador!' boomed Ortron, reprovingly.

Alpha Centauri swung round. `Forgive me, Chancellor, Your Majesty.'

`I take it these aliens are known to you, Ambassador?' asked Thalira.

`Not the, er-female?' Alpha Centauri blinked enquiringly at the Doctor, who nodded. `Not the female, Your

Majesty, she's of no importance. But this is most certainly the Doctor, a good friend of your father and of

Peladon.'

Thalira inclined her head. `Very well. We shall release the aliens into your custody, Ambassador. But we

shall expect a full explanation of their presence on Peladon.'

Alpha Centauri bowed and fluttered his tentacles. `Of course, Your Majesty.' He turned to the Doctor. `Come

with me, please, Doctor. You may bring the female.'

Sarah stood her ground. `Well, I don't think it's good enough. I think we're owed an apology, for the way we've

been treated . . . '

`Not now, Sarah,' said the Doctor warningly. `Come along.' Grabbing her by the hand, he pulled her after

Alpha Centauri. As they, left, Ortron approached the throne. `It is not wise to trust this alien, Your Majesty.

Even if he is the Doctor-was he not the one who helped persuade Peladon to join the Federation, and so

caused all our troubles? Why has he come here again? Will he not bring still more trouble with him?'

Thalira said coldly, `If the Doctor is our enemy, he will soon betray himself. We shall not learn of his plans by

chopping off his head. See that he is watched.'

There was a secret passage from the mines into the Citadel. Gebek was in that passage now, together with

Ettis and a squad of armed miners. Ettis was one of the leaders of a resistance movement, sworn to drive the

aliens from Peladon. Gebek was sympathetic to their aims, but still hoped to reach the same results by

peaceful means.

It was with that aim that he was about to enter the Citadel now. Ettis had no faith in his mission. `Gebek, for

the last time, will you listen? Even if you reach the Queen, it will do no good. She and Ortron are puppets of

the Federation.'

`We must try,' said Gebek determinedly. `If I can only talk to the Queen . . . '

`All right. But if your talking fails, Gebek - we fight.'

Gebek clamped a massive hand on his arm. `There will be no fighting, not yet. You will all wait for me here.

When I have spoken to the Queen, we shall talk again.'

Ettis waited till he was out of earshot. `Gebek is a good man, but he is too trusting, too patient. We shall give

him time to get clear. Then while he is talking, we shall act.'

From the low growl of assent, it was clear that the others were with him.

Gebek marched boldly along the corridors until he walked straight into a squad of palace guards. Outraged,

they seized him. `Take him to the Chancellor,' ordered the squad leader.

Gebek offered no resistance. It was what he wanted, after all.

Not far away, the Doctor and Sarah were heading for that part of the Citadel assigned to visiting aliens. Sarah

was still protesting. `I don't see why I should put up with being treated like this. And as for your friend there!'

She nodded towards Alpha Centauri, who was leading the way down the corridor. ` "The female is of no

importance," indeed!'

The Doctor grinned. `I knew you wouldn't care for that! Still, you should be grateful to Alpha Centauri, Sarah,

they go in for rough justice on Peladon. Chop off your head and apologise afterwards.'

Sarah refused to be consoled. `If you hadn't missed the target by about five hundred yards and fifty years, we

wouldn't be in all this trouble.'

In an anteroom just off the throne room, Gebek stood before Ortron under guard.

Ortron stared disdainfully at him. `You know that the Citadel is forbidden to those of lowly rank?'

Gebek chuckled, `Reserved for you nobles eh? And your masters, the Federation aliens, of course.'

Ortron flushed with anger. `Do not be insolent, Gebek! Why did you come here?'

`I must speak with the Queen.'

`You should have petitioned for an audience in the proper way.'

`And endure endless delay? Things are too urgent for the proper way. I must see the Queen now-for the good

of all Peladon.'

Such was Gebek's sincerity, that even Ortron was convinced. `Very well.'

Ortron headed for the throne room, and Gebek followed him.

Ortron bowed before the throne. `The miners' leader, Gebek, Your Majesty.'

Gebek fell to one knee. `Forgive this intrusion, Your Majesty.'

Thalira said graciously. `Why have you come here, Gebek?'

`To beg you to send the Federation aliens home. Otherwise there will be rebellion on Peladon.'

Gebek rose and began to plead his cause, not knowing that the rebellion had already begun.

The massive wooden doors to the armoury were permanently guarded. More than the weapons of the palace

guard were kept there-the strange and deadly weapons of the Federation aliens were stored there too.

The guard before the doors marched up and down, wondering sleepily how long it would be before he was

relieved. There was a patter of bare feet on stone, and half a dozen armed miners rushed along the corridor.

Before the astonished sentry had time to react, they had pulled him down.

The communications room was in marked contrast to the rest of the Citadel. Instead of stone and torches

and tapestries there was bright lighting and massed banks of control consoles. Modern living quarters were

attached. Here the Federation representatives on Peladon were able to leave barbarism behind, and keep in

touch with the affairs of the galaxy.

The Doctor had been introduced to Eckersley, and was now engaged in a heated discussion of the affairs of

Peladon. `It seems to me, the Federation has brought an awful lot of its troubles on itself.'

`That is less than fair, Doctor,' twittered Alpha Centauri.

Eckersley said, `There have been so many difficulties.'

`All the same, it's over fifty years since Peladon joined the Federation and, from what you say yourself, all the

miners have got to show for it, is more hard work for the same miserable rewards.'

'Peladon is a feudal society, Doctor. We attempt to bring them the benefits of our technology, but they are

resistant to change.'

`And meanwhile we're under constant pressure from the Federation to step up the trisilicate production,' said

Eckersley. `It's essential to the war effort.'

The Doctor frowned. `That's something else I don't like the sound of-this war with Galaxy Five. I thought the

Federation was devoted to peace?'

`We were the victims of a vicious and unprovoked attack,' said Alpha Centauri indignantly. `We have tried to

negotiate a peace treaty with Galaxy Five many times, but they refuse to listen.'

The Doctor sighed. Sometimes he felt he couldn't take his eyes off the universe for a moment without it

getting into trouble. `That's odd. This galaxy is much stronger than Five. They must know they'll lose in the

end...'

Sarah went over to Eckersley. Something about his relaxed casualness appealed to her, and she couldn't

see herself chatting with that octopus thing. `What's so important about this trisilicate stuff, anyway?'

Eckersley looked at her in surprise. `Most of Federation technology's based on it. Electronic circuitry, heat

shields, inert micro-cell fibres, radionic crystallography . . . Whoever controls the supply of trisilicate will win

this war-and the biggest deposits in the galaxy are right here on Peladon.'

`And you think someone wants to stop you mining it?'

`That's what Vega Nexos thought. He said it must be agents of Galaxy Five.'

The Doctor frowned. `Well, I suppose it's possible, my dear chap, but-'

`Then where are they?' demanded Eckersley. `And how are they managing to stay on Peladon undetected?'

There was the clangour of an alarm bell and an illuminated wall-map showed a flashing light. `It's the

armoury,' said Eckersley. He flicked on a monitor. `Well, well, well.'.

The monitor screen showed a group of miners. They were attacking the armoury door with pickaxes.

Soon the heavy wooden door was torn away-to reveal a solid sheet of gleaming metal.

`Alien work,' snarled Ettis. `Preba, why don't you go and find an alien to open it.'

Preba grinned. He was the youngest of the group, and by far the most daring. Snatching up the sword of the

unconscious guard, he hurried away.

Eckersley stood watching the scene on the monitor with amused indifference.

`You don't seem very worried,' said Sarah.

`Wasting their time, aren't they? Solid duralinium, that door. Triple-security electronic lock, remote-controlled

from here.'

`King Peladon insisted that all the Federation weapons on the planet be stored there,' explained Alpha

Centauri. `So we insisted on providing proper protection.'

Eckersley said casually. `Soon as old Ortron realises what's happening, he'll send a squad of guards to

polish them off.'

Sarah was horrified. `You're not just going to sit there and watch them get cut down?'

`Local politics, isn't it?' said Eckersley. `Not my concern! In fact, we're strictly forbidden to interfere, eh,

Alpha?'

The Doctor gave him a disgusted look, and headed for the door. `I'll go, Sarah, you stay here.'

The Doctor opened the door-and Preba sprang through it, sword in hand.

Ignoring the Doctor, he advanced on Eckersley. `Alien engineer-you will open the armoury door for us.'

`Not a chance,' said Eckersley calmly.

`Open the door or you will die!'

As Preba advanced, sword raised, the Doctor tripped him, twisted the sword from his hand and put him in an

armlock.

`Thanks,' said Eckersley. `Pretty handy for an old feller, aren't you?'

Alpha Centauri's tentacles were quivering in agitation. `You see the kind of dangers we face here, Doctor?

Peladon is still a barbarous and primitive planet.'

`Maybe so, but its people have always been intensely loyal to the throne. If the miners have been driven to

taking up arms, I should like to know why.' The Doctor looked at his captive. `Well? Will you tell me?'

Preba tried unsuccessfully to break free, but said nothing.

`He's a fanatic,' said Eckersley contemptuously. `He won't even talk to you.'

`Then perhaps he'd like to explain himself to the Queen,' said the Doctor grimly. `Come on, you.'

Tightening his grip, he marched Preba out of the door. `You'd better stay here, Sarah. Alpha Centauri will look

after you, won't you, old chap?'

`It will be my pleasure, Doctor.'

As the Doctor left, Alpha Centauri moved closer to Sarah.

Instinctively she shrunk away.

`I have been told that humans sometimes find the appearance of my species frightening,' said Alpha Centauri

sadly. `Yet I assure you, we are a peace-loving and amiable race.'

There was such pathos in the voice, that Sarah couldn't help smiling. `I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. This

place is making me a bit jumpy.'

Alpha Centauri laid a reassuring tentacle on her arm. Strangely, Sarah discovered that she didn't mind at all.

In the throne room, Gebek was getting nowhere. Everything he said seemed to bounce straight off Ortron's

opposition, without ever getting through to the Queen.

`I tell you this, Gebek,' said Ortron finally. -`Your rulers have decided to support the Federation. It is not for

such as you to question their commands.'

`The people have had enough of the Federation and its commands,' said Gebek desperately. `There will be

armed rebellion!'

He looked appealingly at the throne, and Thalira said sadly, `Will you rebel against me, Gebek?'

`I am loyal to the throne, Your Majesty, but . . .'

`Then order your miners to return to work,' snapped Ortron.

A panic-stricken guard rushed into the throne room. `Lord Ortron, armed miners have attacked the armoury.

We drove them off and they escaped into the tunnels.'

`Not all of them,' said another voice. The Doctor marched Preba into the throne room.

Gebek stared at the prisoner in horror. `Preba! What have you and those other fools done?' He turned to the

Queen. `Your Majesty, I swear I knew nothing of this.'

`We have the truth of it now, Gebek,' sneered Ortron. `It is too late for your lies. You brought these men into

the Citadel-then came here to distract our attention while they attacked.'

Gebek gave the Queen an anguished look. `It is true that I came here with them, but I ordered them to wait in

the tunnels.'

Ortron waved towards the Captain of the Guard. `They are traitors. Take them away and execute them

immediately.'

The Doctor kept a firm grasp of his prisoner. `Now just a moment, Chancellor. I brought this man here to talk

to the Queen, not to have his head cut off.'

`Silence, Doctor! We have heard enough from traitors. These men have invaded the Citadel and carried arms

against Her Majesty. Our laws demand their execution. Take them away!'

As the guard came forward to take the Doctor's prisoner, the Doctor released Preba and shoved him towards

the door. At the same time he grabbed the guard, spun him round and sent him reeling into his fellows.

Seizing his opportunity, Gebek made a run for it. A guard raised his spear, Gebek's broad back a clear target

before him.

The Doctor reached out and knocked his arm aside, and the spear went wide. By the time the guards had

sorted themselves out and surrounded the Doctor, Gebek and Preba had disappeared. There was more than

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FiftyyearsafterhisfirstvisittoPeladon,theDoctorreturnstofindthatQueenThalirahasinheritedatroubledkingdomfromherfather.MembershipoftheGalacticFederationwasexpectedtobringpeaceandprosperitytotheplanet,butthespiritofthesacredmonsterAggedorisoncemorespreadingterroranddeath.TheDoctoruncoversatreacherousp...

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043 - Doctor Who and the Monster of Peladon

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