Sincro: wyxchari
Stop.
WORK COMPLETED.
ON THE ORDERS OF DOMINATOR TOBA THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED, ALSO THE MAN CULLY.
But Jamie was in that building!
Silence! You deliberately disobeyed my order?
My life was threatened and a Quark destroyed.
Yes, because of your own actions!
Are you suggesting I should have let him escape?
And where would he have gone? We are on an island Toba, these creatures cannot escape.
Now listen to me carefully, and this time you will obey my instructions. Send these creatures back to the central bore position, I want it cleared ready for drilling.
But the Quarks will do it more quickly!
We must conserve their energy for drilling purposes, you know the power levels are low!
Command accepted. Quark, bring these creatures.
Leave the inferior types.
Toba!
Yes Navigator Rago?
I have not yet dismissed you.
But the creatures!
Quarks, take these specimens back to the drilling site, await the arrival of Dominator Toba.
You two! Over there.
Alright, alright.
May I ask..?
You may ask nothing. You are here to listen.
I am listening.
Probationer Toba, I'm far from satisfied with your conduct on this mission.
I protest!
Be silent! I am beginning to wonder if you have the qualities of intelligence and detachment necessary in a Dominator.
Where have I failed?
You have repeatedly destroyed the creatures and installations of this planet to no purpose!
My purpose was to protect us both.
Protect? These creatures are harmless primitives. You acted out of your desire to gratify a need for pointless destruction.
Was it by softness that the Dominators became masters of the ten galaxies?
It was by ruthlessness Probationer Toba; that which threatens us we destroy, that which is too weak to harm us we ignore.
Are they so harmless, these primitives? They've disobeyed us, they've attacked us - even here on this small island. The rest of the planet may be preparing to attack us even now!
I will investigate the more advanced type of alien for myself. You will concern yourself with obeying my orders and nothing more. I will report your conduct to fleet leader.
And I shall protest at yours.
What did you say?
You've jeopardised our mission by unnecessary softness! You've humiliated me before members of an inferior race. Perhaps it is you who is not fit to be a Dominator?
You have the insolence to threaten me?
It is not unknown for a leader who is unfit to be replaced!
It is not unknown for a mutinous subordinate to be executed!
You would not dare!
Quark! Place Dominator Toba under restraint.
YES SIR?
Quark, return to the prisoners.
Quark! I am the senior Dominator, you will obey me!
Well Toba? Shall I order molecular force, or do you submit?
I submit.
Quark, return to the prisoners.
What was all that about?
A little internal dispute I fancy, mm?
Oh dear, oh!
You are fortunate that I still have need of your services. You will supervise work on the drilling site and make sure nothing delays your task.
Command accepted.
You two. Here!
I have some questions to ask you about your planet. You will be advised to make sure your answers are satisfactory, for your own sakes...
You two! Clear the site. Quark, guard them. Old man, follow me. Quark!
OBEY THE DOMINATOR. CLEAR THE SITE. WORK! WORK!
I wonder if Cully made it to the shelter?
They'll almost certainly be dead if they were under that. Looks very quiet.
Nuh... No. No use, I can't see a thing. There must be tons of stuff on top of it, same as the hatch.
Well, we just have to sit and wait until someone comes and digs us out.
You think they'll find us then?
Well of course. Balan told me where the this old shelter was, so surely they'll be able to work it out.
Oh, I wish you'd told us about this place sooner. We could have got down here straight away.
What, and miss exploding that Quark? That was a tremendous shot!
Aye, maybe so. I just hope the Dominators don't take it out on the others.
I wonder if those Quarks are still hanging about up there?
Aye... If only we could open that hatch.
No, it's no good. Feels as though the whole building's sitting on top of it.
Jamie, perhaps it is?
Hey!
What's the matter?
Just been thinking; have you noticed how stuffy in here it's getting?
Yes, now you mention it.
Aye, that's the only ventilator shaft I can see and... Hey if that's blocked we'll suffocate!
And this leader Senex, he is in the Capitol city?
Well I'm not sure, ah...
Quark, molecular force!
No!
I asked you a question.
Yes, yes... so you did.
Well?
Yes, yes Senex is at the Capitol.
These Dulcian travel machines, how do I summon one?
Well you can't. The-the terminal at the survey unit was destroyed wasn't it?
Yes... By Toba. Prepare this ship for take off!
But a-a-are you going to take your own craft to the Capitol?
I have no alternative.
Well actually, now I come to think of it I-I-I-I do know where there is a capsule.
I-I I didn't tell you about it before because I-I'm not sure that it works, it has some loose wires and things. But I'm-I'm sure that you'd be able to fix it.
How big is this machine? Will it be able to transport a Quark?
Oh dear, I don't...
Then it is useless to our purpose, we will use our own machine.
Well actually, now-now I come to think of it, if you were to take out one of the seats a Quark might fit inside.
You will show me this machine.
Oh yes.
Quark. Prepare to transmit recorded data on work habits of tested specimens. Contact direct Fleet Leader.
Don't worry Zoe, the effect soon wears off.
Why did you tell him about the capsule?
Well if he takes this craft we won't be able to investigate it will we?
But why do you want to?
To find out what sort of power unit it has. Then we can tell what the Dominators are looking for on Dulkis. Besides, if they take us to the Capitol we won't be able to search for Jamie, will we?
That's true. Hey, wait a minute though; he might be alright if he and Cully...
Silence! You will lead me to this travel craft. Quark, release the female. Follow.
There... there you are, you see?
Alright, it's alright!
Enough! Quarks, take up drilling positions.
Old man, stand that drill between those Quarks over the drilling site.
Attach force units.
Operate.
Quarks, cease drilling. Report.
ORDERS FROM DOMINATOR RAGO. PROBATIONER TOBA TO REPORT.
Command accepted. Continue operation.
Hm, a primitive machine, but functional. The circuits need repairing. Minimal task.
So, you were telling the truth.
Of course.
I'm glad you appreciate that to attempt sabotage would be pointless.
You sent for me.
Yes. I'm going to the alien leader to investigate potential slave force. You will remain here and complete the drilling operations.
Command accepted. You are travelling in this alien machine?
Yes.
Is that wise? It could be dangerous.
I have tested it, it is operable. I will take a Quark for protection. You will command in my absence, but I expect to find the same number of alien specimens on my return.
Command accepted.
Why didn't you tell me about this underground shelter before?
Well I'm sorry, but we haven't had a chance. Balan told us about it, and with any luck Jamie and Cully might have found their way down there.
Well it's possible, it-it's possible...
And if they have, they should be alright shouldn't they?
Well, well I think...
You two! Follow me.
Oh yes...
Alright!
Oh!
Gnnnh... Oh, it's no good, it's stuck again!
Oh what shall we do?
Look, there's only one thing to do; try again! Now come on will you?
Oh!
We... We did it!
Aye. Well, no point in hanging around eh?
Huh. All clear.
Oh no, Quarks again! They must be all over the place. Hey, I wonder how many there are?
Why?
Well the Dominators don't seem much good without them, do they?
So?
We destroyed one Quark, why not another?
Attack the Quarks?
Shhh! Yes.
But we had a laser gun before. And that's hidden under all this lot now.
Look, there wasn't a laser gun where I come from, yet us McCrimmons still dealt with the redcoats right enough.
Redcoats?
Aye, they were... Och, never mind! Look, are you with me?
Well... why not?
Good! First thing to do is estimate the strength of the enemy. Come on, through there.
Five so far. Look, you take that side, I'll look around up here.
Sorry, I slipped. How many?
Two more, and you?
Same here.
Balan's down there with those two. They seem to be doing some sort of drilling.
Aye, they're drilling in four places. It must be pretty important to the Dominators.
Yes.
Right let's start some trouble.
But what can we do?
Oh I've a wee idea that should just stir them up a bit. Come on!
Report.
DRILLING IN OPERATION ON ALL PERIMETER SITES.
Is the centre site cleared yet?
TASK NEAR COMPLETION.
Report progress to Fleet Leader direct. Operations proceeding as planned.
What are they up to?
I don't know. We must find out exactly what they're drilling for.
Not a chance with this thing guarding us.
Yes... If only we could create a diversion for a moment.
Take this you wee tin kettle!
Argh!
Ah, ya missed me!
Now Cully!
QUARK ATT-
Another Quark has been destroyed! Quark, follow.
Somebody destroyed a Quark? But who?
Only one person here's strong enough to do that.
Jamie! Then he and Cully are alive!
Yes, alive and kicking by the sound of it! This is just what we needed, now there's no time to waste.
What are you looking for?
Well now's our chance to investigate the power unit and-and find out what fuel this ship carries.
Well the Quarks use ultrasound. So presumably it must be a fuel capable of producing a high enough energy quotient to sustain an amplifying complex of considerably sophisticated design.
Yes, must be pretty powerful too.
Yes, well that's what...
Well if you don't want my help...
Oh I do, I do, I do, Zoe!
Now, where do you think these power cells are located?
Well if the Quarks do use ultrasound to propel this craft...
No. Ultrasound has no horsepower, as such.
Oh no. Well what do you think they use then? No solid fuel rockets surely.
No. More-more likely to be electromagnetic - probably produced by... Ah yes!
Here we are Zoe! Help me to get the inspection cover off.
Here we are, now then...
Oh dear.
What?
Atomic fission reactor?
No... No not exactly. But it's radioactive material of some sort.
Zoe, this is a storage unit! That accounts for the strange disappearance of the radioactivity from the island. This unit sucked it up and stored it!
But then why are they drilling out there?
A Quark has been destroyed old man, who did it?
I don't know.
Quark, report.
ALIEN ATTACK.
Who was it?
I didn't see, I was here being guarded by your Quark.
Is there a hostile force on this island?
No! We have no such...
Then who destroyed the Quark?
I don't know... uhh!
Quarks, search the island. Destroy any aliens unaccounted for.
To remain passive is in itself a course of action.
Director, Tensa speaks for the emergencies committee. Who else is competent to advise? We must do as he says.
Bovem, you say we must do as Tensa says, but that is negative for we can do nothing. This is our tragedy. Perhaps if we were to show these creatures we mean no harm?
It's always possible that they mean harm to us.
But why should they? Surely no civilised race would indulge in purposeless violence?
Look!
What, who?
You are the council of this planet?
Yes, I am the Director.
You control the population?
Yes. We presume that...
I require information.
If you'd care to make an appointment!
There is, I'm sure, the correct procedure.
Listen and obey me!
Such discourtesy to our Director is not to be borne!
Silence! You will provide me with certain statistics, open your files.
Really sir, I must protest!
Protest? You defy me, you defy a Dominator?
Senex is our leader and as such he demands respect!
I warn you, a Dominator must be obeyed. Your leader is nothing to me, I respect only one thing - superior force!
You will obey my command.
Sir you would do better to request rather than command!
Silence!
Yes, perhaps if we were to explain the correct Dulcian procedure to you?
After all, your visit doesn't need...
I will give you no further warning!
I insist that you conduct this meeting in a manner acceptable to the Dulcian...
Quark, destroy!
I have no wish to repeat such action. Let it serve to teach you that a Dominator must be obeyed without question. You, Director. It will be necessary for you to place at my disposal a certain number of the strongest of your species.
You wish our assistance?
Assistance? You are indeed an ingenuous race. I require slaves! Nothing more, nor less.
Slaves, but...
Do not defy or question a Dominator, obey! Unless you wish to join your fellow countryman!
Had you come here in peace we would have done our utmost to assist you, but...
Dominators do not seek assistance - what we need we take!
Always by force?
If necessary. We control an entire galaxy, our war mission is spreading to colonise others. Our Quarks must be released for this task, therefore we must replace their workforce on our home planets.
So you require our people as slaves?
Yes.
So we shall be transported to your planet?
Those who are selected will be fortunate, they will be saved.
Saved? From what? What of the rest of our people?
Enough questions, you will obey my commands! I shall require only the strongest of your species. You will be informed exactly how many I require.
Remember, you can be crushed as simply as that if you do not cooperate. Quark follow.
A drilling site has been attacked and a Quark destroyed. Who is responsible?
Cully, he must be!
What do you know about this?
How can we know anything? We've been here working!
Silence!
Talk!
Leave her alone!
Do you dare to defy a Dominator?
Just leave her alone!
Obviously you must be taught a lesson! Quarks, target!
Oh no!
No-one attacks a Dominator! Quark, power!
Oh stop!
Well, who was it that attacked and destroyed the Quarks?
It must have been Cully.
The man Cully is destroyed!
Then he must have escaped. There's no-one else on the island!
Yeah there is! The other stupid one, the boy... Where would he hide?
I don't know!
Bring these back to the Dominator's craft. Help him! One of you creatures must know where the boy is. And you will tell me. Follow!
And Jamie really destroyed another Quark?
Yes, I feel sure it was Jamie.
Yes er, Balan... Oh... er...
Balan, can you remember where the... where the scientists who exploded that first atomic device got their... got their materials from?
Many years ago, but I think that it was somewhere in the Northern hemisphere.
That's the other side of the planet. Then why are the Dominators drilling here?
Oh they can't drill too deep here because the crust is too thin.
But perhaps that's why they've chosen this place! The magma - the molten core of the planet, could that be radioactive?
No. If so we'd have been aware of it from the minor eruptions we have from time to time.
But this whole operation was to refuel their fleet, but how?
It's these drill holes that intrigue me. One at each corner of a square, and one directly in the middle. But why, why? Oh!
Put them with the others.
Now, I want to know where the other creature is, the boy. The other stupid one. He has destroyed a Quark and defied the Dominators. Where is he?
Quark!
You will die one by one unless you tell me. Kill!
You! You're next, you know the boy, where is he?
Answer or you will die!