U.F.O.3/ Paths of Fear Chapters 10 - 17, a U.F.O. Novelization

U.F.O. 3

Paths Of Fear
Chapters 10-17

Deborah A. Rorabaugh
Copyright April 15, 1997

CHAPTER 10

------It was looking to be quiet day at SHADO headquarters. Alec Freeman hoped whatever powers there were would see fit to keep it that way. He was tired and achy and just slightly jet-lagged from his trip to Moscow, then Vladivostok. He had returned only the day before to find Foster on Moonbase, a foot high pile of reports on his desk and Commander Straker in a foul mood thanks to General Henderson.
------Today had to go better, Freeman said to himself, simply because he couldn't see how it could get much worse. Even a full scale alien attack would be better than dealing with Straker's black attitude after talking to a recalcitrant Henderson and Astrophysical commission. He wasn't sure he wanted to know what Straker had done this time to get Henderson mad at him.
------Straker walked in, briefcase in hand. He seemed to be in a much more pleasant frame of mind this morning than he had been last night. It was amazing what a night's sleep could do.
------"How's everything going?" Straker asked, looking around the control room.
------"Fine," Freeman responded. "The doctors say Laurel can go back to Moonbase in about a week. And, assuming General Henderson agrees, we can have our new chief of internal security in place by then, too. His file is on your desk."
------"Good," Straker said, coming down the short flight of stairs to the main level and heading for his office. "Oh, Alec, can I see you for a minute?"
------Freeman handed the duty roster he'd been looking at to Ford, who put it back on its hook. Straker paused just long enough for Freeman to catch up. The office doors opened and both men went inside. Straker hit the switch on the desk and the door slid shut.
------"The Astrophysical Commission meets in one week," Straker said as he settled behind his desk. "We'll need that debris report finished."
------"It's almost ready. I just have to go up to Moonbase for the final documentation," Freeman said.
------"Fine." Straker waved his hand at the chair opposite the desk. "Sit down, Alec."
------Freeman sat.
------"I want to talk to you about the leave roster for Moonbase," Straker said, opening one of the files on the desktop.
------"I thought you might," Freeman said, looking at the open file. He was good at reading upside down and the leave roster was the file that was open.
------"It'll have to be changed," Straker said.
------"And who tells them?"
------Straker simply looked at him.
------"I might have guessed," Freeman said. As chief of staff, it really was his job. He just hated doing it, especially since he'd just gotten back to headquarters after nearly a week in Russia. Foster had put together the leave roster and it had been posted right before Laurel Andrews' appendicitis attack and hospitalization. Freeman knew the Moonbase personnel expected a few changes due to Andrews' illness. Straker wanted more than a few changes.
------Straker closed the file and folded his hands on top of the desk. "Henderson's been on my case to officially appoint you as my second. We need to firm up the chain of command down here."
------"We have a chain of command. Your name is at the top and the rest of us are somewhere lower," Freeman said. "Besides, you know I don't want the responsibility of being second in command down here. Appoint Paul or Craig. They like giving orders."
------Straker glared at him.
------The intercom buzzed and Straker hit the switch. "Straker."
------"Jo Frazer is in reception, sir," Miss Ealand's voice announced.
------"Who?"
------"The reporter from the press agency," Ealand explained.
------"Did they make an appointment?" Straker asked.
------"Yes, sir," Ealand told him with only the slightest touch of impatience. "You agreed to the interview last week."
------"All right," Straker conceded. "Thank you, Miss Ealand." He switched off the intercom and looked over at Freeman. Freeman was struggling to keep from grinning at Straker's sudden discomfiture.
------"Look, Alec, can't you handle it?" Straker asked. Freeman knew Straker loathed talking to the press, for any reason. It was a hangover from his days of investigating U.F.O. incidents for General Henderson and avoiding the press.
------"Well, you're head of the studio," Freeman reminded his superior officer, no longer able to suppress his grin. It was the perfect way for Freeman to get even for the changes he was being forced to make in the Moonbase roster, changes that weren't even necessary except that Straker wasn't in an understanding mood. Sometimes it was fun just to sit back and watch Straker as he tried to cope with annoyances outside of SHADO, nonmilitary problems he couldn't just give orders to have solved.
------"It's you he wants to interview," Freeman reminded him.
------"An article for a heap of glossy film magazines," Straker complained. "I'm no P.R. man."
------Freeman couldn't be sure, but he thought he heard the slightest touch of a rather childish whine in Straker's last protest.
------Glowering at his chief of staff, Straker stood and headed for the door. Freeman fell into step beside him as they entered the control room.
------"It won't be that bad," Freeman promised. "G.P.A. will syndicate the story and keep the rest of the press off your back."
------Straker glared at him from beneath pale eyebrows. It was all Freeman could do to keep from laughing aloud.
------Lieutenant Johnson stepped up to them carrying a note-board with papers clipped to it. "Commander Straker," she said, holding it out to Straker. "The refueling schedule, sir."
------Straker waved it away. "Give it to Colonel Freeman," he said, giving Freeman another glare of annoyance. "I'm about to be thrown to the press."
------Johnson gave him a confused look as Straker walked away.

* * *

------The office/elevator settled into place as Straker finished setting up his props on the desk top - files and notes and photographs. Things he would be working on, if he really spent any time running the studio. He was going to have to start making time to run the film company. Some of the studio people were beginning to complain about his inaccessibility. SHADO wasn't an excuse he could use. Most of the people who worked at the studio had no idea SHADO existed, safely hidden as it was, deep below the sound stages.
------He clicked on the desk intercom to connect the inner office to Miss Ealand, seated at her own desk in the outside.
------"I'm ready. Miss Ealand," he announced when she answered.
------"Yes, sir." She sounded amused. That didn't help his temper any. First Freeman and now Miss Ealand seemed to be enjoying a joke he was missing the point of.
------The doors slid open as he busied himself sorting through the papers.
------"Now, before we start, I must tell you I'm a very busy man, Mister Frazer," Straker began, not lifting his head. A shadow fell across the desk top and he finally looked up at the reporter.
------This was, he realized with a sinking feeling, going to be one of those' days. Standing before the desk was a young woman with very long legs, wearing a very short dress that left little to the imagination. A large brown leather handbag was slung over one shoulder. It matched her low heeled shoes. Her hair was light brown, as were her eyes. Her expression was one of bland amusement.
------"I must apologize," the woman said, breaking into a smile. "My name is Josephine Frazer. I sometimes find that in a man's world, 'Jo' is more convenient."
------"Hmm," Straker murmured, taking a moment to recover his composure. He had been caught making an assumption he didn't normally make. "Well, is it a man's world?" he asked as he sat back in his chair.
------"I think so," Josephine Frazer said with a little laugh. "I hope you'll forgive me." She was still standing.
------"Oh, I'm sorry," Straker said, abruptly realizing his error. He was used to a more military etiquette. Few people in SHADO expected to be allowed to sit in his presence and it was sometimes hard for him to shift gears into the civilian rules. He was getting out of practice dealing with civilians. It was something he was going to have to work on. Maybe that's what Freeman and Miss Ealand were finding so amusing.
------"Please sit down." He indicated a chair not far from the desk. She pulled it closer and arranged herself in the chair. "Well, fire away, Miss Frazer," Straker invited.
------She opened her purse and pulled out a note pad and pen. As she did so, the front flap fell forward so that the inside lining was exposed. Straker noted a thin wire going from the interior of the bag to what looked like a decorative insignia on the flap. Frazer folded the flap over and set her purse on the floor.
------"And now, how long have you been head of the studio, Mister Straker?" she asked.
------"You, ah, tape-record the interview and take notes?" he asked, putting on his most disarming smile.
------She looked surprised at his comment.
------"I noticed the microphone in the front of your purse," he explained. She laughed, a little nervously, he thought.
------"Oh, that's to insure I don't misquote you. And the note pad's for my impressions."
------"Of me?"
------"I think first impressions are so important."
------"I think so, too," Straker agreed with a tiny chuckle There was something intriguing about this woman. It wasn't the body, which was, he admitted to himself, rather nice, but beautiful faces and bodies were commonplace around the studio. There was something else he couldn't quite put a finger on.
------She was a challenge, something new, different. Maybe this interview wasn't going to be the trial he had thought it would be.

* * *

------The morning was still quiet. Ford sat at his station, reviewing equipment checks with the captain of Sky-Diver one.
------"The fuel checks are complete," Waterman said over the video-link.
------"Thank you, Sky-Diver," Ford responded. "I'll tell Commander Straker."
------Joy M'Bhutu crossed the control room to Ford's station, carrying a cup of coffee. Freeman gave the cup a curious look as she handed it to Ford.
------"Black, no sugar, sir," M'Bhutu told Freeman with a grin.
------"Just my luck." Freeman grinned back. M'Bhutu was relatively new to SHADO. She was Nigerian and her skin was only a shade lighter than the coffee. She was beautiful and had, so far, withstood the advances of every unattached male in SHADO Headquarters. The only two exceptions were Commander Straker, who would never consider dating a subordinate, and Freeman, who was simply biding his time.
------"Would you like some coffee, sir?" M'Bhutu asked.
------"Black, with sugar, please," Freeman said.

* * *

------Miss Ealand looked up from her work as the doors to the inner office opened and Straker and Miss Frazer stepped out.
------"Well, I'll walk you to your car," Straker said. He was relaxed and smiling. The interview had gone better than expected, Ealand thought to herself. Straker had a well-deserved reputation of being a difficult interview subject. In point of fact, there were only two or three reporters in the entire British press corps to whom Straker would deign to give the time of day. Miss Frazer appeared to have increased that number.
------"Thank you," Frazer said. "I thought the age of chivalry was dead."
------Straker chuckled. "Oh, no. I have to go up on the studio lot. It's on my way."
------"Good bye," Frazer said brightly to Miss Ealand as Straker opened the outside door and ushered her though.

* * *

------A small expensive sports car was parked near the front of the office building, not far from Straker's own car.
------"It's right over here," Frazer said, pointing it out. She walked up to it, keys in hand.
------"Very smart," Straker commented.
------"I've earned it," Frazer said with pride in her voice. She opened the car door and slid behind the steering wheel. "Well, thank you. You've been very kind."
------"A pleasure."
------"Good bye," she said, turning the key in the ignition.
------"Miss Frazer." He gave her a nod and headed off to complete his other errands. He hadn't spent much time the last couple months handling studio matters. Things were quiet in SHADO for the moment, he could spend a little time pretending to run Harlington-Straker Productions.
------His first order of business this morning was a contract matter. Roy Parker was a regular in one of the shows being produced by another company using the studio facilities. He was also working on a film being done by Harlington-Straker. The problem was, he had begun working on the film before his contract was fully negotiated and his other employer objected. It took two weeks to get the matter straightened out and get Roy back in the film.
------The film crew was working on one of Roy's final scenes. The director, Matthew Donahue, was giving the crew their instructions. "Stand by," he called. "When I give the word..."
------Straker stopped behind the cameraman to watch. Roy strode across the parking area to a set wall.
------"Now!"
------Small explosions pocked the wall and Roy's chest. The stuntman grabbed his face, blood showing between his fingers as he fell to the asphalt and lay still.
------"Cut it!"
------Roy got to his feet. His hands, face and clothes were covered with fake blood.
------"Is it all right?" Roy asked.
------"Fine," Donahue said. "How'd it feel?"
------"Good."
------Donahue turned to the cameraman. "Doc, we'll get some close-ups on these next shots."
------A make up man started touching up Roy's make up as Straker stepped closer.
------"Morning, boys." Straker called. The crew nodded acknowledgment as they continued their work.
------"Good morning, Mister Straker," Roy said.
------"Well, you died beautifully," Straker told him with a smile.
------"Thank you," Roy said. He made a face. "I don't think much of the blood, though."
------Straker chuckled. He knew the complaint. The dark red, sticky fake blood was at least as messy as real blood and almost as hard to get out of clothes. Roy would need a shower before even thinking about heading home.
------"By the way," Straker said, returning to his errand. "We finally got that contract matter all straightened out. If you want to call Miss Ealand, she'll put you in the picture."
------"Thanks," Roy said with a grin of relief.
------Straker nodded and walked away, heading back to his office. His pager buzzed and he pulled it out to check it. The number was one of the codes for downstairs - SHADO. It indicated the message was important but not urgent. He pressed the confirmation button on the pager and headed back to SHADO.

* * *

------Freeman read through the requisition forms on the note board Johnson had handed him. They were for a replacement secondary generator for the North Sea Sky-Diver base, and a replacement moonmobile for Moonbase, both high ticket items.
------"Commander Straker will have to authorize these," Freeman told her, handing her back the board. He turned to Ford. "Lieutenant, do you know where Commander Straker is?"
------"Yes, I paged him a couple of minutes ago," Ford said. "He's on his way back from the lot."

* * *

------Straker walked into the outer office. Miss Ealand was busy inputting data into her network station.
------"Messages, callers?" Straker asked, stopping in front of her desk.
------"No, sir," Ealand answered. "Only Miss Frazer."
------"Miss Frazer?" Straker repeated, puzzled.
------"Yes, sir. She came back for her handbag," Ealand said. "She left it in your office."
------"You didn't let her go in there?" Straker asked, suddenly suspicious.
------"Well, only for a moment." Ealand said defensively.
------"I see," Straker commented mostly to himself as he went into the inner office. The doors closed behind him.
------He looked around the spartan office. Everything was in its place, the awards on the glass shelves, the modern art on the walls. Still, it worried him that a microphone had been left in the office. He wondered if it had been deliberate. She hadn't seemed to be after anything related to SHADO. Her questions had all been related to the studio, his views on the media, the changing styles in film, upcoming projects. Nothing that rang any alarm bells. She hadn't even been that interested in his reasons for supposedly leaving the USAF to run a film studio in England. That was a bit of a surprise in itself.
------Most reporters wanted to understand his reasons for leaving the military after Minister Talbot's death. The year delay between the Rolls Royce crash and his supposed retirement puzzled them, as did his decision to stay in England to run a failing film studio. Miss Frazer accepted his reasons without questioning them.
------Straker crossed to room to the desk, opening the silver cigarette box with its own hidden microphone.
------"Straker."
------"Voice print positive. Identification, Commander Straker," the voice print check confirmed, unlocking the controls to the elevator. He flipped the switch and the room began to descend. He berated himself for not being more observant, for letting that woman reporter leave the office without her purse, for not noticing the bag beneath her chair.
------The office doors opened into SHADO Headquarters. He ignored the security operative standing at the entrance, hurrying past her without a word. Ford was at his station, speaking with Freeman.
------"Alec, Ford," Straker said, beckoning them to join him in his office. The two men exchanged curious glances before following him.
------"Something wrong?" Freeman asked as Straker went to his desk and sat down.
------Straker turned to Ford instead. "Did anyone call me during the last fifteen minutes?"
------"I beeped you on the studio lot," Ford said.
------"No," Straker amended. "I mean the office, up-top, over the intercom."
------"Well, yes," Ford replied. There was confusion in his voice. "I tried there first."
------"What did you say?"
------"Nothing," Ford said. "There was no answer."
------"Well, you must have said something," Straker grated. "It's important."
------Ford gazed into space as he tried to remember. "Well, just 'Commander Straker'," he said after a moment. "There was no reply, so I clicked off."
------Straker nodded, his lips thinning with worry. "'Commander Straker'," he repeated to himself before looking back at the operative. "Well, thank you, Ford."
------He nodded a dismissal. Ford hurried out of the office, the doors closing behind him.
------"How could I be so stupid, Alec?" Straker snarled in sudden anger. Freeman's eyes widened at Straker's outburst. "That reporter had a tape-recorder. It was left in the office. The chances are, it picked up Ford's voice over the intercom."
------"That's not so important. He only said 'Commander Straker'," Freeman said. "Assuming it was picked up, what could it mean to anyone?"
------"Not a lot, I agree," Straker said, a little calmer. Freeman's levelheaded appraisal of the situation helped. "But maybe just enough for that woman reporter and her press friends to start snooping around."
------"It was a girl?" Freeman said, eyebrows raised in surprise.
------"Yes." Straker picked up the phone that connected his SHADO office to Miss Ealand's desk upstairs.
------"Miss Ealand, get onto the Global Press Agency," Straker said when Miss Ealand picked up the other end of the line. "I want to contact that Miss Josephine Frazer. It's urgent."
------Straker set the phone back in its cradle and sat back in his chair.
------"What was she like?" Freeman asked.
------Straker looked up at his chief of staff. He had almost forgotten Freeman was still there. "Oh, intelligent."
------Freeman looked amused at Straker's description. "Attractive?"
------Straker glared at him. Freeman grinned. The Australian reached over to the desk and placed two papers in front of Straker.
------"While we're waiting, you can sign these," Freeman said.
------"What are they?" Straker asked, looking over the papers.
------"Requisitions."
------"How many moon-mobiles does this make this year?" Straker asked.
------"Just the one, but it's only April," Freeman said.
------"What's this about a secondary generator?"
------"The primary went out two weeks ago and so they switched over to the secondary," Freeman explained.
------"What's wrong with the primary generator?"
------Freeman's well-practiced obtuseness could be irritating sometimes.
------"The bearings went out," Freeman said. "Now the manufacturer claims we never told them the equipment was being used so close to salt water."
------"Where did they think Kinnairds Head, Scotland was? Kansas?"
------Freeman shrugged. "Anyway, Louie says it would be faster and simpler to go ahead and replace the entire unit and let him retrofit the old one as a backup when the next one goes out."
------The phone from the upper office buzzed and Straker picked it up. "Yes, Miss Ealand?"
------"I just called the press agency, sir," Ealand said. "They've never heard of Miss Frazer."
------"Then, check all the other agencies. I want her found!" Straker nearly yelled. Freeman stared at him and he realized how badly he was overreacting. "Thank you, Miss Ealand," he said more calmly, hanging up the receiver. He turned to Freeman. "Intelligent, attractive and a possible security problem."

CHAPTER 11

------"It was my mistake," Straker told Freeman. "I'll take care of it."
------"I still think I should go," Freeman said. Handling this type of problem was normally Freeman's responsibility. He wondered at Straker's insistence on handling it himself. Maybe Straker realized he needed a break. Freeman dismissed that idea. Straker was too singlemindedly stubborn to admit he needed time away from work.
------"Well, it's simple enough, Alec," Straker said. "Find Miss Frazer and get the tape. A logical sequence." He got out of his chair. "Well, you can look after things here."
------"Sure."
------Straker came around the desk and looked back at the chair he had just vacated. "Well, there it is, Alec. The 'responsibility seat'."
------Freeman gave him a curious look and Straker smiled. "The, ah, other side of the fence. I'll check in every few hours," Straker said, going to the door.
------Freeman nodded, still wondering why Straker was choosing to handle the problem himself and what he meant by the other side of the fence'. He had a suspicion Straker was going to appoint him second in command over his overwhelming objections. He didn't want to sit in the responsibility seat', to give orders that could cost lives, to deal with the headaches of command. Freeman had done that before, in the RAF as a flight leader. He knew he was much happier doing what he did, acting as Straker's chief of staff and lead troubleshooter.
------Maybe Straker realized he needed a break and maybe Josephine Frazer, fake reporter, was just the break he needed. Freeman just hoped Straker wouldn't get himself into trouble. For all his brilliance in juggling the responsibilities of both SHADO and the film studios, Straker was sometimes just a little naive when it came to people.

* * *

------Space Intruder Detector announced: "Have trace on positive track. Course four-two-eight-one-four-six-green. Speed, zero Sol eight. Range, twenty million miles, closing."
------Freeman walked into the control room from the commander's office and went to Ford's station.
------"Termination?" Freeman asked.
------"It should be though any second," Ford said. They waited as a series of numbers appeared on Ford's monitor. The numbers showed that the U.F.O. was heading for Earth, Northern Europe.
------"Tell Moonbase to launch the interceptors," Freeman ordered.
------"Red alert... ," SID announced. An alarm siren sounded in the control center. "Red alert."
------After a moment, Nina Barry's face appeared on the Moonbase video-link. "Moonbase to SHADO Control, confirm Ufo sighting. Launching interceptors."

* * *

------The King's Arms was a posh restaurant-bar, just off the main road. At three in the afternoon, Straker was the only customer in the lounge as he marked off three dead-ends on the list in his Day-runner. He took a sip of the drink in front of him - a Virgin Mary, tomato juice spiced with pepper sauce. The ice had already melted and it wasn't very cold. He beckoned to the bartender.
------"May I have some ice, please?"
------The bartender took the tumbler and added a few ice cubes before handing it back.
------"How far is the Grenville Motel?" Straker asked.
------"About eight kilometers down the road," the bartender answered. He started wiping down the bar top.
------"May I use your phone?"
------"Of course, sir," the man said. He pulled a phone from beneath the counter and placed it on the bar in front of Straker.
------"Thank you."
------Straker picked up the receiver and dialed the last number on his list.

* * *

------The operatives in SHADO's control center listened as the interceptors went after the alien.
------"Range, five million miles," SID announced.
------"Missile One, positive hit. Missile three, not confirmed," the lead interceptor pilot reported. "Ufo changing course, moving out of range."
------New numbers appeared on Ford's monitor. "We've lost it."
------Freeman nodded in understanding and walked away, toward the commander's office. The U.F.O. had disappeared in one of SHADO's few blind spots. Now, it was a matter of waiting until it moved and they could see it.
------Fifteen minutes later, SID announced: "I have a sighting bearing Green-zero-four-two. Maintaining stationary position at fifty-thousand feet, Earth atmosphere."
------Ford checked the reading on his monitor, then headed to the office to inform Freeman.
------The intercom buzzed and Freeman hit the key. "Yes?" Freeman said to the intercom as Ford stepped in front of the desk.
------"I have Commander Straker on the line, sir," Miss Ealand said. "He wants to know how things are."
------"No trouble," Freeman said, letting his finger off the key. He looked up at Ford. "Well, do we have trouble?"
------"I don't think so," the operative said.
------"But we have an unidentified radar trace," Freeman said.
------"Yes," Ford agreed.
------"Then something's there," Freeman insisted.
------"I guess so," Ford admitted reluctantly. His experience told him it wasn't an alien ship. "But..."
------"And it could be that Ufo," Freeman said, interrupting the operative.
------"It's practically stationary!" Ford insisted.
------"The point is, do we have a Ufo on our hands, or don't we?" Freeman asked.
------"Well, in my opinion, it's a million to one against," Ford said. "But, of course, we'll maintain a full radar alert."
------"No, launch Sky-one," Freeman ordered. "Tell Waterman to investigate."
------"Yes, sir," Ford agreed, unable to keep the reluctance out of his voice. All of Ford's instincts told him they were going after a weather balloon or something equally innocuous. Freeman was overreacting, and that wasn't like him.
------Ford went back to his station and made the radio connection to Sky-Diver in the North Atlantic. After a few moments, Freeman walked in to stand in his usual place, behind and to one side of Ford, watching the operative's monitor.
------"This is SHADO Control to SkyDiver," Ford announced into his microphone. "Sky-one to investigate possible Ufo, position zero-one-two-three-zero-two, red, three."
------"Roger Control, out," Waterman acknowledged.
------"We still have positive track," Johnson said a few moments after Sky-one's trace appeared on their radar.
------"Green on three, confirm radar fix," Prentice reported from her station.
------"Control to Sky-one," Ford announced. "New position, zero-one-eight-two-nine-four. Range, twenty-five miles."
------"I have it on internal radar," Waterman told them over the radio. "Should have visual contact in about a minute... I think I see it."
------A minute later: "Have visual contact. Panic over, it's a weather balloon."
------Freeman stalked out of the control room, back to the commander's office. Ford managed to suppress a rueful grin as he shook his head. He wondered why Freeman had overreacted so badly, but it wasn't his place to ask. Maybe Freeman wasn't feeling well, or maybe there was something else going on.

* * *

------Straker waited in his car in the parking lot of the Grenville Motel. A familiar sports car drove up and parked in front of one of the guest rooms. The driver got out, went to the door and the unlocked it. Straker got out of his car and followed.
------She had left the door ajar and he pushed it open. She was sitting on the bed, hand on the telephone as though she was going to make a call.
------"Miss Frazer?"
------She looked up at the sound of his voice. "How did you find me?" She sounded surprised and a little worried.
------"The studio gate logs all license plate numbers," Straker explained. "From that I got your address. I called and they gave me a couple of places where I might find you. From there, it was a simple process of elimination." He paused, looking over the cheap room. It didn't fit the car, or his initial impression of the woman. She hadn't struck him as someone who would accept second best.
------"Who do you work for?"
------"Myself," she said, her voice challenging him to call her a liar.
------"And sell whatever you get to the highest bidder, hmm?"
------"Look, I'm sorry I lied," she said, actually managing to look contrite. "But if I hadn't said I was from GPA, you wouldn't have seen me at all, would you?"
------"Just give me the tape, Miss Frazer, and we'll call it a day," Straker said. He didn't want to do it, to ruin a day's work for a struggling reporter. But, he had no choice. SHADO's security came first.
------She hesitated.
------"The tape, Miss Frazer!" He let his voice go harsh and cold.
------She shivered at his tone, pulled the tape from her purse and handed it to him. He glanced at it. The tape was wound all the way to the end.
------"You've played it back," he said, unable to keep the upset out of his voice. This was going to get messy. He had hoped it wouldn't come to that.
------"There wasn't time," Frazer spat.
------"All right," Straker said. He wanted to believe her. He turned to leave, the tape still in his hand. Something hit him across the back of the head, knocking him off balance. He fell to his knees while Frazer grabbed the tape out of his hand and ran out of the room.
------Straker climbed to his feet, shaking his head to clear away the muzziness. He wondered what Frazer kept in her purse that could pack such a wallop as he headed after her. It felt like she'd hit him with a padded brick.
------She was already in her car, speeding out of the parking lot.
------He ran to his own car to follow.
------Frazer wasn't that far ahead of him. Her little sports car was fast, but Straker's Omen was faster, thanks to modifications European Ford Motor Company didn't know about. Despite her lead, the Omen soon pulled abreast of her. The road was narrow, too narrow for two cars racing into oncoming traffic.
------A truck horn blared and Straker pulled the Omen's wheel over hard. Frazer slammed on her brakes, skidding her little car into the ditch as the Omen came to a screeching halt a short distance ahead of her.
------The truck that had been coming toward them honked furiously at them as it passed.

* * *

------Freeman was mulling over reports, nursing a vile headache when Ford walked into the office, clip board in hand. The operative stopped in front the desk and simply stood, waiting.
------"Well, why don't you say it?" Freeman groused.
------"If you'll just sign these, please, sir," Ford said, holding the clipboard out to Freeman.
------"Oh, get out of here." Freeman waved the board away.
------"I'll leave them on your desk, then." Ford placed the clipboard on the desk top. "Even a practice launch for Sky-diver needs an authorization," the operative reminded Freeman. He turned to leave.
------"Hold it, Keith."
------Ford turned back.
------"I'm sorry," Freeman said apologetically. "Can you imagine what Straker would have said?" He gave Ford a rueful smile.
------"Yes, sir," Ford said, making a wry face. "I can imagine."
------Freeman picked up a pen from the desk-set and signed the authorization. SHADO would have to wait for the U.F.O. to move. Freeman hated waiting almost as much as Straker did, but there was no helping it. He could only hope the aliens didn't wreak too much havoc before they decided to head home.

* * *

------"What now? The police?" Frazer asked. Straker was driving her back to the motel, the tape safely tucked in his jacket pocket. The tow-truck he had called had already pulled her car from the ditch. A tie-rod had come loose, but the driver was sure the nearest garage wouldn't have it repaired until late morning, at the earliest.
------"Who are you?" Straker asked, ignoring her question.
------"Jo Frazer, freelance reporter, failed," she said with a grimace. "I've only had one article published in the last month."

* * *

------On Moonbase, Lieutenant Gay Ellis turned to Nina Barry, seated at the primary radar station. "Is it still there?" Ellis asked.
------"Yes, Lieutenant," Barry said, watching a slow trace that had appeared on the edge of her screen.
------"Ask Colonel Foster to come in, and get Control," Ellis said. "I want to speak to Commander Straker."
------"Right," Barry agreed.

* * *

------The office intercom buzzed and Freeman keyed it on.
------"I have Colonel Foster on the video-link, sir." Ford announced.
------"Oh, thank you," Freeman said, letting up on the key and switching on the video-link to Moonbase. Paul Foster's face appeared on the screen.
------"Hello, Paul."
------"Hello, Alec. It's a surprise to see your face. Where's Straker?"
------"I'll explain later," Freeman promised. "What's your problem?"
------"Well, we've picked up radio signals about fifty miles east of the base. It's some sort of vehicle. It's moving on an erratic course, but it's heading our way," Foster reported.
------"Have you any idea what it could be?" Freeman asked.
------"Not really. We've tried to make radio contact, but no go," Foster said.
------"Could it be unmanned?" Freeman wondered.
------"It's possible," Foster admitted. "But, if it maintains its present course and speed, it'll run straight into us. It'll be a couple of hours before there's any real danger."
------"Well, get onto it right away," Freeman instructed unnecessarily. He knew Foster would be working to solve the problem before it became a serious issue. He turned off the video-link and keyed the intercom to Ford's station.
------"Lieutenant, I want an immediate run down on all installations on the Moon operating surface vehicles," Freeman ordered.

* * *

------Instead of the motel, Straker pulled into the parking lot of the King's Arms. It was getting near dinner time and the lot was almost full, but he managed to find an open space not too far from the entrance.
------There were no tables open in the dining room and it was a forty-five minute wait to be seated. However, there were still a few open tables in the lounge. Straker found one near a quiet corner.
------"Why did you do it?" Straker asked after the waiter had taken their drink order and left.
------"It's a dirty world," Frazer said. "Sometimes you have to cut a few corners."
------"To get what you want?" Straker asked. "Like that car of yours?"
------Frazer gave him a bitter laugh. "The car? It's on hire. All part of the front."
------Straker knew that wasn't strictly true. The car was on lease, rather than being a rental. He wondered why she felt she had to lie about it. Of course, British usage occasionally still confused him. He still wasn't used to pavement being a sidewalk, and houses in' the street rather than on' it. Sometimes he'd catch himself unable to remember exactly which word he was supposed to be using, the American or British, or which was which. His sister in California occasionally joked that he sounded British now, but no Briton would ever mistake him for anything but an American.
------The waiter returned with their drinks. She had ordered a gin and tonic. His choice was coffee.
------"Does it matter?" Frazer asked when the waiter had gone.
------"Well, let's say, I'm interested."
------"You've heard it all before," she observed.
------"I'm a very good listener," he said.
------"With an ice cold, clinical outlook," she stated.
------Straker simply watched her. He was no longer upset about the tape, but his curiosity was piqued and, he had to admit, it had been a long time since he had been around an intelligent and attractive woman outside of work. The women in SHADO, and at the studio for that matter, were nearly all attractive and intelligent, but they were off-limits. He held their lives, their careers, in his hands and he could never be sure if their interest was due to him, personally, or his position. He didn't really want to know.
------"Hmm, you don't believe me, do you?" Frazer said.
------"You know, there's one thing I hate," he said, letting his voice go cold.
------She pulled away ever so slightly.
------"It's eating dinner alone," he finished with a little smile.

CHAPTER 12

------"Well, what do you think?" Freeman asked Ford. The signal Moonbase had picked up was coming closer.
------"It's a tough decision," Ford said.
------"Thanks," Freeman muttered, not bothering to keep the annoyance out of his voice. "All right, tell Moonbase to launch the interceptors."
------"Right, sir," Ford acknowledged, leaving the office to go to his station and pass along the instructions.

* * *

------Straker pulled the Omen into the gravel driveway beside his house. Half a house, really - it was a duplex, only a few miles from the studio complex. He had lived there nearly five years, since his divorce, and didn't often bring people in. Alec Freeman was probably the last guest he had over.
------Straker hefted the sack of groceries onto one hip, unlocked the front door and let Frazer inside.
------"Hmm, nice," she commented, looking around the living room.
------"Well, it suits me," Straker said. For some reason, her approval felt good. "Well, I'll get things moving in the kitchen."
------"Can I help you?"
------"No, I can handle it," he said, setting the sack down and unloading it on the kitchen counter. He snapped his fingers in mock annoyance. "I left the wine in the car."
------"I'll get it," she volunteered.
------"Oh, thanks," Straker said, handing her the keys to the Omen. She left, closing the front door behind her.
------Straker let his friendly mask slip a little as he went to the phone, picked it up and dialed Miss Ealand's office.

* * *

------The intercom buzzed in the commander's office. Freeman hit the key. "Yes, Miss Ealand?"
------"I have Commander Straker on the line, sir," Miss Ealand said over the intercom.
------"You'd better tell him... ," Freeman stopped, reconsidering. He didn't really want Straker to know what sort of day he was having. "Tell him everything's under control."
------"He says he's glad to hear it and he'll be back tomorrow morning," Ealand said.
------Freeman let his finger off the switch and sat back, wondering what was happening on the Moon.

* * *

------"Oh, Miss Ealand, I want you to do a voice check for me," Straker said before Ealand had a chance to ring off. "It's Miss Frazer, just routine."
------"A full G-six, sir?"
------"That's fine, Miss Ealand. A full G-six," Straker agreed. A full G-6 was a full security file search, a little more than routine, but Straker trusted Miss Ealand's judgement.
------"I understand, sir," Ealand assured him. "Record immediately."
------The living room door opened and Frazer walked in, bottle of wine in her hand.
------"Yes, yes," Straker said to the phone. He held the receiver out to Frazer. "Come and say hello to Miss Ealand."
------Frazer took the phone, handing Straker the bottle of wine. "Hello, Miss Ealand," she said into the receiver. "You're working very late tonight. Hope to see you again soon. Goodbye now."
------"Good bye," Miss Ealand said as Frazer handed the phone back to Straker. He put the phone back to his ear.
------"Yes, that'll be fine," he said. "Good night, Miss Ealand." He hung up the phone and turned to Frazer. "Well, why don't you help yourself to a drink, and I'll go out and break out the can-opener."
------"Fine," she said with a little laugh, holding out his keys. He put out his hand and she dropped them into his palm.
------"Thanks," he said, putting them in his pocket.

* * *

------Moonbase waited for the interceptors to identify the unknown signal source.
------"I can see it," Astronaut North reported "I'll go down and radio back a photograph."
------Foster stood beside the Carol Miller's communication console as the printer whined for a moment and spat out the picture. It was some sort of ground vehicle, designed for use in lunar gravity. Foster didn't see any identification markings on the rig.
------"Transmit a print of this to SHADO Control," he instructed, handing the print to Miller.

* * *

------Frazer sat facing Straker over the dining table, cupping the pewter goblet in both hands. They had finished their meal, pescine with giardiniera, a green salad on the side. Straker stirred his coffee and puffed on a cigarillo.
------"You know, Ed, you're a terrific cook," Frazer said, pushing aside her plate.
------"I just follow the instructions on the can," Straker said with a small self-depreciating laugh. He knew he was at least an adequate cook and he liked doing it, even though he didn't have much time anymore for entertaining.
------"The wine was great," she said, taking a sip. "You should have had some." She looked around the room once more. "You know, you have a nice home here."
------"A place to sleep," Straker said with a slight shrug. It was, he had to admit, a nice place. He liked the brightness, the art, the apparent disorder, so different than either of his offices. The studio office was bright, but it was kept fastidiously neat, with the help of studio housekeeping. His SHADO office was muted in color, all gray and black and fern green. The only bright colors there where the glasses above the drink dispenser and the light panel behind his desk. Here he had both the brightness and the art he liked.
------"You know, it's funny, Jo, I enjoyed today," he said, pouring her another glass of wine. "Ever since my divorce, I've kept myself pretty much to myself. You know how it is."
------"Yes, I do know," she said. She sounded sincere.

* * *

------Ford handed Freeman a copy of the photo the interceptors had sent back.
------"It's Russian," Ford said. "They have a base about a hundred and twenty-five miles east of Moonbase."
------"Russian?"
------"It's a mobile used in commercial mining in rich surface ore areas," Ford explained.
------"Get onto their base," Freeman ordered. "Tell them unless they divert their machine..." He paused for effect.
------"I'll explain the situation, sir," Ford assured him and left the office.

* * *

------"We understand your concern," Colonel Pavel Orsov said over the radio link from his base on the Moon. "But we still can't establish radio contact with the crew. Something must have gone very seriously wrong. I'm sure they're out of control. All we can do is keep trying."
------"Thank you, Colonel," Foster said, cutting the radio link. He turned to Miller. "Get me SHADO Control."
------The video screen at the center console flickered on and Freeman's leathery face appeared. "We've contacted the Russian Base," Foster reported. "There's a crew of two on board, but no one can contact them."
------"Is the radio link okay?" Freeman wondered.
------"It seems to be, they just don't answer."
------"What's the vehicle's position now?" Freeman asked.
------"About twenty miles east of the base," Foster said. "The Russians have a surface mobile on the way, but it won't get there in time."
------"Well, then, send out a Moon-mobile," Freeman instructed. "Try to establish visual contact."
------"Right," Foster agreed. The Moon-mobile crew was already waiting for him.

* * *

------Straker had turned the lights down. Wagner was playing on the stereo system. He watched Frazer as she looked around the room, at the artwork, the small collection of sculptures. One of the things he had learned from his ex-wife was an appreciation for modern and impressionist art. He still visited the galleries when he had time, though that was rare now.
------Frazer inspected one of the sculptures, running her hand down the smooth marble shape. Straker realized for the first time, that for all that was on the walls, on the tables, there was nothing personal in the room. There were no photographs, no awards, nothing with his name on it. Nothing that was unique to the owner, to him. The room was a set, like the studio office. He wondered if she had noticed.
------After a short time, she came to sit beside him on the leather sofa. She settled back, laid her hand on his chest and he felt his pulse race. It had been a long time since he'd been alone with a woman. He hoped she hadn't noticed how jumpy he was.
------She smiled in an invitation and he accepted it.

* * *

------The Moon-mobile made good time. Foster and his driver, O'Mara, peered out of the front window. They were both in space suits, helmets tucked by their feet.
------"We should be making visual contact any minute," Foster reported to Moonbase. The Russian rig came into view, lumbering across the landscape at breakneck speed. "Yes, I make it about two miles."

* * *

------The phone rang and Straker got up to answer it. "Straker," he said into the receiver. Frazer left the sofa and made her way to the bedroom.
------He barely noticed as Miss Ealand began her report concerning the voice print check. Josephine Frazer was a prostitute and suspected extortionist.
------"Criminal records show four arrests," Ealand continued.
------"I see," Straker commented. Somehow, he wasn't surprised, only disappointed.
------"Is there anything else, sir?" Ealand asked.
------"No, that'll be all right," Straker answered.
------"Good night, sir," Ealand said.
------"Right," Straker responded, hanging up the phone. He went over to the stereo and turned it off.
------He stood a moment in the doorway to the bedroom. Like the rest of the house, there was nothing personal in the room, nothing that marked it as belonging to him, including its present occupant.
------Frazer had taken off her dress, laying it across the bed. Some things were best left to the imagination. She looked better clothed, a dispassionate part of his mind said. She was soft and out of shape, her breasts too heavy. Her bra didn't fit as well as it should, considering her build. The straps left red marks on her shoulders and back. She looked used', worn and a little shabby, like the stories she told.
------She turned and saw the disappointment in his face as he picked up her dress and handed it to her.
------"What's the matter, Ed?"
------"Get out," he ordered.
------"What's wrong?" she asked.
------"I know, that's what's wrong," he said. To his surprise, his voice cracked. He hadn't realized exactly how upset, how disappointed, he was. He let the anger surface. "One article published in the last month? The car on hire? You were right about that the first time. You earned it, the hard way. Just what did you have mapped out for me? You plan to take me for all you could get? Or, maybe, something more cozy, like an idyllic weekend somewhere, and a guy with a camera just happens to burst in at the right time?"
------"Maybe, at first," she admitted, pulling her dress on
------"Oh, come on, don't give me that," Straker said, letting his voice go sharp and bitter, the tone he used on difficult actors and obtuse SHADO operatives. "Don't tell me there's an emotion left in that pretty little head. You're getting soft!"
------"Soft?" she shot back angrily. "That's the way you get eaten alive." She pulled up the zipper on the back of her dress and grabbed her purse from the floor. "Oh, you wouldn't understand. It's a man's world, remember?"
------She stalked out of the house, slamming the front door behind her.
------He already regretted losing his temper. He had heard what he wanted, a story about struggling reporter, a woman trying to make a living. He had ignored the inconsistencies, the lies, and now wondered why he had let it happen. Maybe it wasn't her getting soft, but him. He needed to get out more, remember what the rest of the world was like away from SHADO's protective ivory tower, eighty feet below ground.
------Straker picked up the phone and dialed the local cab company to come find her and take her to her motel. It was at least a mile to the village and she didn't have a coat with her. He didn't want her death by pneumonia on his conscience.

* * *

------Freeman waited for Moonbase to report on the progress of the Moon-mobile. Finally, he gave up waiting.
------"Get me a direct radio link with the Moon-mobile," he told Ford.
------"Right, sir."

* * *

------The Moon-mobile set down to one side of the path of the Russian rig. They flashed lights at it. No response.
------ "I have Colonel Freeman for you, sir," Barry's voice announced over the radio.
------"Right, put him on," Foster said.
------"What's your position?" Freeman demanded.
------"We've just established visual contact and we're trying to get though to the crew, without much success," Foster explained.
------"Right," Freeman said. "Fire a warning shot."
------"Warning shot?" Foster repeated, puzzled. A warning shot from the depleted uranium shells the Moon-mobile carried was a little extreme. One of those shells could take out a tank, or a U.F.O.
------"Look, you're less than five miles from Moonbase," Freeman reminded him.
------"That's a civilian vehicle!" Foster protested.
------"Fire that shot!" Freeman ordered.
------"Right," Foster said, clicking off the radio. He looked over at O'Mara who gave him a sympathetic shrug. Foster shook his head as O'Mara checked the mobile's weapons targeting system.
------"Range, four hundred ninety yards, Angle zero decimal two-eight," O'Mara read off.
------"Not too close," Foster instructed.
------O'Mara pressed the firing button and the mobile's gun fired the shell. It exploded in front of the Russian rig, sending up dust. The Russian rig didn't even slow.
------"Try another one, as close as you dare," Foster ordered.
------"Yes, sir," O'Mara said, checking the new targeting numbers. "Range, three hundred twenty yards, angle zero decimal two-four."
------Again, O'Mara pressed the firing button and the mobile's gun fired. The second shell exploded almost directly underneath the rig.
------"No reaction," Foster announced to the radio.
------"You're certain they saw the warning shots?" Freeman asked.
------"If they had been any closer, they'd have been part of it," Foster stated. He couldn't believe anyone could be so out of it as to miss seeing those two shots, but the rig was still heading for Moonbase. Maybe the crew was dead.
------"Stop them," Freeman said.
------"You mean... ?"
------"I mean, shoot to stop them. That's my decision, I'll take the responsibility," Freeman said. "Do you read me?"
------"Be with you in a couple of minutes," Foster said. "I'm going to try something."
------He grabbed his helmet and beckoned O'Mara to come with him as he headed for the airlock on the Moon-mobile.
------A few minutes later, O'Mara was back at the controls of the Moon-mobile, alone. Ford was on the radio. He sounded upset. "Come in, M-Three," he kept repeating.
------"M-three to Control," O'Mara said into the microphone.
------"Control to... ," Ford began. He was interrupted by Freeman.
------"Let me speak to Colonel Foster," Freeman demanded.
------"He's trying to get aboard the rig, sir," O'Mara explained, expecting an explosion.
------"What?" Freeman yelled. There was a pause then: "Has he made it?"
------O'Mara peered through the front windows of the Moon-mobile. "I'm not sure," O'Mara admitted. "I can't see him. If he's not inside..."

* * *

------Foster had made it inside, with some small difficulty. Getting aboard a moving train was easier. They didn't bounce. He made his way to the control cabin and found both the Russian drivers sitting, singing, laughing. They saw him and greeted him with open arms. They acted drunk, reeling as they came toward him.
------"Tovarisch!" the younger one shouted.
------"Listen, they're both incapacitated," Foster told O'Mara over his suit radio. "The air pressure's down. They could be suffering from anoxia."

* * *

------The Moonbase Control Sphere personnel could see the rig approaching the base. Given the path it was on, it would impact Moonbase at the Control Sphere.
------"How far is it now?" Ellis asked.
------"Fifteen hundred meters," Miller reported.
------Ellis went to her center console and flipped on the base announcement system. "This is a red-emergency alert. Seal all airlocks. All personnel to carry out decompression drill," she announced.
------The emergency siren started to wail.

* * *

------"Get me the Russian base," Foster said into his radio, not removing his helmet despite the urging of the two Russians. "Find out how to stop this thing."
------Ellis called the Russian base. Dudzinski was on the radio so quickly, Ellis wondered if he had been standing right there.
------ "Yes, I understand," he said in response to her question. "The quickest way to stop it is to throw the red master-power switch. It's, ah, situated left of center on the control panel."

* * *

------Foster looked around the control cabin and spotted the large red switch, under a red switch guard.
------"Yes, I see it," he announced into his radio. He headed toward the control panel.

* * *

------SHADO Control waited.
------"How far is it from Moonbase?" Freeman asked.
------"Just a few hundred yards," Ford answered.
------On Moonbase, the personnel carried out the decompression drill with practiced precision.
------Ellis, Barry and Miller were in their space suits, wearing helmets. They could see the Russian rig coming toward them. The women pulled down their helmet visors and tightened them.

* * *

------Foster almost had his gloved hand on the switch when the two Russians took objection. Luckily, they were both too incapable to be effective. He pushed them off with little difficulty and threw the switch.
------The rig ground to a halt only three yards from the Moonbase Control Sphere. Foster could look out the control cabin window and see the three Control Sphere operatives behind the control sphere view port. He waved at them.
------The two Russians started waving at them as well. Foster doubted the two men had any clue how close they had all come to disaster.

* * *

------Half an hour later, Ellis was on the radio again to Colonel Dudzinski.
------"The crew is fine," Ellis told him. "But I doubt that they'll remember much about the incident. There must have been a slight pressure leak. They were suffering from lack of oxygen, causing a sort of drunkenness."
------"Drunkenness?" Dudzinski asked.
------"Like drinking too much whiskey. We call it 'anoxia'," Ellis explained.
------Dudzinski laughed. "Ah, we know it in the same way. Except, our description would substitute vodka for whiskey. On behalf of Sovidex, I would like to thank you for your cooperation."
------Foster grinned at Ellis and shook his head. Of course, they would never tell Dudzinski the real reason his men wouldn't remember the incident. Medic Tze had already given them their amnesia shots. The two Russians had just lost twelve hours of their lives. A small price, considering what had nearly happened.

* * *

------The next morning, Straker walked into the control room. Ford was already seated at his station.
------"Good morning, sir," the younger man called.
------"Ford," Straker said in greeting, walking over to him. "Well, it's all sorted out."
------"And the girl, Miss Frazer?" Ford wondered.
------"You were pretty quick with the voice print."
------Ford dismissed the compliment. "'Hello, Miss Ealand' was enough," he said. "The international crime computer did the rest. She's got a record as long as your arm."
------"Is she wanted by the police?"
------"Not at the moment," Ford said. "But she won't stay out of trouble for long. Her kind never do."
------"Maybe," Straker said. He looked around the control room. "Where's Colonel Freeman?"
------"In your office, sir."
------Straker nodded and headed for his office.
------Freeman was seated at the desk. He looked up as the door opened and Straker walked in.
------"Hello, Alec."
------"Hello."
------Freeman sounded tired.
------"Well, I hear you had quite a day," Straker said. M'Bhutu had quickly briefed him before he walked into the control room.
------"You could say that," Freeman said. He didn't elaborate.
------ Straker sat his briefcase on the desk and pulled two cigars from the silver cigar pail. He handed one to Freeman.
------"Paul Foster might have lost his life, ordering him on board the rig like that," Straker said. He lit his cigar, then Freeman's. "Tough decision. The right one, of course."
------"It wasn't quite like that," Freeman said.
------Straker shrugged. "Well, whatever way it happened, Alec, you were responsible."
------Freeman sat back in the chair. "I certainly have to hand it to you."
------"Hmm?"
------"That Miss Frazer," Freeman said. "She didn't have you fooled for a moment. If it had been me, I'd have probably gotten emotionally involved, or something."
------"Yes, I can see how it could happen," Straker said. His expression became thoughtful and Freeman gave him a quizzical look. Straker smiled and pointed to his chair. "Oh, say, Alec..."
------"Sorry," Freeman said with a smile, getting out of Straker's chair. He stood beside it. "Well, it's all yours."
------"The, uh, other side of the fence," Straker said, setting his briefcase on the floor and settling into his chair.
------"Oh, by the way," Freeman said, stopping at the door. Straker looked up expectantly. "If you have any ideas about officially appointing me second in command, forget it."
------"How does acting second' sound? That still leaves my name on top and everybody else somewhere lower."
------"I'll think about it," Freeman promised.

CHAPTER 13

------Straker's appointment with General Henderson, to pound out the details of SHADO's special project request, was set for 10 A.M.. Straker parked beneath the building in the space reserved for visitors of the IAC and made his way to Henderson's office on the 12th floor.
------Straker wasn't looking forward to this meeting. Henderson had been difficult and out of sorts for the past couple months. He had grudgingly approved SHADO's appropriation last year, but had made it clear even then he wasn't happy with the amount of money SHADO was spending on upgrading its equipment, building Sky-Diver bases to get more adequate coverage of Earth's land masses.
------Then, Straker forced the indefinite postponement of the manned Mars mission.
------The Mars project was Henderson's personal baby.
------Henderson scowled as Straker walked into the office. "What we say goes no further than this room, okay?" Henderson said, not even bothering to greet his former aide. "So let's get down to the infighting. You have been a thorn in my side for years, Straker. Consistently excessive demands for the diversion of resources to your organization. Now you're saying a total clearance program?"
------"Right."
------"And I'm saying," Henderson enunciated carefully. "While I'm running this commission, I'll fight you on this issue every inch of the way."

* * *

------The Moonbase leisure sphere was comfortable, as always. Freeman liked going to the Moon. This was his thirty-fourth trip. Sixteen more and he'd be eligible for a second silver Moon pin. He looked over the chess board in front of him. His opponent, Steve Maddox, had just made his move.
------"Oh, you've been practicing," Freeman complained, moving a pawn to block Maddox's move.
------Maddox studied the board. "What are you working on, anyway, Alec?"
------"One of Commander Straker's projects," Freeman said. "It's a beautification campaign."
------"Well, I don't deny he could use it," Maddox said with a grin.
------Freeman chuckled. "Nah, space junk. Straker want's it all cleared."
------"Well, the Astrophysical Commission takes care of any space junk," Maddox said. "Anything with hazard potential."
------"Straker has an idea it could be used by the aliens to crack our defense system," Freeman explained. "I'm beginning to think he may be onto something."
------"Well, if your report shows it's a possibility, the junk gets cleared," Maddox said. "So, what's the problem?"
------"James L. Henderson is the problem."

* * *

------"Cost, time, personnel, resources," Henderson ticked the list off his fingers. He sat back in his chair, looking over at Straker who hadn't bothered to sit. "You want reasons, why not? I can give you a hundred."
------"Listen, Henderson, every item of space junk can be cleared in a matter of weeks, if the commission gave its full support," Straker said. "As for the cost, I admit, it would be high, but safety factors alone would justify it."
------"Safety factors?" Henderson's brindled eyebrows drew together in a warning scowl.
------"Yes," Straker said. "My organization uses space more than any other. My pilots take more risks with that junk in one month than..."
------"My men do in a year?" Henderson asked, interrupting. "No, we need facts, Straker, details, statistics. You just don't have them."
------"Don't I?"
------"Of course you don't."
------"I have my report," Straker said.
------"Your report," Henderson said derisively.
------"You promised that the commission would not take a final decision on a clearance program until my report had been fully considered," Straker reminded him.
------"And so it won't," Henderson said. "However, I must confess I don't think it will have that much influence."
------"Well, if that's so, Henderson," Straker said. "It must be because you've already swung the commission against it."
------"Look, Straker. We've just completed the annual clearance of all items of space junk we considered a menace to navigation. The cost was more than doubled that of last year's operation."
------"And worth every penny," Straker said.
------"Do you realize what a full clearance program would cost?"
------"Look, I'm not going to swap dollars signs with you, Henderson," Straker said angrily. "Mens lives are at stake. Now, I want that junk cleared. Every last piece."

* * *

------Foster knew just by the fuming look on Straker's face on the video-link, that the meeting with Henderson had gone worse than usual.
------"Well, where is he?" Straker demanded. He had asked to speak with Freeman only a few seconds before. Foster was suddenly glad he was on the Moon, instead of in firing range of Straker's wrath. Then again, maybe the Moon wasn't far enough away.
------"He's on his way, sir," Foster said as Freeman walked into the Control sphere. "Commander Straker, for you," Foster told Freeman, moving aside so Freeman could sit in front of the video-link monitor.
------"Freeman," the Australian announced.
------"Alec. I want that space clearance report."
------"But I only just got here," Freeman protested. "And there's data still missing."
------"I don't care what's missing," Straker grated. "Looks like Henderson's commission has already decided against a major space clearance project. We have to convince them otherwise."
------"Well, give me twenty-four hours," Freeman asked. "It can't make any difference to you, but it could make a heck of a difference to the report."
------"I want that report, Alec," Straker said. "I don't care what shape it's in, just get it back here."
------The screen went black as Straker cut his end of the link. Freeman just shrugged his shoulders as he walked out of the control sphere to collect his things.

* * *

------The lunar module was ready to launch. Lieutenant Ellis went through the final launch checklist in the Control Sphere.
------"SHADO Lunar module 32, cleared for takeoff at 14-21-34, Stand by," she announced into the center console microphone.
------"Roger, Moonbase. Affirm T.E.T." Steve Maddox said over the radio link.
------"Affirmative," Ellis confirmed. "Trans-Earth trajectory green. Lift off 32."
------There was the slightest shudder in Moonbase's structure as the Lunar Module's engines pushed it away from the launch structure over the embarkation sphere.
------The module appeared as a green dot on Moonbase's tracking systems. The flight was going normally, no problems.
------"Contact SID," Foster ordered. "Tracking procedure green." He turned to Joan, seated at her station. "Has SHADO H.Q. been alerted?"
------"Yes, sir."
------The door to the Control sphere slid open and Freeman walked in.
------"So, everything's fine?" he asked.
------"Straker's not going to think so," Foster told him. "He's expecting you."

* * *

------Two hours into the lunar module's flight, the tracking screens were still clear, SID was silent.
------Harrington listened to the communications from the module. "32 reports unidentified sighting, sir." There was still nothing on the screen.
------"Signal red-alert," Foster ordered. The alert siren shrilled throughout the base.
------The three astronauts on duty waited for orders to send them out after the U.F.O. that was probably on its way.
------The radar tracking screen was still empty except for space debris and the lunar module.
------"His angle of reentry is too steep," Foster announced, checking the radar trace. "Tell him to correct angle of reentry," he told Harrington.
------Harrington shook her head. "Loss of signal, sir." After a few moments: "Earth-orbit insertion, now."
------The lunar module's blip vanished from the monitor.

* * *

------Straker's knuckles went white as he clenched his fists, listening to the reports from the control room operatives.
------"We've lost it, sir," Ford announced quietly.
------"Moonbase to SHADO Control." Freeman's face came on the Moonbase video-link to Earth. Straker uncurled his fingers and let himself relax just the tiniest bit.
------"SHADO Control here," Ford said. "Go ahead, Moonbase."
------"Have you picked up any signs of the Lunar Module?" Freeman asked.
------"Negative," Ford answered.
------Straker came into range of the video-link camera. "When can I have the report, Alec?" he said, very quietly.
------"Twenty-four hours," Freeman said. "Forty-eight if you want to include anything from the module's loss."
------"Forty-eight it is," Straker said. He turned and walked away, back to his office. He was both furious and relieved. Relieved the Freeman was alive, furious that the Australian had ignored his orders, and equally, that he had been left, even temporarily, fearing he had lost his closest friend. At the moment, he wanted nothing better than to give Freeman a sound thrashing. He decided to settle for getting Freeman on the next available shuttle back to Earth, with the report.

CHAPTER 14

------It was a twenty minute drive to Henderson's office.
------"Look, Henderson," Straker said. "All I need is another 48 hours."
------"Another 48 hours?" Henderson raised one bushy eyebrow.
------"Yes, I can have a summary of the completed report on your desk by then."
------"You know I can't hold up the commission any longer," Henderson said. The meeting was scheduled in two days. "Why don't you let me tell them that you've decided to withdraw your proposal?" he suggested, not unkindly. "It might get you off the hook."
------"I intend to hold you to your word," Straker said. "To consider my report before making a decision on the clearance."
------Henderson nodded. "All right, Straker, I think I'm reading you. You want an alibi for that pilot of yours who killed himself and his crewman. You want to blame it on the presence of uncleared junk."
------"I want your word, Henderson," Straker insisted.
------"On one condition," Henderson said. He gave Straker a thoughtful look. "Now, you consider your spacecraft was involved in a reentry collision with an item of space junk."
------"It's a possibility," Straker admitted.
------"Hmm, a possibility, yes," Henderson agreed. "So you suspend all lunar flights until we've fully investigated the, ah, incident."
------Straker was horrified. "Do you realize what you're doing?"
------"Yes, Commander, I do," Henderson assured him. "I'm proving to the commission that your organization, in its present form, is an expensive, and unworkable luxury."

* * *

------The drive back to the film studio and SHADO Headquarters took longer than twenty minutes. He didn't really want to have to go to work and do what he had to do.
------He pulled into the studio parking lot sooner than he wanted. The studio security guard at the entrance doors to the building was as cheerful as ever. The security man didn't know the bottom was about to drop out from under SHADO.
------Straker walked into the outer office, where Miss Ealand guarded the entrance into SHADO. She was seated at her desk, as usual.
------"Ah, Miss Ealand," he said. "Hard at it?"
------"I'm always hard at it. Sometimes you notice," she replied. "How did it go, sir?"
------"Go?" he repeated. "Do you know the code word Washington Square', Miss Ealand?"
------"Well, not without looking it up," she admitted. "It's not one we use regularly."
------"It's one I thought we'd never use," Straker said. He couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice.
------"Well, what does it mean, sir?"
------"It means shutdown," he answered. "Cancel lunar flights, virtual isolation of Moonbase."
------She simply stared at him as he turned and entered the inner office.

* * *

------Ford didn't ask the meaning of the code Straker gave him to pass on. The look on Straker's face was enough.
------"SHADO Control to all unit commanders," Ford announced on SHADO's command channels. "'Washington Square'. I say again, 'Washington Square'. Immediate compliance, 'Washington Square'."

* * *

------Foster and Freeman were having lunch together in Central Park, when Foster's personal transceiver buzzed. He opened the connection.
------"Colonel Foster, sorry to disturb you, sir," Barry's voice announced over the tiny speaker. "Code message from SHADO. 'Washington Square'. I'll check it right away."
------"There's no need," Foster said into the transceiver's microphone. "It means shutdown."
------"What?" Freeman nearly shouted in his stunned disbelief.
------"More specifically, it involves a complete ban on all orbital flights," Foster said.
------Freeman nearly ran out of the room.

* * *

------Straker was alone in his office, staring off into space. He was still numb from realizing how far Henderson would go to get even for the loss of his favorite project. Henderson knew how vital Moonbase was to Earth's defense.
------The video-link buzzed and Straker keyed it on. Nina Barry was on the screen.
------"Colonel Freeman for you, sir," she announced.
------It took a moment for Straker to orient himself to the here and now. "Put him on."
------Freeman's leathery face appeared on the screen.
------"Why the ban on Moon flights?" Freeman demanded.
------"Henderson."
------"But why, what about the report?"
------"Forget it," Straker said. "The commissioners are going to believe that it's an attempt to blame space junk on the Maddox crash."
------"When in fact, you think it was... ?"
------"Maddox, pilot error," Straker admitted. "Take a rest, enjoy the scenery, Alec."
------Straker cut the connection.

* * *

------"What's Straker trying to do?" Foster asked.
------"I don't know," Freeman admitted.
------"He doesn't usually take a thing like this lying down," Foster reminded him.
------"You couldn't call it 'typical'."
------"And then there's Maddox," Foster said. "What do we do about him? Forget all about it?"
------"Well, what else can we do?" Freeman asked. "Any pilot can make a mistake. And you're only allowed one."
------"Not Steve Maddox."
------"Anyone can make a mistake," Freeman repeated.
------"Not Steve Maddox," Foster insisted. "He was too experienced."
------"All right, all right," Freeman conceded. "What caused the reentry error?"
------"He reported an unidentified sighting just before loss of signal."
------"But the trackers couldn't pick up anything," Freeman reminded him.
------"Well, it must have been something," Foster said. "Space debris."
------"Maybe."
------"Maybe," Foster admitted. "And we just sit back and do nothing about it?"
------"No, we make sure it doesn't happen again," Freeman said, heading for the Control Sphere exit. The door closed behind him.
------Foster turned to Harrington. "Get me 32's electronic log."
------"Captain Maddox's flight?"
------"Yes."

* * *

------Freeman finished the report. He wasn't happy with it, much of the data he wanted was still missing and he knew that the report was an exercise in futility. Still, it gave him something to do. Until now, he hadn't really appreciated how boring Moonbase could be. He encoded the report and headed for the Control Sphere to radio it to headquarters.
------Foster wasn't in the Control Sphere, even though it should have been his shift. The console telltales showed a module was ready to launch.
------"What's going on here?" Freeman demanded. The two Control sphere operatives refused to look at him.
------"What the devil's going on?" he demanded. "Who's in that module?"
------"Colonel Foster," Barry said after a long moment.
------"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, furious. "Any of you?"
------"Colonel Foster's orders," Harrington told him. "On no account were we to tell you until takeoff was immanent."
------"And irreversible," Freeman completed for himself.
------Barry and Harrington both managed guilty looks. Freeman stepped over to the central console and picked up the microphone, flipping the switches to connect him to the module's communication system.
------"Paul, cut your motors," Freeman ordered.
------There was no response from the module.
------"I said, cut you motors," Freeman repeated. "Paul, this won't help."
------"What won't?" Foster asked, finally.
------"Taking out a module," Freeman said. "If you're doing it for the reasons I think you are."
------"I'm gonna fly the same course Maddox flew," Foster told him.
------"Under precisely the same conditions."
------"Yes."
------"You're crazy," Freeman announced. "What would it prove?"
------"For one thing, Maddox wasn't responsible for the loss of his ship."
------"Well, if you do make it, it won't mean much," Freeman reminded him.
------"It depends on how I get through."
------"And if you don't?"
------"Then I don't."
------Once again, Moonbase shuddered slightly as the lunar Module lifted off.
------Again, Moonbase's tracking screens were clear, except for the module and the debris in orbit.
------"Two-Nine calling Moonbase," Foster's voice came over the radio.
------"Everything under control?" Freeman asked. He had taken the center console.
------"So far," Foster said. "E.O.I. 2 hours, 38 minutes, 22 seconds."
------"Roger," Freeman acknowledged. "Have you contacted Straker yet?"
------"No. But I have a feeling he'll be contacting me soon."

* * *

------SHADO's tracking stations on Earth spotted the incoming craft.
------"Sighting at Galactic latitude 43 decimal 17. Altitude 4 decimal 53," Ford read off his monitor. It didn't make sense. SID hadn't notified them of an incoming U.F.O. and nothing else should be flying out there.
------"But, that's Moonbase operations area," Johnson pointed out.
------"Right," Ford agreed. "Call Commander Straker."
------Straker was at Ford's station almost before Johnson had finished calling him. He grabbed the microphone from Ford's station.
------"You'll turn back right now," Straker ordered.
------"E.O.I. in one hour precisely," Foster announced. "I've gone too far for that."
------"You're right, Foster," Straker stated, utterly furious. "Much too far."

* * *

------There was still no trace on the screens other than the module and the debris.
------"Module 2-9 to Moonbase," Foster called in.
------"Go ahead, 2-9," Harrington replied.
------"Reentry in 6 minutes 9 seconds."
------"Roger."
------Freeman and Barry watched the radar screens. Nothing out of the ordinary.
------"Moonbase," Foster called.
------"Receiving, 2-9," Freeman answered.
------"E.O.I. in 4 minutes, 3 seconds."
------"Reentry angle 5 decimal 73 degrees, " Freeman read off. "Confirm?... 2-9 Confirm reentry angle."
------Foster didn't respond, although the radio link still registered as good. The trackers showed that Module 2-9's reentry angle had shallowed out dangerously.
------"Paul, adjust reentry angle. Cut back to five," Freeman ordered. "Cut back to five, Paul, you're too shallow."
------There was still no response
------Freeman glanced at Harrington. "If he doesn't adjust, he'll bounce off the Earth's atmosphere, out into space."
------On the tracking screen, they watched as Foster's reentry angle adjusted to a safer level.
------A few minutes later, the module had safely passed through the ionization black out.
------"Colonel Foster?" Straker's voice came over the radio.
------"Foster here, I'm happy to say," Foster announced.
------"Congratulations," Straker said, his voice cold. "But, don't let my delight at your survival blind you to the fact that we have a few matters to discuss."
------"Yes, sir," Foster murmured to himself.

* * *

------Henderson laughed when Straker and Foster walked into his office. "Oh, you've gone too far this time, Straker."
------"I don't see it that way," Straker told him, very calmly. Foster took a seat while Straker remained standing, hands clasped in front of him.
------"You authorized a lunar flight," Henderson said.
------"I authorized nothing."
------Henderson shook his head. "Look, Straker. I don't want to argue with you. You are responsible, whatever the circumstances."
------"I agree," Straker said. "But, Colonel Foster has proved that there is alien interference with our inter-orbital flights."
------"Has he?"
------"Yes, and I almost got killed doing it," Foster said.
------"So you say," Henderson responded. His voice dripped with disdain.
------Foster was on his feet. "Yes, I say!"
------Henderson glanced at Foster, then gave Straker a long look. Straker stood very still, watching Foster, then he motioned for Foster to sit back down. Foster gave him a sullen look as he obeyed.
------"My apologies," Straker said.
------"Thank you," Henderson acknowledged.
------"I think it's time we laid our cards on the table, Henderson," Straker announced.
------"All right," Henderson agreed. "I'll tell you what I think of Colonel Foster's so-called 'proof'. You knew the Commission was going to turn down your space junk clearance program. So, you instructed Foster to make this flight."
------"Now, why should I do that?" Straker asked.
------"Because you were desperate for evidence."
------"Go on," Straker urged quietly.
------"You authorized a flight to rig this information. But you won't get away with it," Henderson grated. "The Commission convenes the day after tomorrow. By the time I get through, you'll be out of a job."
------"Is that all?" Straker asked. "I'll see you at the Commission meeting."
------Straker picked up his briefcase and beckoned Foster to accompany him out of the office.
------Henderson watched the door close behind them. "Indeed you will, Commander," Henderson murmured to himself.

* * *

------"Can he really do it?" Foster asked as Straker pulled his car onto the main road.
------"Do what?"
------"Ease you out."
------"He can try," Straker admitted.
------"What about our evidence?" Foster asked. "They've got to take notice of that."
------"Evidence?" Straker gave a bitter sounding laugh. "What's it gonna look like when Henderson claims that we faked it just to get a space clearance program?"
------"But we're right," Foster insisted.
------"Well, sometimes, Colonel, that's not quite enough."

* * *

------Freeman still sat at the center console. A printer clattered for a moment. Harrington tore off the sheet, glanced at it and handed it to Freeman.
------"The tracking data's been processed, sir," she said.
------"Anything?" he asked, looking over the printout.
------"Not that we can see."
------"They should have been able to pick up something," Freeman protested.
------Harrington shrugged. "There's nothing on Colonel Foster's log except a record of maneuvers."
------"All right," Freeman conceded. "Send it down to SHADO Headquarters."

* * *

------"So, what do we do now?" Foster asked as they entered SHADO headquarters.
------"Any suggestions?" Straker asked.
------"No. But we can't just sit around," Foster told him.
------"I've solved quite a few problems by just sitting around, as you call it, Colonel," Straker said with the faintest touch of amusement. "I suggest you try it yourself, sometime."
------Ford spotted them crossing the control room. "Commander," he called. "The tracking report on Colonel Foster's flight has just come in from Moonbase."
------"And?"
------Ford gave Foster an apologetic look. "Well, nothing unusual, sir."
------"All right," Straker with a sigh.
------"Well, that leaves the M.B-3 detector," Foster said.
------"Yes, they're processing the data now," Straker said. "Well, we haven't had much luck so far, maybe we're due for a break."
------One of the printers chattered, spitting out a long stream of paper. Lieutenant Johnson tore off the sheet, looked it over and took it to Straker.
------"The MB-3 data, sir," she said.
------"Ah, thank you," Straker said, beckoning Foster to accompany him into his office.
------Straker spread the printout on the conference table.
------"Looks like a S-P-S rocket of some sort," Straker commented.
------"Like the limpet rockets used in debris destruction," Foster said.
------"Yeah," Straker agreed. "But it doesn't make sense. I mean, why would the aliens put a device like this into Earth orbit?"
------"Could be programmed to attack Moon ship flights?" Foster suggested.
------"Blockade on Moonbase? Maybe," Straker conceded. "But why hasn't our radar picked it up?"
------Foster looked over at the whiteboard on the wall opposite the desk. A map of orbital debris had been overlaid on it. "Space debris," Foster announced. "It's based in one of those burned out rockets over there."
------"Well, assuming you're right, which one could it be?" Straker asked.
------Foster walked up to the map. "Considering Maddox and I flew practically identical flight paths, it would have to be one of these two here, or Apollo eight, here, or 3-47." He pointed them out on the map.
------"Hmm, four possibilities," Straker commented to himself. "I think we're onto something."
------He looked at the map for a long moment, then went to the desk. He keyed on the video-link to Moonbase. Freeman's face came on the screen.
------"Alec, I have an assignment for you," Straker announced. "I want you to launch the interceptors. Their mission: to destroy four pieces of space junk. I'll have Control relay the coordinates direct to the astronauts."
------"You mean, space junk in Earth orbit?" Freeman asked.
------"Right. And I mean use all three interceptors."
------"All three?" Freeman repeated in shocked disbelief.
------"Yes, I know it will leave Moonbase undefended, but, nevertheless, do it, Alec, at once." Straker cut the link to Moonbase.
------"Now, wait a minute," Foster protested. "Do you know what's gonna happen when Henderson finds out about this?"
------"Ah, yes, Henderson," Straker said. A hint of a smile played about the corners of Straker's mouth and there was a self-satisfied chirpiness in his voice. "Why don't you go over and tell him, Colonel?"
------"He'll go berserk," Foster said.
------"Yes, Take a nice, slow drive, give me about, half an hour."
------"I hope you know what you're doing," Foster muttered. Straker gave him a hard look and he left to tell Henderson, as instructed. Straker was up to something, but for the life of him, Foster couldn't figure out what it might be.

* * *

------Freeman ordered the interceptors launched, as instructed.
------"Control to interceptor leader," Freeman radioed. "Steer programmed course to Earth orbit. You will receive destruct details from Earth Control. Out."

* * *

------Miss Ealand was still seated at her desk when Straker came out of the inner office.
------"Miss Ealand, when James Henderson calls, tell him I'm unavailable," Straker told her.
------"And when he arrives, sir?" she asked knowingly.
------"Oh, show him right in, the red carpet treatment," Straker said. "He's a very important man. You can expect him at three o'clock."

CHAPTER 15

------Henderson barreled into the outer office at five minutes after three. Foster followed him in, giving Ealand an apologetic smile.
------"I want to see Straker immediately," Henderson demanded. "And before you try to fob me off with some damn fool excuse, I'm telling you, I won't take no' for an answer."
------"But, of course you may see him, Mr. Henderson," Miss Ealand said with a smile. "He's expecting you. Go straight in." The inner office door slid open.
------"Oh, thank you," Henderson said, the bluster gone for the moment. He walked into the office. "Straker," he started, but the younger man wasn't alone in the inner office. A dark haired man was seated in the white leather chair opposite the desk.
------"Ah, Henderson," Straker greeted him with a smile. "You're late. Won't keep you a moment. Studio business." Straker turned his attention back to the man in the chair. "Well, I think it's a great script, Mr. Steiner. There we are..." He made a show of signing a document and handing it to the man. "Cleared for shooting."
------"Thanks," Steiner said. "You know, I like the way you operate."
------"Oh, thank you."
------"Your policy of non-interference," Steiner explained. "Some executives crawl all over you."
------"Well, I can assure you, Mr. Steiner, you'll see very little of me," Straker said.
------"And I'll give you a film the studio'll be proud of. Thanks again," Steiner said, heading toward the door. "Nice guy," he told Henderson. "Good bye."
------"Good bye," Straker called as the door closed behind the director.
------"All right, Straker," Henderson warned.
------Straker opened the silver cigarette box and held it out to the older man.
------"You know I never touch them," Henderson grated.
------"Voice identification," Straker explained, all bright innocence.
------"James Henderson," Henderson said into the microphone.
------"Identification positive, Henderson, James L.," the voice print computer announced.
------"Thank you," Straker said, closing the box and hitting the switch to lower the elevator.
------Henderson glowered at him as a concrete wall moved past the office window. The movement stopped and the office doors slid open. The security operative on duty in the entrance hallway nearly jumped in startlement as Henderson barreled his way through the door.
------Henderson led the way through the control room, heading directly for Straker's office. He didn't bother checking if Straker and Foster were following him. The office doors were open, as they usually were when Straker wasn't present. Inside the office, Henderson turned to find that only Straker had followed him in. The older man hit the door control on the desk and the doors closed.
------"I tried to call you, Commander," Henderson said. "I was told you were not available. Were they your instructions?"
------"Yes."
------"I see. A very high-handed attitude," Henderson observed. "However, one more question. Is it true you ordered all three Moonbase interceptors into Earth orbit to destroy certain items of space junk?"
------"Correct."
------"Do you realize what you've done?"
------"You tell me," Straker said. His voice had gone flat.
------"You've blatantly and openly defied the commission, and left Moonbase and the Earth defenseless."
------"It was my decision," Straker said. "I realize the implications."
------"You had better start packing, Straker," Henderson announced. "When the Commission hears about this, you're through."
------"Aren't you interested in hearing my reasons?"
------"Oh, let's be kind," Henderson said. "Let's put it down to a mental aberration, the strain of command. Get those interceptors back on Moonbase, Commander, while you can still give orders."
------"Sorry, Henderson."
------"Don't push your luck, Straker," Henderson warned. "If Moonbase reports... "
------"A Ufo sighting?" Straker asked, completing Henderson's sentence. "Stick around, I'm expecting it."

* * *

------Moonbase tracking systems picked up a signal: "Possible contact 248-016 red," Barry announced. "Contact confirmed, Ufo 248-136 red."
------"Red alert," Freeman ordered. "Get me SHADO Headquarters."

* * *

------"Ufo maintaining course 248-204 green," Harrington was saying as Straker and Henderson entered the control room.
------"Get the termination," Straker ordered, coming to stand beside Ford.
------"Request trajectory termination," Ford passed on the request.
------"Predicted termination, 1F-026, Southern England," Harrington read-off her own monitor on Moonbase.
------Straker nodded, expression grim. "Close enough. Its target is this studio," Straker told Henderson. He turned back to Ford. "Maintain visual contact on countdown."
------"Yes, sir."
------"And order a complete shut down," Straker said.
------"Shutdown?" Foster repeated in surprise.
------"Everything," Straker said firmly. "VHF, radar, the computers, complete radio silence."
------"Straker," Henderson warned.
------"As you said, Henderson, I can still give orders," Straker reminded him. He turned back to the control room operatives, who had stopped to listen. "Complete shut down. Do it!"
------The operatives hurried to comply. The normal background sounds of the computers, the constant radio links, quieted into silence. For the first time anyone could remember, the only sound in the control room was a whirr of the ventilation fans.
------"Termination: 8 minutes, 4 seconds," Ford announced. His voice sounded too loud in the silence.
------"Commander Straker, I'd like to talk with you in your office," Henderson said quietly. "You too, Colonel," he told Foster.
------Henderson turned and led the way to Straker's office. Once inside, Henderson hit the door switch on the desk, locking the electronically controlled door.
------"Straker, I'm relieving you of your command," Henderson said. "Colonel Foster will take over, as of now."
------"You can't do it, Henderson," Straker told him. "You require the unanimous backing of the Commission."
------"You think I won't get it?"
------"Yes, I think you could get it," Straker admitted. "But it would take time."
------"And this base is due to be attacked in a few minutes?" Henderson said. He turned to Foster. "Colonel Foster, assume command."
------Foster hesitated. Henderson glowered at him. Straker simply waited.
------"Colonel..." Henderson's voice held a threat.
------"I take my orders from Commander Straker," Foster announced quietly, but firmly.
------Straker took a deep breath before turning to Henderson.
------"Now, for the first time in your life, Henderson, you're going to listen!" Straker stated with an edge of anger. "The aliens put a satellite into Earth orbit, using a piece of space junk to cover. Why? A blockade on Moonbase? A logical reason, but obvious. Too obvious. In time, we would have located and destroyed it. So the satellite was a decoy, a red herring for something bigger. An attack on this headquarters. They hoped the satellite would draw the interceptors from Moonbase."
------"And you fell right into the trap," Henderson interrupted.
------Straker couldn't be sure if Henderson really didn't understand the situation or was just being stubborn.
------"I acted as if the plan had worked, yes," Straker said. "It would take a Ufo of great destructive power to destroy this underground base. I didn't want that hanging over our heads."
------"All this guess work does not explain the shutdown," Henderson pointed out.
------"Well, why make it easy for them?" Straker asked. "The Ufo is probably programmed onto our radio signals."
------"I don't buy it, Straker," Henderson said. "I just hope you've guessed wrong. Because, If you're right, we're about to be killed."
------Straker flipped the door lock switch and the door slid open. "Still time for you to leave."
------Henderson glowered at him from beneath brind

U.F.O. 3

Paths Of Fear Chapters 10-17

Paths Of Fear
Chapters 10-17