"25.000" "The temperature's dropping quickly." "It'll be dark soon." "Then it'll freeze." "The Long Cold." "I find this planet unnerving." "Come." "Travis." "Where are you?" " Shhh!" "Softer The sound travels in the caves." " You're late." "They would've missed me had I come sooner." "What have you got for me?" "Avalon is moving to winter quarters, in the ice caves." "I've drawn a map." "But contact - has Blake made contact with Avalon?" " Yes." "She's asked for transportation to a safer planet." " And Blake has agreed?" "His ship has already entered out star system." "The rendezvous is expected within fifty hours." "Good." "Go back and join Avalon." "Now." "You understand what you have to do?" "I understand." "It's working, just as I predicted." "This time I'll be ready for you, Blake." "Zen, can you get an estimated surface temperature from this range?" "Sensors indicate a temperature of 120 degrees and still falling." "That's on the cool side, you'll need thermal suits." "Cally, are you still getting Avalon's signal?" "It changed position by about eight miles but its stationary now and switched to automatic." "Well, lock onto it and get a precise fix." "Jenna, when Cally's got a fix, let her take us into orbit." "You're the only one who's ever seen Avalon." "I need you down there with me." "Go and get kitted up." "Right." "Cally, we want an orbit just inside teleport range." "Blake, there are 4...5 interceptors orbiting the atmosphere now." "They're all below the horizon at the moment." " Track them." " Right." "And don't imagine they will maintain the same orbit." "I've summarised the relevant data." "And?" "We've come at the worst time, of course." "The northern hemisphere is just entering its winter cycle." "They call it the Long Cold." "Something of an understatement, it lasts the equivalent of eight and a half Earth years." " Does it support any intelligent life?" " Does the Liberator?" "There are humanoid creatures called Subterrons." "They live in caves." "Quite what that says for their intelligence, I really wouldn't know." "Why are the Federation there?" "Minerals." "About 30 years ago it was discovered that deposits were seeping down into the ice, and forming gemstones of outstanding purity and hardness." "Ahh, that is why Avalon is here." "Perhaps, but the Ice Crystals are unique and as such quite valuable." "No, Avalon has started resistance movements on a dozen Federation planets." "Another idealist, poor but honest." "I shall look forward to our meeting with eager anticipation." "Is your anticipation eager enough to come down there with me?" "Not quite." "I think I shall contain my enthusiasm here in the warm." "[BEACON SIGNAL]" "[BEACON SIGNAL]" "Stay where you are." "Which of you is Avalon?" "I want Avalon now." " Who betrayed us?" " Take her." "Shall I smash it?" "No." "Give Blake his homing beacon;" "make it easier for him." "Finish it." "No, no, please wait!" "It's me, Terloc." "I helped you I gave you Avalon!" "I gave you Avalon!" "They're going to kill us!" "[GUNFIRE]" "And holding Orbital drift compensators?" " Activated." " Confirm position and status." "All systems confirm instrument readings." "Orbit is established, status is firm." "Very impressive." "I think I might have taught you too well." "Navigation computers register positional error." "point 000101." "Automatics are compensating." "Thank you, Zen, for that small compensation." " Hm." "Are you ready, Jenna?" " Yes." "Have you got the teleport co ordinates?" " All computed." " All right, let's go." "Keep sensors on full alert." "Those pursuit ships are still around." "Don't worry, we're watching." " Good luck." " You, too." "Surface temperatures are down to 180, better wrap up warmly." "Set your suit to seventy five percent." "Right, stay at the controls." "If all goes well we'll be back in fifteen minutes." "We'll be ready." "Right." "Is your suit fully heated?" "About ready to burst into flames." "Put us down." "[TELEPORT WHINE]" "Federation security must have found them, looks like their handiwork." "None of them are armed." "That's what I mean." "Weapons are still in the racks." "They probably tried to surrender." "Let's get out of here, Blake." "No, we must find out if Avalon's one of them." "We must know for certain." "This homing beacon's still transmitting." "Once Federation security found that they wouldn't have any trouble getting onto this place." "[CLATTER] Blake!" "He's still alive." "Careful, he's been hit in the shoulder." "It's all right, it's all right, we're friends." "The others, what about the others?" "I'm afraid they're dead." "What about Avalon?" "Was she with you?" "Can you remember whether she was with you when you were attacked?" " Terloc betrayed us it, was Terloc." " Where is Avalon?" "She was with us, she..." "They took her out, before the firing started." "Public Address:" "Project A-6 security green now in operation." "Stand by yellow release to project A-8." "Doctor Ellis Dee to area blue 6 basement main control area." "The Supreme Commander's ship has landed, they've already disembarked." "Good." "I think we're about ready." "Oh, I'll need a human to assist in a test." "Check with the detention block, see if they can give you someone." "Any special characteristics?" "No, an ordinary unskilled labour grade will do." "An expendable." "If there isn't one in detention?" " Then detain one!" " Yes, Commander." " Any problems?" " Not that I can see." "A good healthy specimen." "No deformities or unusual features." "The standard triple omega should provide a perfect basis." " Good." "Can you complete quickly?" " I think so." "We have an experienced team standing by, everything's ready." "Good, good." "Remember if you need any further equipment you have an absolute priority rating." " Demand whatever you want, on my authority." " Thank you, Commander." "You should be flattered by all this special attention." "Anyone who opposes the Federation knows what to expect if they get captured." "It's a risk we're all prepared to take." "Obviously." "But whatever the risks, no one really ever expects to get caught, do they, hmm?" "Still, I wish I could find the same urge to sacrifice among my subordinates." " They have no cause." " True." "Every year more people defy the Federation, thirty planets in this sector alone, and others will follow many others." "Yes." "Well, you'll tell us about those, won't you?" "Their leaders, locations, their plans." "I'm sure we'll be able to convince them that loyalty to the Federation is, after all, in their best interests." "I know enough about these machines to realise that I will tell you everything." "You will murder hundreds of people, maybe thousands." "But you won't end the opposition." "You'll never end it." "Perhaps not." "However, we shall persevere." "You're right, of course." "You will tell us everything." "But first we need you for a far more important venture." "We've codenamed it Project Avalon." "I won't help you." "You can't force me to help you." "Don't be naïve." "I can force you to do anything." "It isn't necessary, though." "You're already helping me." "Just by being here you've set in motion a chain of events that's been absolutely predetermined." " I don't understand." " No?" "Do you think your capture at this particular point was a matter of chance?" "It was a carefully calculated strategy." "You're worth a great deal to me." "You're going to give me Blake, his crew, and his undamaged ship." "The Federation wants the Liberator you and I are going to give it to them." " There, how does that feel?" " Not too bad, thanks." "Are you sure that they took here to the Centre?" "They abandon the outer complex when the Long Cold sets in." "Anyway, the main interrogation units are in the Centre." "That's where she'll be all right." "Have you ever been inside the Centre?" "No." "I helped build the outer complex, but the labour gangs were restricted in their movements." " I don't exactly know my way around." " Could you get us in there?" " To the Centre?" " Yes." "No." "Can't be done." "Listen, Avalon knows all the resistance movements in this star sector." "Places, names, everything." "She'd die before she told anybody anything." "Not a choice she'll be given." "In a couple of days they'll know everything she knows." " It'll be disaster for the resistance." " And a lot of people will die." "So we have to get her before that happens." "Well, you'd never make it through any of the normal entrances." "They're computer linked and manned by mutoid guards." "What about ventilation shafts?" "No, they're closed off during the Long Cold." "The atmosphere is recycled." "The regeneration plant." "It's outside the Centre and linked by inlet and outlet channels." "We might just make it through there." "All right, we'll have to give it a try." "There's no guarantee it'll succeed." "They're bound to have all sorts of security devices linked into it." "We have our own specialist in that area." "Blake, do you read?" "Cally, we hear you." "Vila, get on a thermal suit and come down here fast." "Me?" "Oh, now wait a minute, it's cold out there, and I'm very susceptible to low temperatures." "I've got a weak chest." "The rest of you is not very impressive." "You're wasting time." "Come down here and bring your bag of tricks." "I don't know why it always has to be me." "I'm tired of being indispensable." "Gan." "Any space activity?" "Yes, a ship came in and docked about half an hour ago." "Can you identify it?" "Well, the detectors read it as a military command cruiser." "and the trajectory suggested it could have come from Federation space headquarters." "It could be something to do with Avalon's capture." "Maybe they're going to try and ship her out of here." "We'd better get moving quickly." "The teleport co-ordinates based on the voice fix." "Ready?" "Just a minute, I want to set this to maximum." "Ah, ah!" " Turn it down, Vila!" " Not a hope, I'd rather fry than freeze." "[TELEPORT WHINE]" "Vila!" "This is Chevner." "Come on, you lead, we'll follow." "What's the, er, problem?" "Avalon's been taken prisoner, we've got to get her out." "We're finished, we've everything we need." "Good." "Prepare to take her down to transfer." "They're standing by." "Right." "Will he do?" "Yeah, he seems healthy enough, he'll do." "Supreme Commander, it's good to see you." "A safe journey, I trust?" "Nothing is safe any more." "You've heard that there have been two attempts on my life?" "I have." "I was very concerned." "I consider Blake to be responsible." "Not personally, of course;" "but stories of his exploits are still circulating." "They excite people." "The fact that he is still free gives them hope." "And that is dangerous, Travis." "Hope is very dangerous." "The loss of it can be fatal, and the source of it all is about to be wiped out." "I think you should know that there's been considerable criticism of your handling of the Blake affair." "What?" "Well, so far your operation has been very costly and there have been no worthwhile results." "That's not entirely just." "There have been two occasions where I could have destroyed Blake." "It was only the Administration's insistence that the Liberator be captured undamaged that stopped me." "I have made that point in your defence, but I can't go on making excuses." " I've been under considerable pressure to replace you." " Ohh?" "Oh, so far I have resisted that pressure." "But now, I need your reassurance that my confidence has not been misplaced." "I think Project Avalon will silence the critics." "It does seem an excellent plan." "It should have every chance of success." "I'm glad you approve." "Oh, Travis, you know better than that." "In my position one never approves anything until it is an undisputed success." "However, you have my full support." "Unofficially, of course." "Of course." "Officially, you have my presence, and my attention." "So, this is the famous Avalon is it?" "I'd expected something more impressive." "All the checks have been made." "They're ready to take her down to transfer." " Well, don't let me delay you." " Take her down." "Travis, I think the labs have come up with what you wanted." "It's totally new and very costly." "This is the only element that was missing." "When will you test it?" " Now." "Everything's prepared." " Excellent." "I'm curious to see it work myself." "Check door seals." "Door solid." "Seals are firm." " We're ready." " Proceed." "Activate." "Twenty three seconds." "It's fascinating." "How long before it neutralises?" "It'll be clear now." " Satisfied?" " Completely." "Vila?" " If he sets that alarm off..." " He knows his job" " Security robot." " Vila!" " Sensors report spacecraft approaching." " Identify." "Analysis indicates they are Mark Four Federation interceptors." "Compute course, speed and range." "Interceptors are bearing directly on this position." "Speed standard by two." "Range two million spacials." "Have they seen us?" "Hull sensors register scanning beams." "So they know we're here." "We'll be within their attack range in minutes." "We must tell Blake." "All right, Vila." "He's coming back!" "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "He's not answering." "They're coming in very fast." "What do we do now?" "Run for it, we daren't risk a fight now." "But that'll leave them trapped down there if they need to get out quickly." "If we stay here there might not be anything to get out to." "Our only hope is to make a fast orbit, lose those interceptors, then come back onto station." "Well, have you got any better ideas?" "All right, then let's get the hell out of here!" "Cally, take her on manual." "OK, Vila." "Avon?" "Cally?" "Problem?" "There's no response." "Avon?" "Cally?" "Jammed?" "No." "Well, let's hope they're back on station by the time we need them." "Come on, Vila" "Here we go." "Right." "Vila, move it!" "Yes?" "Understood." "Well?" "Space security report." "Our interceptors have detected an alien ship." "Has it been identified?" "Available data suggests it could be the Liberator." "Suggests?" "Suggests?" "Of course it's the Liberator." "What action's been taken?" "Our ships are in pursuit." "Shouldn't you call them off?" "Not really." "I know they can't match the Liberator's speed, but it would look suspicious if they took no action." "True." "If I read my man correctly we can expect him to penetrate the Centre within the next twelve hours." "Try this one or move on to another?" "Well, I think we should be well inside the main Centre now." "Let's give it a go." "Vila, you're in business again." "That has Klyber fastenings on the other side." "You need a lot of explosives or a genius to open that." " Can you do it?" " Of course." "All right, we'll applaud you later." "For now just get on with it." "Ah, are you finished with her?" "Yes, we've just put her in her cell." " Was everything satisfactory?" " Perfectly." "Public Address:" "Interrogation team one report to duty control." "Repeat:" "Interrogation team one report to duty control." "F-2 Avalon." "You've drawn your new weapon from the armoury, I see." "Sir." "Good." "Stay alert." "Public Address:" "Stand by medic unit and report to area control." " It's clear." " Recognise the area?" "No, it must be one of the sub levels, but I don't know which one." "All right, let's find out." "Public Address:" "Yellow release now on project A8." "Stand by blue control." "Interrogation team one report to duty control." "Repeat:" "Interrogation team one report to duty control." "Attention block seven, report to duty control." "Project A6 security green now in operation." " There's a guard coming" " What are you doing?" "Getting us a guided tour!" "You, there!" "What are you doing in this section?" "I was posted here by the security commander." "My orders were that no one should enter this area." "What is your security commander's name?" "Sergeant Major Garven." "May I have your name and authority, sir?" "His name is Blake, and this is his authority." "You have a woman prisoner here called Avalon." "Where is she being kept?" "All prisoners are being held in the main detention block." " Right, take us there, now." " He said "now'." "Sensors indicate that Liberator is no longer being scanned." "I'll make a fast turn so that they do not pick us up again, then we must return to position." "How long will that take?" "Minimum possible transit time is 37.01 minutes" "That's a long time to hold on if you're in trouble." "Then let's get on with it." "Speculation and fast turns aren't going to make it any shorter." "Right, remember to do exactly as I told you." "And remember there are two guns right behind you." "All right, let's go." "Halt." "I have two prisoners to be confined in detention unit four." "This area is under maximum security and totally off limits." " Down, it's Blake!" " Chevner!" "Jenna!" "Public Address:" "Detention block seven condition red." "[ALARM SIGNAL]" "Get after him, Jenna!" "A12 Istar" "S8 Hend" "N15 Raiker" "T5 Kalor" "G1 Pelar" "F2 Avalon" "I hope she's all right." "I lost him, he must have got down a transit shaft." "Right, cover this end." "Chevner put this on." "Get down and cover the other corridor." "Come on, Vila." "F2, there, open that." "Liberator, come in Liberator, stand by to teleport." "Liberator, do you read me?" "Avalon, I'm Blake." "We had hoped to get you out sooner, we've had a bit of trouble." "She'll freeze to death dressed like that." "Take this, and this." "Put this on." "Right Let's move it." "Right Vila, fall back." "Go!" "Jenna?" "Right, go!" "Come on." "I'm all right, go on." "Chevner, the security robot!" "Avon!" "Cally!" "Bring us up!" "Liberator has resumed original position and status." "You'd better switch on the communication channel." "Liberator, we need teleport now." "Come in, Liberator!" "Liberator, do you read me?" "We need teleport now!" "Do you hear me?" "Bring us up!" "Avon!" "Cally!" "Welcome back." "Vila, Jenna, get the ship moving." "Gan, take care of Avalon, put her down in a cabin." "If the Federation find out where we are, they'll send up everything they've got after us." " What went wrong?" " I was about to ask you that." "We have a firm location reading and an accurate track." " Have the pursuit ships been launched?" " Yes, sir." "Good." "Keep me informed." "A couple of hours and it should be all over." " How are you feeling?" " I'm fine I'm perfectly all right." "But my tunic, it is very important, my tunic." "It's all right, relax, I'll go and get it for you." "You just rest for a while." "Perhaps we could talk later." "I've admired your work for the resistance for a long time." "Avalon seems to have recovered." "Jenna, there's something wrong." "There's something about our escape that bothers me." "Like what for instance?" "Like the fact that we did escape." "Federation troops are very efficient." "They're highly trained and they totally outnumbered us and yet we still managed to escape." "We were lucky!" "Yes, we were." "One of those guards got a clear shot at me." "The impact knocked me over, that's all." "That should have ripped your shoulder off." "Yes, and Avalon was hit in the leg." "A nasty kick, that's all." "Avon, what do you make of this?" "It's not standard issue." "Low energy bolt discharge." "This could bruise or stun, but it couldn't cause any serious injury." "A dud gun doesn't make sense." "Exactly." "I think they wanted us to escape." "That's an interesting idea but I don't see the logic." "Neither do I." "The Federation chases you all over the galaxy with the highly understandable desire to destroy you, then when they've got you pinned down they let you go." "Why?" "They could have got all of us, but there were still three of you left on the Liberator." "The Liberator!" "That's it!" "They must want the Liberator." "The only way they could do that is to put somebody here on board." "The whole thing has been set up and we have fallen for it beautifully." "Not Avalon." "We're sure that woman is Avalon, aren't we?" "Yes, I've only met her once, but that's her." " Then it must be Chevner." " Chevner." "How do you think he'll do it?" "I don't know." "We've got to find out." "Gan, you stay here." "You two come with me." "She's alive." "Warn the others." "Start searching." "He's got to be found." "You stay and look after her." " Jenna tell you?" " Yes, but there's no sign of him in any of the cabins." "Right, let's try the hold." " Avalon." " Hello." "Come and sit down." "Here, let me help you." "Are you feeling better now?" " I'm fine, thank you." " Ah, good." "There." "Where's Blake?" "He's gone to look for Chevner." "Wait a minute, wasn't Chevner with you?" "Yes, but he attacked." "Cally and then he dragged me out." "I thought he was going to use me as a hostage, but then he just went off somewhere." "So Blake was right." "Well, they'll find him, don't you worry." "Is there anything you want?" "Oh yes, my tunic There is something I need." "Ah well, I'll go and find it for you." "[SCREAM]" "Jenna had your tunic in here." "She must have left it around somewhere." "Ah yes, here it is." " Thank you." " There." "Gan!" "That's not Avalon." "[STATIC WHINE]" "Get something to tie her up with!" "Preliminary analysis suggests the phial contains a virus, artificially mutated from the Delta 706 classification subset 205, originally known incorrectly as the Phobon plague." "This mutation appears to have a short life cycle and be self-eliminating." "If she'd managed to crush that we'd have been wiped out and the Liberator left totally unharmed." "It very nearly worked, too." "They've made a perfect replica." "This is the best robotic engineering I've ever seen." "I never had a moment's doubt that she was Avalon." "I talked with her, about her work." "Not details, but her reasons and beliefs." "I still find it hard to believe." "Brilliant programming." "They transferred complete key areas of Avalon's personality." "It's really quite impressive." "And the only person it didn't completely fool was Chevner." "Ah, but he'd known the real Avalon for quite some time." "He must have been suspicious of this one." "That's why it killed him." "He shouldn't have tried to tackle it alone." "He probably didn't." "Just being suspicious would have been enough." "A machine of this type would have recognised that easily, more easily than we would." " Can you make it safe?" " I can deprogram it, scramble its brain." "Can you reprogram it?" "No." "A few minor functions, perhaps, not much else." "That's enough." "Jenna, take us back into the precise orbit we were in." "Cally, I want an exact locator fix on that laboratory." "We still have to get Avalon out of there." "I think I'll stay on during Avalon's interrogation." "I have the feeling she's going to tell us a great deal." "There's no doubt of that." "When will you begin?" "I want to finish with the Liberator first." "As soon as it's confirmed they've put a boarding party on her we'll get started." "[COMMUNICATOR CHIME]" "Travis." "What!" "?" "Are you sure of that?" "Keep checking, I'm coming up." "I don't understand Space track control say the Liberator's moved back into orbit." " It must be another ship." " No, they seem very certain." "[GENERAL ALARM]" "Public Address:" "Detention block one zero." "Blake is here, sir, in the main laboratory." " Blake?" " He is demanding to see you." "He is demanding?" "I report only what I have been told, Commander." "He also says you are to bring Avalon with you." " How many of them are there?" " Just Blake, sir" "Right, I'll deal with this." "Bring the prisoner." "Ahh, Travis." "Didn't work." "It was very clever, but it didn't work." " How did you stop it?" " Does it matter?" "All I want to do is finish what I started." "I'm going to take Avalon out of here." "I don't think so." "That would not be very clever." "You wouldn't do it." "What have I got to lose?" "It's not a pleasant death, Blake." "So I gather, but it would have its compensations:" "I'd share it with you and the Supreme Commander." "Are you quite sure I wouldn't do it?" "Bring the prisoner in." "Let her go." "I said, let her go." "You still have to get her out of here, Blake." "Are you sure your teleport's fast enough to stop me killing you both?" "Put this bracelet on your wrist." "I'm afraid we've had to reprogram your machine slightly." "It's nowhere near as sophisticated as it was but it will perform a few basic functions." "Raise your arm." "Enough." "Open your thumb and forefinger." "Close the thumb and forefinger." "Enough!" "The robot will crush the phial in response to one of three triggers." "A particular word, a specific sound or a certain movement." "You had all better be very, very careful what you say and do." "Bring us up." "Project Avalon has failed totally." "There will be a full inquiry." "Until that time you are relieved of your command." "If it takes all my life, I will destroy you, Blake." "I will destroy you." "I will destroy you." "Launch the pursuit ships."