The Doctor along with Cathy, Stella, and Simon finally discover who’s behind this attack on Earth…

“Doctor!” Cathy shouted.

Still ignoring her, the Doctor once again began manipulating controls sending the Tardis into action. After a second, the center column abruptly stopped which drew the attention of the Doctor.

“Not the Helmut Regulator again!” he said exasperatedly before going around the console and banging on it. Once again, it sprang to life.

Simon, after watching this exchange, commented, “Is this thing safe? I mean, is there something wrong with your Flux Capacitor thingy?”

“Oh, don’t bother,” said Stella. “He’s not listening anyway.”

“Helmut Regulator,” the Doctor said as he looked up at Simon. “Not Flux Capacitor. That’s a completely different part of the ship.”

“I thought that was from ‘Back To The Future,’” Stella rang in.

“Yes, that’s right,” responded Simon.

“And you’re no Marty McFly,” Stella couldn’t resist taking another jab at her brother.

“Hey,” Simon responded indignantly. “I can play guitar.”

“I’ve heard you,” said Stella. “No, you can’t.”

“Okay,” Cathy rejoined the conversation. Trying to return things to the business at hand, she went on, “Where are we going then?”

“To have a look around that ship,” responded the Doctor. “I’d like to know what they’re really up to.”

“Who?” asked Simon.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” the Doctor replied enigmatically. He then went to the door and began to open it, “Everyone stay close and don’t wander off.”

Simon couldn’t resist saying, “What does he think we are, children?”

“When you’ve been alive over 900 years, everyone is a child.”

“Point taken,” said Stella.

They all followed the Doctor out of the Tardis and into what appeared to be a dimly lit cargo bay full of strange looking bed-like machines. Before anyone asked the Doctor told them, “Suspended animation. That’s probably how the Bogron came.”

Cathy quietly asked, “Any idea who it is helping them? And why?”

“We’re about to find out,” said the Doctor. Just then, an alarm sounded and strange red and green lights came on. A rush of heavy footsteps drew near, stopping directly in front of the group.

“Halt!” the creature in front ordered. As he stood there, his nostrils flared and the bumps on his rather large forehead pulsed slightly as if he were quite agitated.

“I didn’t really expect that,” said the Doctor. “So what brings you to Earth?”

“We are here for the Glory of the Klingon Empire!” the same one spoke gruffly.

“Yes, yes. I know all that,” the Doctor replied dismissively. “But why Earth?”

The rest of the Klingons came forward and grabbed the party, leading them toward the brig. Once there they pushed everyone in and activated the electronic shield and started to leave.

“When will we see the Commander?” asked the Doctor.

The one who had spoken before turned before exiting and said, “When he is ready.” He then left, locking the bulkhead door behind him.

Once alone again, Simon asked, “What are we going to do now?”

The Doctor reached into his jacket and pulled out his sonic screwdriver and walked over to the panel. “Be out of here in a jiffy.” He turned it on and in just a moment the force field was down, freeing the captives.

“Now what?” asked Cathy as they all made their way to the bulkhead door.

Simon decided to try brute force, pushing and hitting the door a few times to no avail. Then the Doctor again activated the sonic screwdriver and they heard a loud clunk as the lock was released.

“The bridge,” said the Doctor. He walked out of the brig into the dark corridor, where he turned in the opposite direction from which they had so recently come. “Quiet, everyone,” he said as they slowly walked toward what they assumed was the bridge. As they neared their intended destination, several Klingons grabbed them from behind.

“Commander,” barked one of them. “The intruders seem to have escaped their cell. But we have recaptured them.”

A Klingon wearing a more ornate uniform approached the Doctor and asked, “What do you want?”

“To be quite honest,” started the Doctor. “We were hoping to find out why you’re here doing what you’re doing.”

“For the glory of the…” he began.

The Doctor cut him off, “The glory of the Klingon Empire. Yes, we heard that one already. Now seriously, why are you here?”

A smug look came across the commander’s face as he began, “Humans have been a thorn in our side for long enough. We want to erase them once and for all.”

“But why travel back in time to do it?”

“Revenge is a dish…” began the commander.

“Best served cold,” finished the Doctor. “Yes, I know that one as well. So you’re plan is to strike while the Earth can’t protect itself? Not only that, you’re not even doing your own dirty work, are you? Rather cowardly, don’t you think?” The Doctor knew the reaction his last thought was likely to raise. It was exactly what he was counting on.

“You fool!” the commander shouted as he struck the Doctor’s cheek.

To Be Continued…