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‘Captain Gardiner is at the controls now. We shall land on Earth in fifteen minutes. The crew are safe. Also on board are two human stowaways of unknown origin.’
    General Williams spoke towards the videophone. His voice would be heard by Lieutenant Kemp, ten thousand miles away in Space. ‘I want a cordon round the landing area the minute that ship touches down. Nobody on, nobody off, till I get there. Understood?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    The President flicked a switch. The desk videophone went blank. ‘You’ll handle the interrogations yourself?’
    ‘Of course,’ said the General. ‘I’ll go there straight away.’ His personal air-transporter was waiting in the palace grounds.
    ‘Whatever you find, General, you’ll report directly to me?’
    About to leave, the General paused. ‘Do you doubt my loyalty, Madam President?’
    ‘No,’ she said, with meaning. ‘But I suspect Congressman Brook would dearly love to appear on world television with the two pilots from that cargo ship. He’s done it before.’
    Williams squared his shoulders. ‘I shall report directly to you, Madam, and only to you.’ He inclined his head. ‘May you live a long life and may energy shine on you from a million suns,’ he intoned stuffily.
    The President smiled. She realised he was offended by having his loyalty questioned. ‘And may water, oxygen and plutonium be found in abundance wherever you land,’ she replied.
    The General nodded and hurried from the white office.
    Jo peered again through the little grille in the bolted door. The landing on Earth had been smooth, hardly a bump as the great cargo ship settled on its landing pad.
    ‘What do you think they’re doing?’ she asked the Doctor. ‘We’ve been landed for ages.’
    ‘Twelve minutes to be exact, Jo. Just be patient.’
    They waited in silence. From somewhere, probably the flight deck, they could hear a mumble of voices.
    ‘They’ve no right to keep us locked up like this,’ Jo said after a while. ‘We’ve done nothing but try to be helpful.’
    ‘Perhaps we’ll have a chance to explain that...’ The Doctor paused. Footsteps were coming along the corridor.
    The bolts were pulled back, the door opened. A young Earth lieutenant stood in the doorway.
    ‘You two,’ said Lieutenant Kemp. ‘On your feet and outside.’
    Jo asked, ‘Are we going to see someone in authority?’
    ‘Indeed you are,’ said Kemp. ‘Now get moving.’
    Earth soldiers with drawn blaster guns waited in the corridor. As the Doctor and Jo were taken to the flight deck, the soldiers kept their guns trained on the prisoners.
    ‘Just one small question,’ the Doctor turned to Lieutenant Kemp as they made their way forward, ‘do you see me as a human or as a Draconian?’
    Kemp replied, ‘Shut up!’
    The Doctor smiled. ‘There’s nothing like a friendly discussion.’ He remained quiet until they reached the flight deck.
    A transparent-topped table had been quickly erected and General Williams sat behind it. Flanking him were the two pilots, Hardy and Stewart, plus Captain Gardiner. As Lieutenant Kemp brought the prisoners in, he stood to attention and saluted General Williams. ‘The stowaways, sir.’ He turned to the Doctor and Jo. ‘You stand there.’ He indicated a place directly in front of the General.
    ‘Certainly, old man,’ said the Doctor genially. He addressed General Williams. ‘How very nice to meet you, sir. If you and I could just have a little chat—’
    Kemp shouted, ‘Quiet! You are here to answer questions.’
    The Doctor pretended to be apologetic. ‘Terribly sorry, old man. What is it you all want to know?’
    The General spoke. ‘This is a special commission of inquiry under the Earth Security Order of the year 2539.’ He turned to Kemp. ‘Inform the prisoners of their legal rights.’
    Lieutenant Kemp cleared his throat. He spoke rapidly and precisely. ‘Under the Earth Security Order it is the duty of every Earth citizen to answer all questions