"Station Beta 12 this is Patrol 4, do you copy?"

"Patrol 4 this is Beta 12 Control, reading you strength 7."

"Control, we've completed the sweep of section O2D and we're moving on the section O2E after deploying our payload."

"Affirmative Patrol 4. We register the deployment of the sensor probe."

"Confirmed. Patrol 4 signing – hey, something's wrong with the probe! It's showing a craft coming out of hyperspace."

"Our sensors also show incoming craft. Suggest you move your butt, Patrol 4."

"Moving now."

There was a few moments of static as the pilot of Patrol 4 concentrated on manoeuvring thrusters instead of radio communication.

"Whoa! That guy came in close. I almost had my jets cooled permanently."

"Lucky you got out of the way when you did, Patrol 4."

"Hey, Control. Any idea who that was, in case I want to lodge an official complaint?"

"I don't think you'll want to be complaining to those guys."

"Why not?"

"Because if our readings are correct, that was the Rutan delegation, arriving early."

"Ah. Right, Patrol 4, over and out!"

***

In a quiet corner of Earth Station Beta 12, a tall blue box shrieked its noisy arrival from the time/space vortex. The light on top of the box flashed in rhythm, if that was the word, with the sound, until it solidified with a thump. Both the light and the noise faded.

Moments later, a door in the side of the box creaked open and a curly haired head poked out, followed by a heavy set body clad in a coat of many colours and patterns. The garish motif of the man's clothing was continued with his loud yellow trousers and their red stripes, his red shoes with green spats and his harshly patterned waistcoat. Even his cravat didn't want to be left out, a deep orange with lime green starbursts.

Following him out was a modestly dressed, as least in comparison, young woman. She had a mass of flowing red curls down past her shoulders, which contrasted with her pale blue trouser suit and white shoes.

She frowned up at her colourful companion. "Another future landing, Doctor?"

"So it would seem," he mused, taking in the fabricated walls and floors around them.

"What is it this time, a ship or a colony world?" sighed the young woman.

The Doctor licked his finger and stuck it in the air. A few moments later he jumped up and down on the spot, twice. Then he turned to her with a beaming smile.

"Neither, my dear Melanie. We're on a space station."

"Oh yahoo," she replied, though her voice betrayed a certain lack of excitement, which the Doctor was quick to pick up on.

"What's wrong Mel? Fed up of the future already?"

"It's not that exactly," Mel replied, trying to keep the whine out of her voice. "It's just that we do seem to be landing in rather a lot of futuristic locations recently. The Hyperion 3, Marston's Planetoid, now this place, wherever it is."

The Doctor nodded. "Good point Mel."

She seemed surprised. "What, you admit we're making a lot of journeys into the future?"

"Not that," he answered, waving her words away. "I was wondering where and when exactly we are."

"Well, if you got that old crate of a TARDIS serviced occasionally, we might have a better idea of where we're going and more chance of arriving there!"

The Doctor had turned away, probably intent on discovering more about their landing site, but he was stopped by Mel's words.

"Old crate? OLD CRATE? I'll have you know that my Type 40 was state of the art when she was new." He reached out, making soothing sounds and patting the TARDIS' peeling paintwork.

"Yeah, when the universe was young," Mel muttered under her breath.

"Take no notice," the Doctor said to his craft, shooting a scowl in Mel's direction. Then, grasping his lapels he strode out of the side corridor they had landed in, into what seemed to be the main concourse of the station.

There were some people and aliens bustling around, but not as many as Mel had been expecting. She wondered idly if they had found their way to some galactic backwater.

The Doctor had discovered an information screen and was rapidly scrolling through its contents. Peering around him, Mel found she couldn't keep up with the speed of his reading.

"So, where are we?" she asked after a couple of minutes, frustrated that he wasn't giving up anything.

"Hmm?" The Doctor turned, as if wondering who was interrupting him. Then he beamed at his companion.

"This, Mel, is Earth Station Beta 12." He threw his arms wide, as if to encompass the whole structure.

"Wonderful," she replied with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. "I assume, due to the fact there aren't many people about that its situated in the back of beyond."

The Time Lord glanced around, only now noticing how few others there were in the vicinity.

"This place is right on the frontier of human controlled space," he told her, frowning. "It should be packed with sentients from all races."

He turned back to the screen, typing in a couple of enquiries. A moment later he stepped back, smiling slightly.

"Well, that's solved our little mystery, Mel. Beta 12 is currently hosting a peace conference. Access to the station is restricted."

Mel looked around nervously. Experience told her trigger-happy guards could surround them any moment.

"I think we should get out of here and leave them to it."

The Doctor nodded. "You're probably right, Mel." He reached out to deactivate the screen when something caught his eye. He leant forward, peering closely to be sure of what he had read.

Then he was off, striding across the concourse. Mel had just caught up with him when she realised something.

"Hey! This isn't the way back to the TARDIS."

"I know," the Doctor replied over his shoulder as they passed a sign announcing they were entering a restricted area.

***

Guard Captain Svensson had only been on duty for two hours. The two longest, most boring hours of his career.

He had passed three diplomats and two aides through his checkpoint in that time. Hardly the most stimulating or taxing work he had ever done.

Stifling a yawn, Svensson spotted an odd couple of humanoids walking towards him. A tall, heavy set man in a garishly colourful costume and a smaller, red haired young woman in more sober clothing.

Stepping forward with his gun held across his chest, Svensson blocked their path.

"You cannot enter the restricted zone without the proper clearance," he informed them.

"Of course, " said the colourful man, waving his hand as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He changed the gesture, snapping his fingers under the nose of the young woman. "Papers, Miss Bush!"

She looked at him blankly as he turned to accept them. A frown darkened his face.

"Don't tell me you left them back aboard the...er...shuttle. Again!"

She just shrugged and managed a weak smile.

The man returned his attention to Svensson with a weary sigh.

"You know, even in the diplomatic service, you just can't get the staff these days. I'll have to return to our vehicle and get them," he paused leaning in to peer at Svensson's badge, "Guard Captain Svensson." He smiled, then scowled towards his young assistant. "I'll deal with you later, Miss Bush. In the meantime, you can keep the good Guard Captain company until I return."

"But..." Miss Bush managed to say before her companion disappeared in a swirl of diverse fabrics.

Turning, she looked warily at Svensson and his still unholstered gun. " So, do you have any family?"

***

"Station Beta 12, this is Patrol 4, do you copy?"

"Patrol 4 this is Beta 12 Control, reading you strength 8."

"Control, we're moving to grid reference OB1 to begin sensor sweeps and security probe deployment."

"Negative, repeat negative Patrol 4. The Sontaran delegation are about to pass through that sector on their final approach to the station. You don't want to get in their way, like you almost did the Rutans."

"Confirmed, Control. Though there are worse places to be than in the way of the Sontarans or Rutans."

"Oh yeah, Patrol 4? Name one."

"Easy. It must be far worse being 'between' them! Good luck Control, you might just need it!"

"Acknowledged Patrol 4. We'll advise when you're safe to resume. Control out."

***

When the Doctor returned from his trip back to the TARDIS, he discovered Mel and Guard Captain Svensson in animated conversation.

"...And this is Helga, she was seven last month," Svensson was saying, his face beaming with pride. "Ingrid says she takes after her father."

"Ahem!" The Doctor cleared his throat noisily, bringing the family chat to an abrupt end.

Svensson snapped automatically to attention, pushing the holographic photos into a pocket of his uniform. Mel stepped away from the Guard Captain, closer to the Doctor.

The Time Lord smiled at her, handing over one of the plastic cards he was holding. He pinned the other to the yellow lapel of his coat.

Mel glanced down at the badge in her hand. It indicated that Melanie Bush was a personal assistant in the Earth Diplomatic Corps. There was an unflattering holographic photo and a bar code along the bottom of the badge.

Svensson was now using a scanning device to read the code on the Doctor's badge. Mel bit her lip, expecting discovery.

But the device beeped happily and Svensson nodded respectfully to the Doctor. Mel hurriedly pinned hers in place.

After that was successfully scanned, Guard Captain Svensson passed them through and wished them both a pleasant stay on the station.

They walked the length of the corridor and turned the corner before Mel dared to ask the Doctor the question that was burning inside her.

"How did you manage to fake that bar code?"

The Doctor looked smug. "I copied it off Captain Svensson's badge."

"You read and copied a bar code?" Mel exclaimed, disbelief etched into every word.

The Time Lord shrugged. "Not such a difficult feat for someone of my natural skill and ability."

"Not to mention modesty," she replied with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

"I never mention my modesty," he assured his companion with a smile.

***

"Major General Stekk, it's an honour to meet you. I'm Captain Jane Lewis, in charge of Station Beta 12. I hope you and your party enjoy your stay here, and that the talks prove rewarding to all sides."

Stekk, newly appointed head of the Sontaran Diplomatic Corps, stared at the thin, dark skinned human for a few moments. He noted from the structure of the thorax that this was a female, though he also knew from the briefings he had had to attend that they didn't usually appreciate this fact being noted. However, dealing with the humans was going to be difficult enough, without have to take care with what he said.

"I...appreciate your welcome," he said stiffly, observing that this seemed to be an acceptable use of protocol, something that was still very new to him.

Captain Lewis smiled, showing her teeth. Stekk had to remind himself that this was not some form of challenge and that the human was merely showing happiness, another concept he had only second hand experience with.

"If you would like to step this way, I'll show you and your aides to the quarters set aside for you aboard the station."

Stekk inclined his head forward in a gesture he had learnt was called a nod, which signified acceptance. Lewis led him and his aide down the corridor away from the docking area.

As Lewis walked she indicated what she referred to as areas of interest around the station and asked about their journey. Stekk wondered how he was going to make it through the next few days without snapping the neck of this woman, or one of the other annoying humans aboard. Then his thoughts settled on the fact that there would be Rutan present and he decided he may yet have an outlet for his frustration.

***

"So why are you so interested in this peace conference?" Mel wanted to know as she and the Doctor headed deeper into the restricted area, acting as if they had every right to be there.

"Because it shouldn't be taking place," the Time Lord replied, making no concession to the fact she had shorter legs than him and therefore had to take double the amount of strides to keep up. "Sontarans and Rutans making peace with each other? Never been heard of!"

"I don't see why not," Mel said reasonably. "Any two races can usually find some common ground with which to at least talk to each other."

But the Doctor was already shaking his head. "For a start, the Sontarans are ruthlessly militaristic. Their whole society and culture is based around warfare, mostly their unending war against the Rutans. As for them, they're as stubborn a gestalt entity as you're ever likely to find in the known or unknown universes. Peace? Hah! Simply can't happen."

"You almost sound as if you don't want it to happen," Mel challenged as they reached a door marked ‘Conference Chamber 3'.

The Doctor stopped and frowned down at her. "Of course I want it to happen! It's just that I don't believe it can. The Sontarans don't even have a word in their language for peace, the idea is totally foreign to them. But I have to ask myself, why then have they agreed to this? Or maybe they've even instigated these talks. The information screen didn't give the details of how this came about. My main concern however is what happens if they do make peace."

Now it was Mel's turn to frown. "Why? What do you think they'll do if a treaty is settled between them?"

A dark look crossed the Doctor's face. "They'll look for other enemies to fight. All out war on the next race to cross their paths. While they're fighting each other, they're not troubling the rest of the galaxy, for the most part. But if they make peace, it could spell doom for many other cultures."

Mel nodded. "I can see why you're worried."

"Good," the Doctor replied, easing open the door of the Conference Chamber and peering inside. "It seems to be empty," he continued. "Come on, let's have a nosy before the next session."

***

Stekk stared out of the oval shaped window in his quarters, watching the movements of the stars.

"Why me?"

"Sir?" replied Stann, his chief aide, who had been busy reading through the meetings schedule.

"I was wondering why Command picked me for this odious duty."

"It is a great honour to serve the Sontaran Empire, in whatever capacity we are called upon..."

"Spare me the political rhetoric," Stekk growled. "When I was your age I might have agreed with it, but I'm too old and I've seen too much to be fooled easily. Command must have some reason for sending me on this worthless errand, unless I have done something to displease the Emperor."

"But I thought the Emperor himself chose you for this mission."

A rumbling sound came from deep within Stekk's throat, the Sontaran equivalent of laughter. "Exactly!"

Stann looked blankly at his superior. "I don't understand, sir."

"No, I don't believe you do," Stekk said with a note of sadness in his voice. "You're from the latest batch of recruits, aren't you?"

"I am, sir," the aide replied.

"Ah, what it must be to be young and idealistic," Stekk mused. "I don't envy you young warriors. You could have the hardest job of all in the years to come."

"And what's that, sir?" Stann asked dutifully.

"You could be at peace with the Rutan Host."

***

The Doctor hadn't found anything he considered interesting during his search. Mel had spent the time beside the door, acting as his lookout.

Now they had discovered a delegate lounge, somewhere the diplomats could meet informally and chat over drinks and nibbles. Though as the Doctor pointed out, neither Sontarans nor Rutans actually ate or drank.

"So what do they do?" his companion inquired.

"Well, Sontarans recharge using an energy vent on the back of their necks. Rutans gather energy from their surroundings, converting it into a form they can use via a sophisticated internal matrix structure."

"Then I assume those aren't the main parties in the negotiations," she concluded, gesturing towards the two beings talking quietly at the back of the room.

"Hardly," the Doctor replied with a smile. "The one in the green armour is a Martian and the dignified fellow with the long face is a Draconian."

"A Martian?" Mel responded. "He's hardly a little green man!"

"Humans have such strange myths," the Doctor commented.

"You can talk," she hit back with a smile. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"

The Time Lord returned her smile. "Why not?"

As the time travellers approached, the two aliens turned towards them. The Draconian stepped forward, extending a hand.

"At last! I was beginning to think Earth had decided not to send anybody to assist in these delicate negotiations."

The Doctor allowed his hand to be pumped up and down vigorously. "I see you're familiar with human customs," he commented with a smile.

"Indeed," the Draconian replied. "I was my people's ambassador on your world for five rotations. Studying other cultures is also something of a hobby of mine."

"I'm sure it is," the Time Lord said, finally getting his hand back from the enthusiastic alien. "I'm Doctor John Smith, but you can call me Doctor. And you are..?"

"Forgive me, where are my manners? I'm Delegate Thrane, Lord of the Draconian Court. This is Vrexx, the Second Minister of New Mars."

Vrexx bowed deeply, then placed his right arm across his chest, his clamp-like glove at his left shoulder. "It isss a pleassure to make your acquaintance, Doctor."

As the Doctor returned the gesture he felt a tug on the back of his coat. Glancing around, he found Mel glaring pointedly at him.

"Ah, and this is my diplomatic aide, Melanie Bush."

"Call me Mel," she said with a smile, returning the Martian's gesture herself before shaking hands with Thrane.

"So, how are the negotiations going?" the Doctor inquired of Thrane and Vrexx.

"Still to begin, thankfully," Thrane replied, frowning. "The Sontaran delegation only recently arrived aboard the station."

"The Rutansss have been difficult to deal with sso far," Vrexx added, the atmosphere of the station causing him to sound like he was hissing at times.

The Doctor nodded. "I would expect no less. But now both are here, the fun and games should really begin."

A chime rang through the room, catching the attention of all four of them.

"That's the summons to the first meeting," Thrane explained. "You're about to test your theory out at first hand, Doctor!"

***

Stekk and Stann arrived first at the meeting room for the first session of talks. Being military officers they both had an inbred sense for punctuality. They also wanted to scout the place out, so they actually got there early.

Two human security officers had accompanied them from their quarters. These remained outside as the Sontarans entered the room. Stann immediately set about activating a sensor sweep.

"I'm sure the proper authorities will have already done that, gentlemen," said a voice from the doorway.

The Sontarans turned to see a colourfully dressed humanoid standing there, hands on hips and a smile on his face. Flanking him were a Draconian and a Martian.

"We take no chances in hostile territory," Stekk informed the stranger. "These two I know," he continued, gesturing to Thrane and Vrexx, "you I do not."

The man stepped forward, extending his hand. "I'm Doctor Smith, the Earth appointed diplomat. And this is my assistant, Mel."

Stekk ignored the outstretched hand, instead turning his attention to Mel. Smaller than Smith and with different coloured fur (or hair, as they liked to call it) Stekk realised this was another female. Interesting.

"Are you two pair bonded?"

"I beg your pardon?" Mel asked Stekk, with more than a little fire in her eyes. He found he approved of this female.

"I was under the impression that in human society, with males and females, it was a custom to pair bond," the Sontaran explained.

"I think he means are we...married," Smith explained to his assistant.

"I know exactly what he means," she replied hotly.

Stekk was puzzled. "Then why did you seek clarification from me?"

"No, we're not married," Smith said, frowning at Mel. "Though sometimes it feels like it," he added quietly.

Thrane bustled forward, between Smith and Stekk. "I think its high time we started this session."

"A good idea, with just one flaw," Stekk informed him.

"And what isss that?" Vrexx wanted to know.

"The Rutan delegation haven't arrived yet."

"That is where you are wrong, Sontaran," said a high pitched voice from the doorway.

Stekk sighed. I do wish these people would stop sneaking up on me, he thought.

The Rutan slithered into the room, pulsing with inner energy as it went. It was green in colour and resembled an Earth creature called a jellyfish in its natural state. But Stekk knew only too well that a Rutan could assume any form it chose. They were a tricky enemy in battlefield conditions.

"Well, now we're all here I suggest we get this session underway," Thrane announced.

"Agreed," hissed Vrexx.

"Fine by me," Smith stated, moving to the conference table and making a show of arranging his multifaceted coat tails in the process.

Stekk and the Rutan stared at each other for a moment. Mutual loathing passed between them in that instant before the look was broken and they made their way to their places.

Given the nature of the Rutan, a raised dais had been constructed at one end of the table. Stekk found his chair at the opposite end. Smith and Mel sat to his right, while Thrane and Vrexx settled to his left.

"As leading diplomat for this mission, I hereby call these talks to order," Thrane pronounced. "Let the session begin."

***

"Well, that must have been the longest six hours of my life!" Mel declared as she and the Doctor left the conference room, in the company of Vrexx.

"Hardly surprising," the Doctor replied. "Especially as we were only in there for two and a half."

"Really?" Mel consulted her watch, which she discovered was telling the wrong time.

"Side effect of the Rutan's electromagnetic field," he told her.

"Ah. No wonder they were late for the meeting."

They walked in silence for a moment, Vrexx pulling away from them in front. The Doctor allowed the large Martian to disappear around a corner before he spoke.

"Look Mel, why don't you skip the next session? I can manage on my own and you'll just be bored by all the diplomatic chatter."

"Chatter?" she echoed. "I've been in noisier churches in my time. The silences in that room could be bottled and sold."

"Exactly my point," the Doctor beamed. "You would be much better off exploring the station, stretching your legs as well as your mind."

Mel narrowed her eyes at him. "I know what you're up to, Doctor. You want me to nosy around, see if there is anything going on behind the scenes."

The Time Lord held up his hands in mock surrender. "Am I that obvious?"

"Positively transparent," she admitted. "I'll do it."

"Good girl," the Doctor approved. "But first, let's eat."

***

Stekk and Stann were walking back towards their quarters, through some of the human thoroughfares of the station. The Sontaran diplomat had decided it might help to observe the humans more closely.

As they passed in silence through an almost deserted square, a window to the left caught Stekk's eye. Turning his body, he motioned Stann to slow down.

"What is it, sir?" the aide inquired, following the gaze of his superior officer.

"Smith and the female, Mel. They appear to be partaking of human nourishment."

"A strange ritual," Stann agreed. "I have made some study of human customs, though this one is among the most revolting."

"I agree. We should move on, before the memory sours our next recharges."

The Sontarans left the square and entered a long corridor leading to the guest accommodation suites.

"How do you think the talks went?" Stann asked as they walked.

Stekk frowned, though a non-Sontaran would have found the expression difficult to detect. "The Rutan was obstructive and difficult to deal with."

"As was to be expected," Stann replied. "Then all is going well, so far."

Stekk stopped, turning to his aide. "Well? What do you mean well? Nothing was decided, not even an exact time for the next meeting."

"Exactly," Stann said. "We do not want these talks to succeed. Do we?"

His already small eyes narrowing further, Stekk regarded his subordinate. "I have been charged with attending these talks by the Emperor himself. He has instructed me to find some grounds for peace between our people and the Rutan Host. And I am going to discharge that duty, onerous as it may be, to the best of my ability. I expect you to do nothing less than your duty, Stann."

"Of course, sir," Stann replied, swallowing nervously.

"Then this conversation never took place," Stekk decided, resuming his walk to his quarters.

Stann stood for a moment, a strange look passing across his face before he followed his superior officer.

***

The following morning, as the Doctor was called to another diplomatic meeting, Mel set out to explore Station Beta 12.

She spent some time checking out the shops on the main promenade. Her eye was caught by a nice candy striped outfit in the window of a clothes shop, while a display of cakes in the neighbouring establishment made her smile and think of her friend.

An alert klaxon wiped the smile from her face and moments later the lights failed.

Swallowing down the urge to scream, Mel stood her ground, waiting patiently to see if the lights came back on. Taking deep breaths to calm herself, she had counted to forty-one by the time dull, green emergency lighting filled the area.

Mel was the only one in her particular corridor, she discovered. But there was a faint noise and her sharp hearing led her towards it.

Making her way carefully down the corridor, she peered around a corner, to find another expanse of passageway, ending in the doors of a lift. Trotting towards it, she found it wasn't working. But to the left was an unmarked door, which opened onto a stairway leading up and down.

The noise was strongest in the downward direction, so Mel eased herself down to the next landing. Satisfied that there wasn't anyone around, she skipped down the rest of the stairs at a much quicker pace.

She pushed the next door open quietly, where the source of the sound became apparent. The dull throb of power generators was much louder here, though the lighting still wasn't up to normal levels.

Something caught her eye in the far corner of the room. A pulsing yellow glow illuminated banks for machinery.

Moving across the room towards the glow, she was surprised when it cut off suddenly.

Deciding it was time she took the initiative, Mel called towards the site where the glow had been.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Straining her ears she thought there was a faint sound of movement. Somebody could be hurt, she realised, screwing up her courage and stepping forward slowly.

She was instantly distracted by a dark shape moving at the edge of her vision. Turning, she found the scuttling movement had vanished.

"If it was ever really there," she muttered to herself. "You're jumping at shadows, Mel."

She resumed her cautious approach to the site of the glow. Peering around the final piece of machinery, she was relieved to see that there was nobody there.

Relaxing, she sighed and let her shoulders slump. Just as a large hand clamped one in an iron grasp.

***

"Thisss iss getting usss nowhere!" Vrexx declared thumping his clamp-like fist onto the table in frustration.

"Well, the Sontaran delegation cannot be held accountable for the intransigence of the Rutans," Stekk replied.

"Yet the Sontarans are no exactly giving ground easily," said the Rutan delegate in its high pitched voice.

"I'm forced to agree," the Doctor commented, which brought a snort from Stekk. "Neither side is being very co-operative," he clarified.

"We have conceded on a number of wide ranging issues," Stekk protested.

"Grudgingly," said Thrane with a raised eyebrow.

"The Rutan Host have also negotiated in good faith."

"Hardly!" the Doctor retorted with a scowl. "You're as bad as each other."

"The Sontaran position on this issue..." began Stekk.

"We know the Sontaran position on this issue," the Doctor interrupted. "We've had chance to learn it off by heart." A frown crossed his face. "By the way, where is your aide today, Stekk?"

"Stann is back in his quarters, compiling a report for the Emperor. Where is your aide, Doctor?"

"Mel? Oh, she's around the station somewhere. Hopefully not getting into too much mischief."

Barely had the last word left his mouth when the lights went out.