Fic: The Valiant Child Who Will Die In Battle So Very Soon (Mace/Price)
Title: The Valiant Child Who Will Die In Battle So Very Soon
Character: New Who UNIT, Jack Harkness Cameo
Pairing: Mace/Price
Rating: PG-15, Violence, Character Death, Daleks.
Spoilers: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who, UNIT, Torchwood and any other part of the Whoniverse is not mine. It all belongs to the BBC.
A/N: I've been promicing this fic to my friend since the end of the last series of Doctor Who. So it's partly an IOU being repaid, partly a birthday fic and well just a depressing bucketful of angst to write. Enjoy!
Summary: The Valiant has always been a hot house of destruction and fear. It started with, the death of Saxon and ended with the death of hundreds. This is the story of the Valiant's last stand...
"It all looks so normal doesn't it?"
Mace turned to Captain Price and gestured for her to continue.
"It's like every other trip to the Valiant we've done before. UNIT helicopter, its even Corporal Snow flying us there."
Mace nodded sadly, looking down at his hands.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment.
"It's not though, is it? We won't be flying home again will we?"
He just looked at her. Emotions playing across his face. His headset crackled before he could answer.
"Colonel Mace receiving."
"Mace? It's General Sanchez here, do you read me?"
"Yes sir."
"Mace, this is serious, too big for us to face alone. I'm going to try and get the Doctor on side."
"Yes sir."
"Where are you?"
"We're heading towards the Valiant. Start the offensive from there."
"It'll be the first place that they'll attack, you know."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes sir."
"You're a brave man Colonel."
"Thank you sir."
"Kiss your wife before you go, it's the one thing I wish I'd done."
He didn't bother to mention that she wasn't his wife yet, and it was unlikely that she ever would be. Not now.
"She's here with me sir."
"Tell her I wish you luck, both of you."
"Yes sir."
"And Mace. I'm releasing the Osterhagen key, do so at your end."
"Of course sir."
"Ending Transmission."
Mace sighed and turned to Marian.
She took hold of his hand silently.
"We're using the Osterhagen Key."
Marian closed her eyes and squeezed his hand tighter.
Her headset crackled, breaking the silence. She reached up and turned it off.
"That could have been important."
Mace said, without much care in his voice.
"It hardly matters now does it? I've told my brother that I'll miss him. What else is needed down there?"
They lent against each other in silence, their heads resting against the others and their hands entwined.
"Colonel, Captain?" Snow's voice came over the comm. system, "We'll be at the Valiant in five."
"Thank you Snow."
"Just doing my job sir."
And then there was just the noise of the rotor blades as they approached their final landing spot.
Their hands were still clasped together as they first caught sight of the Valiant.
She ways flying over British water, approaching the Thames Estuary, and thus was under Mace's supervision.
There were other nationalities on board but she was fully in British hands.
The helicopter descended into chaos, soldiers and staff were attempting to find means of defending themselves.
Before they left the helicopter Mace stood, removed his headset and took something from his pocket.
"Corporal Snow, by the power invested in my by the Unified Intelligence Taskforce I hereby issue you with the Osterhagen Key to be used at your own digression."
"Yes Sir."
"Good luck Snow."
He nodded and Mace stepped out of the helicopter.
He helped Price out of the back and turned to address the men.
"This is out biggest challenge as the Unified Intelligence Taskforce so far, but we shall prevail, we shall always prevail. If not for ourselves but for our country, our world. Our home."
It wasn't quite a rally of applause but it was enough to encourage a few people to look up and smile slightly.
"Go to your battle stations, everyone, we'll have more chance if we're organised."
The deck started to clear, soldiers glad to have been given orders.
Mace looked up and saw that Snow was circling above, he saluted and saw the solitary figure salute back.
There were a handful of people on deck when he looked back.
"Sir?"
A female sergeant with her hair up in a messy bun stepped forward.
"Sergeant Thomas?"
"Do I have permission to set up the Valiant's weapon systems?"
"For all the good it will do us, yes Thomas."
"Thank you sir."
A huddle of the remaining people hurried off to set up the weaponry.
"Colonel?"
"Mace?"
"Alexander?"
He turned with a start.
"I'm sorry, I was miles away, thinking. You know."
"It's fine really, it was just that I was going to say that I'm going down to communications, to see what I can do to help. Is there anything that you want before I go?"
He smiled, sadly, knowing that it was, possibly, the last time that he would see her again.
He kissed her.
He didn't think about it, or consciously decide to do it. He just lent in and kissed her.
Presently surprised by his actions, Marian smiled into the kiss.
"I will see you later, I swear."
Marian didn't reply.
She kissed his cheek quickly and gave him an uneasy salute.
He reciprocated.
"Good luck."
"And you Sir."
She turned on her heel, a soldier one again.
He wanted to call out to her but she'd ready gone, headed below deck.
And he had a job to do.
He was broken would of his reprieve by a young private.
"Sir?"
He nodded and she carried on.
"Daleks in sector 16 Sir, with their average travelling speed we'll never ser up laser armoury 3 in time. All efforts are being taken to enhance armouries 1,2, and 4 Sir."
He nodded and waved the young woman away.
He looked up.
There as something in the sky. A darker swarm in the already black sky.
It was getting closer. And denser.
He opened comm. links to all stations.
"Trap One to all stations. Enemy sighted and advancing. RADAR team, send details of approaching, to call stations. Communications, open contact with all UNIT stations worldwide, we need all the help we can get. Ad inform Torchwood to our position, its to them who we'll throw our torch too. Good luck."
"And you, Alexander."
He tried to reply, but the lump in his throat was too large. And he switched off his comm.
He headed to the bridge.
"Sir." He was saluted by the bridge staff. He repeated the action and then turned to them.
"What's the report?"
"Sir Alistair's base has been hit."
"Casualties?"
"Over 100, but Alistair's still alive."
"Otherwise down there?"
"Only military bases have been attacked, UNIT, Geneva and D155 are all at a disadvantage. So far Torchwood's been unaffected, as to our knowledge."
"At least there's that."
The radio crackled.
"EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE."
They stood in silence.
"EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE."
With the screeching of their enemy in their ears.
"Can someone shut that racket up?"
A junior officer all but fell into the controls.
"Can't Sir, they've jammed it."
"Switch off the outboard comm. then, they don't need to hear that. They'll know it soon enough."
The young lieutenant did as he was ordered.
The heart stopping shrieking was still in the room.
"Weapon's primed?"
There were nods.
" Call your men, officers, we're at war."
They ruined and there was a chirping from Mace's shoulder.
"Trap One."
"Greyhound 360, enemy target, landing in approximately 30 seconds."
"Trap one received."
"Greyhound 360 over and ahhhh…"
Mace looked at his fellow officers.
"They've had first blood. Shall we hide? Or shall we fight?"
The young officer who had so readily turned the sounds off was first at the door.
Only to be penned in by the daleks falling out of the sky.
"EX-TER-MIN-ATE"
This body spasmed and then lay still.
Mace heard laser shots.
The Valiant was fighting back. And then there was a Dalek in front of him.
In the place where Major Bullen's had been standing previously.
He was trapped in the bridge and the sky was full of Daleks.
He was going to die.
But he'd take out at least one of the bastards with him.
And then there was a crash of glass.
He didn't need to look behind to know what was there. But he did.
Three Daleks. Cold, Cruel And Evil.
Guns aimed at his back.
He turned away and aimed his gun at the Dalek in front. He pulled the trigger as the first syllable of the deadly word was emitted.
'Our last words shouldn't have been orders'
And his body fell to the floor, empty of all inhabitance.
In one of the bulk head communication rooms Captain Price was unaware of her lover's death.
She was trying to get into safe contact with Torchwood. She was alone with the other members of her team, having been requisitioned to fight the Daleks.
She felt the ship shake.
Whatever was happening was not good.
As soon as her messaged was sent she would join the fight.
She pulled the headset on again and tapped the microphone.
"Mega-Band 7, Torchwood, come in Torchwood…"
The ship shook again and she smelt smoke.
She knocked her headphones off and looked around the room. The fire wasn't there. She stood up and tried the door.
It was locked. And there was a fire outside.
And it smelt of fuel.
She grabbed the headphones again. She's make contact, they had been her last orders. And she'd do it before she died.
And she knew that she'd die in that room.
"Sub-Wave-Hertz 5, Torchwood, Torchwood, report in. This is the Valiant."
She cursed.
Smoke was curling under the door.
She coughed.
Rubbing her head in frustration she took a deep breath. And then choked.
The room was filling up quickly.
"Mega-Hertz 9, Torchwood. This is Valiant. Do you read me?"
There was silence as smoke flew around the cabin in wafts and Marian's hacking coughs filled the room.
"Valiant? This is Torchwood."
Marian could have laughed.
"Captain Harkness?"
"Yes, what's the situation up there?"
"Bad-" She broke off coughing.
"Ma'am?"
"There's a fire in the fuel tanks, I'm locked in communications. The smokes filling in quickly, the doors are locked."
"You know there's nothing I can do."
"Yes."
"How long do you think you have?"
"Ten minutes maximum."
"Okay. What's your name?"
"Captain Marian Price."
There was a smile in Harkness' voice as he next spoke.
"Colonel Mace's bird?"
She smiled though the tears on her face.
"Yes."
"He always was a lucky sod."
She laughed, probably for the last time. Her laugh turned into choking coughs.
"Marian?"
She gasped for the rapidly depleting air.
"Still here Captain."
"Good."
"Captain…" she wheezed,
"Can you…" she coughed again.
"Safe the world for me?"
Her voice was little above a whisper.
She rasped and wheezed and switched off the communication desk.
She held both hands to her mouth and tried to breath with more ease.
It failed and her vision started to go blurred.
Oxygen deviancy.
She wouldn't die like this.
She reached down for her gun, it took several attempts to grab it but before she could turn it on herself, her eyes rolled up into her head and she fell unconscious.
And the fire started licking under the iron doorframe.
Poisonous fumes emitting from the smouldering communication desk.
And even unconscious the poison and the carbon monoxide worked it's way into her throat and lungs. Her body fell forward and the communication desk exploded.
The Valiant's Down
Character: New Who UNIT, Jack Harkness Cameo
Pairing: Mace/Price
Rating: PG-15, Violence, Character Death, Daleks.
Spoilers: The Stolen Earth/Journey's End.
Disclaimer: Doctor Who, UNIT, Torchwood and any other part of the Whoniverse is not mine. It all belongs to the BBC.
A/N: I've been promicing this fic to my friend since the end of the last series of Doctor Who. So it's partly an IOU being repaid, partly a birthday fic and well just a depressing bucketful of angst to write. Enjoy!
Summary: The Valiant has always been a hot house of destruction and fear. It started with, the death of Saxon and ended with the death of hundreds. This is the story of the Valiant's last stand...
"It all looks so normal doesn't it?"
Mace turned to Captain Price and gestured for her to continue.
"It's like every other trip to the Valiant we've done before. UNIT helicopter, its even Corporal Snow flying us there."
Mace nodded sadly, looking down at his hands.
They sat in uncomfortable silence for a moment.
"It's not though, is it? We won't be flying home again will we?"
He just looked at her. Emotions playing across his face. His headset crackled before he could answer.
"Colonel Mace receiving."
"Mace? It's General Sanchez here, do you read me?"
"Yes sir."
"Mace, this is serious, too big for us to face alone. I'm going to try and get the Doctor on side."
"Yes sir."
"Where are you?"
"We're heading towards the Valiant. Start the offensive from there."
"It'll be the first place that they'll attack, you know."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes sir."
"You're a brave man Colonel."
"Thank you sir."
"Kiss your wife before you go, it's the one thing I wish I'd done."
He didn't bother to mention that she wasn't his wife yet, and it was unlikely that she ever would be. Not now.
"She's here with me sir."
"Tell her I wish you luck, both of you."
"Yes sir."
"And Mace. I'm releasing the Osterhagen key, do so at your end."
"Of course sir."
"Ending Transmission."
Mace sighed and turned to Marian.
She took hold of his hand silently.
"We're using the Osterhagen Key."
Marian closed her eyes and squeezed his hand tighter.
Her headset crackled, breaking the silence. She reached up and turned it off.
"That could have been important."
Mace said, without much care in his voice.
"It hardly matters now does it? I've told my brother that I'll miss him. What else is needed down there?"
They lent against each other in silence, their heads resting against the others and their hands entwined.
"Colonel, Captain?" Snow's voice came over the comm. system, "We'll be at the Valiant in five."
"Thank you Snow."
"Just doing my job sir."
And then there was just the noise of the rotor blades as they approached their final landing spot.
Their hands were still clasped together as they first caught sight of the Valiant.
She ways flying over British water, approaching the Thames Estuary, and thus was under Mace's supervision.
There were other nationalities on board but she was fully in British hands.
The helicopter descended into chaos, soldiers and staff were attempting to find means of defending themselves.
Before they left the helicopter Mace stood, removed his headset and took something from his pocket.
"Corporal Snow, by the power invested in my by the Unified Intelligence Taskforce I hereby issue you with the Osterhagen Key to be used at your own digression."
"Yes Sir."
"Good luck Snow."
He nodded and Mace stepped out of the helicopter.
He helped Price out of the back and turned to address the men.
"This is out biggest challenge as the Unified Intelligence Taskforce so far, but we shall prevail, we shall always prevail. If not for ourselves but for our country, our world. Our home."
It wasn't quite a rally of applause but it was enough to encourage a few people to look up and smile slightly.
"Go to your battle stations, everyone, we'll have more chance if we're organised."
The deck started to clear, soldiers glad to have been given orders.
Mace looked up and saw that Snow was circling above, he saluted and saw the solitary figure salute back.
There were a handful of people on deck when he looked back.
"Sir?"
A female sergeant with her hair up in a messy bun stepped forward.
"Sergeant Thomas?"
"Do I have permission to set up the Valiant's weapon systems?"
"For all the good it will do us, yes Thomas."
"Thank you sir."
A huddle of the remaining people hurried off to set up the weaponry.
"Colonel?"
"Mace?"
"Alexander?"
He turned with a start.
"I'm sorry, I was miles away, thinking. You know."
"It's fine really, it was just that I was going to say that I'm going down to communications, to see what I can do to help. Is there anything that you want before I go?"
He smiled, sadly, knowing that it was, possibly, the last time that he would see her again.
He kissed her.
He didn't think about it, or consciously decide to do it. He just lent in and kissed her.
Presently surprised by his actions, Marian smiled into the kiss.
"I will see you later, I swear."
Marian didn't reply.
She kissed his cheek quickly and gave him an uneasy salute.
He reciprocated.
"Good luck."
"And you Sir."
She turned on her heel, a soldier one again.
He wanted to call out to her but she'd ready gone, headed below deck.
And he had a job to do.
He was broken would of his reprieve by a young private.
"Sir?"
He nodded and she carried on.
"Daleks in sector 16 Sir, with their average travelling speed we'll never ser up laser armoury 3 in time. All efforts are being taken to enhance armouries 1,2, and 4 Sir."
He nodded and waved the young woman away.
He looked up.
There as something in the sky. A darker swarm in the already black sky.
It was getting closer. And denser.
He opened comm. links to all stations.
"Trap One to all stations. Enemy sighted and advancing. RADAR team, send details of approaching, to call stations. Communications, open contact with all UNIT stations worldwide, we need all the help we can get. Ad inform Torchwood to our position, its to them who we'll throw our torch too. Good luck."
"And you, Alexander."
He tried to reply, but the lump in his throat was too large. And he switched off his comm.
He headed to the bridge.
"Sir." He was saluted by the bridge staff. He repeated the action and then turned to them.
"What's the report?"
"Sir Alistair's base has been hit."
"Casualties?"
"Over 100, but Alistair's still alive."
"Otherwise down there?"
"Only military bases have been attacked, UNIT, Geneva and D155 are all at a disadvantage. So far Torchwood's been unaffected, as to our knowledge."
"At least there's that."
The radio crackled.
"EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE."
They stood in silence.
"EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE, EX-TER-MIN-ATE."
With the screeching of their enemy in their ears.
"Can someone shut that racket up?"
A junior officer all but fell into the controls.
"Can't Sir, they've jammed it."
"Switch off the outboard comm. then, they don't need to hear that. They'll know it soon enough."
The young lieutenant did as he was ordered.
The heart stopping shrieking was still in the room.
"Weapon's primed?"
There were nods.
" Call your men, officers, we're at war."
They ruined and there was a chirping from Mace's shoulder.
"Trap One."
"Greyhound 360, enemy target, landing in approximately 30 seconds."
"Trap one received."
"Greyhound 360 over and ahhhh…"
Mace looked at his fellow officers.
"They've had first blood. Shall we hide? Or shall we fight?"
The young officer who had so readily turned the sounds off was first at the door.
Only to be penned in by the daleks falling out of the sky.
"EX-TER-MIN-ATE"
This body spasmed and then lay still.
Mace heard laser shots.
The Valiant was fighting back. And then there was a Dalek in front of him.
In the place where Major Bullen's had been standing previously.
He was trapped in the bridge and the sky was full of Daleks.
He was going to die.
But he'd take out at least one of the bastards with him.
And then there was a crash of glass.
He didn't need to look behind to know what was there. But he did.
Three Daleks. Cold, Cruel And Evil.
Guns aimed at his back.
He turned away and aimed his gun at the Dalek in front. He pulled the trigger as the first syllable of the deadly word was emitted.
'Our last words shouldn't have been orders'
And his body fell to the floor, empty of all inhabitance.
In one of the bulk head communication rooms Captain Price was unaware of her lover's death.
She was trying to get into safe contact with Torchwood. She was alone with the other members of her team, having been requisitioned to fight the Daleks.
She felt the ship shake.
Whatever was happening was not good.
As soon as her messaged was sent she would join the fight.
She pulled the headset on again and tapped the microphone.
"Mega-Band 7, Torchwood, come in Torchwood…"
The ship shook again and she smelt smoke.
She knocked her headphones off and looked around the room. The fire wasn't there. She stood up and tried the door.
It was locked. And there was a fire outside.
And it smelt of fuel.
She grabbed the headphones again. She's make contact, they had been her last orders. And she'd do it before she died.
And she knew that she'd die in that room.
"Sub-Wave-Hertz 5, Torchwood, Torchwood, report in. This is the Valiant."
She cursed.
Smoke was curling under the door.
She coughed.
Rubbing her head in frustration she took a deep breath. And then choked.
The room was filling up quickly.
"Mega-Hertz 9, Torchwood. This is Valiant. Do you read me?"
There was silence as smoke flew around the cabin in wafts and Marian's hacking coughs filled the room.
"Valiant? This is Torchwood."
Marian could have laughed.
"Captain Harkness?"
"Yes, what's the situation up there?"
"Bad-" She broke off coughing.
"Ma'am?"
"There's a fire in the fuel tanks, I'm locked in communications. The smokes filling in quickly, the doors are locked."
"You know there's nothing I can do."
"Yes."
"How long do you think you have?"
"Ten minutes maximum."
"Okay. What's your name?"
"Captain Marian Price."
There was a smile in Harkness' voice as he next spoke.
"Colonel Mace's bird?"
She smiled though the tears on her face.
"Yes."
"He always was a lucky sod."
She laughed, probably for the last time. Her laugh turned into choking coughs.
"Marian?"
She gasped for the rapidly depleting air.
"Still here Captain."
"Good."
"Captain…" she wheezed,
"Can you…" she coughed again.
"Safe the world for me?"
Her voice was little above a whisper.
She rasped and wheezed and switched off the communication desk.
She held both hands to her mouth and tried to breath with more ease.
It failed and her vision started to go blurred.
Oxygen deviancy.
She wouldn't die like this.
She reached down for her gun, it took several attempts to grab it but before she could turn it on herself, her eyes rolled up into her head and she fell unconscious.
And the fire started licking under the iron doorframe.
Poisonous fumes emitting from the smouldering communication desk.
And even unconscious the poison and the carbon monoxide worked it's way into her throat and lungs. Her body fell forward and the communication desk exploded.
The Valiant's Down