The Wanderer: Lost Battlefield

The TARDIS materialized, although there was a distinct sense of the time capsule having not actually landed anywhere. The Wanderer moved to the entrance, noting that the door was still of the sliding variety, and opened it. A vast field of stars stretched out in front of him, the view disturbed by the remains of a battle and the gentle spinning of the TARDIS, and he glanced at Veda when she appeared next to him.
"That's a Battle TARDIS isn't it? And that’s a hatch forming! It looks like the capsule itself is intact. The crew could be alive."
The Wanderer followed Veda's outstretched arm and his eyes widened when he noticed the partially obscured time capsule, the outer-most layer of its hull shaped to resemble a giant arrowhead, in the distance, what seemed to be great portions missing from the other vessel's superstructure.
"The ship must have sustained some major damage if they're still here. Protocol said to return to Gallifrey after each engagement."
Heading back to the console the Wanderer flicked a switch, turning in place as the console room walls seemed to disappear. Nearly two dozen dead Battle TARDISes could be seen, the ships scattered among the torn apart remnants of Dalek saucers, and countless pieces of debris floated around each wreck.
"We are going to investigate right?"
"Of course. It is a Time Lord vessel after all." The Wanderer descended into the console room's basement, glancing round at the box-filled storage area. "But first, oh dear TARDIS, I need an anchor."

A large cube of concrete, trailing a chain that connected it to the Wanderer's TARDIS, landed on the hull of the Battle TARDIS, sitting there for a moment before getting absorbed into the living metal. Slowly the two ships were drawn together until they were only meters apart and then both the Wanderer and Veda jumped across the gap, grabbing for the hull of the larger ship. They were wearing bulky enviro-suits of Human design and the Wanderer tried to contain his amusement listening to Veda struggle with the unfamiliar equipment.
"How do they get anything done in these?"
"With lots of training. But these were the only suits I have."
Swinging round to be on the same wall as the Battle TARDIS's exterior door the Wanderer hooked a hand around the frame, using his other to help Veda, and pushed on the door.

The console room was in the default style, although layers of dust coated virtually every surface and half of the wall panels had been removed to expose internal systems. The artificial gravity was still online, as was life support, and the Wanderer placed his helmet on the console as he started a diagnostic scan, Veda groaning as her entrance became undignified behind him. She stood as the Wanderer circled the console, glancing at the removed roundels lying on the deck.
"Find anything yet?"
"Access to the Vortex has been severed." The Wanderer glanced at the nearest door leading deeper into the Battle TARDIS interior. "The ship's been burning itself just to keep the environmental systems going."
Veda stepped over to the console, moving the Wanderer's helmet to the floor before studying the controls.
"And the crew?"
"They should still be here. But that wouldn't explain the state of the console room."
Slowly Veda pulled her energy wand from a pocket, holding it in a loose grip, and circled round the console.
"How big is the interior?"
"No more than perhaps a dozen rooms." The Wanderer began walking back towards the exterior door, scooping up his helmet and putting it on. "I'll head back to the TARDIS and do a scan of the exterior. Keep an eye on the diagnostic."

Getting back into the TARDIS the Wanderer moved to stand in front of the screen. An image of the Battle TARDIS appeared, the damaged sections represented by wireframe, and he carefully looked over the image, searching for anything unusual. He suspected a chronon loop, the Daleks had been using them since soon after the War started, and zoomed in on one particular wound, tapping a button to establish communications with Veda.
"I've scanned the Battle TARDIS and discovered something of importance. I'll talk more when I have more information."
"Understood. I'll just stay where I am then."
There was a nervousness in Veda's voice, not that the Wanderer blamed her, but he put it from mind as he began collecting the tools he thought he might need. Chronon loops typically disabled everything, not just access to the Vortex, but perhaps this was the effect of a prototype that never saw mass production.

The Wanderer threw himself at the Battle TARDIS, aiming for the specific wound he'd identified earlier. It had clearly been made by the impact of a Dalek missile, few weapons left such energy signatures, and the Time Lord blinked as the geiger counter built into his enviro-suit began ticking. He could feel the left-over radiation as he reached the wound, a ragged semi-circle cut into the triangular hull, and cast his gaze over it. The new type of chronon loop stuck out among the dead metal, the lights on the device pulsing as it blinded the Battle TARDIS to the Vortex, and the Wanderer pulled his p-mac out, pointing the handheld computer at the chronon loop. Streams of data scrolled across the screen and the Wanderer studied the information before swapping the p-mac for a multi-tool.

Veda paused in her pacing as the dust suddenly vanished from the console room, energy racing along the exposed cables in the walls.
"Wanderer? The Battle TARDIS seems to have woken up."
"I've disabled the Dalek tech that stranded her here. She's being powered by the Prime Eye again."
The Time Lady smiled and went to continue circling the console, only to pause again upon noticing the man standing in the doorway that led deeper into the interior.
"Hello?"
The man wore the uniform of the Chancellery Guard, as had Veda when she'd served, and he pulled a staser pistol from its holster, pointing it at Veda.
"Identify yourself! How did you get aboard this ship?"
Veda glanced at the staser and slowly began removing her enviro-suit helmet, crouching to put it on the deck before straightening.
"My name is Vedacastrodvar of the Cerulean Chapter of Gallifrey."
"A Time Lady?"
Another member of the crew, a woman hurriedly sealing up her jumpsuit, had appeared and Veda briefly glanced at her.
"That's right. I came here via TARDIS."
"Is the War over? Did we win? What happened to Gallifrey?"
The man unleashed a series of rapid-fire questions, his companion disappearing back through the door, and Veda half-turned when the man aimed his staser at something behind her, a smile on her face as the Wanderer climbed into the Battle TARDIS.

"What's going on here then?"
The Wanderer took off his helmet as he glanced between Veda and the Battle TARDIS operator, a hand near the pocket containing his energy wand.
"I found some of the crew."
The operator nervously chuckled, the Gallifreyan unsure of his place when confronted by two of the nobility, and happily stepped aside when another man came up behind him, the new arrival clad in an ornate version of the Chancellery Guard uniform.
"I am Jondracklex of the Prydonian Chapter. I command here."
The Wanderer bowed slightly and gestured at the revitalized console.
"I'm the Wanderer. I removed the Dalek Vortex Block from your ship."
Jondracklex quirked an eyebrow, looking directly at the Wanderer.
"The what?"
"The Vortex Block. A modified chronon loop that appears to cut the affected vessel off from the Vortex. Not even the energy from the Prime Eye could reach you."
Jondracklex walked over to the console, focusing on the readouts, before looking up.
"You have my thanks then Wanderer. I will ensure that your efforts are recorded."

The Wanderer and Veda watched the Battle TARDIS fade from view, on its way back to Gallifrey, and then the Time Lord turned to his companion.
"I apologize for leaving you alone."
Veda shrugged and turned towards the TARDIS console.
"The situation changed when I identified myself. Thank you though."