Urbankan

Urbankan
Biological type:	Humanoid/Android
Place of origin:	Urbanka
Notable individuals:	Monarch
Appearance:	Four to Doomsday

The Urbankans were a species native to Urbanka.

Biology

The Urbankans were green-skinned humanoids with lumpy features and clawed hands. They were bald with lumpy features and two bumps above their eyes. They could secrete a deadly poison out of glands on their necks that would compress organic matter. (TV: Four to Doomsday) One trillionth of a gram could reduce a humanoid to the size of a grain of salt. (PROSE: Four to Doomsday)

Technology

The Urbankans had very advanced technology, which the Fifth Doctor believed rivalled even that of the Time Lords. (PROSE: Four to Doomsday)

One of their most important developments was their android creations. These androids could be made in a variety of appearances, most commonly a human-like form. They also had a varying amount of computer chips, with the more intelligent androids having more chips then less intelligent ones. These androids were much tougher and stronger than organic life, though they were lighter and could be stopped when the computer chips were removed. The Urbankans also made use of monopticons, floating robots that could be used for surveillance. (TV: Four to Doomsday)

The Urbankans made use of both interferometers and gravitation crystal detectors in their research of faster-than-light travel. (PROSE: Four to Doomsday) They also had a single spaceship which was used to transport the survivors of Urbanka off the planet. (TV: Four to Doomsday)

Culture

The Minister of Persuasion stated that Urbankans had no comparable notion of a 'culture' to the many humans they had on their ship, considering such a notion only suited for primitive people.

The prehistory of Urbankans, before they mass converted themselves to androids, was denigrated as a period they called "flesh time", associating it as the period where organic beings could be most susceptible to viruses and diseases. Concepts from the flesh time, such as the notion of a soul, where considered blasphemous and offensive. They had no conception of love, the Minister of Enlightenment describing it merely as the "exchange of two fantasies". (TV: Four to Doomsday)

History

The Minister of Enlightenment and the Minister of Persuasion in human-like form. The Monarch is seated in the background. (TV: Four to Doomsday)

The Urbankans were slowly being converted into androids over 40,000 years and during this time, Monarch made four trips to Earth. Though the response was always hostile, the Urbankans were able to capture a few humans. These humans were also converted into androids and were allowed to stay. As well, the speed of the trip was increased each time as more and more improvements were made. Monarch planned to finally discover the secret to faster-than-light travel, whereby he would go back in time to meet God, which he believed would be himself.

Back on Urbanka, the planet was continuously mined for more raw materials for the androids. Eventually, by the 700s, the planet was uninhabitable, meaning all three billion Urbankans had to move. They decided to go back to Earth and strip mine it as well. Despite this, Monarch was stopped and the human androids decided to go their own way. (TV: Four to Doomsday)