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{{you may|Black Thursday (audio story)|n1=the Fifth Doctor audio story|Spearhead from Space (TV story)|n1=Spearhead from Space}}
{{you may|Black Thursday (audio story)|n1=the Fifth Doctor audio story|Spearhead from Space (TV story)|n2=Spearhead from Space}}
{{Infobox Conflict
{{Infobox Conflict
|aka              =
|aka              = Project Waxwork
|image            = Autons3.jpg
|image            = Autons3.jpg
|part of          = [[Exile on Earth]]
|part of          = [[Exile on Earth]]
Line 7: Line 7:
|result            = {{il|[[Human]] victory|Defeat of the [[Nestene Consciousness]]}}
|result            = {{il|[[Human]] victory|Defeat of the [[Nestene Consciousness]]}}
|side1            = [[Nestene Consciousness]]
|side1            = [[Nestene Consciousness]]
|side2            = [[Unified Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]]
|side2            = [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]]
|leader1          = [[Channing]], [[General]] [[Scobie (Auton)|Scobie Replica]]
|leader1          = [[Channing]], [[General]] [[Scobie (Auton)|Scobie Replica]]
|leader2          = [[Third Doctor]], [[Brigadier]] [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]
|leader2          = [[Third Doctor]], [[Brigadier]] [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]
|strength1        = [[Auton]]s
|strength1        = [[Auton]]s
|strength2        = [[Liz Shaw]], [[Unified Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]] forces
|strength2        = [[Liz Shaw]], [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]] forces
|first cs          = Spearhead from Space (TV story)
|appearances      = [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Who are the Autons? (feature)}}
}}
}}
In the latter half of the [[20th century]], for the first time, the [[Nestene Consciousness]] '''attempted to invade [[Earth]]'''. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}, etc.) Eventually, the [[invasion]] became known by several names: to [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]], the attack was publicly referred to as "'''Project Waxwork'''", ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|UNIT News (feature)}}) and to the [[British government]], it was referred to as "'''Black Thursday'''". The latter organisation created the cover story that the attack was instigated by [[terrorist]]s. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Who Killed Kennedy (novel)}})


'''"Black Thursday,"''' as it was later known, was declared by the [[British government]] as a major [[terrorist]] attack, however this was the cover story ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'') for the first attempted [[Alien invasion|invasion]] of [[Earth]] by the [[Nestene Consciousness]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'')
Due to [[UNIT dating controversy|many conflicting accounts and inconsistencies]], the attack was known to have happened on many dates. One account posited that the invasion occurred in [[October]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)}}) of potentially either [[1969]] ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Who Killed Kennedy (novel)}}) or [[1973]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Blood Heat (novel)}}) although another account placed the invasion on [[25 January]] [[1970]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|UNIT News (feature)}}) From [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]]'s perspective, it came either some [[month]]s following the [[Cyberman invasion of Earth (The Invasion)|Cyberman invasion]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Planet of the Spiders (TV story)}}) or two years after. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Face of the Enemy (novel)}})


Based on [[UNIT dating controversy|conflicting accounts and inconsistencies]], the invasion occurred in [[October]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion]]'') of either [[1969]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'') or [[1973]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Blood Heat (novel)|Blood Heat]]'')
== History ==
=== Build Up ===
Six months prior to the event, the Nestenes arrived on Earth in [[energy unit]]s mistaken for a shower of [[meteorite]]s. Co-ordinated by the Swarm Leader [[Channing]], [[Auto Plastics]] was taken over and manufactured [[Auton]]s, which were distributed across [[London]] and every major city in [[Britain]] disguised as shop-window [[mannequin]]s. Additionally, various government officials were replaced with Auton Replicas, including General [[Scobie]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}) and a Minister in [[Whitehall]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)}})


== Build Up ==
A minor skirmish broke out between [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]] and an Auton sent to recover the final energy unit, but Channing called the Auton off as it was too early for confrontation. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)}})
Six months prior to the event, the Nestenes arrived on Earth in [[energy unit]]s mistaken for a shower of [[meteorite]]s. Co-ordinated by the Swarm Leader [[Channing]], [[Auto Plastics]] was taken over and manufactured [[Auton]]s, which were distributed across [[London]] and every major city in [[Britain]] disguised as shop-window [[mannequin]]s. Additionally, various government officials were replaced with Auton Replicas, including General [[Scobie]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'') and a Minister in [[Whitehall]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion]]'')


A minor skirmish broke out between [[UNIT]] and an Auton sent to recover the final energy unit, but Channing called the Auton off as it was too early for confrontation. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion]]'')  
=== Day of Activation ===
At dawn on "Black Thursday," the Autons were activated and broke out of their shop window displays, entering the streets and gunning down bystanders. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}})


== Day of Activation ==
[[Police]] received thousands of calls, but their arms were powerless against the Autons. The Government declared [[martial law]] and called out the [[British Army|Army]], [[Royal Navy|Navy]], and [[Royal Air Force|Air Force]], but most available troops were absent on manoeuvres away from the big towns; recall orders either failed to arrive or were misinterpreted, troops told to stay put or sent to the wrong place, unable to get clear orders. Replicas were detected only after they had spread chaos and confusion everywhere. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)}})
At dawn on "Black Thursday," the Autons were activated and broke out of their shop window displays, entering the streets and gunning down bystanders. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'')


[[Police]] received thousands of calls, but their arms were powerless against the Autons. The Government declared [[martial law]] and called out the [[British Army|Army]], [[Royal Navy|Navy]], and [[Royal Air Force|Air Force]], but most available troops were absent on manoeuvres away from the big towns; recall orders either failed to arrive or were misinterpreted, troops told to stay put or sent to the wrong place, unable to get clear orders.  Replicas were detected only after they had spread chaos and confusion everywhere. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion]]'')
Power supplies were cut to much of Central London, with police stations and army barracks attacked. Radio and television networks were partially disabled; ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Who Killed Kennedy (novel)}}) [[BBC (in-universe)|BBC]] and [[ITV]] issued warnings to stay indoors, and commando squads of Autons began to attack communications centres, severing telephone exchanges, radio and TV transmitters, and underground power cables. With all communications silent, groups of soldiers, policemen, and Government officials became completely cut off from each other, desperately trying to make sense of the situation as they fought the Autons with [[bazooka]]s, [[trench-mortar]]s, and [[anti-tank gun]]s. Some tanks prowled the streets and shot down or crushed Autons in their path, and a group of quarrymen were able to destroy several Autons using blasting charges. [[UNIT HQ]] came under siege, with Brigadier [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]'s calls for help unanswered due to the panic and confusion. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)}})


Power supplies were cut to much of Central London, with police stations and army barracks attacked. Radio and television networks were partially disabled; ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'') [[BBC]] and [[ITV]] issued warnings to stay indoors, and commando squads of Autons began to attack communications centres, severing telephone exchanges, radio and TV transmitters, and underground power cables. With all communications silent, groups of soldiers, policemen, and Government officials became completely cut off from each other, desperately trying to make sense of the situation as they fought the Autons with [[bazooka]]s, [[trench-mortar]]s, and [[anti-tank gun]]s. Some tanks prowled the streets and shot down or crushed Autons in their path, and a group of quarrymen were able to destroy several Autons using blasting charges. [[UNIT HQ]] came under siege, with Brigadier [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart]]'s calls for help unanswered due to the panic and confusion. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion]]'')
In an assault on the [[Auto Plastics]] factory, the Brigadier led a firefight against defending Autons as the [[Third Doctor]] and [[Liz Shaw]] confronted Channing and the creature housing the [[Nestene Consciousness]] in its [[environment tank]]. Using a modified [[UHF transmitter]] that essentially worked the same as an [[ECT]] machine, the Doctor was able to fuse the creature and destroy it. Channing and every Auton across the country were deactivated and become inert. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}})


In an assault on the [[Auto Plastics]] factory, the Brigadier led a firefight against defending Autons as the [[Third Doctor]] and [[Liz Shaw]] confronted Channing and the creature housing the [[Nestene Consciousness]] in its [[environment tank]]. Using a modified [[UHF transmitter]] that essentially worked the same as an [[ECT]] machine, the Doctor was able to fuse the creature and destroy it. Channing and every Auton across the country were deactivated and become inert. ([[TV]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space (TV story)|Spearhead from Space]]'')
=== Aftermath and Legacy ===
The bodies of the Autons, some energy units, and the Doctor's UHF transmitter were collected by UNIT and placed in a storage facility under the code "AAA/RH/2961." ([[HOMEVID]]: {{cs|Auton (home video)}}) Having felt under-prepared, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart ordered that soldiers were to be issued [[grenade]]s, which aided them in repelling the [[Second Nestene invasion of Earth]] that followed in early [[summer]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Terror of the Autons (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons (novelisation)}})


== Aftermath and Legacy ==
Dozens of London citizens were killed or injured in what the [[British government]] stated to be a series of dawn raids by [[terrorist]]s across Southern England, the perpetrators operating through lightning-fast attacks. Because of the sweeping nature of the raids and the blackout of all communications, only very sketchy details were available. Headlines of the event included "BLACK THURSDAY BRINGS MASS HYSTERIA," and reports of shop window dummies killing people were dismissed as part of a group hallucination brought about by stress. Authorities quietly leaked that the [[Irish Republican Army]] might be responsible. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Who Killed Kennedy (novel)}})
The bodies of the Autons, some energy units, and the Doctor's UHF transmitter were collected by UNIT and placed in a storage facility under the code "AAA/RH/2961." ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Auton (home video)|Auton]]'') Having felt under-prepared, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart ordered that soldiers were to be issued [[grenade]]s, which aided them in repelling the [[Second Nestene invasion of Earth]] that followed in early [[Summer]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Terror of the Autons (TV story)|Terror of the Autons]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons]]'')


Dozens of London citizens were killed or injured in what the [[British government]] stated to be a series of dawn raids by [[terrorist]]s across Southern England, the perpetrators operating through lightning-fast attacks. Because of the sweeping nature of the raids and the blackout of all communications, only very sketchy details were available. Headlines of the event included "BLACK THURSDAY BRINGS MASS HYSTERIA," and reports of shop window dummies killing people were dismissed as part of a group hallucination brought about by stress. Authorities quietly leaked that the [[Irish Republican Army]] might be responsible. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Who Killed Kennedy (novel)|Who Killed Kennedy]]'')
As recorded by [[Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart]], the Doctor's [[exile on Earth]] lasted for five straight years, ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Transit (novel)}}) ending with the [[First Omega Crisis]]. During this event, the Brigadier met the Second Doctor again and recounted that he had [[regenerated|changed]] just before the "trouble with the Autons", only for the younger Doctor to explain that that had not happened for him yet. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Three Doctors (TV story)}})


[[2005 Nestene invasion of Earth|A later Nestene invasion]] ([[TV]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]'') occurred on [[5 March]] [[2005]], and was covered up in the same way. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[One Rule (audio story)|One Rule]]'')
[[35 (number)|Thirty-five]] years later, on [[25 January]] [[2005]], the anniversary of UNIT's involvement was commemorated with a [[memorial service]] at [[UNIT HQ]], attended by over [[50 (number)|fifty]] members accompanied by their [[family]] members, and [[£]][[568 (number)|568]] was raised, and was donated to the [[Veteran Serviceman's Union]]. This was reported on the [[UNIT website]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|UNIT News (feature)}})


== Behind the Scenes ==
Though they would go on to be involved in the [[Last Great Time War]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Decoy (short story)}}) the [[Nestene Consciousness]] would abandon its warlike ways and develop a [[rapport]] with the [[Embodiment of Gris]] on [[Nestenia]] only to be caught in the edge of the Time War, which ruined the planet. From "an old campaign", the Nestene recognised the planet Earth among those which had been duplicated and used as weapons against it. Reeling from its wounds, the Nestene deliberately chose that "ridiculous" planet as a target for [[2005 Nestene invasion of Earth|invasion]] to compensate for the loss of its [[protein planet]]s. The Nestene barely survived its confrontation with the [[Ninth Doctor]] and [[Rose Tyler]] ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Revenge of the Nestene (short story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|Rose (TV story)}}) on [[5 March]] [[2005]]. Incidentally, this invasion would covered up in the same way, having been blamed on terrorists, as the first Nestene incursion. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|One Rule (audio story)}})
=== Information from invalid sources ===
One name for the Auton invasion on [[25 January]] [[1970]] was "Project Waxwork". [[35 (number)|Thirty-five]] years later, to the day, the anniversary of UNIT's involvement was commemorated with a [[memorial service]] at [[UNIT HQ]], attended by over [[50 (number)|fifty]] members accompanied by their [[family]] members, and [[£]][[568 (number)|568]] was raised, and was donated to the [[Veteran Serviceman's Union]]. This was reported on on the [[UNIT website]]. ([[NOTVALID]]: ''[[UNIT News (feature)|UNIT News]]'')


[[Category:British government]]
[[Category:British government]]
[[Category:20th century Earth history]]
[[Category:20th century Earth history]]
[[Category:20th century Earth-based conflicts]]
[[Category:20th century Earth-based conflicts]]
[[Category:Conflicts involving the Doctor]]
[[Category:Conflicts involving the Third Doctor]]
[[Category:Exile on Earth]]
[[Category:Exile on Earth]]
[[Category:Earth incidents documented by UNIT]]
[[Category:Nestene conflicts]]
[[Category:UNIT conflicts]]

Latest revision as of 20:10, 24 June 2024

You may be looking for the Fifth Doctor audio story or Spearhead from Space.

In the latter half of the 20th century, for the first time, the Nestene Consciousness attempted to invade Earth. (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"], etc.) Eventually, the invasion became known by several names: to UNIT, the attack was publicly referred to as "Project Waxwork", (PROSE: UNIT News [+]Loading...["UNIT News (feature)"]) and to the British government, it was referred to as "Black Thursday". The latter organisation created the cover story that the attack was instigated by terrorists. (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy [+]Loading...["Who Killed Kennedy (novel)"])

Due to many conflicting accounts and inconsistencies, the attack was known to have happened on many dates. One account posited that the invasion occurred in October, (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)"]) of potentially either 1969 (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy [+]Loading...["Who Killed Kennedy (novel)"]) or 1973, (PROSE: Blood Heat [+]Loading...["Blood Heat (novel)"]) although another account placed the invasion on 25 January 1970. (PROSE: UNIT News [+]Loading...["UNIT News (feature)"]) From the Brigadier's perspective, it came either some months following the Cyberman invasion (TV: Planet of the Spiders [+]Loading...["Planet of the Spiders (TV story)"]) or two years after. (PROSE: The Face of the Enemy [+]Loading...["The Face of the Enemy (novel)"])

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Build Up[[edit] | [edit source]]

Six months prior to the event, the Nestenes arrived on Earth in energy units mistaken for a shower of meteorites. Co-ordinated by the Swarm Leader Channing, Auto Plastics was taken over and manufactured Autons, which were distributed across London and every major city in Britain disguised as shop-window mannequins. Additionally, various government officials were replaced with Auton Replicas, including General Scobie (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"]) and a Minister in Whitehall. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)"])

A minor skirmish broke out between UNIT and an Auton sent to recover the final energy unit, but Channing called the Auton off as it was too early for confrontation. (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"], PROSE: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)"])

Day of Activation[[edit] | [edit source]]

At dawn on "Black Thursday," the Autons were activated and broke out of their shop window displays, entering the streets and gunning down bystanders. (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"])

Police received thousands of calls, but their arms were powerless against the Autons. The Government declared martial law and called out the Army, Navy, and Air Force, but most available troops were absent on manoeuvres away from the big towns; recall orders either failed to arrive or were misinterpreted, troops told to stay put or sent to the wrong place, unable to get clear orders. Replicas were detected only after they had spread chaos and confusion everywhere. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)"])

Power supplies were cut to much of Central London, with police stations and army barracks attacked. Radio and television networks were partially disabled; (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy [+]Loading...["Who Killed Kennedy (novel)"]) BBC and ITV issued warnings to stay indoors, and commando squads of Autons began to attack communications centres, severing telephone exchanges, radio and TV transmitters, and underground power cables. With all communications silent, groups of soldiers, policemen, and Government officials became completely cut off from each other, desperately trying to make sense of the situation as they fought the Autons with bazookas, trench-mortars, and anti-tank guns. Some tanks prowled the streets and shot down or crushed Autons in their path, and a group of quarrymen were able to destroy several Autons using blasting charges. UNIT HQ came under siege, with Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart's calls for help unanswered due to the panic and confusion. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion (novelisation)"])

In an assault on the Auto Plastics factory, the Brigadier led a firefight against defending Autons as the Third Doctor and Liz Shaw confronted Channing and the creature housing the Nestene Consciousness in its environment tank. Using a modified UHF transmitter that essentially worked the same as an ECT machine, the Doctor was able to fuse the creature and destroy it. Channing and every Auton across the country were deactivated and become inert. (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"])

Aftermath and Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

The bodies of the Autons, some energy units, and the Doctor's UHF transmitter were collected by UNIT and placed in a storage facility under the code "AAA/RH/2961." (HOMEVID: Auton [+]Loading...["Auton (home video)"]) Having felt under-prepared, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart ordered that soldiers were to be issued grenades, which aided them in repelling the Second Nestene invasion of Earth that followed in early summer. (TV: Terror of the Autons [+]Loading...["Terror of the Autons (TV story)"], PROSE: Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons (novelisation)"])

Dozens of London citizens were killed or injured in what the British government stated to be a series of dawn raids by terrorists across Southern England, the perpetrators operating through lightning-fast attacks. Because of the sweeping nature of the raids and the blackout of all communications, only very sketchy details were available. Headlines of the event included "BLACK THURSDAY BRINGS MASS HYSTERIA," and reports of shop window dummies killing people were dismissed as part of a group hallucination brought about by stress. Authorities quietly leaked that the Irish Republican Army might be responsible. (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy [+]Loading...["Who Killed Kennedy (novel)"])

As recorded by Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart, the Doctor's exile on Earth lasted for five straight years, (PROSE: Transit [+]Loading...["Transit (novel)"]) ending with the First Omega Crisis. During this event, the Brigadier met the Second Doctor again and recounted that he had changed just before the "trouble with the Autons", only for the younger Doctor to explain that that had not happened for him yet. (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TV story)"])

Thirty-five years later, on 25 January 2005, the anniversary of UNIT's involvement was commemorated with a memorial service at UNIT HQ, attended by over fifty members accompanied by their family members, and £568 was raised, and was donated to the Veteran Serviceman's Union. This was reported on the UNIT website. (PROSE: UNIT News [+]Loading...["UNIT News (feature)"])

Though they would go on to be involved in the Last Great Time War, (PROSE: Decoy [+]Loading...["Decoy (short story)"]) the Nestene Consciousness would abandon its warlike ways and develop a rapport with the Embodiment of Gris on Nestenia only to be caught in the edge of the Time War, which ruined the planet. From "an old campaign", the Nestene recognised the planet Earth among those which had been duplicated and used as weapons against it. Reeling from its wounds, the Nestene deliberately chose that "ridiculous" planet as a target for invasion to compensate for the loss of its protein planets. The Nestene barely survived its confrontation with the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler (PROSE: Revenge of the Nestene [+]Loading...["Revenge of the Nestene (short story)"], TV: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (TV story)"]) on 5 March 2005. Incidentally, this invasion would covered up in the same way, having been blamed on terrorists, as the first Nestene incursion. (AUDIO: One Rule [+]Loading...["One Rule (audio story)"])

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