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{{you may|Taren Capel (audio story)|n1=the audio story}}
{{Infobox Individual
{{Infobox Individual
|individual name= Taren Capel
|main alias       = Dask
|alias=Dask
|image             = TarenCapel.jpg
|image=
|species          = Human
|race= [[Human]]
|job              = Scientist
|home planet=
|affiliation      =
|home era=
|origin            = Kaldor
|appearances= [[DW]]: ''[[The Robots of Death]]''
|first            = The Robots of Death (TV story)
|actor=[[David Bailie]]
|appearances       = {{Il|[[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Taren Capel (audio story)}}|[[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Checkmate (audio story)}}}}
|main actor       = David Bailie
}}
}}
'''Taren Capel''' was a scientist who had spent almost his entirely life around [[robot]]s, being practically raised by them. He identified with robots more than people, and came to believe that robots should rule over humans. He intended to lead a robot revolution, starting with the crew of the [[Sandminer]], where he posed as chief fixer engineer '''Dask''' and reprogrammed the robots to kill the Human crew. [[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] defeated him by releasing helium into the atmosphere, changing his voice so that [[SV7]] did not recognise him and killed him.
'''Taren Capel''' was a [[scientist]] who tried to instigate a [[robot revolution]] on [[Kaldor]] in the late [[29th century]].


{{character stub}}
== Biography ==
Capel spent almost his entire life around [[Kaldor android|robots]], being practically raised by them. As a result, he identified with them more than he did with [[human]]s and came to believe that robots should rule over them. He intended to lead a robot revolution, dressing himself and painting his face to resemble his robot "brothers".


[[Category:Human Cyberneticists|Capel, Taren]]
Posing as chief engineer Dask, Capel joined the crew of ''[[Storm Mine Four|Storm Mine 4]]'' and reprogrammed the [[sandminer]]'s robot crew to kill the humans aboard, at first individually and secretly. Eventually, he ordered them to massacre the survivors, as well as the [[Fourth Doctor]] and [[Leela]] who had recently come aboard. The Doctor drew Capel into a room and had Leela release [[helium]] whilst she was concealed from view. Not recognising his voice, [[SV7]] throttled him to death, repeating the command given to him to kill all the humans. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Robots of Death (TV story)}})
 
As was eventually discovered, Capel's plan also had a second phase that was activated after his death. It concerned the transmission of a specially-designed program to modify the robots' basic operational software in order to turn them into murderers. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Taren Capel (audio story)}}) He became idolised by a cult called the [[Tarenist]]s, who were used by the [[Fendahl]] which pretended to be a resurrected Capel. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Hidden Persuaders (audio story)}}, {{cs|Checkmate (audio story)}})
 
== Personality ==
Capel considered himself to be a "superior being" to humans, after his upbringing solely by robots. He considered the robots his brothers and sisters, emphasising with them, and Capel believed that they should rule over humans. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Robots of Death (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who and the Robots of Death (novelisation)}})
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* Capel's name is a reference to the science fiction author {{w|Karel Čapek}}, who wrote the play {{wi|R.U.R.}}.{{Fact}} The story follows a robot rebellion and the downfall of the human race. The word "robot" was introduced into English through its use by Čapek.<ref>https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/origin-word-robot-rur/</ref>
* It is never explained in ''The Robots of Death'' what became of the real Dask — if there ever was one.
 
== Footnotes ==
=== References ===
{{reflist}}
 
{{NameSort}}
 
[[Category:Human revolutionaries]]
[[Category:Human imposters]]
[[Category:Human engineers]]
[[Category:Human cyberneticists]]
[[Category:Human murderers]]
[[Category:29th century individuals]]
[[Category:Residents of Kaldor]]

Latest revision as of 06:48, 1 October 2024

You may be looking for the audio story.

Taren Capel was a scientist who tried to instigate a robot revolution on Kaldor in the late 29th century.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Capel spent almost his entire life around robots, being practically raised by them. As a result, he identified with them more than he did with humans and came to believe that robots should rule over them. He intended to lead a robot revolution, dressing himself and painting his face to resemble his robot "brothers".

Posing as chief engineer Dask, Capel joined the crew of Storm Mine 4 and reprogrammed the sandminer's robot crew to kill the humans aboard, at first individually and secretly. Eventually, he ordered them to massacre the survivors, as well as the Fourth Doctor and Leela who had recently come aboard. The Doctor drew Capel into a room and had Leela release helium whilst she was concealed from view. Not recognising his voice, SV7 throttled him to death, repeating the command given to him to kill all the humans. (TV: The Robots of Death [+]Loading...["The Robots of Death (TV story)"])

As was eventually discovered, Capel's plan also had a second phase that was activated after his death. It concerned the transmission of a specially-designed program to modify the robots' basic operational software in order to turn them into murderers. (AUDIO: Taren Capel [+]Loading...["Taren Capel (audio story)"]) He became idolised by a cult called the Tarenists, who were used by the Fendahl which pretended to be a resurrected Capel. (AUDIO: Hidden Persuaders [+]Loading...["Hidden Persuaders (audio story)"], Checkmate [+]Loading...["Checkmate (audio story)"])

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

Capel considered himself to be a "superior being" to humans, after his upbringing solely by robots. He considered the robots his brothers and sisters, emphasising with them, and Capel believed that they should rule over humans. (TV: The Robots of Death [+]Loading...["The Robots of Death (TV story)"], PROSE: Doctor Who and the Robots of Death [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Robots of Death (novelisation)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Capel's name is a reference to the science fiction author Karel Čapek, who wrote the play R.U.R..[source needed] The story follows a robot rebellion and the downfall of the human race. The word "robot" was introduced into English through its use by Čapek.[1]
  • It is never explained in The Robots of Death what became of the real Dask — if there ever was one.

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

References[[edit] | [edit source]]