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{{ImageLink}}
{{Infobox Species
{{Infobox Species
|image = Creet-toclafane.jpg
|image = Creet-toclafane.jpg
|name = Toclafane
|aka = The Spheres
|aka = The Spheres
|type = Spherical [[human]]-based [[cyborg]]s
|type = Spherical [[human]]-based [[cyborg]]s
|affiliation = {{Simm|c}}
|affiliation = [[Saxon Master]]
|origin = [[Utopia (Utopia)|Utopia]]
|origin = [[Utopia (Utopia)|Utopia]]
|first = The Sound of Drums (TV story)
|first = The Sound of Drums (TV story)
|appearances = [[TV]]: ''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Story of Martha]]'', ''[[TV]]: [[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]''
|appearances = '''''[[Toclafane - list of appearances|see list]]'''''
|individuals = [[Creet]]}}
|individuals = [[Creet]]
The '''Toclafane''' were the final evolution of the [[human]] race, [[cyborg]]s integrated into spherical, mechanical shells. The name "Toclafane" was given to them by {{Simm}}, after a [[fairy tale]] monster from [[Gallifrey]], the local equivalent of [[Earth|Earth's]] "[[Boogeyman]]."
|clip = Here Come The Drums! - Doctor Who - The Sound of Drums - BBC
}}{{you may|Toclafane (mythology)|n1=the eponymous Gallifreyan creature}}
"The '''Toclafane'''", originally a "[[Toclafane (mythology)|made-up name]] like [[the Bogeyman]]" from [[Time Lord]] [[fairy tale]]s, was the name given by the [[Saxon Master]] to the final evolved form of the [[human]] race when he presented them to [[21st century]] humans as an alien race. They were small, fleshy, disembodied head integrated into weaponised, mechanical, floating spheres at the [[end of the universe]].
 
The took them back in time to use as an army in his conquest of [[Earth]] in the [[2000s]],{{note|name="TNTNW"|According to the episode {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}, [[Martha Jones]]' present day during [[Series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 3]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' takes place over a six-day period, with {{Simm}} being elected three days after ''Smith and Jones'', and the [[Toclafane]] [[Toclafane invasion|invading Earth]] five days after ''Smith and Jones''. However, [[Aliens of London dating controversy|sources differ on which dates these stories are set]]. According to [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Paradox Moon (short story)|The Paradox Moon]]'', the Toclafane invasion happens on [[23 June]] [[2007]], placing the events of ''Smith and Jones'' on [[18 June]]. According to [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hysteria (audio story)|Hysteria]]'', ''Smith and Jones'' takes place in [[2008]], with a [[UNIT]] mission log in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Recruits (audio story)|Recruits]]'' referring to the recovery of moon rocks from [[Royal Hope Hospital]] in [[March]] 2008. A newspaper clipping in [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Secret Lives of Monsters (short story)|The Secret Lives of Monsters]]'' places ''Smith and Jones'' on a [[Sunday]] [[4 June]], thus placing the Toclafane invasion on [[Friday]] [[9 June]]. In the real world, these dates do not fall on a Sunday and Friday in either 2007 or 2008.}} and used a [[paradox machine]] to allow them to exist while killing their human ancestors. They were trapped at the end of time when [[Captain Jack Harkness]] destroyed it.


== Biology ==
== Biology ==
The Toclafane were cyborgs; the heads of humans integrated into dark-grey metal spheres, complete with life-support syringes stuck in their heads. The spheres were very little over a foot tall and were sealed shut. They became a [[hive mind]], allowing them to see the destruction of an individual as no threat. Their personality was amoral and childlike from a failed attempt to regress themselves to children. It is unknown how this process was done.
The Toclafane were cyborgs used as the Master's brawn and muscle when taking over Earth. They were the heads of humans from the year 100 trillion integrated into a dark-grey sphere-shaped metallic shell, held together with a magnetic clamp. The humans had wiring plugged into their wizened heads. The spheres were very little over a foot tall and were sealed shut. They became a [[hive mind]], allowing them to see the destruction of an individual as no threat. Their personality was amoral and childlike from a failed attempt to regress themselves to children; instead having rather primitive emotional traits and an enjoyment in killing their great ancestors because "it's fun". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}})


The spheres were capable of flight, even in Space. Concealed within the sphere were extendable razor-sharp blades. A Toclafane could use them to slice up a human being. The spheres were also equipped with red lasers that could disintegrate life forms. (TV: The Sound of Drums) The lasers worked like a Judoon blaster, except when the Toclafane fired their disintegrator, it disintegrated a human pretty much within a second of it hitting them, as opposed to the Judoon blaster taking a few seconds to fully disintegrate a target. (TV: Smith and Jones) The spheres could be shot down by an electrical surge of 58.5 kiloamperes, transferred charge 510 megajoules precisely; however, this was most unlikely because this power existed only in lightning bolts and the chances of one bolt striking a Toclafane were extremely low. Man-made electrical barriers, however, could be constructed to sustain the right energy level balance needed for successfully fry the technology incorporated into the Toclafane spheres. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums]]''/''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'')
Each Toclafane had built-in life-support and teleportation systems. The shells were capable of flight and were fast and manoeuvrable, and could survive the harsh climate and temperature of space with no side-effects. Concealed within the shell were extendable razor-sharp blades and spikes, used as their up-close-and-personal weaponry. The spheres were also equipped with red laser guns that could disintegrate life forms. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) The spheres could be shot down by an electrical surge of 58.5 kiloamperes, with a transferred charge of 510 megajoules precisely. Man-made electrical barriers could be constructed to sustain the right energy level balance needed to successfully fry the technology incorporated into the Toclafane spheres, rendering them useless and making them drop to the ground, although the human head would still survive. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}})


== History ==
== History ==
[[File:Toclafane-sphere.jpg|thumb|A Toclafane sphere. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'')]]
=== The Master's minions ===
The last of [[human]]ity, scattered across the darkness of space, received a message that said "Come to [[Utopia (Utopia)|Utopia]]". Because the [[Utopia Project]] was set up to find a way to survive the end of the universe, everyone believed they had found a way. Humans attempted to travel to the mythical paradise, ([[TV]]: ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') but what they found was a dark, cold and inhospitable world. To survive, the human race "evolved" into the Toclafane.
[[File:Toclafane-sphere.jpg|thumb|left|A Toclafane shell, with its spikes and blades deployed. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}})]]
The last of [[human]]ity, scattered across the darkness of space, received a message that said "Come to [[Utopia (Utopia)|Utopia]]". Because the [[Utopia Project]] was set up to find a way to survive the end of the universe, everyone believed they had found a way. Humans attempted to travel to the mythical paradise, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Utopia (TV story)}}) but what they found was a dark, cold and inhospitable world. To survive, the human race "evolved" into the Toclafane, essentially cannibalising themselves and regressing to children. Even so this was not enough, as the universe was still collapsing around them and they had no where else to go.


{{Simm|c}}, using [[the Doctor's TARDIS]], travelled to the planet in the year [[100,000,000,000,000]] where he met them. As [[Prime Minister]] of [[Great Britain]], the Master announced he had made contact with a race of friendly aliens. The Toclafane had tractable, child-like personalities and trusted the Master. The Master had, by this time, converted the TARDIS into a [[paradox machine]], allowing the six billion Toclafane to [[alien invasion|invade Earth]] in their own past and change their own past history. Thanks to the machine, the universe did not intervene to alter the paradox of humanity being subjugated by their own descendants. With the Toclafane, the Master built the beginnings of a new [[Time Lord Empire]] with the army of six billion Toclafane.
{{Simm|c}}, using [[the Doctor's TARDIS]], travelled to the planet in the year [[100,000,000,000,000]] where he met them. Over time, he became master over them and devised a plan to enable them to change history and survive. He soon saw them as his "children". He named them after the [[Toclafane (mythology)|Toclafane]], from a [[Time Lord]] [[fairy tale]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}})


The [[Toclafane invasion]] was a success. The Master ordered the Toclafane to remove one tenth of the population of Earth. They subjugated humanity and forced them to build a fleet of [[Toclafane rocket|200,000 rockets]] to take over the rest of the [[universe]]. The Toclafane could kill their ancestors without cancelling themselves out due to the paradox machine. Their plans were thwarted [[The Year That Never Was|one year]] after the invasion by [[Jack Harkness]], who destroyed the paradox machine with an assault rifle, forcing the Toclafane back to the end of the universe on Utopia. Humanity aside from those on the ''[[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]]'' and [[Wilfred Mott]] did not remember they had been invaded. With the Master's subsequent death preventing the Toclafane from being brought back in time, they were trapped in their future time zone. Their [[Futurekind|cousins]] on [[Malcassairo]] became [[Extinction|extinct]] when it went nova but the fate of the Toclafane themselves was never clear. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums]]''/''[[Last of the Time Lords]]'')
=== Invasion of Earth ===
As [[Prime Minister]] of [[Great Britain]], the Master announced he had made contact with a race of friendly aliens who offered wisdom, technology and protection in return for humanity's friendship. The Master had, by this time, converted the TARDIS into a [[paradox machine]], allowing the six billion Toclafane to [[alien invasion|invade Earth]] in their own past and change their own history. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) With the Toclafane, the Master built the beginnings of a new [[Time Lord Empire]] with the army of six billion Toclafane. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}})
 
[[File:Toclafane POV.jpg|thumb|right|A Toclafane's point of view.]]
The [[Toclafane invasion]] was a success and the Master ordered the Toclafane to remove one tenth of the population of Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) They then subjugated humanity and forced them to build a fleet of [[Toclafane rocket|200,000 rockets]] to take over the rest of the [[universe]]. Their plans were thwarted [[The Year That Never Was|one year]] after the invasion by the Doctor and his associates. [[Jack Harkness]] destroyed the paradox machine with an assault rifle. The machine's destruction reversed time to the moment it was activated, just after the [[Arthur Coleman Winters|US President]] was killed and just before the Toclafane arrived. Humanity, aside from those on the ''[[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]]'', did not remember they had been invaded. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}})
 
As a result of the reversal of time, the Toclafane were instantly propelled back to their own future, trapped on Utopia for what little time remained in the existence of the universe. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia (reference book)}}) Ultimately, Utopia was lost, survived by the [[Time Lord]]s of [[Gallifrey]], whom resided at the end of the universe following their [[Fall of Gallifrey|relocation]] at the end of the [[Time War]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Whoniverse (novel)}})
 
=== Legacy ===
A Toclafane ended up in the [[Verbier Museum of the Impossible]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Canaries (short story)|Canaries]]'') The [[Remembered TARDIS]] contained an apparently inactive [[Toclafane (The Three Doctors)|Toclafane]] with a [[fez]] resting on it. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Three Doctors (TotT TV story)}})
 
[[Book (The Monster Vault)|One source]] suggested a link between the Toclafane and the [[Quark]]s after questioning whether the Quarks truly were robots. The authors noted the Quarks were known for childlike voices, glee at causing havoc, and small size. Indeed, the head of the Quarks resembled the sphere design of the Toclafane. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Monster Vault (novel)|The Monster Vault]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
* The voices of the Toclafane sound the same as those of the [[Gelth]], due to the use of a team of regular voice artists for aliens (except those voiced by a celebrity guest), many of whom voiced both the Gelth and the Toclafane.
* [[Russell T Davies]] came up with the original design and idea for the Toclafane in 2004, and briefly considered forcing [[Robert Shearman]] to use them as a replacement for the [[Dalek]] in a proposed [[series 1 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 1]] story that would have been entitled ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Absence of the Daleks]]'', had rights issues to the Daleks not been worked out. This early version was called "Future Human" and Davies' original illustration is included in ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]''.
* [[Russell T Davies]] came up with the original design for the Toclafane when he was coming up with a potential alternate creature to use in the episode ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'', had rights issues to the [[Dalek]]s not been worked out. This early version was called "Future Human" and Davies' original illustration is included in ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]''.
* ''Absence of the Daleks'' would have established that mysterious spheres from the future, who would later be revealed to be humans, had attacked the Time Lords among all other [[sentient]] species they could find, with the [[Nestene]]s and the Daleks among the civilisations decimated. Ultimately, the Time Lords trapped the spheres on Gallifrey, where they [[fall of Gallifrey|sacrificed themselves]] in an act of [[mutually assured destruction]] to eliminate the spheres, leaving only the [[Ninth Doctor]] and one known surviving sphere, which became the [[Metaltron]]. (''[[The Dalek Handbook]]'')
* Revived for use in the [[Series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 3]] finale, the "Future Human" concept was initially named "Roclafane", but was later renamed to Toclafane to avoid the potential mistaken belief that they were simply [[Racnoss]] who listened to too much [[rock music]]. ([[DWMSE 17]])
*In the story of ''[[Legacy (video game)|Doctor Who: Legacy]]'', the Toclafane return as [[time travel]]ling [[Sontaran]]s launch attacks throughout [[history]]. Appearing at almost every Sontaran outpost throughout the [[continuum]], the Toclafane overrun [[Sontar]] in a [[cull]] witnessed by the unfamiliar [[First Doctor]], who describes them as "metal spheres". Bringing the Sontaran army under their control, the Toclafane follow {{Simm}}, who orders them to find [[the Doctor]].
 
== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}
 
== External links ==
{{Dwlx}}
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}
[[Category:Cyborg species]]
[[Category:Cyborg species]]
[[Category:Hive minds]]
[[Category:Hive minds]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan culture]]
[[Category:Security forces]]
[[Category:Security forces]]
[[Category:Biologically modified species]]
[[Category:Temporal paradox]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan fairy tales]]
[[Category:Human-descended species]]
[[Category:The Year That Never Was]]
 
[[es:Toclafane]]
[[fr:Toclafane]]

Latest revision as of 20:29, 23 November 2024

You may be looking for the eponymous Gallifreyan creature.

"The Toclafane", originally a "made-up name like the Bogeyman" from Time Lord fairy tales, was the name given by the Saxon Master to the final evolved form of the human race when he presented them to 21st century humans as an alien race. They were small, fleshy, disembodied head integrated into weaponised, mechanical, floating spheres at the end of the universe.

The took them back in time to use as an army in his conquest of Earth in the 2000s,[nb 1] and used a paradox machine to allow them to exist while killing their human ancestors. They were trapped at the end of time when Captain Jack Harkness destroyed it.

Biology[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Toclafane were cyborgs used as the Master's brawn and muscle when taking over Earth. They were the heads of humans from the year 100 trillion integrated into a dark-grey sphere-shaped metallic shell, held together with a magnetic clamp. The humans had wiring plugged into their wizened heads. The spheres were very little over a foot tall and were sealed shut. They became a hive mind, allowing them to see the destruction of an individual as no threat. Their personality was amoral and childlike from a failed attempt to regress themselves to children; instead having rather primitive emotional traits and an enjoyment in killing their great ancestors because "it's fun". (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"])

Each Toclafane had built-in life-support and teleportation systems. The shells were capable of flight and were fast and manoeuvrable, and could survive the harsh climate and temperature of space with no side-effects. Concealed within the shell were extendable razor-sharp blades and spikes, used as their up-close-and-personal weaponry. The spheres were also equipped with red laser guns that could disintegrate life forms. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"]) The spheres could be shot down by an electrical surge of 58.5 kiloamperes, with a transferred charge of 510 megajoules precisely. Man-made electrical barriers could be constructed to sustain the right energy level balance needed to successfully fry the technology incorporated into the Toclafane spheres, rendering them useless and making them drop to the ground, although the human head would still survive. (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"])

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Master's minions[[edit] | [edit source]]

A Toclafane shell, with its spikes and blades deployed. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"])

The last of humanity, scattered across the darkness of space, received a message that said "Come to Utopia". Because the Utopia Project was set up to find a way to survive the end of the universe, everyone believed they had found a way. Humans attempted to travel to the mythical paradise, (TV: Utopia [+]Loading...["Utopia (TV story)"]) but what they found was a dark, cold and inhospitable world. To survive, the human race "evolved" into the Toclafane, essentially cannibalising themselves and regressing to children. Even so this was not enough, as the universe was still collapsing around them and they had no where else to go.

The Saxon Master, using the Doctor's TARDIS, travelled to the planet in the year 100,000,000,000,000 where he met them. Over time, he became master over them and devised a plan to enable them to change history and survive. He soon saw them as his "children". He named them after the Toclafane, from a Time Lord fairy tale. (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"])

Invasion of Earth[[edit] | [edit source]]

As Prime Minister of Great Britain, the Master announced he had made contact with a race of friendly aliens who offered wisdom, technology and protection in return for humanity's friendship. The Master had, by this time, converted the TARDIS into a paradox machine, allowing the six billion Toclafane to invade Earth in their own past and change their own history. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"]) With the Toclafane, the Master built the beginnings of a new Time Lord Empire with the army of six billion Toclafane. (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"])

A Toclafane's point of view.

The Toclafane invasion was a success and the Master ordered the Toclafane to remove one tenth of the population of Earth. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"]) They then subjugated humanity and forced them to build a fleet of 200,000 rockets to take over the rest of the universe. Their plans were thwarted one year after the invasion by the Doctor and his associates. Jack Harkness destroyed the paradox machine with an assault rifle. The machine's destruction reversed time to the moment it was activated, just after the US President was killed and just before the Toclafane arrived. Humanity, aside from those on the Valiant, did not remember they had been invaded. (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"])

As a result of the reversal of time, the Toclafane were instantly propelled back to their own future, trapped on Utopia for what little time remained in the existence of the universe. (PROSE: Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia [+]Loading...["Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia (reference book)"]) Ultimately, Utopia was lost, survived by the Time Lords of Gallifrey, whom resided at the end of the universe following their relocation at the end of the Time War. (PROSE: The Whoniverse [+]Loading...["The Whoniverse (novel)"])

Legacy[[edit] | [edit source]]

A Toclafane ended up in the Verbier Museum of the Impossible. (PROSE: Canaries) The Remembered TARDIS contained an apparently inactive Toclafane with a fez resting on it. (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Loading...["The Three Doctors (TotT TV story)"])

One source suggested a link between the Toclafane and the Quarks after questioning whether the Quarks truly were robots. The authors noted the Quarks were known for childlike voices, glee at causing havoc, and small size. Indeed, the head of the Quarks resembled the sphere design of the Toclafane. (PROSE: The Monster Vault)

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. According to the episode The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"], Martha Jones' present day during series 3 of Doctor Who takes place over a six-day period, with the Saxon Master being elected three days after Smith and Jones, and the Toclafane invading Earth five days after Smith and Jones. However, sources differ on which dates these stories are set. According to PROSE: The Paradox Moon, the Toclafane invasion happens on 23 June 2007, placing the events of Smith and Jones on 18 June. According to AUDIO: Hysteria, Smith and Jones takes place in 2008, with a UNIT mission log in AUDIO: Recruits referring to the recovery of moon rocks from Royal Hope Hospital in March 2008. A newspaper clipping in PROSE: The Secret Lives of Monsters places Smith and Jones on a Sunday 4 June, thus placing the Toclafane invasion on Friday 9 June. In the real world, these dates do not fall on a Sunday and Friday in either 2007 or 2008.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]