The Vault (The Scales of Injustice): Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
(→‎History: updated to include new info from One Cold Step)
Tags: Visual edit apiedit
m (Updating links from Lane (The Web of Fear) to A Lane; cosmetic changes)
 
(73 intermediate revisions by 28 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{You may|The Vault (Dalek)|n1=the vault owned by Henry van Statten}}
{{Infobox Location
'''The Vault''' contained [[alien]] artefacts and other objects of interest taken by [[C19]] from both before and after the formation of [[UNIT]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]'') The Vault was permanently kept dark, as some objects would react with light. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault]]'')  
|image      = Mastermind.jpg
|aka        = "The storage site"
|type        = Alien artefact collection
|location    = [[Cheviot Hills]] (original), [[Angel of the North]] (relocation)
|first      = The Scales of Injustice (novel)
|appearances = [[The Vault (The Scales of Injustice) - list of appearances|'''''see list''''']]
}}{{dab page|The Vault}}
'''The Vault''', or the '''UNIT Vault''', sometimes referred to as simply "'''the storage site'''" for the sake of secrecy, was an underground collection [[alien]] artefacts and other objects of interest, located in northern [[England]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]'', et al.) Originally operated by the [[Ministry of Technology]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beast of Fang Rock (novel)|Beast of Fang Rock]]'') it came into the control of [[C19]] in the early [[1970s]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'') then passed on to [[UNIT]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault (audio story)|Tales from the Vault]]'', et al.) and when the most of the contents was moved to another site nearby, it fell under [[Ministry of Defence|the Ministry]]'s control and was available for [[P.R.O.B.E.]]'s use. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
 
By the [[2010s]], it was one of several storage facilities supporting the main [[Black Archive]] in the [[Tower of London]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')
 
== Appearance ==
=== Original site ===
The Vault was built under the [[Cheviot Hills]], accessible through a [[secret]] [[tunnel]] entrance that led to a [[car park]]. The tunnel was surrounded by [[roadwork]]s [[sign]]s. It led into a [[foyer]], which contained a [[desk]] and a [[lift]], which went down to four levels of floors below ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'') the fourth originaly having been built in secret. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Night of the Intelligence (novel)|Night of the Intelligence]]'') It had multiple underground [[warehouse]]s, filled with a [[maze]]s of [[shelf|shelves]], [[hallway]]s, at least one [[office]], and the [[morgue]], ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'') also known as "the deep freeze", ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beast of Fang Rock (novel)|Beast of Fang Rock]]'') which was accessible through a [[foot (unit)|foot]] thick metal door, protected by [[sensor]] that could be unlocked with a [[badge]], and a connecting [[hallway]] where [[parka]]s were stored. There was a door marked "AA23", and the low-risk storage wasn't kept in good condition, with [[tobacco]] [[smoke]] lingering, and hidden [[ashtray]]s, [[bottle]]s, and snack [[wrapper]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
 
=== New site ===
''to be added''
 
== Inventory ==
=== Pre-C19 ===
The Vault contained [[Xylok|fragments of crystal]] from [[Krakatoa]] and samples of [[Om-Tsor]]. It also held the bodies of [[Ed Hill]], [[Mike Smith]], [[Melvin Krimpton|M Krimpton]], [[A Lane]], [[Stephen Weams|S Weams]] and [[Albert Arnold]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beast of Fang Rock (novel)|Beast of Fang Rock]]'')
 
=== C19 Ownership ===
The vault stored a number of alien life forms, including a de-activated [[Imperial Dalek]] from the [[Shoreditch Incident]], and a new strain of [[Venus flytrap]] found in [[Rhodesia]] large enough to catch a [[rabbit]] or a small [[dog]]. Other organic matter stored were [[Nestene]] "blood", a [[Silurian virus|plague created]] by the [[Silurian]]s, [[Krynoid]] pods, and [[fruit ]]from Western [[Australia]] containing [[mercurial dioxide]] due to fallen particles of dust from [[outer space]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'')
 
There were also several human bodies sotred in the vault, belonging to [[George Ratcliffe]], [[Melvin Krimpton]], [[Stephen Weams]], [[A Lane|Lane]], [[Mark Gregory]], [[Albert Arnold]], [[Mike Smith]], and [[George Hibbert]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'')
 
=== MOD Ownership ===
The Vault stored a [[Noth]] [[Noth laser scythe|laser scythe]], a [[Helicron]] [[Helicron matter gun|matter gun]], a [[Hytherian]] [[Hytherian muti-tool|multi-tool]], an early copy of the [[prophecy]] of the [[Hollow Childe]], a copy of the [[Christmas Needle Agreement]], a broken [[gauntlet]] that once belonged to [[Kaetannan]], a [[pistol]] that belonged to a [[Retconning Crocodile]], a [[Device (A Worthy Successor)|Gendar device]], and a Helicron [[Helicron skull crusher|skull crusher]]. The cold storage contained the corpses of a [[human soldier (A Worthy Successor)|human soldier]] who was ravaged by a [[robot Yeti|yeti]], a [[Gendar (A Worthy Successor)|Gendar]], a [[Draxi (A Worthy Successor)|Draxi]], a [[Menith (A Worthy Successor)|Menith]], a [[Selachian (A Worthy Successor)|Selachian]], a [[Helicron (A Worthy Successor)|Helicron]], and a [[Diashna (A Worthy Successor)|Diashna]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'') It also contained [[crate]]s ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'') of vials of [[Cyberon (drug)|Cyberon]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Last Dose (short story)|The Last Dose]]'', ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'') as well as [[pamphlet]]s and [[research]] relating to it. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
 
[[Stacey Facade]]'s body was also placed in the storage facility in [[2021]]. ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Lauren Anderson (home video)|Lauren Anderson]]'')
 
The contents of the site were documented in an [[inventory]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
 
=== UNIT Ownership ===
Under UNIT control, the Vault contained a deactivated [[Terravore]]. Also contained were a few weapons, including [[Cyber-gun]]s, [[Excalibur]], and [[Plastic]] [[auto-jet|daffodils.]] Other items stored in the vault were [[Meteorite]] globes from the first [[Auton]] invasion, [[WOTAN]], ''[[Mars Probe 6]], ''samples of [[Stahlman's ooze]], the wreckage from a [[Sontaran]] [[Sontaran scout ship|scout ship]], an [[army]] [[jacket]], a [[painting]], [[crystal]], a [[wax]] cylinder, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault (audio story)|Tales from the Vault]]'') [[Goth's TARDIS|the Decayed Master's TARDIS]] — and the Master himself —, ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'') [[Rees]]' skull and music box. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'') and a number of discarded Cyber-parts from the failed [[Cyberman invasion of Earth (The Invasion)|Cyberman invasion of Earth]]. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Lost in Time (video game)|Lost in Time]]'')
 
The Vault was also where [[the Master]] was imprisoned when he was captured by UNIT following his escape from the [[Eye of Harmony]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'')
 
The Vault was permanently kept dark, as some objects would react with light. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault (audio story)|Tales from the Vault]]'')


== History ==
== History ==
The Vault was initially located in the [[Cheviot Hills]] in [[Northumberland|Northumberland.]] In the late [[1960s]], the remaining [[Robot Yeti|Yeti]] and technology left over from the [[London Event]] were transferred to the vault, including [[Anne Travers]]. At that point the quartermaster of the vault was Captain [[Sam Hawkins|Hawkins]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Forgotten Son (novel)|The Forgotten Son]]'') It was formed under as part of the Ministry of Technology, ostensibly to help develop new technologies to enrich British industry. In truth it locates and uses alien technology for its own ends. It was run by a mysterious man called the General. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[One Cold Step (short story)|One Cold Step]]'') By the early 1970s, the [[Pale Man]] had taken over, and it fell under Department [[C19]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]'')
=== 1960s ===
The Vault was initially located in the [[Cheviot Hills]] in [[Northumberland]]. It was formed by [[Harold Wilson]] under the [[Ministry of Technology]], ostensibly to help develop new technologies to enrich British industry: Wilson's "white heat of technology". In truth it located and used alien technology for its own ends, and the [[MP]]s who'd approved of it where unaware of what it did. It was run by a mysterious man called the General, who was in fact [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]'s brother [[James Lethbridge-Stewart (Inferno Earth)|James]] from the [[Inferno Earth]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[One Cold Step (short story)|One Cold Step]]'', ''[[Beast of Fang Rock (novel)|Beast of Fang Rock]]'', ''[[Mind of Stone (novel)|Mind of Stone]]'') Gore ensured that his son, [[Dylan Lethbridge-Stewart|Simon]], gained employment at the facility. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Night of the Intelligence (novel)|Night of the Intelligence]]'')
 
Debris from the [[Shoreditch Incident]] and [[WOTAN]] had been sent to the Vault. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'')
 
In [[1969]], the remaining [[Robot Yeti]] and technology left over from the [[London Event]] were transferred to the vault, including [[Anne Travers]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Forgotten Son (novel)|The Forgotten Son]]'') Corpses from the London Event were transferred there as well, so the "web" fungus could be taken off them for study. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beast of Fang Rock (novel)|Beast of Fang Rock]]'') A number of other corpses were taken to the Vault after subsequent alien attacks. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'')
 
In 1969, the quartermaster of the vault was Captain [[Sam Hawkins|Hawkins]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Forgotten Son (novel)|The Forgotten Son]]'') [[Leonard Harkness]] was a scientist who worked there during the late 1960s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[One Cold Step (short story)|One Cold Step]]'') Another scientist who worked alongside Anne was [[Tim Gambrell]], who assisted Anne in running tests on the [[Om-Tsor]] and the body of [[Ed Hill]]. Anne later revealed to Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart that she was at the Vault to gather information for General [[Oliver Hamilton|Hamilton]].
 
The remaining Rutan technology and shuttle pod was sent to the Vault following the events at [[Fang Rock]] in [[May]] [[1969]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beast of Fang Rock (novel)|Beast of Fang Rock]]'') Shortly after, Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and Air Vice Marshal [[Ian Gilmore|Gilmore]] uncovered a secret bunker beneath [[Shoreditch]], London, owned by the Vault. It was run by Lieutenant [[Leslie Johnston]], and he was using a captured Professor Travers to control Yeti found in the Underground. Lethbridge-Stewart and Gilmore brought the operation to an end, but Johnston escaped. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Dogs of War (LS short story)|The Dogs of War]]'')
 
Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart had other personnel inside the Vault following Anne Travers. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Ashes of the Inferno (short story)|Ashes of the Inferno]]'')
 
=== 1970s ===
General Gore built Level 4 in the Vault, which was hidden from official records. There he held technology that would help him penetrate the dimension where the [[Great Intelligence]] resided. He had [[Owain Vine]] transported their to further these aims. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Night of the Intelligence (novel)|Night of the Intelligence]]'') The fourth level alter became officially known. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
 
[[File:Paleman.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Martyn Townsend|Pale Man]], the director of the Vault in [[1970]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'')]]
Following the summoning of the Great Intelligence, Department C19 took over the Vault and forcibly retired James Gore. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Night of the Intelligence (novel)|Night of the Intelligence]]'', ''[[Ashes of the Inferno (short story)|Ashes of the Inferno]]'') The [[Pale Man]] ran the facility. The Vault's items had grown and even included the complete [[Mars Probe 6]]. The Pale Man intended to use the technology within to conquer Earth, and the Vault was raided by the [[Third Doctor]] and UNIT. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'') [[Giles]] was later told about this. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
 
C19 later retrieved all the hardware and information about [[TOMTIT]] and stored it in the Vault. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Quantum Archangel (novel)|The Quantum Archangel]]'')
 
In later years, UNIT gained control over the Vault. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')


The contents of the Vault were moved to the [[Angel of the North]] in the [[1990s]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')  
=== 1980s ===
In [[1982]], [[Patrick (The King of the Dead)|Patrick]] mentioned UNIT's Vault. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The King of the Dead (audio story)|The King of the Dead]]'')


In the [[21st century]], both [[Captain]] [[Ruth Matheson]] and [[Charlie Sato]] worked there. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault]]'') [[The Master]] escaped from the Vault after [[Hypnosis|hypnotising]] Matheson and Sato into letting him escape in [[The Master's TARDIS|his TARDIS]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'') [[Rees]] later escaped from the Vault after possessing every carcass that had been stored in the Vault, in addition to UNIT soldiers who were sent in to investigate the occurrence. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')
=== 1990s ===
The contents of the Vault were relocated to another facility nearby, ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'') beneath the [[Angel of the North]], ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'') in the [[1990s]]. [[Patricia Haggard]] acquired the original Vault for [[PROBE]]'s use afterwards. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')


== Inventory ==
=== 2000s ===
{{Section cleanup|These lists should be converted to prose.}}
In [[2000]], [[UNIT United Kingdom|UN soldiers]] packaged up the remaining vials of [[Cyberon (drug)|Cyberon]] from [[PKD]] and transported them to the Vault. The boffins in the Vault told [[Patricia Haggard]] of [[P.R.O.B.E.]] that [[gold]] created some kind of interference between Cyberon and the human [[nervous system]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Last Dose (short story)|The Last Dose]]'') They also stored [[pamphlet]]s and [[research]] relating to Cyberon. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'')
=== Items ===
 
* A de-activated [[Imperial Dalek]] from the [[Shoreditch Incident]]
[[Ruth Matheson]] began working at the Vault in [[2002]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault (audio story)|Tales from the Vault]]'')
* [[WOTAN]]
 
* [[Cyber-gun]]s
=== 2010s ===
* [[Meteorite]] globes from the first [[Auton]] invasion
{{section stub|Info from ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'' needs to be added.}}
* [[Nestene]] "blood"
In [[2011]], [[Charlie Sato]] joined [[Ruth Matheson]] in working at the Vault. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault (audio story)|Tales from the Vault]]'') The [[Decayed Master]] escaped from the Vault after [[Hypnosis|hypnotising]] Matheson and Sato into letting him escape in [[The Master's TARDIS|his TARDIS]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'')
* [[Silurian virus|Plague]] created by the [[Silurian]]s
 
* ''[[Mars Probe 6]]''
[[File:The Screaming Skull.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mike Yates]], [[Ruth Matheson]], and [[Charlie Sato]] in the Vault. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')]]
* Samples of [[Stahlman's ooze]]
In [[2014]], [[Rees]] escaped from the Vault after possessing every carcass that had been stored in the Vault, in addition to UNIT soldiers who were sent in to investigate the occurrence. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')
* [[Fruit]] from Western [[Australia]] containing mercurial dioxide due to fallen particles of dust from [[outer space]].
 
* A new strain of [[Venus fly trap]] found in [[Rhodesia]], large enough to catch a [[rabbit]] or a small [[dog]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice]]'')
[[Petronella Osgood]] once mentioned the Vault. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Power Cell (audio story)|Power Cell]]'')
* A deactivated [[Terravore]]  
 
* [[Krynoid]] pods
=== 2020s ===
* The wreckage from a [[Sontaran]] [[Sontaran scout ship|scout ship]]
On [[3 March]] [[2021]], after [[Giles]] was forced to shoot the ravenous [[love wraith]] known as "[[Stacey Facade]]", P.R.O.B.E. transported the wraith's remains to their "storage site in Northumberland", not being sure that the being was really dead. ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[Lauren Anderson (home video)|Lauren Anderson]]'')
* An [[army]] [[jacket]], a [[painting]], [[crystal]] and a [[wax]] cylinder. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Tales from the Vault]]'')
* [[Excalibur]]
* The Vault was also where [[the Master]] was imprisoned when he was captured by UNIT following his escape from the [[Eye of Harmony]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'')
* [[Plastic]] [[auto-jet|daffodils]]
* [[Rees]]' skull and music box ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'')


=== Bodies ===
On [[4 April]], Giles requisitioned a [[syringe]] of [[Cyberon (drug)|Cyberon]] from "the storage site" as a last-ditch gamble to save the sick [[Maxie Masters]]'s life. In the ensuing events, Maxie's life was indeed saved, but the Cyberon sample was destroyed. ([[HOMEVID]]: ''[[The Only Cure (home video)|The Only Cure]]'')
* [[George Ratcliffe]]
* [[Melvin Krimpton]]
* [[Stephen Weams]]
* [[Mark Gregory]]
* [[George Hibbert]] ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Scales of Injustice (novel)|The Scales of Injustice]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
When [[Gary Russell]], the author of ''The Scales of Injustice'', tweeted ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'' writer [[Jonathan Morris]], asking him if the Vault in ''Mastermind'' was the same as the one from Russell's novels, Morris responded, "Possibly, but it's now been moved to a secret base under [the] Angel of the North". <ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jonnymorris1973/status/358512005822414848 |title=@jonnymorris1973 |author= |date of source=20 July 2013 |website name=[[Twitter]] |accessdate=4 August 2013}}</ref> When he realised Russell's [[C19]] Vault was a short distance from the one in ''Mastermind'', Morris stated that "it all fits!" <ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jonnymorris1973/status/358540169751703552 |title=@jonnymorris1973 |author= |date of source=20 July 2013 |website name=[[Twitter]] |accessdate=4 August 2013}}</ref> [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'' later gave the in-universe link for this move.  
When [[Gary Russell]], the author of ''The Scales of Injustice'', tweeted ''[[Mastermind (audio story)|Mastermind]]'' writer [[Jonathan Morris]], asking him if the Vault in ''Mastermind'' was the same as the one from Russell's novels, Morris responded, "Possibly, but it's now been moved to a secret base under [the] Angel of the North". <ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jonnymorris1973/status/358512005822414848 |title=@jonnymorris1973 |author= |date of source=20 July 2013 |website name=[[Twitter]] |accessdate=4 August 2013}}</ref> When he realised Russell's [[C19]] Vault was a short distance from the one in ''Mastermind'', Morris stated that "it all fits!" <ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/jonnymorris1973/status/358540169751703552 |title=@jonnymorris1973 |author= |date of source=20 July 2013 |website name=[[Twitter]] |accessdate=4 August 2013}}</ref> [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Screaming Skull (audio story)|The Screaming Skull]]'' later gave the in-universe link for this move. It was again mentioned in [[PROSE]]: ''[[A Worthy Successor (short story)|A Worthy Successor]]'', which established the original site was under [[Ministry of Defence]] control and was available for P.R.O.B.E.'s use.


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{TitleSort}}


{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Earth vaults]]
[[Category:Alien artefact collections]]
[[Category:Alien artefact collections]]
[[Category:UNIT bases]]
[[Category:UNIT bases]]
[[Category:Locations visited by the Decayed Master]]
[[Category:Conspiracy]]
[[Category:UNIT Archives]]
[[Category:The Vault]]
[[Category:P.R.O.B.E.]]

Latest revision as of 20:57, 20 April 2023

You may wish to consult The Vault for other, similarly-named pages.

The Vault, or the UNIT Vault, sometimes referred to as simply "the storage site" for the sake of secrecy, was an underground collection alien artefacts and other objects of interest, located in northern England. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice, et al.) Originally operated by the Ministry of Technology, (PROSE: Beast of Fang Rock) it came into the control of C19 in the early 1970s (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice) then passed on to UNIT, (AUDIO: Tales from the Vault, et al.) and when the most of the contents was moved to another site nearby, it fell under the Ministry's control and was available for P.R.O.B.E.'s use. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

By the 2010s, it was one of several storage facilities supporting the main Black Archive in the Tower of London. (AUDIO: The Screaming Skull)

Appearance[[edit] | [edit source]]

Original site[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Vault was built under the Cheviot Hills, accessible through a secret tunnel entrance that led to a car park. The tunnel was surrounded by roadworks signs. It led into a foyer, which contained a desk and a lift, which went down to four levels of floors below (PROSE: A Worthy Successor) the fourth originaly having been built in secret. (PROSE: Night of the Intelligence) It had multiple underground warehouses, filled with a mazes of shelves, hallways, at least one office, and the morgue, (PROSE: A Worthy Successor) also known as "the deep freeze", (PROSE: Beast of Fang Rock) which was accessible through a foot thick metal door, protected by sensor that could be unlocked with a badge, and a connecting hallway where parkas were stored. There was a door marked "AA23", and the low-risk storage wasn't kept in good condition, with tobacco smoke lingering, and hidden ashtrays, bottles, and snack wrappers. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

New site[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Inventory[[edit] | [edit source]]

Pre-C19[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Vault contained fragments of crystal from Krakatoa and samples of Om-Tsor. It also held the bodies of Ed Hill, Mike Smith, M Krimpton, A Lane, S Weams and Albert Arnold. (PROSE: Beast of Fang Rock)

C19 Ownership[[edit] | [edit source]]

The vault stored a number of alien life forms, including a de-activated Imperial Dalek from the Shoreditch Incident, and a new strain of Venus flytrap found in Rhodesia large enough to catch a rabbit or a small dog. Other organic matter stored were Nestene "blood", a plague created by the Silurians, Krynoid pods, and fruit from Western Australia containing mercurial dioxide due to fallen particles of dust from outer space. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)

There were also several human bodies sotred in the vault, belonging to George Ratcliffe, Melvin Krimpton, Stephen Weams, Lane, Mark Gregory, Albert Arnold, Mike Smith, and George Hibbert. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)

MOD Ownership[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Vault stored a Noth laser scythe, a Helicron matter gun, a Hytherian multi-tool, an early copy of the prophecy of the Hollow Childe, a copy of the Christmas Needle Agreement, a broken gauntlet that once belonged to Kaetannan, a pistol that belonged to a Retconning Crocodile, a Gendar device, and a Helicron skull crusher. The cold storage contained the corpses of a human soldier who was ravaged by a yeti, a Gendar, a Draxi, a Menith, a Selachian, a Helicron, and a Diashna. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor) It also contained crates (PROSE: A Worthy Successor) of vials of Cyberon. (PROSE: The Last Dose, A Worthy Successor) as well as pamphlets and research relating to it. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

Stacey Facade's body was also placed in the storage facility in 2021. (HOMEVID: Lauren Anderson)

The contents of the site were documented in an inventory. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

UNIT Ownership[[edit] | [edit source]]

Under UNIT control, the Vault contained a deactivated Terravore. Also contained were a few weapons, including Cyber-guns, Excalibur, and Plastic daffodils. Other items stored in the vault were Meteorite globes from the first Auton invasion, WOTAN, Mars Probe 6, samples of Stahlman's ooze, the wreckage from a Sontaran scout ship, an army jacket, a painting, crystal, a wax cylinder, (AUDIO: Tales from the Vault) the Decayed Master's TARDIS — and the Master himself —, (AUDIO: Mastermind) Rees' skull and music box. (AUDIO: The Screaming Skull) and a number of discarded Cyber-parts from the failed Cyberman invasion of Earth. (GAME: Lost in Time)

The Vault was also where the Master was imprisoned when he was captured by UNIT following his escape from the Eye of Harmony. (AUDIO: Mastermind)

The Vault was permanently kept dark, as some objects would react with light. (AUDIO: Tales from the Vault)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

1960s[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Vault was initially located in the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland. It was formed by Harold Wilson under the Ministry of Technology, ostensibly to help develop new technologies to enrich British industry: Wilson's "white heat of technology". In truth it located and used alien technology for its own ends, and the MPs who'd approved of it where unaware of what it did. It was run by a mysterious man called the General, who was in fact Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart's brother James from the Inferno Earth. (PROSE: One Cold Step, Beast of Fang Rock, Mind of Stone) Gore ensured that his son, Simon, gained employment at the facility. (PROSE: Night of the Intelligence)

Debris from the Shoreditch Incident and WOTAN had been sent to the Vault. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)

In 1969, the remaining Robot Yeti and technology left over from the London Event were transferred to the vault, including Anne Travers. (PROSE: The Forgotten Son) Corpses from the London Event were transferred there as well, so the "web" fungus could be taken off them for study. (PROSE: Beast of Fang Rock) A number of other corpses were taken to the Vault after subsequent alien attacks. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)

In 1969, the quartermaster of the vault was Captain Hawkins. (PROSE: The Forgotten Son) Leonard Harkness was a scientist who worked there during the late 1960s. (PROSE: One Cold Step) Another scientist who worked alongside Anne was Tim Gambrell, who assisted Anne in running tests on the Om-Tsor and the body of Ed Hill. Anne later revealed to Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart that she was at the Vault to gather information for General Hamilton.

The remaining Rutan technology and shuttle pod was sent to the Vault following the events at Fang Rock in May 1969. (PROSE: Beast of Fang Rock) Shortly after, Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and Air Vice Marshal Gilmore uncovered a secret bunker beneath Shoreditch, London, owned by the Vault. It was run by Lieutenant Leslie Johnston, and he was using a captured Professor Travers to control Yeti found in the Underground. Lethbridge-Stewart and Gilmore brought the operation to an end, but Johnston escaped. (PROSE: The Dogs of War)

Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart had other personnel inside the Vault following Anne Travers. (PROSE: Ashes of the Inferno)

1970s[[edit] | [edit source]]

General Gore built Level 4 in the Vault, which was hidden from official records. There he held technology that would help him penetrate the dimension where the Great Intelligence resided. He had Owain Vine transported their to further these aims. (PROSE: Night of the Intelligence) The fourth level alter became officially known. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

The Pale Man, the director of the Vault in 1970. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice)

Following the summoning of the Great Intelligence, Department C19 took over the Vault and forcibly retired James Gore. (PROSE: Night of the Intelligence, Ashes of the Inferno) The Pale Man ran the facility. The Vault's items had grown and even included the complete Mars Probe 6. The Pale Man intended to use the technology within to conquer Earth, and the Vault was raided by the Third Doctor and UNIT. (PROSE: The Scales of Injustice) Giles was later told about this. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

C19 later retrieved all the hardware and information about TOMTIT and stored it in the Vault. (PROSE: The Quantum Archangel)

In later years, UNIT gained control over the Vault. (AUDIO: The Screaming Skull)

1980s[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 1982, Patrick mentioned UNIT's Vault. (AUDIO: The King of the Dead)

1990s[[edit] | [edit source]]

The contents of the Vault were relocated to another facility nearby, (PROSE: A Worthy Successor) beneath the Angel of the North, (AUDIO: The Screaming Skull) in the 1990s. Patricia Haggard acquired the original Vault for PROBE's use afterwards. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

2000s[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 2000, UN soldiers packaged up the remaining vials of Cyberon from PKD and transported them to the Vault. The boffins in the Vault told Patricia Haggard of P.R.O.B.E. that gold created some kind of interference between Cyberon and the human nervous system. (PROSE: The Last Dose) They also stored pamphlets and research relating to Cyberon. (PROSE: A Worthy Successor)

Ruth Matheson began working at the Vault in 2002. (AUDIO: Tales from the Vault)

2010s[[edit] | [edit source]]

This section's awfully stubby.

Info from A Worthy Successor needs to be added.

In 2011, Charlie Sato joined Ruth Matheson in working at the Vault. (AUDIO: Tales from the Vault) The Decayed Master escaped from the Vault after hypnotising Matheson and Sato into letting him escape in his TARDIS. (AUDIO: Mastermind)

In 2014, Rees escaped from the Vault after possessing every carcass that had been stored in the Vault, in addition to UNIT soldiers who were sent in to investigate the occurrence. (AUDIO: The Screaming Skull)

Petronella Osgood once mentioned the Vault. (AUDIO: Power Cell)

2020s[[edit] | [edit source]]

On 3 March 2021, after Giles was forced to shoot the ravenous love wraith known as "Stacey Facade", P.R.O.B.E. transported the wraith's remains to their "storage site in Northumberland", not being sure that the being was really dead. (HOMEVID: Lauren Anderson)

On 4 April, Giles requisitioned a syringe of Cyberon from "the storage site" as a last-ditch gamble to save the sick Maxie Masters's life. In the ensuing events, Maxie's life was indeed saved, but the Cyberon sample was destroyed. (HOMEVID: The Only Cure)

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

When Gary Russell, the author of The Scales of Injustice, tweeted Mastermind writer Jonathan Morris, asking him if the Vault in Mastermind was the same as the one from Russell's novels, Morris responded, "Possibly, but it's now been moved to a secret base under [the] Angel of the North". [1] When he realised Russell's C19 Vault was a short distance from the one in Mastermind, Morris stated that "it all fits!" [2] AUDIO: The Screaming Skull later gave the in-universe link for this move. It was again mentioned in PROSE: A Worthy Successor, which established the original site was under Ministry of Defence control and was available for P.R.O.B.E.'s use.

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. @jonnymorris1973. Twitter (20 July 2013). Retrieved on 4 August 2013.
  2. @jonnymorris1973. Twitter (20 July 2013). Retrieved on 4 August 2013.