Planet of the Drashigs (audio story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image            = Planet of the Drashigs (audio story).jpg
|image            = Planet of the Drashigs (audio story).jpg
|range            = Fourth Doctor Adventures (audio series)
|range            = The Fourth Doctor Adventures
|series in range  = Series 8 (4DA)
|series in range  = Series 8 (4DA)
|number in series  = 2
|number in series  = 2
Line 9: Line 9:
|doctor            = Fourth Doctor
|doctor            = Fourth Doctor
|companions        = [[Ann Kelso|Ann]], [[K9 Mark II]]
|companions        = [[Ann Kelso|Ann]], [[K9 Mark II]]
|enemy            = [[Drashig]]s
|enemy            = [[Emerald Drashig]]s
|setting          = [[DrashigWorld]]
|setting          = [[DrashigWorld]]
|writer            = [[Phil Mulryne]]
|writer            = Phil Mulryne
|director          = [[Nicholas Briggs]]
|director          = [[Nicholas Briggs]]
|producer          = [[David Richardson]]
|music            = [[Jamie Robertson]]
|music            = [[Jamie Robertson]]
|sound            = [[Jamie Robertson]]
|sound            = Jamie Robertson
|cover            = [[Anthony Lamb]]
|cover            = [[Anthony Lamb]]
|publisher        = Big Finish Productions
|publisher        = Big Finish Productions
|release date      = [[16 January (releases)|16 January]] [[2019 (releases)|2019]]
|release date      = 16 January 2019
|format            = 2 parts, 1 CD
|format            = 1 CD<br/>Download
|production code  = BFPTOMCD061
|production code  = BFPTOMCD061
|isbn              = ISBN 978-1-78703-295-8
|isbn              = ISBN 978-1-78703-295-8
|anthology        = ''[[The Fourth Doctor Adventures Series 8: Volume 1]]''
|anthology        = The Fourth Doctor Adventures: Series 8: Volume 1
|series            = ''[[Fourth Doctor Adventures (audio series)|Fourth Doctor Adventures]]''
|series            = ''[[The Fourth Doctor Adventures]]''
|prev              = The Sinestran Kill (audio story)
|prev              = The Sinestran Kill (audio story)
|next              = The Enchantress of Numbers (audio story)
|next              = The Enchantress of Numbers (audio story)
|soundcloudtrailer =  
|soundcloudtrailer =  
|producer = [[David Richardson]]}}{{audio stub}}
|epcount          = 2
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the second story in the [[Series 8 (4DA)|eighth series]] of the ''[[Fourth Doctor Adventures (audio series)|Fourth Doctor Adventures]],'' produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Phil Mulryne]] and featured [[Tom Baker]] as the [[Fourth Doctor]], [[Jane Slavin]] as [[Ann Kelso]] and [[John Leeson]] as [[K9]].
}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the second story in the [[Series 8 (4DA)|eighth series]] of ''[[The Fourth Doctor Adventures]]'', produced by [[Big Finish Productions]]. It was written by [[Phil Mulryne]] and featured [[Tom Baker]] as the [[Fourth Doctor]], [[Jane Slavin]] as [[Ann Kelso]] and [[John Leeson]] as [[K9 Mark II]].


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
When [[the TARDIS]] lands on an alien planet, [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]]'s intentions to show [[Ann Kelso]] an advanced future [[society]] are thrown into disarray. Because they have arrived on [[DrashigWorld]] - a [[park]] where every known species of the terrifying predators has been gathered together to entertain and thrill the public. The familiar [[wetland Drashig]]s, the [[albino burrowing Drashig]]s of the [[desert]], and deadliest of all, the tiny [[Emerald Drashig]]s of the [[rain forest]]s.
When [[the TARDIS]] lands on an alien planet, [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]]'s intentions to show [[Ann Kelso]] an advanced future [[society]] are thrown into disarray. Because they have arrived on [[DrashigWorld]] - a [[park]] where every known species of the terrifying predators has been gathered together to entertain and thrill the public. The familiar [[wetland Drashig]]s, the [[albino burrowing Drashig]]s of the [[desert]], and deadliest of all, the tiny [[Emerald Drashig]]s of the [[rainforest]]s.
 
And it's not the best day to have arrived. The park has been shut down due to a visitor fatality. A [[Galactic Attractions]] inspector is on site meaning everyone is extremely tense and under pressure.
And it's not the best day to have arrived. The park has been shut down due to a visitor fatality. A [[Galactic Attractions]] inspector is on site meaning everyone is extremely tense and under pressure.
 
It's exactly the right circumstances in which someone might make a mistake. And on Drashigworld, mistakes are deadly.
It's exactly the right circumstances in which someone might make a mistake. And on Drashigworld, mistakes are deadly.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
=== Part one ===
=== Part one ===
Dr. Vaneesa Seaborne
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] introduces the surprised [[Ann Kelso|Ann]] to the newly assembled [[K9 Mark II]] and attempts to take them to meet the [[Liddellian]]s of [[Numenor Minor]], but [[the TARDIS]] goes out of control and the Doctor instead lands on the wetlands of a [[planetoid]]. Although the Doctor orders K9 to remain inside due to perceived criticisms of his ability to pilot the TARDIS, Ann tells him to follow once they are at a distance. The wetlands are enclosed by an [[energy barrier]] which they follow until they find incomplete [[animal]] [[skeleton]]s and hear the growl of a [[Drashig]], whereupon they quickly march away. K9 shoots at the Drashig when it nears the Doctor and Ann, at the cost of depleting his new [[energy cell]], and is left behind whilst his [[companion]]s use a [[teleport pad]].
records an observation log of the experiments being observed in the
park. After failing to gain access to something, she storms off in a
rage to get a drink. Some strange noises begin to come from the
computer but no one is around to hear the.
 
Inside the [[TARDIS]], [[Ann Kelso|Ann]] complains to the [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor]] that they are not going anywhere
interesting.
 
The Doctor
introduces Ann to K9. They take off to Newmenor minor, but the TARDIS
suddenly goes berserk, shaking and rattling around.
 
Lord Braye and
Trencher walk through the wetlands enjoying the nice weather and lack
of visitors. They discuss that park has been closed due to an
accident in which a visitor was killed for turning off their energy
shield. They check if the teleport pad is operating properly. They
then use it to teleport to the next region. After making sure
everything is working properly before the inspector arrives, they
prepare to teleport to inspect the next area.
 
The TARDIS manages
to land. Ann sees through the view screen and is apprehensive about
going outside into the cold, damp weather. The Doctor orders K9 to
stay but Ann tells him quietly to follow along. Ann is unimpressed by
the barren landscapes in front of them until she sees a rocket. They
follow the rocket on foot. Ann complains why they can’t just take
the TARDIS but the Doctor says he doesn’t want a journey like the
one they just had. They find a field that vaporizes anything that
tries to pass through and the doctor walks along the perimeter to
find a way through/past it.
 
Lord Braye decides
Trencher will greet the inspector, much to Trencher’s sarcastic
enthusiasm. Lord Braye practices his introduction, mentioning that he
has achieved his life’’s dream of opening a park devoted to the
most dangerous creature in the galaxy... the [[Drashig]].
 
Meanwhile the Doctor
and Ann stumble upon a piles of dead bones. The Doctor, a little
unnerved, believes they should head back to the TARDIS. They hear
something and the Doctor decides it better to try and avoid the new
creature potentially stalking them.
 
Lord Braye practices
introducing the four kinds of Drashigs. He then goes to find
professor Seaborne, who is having a late lunch. She mentions he
should look through the view-screen at the emerald Drashigs hunting.
He asks her for how she would describe and emerald Drashig as he
would like help for his introductory speech to the inspector. 
 
He notes that
they’re attacking, using a hunting technique where the rest of a
pack drive the prey straight into the teeth of one emerald Drashig.
He notes she is eating a lot to which she says is because she has
been working hard. She doubts the inspector will be much impressed
with their string of failures but he tries to keep hope.
 
The Doctor and Ann
continue running but the Doctor trips. Ann is frightened as she sees
the creature behind them getting closer and the Doctor warns her not
to look back, explaining it is a Drashig.
 
The Galactic
inspector Titus Wayland lands and is greeted by chief game keeper
Trencher. The two go to find Lord Braye who will explain everything.
Lord Braye and  Dr. Seasborne discuss the inspector. She then shows
him that she has finished their holographic 3-D map of all of Drashig
world that also displays the positions of all Drashigs in the park.
Suddenly they notice two unidentified human presence dots on the map
just as Titus arrives.
 
<nowiki> </nowiki>The Doctor and Ann
have stumbled on a teleport pad. Ann wonders why the Drashig has
stopped but the Doctor explains that it is waiting for the others
since they hunt in packs. The Doctor cannot hack into the teleport
pad in time but K9 arrives in the nick of time and gets it working.
However, K9 must enter energy conservation mode and shuts down.
 
Lord Braye
introduces himself to Inspector Titus Wayland. Titus questions why a
death has occurred on the vicinity despite Lord Braye’s insistence
of the highest level of safety and security and why the family of the
deceased party was offered money by Lord Braye to keep quiet.
 
The Doctor explains
he should have left K9 to charge up last night. Ann does not wish to
leave K9 behind but they have no choice. The Doctor gets the next
telepad working and they leave. Ann feels slick from the teleport
despite the warning. Suddenly the voice of Titus rings ask, wondering
who the two travellers are?
 
Vanessa goes down to
the park but suddenly hears strange voices and loses focus for a
minute. Meanwhile Trencher has found a metal dog. She goes to
investigate.
 
Lord Braye fumbles
in his attempt to explain the presence of the Doctor and Ann. The
Doctor explains they are tourists. Inspector Titus prods Lord Braye
into continuing his explanation of Drashigworld, despite the
appearance of the new guests. Lord Braye continues by explaining that
Drashigworld is a theme park split into four “worlds”, each
containing a different type of Drashig. Titus then asks the Doctor
how he ended up here, even though the park is supposed to be closed
to visitors, but the Doctor declares his dislike for the park,
calling the operation insane.
 
Trencher asks K9
some questions, such as who he’s with, however, K9 is in no
condition to talk so she brings it back to the lab.
 
The Doctor asks Lord
Braye what the flashing red light on the holographic map is which
Lord Braye, panicking,assures them it’s nothing and calls Vanessa,
asking if there’s a problem. She says the Emerald Drashig enclosure
has been opened up. The doctor berates Lord Braye for keeping some of
the most dangerous creatures, Emerald Drashigs, in his park. The
Doctor orders Ann to stay with Titus while he goes off to
investigate, Lord Braye following.  


Trencher fixes up K9
[[Braye (Planet of the Drashigs)|Lord Braye]] and [[Trencher]], the owner and [[gamekeeper]] of [[DrashigWorld]], check the facilities around the park ahead of the arrival of [[inspector]] [[Titus Wayland]], who is visiting because of the recent [[death]] of a visitor who turned off their personal energy shield. When Wayland arrives, [[engineer]] [[Vanessa Seaborne]] sends Trencher to investigate [[human]] movement that she has detected whilst Lord Braye occupies Wayland and denies covering up other incidents as he had attempted to do by paying off the deceased's family. They are interrupted when the Doctor and Ann arrive by teleport and Vanessa realises that the [[Emerald Drashig]] enclosure at the research lab is open, but she is dissociating and collapses before she can do anything about it. The Doctor and Lord Braye go to investigate.
and K9 requests power from a power source, so Trencher takes him to
one.    


Lord Braye takes the
Trencher finds K9 conserving energy at the teleport pad and takes him to the centre to power him up, meeting Ann just after the Doctor and Lord Braye leave. The Doctor and Lord Braye close the enclosure and see to the unwell Vanessa, who says that she can hear the Drashigs and that they are always hungry. The five Emerald Drashigs, smaller and deadlier than their larger cousins, have been freed from their captivity and advance upon the Doctor, Lord Braye and Vanessa. The Doctor tries to keep them back.
Doctor to a research lab. The Doctor asks what kind of research but
Lord Braye won’t reveal it.
 
Titus and Ann talk,
where she reveals she’s a police officer. Trencher arrives with K9.
Ann is glad to see him but upset over his condition. K9 insists it
needs power.
 
The Doctor and Lord
Braye go into the lab. The Doctor activates the cameras and they see
that the gate to the enclosure has been opened. They find Vanessa,
who had fainted, and the Doctor notes that it doesn’t look like the
system has been hacked. They question Vanessa and she claims she can
hear the Drashigs and that they are hungry and free. They hear the
emerald Drashigs, all five of them, in the distance and prepare to
try and escape...  


=== Part two ===
=== Part two ===
The Doctor orders
The Doctor uses [[Third Doctor's sonic screwdriver|his sonic screwdriver]] to activate and ignite a gas tap and frighten the Emerald Drashigs away with [[fire]], allowing him to escape with Lord Braye and Vanessa and fuse the controls of a [[Romalian alloy]] door behind them. He contacts and updates the centre, where K9 is charging his power cell using the park's [[catalytic fusion reactor]], before pressing Lord Braye and Vanessa about the [[electro-encephalogram]] he saw in the lab; they explain that Vanessa has been connecting to the Emerald Drashigs' [[brain]]s to find a way to allow tourists to experience what they do when they hunt. Because of these experiments, she has a connection to them and can sense that they are in the teleport pad room where they find them using the device.  
Lord Braye to stay when he tries to run. Vanessa notes the one with
the white marking is the alpha, the leader. The Doctor asks if the
taps on the workbench are gas taps. Confused, but soon understands
when the Doctor ignites the gas with the sonic screwdriver and the
flames scare the Drashig back. 
 
The Doctor uses the
sonic screwdriver to lock the controls but Vanessa doesn’t believe
it will hold them back. Lord Braye exclaims that the door is made of
romalian alloy, the only metal Drashigs cannot bite into, however
Vanessa notes that they will find a way, some kind of weak point. The
Doctor asks how the Drashigs were released but Vanessa doesn’t
know.
 
K9 is charging, using the catalytic fusion reactor. Titus is impressed with K9. 
 
Just then the Fourth Doctor contacts them over the intercom system and updates them on the
loose.
 
He tells them to stay put and will be coming back. Trencher warns him but he says he
knows. The three prepare to find a teleport pad so that the Drashigs may lose their scent.
 
Titus is terrified
of having these Drashigs on the loose. K9 downloads a map of the park
into his data-banks.
 
The Doctor and Braye argue about the legitimacy of the park. Braye tries to conceal the
true intentions but Vanessa reveals to the doctor that they have been
trying to connect to the Drashig’s brainwaves. Lord Braye relents
and reveals he wants to study their brainwaves so that he can
experience the same hunting instinct as them and see what it is like
ot be them. The Doctor berates him for idiocy and explains that as a
human he is sentient and can do much better with his life than debase
himself to the level of a Drashig, a creature that simply hunts and acts violently. 
 
Trencher triple
locks all entrances. Titus bemoans his situation. K9 has downloaded
the park map. Trencher tells them that they’re going to wait.  


Vanessa explains she
K9 assimilates a [[map]] of the park and reaches 77% capacity. Ann has to disconnect him and hide with him, Trencher and Wayland, however, when the Emerald Drashigs arrive via the teleport pad. K9 blasts the roof with his laser to bury them in rubble and leads the group along the atmospheric distribution tunnels to the [[armoury]]. Trencher informs the Doctor of their destination using her communicator and the Doctor, having realised that the connection between Vanessa and the Emerald Drashigs goes both ways, warns her that the Drashigs will be on their way there. The Emerald Drashigs dent the tunnel from the outside to trap the group and Wayland tries to get away, but the Emerald Drashigs get through and kill him. Ann, K9 and Trencher manage to squeeze through the dent and reach the armoury.
is hearing the Drashig’s voices. Braye is excited but the Doctor is
concerned. She begins to hear them and the Doctor tells her to focus
on what they’re thinking. She reveals that the Drashigs are hunting
for them and have cut their escape route (telepad) off. The Doctor
leads them somewhere else.  


They find the
The Doctor accesses the lab's [[security camera]]s and proves his theory by showing Vanessa releasing the Emerald Drashigs from their enclosure. He sends Lord Braye to the armoury with a message to meet him at the back entrance and heads to the central power generator with Vanessa, who senses the Emerald Drashigs' alpha being killed after breaking into the armoury and tries to become their new alpha. They reject her, however, and she gives her life to allow the Doctor to reroute DrashigWorld's power to the neuro-headpiece and use it to amplify their thoughts and broadcast them back to them. He then meets up with Ann, K9, Trencher and Lord Braye and takes them to the TARDIS to leave DrashigWorld, which will now be left to the Drashigs.
emerald Drashigs circling the telepad and climbing onto them despite
supposedly never having seen them before. The emerald Drashigs manage
to work the teleport and teleport themselves
 
Just then the
telepad near Trencher, Ann and Titus activates and they discover the
emerald Drashigs coming through. Trencher tells them to hide behind a
nearby table. They arrive but are disoriented from the teleport. Ann
instructs K9 to blast the roof down.
 
<nowiki> </nowiki>K9 then reveals
that the tunnels are still usable as escape routes and the trio
prepare to escape that way.
 
The Doctor tries to
teleport back to the central command hub where Ann, Trencher and
Titus were but find that it has been destroyed. Vanessa and Lord
Braye are confused but the Doctor explains that they are hearing
their thoughts and so the Drashigs have changed pattern. Vanessa’
communicator goes off and it is Trencher. Trencher explains they are
in the central atmospheric distribution tunnels being guided by K9.
They intend to head for the centre's armoury. The Doctor mentions he
wishes Vanessa hadn’t heard that, and they need to be careful as
the Drashigs are coming to find them. Trencher tries to ask for an
explanation but there is no time to reply.  
 
Trencher, Titus and
Ann are cut off by the Drashigs and try to look for another way out.
Titus, in a panic, tries running in a random direction but is caught
by the Drahsigs and he disappears. They find a dent and attempt to go
through it as the Drashigs close in on them.
 
The Doctor intends
to go back to the lab to try and find a way to help the three but
refuses to say why, explaining that Vanessa is leaking information
unintentionally through their connected minds.
 
Trencher, Ann and K9
manage to make it to the armoury.  


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Tom Baker]]
* [[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Tom Baker]]
* WPC [[Ann Kelso]] - [[Jane Slavin]]
* [[Ann Kelso]] - [[Jane Slavin]]
* [[K9 Mark II|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
* [[K9 Mark II|K9]] - [[John Leeson]]
* [[Vanessa Seaborne]] - [[Fenella Woolgar]]
* [[Vanessa Seaborne]] - [[Fenella Woolgar]]
Line 280: Line 62:
* [[Titus Wayland]] - [[Andrew Ryan]]
* [[Titus Wayland]] - [[Andrew Ryan]]


=== Uncredited Cast ===
=== Uncredited cast ===
* [[Drashig]]s / [[Computer (Planet of the Drashigs)|Computer]] - [[Dan Starkey]]
* [[Drashig]]s / [[Computer (Planet of the Drashigs)|Computer]] - [[Dan Starkey]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* [[DrashigWorld]] is a planetoid or dwarf planet, one of the 700 Wonders of the [[Galactic Hub]]. It is divided into four quadrants separated by energy barriers, with telepads for transportation.
* [[DrashigWorld]] is a planetoid or dwarf planet, one of the 700 Wonders of the [[Galactic Hub]]. It is divided into four quadrants separated by energy barriers, with telepads for transportation.
* The TARDIS arrives in the [[wetland]].
* The TARDIS arrives in the [[wetland]].
Line 305: Line 87:
* The Doctor previously encountered Drashigs and using his [[sonic screwdriver]] ignited the gas produced by the marsh to defend himself by scaring the Drashigs away. ([[TV]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters (TV story)|Carnival of Monsters]]'')
* The Doctor previously encountered Drashigs and using his [[sonic screwdriver]] ignited the gas produced by the marsh to defend himself by scaring the Drashigs away. ([[TV]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters (TV story)|Carnival of Monsters]]'')
* The Doctor finishes building K9 Mark II. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Sinestran Kill (audio story)|The Sinestran Kill]]'')
* The Doctor finishes building K9 Mark II. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invasion of Time (TV story)|The Invasion of Time]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Sinestran Kill (audio story)|The Sinestran Kill]]'')
* The Doctor quotes to beware "[[Trojan Horse|Greeks bearing gifts]]," and says "I warned [[Spartan|them]] but they wouldn't listen." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Myth Makers (TV story)|The Myth Makers]]'')
* The Doctor quotes to beware "[[Trojan Horse|Greeks bearing gifts]]," and says "I warned [[Troy|them]] but they wouldn't listen." ([[TV]]: ''[[The Myth Makers (TV story)|The Myth Makers]]'')
* Vanessa becomes connected with the Drashigs. The Drashigs evolved from [[posthuman]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Daring Initiation (short story)|Daring Initiation]]'')
* Vanessa becomes connected with the Drashigs. The Drashigs evolved from [[posthuman]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Daring Initiation (short story)|Daring Initiation]]'')
* Trencher mentions her dog was ripped apart by a [[Manussian ligrid]]. The Doctor would later visit the planet [[Manussa (planet)|Manussa]] in his [[Fifth Doctor|fifth incarnation]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[Snakedance (TV story)|Snakedance]]'')
== Cover gallery ==
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Planet of the Drashigs (audio story) textless.jpg|Textless cover
Planet of the Drashigs (audio story) Alt.jpeg|Alternate cover
</gallery>


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{bigfinish|releases/v/planet-of-the-drashigs-1646/}}
{{bigfinish|releases/v/doctor-who-planet-of-the-drashigs-1646}}


{{BF 4DA}}
{{BF 4DA}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Series 8 (4DA) audio stories]]
[[Category:Series 8 (4DA) audio stories]]
[[Category:K9 audio stories]]
[[Category:K9 audio stories]]

Latest revision as of 19:52, 3 July 2024

RealWorld.png

Planet of the Drashigs was the second story in the eighth series of The Fourth Doctor Adventures, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Phil Mulryne and featured Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Jane Slavin as Ann Kelso and John Leeson as K9 Mark II.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

When the TARDIS lands on an alien planet, the Doctor's intentions to show Ann Kelso an advanced future society are thrown into disarray. Because they have arrived on DrashigWorld - a park where every known species of the terrifying predators has been gathered together to entertain and thrill the public. The familiar wetland Drashigs, the albino burrowing Drashigs of the desert, and deadliest of all, the tiny Emerald Drashigs of the rainforests.

And it's not the best day to have arrived. The park has been shut down due to a visitor fatality. A Galactic Attractions inspector is on site meaning everyone is extremely tense and under pressure.

It's exactly the right circumstances in which someone might make a mistake. And on Drashigworld, mistakes are deadly.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor introduces the surprised Ann to the newly assembled K9 Mark II and attempts to take them to meet the Liddellians of Numenor Minor, but the TARDIS goes out of control and the Doctor instead lands on the wetlands of a planetoid. Although the Doctor orders K9 to remain inside due to perceived criticisms of his ability to pilot the TARDIS, Ann tells him to follow once they are at a distance. The wetlands are enclosed by an energy barrier which they follow until they find incomplete animal skeletons and hear the growl of a Drashig, whereupon they quickly march away. K9 shoots at the Drashig when it nears the Doctor and Ann, at the cost of depleting his new energy cell, and is left behind whilst his companions use a teleport pad.

Lord Braye and Trencher, the owner and gamekeeper of DrashigWorld, check the facilities around the park ahead of the arrival of inspector Titus Wayland, who is visiting because of the recent death of a visitor who turned off their personal energy shield. When Wayland arrives, engineer Vanessa Seaborne sends Trencher to investigate human movement that she has detected whilst Lord Braye occupies Wayland and denies covering up other incidents as he had attempted to do by paying off the deceased's family. They are interrupted when the Doctor and Ann arrive by teleport and Vanessa realises that the Emerald Drashig enclosure at the research lab is open, but she is dissociating and collapses before she can do anything about it. The Doctor and Lord Braye go to investigate.

Trencher finds K9 conserving energy at the teleport pad and takes him to the centre to power him up, meeting Ann just after the Doctor and Lord Braye leave. The Doctor and Lord Braye close the enclosure and see to the unwell Vanessa, who says that she can hear the Drashigs and that they are always hungry. The five Emerald Drashigs, smaller and deadlier than their larger cousins, have been freed from their captivity and advance upon the Doctor, Lord Braye and Vanessa. The Doctor tries to keep them back.

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor uses his sonic screwdriver to activate and ignite a gas tap and frighten the Emerald Drashigs away with fire, allowing him to escape with Lord Braye and Vanessa and fuse the controls of a Romalian alloy door behind them. He contacts and updates the centre, where K9 is charging his power cell using the park's catalytic fusion reactor, before pressing Lord Braye and Vanessa about the electro-encephalogram he saw in the lab; they explain that Vanessa has been connecting to the Emerald Drashigs' brains to find a way to allow tourists to experience what they do when they hunt. Because of these experiments, she has a connection to them and can sense that they are in the teleport pad room where they find them using the device.

K9 assimilates a map of the park and reaches 77% capacity. Ann has to disconnect him and hide with him, Trencher and Wayland, however, when the Emerald Drashigs arrive via the teleport pad. K9 blasts the roof with his laser to bury them in rubble and leads the group along the atmospheric distribution tunnels to the armoury. Trencher informs the Doctor of their destination using her communicator and the Doctor, having realised that the connection between Vanessa and the Emerald Drashigs goes both ways, warns her that the Drashigs will be on their way there. The Emerald Drashigs dent the tunnel from the outside to trap the group and Wayland tries to get away, but the Emerald Drashigs get through and kill him. Ann, K9 and Trencher manage to squeeze through the dent and reach the armoury.

The Doctor accesses the lab's security cameras and proves his theory by showing Vanessa releasing the Emerald Drashigs from their enclosure. He sends Lord Braye to the armoury with a message to meet him at the back entrance and heads to the central power generator with Vanessa, who senses the Emerald Drashigs' alpha being killed after breaking into the armoury and tries to become their new alpha. They reject her, however, and she gives her life to allow the Doctor to reroute DrashigWorld's power to the neuro-headpiece and use it to amplify their thoughts and broadcast them back to them. He then meets up with Ann, K9, Trencher and Lord Braye and takes them to the TARDIS to leave DrashigWorld, which will now be left to the Drashigs.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • DrashigWorld is a planetoid or dwarf planet, one of the 700 Wonders of the Galactic Hub. It is divided into four quadrants separated by energy barriers, with telepads for transportation.
  • The TARDIS arrives in the wetland.
  • There are dozens of Drashigs on the planet, and they are fed on goats.
  • Vanessa designed a catalytic fusion reactor that powers the park.
  • Emerald Drashigs are the smallest and deadliest, more vicious than any predator in the known universe. They travel in packs of five, with the alpha having a white marking.
  • Wayland claims Braye paid the family of the victim 1000 credits not to talk.
  • The door to Vanessa's lab is double-plated romalian alloy, the only metal Drashigs can't bite through.
  • Vanessa's project involved a remote electroencephalograph and a neural oscillation detector, which allows the user to connect to the Drashig's neural oscillations, their higher and lower beta waves. The user can then experience the co-ordination and thrill of the Drashigs hunting.
  • Drashigs are non-sentient, the Doctor explaining that they don't have a consciousness or imagination.
  • K9 assimilates the 3D map schematic of the park.
  • Trencher uses a grenade to kill an alpha emerald, and the others mourn it.
  • Trencher had a dog once, but a Manussian ligrid tore her to pieces.
  • A single Emerald wiped out a group of soldiers in the jungles of Hydroxus 3.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This story marks the Drashigs' first appearance in an audio, and is reminiscent of Jurassic Park. Behind-the-scenes material makes this connection explicit. Nicholas Briggs also compares the Emerald Drashigs to the velociraptors of that film and franchise. (BFX: Planet of the Drashigs) There is also a cheeky reference within the script: the Doctor notes that Lord Braye had "no expense spared" in DrashigWorld's lab, echoing a recurring line from the film.
  • While the Doctor's use of air vents to escape is a running joke, in this story characters use "atmospheric distribution tunnels."

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Textless cover

    Textless cover

  • Alternate cover

    Alternate cover

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

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Big Finish Fourth Doctor Adventures
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Series 7
Series 8
Series 9
Series 10
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Series 12
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Dalek Universe
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