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{{Gone to Pot}}
{{retitle|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
{{Infobox Object  
{{Infobox Object  
|image = [[File:Starship_UK.PNG|270px]]
|name        = ''Starship UK''
|object name =Starship UK
|image      = Starship UK.jpg
|type = Spacecraft
|type       = [[Spacecraft]]
|origin = [[Earth]]
|origin     = [[Earth]]
|appearances = [[DW]]: ''[[The Beast Below]]''
|first      = The Beast Below (TV story)
}}
|appearances = [[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]''
}}{{you may|United Kingdom (spacecraft)|n1 = the 21st century battle flagship "United Kingdom"}}
{{British Isles}}
'''''Starship UK''''' was a [[spacecraft|space ship]] built to carry and house the population of the [[United Kingdom]] when [[Earth]] was threatened by [[solar flare]]s in the [[29th century]].


'''Starship UK''' was a huge ship built to house the population of the United Kingdom (excluding Scotland, who wanted their own ship, though whether they got it is unclear) during their journey to find another planet to live on from the 29th to 33rd centuries, after the Earth and all life on it was threatened by Solar Flares in the former 29th century. It was built around, and propelled by a [[Star Whale]], the last of its kind, which was continuously tortured with an electrical device in 'The Tower' of london's dungeon, to keep it moving.
== Geography and society ==
The whole of the United Kingdom of [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]] — but not [[Scotland]], who had wanted [[Starship Scotland|their own ship]] — was converted from an island nation into ''Starship UK''. It was divided into huge blocks and sections named after the nation's counties, such as [[Surrey]] and [[Devon]]. The image of the [[Union Flag]] was placed on the ship. Transport was provided by "[[Vator]]s" (elevators), modelled on the old [[London Underground]]. Citizens made their way around on bikes. Markets and schools existed. Order was maintained by the [[Smiler]]s and [[Winder]]s, if anyone broke the rules they got sent below the starship and devoured by the star whale. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]'')


Every 5 years the people of the Starship UK would vote whether to protest at this treatment, or forget about it, and every 5 years they all chose to forget. The [[Liz Ten|Queen Elizabeth the Tenth]], or "Liz Ten" as she was known, was not aware of how the ship was powered. She deduced that it did not have an engine because there were no vibrations from an engine, but endeavoured to find out why this was the case. Every 10 years she discovered the truth, and chose to forget rather then abdicate and release the Star Whale.
== Technology ==
Starship UK lacked any kind of engine and relied entirely on the star whale for its ability to travel through space. Like any starship, it had airlocks and sealed environments. Rapid transport from one deck to another was provided by Vators manufactured by Vatorverse. Its system was modelled after the London Underground.


[[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Amy Pond]] discovered that it was run by the [[Smiler]]s and the government, instead of its rightful queen. They also found out that Elizabeth the 10th kept discovering the nature of the ships propulsion, but chose to forget by having part of her memory wiped - rather than abdicate and release the whale. In the end the Doctor's companion, Amy Pond, resolved everything by making the Queen press 'abdicate', which released the Star Whale. The Star Whale did not abandon the Starship UK, because it had volunteered to move the ship. In fact, with the Star Whale not being tortured anymore, the ship moved even faster than it ever had before. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Beast Below]]'')
Most, if not all the technology inside the ship was clockwork, such as wind-up street lamps, and functioned thanks to the Winders, who used the keys on their necks to reporter the machines. Old phones, bicycles, clockwork robots, televisions and firearms existed and were still in use by people even three hundred years into Starship UK’s journey. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]'')
[[Category:Individual spacecraft]]
 
== History ==
When Earth was threatened by [[solar flare]]s, the United Kingdom could not build a ship to escape. When the [[Star whale (The Beast Below)|last star whale]] came to help, the [[human]]s captured it and built a ship around it. The creature had volunteered for this, but the humans did not know and enslaved it unnecessarily, torturing it with an electrical device in the [[Tower of London]] dungeon to keep it moving. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]'') Starship UK was to be followed by the ''[[SS Lucy Gray]]'', which had a course plotted behind it before it was changed by the [[Eleventh Doctor]] to avoid collision with [[the Moon]] which had changed position since Starship UK's departure. ([[GAME]]: ''[[Evacuation Earth (video game)|Evacuation Earth]]'')
 
[[File:StarshipUKCityshot.jpg|thumb|left|A view of the skyscrapers. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]'')]]
The head of state was [[Queen]] [[Elizabeth X]], also known as "Liz Ten." Unable to stand such cruel treatment to another creature to save her people, she left orders for the government to continue running things as they were; she then erased all memory of the Star Whale from her mind. If she ever discovered the truth again, she would be brought to the Tower of London to choose to erase her memory or release the Star Whale. Liz Ten's cycle of learning and forgetting the truth continued in a ten year cycle for over 300 years, due to having her "body clock" slowed to the point she didn't age for centuries. Every five years, adults woulds be allowed to vote whether or not to free the Star Whale; those who protested were feed to the Whale, but it refused to eat children considered to have no value. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]'')
 
In the [[32nd century]], the cycle was finally interrupted by the arrival of the [[Eleventh Doctor]] and [[Amy Pond]]. While the Queen believed she was being marginalised by her government and was unaware of things, she had instigated the capture of the star whale and continually chose to forget — having her mind wiped every time she found out; the government was still following her original orders. Amy resolved matters by making the Queen to press the button marked "Abdicate" rather than "Forget". This released the star whale. The star whale did not abandon ''Starship UK'' because it had volunteered to move the ship. With the star whale no longer tortured, the ship moved faster. As the Doctor and Amy left, a [[Time Field|crack in time]] appeared on the hull of ''Starship UK''. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Beast Below (TV story)|The Beast Below]]'')
 
In the starship, there was a [[Royal Collection]], in which [[River Song]] stole ''[[The Pandorica Opens]]'', which [[Liz Ten]] held her at gunpoint. River showed Liz the painting, which was [[the TARDIS]] exploding, so she let her go. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Pandorica Opens (TV story)|The Pandorica Opens]]'')
 
''Starship UK'' never returned to Earth. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Last Words (audio story)}})
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* According to ''[[The Brilliant Book 2011]]'', a book that contains [[Tardis:Valid sources|non-narrative]] based information, the government had suspended democratic elections in "this time of upheaval" and continued dictatorial rule for centuries after. However, the citizens were allowed to vote every five years ([[REF]]: ''[[The Brilliant Book 2011]]'') on whether to protest the treatment of the star whale or forget about it. Those who protested were fed to the star whale. The star whale wouldn't eat [[child]]ren, so they were sent to work in the [[Tower of London]].
 
{{TitleSort}}
 
[[Category:Starship UK| ]]
[[Category:Crack locations]]
[[Category:Locations visited by the Eleventh Doctor]]
[[Category:Human colony ships]]

Latest revision as of 14:25, 1 September 2024

Starship UK was a space ship built to carry and house the population of the United Kingdom when Earth was threatened by solar flares in the 29th century.

Geography and society[[edit] | [edit source]]

The whole of the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland — but not Scotland, who had wanted their own ship — was converted from an island nation into Starship UK. It was divided into huge blocks and sections named after the nation's counties, such as Surrey and Devon. The image of the Union Flag was placed on the ship. Transport was provided by "Vators" (elevators), modelled on the old London Underground. Citizens made their way around on bikes. Markets and schools existed. Order was maintained by the Smilers and Winders, if anyone broke the rules they got sent below the starship and devoured by the star whale. (TV: The Beast Below)

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Starship UK lacked any kind of engine and relied entirely on the star whale for its ability to travel through space. Like any starship, it had airlocks and sealed environments. Rapid transport from one deck to another was provided by Vators manufactured by Vatorverse. Its system was modelled after the London Underground.

Most, if not all the technology inside the ship was clockwork, such as wind-up street lamps, and functioned thanks to the Winders, who used the keys on their necks to reporter the machines. Old phones, bicycles, clockwork robots, televisions and firearms existed and were still in use by people even three hundred years into Starship UK’s journey. (TV: The Beast Below)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

When Earth was threatened by solar flares, the United Kingdom could not build a ship to escape. When the last star whale came to help, the humans captured it and built a ship around it. The creature had volunteered for this, but the humans did not know and enslaved it unnecessarily, torturing it with an electrical device in the Tower of London dungeon to keep it moving. (TV: The Beast Below) Starship UK was to be followed by the SS Lucy Gray, which had a course plotted behind it before it was changed by the Eleventh Doctor to avoid collision with the Moon which had changed position since Starship UK's departure. (GAME: Evacuation Earth)

A view of the skyscrapers. (TV: The Beast Below)

The head of state was Queen Elizabeth X, also known as "Liz Ten." Unable to stand such cruel treatment to another creature to save her people, she left orders for the government to continue running things as they were; she then erased all memory of the Star Whale from her mind. If she ever discovered the truth again, she would be brought to the Tower of London to choose to erase her memory or release the Star Whale. Liz Ten's cycle of learning and forgetting the truth continued in a ten year cycle for over 300 years, due to having her "body clock" slowed to the point she didn't age for centuries. Every five years, adults woulds be allowed to vote whether or not to free the Star Whale; those who protested were feed to the Whale, but it refused to eat children considered to have no value. (TV: The Beast Below)

In the 32nd century, the cycle was finally interrupted by the arrival of the Eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond. While the Queen believed she was being marginalised by her government and was unaware of things, she had instigated the capture of the star whale and continually chose to forget — having her mind wiped every time she found out; the government was still following her original orders. Amy resolved matters by making the Queen to press the button marked "Abdicate" rather than "Forget". This released the star whale. The star whale did not abandon Starship UK because it had volunteered to move the ship. With the star whale no longer tortured, the ship moved faster. As the Doctor and Amy left, a crack in time appeared on the hull of Starship UK. (TV: The Beast Below)

In the starship, there was a Royal Collection, in which River Song stole The Pandorica Opens, which Liz Ten held her at gunpoint. River showed Liz the painting, which was the TARDIS exploding, so she let her go. (TV: The Pandorica Opens)

Starship UK never returned to Earth. (AUDIO: Last Words [+]Loading...["Last Words (audio story)"])

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

  • According to The Brilliant Book 2011, a book that contains non-narrative based information, the government had suspended democratic elections in "this time of upheaval" and continued dictatorial rule for centuries after. However, the citizens were allowed to vote every five years (REF: The Brilliant Book 2011) on whether to protest the treatment of the star whale or forget about it. Those who protested were fed to the star whale. The star whale wouldn't eat children, so they were sent to work in the Tower of London.