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{{Infobox Organization
{{subpage tabs}}
|name= Cult of Skaro
{{Infobox Organisation
|image= [[Image:Cult of Skaro.jpg|250px]]
|image       = Cult of Skaro.jpg
|leader= [[Dalek Sec]], later [[Dalek Caan]]
|leader     = [[Dalek Sec]], later [[Dalek Caan]]
|aka=  
|aka         =  
|affiliation= [[Dalek]]s
|affiliation = [[Dalek]]s
|bases= [[Skaro]]<br>[[Empire State Building]] (temporary base)
|bases       = [[Skaro]], [[Empire State Building]]
|appearances= <ul><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday]]''</li><li>[[DW]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan]]'' / ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]''</li><li>[[DWF]]: ''[[Birth of a Legend]]''</li></ul>
|members    = {{il|[[Dalek Sec]]|[[Dalek Jast]]|[[Dalek Thay]]|[[Dalek Caan]]}}
|members= [[Dalek Caan]]<br>[[Dalek Sec]]<br>[[Dalek Jast]]<br>[[Dalek Thay]]
|size        = 4 known members
|garrison= 4 members
|first      = Army of Ghosts (TV story)
}}
|appearances = {{il|[[TV]]: ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)|Daleks in Manhattan]]'' / ''[[Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Evolution of the Daleks]]''|[[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth (TV story)|The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''|[[PROSE]]: ''[[Birth of a Legend (short story)|Birth of a Legend]]''}}
|clip        = Rose and The Doctor are seperated forever - Doctor Who - Doomsday - Series 2 - BBC
|clip2      = Dalek Hybrid = Human Sacrifice - Doctor Who - Daleks in Manhattan - Series 3 - BBC
}}{{you may|The Cult of Skaro (short story)|n1=the short story}}
{{ImageLink}}
The '''Cult of Skaro''' was an elite [[Dalek]] organisation that were "above and beyond the [[Dalek Emperor|Emperor]] himself" and designed to "think as the enemy thinks". The Cult was thought to be merely a legend by the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}, [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Whoniverse (novel)}})


The '''Cult of Skaro''', named after the [[Dalek]] [[Skaro|homeworld]], was a secret group of four Daleks made up of three [[Standard Dalek]]s and one [[Dalek Supreme|Black Dalek]].
== Purpose ==
The Cult of Skaro were assigned the task of furthering the Dalek cause through the development of new and unorthodox ideas and strategies, while operating in complete secrecy. [[Dalek Sec]] claimed that it was created to "imagine new ways of survival", ([[TV]]: {{cs|Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)}}) while the [[Tenth Doctor]] believed their purpose was to "find new ways of [[Death|killing]]". Their willingness to adopt alien modes of thought was demonstrated by the fact that they had individual names, a concept most Daleks found unorthodox. Led by Sec, the [[black]] Dalek, they answered to no one, not even the [[Dalek Emperor (The Parting of the Ways)|Dalek Emperor]], although they still respected him. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}})


==Overview==
== History ==
===History===
=== Origins ===
====Purpose====
The Cult of Skaro were at first just four ordinary Daleks. Dalek Sec was the [[Dalek Commander]] of the [[Seventh Incursion Squad]] sent to wipe out the remnants of the [[Mechanoid]]s which they succeeded in doing. Dalek Caan was an [[Attack Squad Leader]] of the [[Thirtieth Assault Group]]. [[Dalek Thay]] was the [[Commandant]] of [[Station Alpha]], the most secret Dalek research facility. [[Dalek Jast]] was a [[Force Leader]] of the [[Outer Rim Defensive Battalion]]. After doing this all four of them were promoted to become the Cult of Skaro. They were given their names — making them some of the only Daleks with names — and Dalek Sec was chosen to be their leader. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Birth of a Legend (short story)}})


They were assigned the task of furthering the Dalek cause through the development of new and unorthodox ideas and strategies. The leader of the Cult claimed that it was created primarily to further the process of Dalek evolution. Their willingness to adopt alien modes of thought was demonstrated by the fact that they had individual names, a concept most Daleks found abhorrent. Led by Sec, the Black Dalek, they answered to no one, not even the [[Dalek Emperor]], although they still revered him. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
By another account, the Cult may have been created during the [[Dalek-Movellan War]] when the Daleks were struggling against the limits of their thinking. The [[Movellan Incident|Dalek rescue of Davros]] may have been planned by them. ([[GAME]]: {{cs|Destiny of the Daleks (game)}})


====Origins====
By [[A Brief History of Time Lords|a third account]], the Cult was created during the [[Last Great Time War]], alongside groups such as the [[Eternity Circle]] and the [[Volatix Cabal]], to match the [[imagination]] of the [[Time Lord]]s. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|A Brief History of Time Lords (novel)}})
The Cult of Skaro were at first just four ordinary Daleks. Dalek Sec was a commander of a Dalek group sent to wipe out the remnants of the [[Mechanoid]]s which they succeeded in doing. After doing this all four of them were ordered by the Dalek Emperor to return to him. They arrived and were promoted to become the Cult of Skaro. They were then given their names and Dalek Sec was elected as their leader. ([[DWF]]: ''[[Birth of a Legend]]'')


====Survival====
=== Last Great Time War ===
They were a secret order who were to think like their enemies in order to destroy them, although their original purpose was to imagine new ways of survival. During the [[Last Great Time War]], they operated as a final strategic reserve - rather than fighting, they escaped into [[the Void|the space between universes]], along with what they called the [[Genesis Ark]], a piece of [[Time Lord]] technology. Having left the universe, they avoided being caught up in the destruction of the Dalek fleet. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday]]'', ''[[Daleks in Manhattan]]'')
They were an elite order who were to think like their enemies in order to destroy them, although their original purpose was to imagine new ways of survival. During the [[Last Great Time War]], they operated as a final strategic reserve. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}})


====Conflict with the Cybermen====
Looking into projections of [[the Doctor]]'s [[future]] via [[the Matrix]], the [[Last Great Time War]]-era [[Time Lord]]s were made aware of the Cult of Skaro despite their intelligence services having had no information on the group, validating rumours about the "Black Ops" unit and how it had worked independent of the Emperor. The revelation of the cult created concerns about how far the Dalek Empire was willing to go to achieve victory, yet [[psyche evaluation team]]s also speculated that Daleks like the group, thanks to their individuality, could be suggestible and reasoned with, undertaking research to find and identify these Daleks on Skaro.
The [[Torchwood Institute]]'s meddling began to open the barrier to the Void which had been broken down by the Cult's [[Void ship]]. [[Torchwood Tower]], known to the public as Canary Wharf, had been built around the gap into the Void so that [[Torchwood One]] could study it and use its energy. When the Void Ship opened, the Cult exited the ship and declared war - or "pest control" - against the [[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] that had invaded Earth from [[Pete's World]], thereby leading to the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')


====In New York City====
Foreseeing the [[Invasion of Manhattan]], the Time Lords saw Dalek Sec as the most open of the cult to new ideas, while the other three members defaulted to typical Dalek responses when faced with such options, and that the group's individuality could cause strife amongst them. Recognising that the [[Human-Dalek]] Sec knew much about Dalek strategy while also being welcome to emotions, the military, despite seeing the node foretell Sec's death, sought permission from the [[High Council]] to extract the Human-Dalek from that moment in the timeline, hoping to recruit him. The Time Lords also became aware of Dalek Caan's incursion into the war and were alarmed by how a single bronze Dalek, even if it had enhanced mental capacity, was able to break through a [[time lock]] and so began to investigate the matter. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Dalek Combat Training Manual (reference book)}})
The Cult escaped the battle through a [[temporal shift]] and ended up in [[New York City]] in [[1930]]. They infiltrated the construction of the [[Empire State Building]] and began what they called the "[[Final Experiment]]" - the creation of a [[Dalek-Human|new Dalek race]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan]]'' / ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]'') Inside the sewers below the Empire State Building they set up a genetic laboratory and began attempting to create new Dalek embryos. After the failure of this experiment, they tried thinking, as the Cult was designed to, and came up with the idea that they should use Earth's greatest resource, its people. They placed Dalekanium upon the mast of the Empire State Building and devised a plan to fuse the DNA of Daleks and Humans using an incoming ray of gamma radiation from the sun. Dalek Sec tested this on [[Diagoras|Mr. Diagoras]] and he became a Dalek-Human hybrid, now with human thoughts and emotions. Dalek Sec wanted to make the Dalek-Humans' DNA 90% human. The other Daleks, although bred to obey Sec, knew it was against the Dalek cause and so changed the DNA to 100% Dalek and imprisoned Dalek Sec. Dalek Sec was later exterminated accidentally after the other Cult members fired their [[gunstick]]s at [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]].


The Doctor got in the way of the blast of [[gamma radiation]] and so confused the DNA with some of his own. Therefore the Humans rebelled and killed Dalek Thay and Dalek Jast. The Doctor offered Dalek Caan—the last surviving Dalek—help but instead of taking it, Caan used an emergency temporal shift to escape ([[DW]]: ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]''). Caan returned to the [[Last Great Time War]] (despite the fact that the war is [[time-lock]]ed) and rescued [[Davros]] from his doomed command ship. Caan, however, went mad from his successful attempt at rescuing Davros. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]''/''[[Journey's End]]'')
The Cult created a sentient [[Dalek time machine]], intended to infiltrate the ranks of [[TARDIS]]es. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Didn't You Kill My Mother? (audio story)}})


:''See the individual sections on members for what is known about their respective histories:''
Knowing that the Daleks could not win the war, ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Whoniverse (novel)}}) the Cult of Skaro escaped into [[the Void|the space between universes]], along with what they called the [[Genesis Ark]], a piece of [[Time Lord]] technology. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}, {{cs|Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)}}) Having left the universe, they were not caught in the destruction of the [[Dalek Fleet|Dalek fleet]] at the end of the war. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Day of the Doctor (TV story)}}) They did, however, become aware of the [[fall of Gallifrey]], believing the Genesis Ark to be all that survived of the Time Lords' [[homeworld]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}) They spent their time in the Void thinking up new ways for the Dalek race to evolve. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|A Brief History of Time Lords (novel)}}) The [[Dalek Time Strategist (The Shadow Vortex)|Dalek Time Strategist]] was aware of the Cult and their importance to the Daleks' post-Time War history. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Restoration of the Daleks (audio story)}})


==Members of the Cult of Skaro==
=== Emerging from the Void ===
===[[Dalek Sec]]===
[[File:Dvc.jpg|thumb|The Cult of Skaro enters the Battle of Canary Wharf. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}})]]
[[File:Dalek-sec.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Dalek Sec.]]
The [[Torchwood Institute]]'s meddling began to open the barrier to the Void which had been broken down by the Cult's [[Void ship]]. [[Torchwood Tower]], known to the public as Canary Wharf, had been built around the gap into the Void so that [[Torchwood One]] could study it and use its energy. When the Void Ship opened, the Cult exited the ship and declared war — or "pest control" — against the [[Cybusman|Cybermen]] that had invaded Earth from [[Pete's World]], leading to the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]] while humanity was caught in the middle of the conflict.
'''Dalek Sec''' was at first the Commander of a Dalek force whose mission was to wipe out the Mechanoids. Sec commanded from on the battlefield and overlooking the field from vantage points. After the Mechanoids were exterminated, Sec returned as ordered to the Emperor. There Sec was selected as the leader of the Cult and given his name. He was then sent to the weapons research area for upgrades where he was newly-housed in [[Metalert]] [[Dalekanium]] that was more defensive than the average Dalekanium. Sec, along with the rest of the Cult, then went on to begin using their initiative to defeat enemies. ([[DWF]]: ''[[Birth of a Legend]]'')


Dalek Sec was responsible for the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]] in [[2007]]. He was designated by his [[Dalek Supreme|black casing]]. Sec ordered an escape via an [[temporal shift|emergency temporal shift]] to avoid being pulled into [[The Void]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
They then opened the [[Genesis Ark]] and released "millions" of Daleks onto [[England]]. All these Daleks were sucked into the void along with the Cybermen, by the [[Tenth Doctor]]'s intervention. The Cult escaped before being returned to the void, by using an emergency [[temporal shift]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}})
[[File:Dalek_sec_human_dalek.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Dalek Sec as a human Dalek.]]
Sec was notable for displaying a capacity for truly radical thought. He became the first Dalek to believe that their physical form could be in any way less than perfect, an idea which even the other members of the Cult found initially repellent. As a result, he became the first [[Human-Dalek]] hybrid as part of the "Final Experiment", combining with [[Diagoras|Mr. Diagoras]], using his flesh to become independent of the Dalek shell. However, the other Daleks eventually relieved him of his command, no longer considering him to be a Dalek. He was exterminated by Dalek Thay after taking a shot meant for [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan]]'' / ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]'')


===[[Dalek Caan]]===
=== Escape to New York City ===
[[File:Dalek_caan2.jpg|thumb|180px|Dalek Caan.]]
[[File:Sec and his cronies.jpg|left|thumb|The Cult, led by the now Human-Dalek Sec, face the Doctor. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)}}]]
Former Attack Squad Leader of the 30th Dalek Assault Squad, '''Dalek Caan''' was present at the Battle of Canary Wharf in 2007 and was possibly the second-in-command after Sec. He had the lowest-pitched voice out of the members of the Cult. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
After using the temporal shift, the Cult ended up in [[New York City]] in [[1930]]. They infiltrated the construction of the [[Empire State Building]] and began what they called the "[[Final Experiment]]" — the creation of a [[human-Dalek|new Dalek race]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)}}/{{cs|Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)}}) Inside the sewers below the Empire State Building, they set up a [[Transgenic Laboratory|genetic laboratory]] and attempted to create new Dalek embryos. After the failure of this experiment, they tried thinking creatively, as the Cult was designed to. They devised a plan using Earth's greatest resource — its people. They placed Dalekanium upon the mast of the Empire State Building, intending to fuse the DNA of Daleks and humans using an incoming ray of gamma radiation from the sun. Dalek Sec tested this on [[Diagoras|Mr Diagoras]], becoming a "human Dalek" hybrid, now with human thoughts and emotions.


He was the Dalek [[Mr Diagoras]] summoned and spoke to when needed in 1930 New York City and served as the Cult's link to the outside world. ([[DW]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan]]'')
As the [[invasion of Manhattan]] began, Dalek Sec began to want the Dalek-humans' to keep their human emotions, but the other Daleks, although bred to obey Sec, believed that this was against the Dalek cause. They changed the [[DNA]] to 100% Dalek and imprisoned Dalek Sec. Dalek Sec was later exterminated accidentally after the other Cult members fired their [[gunstick]]s at the Doctor. The Doctor got in the way of the blast of [[gamma radiation]] and so infused the DNA with some of his own. The humans rebelled and killed Dalek Thay and Dalek Jast, before being killed themselves. The Doctor offered to help Dalek Caan — the last surviving Dalek — but instead of taking it, Caan used an emergency temporal shift to escape once more. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)}})


After Sec became a Human-Dalek, Caan and the other Cult members no longer considered him to be a Dalek and turned against him. Caan made himself [[Dalek Controller|Controller]] and became linked to the Dalek-Human army, but when the Dalek-Humans rebelled and destroyed Jast and Thay, he destroyed them in turn. Now being the last surviving Dalek in the universe, the Doctor confronted Caan but the Dalek escaped from him via an emergency temporal shift. ([[DW]]: ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]'')
=== The Last of the Cult ===
[[File:Dalek_caan_insane.jpg|thumb|180px|Dalek Caan insane.]]
[[File:Caan mutant.jpg|thumb|Caan, the last of the Cult of Skaro. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}}]]
After teleporting away from the Doctor, Dalek Caan found himself in the first years of the [[Last Great Time War]]. He interfered with the timeline and saved [[Davros]] from his death, despite the war's events being time locked. Caan was almost destroyed in the process, and saw the whole of time and space, which allowed him to foresee events, but caused his insanity. It is assumed that the top half of his casing was destroyed during these events, as well. He presumably then served Davros and then the red [[Dalek Supreme]] during their creation of the [[Reality bomb]]. However, since he had seen all of time and space, he saw the true nature of the Daleks, and betrayed them, withholding the fact that they would be stopped by the Doctor. He was presumably killed in the destruction of the [[Crucible]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End]]'')
Caan was eventually able to penetrate the [[time lock]] on the [[Last Great Time War]], from which he rescued [[Davros]] from his doomed command ship. Caan, however, became insane during his successful attempt at rescuing Davros. He came to view the Daleks negatively, and set in motion a chain of events that would destroy the [[New Dalek Empire]]. Caan, the last remaining member of the Cult of Skaro, was presumed killed when the [[Crucible]] was destroyed. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}}/{{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}})


===[[Dalek Jast]]===
== Members of the Cult of Skaro ==
[[File:Dalek_jast.jpg|thumb|180px|Dalek Jast.]]
[[Dalek Caan]], [[Dalek Sec]], [[Dalek Thay]] and [[Dalek Jast]] were members of the Cult of Skaro. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doomsday (TV story)}}) Some reports mentioned a [[Dalek Rabe]], though - according to [[Christian Peterson]]'s ''[[Daleks - Invasion Earth]]'' - these appeared erroneous. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Secret Lives of Monsters (novel)}})
'''Dalek Jast''' was a member of the Cult of Skaro and a participant in the Battle of Canary Wharf in 2007. Jast was the first to realise that [[the Doctor]] was still alive after the arrival of the Cybermen when he noticed the Doctor on a video transmission with the [[Cyber-Leader]]. He had the highest-pitched voice out of the members of the Cult.([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')


Like Caan and Thay, he was created to follow Sec but had doubts about his leader when Sec became the first [[Human-Dalek]]. Along with Caan and Thay, Jast turned against Sec. When the Dalek-Humans questioned their orders after [[Gallifreyan]] [[DNA]] was mixed with theirs, the new Daleks battled Jast and Thay, resulting in Jast's destruction. ([[DW]]: ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]'')
== Other references ==
From [[the Matrix]]'s projection of the [[Security Drone Incident]], it came much to the concern of the [[Time Lord]]s that the [[Reconnaissance Dalek]] was able to create [[Defence Drone|a whole new mutant strain of the Dalek race]] without the advanced skills of [[Davros]], the [[Dalek Emperor in the Last Great Time War|Dalek Emperor]] or the Cult of Skaro. As such, they began research into the genetic make-up of the [[reconnaissance scout]]s to further understand the extent of their abilities. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Dalek Combat Training Manual (reference book)}})


===[[Dalek Thay]]===
== Behind the scenes ==
[[File:Dalek_thay.jpg|thumb|180px|Dalek Thay.]]
* Throughout their appearances, Thay, Jast and Caan's recognition codes switch. In ''[[Doomsday (TV story)|Doomsday]]'', Dalek Jast's recognition code had two short lines on the bottom and middle and a long line on the top, and Dalek Caan's had two short lines on the top and bottom, and a long line on the middle; while in ''[[Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)|Daleks in Manhattan]]'' and ''[[Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Evolution of the Daleks]]'', Jast's recognition code had two short lines on the top and bottom and no third line in the middle, and Caan's recognition code had two short lines on the middle and bottom and a long line on the top.
Former Commandant of Station Alpha, '''Dalek Thay''' was a member of the Cult of Skaro and was the first Dalek to encounter the Cybermen during the Battle of Canary Wharf in 2007. Thay was tricked into identifying himself by the Cybermen after both sides refused to ''"identify first."'' Thay spoke in a low-pitched voice.([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
* Thay, Jast and Caan are erroneously depicted as [[Elite Guard Dalek|black-domed Daleks]] on the "Cult of Skaro" card from ''[[Doctor Who: Battles in Time]]''.
* A promotional still image from ''Doomsday'', featuring the Cult of Skaro and the Genesis Ark, is used to depict Dalek invaders on a copy of the [[newspaper]] ''[[Daily Times]]'' in [[GAME]]: ''[[City of the Daleks (video game)|City of the Daleks]]''. However, the invaders in the game itself are shown to be [[Red Dalek|red]] [[Drone Dalek]]s of the [[New Dalek Paradigm]].
* Explaining how [[Henry van Statten]] was unfamiliar with the [[Dalek]] he named [[Metaltron]], ''[[The Time Traveller's Almanac]]'' suggested that the [[Van Statten Incident]] took place in a [[timeline]] where the Cult of Skaro did not emerge from [[the Sphere]] in [[Torchwood London]] and precipitate the [[Battle of Canary Wharf]] in [[2007]] and so did not go on to [[Invasion of Manhattan|influence]] the construction of the [[Empire State Building]], nor was the [[Earth]] [[Planetary Relocation Incident|transported]] to the [[Medusa Cascade]] since the [[personal timeline]]s of both [[The Doctor's time stream|the Doctor]] and the [[Daleks' timeline|Dalek race]] had not progressed to the point where those events occurred.
* ''[[The Dalek Handbook]]'' claimed that the Cult of Skaro escaped the Time War following the [[fall of Arcadia]].
* The Cult of Skaro and the later-introduced [[Volatix Cabal]] share heavy similarities (both being fanatic secret organisations of mutant Daleks created for the [[Last Great Time War|Time War]], placed outside the Emperor's jurisdiction, and possessing creativity). However, no explicit link has been drawn between them.
* The fact that there are only four of them to begin with is likely a reference to the fact that early on during the classic era's run the budget only allowed for four Dalek props to be fully created.


In 1930 in New York City, Thay originally had strong feelings against the Final Experiment, claiming that it was against the Dalek ideology of racial purity, but eventually conceded that it was necessary for survival. To complete the [[Empire State Building]] before the gamma strike would hit Earth, three of the back plates of Thay's casing were removed and attached to the building's mast, being replaced with iron as the [[dalekanium|bonded polycarbide]] of the plates was required to attract the gamma strike. ([[DW]]: ''[[Daleks in Manhattan]]'')
{{Dalek variants}}
[[fr:Culte de Skaro]]
[[it:Culto di Skaro]]


The Dalek-Humans, after [[Gallifreyan]] [[DNA]] was mixed with their Dalek and [[Human]] DNA in the "Final Experiment", questioned orders and revolted against their Dalek masters, destroying Thay and Jast. ([[DW]]: ''[[Evolution of the Daleks]]'')
{{Dalek variants}}
{{Series 2 aliens}}
{{Series 3 aliens}}
[[Category:Cult of Skaro| ]]
[[Category:Cult of Skaro| ]]
[[Category:Individual Daleks]]
[[Category:Time-active factions]]
[[Category:Tenth Doctor enemies]]
[[Category:Groups in the Last Great Time War]]
[[Category:Participants in the Battle of Canary Wharf]]
[[Category:Combatants in the Last Great Time War]]
[[Category:Survivors of the Last Great Time War]]
[[Category:Combatants in the Battle of Canary Wharf]]
[[Category:Cults]]
[[Category:Dalek variants]]

Latest revision as of 18:59, 3 November 2024

Cult of Skaro

You may be looking for the short story.

The Cult of Skaro was an elite Dalek organisation that were "above and beyond the Emperor himself" and designed to "think as the enemy thinks". The Cult was thought to be merely a legend by the Tenth Doctor. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"], PROSE: The Whoniverse [+]Loading...["The Whoniverse (novel)"])

Purpose[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cult of Skaro were assigned the task of furthering the Dalek cause through the development of new and unorthodox ideas and strategies, while operating in complete secrecy. Dalek Sec claimed that it was created to "imagine new ways of survival", (TV: Daleks in Manhattan [+]Loading...["Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)"]) while the Tenth Doctor believed their purpose was to "find new ways of killing". Their willingness to adopt alien modes of thought was demonstrated by the fact that they had individual names, a concept most Daleks found unorthodox. Led by Sec, the black Dalek, they answered to no one, not even the Dalek Emperor, although they still respected him. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"])

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Origins[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cult of Skaro were at first just four ordinary Daleks. Dalek Sec was the Dalek Commander of the Seventh Incursion Squad sent to wipe out the remnants of the Mechanoids which they succeeded in doing. Dalek Caan was an Attack Squad Leader of the Thirtieth Assault Group. Dalek Thay was the Commandant of Station Alpha, the most secret Dalek research facility. Dalek Jast was a Force Leader of the Outer Rim Defensive Battalion. After doing this all four of them were promoted to become the Cult of Skaro. They were given their names — making them some of the only Daleks with names — and Dalek Sec was chosen to be their leader. (PROSE: Birth of a Legend [+]Loading...["Birth of a Legend (short story)"])

By another account, the Cult may have been created during the Dalek-Movellan War when the Daleks were struggling against the limits of their thinking. The Dalek rescue of Davros may have been planned by them. (GAME: Destiny of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Destiny of the Daleks (game)"])

By a third account, the Cult was created during the Last Great Time War, alongside groups such as the Eternity Circle and the Volatix Cabal, to match the imagination of the Time Lords. (PROSE: A Brief History of Time Lords [+]Loading...["A Brief History of Time Lords (novel)"])

Last Great Time War[[edit] | [edit source]]

They were an elite order who were to think like their enemies in order to destroy them, although their original purpose was to imagine new ways of survival. During the Last Great Time War, they operated as a final strategic reserve. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"])

Looking into projections of the Doctor's future via the Matrix, the Last Great Time War-era Time Lords were made aware of the Cult of Skaro despite their intelligence services having had no information on the group, validating rumours about the "Black Ops" unit and how it had worked independent of the Emperor. The revelation of the cult created concerns about how far the Dalek Empire was willing to go to achieve victory, yet psyche evaluation teams also speculated that Daleks like the group, thanks to their individuality, could be suggestible and reasoned with, undertaking research to find and identify these Daleks on Skaro.

Foreseeing the Invasion of Manhattan, the Time Lords saw Dalek Sec as the most open of the cult to new ideas, while the other three members defaulted to typical Dalek responses when faced with such options, and that the group's individuality could cause strife amongst them. Recognising that the Human-Dalek Sec knew much about Dalek strategy while also being welcome to emotions, the military, despite seeing the node foretell Sec's death, sought permission from the High Council to extract the Human-Dalek from that moment in the timeline, hoping to recruit him. The Time Lords also became aware of Dalek Caan's incursion into the war and were alarmed by how a single bronze Dalek, even if it had enhanced mental capacity, was able to break through a time lock and so began to investigate the matter. (PROSE: Dalek Combat Training Manual [+]Loading...["Dalek Combat Training Manual (reference book)"])

The Cult created a sentient Dalek time machine, intended to infiltrate the ranks of TARDISes. (AUDIO: Didn't You Kill My Mother? [+]Loading...["Didn't You Kill My Mother? (audio story)"])

Knowing that the Daleks could not win the war, (PROSE: The Whoniverse [+]Loading...["The Whoniverse (novel)"]) the Cult of Skaro escaped into the space between universes, along with what they called the Genesis Ark, a piece of Time Lord technology. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"], Daleks in Manhattan [+]Loading...["Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)"]) Having left the universe, they were not caught in the destruction of the Dalek fleet at the end of the war. (TV: The Day of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Day of the Doctor (TV story)"]) They did, however, become aware of the fall of Gallifrey, believing the Genesis Ark to be all that survived of the Time Lords' homeworld. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"]) They spent their time in the Void thinking up new ways for the Dalek race to evolve. (PROSE: A Brief History of Time Lords [+]Loading...["A Brief History of Time Lords (novel)"]) The Dalek Time Strategist was aware of the Cult and their importance to the Daleks' post-Time War history. (AUDIO: Restoration of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Restoration of the Daleks (audio story)"])

Emerging from the Void[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cult of Skaro enters the Battle of Canary Wharf. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"])

The Torchwood Institute's meddling began to open the barrier to the Void which had been broken down by the Cult's Void ship. Torchwood Tower, known to the public as Canary Wharf, had been built around the gap into the Void so that Torchwood One could study it and use its energy. When the Void Ship opened, the Cult exited the ship and declared war — or "pest control" — against the Cybermen that had invaded Earth from Pete's World, leading to the Battle of Canary Wharf while humanity was caught in the middle of the conflict.

They then opened the Genesis Ark and released "millions" of Daleks onto England. All these Daleks were sucked into the void along with the Cybermen, by the Tenth Doctor's intervention. The Cult escaped before being returned to the void, by using an emergency temporal shift. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"])

Escape to New York City[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Cult, led by the now Human-Dalek Sec, face the Doctor. (TV: Evolution of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)"]

After using the temporal shift, the Cult ended up in New York City in 1930. They infiltrated the construction of the Empire State Building and began what they called the "Final Experiment" — the creation of a new Dalek race. (TV: Daleks in Manhattan [+]Loading...["Daleks in Manhattan (TV story)"]/Evolution of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)"]) Inside the sewers below the Empire State Building, they set up a genetic laboratory and attempted to create new Dalek embryos. After the failure of this experiment, they tried thinking creatively, as the Cult was designed to. They devised a plan using Earth's greatest resource — its people. They placed Dalekanium upon the mast of the Empire State Building, intending to fuse the DNA of Daleks and humans using an incoming ray of gamma radiation from the sun. Dalek Sec tested this on Mr Diagoras, becoming a "human Dalek" hybrid, now with human thoughts and emotions.

As the invasion of Manhattan began, Dalek Sec began to want the Dalek-humans' to keep their human emotions, but the other Daleks, although bred to obey Sec, believed that this was against the Dalek cause. They changed the DNA to 100% Dalek and imprisoned Dalek Sec. Dalek Sec was later exterminated accidentally after the other Cult members fired their gunsticks at the Doctor. The Doctor got in the way of the blast of gamma radiation and so infused the DNA with some of his own. The humans rebelled and killed Dalek Thay and Dalek Jast, before being killed themselves. The Doctor offered to help Dalek Caan — the last surviving Dalek — but instead of taking it, Caan used an emergency temporal shift to escape once more. (TV: Evolution of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Evolution of the Daleks (TV story)"])

The Last of the Cult[[edit] | [edit source]]

Caan, the last of the Cult of Skaro. (TV: Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"]

Caan was eventually able to penetrate the time lock on the Last Great Time War, from which he rescued Davros from his doomed command ship. Caan, however, became insane during his successful attempt at rescuing Davros. He came to view the Daleks negatively, and set in motion a chain of events that would destroy the New Dalek Empire. Caan, the last remaining member of the Cult of Skaro, was presumed killed when the Crucible was destroyed. (TV: The Stolen Earth [+]Loading...["The Stolen Earth (TV story)"]/Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"])

Members of the Cult of Skaro[[edit] | [edit source]]

Dalek Caan, Dalek Sec, Dalek Thay and Dalek Jast were members of the Cult of Skaro. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"]) Some reports mentioned a Dalek Rabe, though - according to Christian Peterson's Daleks - Invasion Earth - these appeared erroneous. (PROSE: The Secret Lives of Monsters [+]Loading...["The Secret Lives of Monsters (novel)"])

Other references[[edit] | [edit source]]

From the Matrix's projection of the Security Drone Incident, it came much to the concern of the Time Lords that the Reconnaissance Dalek was able to create a whole new mutant strain of the Dalek race without the advanced skills of Davros, the Dalek Emperor or the Cult of Skaro. As such, they began research into the genetic make-up of the reconnaissance scouts to further understand the extent of their abilities. (PROSE: Dalek Combat Training Manual [+]Loading...["Dalek Combat Training Manual (reference book)"])

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

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