Last Great Time War: Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
No edit summary
Line 7: Line 7:
|location = [[Gallifrey]], [[Skaro]]
|location = [[Gallifrey]], [[Skaro]]
|result = Main Battle: Gallifrey and Skaro destroyed, Almost all of the Time Lords wiped out, Daleks suffered heavy losses.
|result = Main Battle: Gallifrey and Skaro destroyed, Almost all of the Time Lords wiped out, Daleks suffered heavy losses.
|combatants = <ul><li>[[Dalek Empire]]</li><li>[[Time Lords]]</li></ul>
|combatants = <ul><li>[[Dalek Empire]]</li><li>[[Time Lord]]s</li></ul>
|commanders = <ul><li>[[Dalek Emperor]]/ </li><li>Unknown</li> [[Lord President|President of Gallifrey]]</ul>
|commanders = <ul><li>[[Dalek Emperor]]/ </li><li>Unknown</li> [[Lord President|President of Gallifrey]]</ul>
|strength = <ul><li>Dalek Imperial fleet of 10 million ships</li><li>Unknown</li></ul>
|strength = <ul><li>Dalek Imperial fleet of 10 million ships</li><li>Unknown</li></ul>
Line 13: Line 13:
The '''Last Great Time War''' was the war between the [[Time Lord]]s and the [[Dalek]]s, which destroyed [[Gallifrey]] and left [[Last Great Time War#The Survivors and their fates|few survivors]].  
The '''Last Great Time War''' was the war between the [[Time Lord]]s and the [[Dalek]]s, which destroyed [[Gallifrey]] and left [[Last Great Time War#The Survivors and their fates|few survivors]].  


==History==
==The War==
===Origins of the War===
===Origins of the War===
The facts of the Time War are mostly a mystery, but its origins are slightly more clear. At one point, the Time Lords predicted that in one possible [[timeline]], the Daleks would make themselves the dominant life form in the [[universe]]. A Time Lord, who did not give his name at the time but later named as [[Ferrain]] ([[NA]]: ''[[Lungbarrow]]''), sent [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] on a mission to [[Skaro]] during the [[Thousand Year War]] with certain objectives:
The facts of the Time War are mostly a mystery, but its origins are slightly more clear. At one point, the Time Lords predicted that in one possible [[timeline]], the Daleks would make themselves the dominant life form in the [[universe]]. A Time Lord, who did not give his name at the time but later named as [[Ferrain]] ([[NA]]: ''[[Lungbarrow]]''), sent [[Fourth Doctor|the Doctor]] on a mission to [[Skaro]] during the [[Thousand Year War]] with certain objectives:
*If possible, to avert the [[creation of the Daleks]]
*If possible, to avert the [[creation of the Daleks]]
*Otherwise to alter their development and make them less aggressive
*Otherwise to alter their development and make them less aggressive
*Find some intrinsic flaw or weakness to exploit in the Daleks
*Find some intrinsic flaw or weakness to exploit in the Daleks
The Doctor believed he managed only to, perhaps, set back the history of the Daleks for a thousand years. ([[DW]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'')
The Doctor believed he managed only to, perhaps, set back the history of the Daleks for a thousand years. ([[DW]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'')


===Later developments===
Subsequently, Daleks planned to infiltrate the [[High Council]] of the [[Time Lord]]s with duplicates. ([[DW]]: ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks]]'') One of the [[Dalek Emperor|Dalek Puppet Emperors]] opened declaration of hostilities; although the Daleks claimed that these were merely in retaliation for the [[Time Lord]]s sending the Doctor back in time to prevent their creation.
Subsequently, Daleks planned to infiltrate the [[High Council]] of the [[Time Lord]]s with duplicates ([[DW]]: ''[[Resurrection of the Daleks]]''). One of the [[Dalek Emperor|Dalek Puppet Emperors]] opened declaration of hostilities; although the Daleks claimed that these were merely in retaliation for the [[Time Lord]]s sending the Doctor back in time to prevent their creation.


The Etra Prime Incident ([[BFA]]: ''[[The Apocalypse Element]]'') began an escalation of hostilities. [[Lady President]] [[Romana II|Romana]] made diplomatic overtures ([[NA]]: ''[[Lungbarrow]]''). She later initiated a Dalek-Time Lord peace treaty under the [[Act of Master Restitution]]. ([[DWA]]: ''[[2006 Doctor Who Annual]]'')
The Etra Prime Incident ([[BFA]]: ''[[The Apocalypse Element]]'') began an escalation of hostilities. [[Lady President]] [[Romana II|Romana]] made diplomatic overtures. ([[NA]]: ''[[Lungbarrow]]'') She later initiated a Dalek-Time Lord peace treaty under the [[Act of Master Restitution]]. ([[DWA]]: ''[[2006 Doctor Who Annual]]'')


:''This Act enabled [[Seventh Doctor|the Doctor]] to safely visit Skaro to retrieve [[the Master]]'s remains. ([[DW]]: [[Doctor Who: The TV Movie]])''
:''This Act enabled [[Seventh Doctor|the Doctor]] to safely visit Skaro to retrieve [[the Master]]'s remains. ([[DW]]: [[Doctor Who: The TV Movie]])''
Line 34: Line 29:
===The Main War===
===The Main War===
:''For more information see [[Battle of Gallifrey (Time War)]]''<br>
:''For more information see [[Battle of Gallifrey (Time War)]]''<br>
Weapons used by the Time Lords included [[Bowship]]s, [[Black Hole Carriers]] and [[N-Forms]]. The Daleks, wielding the full might of the [[Deathsmith]]s of [[Goth (planet)|Goth]], launched a massive fleet into the [[Time Vortex]]. This war lasted for years and took place throughout [[space]] and [[time]]. As the doctor said, "A war with the Daleks against the Time Lords, and the whole of creation at stake." One of the known theatres was [[Arcadia]], where the Doctor fought on the front lines and which eventually fell to the Daleks. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'') Towards the end of the war the Daleks sent a capsule to 70 AD [[Earth]] in order to spread the [[Dalek Factor]] amongst [[Human]]s. The capsule's engine exploded, and the Dalek was killed soon after impact. It was only able to release a small amount of the Dalek Factor, leading to only one in a half a million Humans having it. ([[TDA]]: ''[[I am a Dalek]]'')
Weapons used by the Time Lords included [[Bowship]]s, [[Black Hole Carriers]] and [[N-Forms]]. The Daleks, wielding the full might of the [[Deathsmith]]s of [[Goth (planet)|Goth]], launched a massive fleet into the [[Time Vortex]]. This war lasted for years and took place throughout [[space]] and [[time]]. As the Doctor said, "A war with the Daleks against the Time Lords, and the whole of creation at stake." ([[DWA]]: ''[[2006 Doctor Who Annual]]'') One of the known theatres was [[Arcadia]], where the Doctor fought on the front lines and which eventually fell to the Daleks. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')  


====Conclusion====
The [[Sontaran]]s were aware of the war, but weren't allowed to take part. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]'')
The final manoeuvres of the Time War are unknown, all that is known is that both the Time Lords and Daleks, as well as their respective planets, Skaro and Gallifrey, burned. [[Ninth Doctor|The Doctor]] has implied that he played a part in destroying both Gallifrey and the Daleks. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'') As well, [[the Beast]] called [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] "killer of your own kind". ([[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Planet]]'').


:''Additionally, the Doctor almost used a [[delta wave]] to kill both Humans, and Daleks, this might indicate that the Doctor used an unrefined delta wave to end the Time War, killing Time Lords, and Daleks in the process. ([[DW]]: [[The Parting of the Ways]]). Or it is possible, that Doctor didn't technically destroy [[Gallifrey]], but left them behind to destruction''
Towards the end of the war the Daleks sent a capsule to [[Early human history|70 AD]] [[Earth]] in order to spread the [[Dalek Factor]] amongst [[Human]]s. The capsule's engine exploded, and the Dalek was killed soon after impact. It was only able to release a small amount of the Dalek Factor, leading to only one in a half a million Humans having it. ([[TDA]]: ''[[I am a Dalek]]'')


===Other battles===
===Conclusion===
During the last act of the Last Great Time War, [[Gallifrey]], many [[planet]]s, [[star system]]s and even [[galaxy|galaxies]] were destroyed in a second. ([[IDW]]: ''[[Doctor Who (IDW) Issue 1|Doctor Who #1]]'') It is also known that the Daleks and their homeworld of [[Skaro]] was also destroyed. [[Ninth Doctor|The Doctor]] implied that he played a part in destroying both Gallifrey and the Daleks. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'') As well, [[the Beast]] called [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] "killer of your own kind". ([[DW]]: ''[[The Impossible Planet]]'')
 
===Later Battles===
*[[Battle of the Game Station]]
*[[Battle of the Game Station]]
*[[Battle of Canary Wharf]]
*[[Battle of Canary Wharf]]


===Aftermath and aftershocks===
==Aftermath and aftershocks==
The war was mostly invisible to "lower species", but devastating to the [[time-aware]] "higher" ones.  
The war was mostly invisible to "lower species", but devastating to the [[time-aware]] "higher" ones.  


The [[Nestene Consciousness]] justified its [[2005]] invasion of [[Earth]] by claiming that its "protein planets" had been destroyed in the war ([[DW]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]''). The [[Forest of Cheem]] also knew of the war and its effects on the [[Time Lord]]s ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World]]''). The [[Gelth]] lost their bodies because of the war, reduced to gaseous forms ([[DW]]: ''[[The Unquiet Dead]]''). The [[Eternal]]s apparently fled this reality in despair, never to be seen again, and the [[Animus]] died in the conflict. ([[DWA]]: ''Doctor Who Annual 2006'')
The [[Nestene Consciousness]] justified its [[2005]] invasion of [[Earth]] by claiming that its "protein planets" had been destroyed in the war ([[DW]]: ''[[Rose (TV story)|Rose]]''). The [[Forest of Cheem]] also knew of the war and its effects on the [[Time Lord]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of the World]]'') The [[Gelth]] lost their bodies because of the war, reduced to gaseous forms. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Unquiet Dead]]'') The [[Eternal]]s apparently fled this reality in despair, never to be seen again, and the [[Animus]] died in the conflict. ([[DWA]]: ''[[2006 Doctor Who Annual]]'')
 
The [[Sontaran]]s were also aware of the war, but weren't allowed to take part. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]'')


The destruction of the Time Lords created a vacuum that may have left history itself more vulnerable to change. [[Ninth Doctor|The Doctor]] told Rose that time was in flux and history could change instantly-- a big change from the way it had been. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Unquiet Dead]]'')
The destruction of the Time Lords created a vacuum that may have left history itself more vulnerable to change. [[Ninth Doctor|The Doctor]] told Rose that time was in flux and history could change instantly-- a big change from the way it had been. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Unquiet Dead]]'')


The most dramatic demonstration of this was when Rose created a [[temporal paradox]] by crossing her own time stream to save her father's life just before his intended death in a traffic accident. This summoned the [[Reaper]]s, who descended to sterilize the "wound" in time by devouring everything in sight. The Doctor stated that if the Time Lords had been still around, they could have prevented or repaired the paradox. ([[DW]]: ''[[Father's Day (TV story)|Father's Day]]'')
The most dramatic demonstration of this was when Rose created a [[temporal paradox]] by crossing her own time stream to save her father's life just before his intended death in a traffic accident. This summoned the [[Reaper]]s, who descended to sterilize the "wound" in time by devouring everything in sight. The Doctor stated that if the Time Lords had been still around, they could have prevented or repaired the paradox. ([[DW]]: ''[[Father's Day (TV story)|Father's Day]]'')
:''The consequences of creating a paradox were also why the Doctor could not go back in time and save the Time Lords.''


As well, [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] noted that when the [[Time Lord]]s were around, travel between [[Parallel universe| Parrallel worlds]] was less difficult. With their demise, the paths between worlds were closed. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'')
As well, [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] noted that when the [[Time Lord]]s were around, travel between [[Parallel universe| Parrallel worlds]] was less difficult. With their demise, the paths between worlds were closed. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'')


====The survivors and their fates====
===The survivors and their fates===
[[Image:Dalek Emperor.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The [[Dalek Emperor]], one of the survivors of the war ([[DW]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]'')]]
[[Image:Dalek Emperor.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The [[Dalek Emperor]], one of the survivors of the war ([[DW]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]'')]]


=====Time Lords=====
====Time Lords====
*[[The Doctor]] survived. He stated that if any other Time Lords lived, he would have sensed their presence. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')
*[[The Doctor]] survived. He stated that if any other Time Lords lived, he would have sensed their presence. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')
:''The Doctor's survival may have entailed a [[regeneration]]. Though he did not say so categorically, he implied unfamiliarity with his [[Ninth Doctor|new face]] when he first met [[Rose Tyler]].
:''The Doctor's survival may have entailed a [[regeneration]]. Though he did not say so categorically, he implied unfamiliarity with his [[Ninth Doctor|new face]] when he first met [[Rose Tyler]].
*[[The Master]] (or rather a version of the Master created, revived or resurrected by the Time Lords) survived by turning himself into a [[Human]] and escaping to [[100,000,000,000,000|the end of the universe]], beyond the furthest reaches of the Time Lords and Daleks. His transformation meant that the Doctor could not sense his existence, but the [[Face of Boe]] could. ([[DW]]: ''[[Gridlock]]'', ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'')
*[[The Master]] (or rather a version of the Master created, revived or resurrected by the Time Lords) survived by turning himself into a [[Human]] and escaping to [[100,000,000,000,000|the end of the universe]], beyond the furthest reaches of the Time Lords and Daleks. His transformation meant that the Doctor could not sense his existence, but the [[Face of Boe]] could. ([[DW]]: ''[[Gridlock]]'', ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'')
:''The Face of Boe knowing of the Master's survival can be attributed to the theory that Boe is infact the Doctor's companion [[Jack Harkness| Captain Jack Harkness]] having aged 5 billion years. This would mean that the Face of Boe would already have witnessed the Master's return first hand.
*[[Susan Foreman]]To protect her family from Dalek reprisals, in case any of them managed to survive the apocalypse that destroyed both the Time Lords and the Dalek race, she regenerated, having sustained serious internal injuries, changed her DNA into that of a human and headed in her TARDIS to the district of London that Ian Chesterton lived in. It remains unclear whether she met up with Ian again, as UNIT have never been given information relating to any possible sightings. As far as The Doctor is aware, Susan died when Gallifrey burned up


=====Daleks=====
====Daleks====
*A lone Dalek survived and crashed onto the [[Ascension Island]] on [[Earth]] in [[1962]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')
*A lone Dalek survived and crashed onto the [[Ascension Island]] on [[Earth]] in [[1962]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')
*The [[Dalek Emperor]] also lived, although he had [[time travel|fallen through time]] to approximately the 2,000th century and set about re-building an army from the DNA of [[Human]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'') Transformed temporarily into the [[Bad Wolf entity]], Rose stated, "the Time War ends now", and obliterated every Dalek in the universe. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]'', [[TDA]]: ''[[I am a Dalek]]'')
*The [[Dalek Emperor]] also lived, although he had [[time travel|fallen through time]] to approximately the 2,000th century and set about re-building an army from the DNA of [[Human]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'') Transformed temporarily into the [[Bad Wolf entity]], Rose stated, "the Time War ends now", and obliterated every Dalek in the universe. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Parting of the Ways]]'', [[TDA]]: ''[[I am a Dalek]]'')

Revision as of 20:15, 1 May 2008

For Time Wars in general, see Time War.

The Last Great Time War was the war between the Time Lords and the Daleks, which destroyed Gallifrey and left few survivors.

The War

Origins of the War

The facts of the Time War are mostly a mystery, but its origins are slightly more clear. At one point, the Time Lords predicted that in one possible timeline, the Daleks would make themselves the dominant life form in the universe. A Time Lord, who did not give his name at the time but later named as Ferrain (NA: Lungbarrow), sent the Doctor on a mission to Skaro during the Thousand Year War with certain objectives:

  • If possible, to avert the creation of the Daleks
  • Otherwise to alter their development and make them less aggressive
  • Find some intrinsic flaw or weakness to exploit in the Daleks

The Doctor believed he managed only to, perhaps, set back the history of the Daleks for a thousand years. (DW: Genesis of the Daleks)

Subsequently, Daleks planned to infiltrate the High Council of the Time Lords with duplicates. (DW: Resurrection of the Daleks) One of the Dalek Puppet Emperors opened declaration of hostilities; although the Daleks claimed that these were merely in retaliation for the Time Lords sending the Doctor back in time to prevent their creation.

The Etra Prime Incident (BFA: The Apocalypse Element) began an escalation of hostilities. Lady President Romana made diplomatic overtures. (NA: Lungbarrow) She later initiated a Dalek-Time Lord peace treaty under the Act of Master Restitution. (DWA: 2006 Doctor Who Annual)

This Act enabled the Doctor to safely visit Skaro to retrieve the Master's remains. (DW: Doctor Who: The TV Movie)

The Main War

For more information see Battle of Gallifrey (Time War)

Weapons used by the Time Lords included Bowships, Black Hole Carriers and N-Forms. The Daleks, wielding the full might of the Deathsmiths of Goth, launched a massive fleet into the Time Vortex. This war lasted for years and took place throughout space and time. As the Doctor said, "A war with the Daleks against the Time Lords, and the whole of creation at stake." (DWA: 2006 Doctor Who Annual) One of the known theatres was Arcadia, where the Doctor fought on the front lines and which eventually fell to the Daleks. (DW: Doomsday)

The Sontarans were aware of the war, but weren't allowed to take part. (DW: The Sontaran Stratagem)

Towards the end of the war the Daleks sent a capsule to 70 AD Earth in order to spread the Dalek Factor amongst Humans. The capsule's engine exploded, and the Dalek was killed soon after impact. It was only able to release a small amount of the Dalek Factor, leading to only one in a half a million Humans having it. (TDA: I am a Dalek)

Conclusion

During the last act of the Last Great Time War, Gallifrey, many planets, star systems and even galaxies were destroyed in a second. (IDW: Doctor Who #1) It is also known that the Daleks and their homeworld of Skaro was also destroyed. The Doctor implied that he played a part in destroying both Gallifrey and the Daleks. (DW: Dalek) As well, the Beast called the Doctor "killer of your own kind". (DW: The Impossible Planet)

Later Battles

Aftermath and aftershocks

The war was mostly invisible to "lower species", but devastating to the time-aware "higher" ones.

The Nestene Consciousness justified its 2005 invasion of Earth by claiming that its "protein planets" had been destroyed in the war (DW: Rose). The Forest of Cheem also knew of the war and its effects on the Time Lords. (DW: The End of the World) The Gelth lost their bodies because of the war, reduced to gaseous forms. (DW: The Unquiet Dead) The Eternals apparently fled this reality in despair, never to be seen again, and the Animus died in the conflict. (DWA: 2006 Doctor Who Annual)

The destruction of the Time Lords created a vacuum that may have left history itself more vulnerable to change. The Doctor told Rose that time was in flux and history could change instantly-- a big change from the way it had been. (DW: The Unquiet Dead)

The most dramatic demonstration of this was when Rose created a temporal paradox by crossing her own time stream to save her father's life just before his intended death in a traffic accident. This summoned the Reapers, who descended to sterilize the "wound" in time by devouring everything in sight. The Doctor stated that if the Time Lords had been still around, they could have prevented or repaired the paradox. (DW: Father's Day)

As well, the Doctor noted that when the Time Lords were around, travel between Parrallel worlds was less difficult. With their demise, the paths between worlds were closed. (DW: Rise of the Cybermen)

The survivors and their fates

The Dalek Emperor, one of the survivors of the war (DW: The Parting of the Ways)

Time Lords

  • The Doctor survived. He stated that if any other Time Lords lived, he would have sensed their presence. (DW: Dalek)
The Doctor's survival may have entailed a regeneration. Though he did not say so categorically, he implied unfamiliarity with his new face when he first met Rose Tyler.
  • The Master (or rather a version of the Master created, revived or resurrected by the Time Lords) survived by turning himself into a Human and escaping to the end of the universe, beyond the furthest reaches of the Time Lords and Daleks. His transformation meant that the Doctor could not sense his existence, but the Face of Boe could. (DW: Gridlock, Utopia)

Daleks