Volag-Noc
Volag-Noc was a cold, snowy planet used as a prison world by humans and the Shadow Proclamation.
History
At some point, the Tenth Doctor was sent to Volag-Noc by the Shadow Proclamation, along with a Sontaran, an Ogron and a Draconian. They were shot down before they reached Volag-Noc. (COMIC: Fugitive)
In the 42nd century, Volag-Noc was run by robot Wardens and the android Governor Lok. Baltazar had been sent there three times. Here he had first learned of the Infinite and found the chip carriers were fellow prisoners Gurney, Captain Kaliko and the messenger Ulysees Meregrass. Kaliko and Baltazar escaped Volag-Noc. Gurney took over the prison and locked up Governor Lok, placing an inhibitor chip on him. When the Tenth Doctor came to Volag-Noc, he freed the Governor, who tried to kill all the prisoners under the reasoning they were beyond rehabilitation and it was pointless to keep them alive, forcing the Doctor to shut him down. Gurney fled from Volag-Noc prison, but was caught by Baltazar. His steed Caw was shot by the Gurney in his reactor. He died shortly afterwards when it burned out. Caw's son Squawk, at the time small enough to pass off as a brooch, had his presence revealed by Baltazar as a means of tracking the Doctor and his companion Martha Jones. He was released onto Volag-Noc, while Gurney was presumably dealt with.
With all of the chips needed to find the Infinite gathered, Baltazar stole the Doctor's TARDIS after the Doctor set the spatial coordinates, with Martha his hostage, leaving the Doctor stranded on the prison world. While the Doctor was trapped on the planet, he spent three years repairing the prison. He reprogrammed Lok to function as a docile governor and raised Squawk until he was big enough to fly through space. He left the planet atop Squawk and flew toward the Infinite with a breathing apparatus to survive in the airless space. He rescued Martha and reclaimed his TARDIS, then destroyed the vessel by using the sonic screwdriver to compromise its integrity. The Doctor left Baltazar in the care of Squawk to get off the crumbling Infinite, but the bird refused to left the criminal off scot-free and quickly returned to Volag-Noc. The Wardens redeposited him in his prison cell, where he swore everlasting vengeance on the Doctor. (TV: The Infinite Quest)
In the 251st century, Volag-Noc was still in use. Dirk Slipstream was sent there by the Doctor for murdering six hundred people, though he escaped after six years. (PROSE: Night of the Humans)
Behind the scenes
- Volag-Noc is similar to the Klingon prison planet of Rura Penthe from the Star Trek franchise. Both are extremely cold prison worlds.
