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The 2060s Dalek invasion of Earth was a conflict between the World Government of humanity and the Dalek Empire. Although Dalek and human forces directly clashed on several recorded occasions, the war was largely characterised by a lack of fighting. Within the solar system, tensions gradually rose in official circles as news of the Daleks' technologicial advancements reached them. On Skaro, the Daleks were guided by a directive to invade and conquer the entire universe which, as they encountered more humanoid species, evolved into a specific desire to stamp out the quality which the Dalek Prime labelled "human spirit".
A blindspot for some time, the Daleks eventually discovered the location of Earth after a passenger spacecraft from the planet landed on Skaro. The Emperor immediately launched his fleet in preparation for the invasion. However, the culmination of multiple years of hostility was foiled in most part by the outside involvement of the Elders, telepaths of great power who had seeded Earth in the distant past. Just one ship survived the onslaught, which carried the Emperor and his closest advisors, the Black Dalek and the Red Dalek, who vowed as they fled to return for another oppurtunity to invade. Kaslan, leader of the Elders, acknowledged this inevitability, telling Commander Trent and his men that the Daleks would be resisted by "another" at some point in the future.
History
Rise of the Daleks
On 30 January 2065, TV 21 issued its first news piece about Skaro. It stated that a neutron bomb had accidentally exploded on the planet, completely destroying the Dalek capital city of Dalazar. War Lord Zolfian and scientist Yarvelling were reported to be the only survivors of the catastrophe. Further details about the story were available on the twentieth page of the publication. (PROSE: Stingray Attacked!) It transpired that radiation from the bomb caused mutations in the original race of Daleks and that they retreated into Yarvelling's invention, originally intended as a War Machine but used as a casing, to survive. (COMIC: Genesis of Evil) A photograph depicting one of the new Daleks accompanied the article. (PROSE: Stingray Attacked!)
On 13 February, the Space Agency released a report revealing that only hours after work on the new Dalek City had been completed, evidence of a spacecraft entering Skaro's atmosphere was picked up on the Electron Displacement Recorder. It also noted that the Dalek Emperor ordered "immediate evasive action". (PROSE: Fireball Surrenders!) A week later on 20 February, a Space News Agency report clarified that the Daleks had spread sand over their city as protection and camouflage. It also elaborated on the intent of the unidentified enemy, claiming that the sole purpose of their mission appeared to be the mining of sand and that slaves were ordered to collect the very sand which covered the Dalek City. A statement indicating the Daleks were expected to make a counter-attack concluded the story. (PROSE: Titan Declares War!) By 13 March, the Daleks were reported to have captured the hostile spacecraft which was identified as Krattorian. Further reports reaching the London office suggested that the slaves were progressing their plans to overthrow their "evil master" Kest. (PROSE: Superjet Shot Down)
On 20 March, the Space News Agency publicised the fact that the Daleks had discovered the missing link they needed to begin their conquest of space. For the first time, this information gave rise to concern in official circles because, as communicated in the statement, if the Daleks managed to achieve their aims then the whole universe would be in danger. (PROSE: Jungle Terror!) This revelation prompted the News Agency to develop methods in order to monitor Dalek activity on a more reliable basis; further reports were obtained in full colour via a hyper-space video-phone. (COMIC: Power Play)
On 3 April, the Space News Agency reported that the Dalek City was struck by lightning. This occurrence aroused much speculation on Earth because the Daleks were known to be experimenting with a particularly dangerous new metal. (PROSE: Stingray Hunts Aliens) On 24 April, the Agency released details on the events of the succeeding days. The Dalek Robot Brain ordered Zeg and the Emperor to fight a duel to the death. The situation arose when Zeg, a worker in the invention shop, discovered a new hardening metal. He offered to share his knowledge with the rest of his species providing he was made Emperor. (PROSE: Zodiac's Rescue Bid!) The hyper-space video-phone recorded that the Emperor won the duel when he crushed Zeg's casing with the extreme cold of liquid oxygen. (COMIC: Duel of the Daleks)
Agent Graham Page of the Universal Secret Service discovered TV 21's Dalek-focused bulletins around this time, published weekly on Wednesday mornings. (PROSE: Graham Page) Agent Howard Whitehead was also proactive in defending against the possible Dalek threat. He had an idea for how to make model Daleks, composed of such materials as plastic glass, plasticine, matchsticks and wood. Whitehead sent the plans to Senior Special Agent Twenty One who commended him for using his brain. Twenty One also informed him that HQ used his blueprints to create several models and that a mock battle was planned between them and their models of the World Government Army. (PROSE: From Howard Whitehead)
In Campden Town, New London, Mars, an amateur radio astronomer picked up a mysterious message. The message, which repeated over and over again, stated "All you have left is fear. The Daleks are coming!". On 22 May, it was reported that the communication had filled the entire planet with speculation and alarm but that the signal had not yet been picked up by any astronomers on Earth. In any event, the Space News Agency assured the general public that the Daleks did not pose any threat because Skaro was so many millions of light years away from the solar system. (PROSE: Tempest Awarded V.M.)
First contact
Agent Peter Ayliffe, who was relatively new to the Universal Secret Service, wrote to Twenty One to tell him of the Identicode he invented for the Dalek Emperor. Ayliffe requested that Twenty One print details of the Identicode if it pleased the Emperor so other Special Agents would be able to use it. Twenty One assigned Agent 0031 to travel to Skaro and personally deliver the invention but, as Twenty One stated in his reply to Ayliffe, 0031 was never heard from again. (PROSE: From Special Agent Peter Ayliffe)
Soon after this, Twenty One recieved a letter from Agent J. Webster which claimed that their mother had "won" them a "Dalek Suit" the previous Wednesday. Although Twenty One congratulated Webster on the Dalek Suit, believing it to be simply a representation of a Dalek, Webster exhibited several behavioural changes consistent with that of the genuine article. Webster asserted to have "bec[o]me a Dalek" to the extent of self-identifying as "Special Agent Dalek" and also admitted to making former "pals" prisoners and then disintegrating them. (PROSE: From J. Webster)
The Daleks' conquest of space
The hyper-space video-phone recorded the Daleks' attempted invasion and eventual destruction of Alvega, Skaro's closest neighbor. The Dalek Prime vowed from that point onwards that which they could not conquer they would destroy. (COMIC: The Amaryll Challenge) On 26 June, Space Station KZ 24 reported that the main Dalek Fleet had left Alvega and started heading in the general direction of the solar system. According to the laser beam interceptor operator on KZ 24, the Emperor ordered part of his fleet to stay on Alvega while he led the rest to fresh conquests. Following the report, the Malagan Planet System of Galaxy Andromeda ordered the full mobilisation of its army in case of any attempted occupation. In their first act of direct hostility towards the Daleks, the Solar System pledged its full support for Malagan if needed. (PROSE: Daleks Seek New Conquests)
As the Daleks continued to conquer, more people on Earth became aware of their presence with several agents of the Universal Secret Service mentioning them in their communications to Twenty One. Derek Connell knew reports on Dalek activity were obtained via hyper-space video-phone (PROSE: From D. Connell of Essex) and R. Miles noted these among a list of news stories they kept up with. (PROSE: From R. Miles) J. Gray complimented TV 21 on their coverage of the Daleks, agreeing that a headline feature to affirm their threat to humanity was a good idea. (PROSE: J. Gray) The Daleks also took over large swathes of popular culture when a film called Dr. Who and the Daleks was produced with Peter Cushing in the title role. (PROSE: Peaceful Thals Ambushed!, From Agent 671107) Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, the London agent for International Rescue, (COMIC: The Vanishing Ray) interviewed Roberta Tovey, Jennie Linden and Roy Castle regarding their positions as co-stars. Although all three were acting, the reality of the Dalek threat was not underplayed. Penelope speculated that Roberta had experienced sleepless nights during filming and Roy openly admitted he was more scared than when he was in his horror film. Likewise, Parker, Lady Penelope's driver, was visibly terrified when she told him they were going to have lunch "with the Daleks" and it was not until she elaborated that he calmed down. (PROSE: Lady Penelope Investigates the stars of the Sensational new film Dr. Who and the Daleks!)
After the destruction of Alvega, the Daleks set their sights on Solturis, a planet rich with minerals. Solturis subsequently reported sightings of a Dalek invasion fleet; the World Government was said to be watching developments carefully. (COMIC: The Amaryll Challenge) Indeed, they were kept abreast of events through accounts from both the Solturian News Agency and Space News Agency. (COMIC: The Penta Ray Factor) One such article, released on 31 July, noted that Prince Jareth had been called in by Mirva to investigate another prophecy of Lurr which was possibly related to his continuing opposition to the Daleks. (PROSE: Peaceful Thals Ambushed!) The Solturians were ultimately victorious in defeating the Daleks and the traitor Geltis in their plan to destroy the capital city of Bulos with the Pentaray. The Dalek Emperor had left Solturis prematurely but was unable to renew hostilities when the forces left behind were crushed because the fleet was recalled to deal with a crisis on Skaro. (COMIC: The Penta Ray Factor)
Radio station N92 intercepted an urgent call from the Black Dalek which told the Emperor that a radioactive dust cloud was threatening their homeworld. News of this was broken to the rest of the universe on 11 September. The science correspondent for TV 21 was quoted as saying that if it had been exposed to Beta-Gamma rays, it could destroy a Dalek in "next to no time". (PROSE: Ice Planet Mystery) Indeed it had and reports came in on 25 September about the losing battle against what had become a rust plague. This updated article confirmed the earlier predictions that the contaminated rust was able to consume a Dalek in under half a minute. Although the Black Dalek released no information on the number of casualties, the Space News Agency station S.N.A. 5 estimated that up to half the home army had been destroyed. They also had images of in Dalek Tracking station PZ8 just prior to succumbing to the plague. The report plainly concluded that unless effective action was taken, all the Daleks on Skaro would be destroyed. (PROSE: Daleks Suffer Heavy Losses!) Upon the Emperor's return, he realised the Black Dalek was the carrier and ordered that he be taken to the recasting furnace to have his casing reconstructed. (COMIC: Plague of Death)
On 23 October, TV 21 reported upon a videophone to the Monstron Space Republic in which President Yequan announced an advanced invasion probe of Skaro. Speaking to four thousand million fighting troops, Yequan proudly proclaimed "The robot-like Daleks of Skaro will feel the strength and might of the Monstrons. We shall conquer all". (PROSE: Fireball Explosion!) Two Monstrons, Kenex and Yeq, with a small army of Engibrains, were able to land on the planet initially undetected due to the rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the rust plague. (COMIC: Plague of Death, The Menace of the Monstrons) News reached TV 21 on 6 November that the Monstron invaders had launched an attack on the Dalek City. (PROSE: FAB1 Back in Action!) On 4 December, TV 21 stated that the invasion came to an abrupt when the extinct volcano base of the Monstrons suddenly exploded into action destroying the enemy bridgehead. It was noted that nobody knew how or why the volcano became reactive but that it was sure to give the Daleks an oppurtunity of rebuilding their city yet again and reorganising their defences against any further surprise attacks. (PROSE: World Weather Chaos!) A hyper-high frequency report recieved from Space Station K11 later revealed that a single Dalek who believed itself to be the only survivor of the attack avenged its people by firing its gunstick into the volcano to trigger its eruption and the destruction of the Monstrons. (COMIC: The Menace of the Monstrons)
Humanity's involvement increases
The interest the Universal Secret Service had in the Daleks began to spike in this period. Agent Philip Bevan wrote to Twenty One enclosing some theories regarding the anatomy of the robot-like species but they were overshadowed by word of Bevan's own comic Thriller, a potential rival to TV 21. (PROSE: From Philip Bevan) E. Oglesby also wrote in to provide a list of the equipment they had in their possession, a list which included a Dalekode. Twenty One told Oglesby it was a good report, reminding all agents to take good care of the items and warning them "they never know when they might need it". (PROSE: E. Oglesby) Twenty One also ensured that agents were keen followers of recent Dalek history in case it proved relevant as evidenced by V. Mason reporting on and retelling the story of Zeg the Red Dalek. (PROSE: Password Report on Red Dalek)
On 11 December, the planet Oric contacted Earth with a plea for help shortly after a space spy satellite reported a new build-up of forces on Skaro. According to video screen reports from the satellite, the Daleks had already built a space station for the purposes of refuelling. Addressing the claim to World President Nikita Bandranaik, the Oric leader stated that the Daleks were intent on space conquest and was able to confidently say that an attack on his planet would be a "forerunner" to one against the Solar Empire. The World Security Council met in Washington to discuss the plea but informed sources claimed no help was to be sent at present. (PROSE: Help Plea from Planet) This was largely due to the ongoing weather crisis which was devastating Earth at this time. During December and into January 2066, Earth was faced with the havoc of uncontrolled weather for the first time in fifty years. A dramatic rise in temperature led to the extensive melting of ice and a three foot rise in the level of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The northern hemisphere, in particular Holland, Belgium, England, as well as the low-lying areas of America and Canada, were the worst affected by widespread flooding, with millions of refugees being forced to leave their homes. (PROSE: World Weather Chaos!) By Christmas, martial law had been declared in the northern hemisphere with troops deployed to all major cities as rioters and mob armies rampaged through places such as New York and Amsterdam. (PROSE: World Emergency) The World Senate called upon the World Aquanaut Security Patrol to investigate the root cause of the troubles and Commander Sam Shore ordered Stingray, (PROSE: World Weather Chaos!) manned by Captain Troy Tempest and Lieutenant Phones Sheridan, (COMIC: Curse of the Crustavons et al.) to the polar region. Bandranaik later confirmed they were at the North Pole with orders to destroy any aliens they found to be responsible. (PROSE: World Emergency) Order was finally restored by 8 January with long periods of sunshine helping rescuers somewhat in the clearing up of mess. (PROSE: Time Barrier Busted) All was not lost for Oric, however, as Space Station M2 reported that a Mechonoid ship was heading for Skaro. (PROSE: Help Plea from Planet) Although the ship proved to not be any form of direct assistance to Oric, the Mechonoids began hostilities with the Daleks when they started targeting them with the suspicion ray. This bought the inhabitants of Oric more time as the Daleks chose to focus on retaliation, and preparing for an impending war, rather than exploring their planet for its minerals. (COMIC: Eve of War)
On 1 January 2066, TV 21 reported that "the Universe" was waiting to see if the Daleks and the Mechonoids were going to clash in a galactic war after the species from Skaro came up against an enemy equally as clever, ruthless and mechanical for the first time in their history. The Dalek War Control Room was pictured alongside the article just as an order was given to destroy a Mechonoid spaceship. (PROSE: Daleks Hit Back!) The ship was successfully destroyed but as was the Dalek flying saucer with the Red Dalek Leader aboard. The skirmish ended with the Mechonoids warning the Daleks to stay out of their skies. (COMIC: Eve of War) The Daleks subsequently began to search other planets for new weapons to use in their fight. The Space News Agency documented their successful invasion of Phryne via hyper-space video-phone. The Phrynians served as archivists for the histories and artefacts of a hundred planets and, after the Daleks made short work of Phryne's invisibility shield, the Controller killed himself to ensure the invaders never got hold of his secrets while the remaining Phrynians led by Saf went into hiding so that they might one day have a chance to fight back. (COMIC: The Archives of Phryne)
As noticed by the Space News Agency, the Daleks started to track the rogue planet of Skardal after the Astrodalek witnessed its creation. Skardal later impacted with Omega Three which put it on a collision course with Skaro. (COMIC: The Rogue Planet) On 26 March, TV21's Dalek correspondent reported that the Dalek Emperor had ordered an emergency squad to intercept the planet, which was now "careering wildly" through space, and alter its course. (PROSE: Thunderbird Two) They successfully diverted a meteor storm so that the meteorites would draw Skardal away from Skaro and onto a path with Mechanus, the homeworld of the Mechonoids. (COMIC: The Rogue Planet) Alarmed by the coming war between the Daleks and the Mechonoids and the likelihood of the victor targeting them, the Zerovians of Zeros decided that neither could be allowed to win and sent the humanoid robot 2K in order to prevent either side of victory. Learning of Skardal, 2K stole a Dalek missile and set it on a course with the planet. He seperated the rocket from the warhead, which began a journey back to Skaro, requiring the Daleks to fire their anti-missile rockets to destroy both the warhead and Skardal. 2K then landed on Mechanus and told the Mechonoids that the Daleks had purposely destroyed the rogue planet to save them. He persuaded them to call off the war but the Mechonoids allowed him to escape to warn his creators that the Daleks and Mechonoids were still enemies. The Space News Agency published a detailed summary of the execution of the Zerovians' plans, spanning several reports. (COMIC: Impasse)