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Appropriation (identified on the cover simply as Chapter Twelve) was the third story of the third series of Big Finish's Gallifrey audio series. It was written by Paul Sutton.
Publisher's summary
"Didn't take the temporal powers long to realise that Pandora's war was over and come here to start a new one."
In the wake of civil war, Gallifrey stands more vulnerable than at any time in its controversial history. The other temporal powers orbit the ancient Time Lord society, poised and ready to take power.
And then, as a terrifying legacy, the residual traces of the Pandora virus bring down the transduction barriers...
While Romana lies exhausted and powerless in the medical station, Lord Matthias fights desperately to negotiate a peace. But Gallifreyans are dying. Can Leela find K9? Is retribution about to be visited upon the oldest race in the universe for untold millennia of manipulation and interference?
Plot
Narvin lets himself in to see Lord Matthias, no longer able to use intercoms due to the risk of the technological Dogma Virus having spread to systems outside of the Matrix. Narvin says that, with Romana out of action, the Time Lords need a figurehead and offers him the role of Acting President, an offer which Matthias refuses as, by law, Chancellor Valyes now holds the title. He suggests that Narvin present himself as a candidate and warns that, with the Civil War over, the real fight is about to begin.
Matthias speaks with Acting President Valyes, who repeats his claims that he had been trying to take Pandora down from within her inner circle, and assures him that nobody expects him to make up for the fact that the knowledge contained within the Matrix has been lost. Valyes invites Matthias to his office for a drink and to discuss "certain options" brought up by Darkel, but Matthias has to hurry to the Panopticon. Returning to his office, Valyes finds K9 in there, using the lead lining of the walls to assist in his self-diagnostic to ensure that he remains uninfected. K9 goes to check the other machines in the Capitol and Valyes is glad to be alone.
In the medical station, Romana is visited by Darkel, who is escorted by Captain Henzil. Darkel tells her that the High Council has a surprise for her and says that Romana is not Imperiatrix of Gallifrey. An alarm sounds, warning that the transduction barriers have been lowered; according to a remotely-communicating K9, this is because of the damage caused by the Dogma Virus to the Capitol network. Whilst the Monans remain in orbit, and the Phaidons and Nekkistani request permission to land in the city, Sunari capsules materialise and attack. K9 fires at the attackers and Romana calls for the Chancellery Guard.
Valyes searches his office for a staser and raises it to Narvin when he enters. Commander Janartis follows and informs them that, in addition to more capsules materialising, a Sunari battlecruiser has landed. Narvin believes that the battlecruiser is simply a display of power and that the Sunari intend to take their students back home. Whilst Janartis initially says that the Time Lords have nothing to bargain with, he changes his mind when Narvin mentions Romana.
Henzil has placed guards in the corridor outside of Romana's room to protect her and Darkel. Whilst the Sunari may seek Romana out, she is unsure as to whether or not she is still legally the President.
Leela, accompanied by a wounded Matthias, leads a group of Sunari into a corridor and kills them all. Although Matthias insists that he has to get to the Panopticon, Leela is concerned about his wound and wants him to rest. He gets frustrated with her and stops just short of calling her a "stupid savage", for which he apologises; however, Leela says that a man should wear his true colours.
Romana struggles through the corridors, looking for K9 to learn how to get the transduction barrier working again. She is followed by Henzil and Darkel, who is in the Captain's custody. Janartis arrives and stops them, demanding that Romana be handed over to him, but Henzil refuses and draws his staser.
Leela manages to get Matthias to the Panopticon and agrees to keep him safe.
Darkel commands Henzil and Janartis to drop their weapons, a command that they ignore, before Narvin stuns Janartis. Matthias contacts Henzil using a short-wave frequency and tells Romana that he has raised a temporary transduction barrier around the Capitol, preventing more capsules from materialising. However, Phaidon and Nekkistani ships are entering Gallifrey's atmosphere and Romana tells him to begin negotiations with them. Darkel informs Romana that the High Council have decided that an election will be held to choose a successor.
Commander Raldeth contacts Narvin, awaiting orders from the recently-demoted Commander Maxil, and tells him that his troops are ready. Ambassador Tooz announces that the Sunari surrender and asks that hostilities cease, but Maxil continues to fight and trap the Sunari outside of the Gallifreyan Academy.
The High Council meet at the medical station due to Romana's presence being required. Prior to the meeting, Matthias, who has been having his burns seen to, expresses his concern to Valyes about Janartis' actions. Still holding the office of Chancellor, Valyes has the power to delineate the jurisdiction of the Celestial Intervention Agency and the Chancellery Guard and Matthias suggests that Narvin be given these powers temporarily due to Valyes' responsibilities. Valyes instead plans to make Matthias a Cardinal and to assign these powers to him.
to be completed
Cast
- Former Lady President Romana - Lalla Ward
- Leela - Louise Jameson
- K9 Mark II - John Leeson
- Inquisitor Prime Darkel - Lynda Bellingham
- Coordinator Narvin - Seán Carlsen
- Acting Lord President Valyes - Steven Wickham
- Cardinal Matthias - Stephen Perring
- Captain Henzil - John Dorney
- Captain Annos - Dickon Tolson
- Commander Janartis - Charlie Ross
- Nekkistani Ambassador Blastern - Daniel Hogarth
- Phaidon Ambassador Égopolis - Anne Bird
- Sunari Ambassador Tooz - Richard Unwin
- Lord Delox - Roger Parrott
- Commander Raldeth - Andrew Fettes
Uncredited cast
References
- Matthias writes on paper.
- Matthias has Darkel sent to Elbon.
- K9 has helped the engineers grow new TARDISes.
- Ambassadors of the temporal powers come to Gallifrey include Phaidon (sometimes known as the Warpsmiths of Phaidon), Sunari and Nekkistan.
- A Monan (sometimes known as the Monan Host) ship also orbits Gallifrey.
- Romana rests within the null field of the medi-dais.
- Romana says that Janartis was treated like a Judas goat.
- Captain Trinket serves Raldeth. He tells Raldeth that the Sunari are getting closer.
- The President of the High Council has the power to raise people to the rank of Cardinal.
Notes
- Colin Baker reprises his role as Commander Maxil in an uncredited cameo appearance. This is the only time that he has played the character since the television story Arc of Infinity in 1983.
- This story was recorded at The Moat Studios.
- This story was originally released on CD and download. It is now available as a download only.
Continuity
- A long-serving member of the Chancellery Guards, Commander Maxil previously stunned the Fifth Doctor with a staser blast and confined him in a cell in the Capitol to await the judgment of Lord President Borusa and the High Council of the Time Lords. (TV: Arc of Infinity) Following the disappearance of Andred, he was promoted to Castellan but has since been demoted to commander for siding with Darkel and Pandora in the Gallifreyan Civil War. (AUDIO: Lies)
- During the Dalek invasion of Gallifrey, Raldeth led the Chancellery Guards in their attempt to repel the Dalek forces. He also mentions Trinkett as being part of his unit. (AUDIO: The Apocalypse Element)
- K9 mentions the lead lined walls of the Presidential Office that the Fourth Doctor installed. (TV: The Invasion of Time)
External links
- Official Appropriation page at bigfinish.com
- Appropriation at the Doctor Who Reference Guide