Intelligence for War (audio story)

The Doctor and Liz Shaw investigate a disturbing incident in the quiet Norfolk village of Huncleath, involving a vanishing Nazi soldier. Is time travel technology to blame? And what is the link between the disappearance of the village's wealthiest resident, Francis Teeling, and anti-war campaigners in Cambridge?

As the Brigadier mobilises UNIT, a secret branch of the British military has serious concerns about UNIT's scientific advisor — Dr Elizabeth Shaw.

In the ensuing struggle, Liz must make connections with her past, consider her future and fight against both incarceration and an unusual alien weapon. And try as he might, the Doctor may not be able to help her!

Plot

Part one

The Doctor reads in The Clarion about a Nazi captain invading a pub in Huncleath and, after speaking with landlord Ken Sharpe over the telephone, he heads off in Bessie to investigate the possibility of a temporal anomaly. Liz, sceptical of the story in part because of the newspaper's reputation, accompanies him to the pub for lunch and deduces that the Doctor is hoping to use the technology causing the anomaly to get the TARDIS working and leave Earth.

Before the Brigadier can leave for Geneva, he meets with Colonel Matthews of the military's Pinpoint Division and learns that Liz has been flagged for her membership of the Anti-War Alliance when she was a student. The Brigadier has long been aware of this, however, and believes it to be of no concern.

The Doctor and Liz fail to detect an energy signature at the pub and question the locals, coming to the conclusion that Ken is trustworthy and unlikely to have lied. They help Florrie after she claims to have been attacked by a Spanish nationalist and the Doctor theorises that people are being targeted by opponents from wars that they experienced. After calling UNIT, they visit the house of the murdered George and chase a Sylimenta, but Matthews arrives with the Brigadier and arrests Liz for treason.

Part two

Liz is taken away by Matthews at gunpoint and taken to a secure facility where she is accused of passing confidential UNIT documents, which she claims to have never seen and which have been partially redacted due to them being beyond Matthews's clearance, to an unaffiliated individual. During questioning, they inexplicably switch roles for a time and Liz accuses Matthews of trying to make her think that she has gone insane.

The Brigadier joins the Doctor in his investigation, finding the Nazi in the pub and watching it mutate into the Sylimenta before disappearing. The search continues when reinforcements arrive and the creature is found, but the Brigadier orders it to be shot when it attacks the Doctor and it dies after mentioning a case, taking on a human form in death. Ken identifies the body as that of wealthy local Francis Teeling and the Doctor finds a device on Teeling's neck which he reasons is responsible for his transformations, intended to distract from an imminent invasion.

Part three

The Doctor investigates Teeling and speaks with his housekeeper, Bryony Walker, who is initially reticent to discuss Teeling's business but eventually admits that he sold weapons. She takes him to the stables where Teeling met with his customers and they find piles of clothes belonging to Teeling's security in addition to a device similar to the one found on Teeling's neck. The Doctor supposes that a device other than the one on Teeling's neck backfired and goes to visit Liz whilst the Brigadier regroups.

Liz is freed from her cell by Lincoln Hall and finds herself in a lecture hall where she delivers a talk on asteroids and is asked by her students about what happens to technology acquired by UNIT. She is then accused by the Brigadier of abusing her position in UNIT by passing on information before finding herself in her old college with Lincoln whilst the London Event is being reported on, making her realise that what she is seeing is not real. When the Doctor comes to see her, Liz does not believe that it is really him and tells him that he is not real.

Part four

The Doctor convinces Liz that he is real by pointing out that she is not in a room shaped from her memories as she was with her students, the Brigadier and Lincoln and later informs the Brigadier by telephone that Pinpoint are likely using alien technology. The Brigadier is unable to have Liz released, however, so the Doctor breaks her out using Teeling's device to disguise himself and then transform a guard into Liz to take her place. She is concerned about Lincoln, but learns that she is the only prisoner and that Lincoln has not been arrested as she believed.

Disguised as a guard once more, the Doctor escorts Liz through the facility and gets them both outside using the Time Vector Generator and the rotation of the Earth. The Doctor returns to UNIT HQ after dropping Liz off at her home and the Brigadier confirms the existence of a store of alien weapons obtained by the organisation which Teeling might have been selling illegally. Whilst the Doctor and Brigadier head there and Liz arranges a meeting with Lincoln in Cambridge, Matthews realises that the Liz in the prison cell is not the real one as the externaliser no longer works on her.

Part five

to be added

Part six

to be added

Part seven

to be added

Cast

Worldbuilding

Ken Sharpe fought in the Second World War.
George Finch lives on the road to King's Lynn. He survived the Battle of the Somme.
Florrie Taylor was a nurse in the Spanish Civil War.
The Malnik Empire is formed in the 110th century.
Munro fetches a full platoon after speaking with the Doctor.
The Doctor drinks claret.
Mick is Teeling's driver.
Wendy works for Teeling.
Mrs Teeling is in London and her children at school.
Pete and Russell are Teeling's guards.
Harold Chorley interviews a soldier whilst London is closed because of Robot Yeti in the London Underground.
The Doctor asks if Sir Philip Burkiss-Jones is responsible for the Pinpoint Division.
The Doctor calls the Brigadier from a telephone box on the A142.
Brian criticises Harry Ogleby.
The Doctor uses the Time Vector Generator.
Connie is Brian's wife.

Notes

This story was recorded at Audio Sorcery between 13 and 15 March 2023.

Continuity

to be added

External links

Official Intelligence for War page at bigfinish.com