Order of the Daleks (audio story)
Order of the Daleks was the two hundred and eighteenth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Mike Tucker and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Miranda Raison as Constance Clarke.
Publisher's summary
In the Galactic Census, idyllic Strellin is recorded as a Grade Three planet – its inhabitants possessing neither advanced technology, nor knowledge of other worlds. Accordingly, Strellin is protected: landings by off-worlders are strictly prohibited. Unless, of course, those off-worlders are officials of the Galactic Census itself, come to investigate the origin of a mysterious sub-space signal – a signal no native of Strellin should be able to send...
Breaking all local by-laws, the time-travelling Doctor and his companion L/Wren Mrs Constance Clarke (AWOL) have only just landed on Strellin, too. But they and the Census officials aren't the only off-worlders to have come here. Inside a nearby monastery, the monks of the reclusive Brotherhood of the Black Petal are guarding a strange and terrible secret. Something that might bring disaster not just to Strellin, but to every civilised world in the galaxy!
Plot
Part one
Twin novices Rosco and Gabber sneak around their monastery, trying to find what is kept hidden. Rosco is too scared, so Gabber enters the dark secret room, screams, and then runs out. Pleading with him for answers, Rosco finds that Gabber cannot speak.
The Doctor and Constance materialize on a hill beside a herd of Brandelak on the planet Strellin, on their way to visit the Brotherhood of the Black Petal. They are accosted by Assessor Pendle and Probationary Assessor Asta, who berate them for arriving on a Grade Three Planet, a medival society with no knowledge of other worlds. Pendle and Asta themselves are investigating a strange signal being transmitted from the monastery. The four make their way there while observed by Rosco and Gabber, who reach the monastery before them and inform Brother Boswyck of the "demons," although he assures the travelers are just strangers.
Upon reaching the monastery, the Doctor experiences a "mental twinge," theorising that someone is trying to make telepathic contact. Aware of the approaching strangers, Raspak gathers the guards and takes the Doctor and Pendle to the Abbot, while Constance and Asta (who the Doctor claims are boys) are locked in a cell. In the presence of Abbot Tanapal, Pendle claims to be merchants but the Doctor gets straight to the point and asks the Abbot if he knows about a signal being broadcast, to which the Abbot denies. They are locked in the cell, and the Abbot informs Raspak that the strangers are from another world, and to search the moors for their craft.
The four visitors now together in the cells, the Doctor remarks that both the Abbot and guard are aware of something with the signal. The cell door is then unlocked and Boswyck enters, freeing them. He explains that during the Autumn harvest, a "star" crashed nearby and the Brotherhood, dedicated to all life, went out to see if they could help the survivors. They nursed some and brought their ship back to the monastery, but now he fears the Abbot is under their influence. He has prayed for divine help, and he believes the visitors are that help.
Leaving the cell, they overhear that the Assessors' ship has been captured, which would pose a great threat should they access the ship's technology. Boswyck bids Rosco to help the Doctor and Pendle get to the ship while he takes Constance and Asta to investigate the survivors. Inside their chamber, Constance can just see what the creatures look like when another enters the room, and Asta is immediately overcome with fear: the creature is a Dalek and it informs them they are prisoners.
Part two
The Dalek asks why there are unauthorized intruders, and Boswyck quickly explains that the "novices" are here to help the Sleeping Ones. The Dalek is satisfied, but orders that nutrients are required. Bowyck takes Constance and Asta away.
Meanwhile, the Doctor, Pendle, and Rosco arrive at the spaceship to find a blacksmith hammering the hull. An alarm sounds and the Doctor quickly alerts them that the fuel lines could rupture. Raspak takes him and Pendle to the Abbot, whom the Doctor tries to reason with, experiencing another mental twinge; for a moment, the Abbot was trying to tell him something. But then he orders the two intruders to be taken to the chapel. Boswyck, Constance, and Asta reach the chapel and see that the Brotherhood gives blood for the Daleks' nutrients. The Doctor and Pendle are brought in, but before they can be drained, the others create a distraction and save them, informing them the aliens who crashlanded are Daleks.
The TARDIS is found and brought to the Abbot, who recognizes it and realizes who the Doctor is. He orders the guards to find them and two Daleks serve as reinforcements. Using secret tunnels, Boswyck leads the others towards the Daleks' workshop, hiding from two Daleks along the way. The creatures discuss their orders from the Black Dalek, pointing out that production on casings for the other Daleks will be slowed. The Doctor finds their saucer's black box turned into a transmitter in the workshop, and learns that the specialized force were part of the Emperor's Personal Guard, on their way to Skaro from invading Kantra. Several Brothers enter, but they do not notice the intruders. They focus only on their work and don't speak of it, because their larynxs were removed to allow the Daleks to speak. The Doctor plans to confront the Abbot, who he and Boswyck believe are under the Daleks' influence, and Asta suggests the others make a distraction.
While the guards pursue a ringing bell, the Abbot meets the Doctor, who reveals the Black Dalek behind his throne. He tries to reason with the Abbot that he's being controlled by the Daleks, but the Black Dalek explains the truth: its and the Abbot's minds are working in symbiosis, and soon the mind of the Daleks will be spread to every being in the galaxy, and beyond to the universe!
Part three
to be added
Part four
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - Colin Baker
- Constance Clarke - Miranda Raison
- Pendle - John Savident
- Jane Asta - Olivia Hallinan
- Boswyck/Raspak - Robbie Stevens
- Rosco/Gabber - Sam Fletcher
- Habrild - Joseph Kloska
- Tanapal and The Daleks - Nicholas Briggs
References
- Rosco is two minutes younger than his twin brother Gabber.
- The Doctor has a box brownie.
- He refers to the inhabitants of Strellin as "humans." The planet is known across the galaxy for its peace and tranquility, the monastery for its stained glass.
- Tanapal refers to the perilous mountains between the monastery and the other settlements.
- Mr. Pendle is aware of the Time Lords and considers them to be arrogant. He regards spacecraft as being Grade 1 technology.
- The Daleks acquire nutrients from blood.
- There were originally 12 Daleks onboard the saucer, which was part of a battlefleet that invaded Kantra. They were damaged and crashed on Strellin last Autumn. Most perished, but the survivors include a Black Dalek, a saucer commander, and four Daleks.
- As a child, the Doctor played in the tunnels under the Panopticon on Gallifrey.
- The Dream Flower, Ostrecallis Mediosai, was native to Ostrecallis Major, but thought to be extinct when the Ostrecallis system was consumed by a meganova.
- Brandelak are like space buffalo.
- The Daleks are limited in technology on Strellin. Normally, they move using their psycho-kinetic power in conjunction with their technology. The Emperor's Personal Guard have more advanced power.
Notes
- This story was recorded on 13 and 14 April 2016.
- The stained glass Dalek on the cover was designed by Chris Thompson.
- A trailer for part one was released.
- This story takes place contemporaneously with or just after the Dalek invasion of Kantra which occurs around the time of the Dalek-Movellan War (based on TV: Destiny of the Daleks) which takes place somewhere circa 4949, as the war was dated by AUDIO: Neverland, though many conflicting dates have been given for the war in other sources.
Continuity
- The Doctor notes the absence of terraforming machines on Strellin. (AUDIO: Shield of the Jötunn)
- The TARDIS travelers are once again mistaken for demons. (TV: The King's Demons)
- The injured Daleks include some of the Emperor's Personal Guard. (TV: The Evil of the Daleks, The Partings of the Ways)
- Before they crash-landed on Strellin, the Daleks were involved in the invasion of Kantra. (TV: Destiny of the Daleks)
- During his fourth incarnation, the Doctor previously visited another Grade 3 planet named Ribos. (TV: The Ribos Operation)
- The Daleks move via their psycho-kinetic power. (TV: Death to the Daleks)
External links
- Official Order of the Daleks page at bigfinish.com
