Spiridon campaign: Difference between revisions

As part of the preparations, the Daleks quietly occupied the planet [[Spiridon]], the seat of the [[Spiridon (species)|native Spiridons]]' civilisation that had since fallen into ruin. Though the Spiridons had [[Evolution|evolved]] to master a natural [[invisibility]] to protect themselves from their [[world]]'s hostile wildlife, it did not save them from the Daleks, who saturated the [[jungle]]s with killer rays. Unable to hide or resist, the Spiridons [[surrender]]ed and submitting to co-operating with the Daleks, though a few tried to rebel against the occupation. The [[slave]]s were kept visible with [[purple]] [[fur]] [[robe]]s. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks]]'')  

The Daleks repurposed an old Spiridon [[temple]] for use the entrance to a subterranean command centre and sent an [[army]] of [[10000 (number)|10,000]] Daleks into underground [[hibernation]] until the time came to begin the invasion.  

In addition, this army was to be treated with invisibility techniques adapted from those naturally practiced by the [[Spiridon (species)|Spiridons]]. The initial experiments were not fully successful and more work was needed. While the Daleks discovered an anti-reflecting [[Light wave sickness|light wave]], it required a lot of [[energy]] to sustain. Some of the Daleks either reverted back to visibility after a short time or succumbed to light wave sickness.

The [[Third Doctor]] later assessed that Operation Divide and Conquer was intended to make the Daleks' galactic conquest easier, but the size of the army on Spiridon indicated that the Daleks intended to invade regardless of whether or not the deception was successful. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'')  

Concurrently with the early Thal expedition, the [[Third Doctor]] and [[Jo Grant]] had uncovered the truth behind [[Operation Divide and Conquer]]. The Doctor took part in a joint expedition with [[Earth]] and [[Draconian]] [[government]] officials to the [[Ogron|Ogrons]]' [[The Planet|homeworld]], where the Daleks captured them. Leaving the [[prisoner]]s in the Master's custody, the Daleks departed to "return to our base and prepare the army of the Daleks." Breaking out of captivity, [[General]] [[John Williams]] and [[Draconian prince|the Prince]] of [[Draconia]] fled [[home]] to warn their people about the Dalek [[conspiracy]], but the Doctor was [[Injury|injured]] by the Master during his escape. He and Jo made it back to [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] and sent an [[Telepathic circuits|urgent message]] to the [[Time Lord]]s, ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]]'') asking for their aid in following the Dalek ship off the planet. The Time Lords obliged, directing the TARDIS to Spiridon. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'')

Taron and Vaber hid their explosives away in a cache. Vaber nearly [[Mutiny|mutinied]] but Taron talked him down. Thereafter, they were joined by their reinforcements, who crashed on the planet but survived, and warned the others of the true strength of the Daleks. They infiltrated the Dalek base through the ventilation systems, hoping to cause a cave-in with some of the explosives, but the charges failed. Simultaneously, Jo entered the city with Wester's help by hiding herself in one of the baskets being moved by the slaves, and managed to eavesdrop on the Dalek control centre. The Doctor and Codal also escaped their cell when the Doctor modified the TARDIS log to interfered with the control systems of a Dalek on [[guard]].  

Detecting the prison break, the Daleks made sure to lure the escapees to level zero. There, the Doctor and Codal linked up with the rest of the Thals, though Marat was killed helping the others to escape. The Doctor caught a glimpse of the army before he and his [[Alliance|allies]] ascended a [[ventilation shaft]] to the surface ahead of a Dalek patrol and reunited with Jo. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'')  

During the ongoing hunt for the Thal agents, the [[Dalek Supreme (Planet of the Daleks)|Dalek Supreme]] arrived on Spiridon to take personal command of the operation. The Dalek was the head of the [[Dalek Council|Supreme Council]] and second-in-command to the [[Dalek Emperor (The Dalek Conquests)|Dalek Emperor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks]]'') Supreme Command identified the Doctor and ordered him to be captured for [[interrogation]], but the Dalek Supreme was infuriated by the Section Leader's persistent [[failure]] and [[extermination|exterminated]] him.  

Beneath the control centre, the Thals detonated a bomb over the catwalk in the [[cave]]rn holding the army as it began to stir. Upon the next eruption of an icecano, the cavern was flooded with molten ice, ensuring the army remained inert. ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'') All remaining Daleks of the initial expeditionary force were dispatched to capture the invaders, and were either caught in the explosion or trapped by the ice. This left the Dalek Supreme and his to aides as the only three Daleks still free in the base. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks]]'')

The Doctor and the Thals made their escape as molten ice flooded the rest of the base. The Dalek Supreme ordered that the facility be abandoned and all instruments set to [[self-destruct]]. Taron and his party made their back to Skaro by hijacking the [[Dalek flying saucer|Dalek Supreme's ship]]. Stranded on Spiridon, the Dalek Supreme called for a rescue ship to be sent by Supreme Command and decreed that preparations would begin immediately to free the buried army. He declared, "We have been delayed, not [[defeat]]ed. The Daleks are never defeated!" ([[TV]]: ''[[Planet of the Daleks (TV story)|Planet of the Daleks]]'') Even so, the Dalek Supreme acknowledged that the day had been one of "total catastrophe". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Planet of the Daleks]]'')