THE STORY
After a meeting in space with a group of unseen aliens the Doctor returns to Gallifrey and claims the presidency of the Time Lords. Leela meanwhile tries to work out why he is behaving out of character. At his induction, the Doctor is 'crowned' with a device giving him access to the Matrix. He then arranges for the transduction barriers around Gallifrey to be put out of action by K9. When this is done, his alien 'allies' materialise.
They are telepathic invaders called Vardans. The Doctor links K9 to the Matrix in order to determine their point of origin. His plan is to place a time loop around their home planet, but he must avoid arousing their suspicions - hence his erratic behaviour. He banishes Leela to the wastelands of outer Gallifrey for fear that she might unintentionally jeopardise his plans. There she meets a group of Gallifreyan outsiders, and together they organise an attack on the Capitol to fight off the invaders. The Doctor finally springs his trap and the Vardans are banished. Then, however, Gallifrey is invaded by the Sontarans who unknown to the Doctor, were using the Vardans to enable them to conquer the Time Lords. The Doctor uses knowledge extracted from the Matrix by K9 to construct a forbidden de-mat gun, activated by the Great Key of Rassilon. He then uses this to kill the Sontarans, although his memory of recent events is wiped in the process. Leela announces that she wishes to stay behind with Andred, one of the Chancellery guards, with whom she has fallen in love. K9 elects to remain with her. The Doctor leaves Gallifrey, producing a large box in the TARDIS containing a second K9.
CAST:
The Doctor (Tom Baker), Leela (Louise Jameson), Voice of K-9 (John Leeson), Vardans (Stan McGowan, Tom Kelly), Andred (Christopher Tranchell), Kelner (Milton Johns), Borusa (John Arnatt), Lord Gomer (Dennis Edwards), Lord Savar (Reginald Jessup), Gold Usher (Charles Morgan), Guard (Christopher Christou), Rodan (Hilary Ryan), Ablif (Ray Callaghan), Jasko (Michael Mundell), Bodyguard (Micheal Harley), Nesbin (Max Faulkner), Presta (Gai Smith), Castellan Guard (Eric Danot), Stor (Derek Deadman), Sontaran (Stuart Fell).
FACTS:
The TARDIS contains a swimming pool sized bathroom.
The Vardans return in the Virgin New Adventure 'No Future' by Paul Cornell.
OTHER FORMATS:
The Fourth Doctor Novelisations
Back to the Fourth Doctor Programme Guide
Forward to 'The Ribos Operation'.
