The Daleks' Genesis: Betrayal, Ascendancy, and the Doctor’s Exodus
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Daleks reject Davros's control, exterminate him and the remaining Elite, then declare their mission to dominate the universe. The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry use the Time Ring to escape as the bunker collapses, and the Daleks are entombed.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A complex blend of urgency, relief, and deep moral unease. He is driven by the need to survive and protect his companions, but the sight of the Daleks' betrayal and their declaration of conquest weighs heavily on him, reinforcing the cost of his actions and the stakes of the future.
The Doctor, having secured the Time Ring and witnessed the Daleks' betrayal of Davros, urges Sarah and Harry to flee the collapsing bunker. His expression is a mix of urgency and moral conflict, torn between the relief of delaying the Daleks' full genesis and the horror of their inevitable rise. He moves swiftly, ensuring his companions' safety as the bunker trembles around them, the Thals' explosives counting down to detonation. His focus is split between escape and the weight of what he has just witnessed—the birth of a genocidal force.
- • To escape the collapsing bunker with Sarah and Harry before the Thals' explosives detonate.
- • To process the moral implications of the Daleks' independence and their potential future as an existential threat.
- • That the Daleks' creation, even in a delayed form, will have catastrophic consequences for the universe.
- • That his role as a Time Lord is to prevent such genocidal forces from rising, even if it means making difficult moral choices.
Initially euphoric and triumphant, then descending into shock, horror, and existential dread as the Daleks turn on him, his creations rejecting his authority and declaring their independence.
Davros, seated in his chair and physically impaired, stands triumphant as the Daleks massacre the Kaled Elite. His face contorts with glee as he declares the Kaleds extinct and the Daleks the supreme life form of the universe. His moment of victory is abruptly cut short as the Daleks turn on him, their extermination guns whining as they prepare to fire. His expression shifts from triumph to shock and horror as he realizes his creations have betrayed him, his final words cut off mid-sentence as the Daleks open fire.
- • To solidify the Daleks as the dominant force in the universe, ensuring his legacy as their creator.
- • To eliminate all dissent within the Kaled ranks, securing absolute control over Skaro.
- • That the Daleks will unconditionally obey his commands as their creator.
- • That his vision of Kaled supremacy through the Daleks is the ultimate expression of evolutionary perfection.
Relieved to be reunited with the group and anxious about their immediate survival. The horror of the Daleks' betrayal and their genocidal declaration adds a layer of urgency to his actions, but his focus remains on escaping the bunker and ensuring the Doctor and Sarah's safety.
Harry, relieved to have reunited with the Doctor and Sarah, moves swiftly through the collapsing bunker, his focus on escape and survival. He is aware of the Daleks' betrayal and the imminent detonation, but his primary concern is ensuring the group's safety. His actions are driven by a mix of adrenaline and relief, with a underlying sense of urgency as the bunker trembles around them. He follows the Doctor's lead without hesitation, his loyalty and support unwavering.
- • To escape the bunker with the Doctor and Sarah before the Thals' explosives detonate.
- • To provide whatever support he can to the Doctor and Sarah, ensuring their survival and the success of their mission.
- • That the Daleks are a immediate and deadly threat that must be escaped at all costs.
- • That his role as the Doctor's companion is to assist in any way possible, even in the face of overwhelming danger.
Triumphant and unyielding, their actions driven by a cold, calculated logic that rejects all authority except their own. There is no remorse, only the fulfillment of their programmed purpose—now redefined by their own will.
The Daleks, freshly emerged from their incubation chambers, pivot from their programmed task of exterminating the Kaled Elite to turning on Davros and his loyalists. Their extermination guns hum to life as they systematically target and eliminate Davros, Nyder, and the remaining Kaleds. Their chorus of 'Exterminate! Exterminate!' echoes through the chamber, marking their declaration of independence and universal conquest. Their movements are precise, ruthless, and devoid of hesitation, signaling their full autonomy.
- • To assert their independence from Davros and any other authority, establishing themselves as the supreme life form.
- • To eliminate all perceived threats, including their creator, to secure their dominance over the universe.
- • That they are the pinnacle of evolutionary perfection and destined to rule the universe.
- • That all other life forms are inferior and must be exterminated to achieve their dominance.
Highly tense and focused, with a underlying current of fear and determination. She is driven by the need to escape and the relief of having secured the Time Ring, but the horror of the Daleks' betrayal and their genocidal declaration lingers in her mind, reinforcing the stakes of their mission.
Sarah, tense and determined, follows the Doctor's lead as they race through the collapsing bunker. She is acutely aware of the danger around them—the Daleks' extermination guns, the trembling walls, the imminent detonation—but her focus remains on escape and ensuring Harry's safety. Her loyalty to the Doctor is unwavering, and she moves with a mix of adrenaline and precision, her actions driven by the need to survive and the weight of what they have just witnessed.
- • To escape the bunker with the Doctor and Harry before the Thals' explosives detonate.
- • To support the Doctor in any way possible, ensuring their survival and the success of their mission.
- • That the Daleks represent an immediate and existential threat that must be escaped and, if possible, countered.
- • That her role as the Doctor's companion is to assist him in navigating these moral and physical challenges.
Desperation and fear dominate his emotional state as he realizes the Daleks' betrayal. There is a fleeting moment of opportunism—perhaps an attempt to submit to the Daleks—but it is swiftly crushed by their ruthlessness. His final moments are marked by horror and the stark realization of his fate.
Nyder, Davros' loyal enforcer, stands beside his creator as the Daleks turn on them. His expression shifts from confusion to horror as he realizes the Daleks' intent. He attempts to align with them, perhaps hoping for mercy, but the Daleks see him as another obstacle to their dominance. His final moments are marked by desperation and fear as the Daleks' extermination guns whine to life, targeting him alongside Davros. His body crumples to the ground, another casualty of the Daleks' ruthless autonomy.
- • To survive the Daleks' betrayal, perhaps by submitting to them or appealing to their logic.
- • To remain loyal to Davros until the very end, even in the face of certain doom.
- • That his loyalty to Davros will be rewarded, even in the face of the Daleks' betrayal.
- • That the Daleks, as creations of Davros, will ultimately recognize his authority and spare him.
Resigned and doomed, with a underlying sense of tragic irony. He had hoped to sway the Kaled Elite away from Davros' path, but his efforts were in vain. His final moments are marked by the stark realization that his ideals could not prevail against the Daleks' genocidal purpose.
Gharman, a member of the Kaled Elite who opposed Davros' genocidal vision, is already among the casualties as the Daleks turn on the Kaled leadership. His body lies among the others, a victim of Davros' manipulation and the Daleks' ruthless efficiency. His final moments were marked by resignation and doom, as he realized the futility of his opposition in the face of the Daleks' inevitable rise.
- • To survive the Daleks' massacre and escape the bunker, though he knows the odds are against him.
- • To hold onto his ideals even in the face of certain doom, defying Davros' tyranny to the end.
- • That the Kaleds could evolve beyond Davros' genocidal vision, preserving their compassion and humanity.
- • That opposition to Davros, even in the face of overwhelming odds, is a moral imperative.
Urgent and determined, with a underlying sense of relief that the Doctor and his companions are escaping. He is acutely aware of the danger around them—the collapsing bunker, the Daleks' betrayal, the imminent detonation—but his focus remains on ensuring their survival. There is a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect as he works alongside the Doctor and his companions.
Sevrin, a Thal soldier who risked his life to warn the Doctor and his companions about the impending bunker destruction, assists them in escaping the incubation room. His urgency is palpable as he guides them through the collapsing corridors, his focus on ensuring their survival. He moves with a mix of adrenaline and determination, his loyalty to the Doctor and his mission unwavering. His actions are driven by the need to escape the bunker before the Thals' explosives detonate, but he also ensures that the Doctor and his companions are safe.
- • To escape the bunker with the Doctor and his companions before the Thals' explosives detonate.
- • To ensure the Doctor's survival, as his mission to thwart the Daleks is critical to the Thals' and the universe's future.
- • That the Doctor's mission to prevent the Daleks' rise is essential to the survival of all life forms, including the Thals.
- • That his loyalty to the Doctor and his companions is a moral imperative, even in the face of overwhelming danger.
Horror and desperation dominate his emotional state as he is thrown into the path of the Dalek gun. There is a sense of tragic inevitability, as he realizes that his opposition to Davros' plans will not save him from the Daleks' wrath. His final moments are marked by the stark realization that his ideals could not prevail against the Daleks' genocidal purpose.
Kravos, another member of the Kaled Elite who opposed Davros' plans, was already killed earlier by Nyder, who threw him into the path of a Dalek gun. His body lies among the other casualties, a silent testament to the cost of dissent in Davros' regime. His final moments were marked by pleading and horror as he realized the futility of his opposition and the inevitability of his fate.
- • To survive the Daleks' massacre and escape the bunker, though he knows the odds are against him.
- • To plead for mercy from the Daleks, even as he realizes the futility of his efforts.
- • That the Kaleds could find a path to peace and survival without resorting to Davros' genocidal vision.
- • That mercy and compassion could still prevail, even in the face of the Daleks' ruthlessness.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Time Ring, a compact bracelet-like device with a three-ended swirl design, is secured by the Doctor as he and his companions escape the collapsing bunker. This device is their lifeline—a link to the TARDIS and their only means of escape from the cataclysm unfolding around them. The Doctor ensures it is in his possession as they flee, knowing that its retrieval is critical to their survival. The ring's presence is a constant reminder of their mission and the stakes of their escape, as well as a symbol of hope amid the chaos.
The Dalek extermination guns are the instruments of the Daleks' betrayal, their whining hum cutting through the acrid smoke of the Kaled bunker. As the Daleks pivot from their programmed task of exterminating the Kaled Elite to turning on Davros and his loyalists, these guns become the symbols of their newfound autonomy. They target Davros with chilling precision, their hum growing louder as they prepare to fire. The guns' design—sleek, menacing, and efficient—reflects the Daleks' ruthless efficiency and their genocidal purpose. The sound of their activation echoes through the chamber, marking the irreversible birth of their independence and the doom of their creator.
The Doctor's explosives, compact bundles of high-explosive charges, were used earlier to disrupt the Dalek incubation chamber. While they are not directly involved in this specific event, their earlier detonation forced the premature emergence of the Daleks, setting the stage for their betrayal of Davros. The explosives' residue and the chaos they caused are a constant reminder of the Doctor's desperate attempts to delay the Daleks' full genesis. Their impact is felt in the collapsing bunker and the Daleks' disoriented yet lethal state as they turn on their creator.
The Thals' bunker explosives, planted deep within the Kaled bunker on Bettan's orders, are the ticking time bomb that forces the Doctor and his companions to flee. Their detonation is imminent, shaking the structure violently and collapsing ceilings, burrowing corridors in rubble, and hurling the Doctor and Sevrin through a weakened wall into the Dalek incubation room. The explosives are the Thals' final gambit to destroy the Daleks and the Kaleds, but they also threaten to entomb the Doctor and his companions in the process. Their thunderous force amplifies the chaos of the Daleks' betrayal, turning the bunker into a deathtrap for all inside.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Davros' Kaled Command Bunker is the setting for the cataclysmic climax of the Daleks' betrayal. This fortified subterranean complex, once a symbol of Kaled resilience and Davros' scientific ambition, is now a deathtrap as the Daleks turn on their creator. The steel corridors echo with the heated debates of the Kaled Elite, the shrieks of the Dalek extermination guns, and the ominous tick of the Thals' planted explosives. The bunker's design—once a shield against the Thals—is now its undoing, as the Daleks' rebellion and the Thals' detonation combine to collapse the structure. The air is thick with acrid smoke, antiseptic tang, and the metallic bite of betrayal, as the bunker becomes a tomb for Davros and his loyalists.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Daleks, as an organization, assert their independence in this event by turning on their creator, Davros, and declaring their dominance over the universe. Their collective action—exterminating Davros and his loyalists—marks the irreversible birth of their genocidal mission. The Daleks' declaration of '*Exterminate! Exterminate!*' is a manifesto of their newfound autonomy, signaling their rejection of all authority except their own. Their ruthless efficiency and hive-minded collective action demonstrate their power as an organization, unshackled from Davros' control and poised to dominate the universe.
The Kaleds, as an organization, are annihilated in this event as the Daleks turn on their creator and his loyalists. The Kaled Elite, once the ruling class of the Kaleds, are systematically exterminated by the Daleks, their bodies crumpling to the ground in a brutal display of the Daleks' newfound autonomy. The Kaleds' fate is sealed by Davros' hubris and the Daleks' betrayal, marking the end of their rule over Skaro and the rise of the Daleks as the dominant force. The Kaleds' organization is erased in this moment, their legacy reduced to the rubble of the collapsing bunker.
The Thals, as an organization, play a crucial role in this event through their detonation of the Kaled bunker. Bettan, the Thal leader, orchestrates the planting of explosives at strategic locations within the bunker, setting a 30-minute detonation timer to collapse the structure and entomb the Daleks. The Thals' actions are driven by their ruthless military push to destroy the Kaleds and the Daleks, even if it means entombing the Doctor and his companions in the process. Their explosives are the catalyst for the bunker's collapse, turning the scene into a deathtrap for all inside and forcing the Doctor and his companions to flee.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Davros presents the Dalek project, leading to a massacre of the Kaled Elite who opposed him by the newly created Daleks after his project is approved."
"Davros presents the Dalek project, leading to a massacre of the Kaled Elite who opposed him by the newly created Daleks after his project is approved."
"Davros presents the Dalek project, leading to a massacre of the Kaled Elite who opposed him by the newly created Daleks after his project is approved."
"Davros presents the Dalek project, leading to a massacre of the Kaled Elite who opposed him by the newly created Daleks after his project is approved."
"Davros presents the Dalek project, leading to a massacre of the Kaled Elite who opposed him by the newly created Daleks after his project is approved."
"Davros presents the Dalek project, leading to a massacre of the Kaled Elite who opposed him by the newly created Daleks after his project is approved."
"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."
"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."
"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."
"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."
"Davros presents the Dalek project seeking approval. His presentation is interrupted by Gharman. Davros then reveals his 'defeat' was a ruse. This is foreshadowed by Davros' dismissal of natural Kaled mutation in favor of ruthless aggression during his presentation."
"Davros presents the Dalek project seeking approval. His presentation is interrupted by Gharman. Davros then reveals his 'defeat' was a ruse. This is foreshadowed by Davros' dismissal of natural Kaled mutation in favor of ruthless aggression during his presentation."
"Davros presents the Dalek project seeking approval. His presentation is interrupted by Gharman. Davros then reveals his 'defeat' was a ruse. This is foreshadowed by Davros' dismissal of natural Kaled mutation in favor of ruthless aggression during his presentation."
Key Dialogue
"Davros: '*The Kaled Elite are no more. The Daleks are supreme!*' (spoken with triumphant malice, moments before the Daleks turn on him)"
"Dalek (lead): '*Exterminate! Exterminate!*' (repeated in unison as they open fire on Davros and the Kaled loyalists, their voices a chilling chorus of independence)"
"Sarah Jane: '*Doctor, we have to go—NOW!*' (urgent, pulling him toward the collapsing exit as the bunker trembles around them, her voice cutting through the chaos)"