Fabula
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part 4

Doctor locks portal as planet teeters

Soldeed’s collaboration with the Nimons is revealed in its full destructive scale as the Doctor and his companions scramble to reverse the hijacked space-time tunnel. Romana arrives only to be hunted by Nimons, while Seth bursts in with Soldeed’s staff, enabling a brutal but effective use of the Jasonite mineral to neutralize the invaders. The Doctor seizes control of the chaos, directing K9 to reroute the tunnel into oblivion, while pushing Romana and Seth toward the furnace room to rescue Teka before the planet’s core breaches. The moment crystallizes the Doctor’s quick-thinking leadership under existential pressure, forcing all characters to recognize that Crinoth’s collapse is no longer preventable—only contained.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

Soldeed activates the nuclear furnace, putting the planet on the brink of destruction.

relief to despair ['larder']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

5

Determined and focused, shifting rapidly between explanation and decisive action

The Doctor attempts to explain his actions to the Nimons while reversing the tunnel, but is cut off. He tries to physically stop Nimon 2 but fails, then swiftly pivots to seizing control of the Gravitic Anomaliser, directing K9 and ordering Romana and Seth toward the furnace room to save Teka before Crinoth’s core breaches.

Goals in this moment
  • Lock the space-time tunnel permanently to contain the Nimons
  • Direct companions to safety while ensuring the tunnel’s containment
Active beliefs
  • That containment is the only viable path forward
  • That his companions’ survival is paramount
Character traits
Improvisational Decisive Reassuring Action-oriented
Follow The Fourth …'s journey

Fearful yet urgent, driven by the immediate need to protect companions and neutralize the threat

Romana bursts into the laboratory moments after the Doctor reverses the tunnel, but is immediately targeted by the Nimons. She tosses the Jasonite to Seth and instructs him on how to wield it, then engages the third Nimon directly, shooting it after Seth’s initial attempt fails. Her precise commands and quick reflexes turn the tide against the invaders.

Goals in this moment
  • Protect Seth from the Nimons
  • Direct Seth to use the Jasonite effectively
Active beliefs
  • That immediate action is required to save lives
  • That the Jasonite’s power can counter the Nimons
Character traits
Quick-thinking Commanding Brave Tactical
Follow Romana's journey
Nimon
primary

Confrontational and commanding, masking any doubt about its mission

The primary Nimon commands the Doctor to reverse his tunnel reversal, intercepting Romana and ordering her execution. It physically operates the lever and assaults the Doctor when he tries to intervene, embodying the ruthless authority of the Nimons in this critical moment.

Goals in this moment
  • Force the Doctor to undo his tunnel reversal
  • Eliminate Romana as a threat
Active beliefs
  • That the tunnel’s reversal is an existential threat to their operations
  • That force is justified to maintain control
Character traits
Authoritative Aggressive Dominant
Follow Nimon's journey

Confused yet galvanized by the urgency of the moment, balancing fear and the need to act

Seth enters the laboratory bearing Soldeed’s staff, visibly shaken and having lost Teka. Romana tosses him the Jasonite and instructs him urgently on how to use it, leading to the stun and killing of two Nimons. His confusion quickly turns to desperate action as he grapples with the weapon’s alien nature.

Goals in this moment
  • Regain control of the situation using any means available
  • Find and save Teka before it’s too late
Active beliefs
  • That the Doctor and Romana can provide a way out
  • That the Jasonite is the key to turning the tide
Character traits
Disoriented Desperate Obedient Fast-adapting
Follow Seth of …'s journey
Supporting 1

Calm and focused, operating without emotional inflection but driven by ingrained loyalty

K9, now active in the laboratory, connects with the Gravitic Anomaliser and awaits the Doctor’s command. He confirms his readiness to modify the controls to divert the space-time tunnel, showcasing his technical precision and unwavering loyalty even in the midst of chaos.

Goals in this moment
  • Modify the tunnel controls as directed by the Doctor
  • Ensure the rerouting succeeds to neutralize the Nimons
Active beliefs
  • That executing the Doctor’s orders is the correct course of action
  • That his technical capabilities can directly impact the outcome
Character traits
Methodical Efficient Dutiful Precise
Follow K9's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

4
Soldeed’s Ritual Staff

Soldeed’s Ritual Staff is wielded by Seth after Romana tosses him the Jasonite. It serves both as a weapon and a conduit for the Jasonite’s energy when modified. Initially disorienting Seth, it becomes the instrument of the Nimons’ defeat when Seth successfully discharges the Jasonite through it.

Before: Possessed by Seth, having been brought from the …
After: Modified by Seth to channel the Jasonite, its …
Before: Possessed by Seth, having been brought from the earlier confrontation with Soldeed
After: Modified by Seth to channel the Jasonite, its prongs scorched or energized from the discharge
Sezom's Modified Jasonite Staff (with Diamond Focus Crystal)

The Gravitic Anomaliser is commandeered by the Doctor, who directs K9 to modify its controls to divert the space-time tunnel’s flow and send the Nimons into oblivion. The Doctor’s quick thinking turns the unstable device into the key to containing the invasion.

Before: Mounted or positioned in Nimon’s laboratory, part of …
After: Modified and operational, rerouting the tunnel’s energy under …
Before: Mounted or positioned in Nimon’s laboratory, part of the tunnel’s control system
After: Modified and operational, rerouting the tunnel’s energy under K9’s supervision
Crashing Space-Time Tunnel

The Capsule is the piece of Skonnos’s transmat machinery that the Doctor momentarily reverses, removing it from Crinoth as the Nimons attempt to blast it. Its disappearance signifies a critical setback to the Nimons’ immediate plans.

Before: Moving through the space-time tunnel, en route to …
After: Removed from Crinoth’s space-time flow, disrupting the Nimons’ …
Before: Moving through the space-time tunnel, en route to being assimilated or destroyed by the Nimons
After: Removed from Crinoth’s space-time flow, disrupting the Nimons’ tribute systems
The Jasonite

The Jasonite is tossed by Romana to Seth, who is instructed to jam it between the prongs of Soldeed’s staff and fire it, stunning and killing two Nimons. Its modified prongs discharge a pulse of energy capable of overpowering Nimon hosts, turning the tide in the struggle.

Before: In Romana’s possession, presumably retrieved from Sezom’s staff …
After: Used by Seth to neutralize the Nimons, its …
Before: In Romana’s possession, presumably retrieved from Sezom’s staff earlier
After: Used by Seth to neutralize the Nimons, its energy depleted or discharged

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Nimon's Laboratory

Nimon’s Laboratory becomes the epicenter of the desperate struggle as the Doctor reverses the tunnel’s flow and the Nimons retaliate. The unstable machinery, flickering consoles, and monumental controls frame the characters’ rapid tactical shifts, with every second counting against the planet’s impending core breach.

Atmosphere Tense and chaotic, filled with machine hums, urgent commands, and the sudden violence of Nimon …
Function Battleground and command center where the fate of Crinoth is decided through both physical and …
Symbolism Represents both the oppressive might of the Nimons’ technological domination and the fragile opportunity for …
Harsh angular lighting casting jagged shadows Flickering consoles and erratic circuits pulsing with energy The distant hum of the space-time tunnel’s core

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

1
The Nimon

The Nimon organization manifests through its proxies Nimon 2 and the third Nimon, aggressively enforcing its will by ordering the Doctor’s reversal of the tunnel, commanding Romana’s execution, and weaponizing Soldeed’s staff against Seth. Their presence is felt in every violent incursion and directive.

Representation Through its commanding Nimons who enforce hierarchical orders and exercise immediate lethal authority in the …
Power Dynamics Exercising dominance over the Skonnons and asserting its authority against the Doctor and his companions, …
Impact Their inability to contain the Doctor’s reversal highlights the fragility of their presumed invincibility and …
Reverse the Doctor’s meddling with the space-time tunnel Eliminate immediate threats to their operations on Crinoth Through direct commands via their representatives By leveraging control of advanced technology and transmat systems

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 9

"The Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel directly leads to K9's successful intervention, reversing the flow and sending the capsule (and thus the threat) away. This action is the primary solution to the Nimon invasion."

Seth joins Romana to strike against Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"K9's insistence on being removed from the surface and his escape to the Doctor directly leads to his assignment to modify the space-time tunnel controls. This continuity shows the direct impact of K9's growing independence."

Sorak trapped behind sealed doors
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"Romana's request for Jasonite modification of the staff causes Seth's later success in stunning the Nimons. This direct link shows how Romana's actions equip the team to combat the immediate threat."

Nimons activate doomsday gambit
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"Romana's request for Jasonite modification of the staff causes Seth's later success in stunning the Nimons. This direct link shows how Romana's actions equip the team to combat the immediate threat."

Romana and Sezom face the parasite’s peril
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"Romana's request for Jasonite modification of the staff causes Seth's later success in stunning the Nimons. This direct link shows how Romana's actions equip the team to combat the immediate threat."

Romana seizes Sezom's weapon for the mission
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"The Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel directly leads to K9's successful intervention, reversing the flow and sending the capsule (and thus the threat) away. This action is the primary solution to the Nimon invasion."

Doctor reverses tunnel to trap the Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"K9's insistence on being removed from the surface and his escape to the Doctor directly leads to his assignment to modify the space-time tunnel controls. This continuity shows the direct impact of K9's growing independence."

K9 asserts independence in lab
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"The immediate success of stunning the Nimons is followed by the Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel. This escalation raises the stakes from merely defeating the Nimons to preventing a chain reaction that could destroy Crinoth."

Doctor reverses tunnel to trap the Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"The immediate success of stunning the Nimons is followed by the Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel. This escalation raises the stakes from merely defeating the Nimons to preventing a chain reaction that could destroy Crinoth."

Seth joins Romana to strike against Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …
What this causes 5

"The Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel directly leads to K9's successful intervention, reversing the flow and sending the capsule (and thus the threat) away. This action is the primary solution to the Nimon invasion."

Doctor reverses tunnel to trap the Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"The Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel directly leads to K9's successful intervention, reversing the flow and sending the capsule (and thus the threat) away. This action is the primary solution to the Nimon invasion."

Seth joins Romana to strike against Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"Soldeed's activation of the nuclear furnace directly causes the furnace to go critical, trapping Teka and the Anethans and putting Crinoth on the brink of destruction. This sudden escalation from invasion prevention to planetary evacuation is a pivotal turning point."

Sabotage triggers reactor meltdown
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"The immediate success of stunning the Nimons is followed by the Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel. This escalation raises the stakes from merely defeating the Nimons to preventing a chain reaction that could destroy Crinoth."

Doctor reverses tunnel to trap the Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

"The immediate success of stunning the Nimons is followed by the Doctor tasking K9 with modifying the controls to divert the space-time tunnel. This escalation raises the stakes from merely defeating the Nimons to preventing a chain reaction that could destroy Crinoth."

Seth joins Romana to strike against Nimons
S17E20 · The Horns of Nimon Part …

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Part of Larger Arcs

Key Dialogue

"ROMANA: The invasion's started from Crinoth. Doctor, switch it back."
"DOCTOR: I'll do better than that. I'll lock it off for good. Romana?"
"K9: Affirmative, master."