Davros’s Faustian Bargain: The Price of Peace
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Councillor questions Davros's motive for providing the formula, noting it will lead to the extermination of his own people, the Kaleds, but Davros justifies it as a necessary sacrifice for peace and requests assistance in rebuilding the planet after the war.
Davros and Nyder reinforce that their only goal is to end the conflict and Davros declares that peace could arrive by dawn.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A storm of horror and urgency; he is both repulsed by Davros’s actions and galvanized by the need to act before it’s too late.
The Doctor and Harry press themselves against the cold metal wall outside the Thal war chamber, their breaths shallow and controlled as a patrol passes by. The Doctor’s eyes widen slightly as he overhears Davros’s chilling proposal, his grip tightening on Harry’s arm in a silent warning. His expression darkens with each word, the weight of the revelation settling over him like a physical burden. He exchanges a glance with Harry, a wordless acknowledgment of the stakes now at play. The Doctor’s mind races, calculating the implications of Davros’s betrayal and the limited time remaining to stop the impending genocide.
- • Gather as much intelligence as possible about Davros’s plan to sabotage the Kaled dome.
- • Devise a way to intervene before the Thals launch their rocket, even if it means risking his own life.
- • Davros’s actions are not just evil but existentially dangerous, threatening the balance of time and reality itself.
- • The Thals, though enemies of the Kaleds, are being manipulated into committing an atrocity they would never otherwise consider.
Feigned sincerity masking deep-seated malice and triumph; a predator savoring the moment before the kill.
Davros dominates the Thal war chamber with a calculated performance, his voice dripping with feigned sincerity as he offers the chemical formula to the Thal Councillor. He frames the impending genocide of his own people as a 'necessary sacrifice' for peace, his body language exuding chilling detachment. His dialogue is a masterclass in manipulation, alternating between appeals to shared suffering and cold pragmatism. He leans slightly forward as Nyder hands over the formula, his eyes locked onto the Councillor, ensuring his words land with maximum impact. The dim lighting casts shadows across his face, accentuating the ruthlessness beneath his veneer of reason.
- • Secure the Thal Councillor’s acceptance of the chemical formula to ensure the Kaled dome’s destruction.
- • Frame the genocide of the Kaleds as a noble sacrifice for peace, justifying his actions to both the Thals and himself.
- • The ends justify the means, especially when those ends serve his vision of a Dalek-dominated future.
- • The Thals are too desperate for victory to question his motives, making them easy to manipulate.
A mix of cautious optimism and gnawing doubt; he wants to believe in the promise of peace but is acutely aware of the moral cost.
The Thal Councillor engages in a tense verbal sparring match with Davros, his posture rigid with suspicion but gradually softening as Davros’s argument gains traction. He listens intently, his fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest of his chair, betraying his internal conflict. When Davros reveals the chemical formula, the Councillor’s eyes narrow, weighing the offer against his instincts. His acceptance is reluctant, his voice laced with residual doubt, but the promise of victory over the Kaleds proves too tempting. He leans back slightly as Nyder explains the formula’s effects, his grip tightening on the arms of his chair—a physical manifestation of his moral compromise.
- • Secure a decisive victory over the Kaleds to end the war and save the Thal people.
- • Avoid appearing weak or indecisive in front of Davros and Nyder, lest he lose leverage in the negotiation.
- • The Kaleds are an existential threat that must be eradicated at any cost.
- • Davros’s offer is too good to be true, but he cannot afford to reject it without risking his people’s survival.
Cold satisfaction in serving Davros’s will; he derives no personal pleasure from the deception, only a sense of duty fulfilled.
Nyder stands at Davros’s side like a loyal executioner, his presence a silent threat. He hands over the chemical formula with mechanical precision, his movements efficient and unemotional. His dialogue is concise, reinforcing Davros’s narrative without embellishment. He does not engage in the back-and-forth with the Councillor, instead serving as a physical manifestation of Davros’s authority. His posture is rigid, his gaze steady, and his voice devoid of inflection—he is the perfect enforcer, ensuring the Councillor’s compliance through sheer, unspoken intimidation.
- • Ensure the Thal Councillor accepts the chemical formula without further hesitation.
- • Reinforce Davros’s authority and the inevitability of his plan through his own unwavering presence.
- • Davros’s vision for the future is non-negotiable, and any means to achieve it are justified.
- • The Thals are a means to an end; their cooperation is temporary and contingent on their usefulness.
Focused and professional; he is a soldier carrying out his duties, unaware of the moral weight of the decisions being made in the room behind him.
A Thal soldier patrols the corridor outside the war chamber with mechanical precision, his boots echoing against the metal floor. He passes within inches of the Doctor and Harry, forcing them to press themselves flat against the wall, their breaths held. The soldier’s gaze is sharp, his hand resting on his weapon, but he does not notice the intruders. His focus is on the perimeter, his mind likely on the impending rocket launch and the promise of victory it represents. He continues his patrol, oblivious to the drama unfolding just beyond the chamber door.
- • Maintain security around the war chamber to prevent any unauthorized access or eavesdropping.
- • Ensure the Thal Councillor’s negotiations proceed without interruption.
- • His role is to follow orders and protect the Thal leadership, regardless of the moral implications of their actions.
- • The Kaleds are the enemy, and any means to defeat them is justified.
A mix of adrenaline-fueled fear and steely determination; he is terrified of what Davros is planning but refuses to let it paralyze him.
Harry Sullivan mirrors the Doctor’s tension, his body coiled like a spring as he listens to the exchange inside the war chamber. His jaw is set, his knuckles white where they grip the wall for support. He glances at the Doctor repeatedly, seeking reassurance or guidance, but remains silent, understanding the gravity of the moment. When the patrol passes, he freezes, his breath catching in his throat, before exhaling slowly as the danger subsides. His eyes reflect a mix of fear and resolve—he knows the stakes, and he is ready to follow the Doctor’s lead, no matter the cost.
- • Stay hidden and ensure the Doctor can gather the intelligence they need without being discovered.
- • Be ready to act on the Doctor’s signal, whatever that may entail.
- • The Doctor’s instincts are always right, and he trusts him implicitly to find a way out of this.
- • Davros’s plan must be stopped at all costs, even if it means putting their lives on the line.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Kaled dome is the primary target of Davros’s genocidal scheme, and its fate is the central focus of the negotiation in the Thal war chamber. Though not physically present, the dome looms large in the dialogue, its invulnerability initially dismissed by the Thal Councillor as a myth. Davros systematically undermines this confidence by introducing the chemical formula, which he claims will weaken the dome’s molecular structure, making it brittle and susceptible to the Thals’ rocket. The dome is framed as both a symbol of Kaled resilience and a barrier that must be destroyed at any cost. Its destruction is not just a tactical objective but the cornerstone of Davros’s plan to ensure the Kaleds’ annihilation, paving the way for his Daleks to inherit Skaro. The dome’s vulnerability becomes a bargaining chip, its fate hinging on the Thal Councillor’s acceptance of Davros’s offer.
The Thals’ genocidal rocket is the silent, looming threat that hangs over the entire exchange in the war chamber. Though not physically present in the room, its existence is the unspoken catalyst for Davros’s manipulation. The rocket is described as 'primed and ready,' its countdown poised to begin immediately—a ticking clock that amplifies the urgency of the Thal Councillor’s decision. Davros’s chemical formula is explicitly tied to the rocket’s success, framing it as the key to penetrating the Kaled dome and ensuring the rocket’s destructive payload reaches its target. The rocket symbolizes the Thals’ desperation and their willingness to embrace any means to achieve victory, no matter how morally reprehensible. Its impending launch is the ultimate expression of the war’s escalation, a weapon that will not just end the conflict but erase the Kaleds from existence.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Thal war chamber is the epicenter of Davros’s manipulation, a dimly lit, tension-filled space where the fate of Skaro is decided. The room is designed to intimidate and control, its stark lighting casting long shadows that accentuate the moral ambiguity of the negotiations taking place. The Thal Councillor sits in a position of authority, but the power dynamics are subtly shifted by Davros’s presence, who dominates the conversation with his chilling rhetoric. The chamber’s acoustics ensure that every word is heard clearly, amplifying the weight of Davros’s lies and the Thal Councillor’s moral compromise. Outside the chamber, the Doctor and Harry press themselves against the cold metal wall, their presence a silent counterpoint to the deception unfolding within. The war chamber is not just a physical space but a crucible of moral failure, where desperation and manipulation collide to produce a plan for annihilation.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Kaleds are the unwitting victims of Davros’s genocidal scheme, their fate decided in the Thal war chamber without their knowledge or consent. Though not physically present in the event, the Kaleds loom large as the target of Davros’s manipulation and the Thals’ impending attack. The Kaled dome, their last line of defense, is the focus of the negotiation, its destruction framed as a necessary step to achieve peace. The Kaleds’ role in this event is passive, their agency stripped away by Davros’s betrayal and the Thals’ complicity. The organization’s power dynamics are entirely reactive, as they are unaware of the plot unfolding against them and unable to defend themselves against the impending attack. Their influence mechanisms are limited to their scientific and military prowess, which Davros seeks to undermine through the chemical formula.
The Thals are represented in this event through the Thal Councillor and the patrolling soldier, both of whom embody the organization’s desperation and moral compromise. The Thal Councillor’s acceptance of Davros’s chemical formula is a pivotal moment in the Thals’ involvement, as it demonstrates their willingness to embrace any means to achieve victory, no matter how morally reprehensible. The Thals’ role in this event is that of unwitting accomplices in Davros’s genocidal plan, their desperation blinding them to the true consequences of their actions. The organization’s power dynamics are shaped by their need for survival, which Davros exploits to secure their compliance. The Thals’ influence mechanisms in this event include their military might, their willingness to follow the Councillor’s lead, and their desperation to end the war at any cost.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Davros attempts to persuade the Thal councillor of the value of peace but is rejected, so he instead changes his strategy to use the Thals in his plan."
"Davros attempts to persuade the Thal councillor of the value of peace but is rejected, so he instead changes his strategy to use the Thals in his plan."
"Davros attempts to persuade the Thal councillor of the value of peace but is rejected, so he instead changes his strategy to use the Thals in his plan."
"Davros attempts to persuade the Thal councillor of the value of peace but is rejected, so he instead changes his strategy to use the Thals in his plan."
"The Thal Councillor wonders why Davros would doom his own people, so Davros responds that it's a sacrifice for peace which leads to them discussing and confirming their destructive agenda furthering ultimately lead to the Thal Councillor ordering the launch of the chemical barrage."
"The Thal Councillor wonders why Davros would doom his own people, so Davros responds that it's a sacrifice for peace which leads to them discussing and confirming their destructive agenda furthering ultimately lead to the Thal Councillor ordering the launch of the chemical barrage."
Key Dialogue
"**DAVROS**: *Words such as patriotism and nationalism. My concern is only for peace, an end to this carnage that has virtually destroyed both our races.*"
"**COUNCILLOR**: *Why aren't you telling this to your own government and people?*"
"**DAVROS**: *I have tried. Time and again, I have tried. But now they will be satisfied with nothing other than total annihilation of the Thal people.* **COUNCILLOR**: *Then they deserve to perish, and perish they will when we launch our rocket. It's primed and ready. The countdown for firing can begin immediately.* **DAVROS**: *And it will fail.* **COUNCILLOR**: *It can't fail.* **DAVROS**: *The Kaled dome cannot be penetrated. Your great rocket will hardly scratch it.*"
"**NYDER**: *It is a simple chemical formula. If the substance is loaded into artillery shells and fired onto the surface of the Kaled dome, it will weaken the molecular structure and make it brittle. Your rocket will then be able to penetrate without resistance.* **COUNCILLOR**: *Why are you giving us this information? You know that your own people, the Kaleds, will be utterly exterminated.* **DAVROS**: *No price is too great to pay for peace. I only ask that when the war is over I be allowed to help in the reconstruction of our planet.*"