The Horns of Nimon Part 3
The Doctor and his companions must stop the Nimon, a powerful entity, from using a hyperspace tunnel to invade Skonnos, while also unraveling the mysteries of the Nimon's lair and the Skonnon's sinister plans.
In the planet Skonnos, the Nimon, an ancient and powerful entity, has been manipulating the Skonnon Empire, led by Soldeed, to provide tribute of young Anethans in exchange for technological advancements. The Doctor, Romana, Seth, and Teka stumble upon this sinister plot while investigating the Nimon's lair. As they delve deeper, they discover the Nimon's plan to use a hyperspace tunnel, facilitated by a network of black holes, to migrate to Skonnos and claim it as their new home. The Doctor and his companions must navigate the complex and deadly lair, evade the Nimon and its minions, and prevent the invasion. Along the way, they uncover the true nature of the Nimon's power, the purpose of the horns, and the extent of Soldeed's ambitions. The Doctor uses his ingenuity and K9's assistance to outwit the Nimon and Soldeed, and ultimately attempts to reverse the energy flow of the hyperspace tunnel to send the Nimons back to their own dimension.
Events in This Episode
The narrative beats that drive the story
The Doctor orchestrates a chaotic escape from the Nimon's Larder, using a red kerchief to distract the creature, allowing Romana, Seth, and Teka to flee the immediate danger. Separated from his companions in the complex's confusing corridors, the Doctor eventually reunites with Romana, Seth, and Teka, who are initially lost and fearful. During their exploration, the Doctor begins to piece together the Nimon's true intentions, identifying the 'furnace' as a nuclear reactor fueled by the Anethan crystals, which are not merely tribute but a vital energy source for a larger, more sinister operation. He deduces the complex itself functions as a giant positronic circuit with shifting walls. Simultaneously, on the surface of Skonnos, Soldeed and Sorak discover the Doctor's TARDIS. Intrigued by its primitive exterior yet advanced nature, Soldeed cautiously examines it, fearing it might be a booby trap, even as K9 observes them from within. The Doctor, having identified the Nimon's laboratory as a massive energy transmitter with the horns acting as antennae, realizes he needs computational power to understand its purpose. He uses a dog whistle to summon K9. K9 successfully exits the TARDIS, but is promptly captured by Soldeed after stunning a guard and resisting Soldeed's staff. Soldeed, recognizing K9's electronic sophistication, takes it to his own laboratory for study, creating a significant new complication for the Doctor's plans. This act establishes the immediate threats, introduces the Nimon's energy-based technology, and sets the stage for the escalating conflict.
The Doctor and Romana examine a transmitter device inside the Nimon's laboratory, quickly deducing it operates as a positronic circuit with horn-like antennae designed to channel destructive energy. Their analysis …
With Romana’s help the Doctor identifies the transmitter’s structure and purpose as a powerful energy-based system, fueled by hymetusite in the Nimon’s nuclear furnace. Realising the circuit’s changing walls map …
The Doctor and Romana deepen their investigation within the Nimon's laboratory, uncovering the terrifying truth: the Nimon's energy beam is not merely for power, but for creating a hyperspatial tunnel between two black holes, facilitating instantaneous travel across the universe. They realize Soldeed's grand vision of Skonnon conquest is a delusion, as he remains oblivious to the black hole's existence and the Nimon's true, self-serving agenda. Soldeed, basking in the adulation of his council, proclaims the dawn of the 'Second Skonnon Empire,' confident in his ability to manipulate the Nimon. However, his advisor Sorak expresses unease, questioning the Nimon's motives and suggesting an imbalance in the Nimon's generosity. Back in the laboratory, the Nimon activates the transmat pad, and two more Nimons emerge from an egg-shaped capsule, confirming the Doctor's fears: it is a full-scale invasion. The newly arrived Nimons reveal Crinoth, their home world, is 'finished,' and Skonnos is their new target, with millions more expected to follow. Facing the imminent arrival of millions of Nimons, the Doctor devises a desperate plan to reverse the energy flow of the hyperspace tunnel, hoping to send the invaders back to their dying world. As he prepares to execute this dangerous maneuver, Soldeed arrives in the complex, having observed the energy surge and declared the beginning of his empire, now ready to confront the Nimon, utterly unaware of the true nature and scale of the threat he faces.
Romana expresses astonishment at the alien technology as the Doctor decodes its purpose. They realize the direction beam is feeding into an artificially created black hole that could serve as …
As Romana assists in decoding the Nimon’s technology, the Doctor pieces together that the energy beam is a direction beam focused on an artificially created black hole gateway. In revealing …
Romana spots an egg-shaped transmat capsule as the Nimon announces Skonnos as its new home. Two more adult Nimons emerge, revealing Crinoth is destroyed and Skonnos is their next target …
As the Nimon's force grows with fresh arrivals, the Doctor deciphers the fatal flaw in their hyperspace tunnel scheme—two black holes powering a spatial gateway. Romana moves to sabotage the …