Chen orders lethal pursuit of Vyon and Gantry
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Chen orders all Space Security agents to return to Earth and instructs them to kill Vyon and Gantry on sight. Lizan, eager to serve, complies with Chen's instructions, pleased to be of service to him.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Absent but framed as a menacing figure—Chen’s paranoia projects him as a looming threat, while Lizan’s clinical recitation strips him of humanity, reducing him to a data point for elimination.
Bret Vyon is the primary target of Chen’s kill order, identified as a traitor through Lizan’s computer records. His background—bred on Mars Colony 16 and risen through the ranks of Space Security—is meticulously recited, framing him as a dangerous rogue. Though physically absent, his presence looms over the scene as Chen orders his execution on sight, tying him to Gantry and the stolen Spar ship. Vyon’s association with Kembel and potential alliance with 'other creatures' (likely the Doctor and companions) elevates him from a deserter to an existential threat.
- • Survival (implied, as Chen’s orders mark him for death)
- • Exposing Chen’s Dalek alliance (if he lives to fight another day)
- • Chen’s regime is corrupt and must be opposed (implied by his actions on Kembel)
- • Loyalty to Gantry and the Doctor’s crew overrides institutional duty
Absent but framed as a desperate fugitive—Chen’s narrative paints him as a threat to be eradicated, stripping him of agency or humanity.
Kurt Gantry, though physically absent, is the second target of Chen’s purge, his identity tied to Vyon’s as the 'other traitor' from Kembel. Lizan’s team is preparing his identity projection, framing him as a rogue agent who never reported in. Chen’s implication that Gantry and Vyon may be allied with 'other creatures' (the Doctor’s group) elevates their threat level, ensuring their execution is non-negotiable. Gantry’s fate is sealed by association, his loyalty to Vyon and the Doctor’s cause marking him for death.
- • Survival (implied, as Chen’s orders mark him for death)
- • Protecting the Doctor and companions (if he lives to fight another day)
- • Chen’s regime is corrupt and must be opposed (implied by his actions on Kembel)
- • Loyalty to Vyon overrides institutional duty
Eager and proud—her 'delight' in serving Chen is evident, but beneath it lies a chilling detachment, as she reduces human lives to data points for elimination.
Lizan serves as Chen’s eager enforcer, her admiration for him bordering on reverence. She recites Vyon’s background with clinical precision, treating the data as infallible, and assures Chen that the computer network’s chemical details leave 'no scope for error.' Her delight in being of service is palpable as she prepares Gantry’s identity projection and leaves to disseminate the kill orders. Lizan embodies institutional blind faith, her efficiency masking the moral cost of her actions—she is the human face of Chen’s bureaucratic machine.
- • Prove her competence to Chen by delivering flawless data and orders
- • Uphold the institutional integrity of Space Security (as she sees it)
- • Chen’s authority is absolute and must be obeyed without question
- • Technology (the computer network) is infallible and morally neutral
Anxious and resigned—he walks a tightrope, aware that one misstep could cost him his life, yet unable to fully break from Chen’s grip.
Karlton, as Head of the Special Security Service, acts as Chen’s reluctant enforcer, caught between loyalty and the reality of operational failures. He reassures Chen that his agents will not 'spoil things,' having already insisted on clearance for future missions—a belated attempt to regain control. His defensive posture ('You know you can trust me') reveals his awareness of Chen’s paranoia and the precariousness of his own position. Karlton’s role is to uphold Chen’s orders while mitigating the fallout, but his internal conflict is palpable: he knows the system is broken, yet he enables it.
- • Protect his own position within Chen’s regime
- • Prevent further operational failures (e.g., like Cory’s mission)
- • Chen’s authority must be upheld to maintain order (even if it’s corrupt)
- • Loyalty to the system (Space Security) outweighs personal morality
Absent but framed as a dangerous wildcard—Chen’s fear of Cory’s actions reveals his own vulnerability, as Cory’s independence undermines his carefully constructed facade of control.
Marc Cory is referenced as a rogue agent whose unsanctioned mission threatens Chen’s Dalek alliance. Chen warns Karlton that agents like Cory—who act without official clearance—risk exposing his treachery. Cory’s distress signal, which triggered a chain of events Chen cannot control, is implied to have forced his hand, making Cory a loose cannon whose independence Chen cannot tolerate. His mention serves as a cautionary tale for Karlton, reinforcing Chen’s demand for absolute control.
- • Exposing Chen’s Dalek alliance (implied, as his mission triggered Chen’s purge)
- • Survival (if he is still alive and evading capture)
- • Chen’s regime is corrupt and must be challenged (implied by his unsanctioned mission)
- • Loyalty to the truth (even if it means acting outside protocol)
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Gantry’s Identity Projection is a holographic tool in Lizan’s preparation, symbolizing the dehumanization of the traitors. While Vyon’s data is already confirmed, Gantry’s projection is 'being worked on,' framing him as the secondary target whose elimination is imminent. The projection’s flickering glow in Chen’s office underscores the cold, bureaucratic nature of the hunt—Gantry’s face, once a comrade, is now a target for eradication. Its preparation ensures that Space Security agents will recognize him on sight, leaving no room for hesitation.
The kill orders for Vyon and Gantry are the weaponized command that escalates the purge into a no-return mission. Chen’s directive to 'kill them on sight' transforms the traitors from fugitives to existential threats, justifying the cordoning of Central City. Lizan’s role in disseminating these orders turns her into the messenger of death, while the orders themselves become the narrative tipping point—once given, there is no turning back. The kill orders embody Chen’s ruthlessness, stripping Vyon and Gantry of any chance for redemption or explanation.
Lizan’s Identification Computer Network is the backbone of Chen’s purge, providing infallible data on Vyon’s chemical composition and biographical records. Chen leans on its precision to justify the kill order, treating it as an objective arbiter of truth. The network’s role is to strip Vyon (and by extension, Gantry) of humanity, reducing them to data points for elimination. Its 'precise chemical details' of every person in the Solar System symbolize Chen’s godlike control, but also his paranoia—he demands perfection to avoid 'mistakes,' revealing his fear of uncertainty.
The Spar ship is referenced as the vessel hijacked by Vyon and Gantry on Kembel, tying them to Chen’s treachery. Chen implicates the traitors in its theft, suggesting they may be allied with 'other creatures' (the Doctor’s group), which elevates the stakes of their capture. The Spar ship serves as both a symbol of Chen’s betrayal and a physical target for Space Security’s purge. Its mention frames Vyon and Gantry as not just deserters, but as threats who have crossed a line by stealing from Chen’s personal assets.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Chen’s office is the command center for the purge, its sterile walls and glowing universe map symbolizing institutional power and isolation. The confined space amplifies the tension, as Chen’s paranoia and ruthlessness are on full display. Lizan’s admiration for him is palpable here, while Karlton’s defensive posture reveals the pressure to comply. The office becomes a pressure cooker of loyalty and betrayal, where every word and gesture carries weight. Its access is restricted to Chen’s inner circle, reinforcing the hierarchy of power.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Special Security Service, led by Karlton, is the elite enforcer of Chen’s will, tasked with hunting down Vyon and Gantry. Chen’s warning about 'overzealous agents' like Cory implies that even this elite unit is not fully trusted, as independent action risks exposing Chen’s Dalek alliance. The service’s role is to execute Chen’s orders without question, ensuring the traitors are caught and killed. Its involvement underscores the high stakes of the purge, as failure is not an option.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Chen identifying Bret as a traitor (beat_b3cb7987ec9becd8) directly leads to his order to Space Security agents to kill Vyon on sight (beat_c0719ecd357d0346)."
Chen warns Karlton about overzealous agents"Chen identifying Bret as a traitor (beat_b3cb7987ec9becd8) directly leads to his order to Space Security agents to kill Vyon on sight (beat_c0719ecd357d0346)."
Chen warns Karlton about overzealous agents"Chen giving the order to kill Vyon (beat_c0719ecd357d0346) sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in Karlton reporting that Sara Kingdom is in command of the Special Force dealing with Vyon (beat_18f27996312168ab)."
Chen’s Dalek Gambit Revealed"Chen giving the order to kill Vyon (beat_c0719ecd357d0346) sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in Karlton reporting that Sara Kingdom is in command of the Special Force dealing with Vyon (beat_18f27996312168ab)."
Karlton triggers emergency countermeasures"Chen's emphasis on the stolen Spar ship from Kembel (beat_1a261f0338f86c7a) links to the Doctor and Steven's concern about the taranium aboard the ship in beat_75628b16a77e0b3c, showing the item's importance to all parties."
Crash landing forces survival priorityKey Dialogue
"CHEN: So that's our traitor. LIZAN: Yes, Bret Vyon. Bred on Mars Colony 16. Joined Space Security Service 3990. Gained First Rank 3995. Gained Second Rank 3998. CHEN: You have a good memory. LIZAN: Thank you, Guardian. CHEN: And he looks like that? LIZAN: Exactly like that. How can he look otherwise? Guardian, have you no faith in computerised data?"
"CHEN: They will be killed on sight. Give out the instructions."
"CHEN: I think that takes care of that. You know, Karlton, some of your agents are getting too good. We don't want to spoil things for ourselves at this stage. KARLTON: They won't. I've already insisted that all future operations shall be cleared with me before they're begun. CHEN: If you'd done that in the first place, we wouldn't be in this spot."