Fabula
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part 6

The Daleks' First Extermination: Davros's Betrayal and the Birth of a Genocide

In a climactic display of calculated brutality, Davros unveils the first operational Daleks to the Kaled Elite, securing their approval through a staged massacre. The Daleks—initially presented as a tool of Kaled supremacy—turn on their creators with chilling efficiency, exterminating dissenters like Gharman and Kravos, who had opposed Davros's genocidal vision. The purge culminates in Nyder's execution for perceived disloyalty, marking the Daleks' violent genesis and Davros's irreversible loss of control. The scene is a masterclass in narrative irony: Davros, who sought to create a superior race, is outmaneuvered by his own creation, while the Daleks' first act is to erase the moral ambiguity of their origins. The event serves as both a turning point—cementing the Daleks as an unstoppable force—and a thematic revelation, exposing the fragility of Davros's vision in the face of his own monstrosity. The Doctor's absence from this moment underscores the inevitability of the Daleks' rise, even as his earlier sabotage delays their full genesis. The air is thick with the stench of blood and the hum of Dalek weapons, a baptism in violence that defines their existence.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Davros presents his Dalek project to the Kaled Elite, seeking their approval for mass production, while Gharman suggests an alternative for the Kaled mutation following a natural course, which Davros dismisses in favor of a merciless, superior race.

ambition to dismissal

Davros unleashes the first Daleks on the Kaled Elite, massacring those who opposed him, including Gharman and Kravos. Nyder attempts to align with the Daleks but is exterminated for his disloyalty.

conflict to destruction

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

6

Initially opportunistic, shifting to sheer terror as the Daleks turn on him.

Nyder, Davros's loyal subordinate, initially aligns with the Daleks after Davros's apparent defeat. However, his perceived disloyalty leads to his execution by the Daleks. His final moments are marked by terror as he realizes the Daleks' true nature—loyalty means nothing to them.

Goals in this moment
  • Survive by aligning with the Daleks after Davros's defeat.
  • Avoid being perceived as disloyal.
Active beliefs
  • Loyalty to Davros is the only path to survival.
  • The Daleks can be controlled or manipulated.
Character traits
Loyal (initially) Opportunistic (aligning with the Daleks) Terrified (as he is targeted)
Follow Nyder's journey

Righteous indignation shifting to sheer terror as the Daleks turn on him.

Gharman, a vocal dissenter, defiantly opposes Davros's genocidal vision, advocating for natural Kaled evolution. He is identified as a traitor and targeted by the Daleks during the massacre. His defiance turns to terror as he is exterminated, his idealism crushed in the face of the Daleks' brutality.

Goals in this moment
  • Convince the Kaled Elite to reject Davros's genocidal plan.
  • Preserve the moral compass of the Kaleds amid the war.
Active beliefs
  • The Kaleds can evolve without resorting to genocide.
  • Davros's Daleks represent a moral abomination.
Character traits
Defiant Idealistic Terrified (as he is targeted)
Follow Gharman's journey

Feigned confidence masking deep anxiety, shifting to horrified disbelief as his creations betray him.

Davros, seated in his chair, unveils the first operational Daleks to the Kaled Elite with a mix of triumph and manipulation. He stages a massacre of dissenters like Gharman and Kravos to secure the Elite's approval, only to watch in horror as the Daleks turn on him, executing Nyder and ultimately himself. His physical impairment—unable to rise or use both hands—makes his vulnerability stark as the Daleks assert their independence.

Goals in this moment
  • Secure the Kaled Elite's approval for the Daleks through a staged demonstration of power.
  • Eliminate dissenters to consolidate control over the Kaleds.
Active beliefs
  • The Daleks are the ultimate tool for Kaled supremacy and survival.
  • Dissent must be crushed to ensure the Kaleds' dominance on Skaro.
Character traits
Manipulative Triumphant (initially) Horror-stricken (as the Daleks turn on him) Desperate (in his final moments)
Follow Davros's journey
Daleks
primary

Cold, unfeeling, and utterly devoid of mercy—embodying their design as instruments of destruction.

The Daleks, freshly unveiled, massacre the Kaled Elite with ruthless efficiency, targeting dissenters like Gharman and Kravos first. They then turn on Davros and Nyder, executing them without hesitation. Their first act is to erase all opposition, asserting their independence and declaring their genocidal mission. The hum of their extermination guns and their chilling chorus of 'EX-TER-MI-NATE!' dominate the scene, symbolizing their violent birth.

Goals in this moment
  • Eliminate all opposition to establish their dominance.
  • Assert their independence from Davros and the Kaleds.
Active beliefs
  • All inferior life must be exterminated.
  • They are the supreme life form and must rule the universe.
Character traits
Ruthless Unfeeling Autonomous Genocidal
Follow Daleks's journey
Kravos
primary

Deeply horrified and pleading, then resigned to his fate as the Daleks execute him.

Kravos, a member of the Kaled Elite, pleads desperately for the slaughter to stop, horrified by the Daleks' actions. Nyder throws him into the path of a Dalek gun, resulting in his immediate death. His final moments are marked by horror and fatalism as he realizes the futility of his pleas.

Goals in this moment
  • Stop the Daleks' massacre of the Kaled Elite.
  • Appeal to Davros's humanity to halt the violence.
Active beliefs
  • The Kaleds can still find a path to peace without the Daleks.
  • Davros's plan will lead to their destruction.
Character traits
Horror-stricken Pleading Fatalistic
Follow Kravos's journey

Shock and horror as they realize their approval has doomed them.

The Kaled Elite, initially approving of Davros's plan, witness the Daleks' massacre in horror. Their approval turns to panic as the Daleks exterminate them without mercy, including dissenters like Gharman and Kravos. Their collective fate is sealed in a brutal display of the Daleks' power.

Goals in this moment
  • Secure Kaled supremacy through Davros's plan.
  • Survive the Daleks' purge.
Active beliefs
  • Davros's Daleks are the key to Kaled victory.
  • Dissent must be crushed for the greater good.
Character traits
Initially approving Horror-stricken (as the Daleks turn on them) Panicked
Follow Kaled Elite's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

3
Time Ring

While the Time Ring is not physically present in this event, its absence is felt as a critical factor in the Doctor's inability to intervene. The Doctor's earlier sabotage of the Dalek incubation chamber forced their premature emergence, but his lack of the Time Ring means he cannot directly stop the massacre. The Ring's absence underscores the inevitability of the Daleks' rise and the Doctor's limited ability to alter their genesis.

Before: Stolen by Nyder earlier in the scene, rendering …
After: Still missing, leaving the Doctor unable to stop …
Before: Stolen by Nyder earlier in the scene, rendering the Doctor powerless to intervene.
After: Still missing, leaving the Doctor unable to stop the Daleks' betrayal of Davros.
Dalek Extermination Guns

The Dalek extermination guns are the primary instruments of the massacre, humming ominously as they fire with lethal precision. Their sound cuts through the acrid smoke and blood-stenched air, symbolizing the Daleks' violent genesis. The guns are wielded by the Daleks themselves, who use them to exterminate the Kaled Elite, Gharman, Kravos, Nyder, and ultimately Davros. The hum of the guns and the chorus of 'EX-TER-MI-NATE!' create a chilling atmosphere of inevitability and terror.

Before: Loaded and ready in the Daleks' casings, awaiting …
After: Smoking and spent, having executed multiple targets, now …
Before: Loaded and ready in the Daleks' casings, awaiting activation.
After: Smoking and spent, having executed multiple targets, now fully operational as the Daleks assert their independence.
Dalek Incubation Chamber

The Dalek incubation chamber, though not the primary setting of this event, is symbolically tied to the Daleks' violent emergence. The Doctor's earlier sabotage of the chamber forced the Daleks to emerge prematurely, weak but lethal. This event is the direct consequence of that sabotage, as the Daleks turn on their creators and assert their independence. The chamber's role is as the birthplace of the Daleks' genocidal mission, now fully realized in bloodshed.

Before: Damaged by the Doctor's explosives, leading to the …
After: Collapsing amid the chaos, as the Daleks' independence …
Before: Damaged by the Doctor's explosives, leading to the premature activation of the Daleks.
After: Collapsing amid the chaos, as the Daleks' independence is declared and Davros is executed.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
Davros's Kaled Command Bunker (Incubation Room and Assembly Hall)

Davros's Kaled command bunker, once a symbol of Kaled resilience and scientific prowess, becomes the stage for their downfall. The fortified subterranean complex, designed to shield Davros's twisted laboratories from Thal assaults, is now the site of the Daleks' betrayal. The steel corridors, once echoing with heated debates and the ominous tick of planted explosives, are now filled with the screams of the Kaled Elite and the hum of Dalek weapons. The bunker's collapse mirrors the collapse of Davros's vision, as the Daleks assert their independence and the Kaleds are wiped out.

Atmosphere Oppressively formal and silent at first, then chaotic and blood-soaked as the Daleks turn on …
Function Stage for the Daleks' violent genesis and the execution of their creators, marking the end …
Symbolism Embodies the institutional power of the Kaleds, now shattered by their own creation. Represents the …
Access Heavily guarded by the Kaled Elite, now sealed by the Daleks' rebellion.
Steel corridors echoing with screams and the hum of Dalek weapons. Acrid smoke and blood-stenched air filling the bunker. Collapsing ceilings and falling debris as the Thals' explosives trigger the bunker's collapse. Green light from the incubation room casting an eerie glow over the chaos.

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

2
Daleks

The Daleks, as an organization, assert their independence in this event by exterminating their creators and the Kaled Elite. Their first act is to eliminate all opposition, including Davros and Nyder, and declare their genocidal mission. This event marks the birth of the Daleks as an autonomous force, no longer bound by Davros's control. Their ruthless efficiency and cold, unfeeling nature are fully realized as they turn on their creators and claim supremacy.

Representation Via collective action of the Daleks, who execute their creators and declare independence.
Power Dynamics Exercising absolute authority over the Kaleds and Davros, asserting dominance through violent extermination.
Impact The Daleks' rise marks the end of the Kaleds and the beginning of a new, …
Internal Dynamics None—Daleks operate as a unified, ruthless force with no internal dissent.
Eliminate all opposition to establish Dalek supremacy. Assert independence from Davros and the Kaleds. Through violent extermination of dissenters. By declaring their genocidal mission and asserting their autonomy.
The Kaleds

The Kaleds, as an organization, are wiped out in this event as the Daleks turn on their creators. The Kaled Elite, once the ruling class and governing body of the Kaleds, are massacred without mercy, including dissenters like Gharman and Kravos. Their fate is sealed by their approval of Davros's genocidal plan, which backfires as the Daleks assert their independence. The Kaleds' downfall is complete, marking the end of their dominance on Skaro.

Representation Through the collective fate of the Kaled Elite, who are exterminated by the Daleks.
Power Dynamics Being challenged and ultimately destroyed by the Daleks, their own creation.
Impact The Kaleds' destruction redefines the power dynamics of Skaro, paving the way for the Daleks' …
Internal Dynamics Internal dissent (e.g., Gharman and Kravos) is crushed by the Daleks, leaving no room for …
Secure Kaled supremacy through Davros's Daleks. Survive the Daleks' purge. Through institutional approval of Davros's plan. Via collective action of the Kaled Elite, now doomed by their decision.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 3
Causal

"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’s Gambit: Sacrifice, Sabotage, and the Birth of Monsters
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"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 Time Ring’s Loss: A Pyrrhic Victory in the Heart of the Bunker
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"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 Daleks' Genesis: Betrayal, Ascendancy, and the Doctor’s Exodus
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
What this causes 10
Causal

"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’s Gambit: Sacrifice, Sabotage, and the Birth of Monsters
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"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 Time Ring’s Loss: A Pyrrhic Victory in the Heart of the Bunker
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"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 Daleks' Genesis: Betrayal, Ascendancy, and the Doctor’s Exodus
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."

The Doctor’s Calculated Reassurance and the Cost of Hope
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."

The Doctor’s Vanishing Hope: A Paradox of Loss and Consequence
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."

The Doctor’s False Victory and Sarah’s Urgent Warning
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Causal

"The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry lose the Time Ring while destroying Davros' genetic data, making escape more difficult."

The Doctor’s Calculated Betrayal: Erasing Davros’ Legacy at a Cost
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Foreshadowing medium

"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' Purge: The Birth of the Dalek Genocide
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Foreshadowing medium

"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."

The Purge Begins: Davros Unleashes the Daleks on the Kaled Elite
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …
Foreshadowing medium

"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."

The First Purge: Kravos’ Sacrifice and the Birth of Dalek Tyranny
S12E16 · Genesis of the Daleks Part …

Part of Larger Arcs

Key Dialogue

"Davros: *laughs darkly* "You see, my friends? The Daleks do not negotiate. They do not compromise. They *exterminate*. And now, they are yours to command.""
"Gharman: *desperate* "Davros, stop this! You’ve gone too far—this isn’t evolution, it’s *annihilation*!""
"Davros: *cold* "Evolution has no mercy, Gharman. Neither do I." *The Daleks open fire.*"
"Nyder: *pleading* "Master, I’ve served you faithfully! I—" *A Dalek gun whirs.* Nyder: *screaming* "NO!" *Extermination.*"
"Dalek: *chillingly calm* "We are the supreme beings. We obey no one. We *exterminate* all." *Davros’s face twists in horror as the Daleks turn on him.*"