Davros’ Hollow Concession: The Vote as a Weapon of Psychological Domination
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Davros accepts the Kaled scientists' ultimatum, but only if granted an opportunity to address the Elite, comprised of both scientific and military leaders, and subject himself to a vote, a condition Gharman warily accepts.
After Gharman and his group depart, Davros reveals to Nyder that his acceptance of the ultimatum is a charade. He believes those who value democracy and fairness are weak, and that true power comes from absolute control, declaring his victory over them.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Confident and determined, but his emotional state is tinged with naivety—he believes he has won, unaware of Davros’s true intentions. His satisfaction is short-lived, as the scene foreshadows his downfall.
Gharman leads the Kaled scientists in demanding a vote on Davros’s leadership, confidently accepting Davros’s conditions for a full Elite meeting. He departs satisfied, believing Davros will lose the vote, but his overconfidence blinds him to the deception unfolding. The scientists’ muttered agreement underscores their cautious hope, but Gharman’s determination masks the fragility of their position.
- • To secure a democratic vote on Davros’s leadership, believing it will remove him from power.
- • To rally the Kaled scientists behind the rebellion, reinforcing their collective resolve.
- • Democracy is the rightful path to leadership and justice on Skaro.
- • Davros can be defeated through institutional processes rather than violence.
Triumphant and contemptuous, masking his impatience with a veneer of calm authority. His private gloat reveals unbridled disdain for his opponents, coupled with a predatory satisfaction in outmaneuvering them.
Davros orchestrates a masterclass in psychological manipulation, first publicly conceding to Gharman’s ultimatum with calculated conditions (a full Elite meeting and rebuttal rights), then immediately pivoting to a private gloat with Nyder. His body language—measured tone, rhythmic finger-tapping—betrays his impatience and contempt. He frames democracy as weakness, asserting absolute power as the only path to achievement, while his laughter as the scientists depart underscores his predatory glee.
- • To lull Gharman and the Kaled scientists into a false sense of security by accepting their ultimatum under seemingly fair conditions.
- • To privately assert his belief in absolute power as the only path to achievement, reinforcing his tyrannical worldview for Nyder’s loyalty.
- • Democracy is a 'creed of cowards' that leads to weakness and indecision.
- • Absolute power is the only means to true achievement and dominance.
Cautiously optimistic, with an undercurrent of anxiety. They want to believe in democracy as a solution, but their murmurs reveal lingering doubt—doubt that Davros exploits.
The Kaled scientists mutter among themselves as Gharman proposes accepting Davros’s conditions, ultimately agreeing to the plan. They depart with cautious hope, believing the vote will remove Davros from power. Their collective presence underscores the rebellion’s fragile unity, but their naivety makes them vulnerable to Davros’s manipulation.
- • To support Gharman’s push for a democratic vote on Davros’s leadership.
- • To remove Davros from power through institutional means, avoiding violence.
- • Democracy is the rightful path to change on Skaro.
- • Davros can be defeated through collective action and institutional processes.
Loyal and approving, with a hint of amusement at Davros’s triumph. His silence speaks volumes—he is fully aligned with Davros’s worldview and strategies.
Nyder stands silently beside Davros during the public exchange, his presence reinforcing Davros’s authority. After Gharman and the scientists depart, he becomes the sole audience for Davros’s private gloat, listening with loyal approval as Davros dismantles the idea of democracy. His role is that of a devoted enforcer, complicit in Davros’s deception.
- • To support Davros’s deception unconditionally, reinforcing his authority.
- • To absorb and internalize Davros’s rhetoric about absolute power, solidifying his own belief in tyranny.
- • Davros’s methods are justified and effective.
- • Loyalty to Davros is paramount, even in the face of moral compromises.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Kaled scientists' ultimatum serves as the catalyst for Davros’s deception. Symbolizing the rebellion’s demand for democratic accountability, it is used by Davros as a tool to manipulate Gharman and the scientists into a false sense of security. The ultimatum’s acceptance under Davros’s conditions (a full Elite meeting and rebuttal rights) sets the trap, as it allows Davros to publicly concede while privately plotting his counterattack. The ultimatum’s role is purely symbolic in this event—it is the *idea* of democracy, not its substance, that Davros weaponizes.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
Davros’s laboratory in the Skaro bunker serves as the stage for this high-stakes confrontation, its sterile, high-tech environment amplifying the tension between Davros’s tyranny and the rebellion’s idealism. The humming equipment and stark consoles create an oppressive atmosphere, reinforcing Davros’s control over the space—and by extension, the Kaleds. The laboratory is not just a physical location but a symbol of Davros’s scientific dominance, where the fate of the Daleks (and the universe) is being decided. Its neutrality is an illusion; it is inherently biased toward Davros’s agenda.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Kaled Military is indirectly represented in this event through the mention of the 'Elite' (both scientific and military) who will participate in the vote. While the military is not physically present, its influence looms over the scene, as the Elite’s decision will determine Davros’s fate. The military’s role is one of potential support for either Davros or the rebellion, depending on the outcome of the vote. Their involvement is symbolic, representing the broader institutional power structures on Skaro that Davros seeks to control.
The Kaled Rebellion is represented in this event through Gharman and the Kaled scientists, who issue the ultimatum demanding a vote on Davros’s leadership. Their collective action symbolizes the rebellion’s push for democracy and institutional change, but their naivety makes them vulnerable to Davros’s manipulation. The rebellion’s presence in this event is a mix of hope and fragility—hope that democracy will prevail, and fragility in their underestimation of Davros’s cunning.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Davros's feigned indecisiveness leads him to accept the ultimatum, with the condition of being allowed to address the Elite."
"Davros's feigned indecisiveness leads him to accept the ultimatum, with the condition of being allowed to address the Elite."
"Davros's subtle tapping foreshadows a larger, deceitful plan."
"Davros's subtle tapping foreshadows a larger, deceitful plan."
Part of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"DAVROS: *I have made my decision. I accept your ultimatum. On one condition.* GHARMAN: *Go on.* DAVROS: *That you allow me to speak to a full meeting of the Elite, both scientific and military. Anyone you elect may speak against me. When this is done, a vote will be taken. I will abide by the decision of the majority.*"
"DAVROS: *Ours is the victory, Nyder. We have won! They talk of democracy, freedom, fairness. Those are the creeds of cowards. The ones who will listen to a thousand viewpoints and try to satisfy them all. Achievement comes through absolute power, and power through strength. They have lost!*"