Davros’ Poisoned Peace Offering: The Chemical Gambit
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Davros reveals to the Councillor that the Thal's rocket will fail to penetrate the Kaled dome, setting up the reveal of his plan to help them.
Davros provides the Thals with a chemical formula, delivered by Nyder, that will weaken the Kaled dome, ensuring the rocket's success, knowing this will lead to widespread destruction.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A mix of revulsion and determination, realizing the scale of Davros’s betrayal and the urgency of their mission.
Harry Sullivan presses against the wall beside the Doctor, his military training keeping him still as the patrol passes. His face is a mask of concentration, his eyes darting between the patrol and the war chamber door. As Davros’s deception unfolds, Harry’s expression darkens, his jaw clenched in disgust. He exchanges a glance with the Doctor, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of what they’re witnessing. His posture is tense, ready to act if needed, but for now, he remains focused on listening and absorbing every word.
- • To support the Doctor in gathering intelligence to stop Davros’s plan.
- • To ensure they can act quickly to warn the Kaleds and prevent the genocide.
- • That Davros’s actions are a direct threat to the timeline and must be stopped.
- • That the Thals, though enemies, are being used as pawns in a larger, more sinister game.
A mix of horror and urgent resolve, realizing the immediate threat to the Kaleds and the broader timeline.
The Doctor and Harry crouch in the shadows outside the Thal war chamber, their breaths held as a patrol passes by. Once the coast is clear, they resume eavesdropping, their expressions growing increasingly horrified as they witness Davros’s deception. The Doctor’s eyes narrow, his grip tightening as he realizes the full implications of the chemical formula. His body language is tense, a mix of urgency and dread, as he grasps the scale of Davros’s betrayal. Harry, beside him, mirrors his shock, his face pale with the weight of what they’ve just heard.
- • To gather as much intelligence as possible to thwart Davros’s plan.
- • To ensure the Kaleds are warned of the impending attack before it’s too late.
- • That Davros’s actions must be stopped at all costs to prevent the Daleks’ creation.
- • That the Thals, though enemies of the Kaleds, are being manipulated into committing genocide.
Coldly calculating with a veneer of benevolence, masking deep satisfaction at his scheme's progress.
Davros dominates the Thal war chamber with calculated precision, his mechanical chair whirring as he pivots from feigned peace overtures to delivering the chemical formula. His voice drips with false sincerity, masking his genocidal intent. Physically, he remains seated, his gloved hands gesturing subtly as Nyder hands over the formula, his posture radiating control. His dialogue is a masterclass in manipulation, blending concern for peace with a chilling acceptance of mass slaughter as a 'necessary sacrifice.'
- • To ensure the Thals accept the chemical formula, believing it will guarantee their victory.
- • To conceal his true intent—the annihilation of the Kaleds—to pave the way for Dalek supremacy.
- • That the ends justify the means, even if those ends involve genocide.
- • That peace can only be achieved through the total domination of one side over the other.
Cautiously optimistic, balancing skepticism with the allure of a decisive victory over the Kaleds.
The Thal Councillor stands rigidly, his skepticism palpable as he dismisses Davros’s initial peace overtures. His posture is defensive, arms crossed, as he reveals the Thals’ rocket is primed for launch. When Davros presents the chemical formula, the Councillor’s demeanor shifts slightly—his curiosity piqued, though he remains wary. He questions Davros’s motives but ultimately accepts the formula, believing it will secure Thal victory. His dialogue is terse, reflecting his military pragmatism and distrust of Kaleds.
- • To secure Thal victory by ensuring the rocket can penetrate the Kaled dome.
- • To maintain distrust of Davros while exploiting his 'offer' for strategic gain.
- • That the Kaleds must be annihilated to ensure Thal survival.
- • That Davros’s motives are suspect but his formula could be the key to victory.
Firmly committed to Davros’s vision, with a sense of purpose in advancing his master’s plan.
Nyder stands at attention beside Davros, his loyalty unwavering as he hands over the chemical formula to the Thal Councillor. His presence is that of a loyal enforcer, reinforcing Davros’s claims with quiet authority. He speaks sparingly but with conviction, his dialogue aligned with Davros’s narrative. Physically, he is poised, his movements precise and controlled, embodying the disciplined soldier he is. His role is to lend credibility to Davros’s deception.
- • To ensure the Thal Councillor accepts the chemical formula without suspicion.
- • To reinforce Davros’s authority and the legitimacy of his 'peace offering.'
- • That Davros’s plan is the only path to a stable future for Skaro.
- • That the Kaleds’ extermination is a justified means to achieve peace.
Focused and alert, adhering to protocol without suspicion of the hidden intruders.
A Thal patrol marches past the hiding spot of the Doctor and Harry, their boots echoing in the narrow corridor. The patrol moves with disciplined precision, their weapons at the ready, scanning the area for any signs of intruders. Their presence forces the Doctor and Harry to press themselves against the wall, holding their breath until the patrol passes. The patrol’s vigilance underscores the high security in the Thal bunker, heightening the risk for any infiltrators.
- • To maintain security in the Thal bunker by patrolling the corridors.
- • To detect and neutralize any potential threats or intruders.
- • That the Thal bunker must remain secure at all costs.
- • That any intruders pose a direct threat to Thal operations.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Kaled dome is central to the deception unfolding in this event. Davros reveals its impenetrability, framing it as an insurmountable barrier to the Thals' rocket. This revelation sets up the need for the chemical formula, which is positioned as the key to overcoming the dome’s defenses. The dome’s role is symbolic—representing the Kaleds’ last line of defense—and functional, as its weakness is the linchpin of Davros’s plan. The Thals’ acceptance of the formula hinges on their belief that it will neutralize the dome’s protective properties.
The Thals' genocidal rocket is referenced indirectly as the Thal Councillor reveals it is 'primed and ready' for launch. Its existence looms over the conversation, symbolizing the Thals' intent to annihilate the Kaleds. Davros’s revelation that the Kaled dome is impenetrable forces the Thals to reconsider their strategy, setting the stage for the introduction of the chemical formula as a 'solution.' The rocket’s role in the event is as the ultimate weapon, its success now contingent on Davros’s deception.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Thal war chamber serves as the neutral ground for Davros’s deception, a dimly lit space where the fate of Skaro is decided. The chamber’s atmosphere is thick with tension, the air heavy with the weight of the negotiations unfolding. The location’s functional role is that of a meeting place for secret negotiations, where Davros orchestrates the betrayal of both the Thals and the Kaleds. Symbolically, the chamber represents the power dynamics at play—the Thals’ military might and Davros’s intellectual manipulation—while the narrow corridors outside underscore the high stakes and constant threat of discovery for the Doctor and Harry.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Kaleds are indirectly but critically involved in this event, as the target of Davros’s betrayal. Their organization is represented through the Kaled dome, which Davros reveals to be impenetrable, and the looming threat of their annihilation. The Kaleds’ fate is sealed by the Thals’ acceptance of the chemical formula, which will weaken their dome and allow the rocket to penetrate. The Kaleds’ involvement is passive in this moment, as they are unaware of the impending attack, but their organization’s role is central to the event’s outcome. Davros’s manipulation ensures that the Kaleds will be exterminated, paving the way for the Daleks’ rise.
The Thals are represented in this event through the Thal Councillor and the patrol, embodying their militaristic approach to the war with the Kaleds. Their organization is driven by a desire for total annihilation of the Kaleds, a goal that Davros exploits by offering the chemical formula. The Thals’ acceptance of the formula demonstrates their unwitting role as pawns in Davros’s grand design, their military pragmatism blinding them to the deception. The organization’s involvement is critical, as it sets the stage for the genocide of the Kaleds and the eventual rise of the Daleks.
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: *The Kaled dome cannot be penetrated. Your great rocket will hardly scratch it.*"
"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.*"
"NYDER: *We want only to see the conflict brought to an end. This formula gives you the power to bring that about.*"