Mavic Chen's Transmitter Beacon (Mouse-Containing)

A transmitter beacon containing live mice, used to broadcast the fugitives' coordinates from Mira back to Earth. Positioned amid Mira's caves and undergrowth, it pulses signals that pinpoint The Doctor, Steven, and Sara's shelter. The beacon is detected by Daleks, who destroy it in a burst of fire, silencing the transmission and scattering rodent remains. This device is central to the Daleks' hunt for the fugitives and serves as a critical plot point in The Daleks' Master Plan Part 5.

2 appearances

Purpose

Broadcast location coordinates from Mira to Earth, exposing the fugitives to Mavic Chen and the Daleks

Significance

The beacon's signal draws Daleks to Mira, escalating the threat from invisible Visians to armored extermination squads and confirming Chen's betrayal. Its destruction forces the trio to flee without their exposure aid, marking a pivot to desperate survival.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S3E14 · Counter Plot

Daleks detect signal and close in

The transmitter beacon containing mice is the linchpin of this event, serving as both a clue and a fatal liability. Initially, it follows the group through cellular dissemination, unnoticed but actively broadcasting their location back to Earth. The Doctor identifies it as the source of their exposure to Mavic Chen and, by extension, the Daleks. When Dalek 1 and Dalek 2 detect its signal, they destroy it in a burst of fire, silencing the transmission and scattering the mice. The beacon's destruction marks the point of no return: the Daleks now know the group's exact location, and the fugitives' refuge is compromised. Its role is dual-edged—first as a tool of betrayal, then as a catalyst for the Daleks' relentless pursuit.

Before: Intact and functional, broadcasting a signal from the cave on Mira. The mice inside are alive and unharmed, serving as an unwitting beacon for the Daleks.

After: Destroyed by Dalek fire, reduced to smoldering fragments. The mice are killed in the blast, and the signal is permanently silenced. The beacon's destruction leaves the group exposed and forces them into immediate action.

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S3E14 · Counter Plot

Daleks sever Earth link and hunt invisible threats

The mouse beacon transmitter capsule is the critical object in this event, serving as both a lifeline and a betrayal for the Doctor, Steven, and Sara. Initially, it follows them through cellular dissemination, pulsing signals back to Earth that the Doctor believes Mavic Chen will use to locate them. When the Daleks detect its signals, they identify it as an alien device and destroy it, obliterating the fugitives' last connection to Earth. The destruction of the beacon marks a turning point, severing their hope of rescue and exposing them to the Daleks' relentless pursuit. Its role is pivotal in raising the stakes and introducing the immediate threat of the Daleks' indiscriminate attacks.

Before: Intact and functional, pulsing signals back to Earth from within the cave on Mira. The mice inside are alive, and the beacon is hidden among the group, serving as their last link to Earth.

After: Destroyed by Dalek fire, reduced to fragments and sparks. The mice inside are exterminated, and the beacon's signals are silenced, leaving the group completely isolated on Mira.

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