Object
Laboratory Control Switch Panel
A pair of aged metal switch boxes mounted on the laboratory’s control instrumentation panel, their battered steel casings dented and paint chipped from decades of service. The corroded toggles and non-functional dials are encased in yellowed Bakelite, their cracked plastic actuators unresponsive to Davros’s purge activation commands. Rogin flags them as failed components during the crisis, warning Bartlet’s electrification plan cannot proceed with dead switches. The Doctor dismisses their use entirely after confirming the panel’s inability to carry current through the station’s deteriorating systems.
2 appearances
Purpose
To serve as manual override controls for the laboratory’s deteriorating electrical infrastructure, enforcing Davros’s absolute authority over system operations.
Significance
Symbolizes the breakdown of Davros’s engineered control system during his purge of the Kaled Elite. The switches’ failure to respond reinforces the laboratory’s systemic collapse, undermining Davros’s authority at the precise moment his tyranny peaks. Their obsolescence contrasts with the Doctor’s active resistance, highlighting the vulnerability of Davros’s regime.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used