Autons' Hand Weapons (Quarry Ambush)

Weapons are exclusively tied to the Autons, a plastic-based alien species from Terror of the Autons (Part 3). They fire lethal energy blasts and are used in a quarry ambush where they critically wound the Brigadier and kill a UNIT soldier. Their relentless use (even after being knocked off a cliff) underscores the Autons' lethal precision and advanced technology.

2 appearances

Purpose

Fires lethal blasts to kill human targets like the Brigadier and UNIT soldier

Significance

Delivers first major UNIT casualties, proves conventional bullets useless, forces Yates and Doctor to improvise escape, escalates Nestene conflict under Master's influence

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S8E3 · Terror of the Autons Part 3

Autons kill Brigadier and soldier

The Autons’ hand weapons are the primary instruments of death in this event. The still-masked Auton fires first, striking the Brigadier and killing the soldier with lethal precision. The unmasked Auton also fires at the Doctor and Jo, though they manage to take cover. These weapons are silent, efficient, and unstoppable—bullets ricochet harmlessly off the Autons, while their blasts deliver instant, fatal results. The hand weapons embody the Nestene Consciousness’ ruthless efficiency, turning everyday objects (like a policeman’s sidearm) into tools of invasion.

Before: Fully charged and operational, concealed within the Autons’ forms (the disguised Auton’s weapon is hidden until it fires).

After: Still functional after use; the weapons require no reloading or maintenance, reflecting the Autons’ self-sustaining nature. The Brigadier’s wound and the soldier’s death are permanent consequences of their deployment.

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S8E3 · Terror of the Autons Part 3

Autons prove invulnerable to bullets

The Autons’ hand weapons are the primary instruments of their lethal efficiency. The still-masked Auton fires a blast that knocks the Brigadier down, while the unmasked Auton’s weapon kills the soldier instantly. These weapons—extended from the Autons’ hands—symbolize the Nestene Consciousness’s precision and power, as they ignore human bullets and reduce UNIT’s forces with ease. Their use underscores the Autons’ role as extensions of the Master’s will, enforcing the invasion with cold, mechanical accuracy.

Before: Charged and ready, integrated into the Autons’ hands as they hunt the group.

After: Still functional, having demonstrated their superiority over human weapons. The Brigadier’s survival and the soldier’s death serve as proof of their effectiveness.

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