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| SITE HOME | DOCTOR
WHO HOME | BIG FINISH AUDIOS
| 8TH DOCTOR NOVELS | NEW ADVENTURES | MISSING ADVENTURES |
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Mission to the Unknown Jeff Garvey sets off into the undergrowth with one thing on his mind: "I...I remember now. I must kill...must kill...must kill." Elsewhere in the jungle, Gordon Lowery is repairing a scout ship while Marc Cory looks on anxiously. Garvey has crept up upon the ship, still muttering his goal to "kill...kill..." On Lowery's intructions, Cory enters the ship for a spare part. Garvey moves closer still, his pistol raised, then aims it at Lowery. Just as he is about to pull the trigger, a blast is heard, and Lowery turns round to see Garvey fall face down - killed by Cory. Lowery exclaims that Cory has just him down like an animal, and attacks him. However, Cory gets in a punch and Lowery finds himself lying on the ground next to Garvey. Cory moves to examine the dead body and removes something from behind Garvey's ear. He explains that it's a Varga thorn, and warns Lowery not to prick himself on it or he'd end up like Garvey and then Cory would have to kill him. The pair return to the ship. Once they're inside, Garvey sits up. He is now covered in white hairs and Varga thorns grow out of his skin. Inside the ship, Cory identifies himself as part of the Space Security Service, and tells Lowery to consider himself enlisted. Cory explains that a week ago a freighter captain saw a Dalek spaceship in this system. The Varga thorn has convinced him that the Daleks have established a base on Kembel since the only planet on which is grows naturally is Skaro. Outside, Garvey's body struggles to stand upright. The Black Dalek is informed that the emissaries from the seven planets will arrive as arranged. Another Dalek tells it that the alien spacecraft has been located, and that the patrol will reach it shortly. Unable to contact their intended rendezvous, Cory intends to record a message and send it up in a small rocket. As Cory works, an anxious Lowery watches the encroaching Varga plants. The pair are distracted by a huge rocket ship passing overhead, convincing Cory that something very big is going on. The repairs complete, the pair move off into the jungle, forced to hide as a Dalek patrol enters the clearing, destroying the ship. Cory urges Lowery to "come on!" but Lowery falls and, unseen by Cory, is pricked by a Varga. The delegates are assembled around a semi-circular table - Trantis, Gearon, Beaus, Warrien, Sentreal, Malpha and the Black Dalek. Malpha points out that there is a hostile force on Kembel, but the Black Dalek assures him that it will be exterminated. Cory leads Lowery through the jungle, the latter desperately trying to suck out the Varga poision from his palm. The conference is in agreement. Malpha hails it as an historic moment for the galaxy - the six from the outer galaxies joining with the power of the Daleks. He announces the plan of attack, starting with Earth. Cory returns from a recce, where he heard the Daleks' plans on a loudspeaker system. Lowery is succumbing to the poison, and when he starts saying "kill...kill", Cory finally realises this, and shoots him dead. Realising that time is short, he sets about recording his message. Nearby, the Daleks close in on Cory's position. Cory finishes the message as the Daleks enter the clearing. They exterminate him, but fail to notice the message recorder by his hand. At the conference table, Malpha declares the delegates' allegiance to the Daleks' cause. He continues: "Our enemies will reduce the galaxies to ashes. Their people to dust. And Earth we will conquer first. Victory! Victory!" The Daleks and the other aliens join in his battlecry. Cast Barry Jackson (Jeff Garvey) was previously Ascaris in The Romans. He also plays Drax in The Armageddon Factor. Edward de Souza (Marc Cory) starred in The Avengers episodes Six Hands Across a Table and The Curious Case of the Countless Clues as well as Department S: The Double Death of Charlie Crippen and Thriller: Spell of Evil. He plays the Man in the final Sapphire & Steel story. Jeremy Young (Gordon Lowery) was Kal in 100,000 BC. Other telefantasy credits include Adam Adamant Lives!, The Avengers, Department S, Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), Doomwatch, The New Avengers, Space: 1999 and Count de Ricordeau in The Tripods. Robert Cartland (Malpha) voiced the Rills in Galaxy 4 and was shortlisted for the role of Toby in Evil of the Daleks. He also played Commander Sefton in Doomwatch: Survival Code. This is Verity Lambert's 86th and last episode as producer. Comments According to Lowery, the Daleks invaded Earth "a thousand years ago". Cory adds that in the last 500 years, they've gained control of over 70 planets in the Ninth Galactic System and 40 more in the Constellation of Miros. There are colonies on the Moon. Malpha's comments could also indicate colonies on Mars, Venus and Jupiter, but it's uncertain. Rating 8/10. The only Doctor Who story not to feature any of the regulars, Mission to the Unknown is a highly enjoyable one, which still works well on audio. The regulars' absence must have been a shock for most viewers at the time, but they're not really missed and the story works well despite the TARDIS crew not appearing. The small cast is good, the Varga is a decent enough menace for a 25 minute story and there's also the backdrop of the Daleks' and the various alien races' planning to invade the galaxy. Judging by the feature in DWM 342, they're certainly an interesting looking bunch as well! All in all, a good teaser for the main event of the season. back to the top |
MISSION TO THE UNKNOWN |
