Where are the bloody updates?

This blog is gathering dust, but trust me, it's not half as neglected as other. I've been juggling job searching, artwork, YOA scripts, Ben Chatham spoofs and watching the new series (which I hope everyone noticed ripped off my work to a truly astonishing degree... again).

So... status report, helmsman.


C-Day - done

The Apocalypse - episode one finished, work on remainder done. Crucially, the last episode was lost between data streams when it was halfway finished, and having to start from scratch killed the mood somewhat. Yes, I know, hahah, Tenth Planet 4 is cursed, get over it!

Warhead of the Daleks - done

The Twin Dilemma - done

Attack of the Cybermen - episode one finished, episode two begun, work on remainder underway. Not my department, but trust me, it will be worth the wait. Even if it's never finished.

Vengeance on Varos - plotted out, no episodes finished. Not my department, but TWICE as fecking disturbing as I thought it would be.

Hex - No idea.

The Enemy Within - done. Of course, RTD then had to gangrape it...

Bid Time Return - despite the unjust antipathy of Outpost Gallifrey towards Movellans, this is all plotted out and huge, HUGE chunks written. I just keep finding better things to do...

SlipBack - cancelled. Miles had too little enthusiasm, I had too much. These things happen.

To Catch A Thief - episode one almost finished. The rest of the story... well, who knows? Historicals are hard to write for a reason, people, and the quality of what you've got should shut you up.

The Chase of Pathos - well, trying to write a topical historical with Mel is even harder...

Twilight of the Living - cancelled. To be brutally honest, you didn't miss much.

The Riddle of the Styx - no idea.

Only A Matter of Time - thought about. A last minute replacement it is in fact four one-episode stories with a linked theme of the Doctor and Peri bouncing through Mondasian History at the Dawn of the Cybermen. Yeah, so it spoils the twist, this ain't going to be written any time soon, and it needs The Apocalypse to be finished before I can start on the latter episodes.
Into the Fire: with twelve hours before the end of the world, the Doctor and Peri are trapped on a world gone mad as everyone faces the end in different ways.
Rust Never Sleeps: the TARDIS encounters the survivors in their underground cavern and what life has become
Iron Legion: An experimental convert goes Frankenstien crazy
Soul's End: Dega releases the Cybermen onto Mondas as history ends.

Legacy of the Borad - still on the cards, but now the author has SEEN the genuine article... well... you can imagine...

The Song of the Space Whale - episodes one and two done, episode three planned out. It'll mean reading Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma. You see the strain I have to go through

In The Hollows of Time - no idea at all. Cam's secretive, can you tell?

The End of the Road - done. Doesn't anyone notice?

Arcade Games - pretty much gone the way of the original, though I did map out some kickass ideas to improve the plot. Could go either way, people.

and, just to annoy you, some stories from the alt Season 23 that will never be written

Invasion from Beyond - Mel, the Brigadier, UNIT, some other stuff!

Tomb of the Daleks - the Dalek/Movellan war heats up, Davros isn't as dead as we thought, and Mel takes a trip in the TARDIS

Yellow Fever And How To Cure It - Miles Ried, imagination is no obstacle...

MindWarp - "so dark you need a fucking flashlight" as Jared daintily put it, this story makes a lot more sense and God DAMN It you will wish it didn't. Chris Boucher would try and cheer this up...

Of course, I did a bit of Torchwood. But it's not enough. It's never enough.

The Apocalypse V

(ROLL CREDITS)

1. INT. NEWSROOM (DAY)

Fade up. The NEWSREADER sits at her desk.

NEWSREADER
We have interrupted regular festive programming for an update on the Nibiru situation. Disaster has seeming struck the tenth planet operation. The shuttle Zeus Five was sent up this morning to perform an aerial survey of the new planet Nibiru to determine whether or not there is any intelligent life on the planet that might be controlling the planet’s journey through space. However, mere hours into the mission, Zeus Five has disappeared off all tracking monitors and detectors. ISC astronauts Major Dan Schultz, Glyn Williams and Terri Roberts are missing with the craft and at present declared missing in action. Some reports suggest Zeus Five has been destroyed by the natives of Nibiru, but International Space Command in Geneva have issued the following statement.


2. INT. ISC COMMAND (DAY)

WIGNER stands before a podium with the ISC logo behind him. A caption reads: ROBERT WIGNER, SECRETARY GENERAL - INTERNATIONAL SPACE COMMAND.

WIGNER
Contact was lost with Zeus Five approximately eighteen minutes ago and the shuttle can no longer be detected by any observatory in or out of the ISC. We believe at present that an unexpected gravitational anomaly from Nibiru has caused the craft to crash into the new planet, which, it seems has not ended its journey. The Zee Bomb operation will commence once it is clear to use that Zeus Five is beyond recovery. We have no concrete evidence of intelligent life existing on Niribu at present, and thus the Earth must come first. Our thoughts and hopes go out to the friends and family of astronauts Schutlz, Williams and Roberts, who were willing to sacrifice their lives to extend the boundaries of human knowledge. The ISC is proud to have employed such fine men and women.


3. INT. NEWSROOM (DAY)

As before.

NEWSREADER
The Zed Bomb project, involving an unprecedented level of international cooperation, will take place at one am on Christmas Day, as three warheads are simultaneously fired into the new planet triggering an explosion the world’s top scientists are convinced will have no long lasting effect on the Earth or its people. We will keep you updated on the situation throughout the night and return you to your normal viewing.


4. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

KRAIL, LOKTAR and VERAN loom over the humans – THE DOCTOR, BEN, POLLY, GENERAL CUTLER, DYSON, BARCLAY, SPENCER and some TECHNICIANSS. Other CYBERMEN stand to one side. Krail advances towards Cutler, who does not back away.

KRAIL
We are called Cybermen. This facility is now under our control.

Cutler grins disarmingly.

CUTLER
Not in this lifetime.

Cutler raises the pistol, but Krail’s arm snaps out in a flash and clamps around the general’s wrist. Cutler growls, shakes, and then drops the gun. Krail shoves outwards and releases Cutler, slamming over the console. He slumps, dazed.

KRAIL
Defiance will not be tolerated.

The Cyberleader turns to address the other humans.

KRAIL
Now this base belongs to us. All of you belong to us.

Ben and Polly look at the Doctor, but his eyes are fixed on Krail’s expressionless face.

KRAIL
All of you will BE like us.

---

N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
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O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
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N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX

(THE APOCALYPSE)

(EPISODE TWO)

---

The Cybermen move down into the main tracking gallery. The humans try to keep out of the way as several Cybermen check the control consoles. The others wordlessly take the weapons from the few guards present. No one speaks until Barclay whispers to the Doctor.

BARCLAY
They’re not aggressive. They would have killed us all right away otherwise.

DOCTOR
They may still do so. And we certainly cannot stop them if that is what they decide.

Krail turns to address the humans.

KRAIL
We have observed you and analyzed your weaponry. You cannot withstand the might of the Cybermen. It is useless to resist us. Defiance will not be tolerated.

Krail turns to the shaken Cutler.

KRAIL
General Jack Cutler, you and your forces will surrender. If you do not cooperate, we will take this base by force.

CUTLER
We outnumber you...

KRAIL
Others are coming. Varen.

Varen hits a control on the console. The radar screen shows an image of the flying saucer, growing larger and closer.

KRAIL
That ship contains a phalanx of one hundred Cybermen units. Do you surrender?

Cutler doesn’t move.

KRAIL
We do not intend to destroy you, but we are capable of eradicating every fleshman in this installation.

CUTLER
Surely we can talk about this...

Krail raises the device under its chest unit.

KRAIL
There will be no negotiation. Surrender.

The Doctor steps up onto the landing, behind Cutler.

DOCTOR
General, please!

Cutler rounds angrily on him.

CUTLER
Get away old man! You have no say here.

DOCTOR
You heard him! They will take Snowcap one way or another. Killing you won’t make it any more difficult for them!

BEN
He’s right, General! While there’s life there’s hope!

BARCLAY
General, please.

Cutler glares at them, then straightens up in front of Krail. Cutler nods.

CUTLER
I surrender this base. You give me your word none of my staff will be harmed?

Krail seems slightly baffled.

KRAIL
I give you my... ‘word’. We do not wish to eradicate you. We have come to save you.

POLLY
Save us?

Krail ignores her, turning to the other Cybermen.

KRAIL
Loktar. Establish contact with Cyberleader Krang.


5. MODEL SHOT

Through the thick blizzard, the Cyberman saucer descends through the murky storm. The humming noise is makes fades out and lights flash on the outer hull of the craft.


6. INT. FLIGHT DECK – KRANG’S SHIP (DAY)

A semi-circular chamber, bland and utilitarian. There are shallow hemispherical domes scattered around the walls, which are subdivided into hexagonal panels. Diagonal steel rods support the ceiling. Above the doorways leading off are embossed stencil shapes – an impression of the head and shoulders of a Cyberman. Two Cybermen stand at the control panels laid against the outer hull on a high console running the outskirts of the room. Before their heads are two trapezoid portholes showing the swirling snow outside. Behind them stands KRANG, a Cyberman different from the others – the skull cap, side handles and lantern are black rather than silver, and its chest unit is dark red.

PILOT
The Scout force is attempting contact, Leader.

KRAIL (VO)
Unit Alpha plus calling. Unit Alpha plus calling. Unit Alpha plus calling.

KRANG
Receiving you, Cyberleader Krail. Report.

KRAIL (VO)
Snowcap base is now under our control. All fleshmen personnel are our prisoners.

KRANG
And the secondary objective?


7. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Krail and Varen stand by an upright square framework of machinery small enough to carry. In the centre of the framework is a valve that flashes with light.

KRAIL
Achieved. The machine is in our possession.

BEN
What machine?

DOCTOR
Shush, boy, I’m trying to listen!

KRANG (VO)
Satisfactory. Continue with the operation. The Controller is waiting.

KRAIL
Understood. Snowcap out.

Varen adjusts the controls and the communicator stops flashing.

BARCLAY
Are you... are you from the new planet?

KRAIL
That is where we come from. It is not called Nibiru as your astronomers refer it.

BARCLAY
Then what IS it called?

KRAIL
Mondas.

CUTLER
How did you things get into this base? Did he help you?

He indicates the Doctor with a nod of his head.

KRAIL
Mondas has been travelling through space for many years. We sent an advance scout to this planet and landed on this continent. The conditions prove too harsh for fleshmen to exist here unaided. Our ship moved beneath the snow and we excavated a path into this base.

CUTLER
When was this?

KRAIL
Eight standard months ago. We have infiltrated this base. Now Mondas has arrived and reinforcements are at hand, we have no further need for secrecy.

CUTLER
But we would have seen your ship land!

KRAIL
Our technology is advanced enough to suppress your detectors.

Cutler frowns, thinking.

CUTLER
What did you do to Zeus Five? Does it still exist?

KRAIL
That craft is not part of our mission. Its fate is irrelevant to us.

CUTLER
But the astronauts? Are they still alive?


8. MODEL SHOT

We pan down from Earth to look at the other planet.


9. INT. TRANSFORMATION CENTRE (NIGHT)

A large circular chamber, with an archway leading into another, identical chamber. In the centre of the chamber is a fat circular console stuffed with controls. The wall are lined with transparent cylindrical booths slanted back towards the walls. Inside there are circuits and machinery. Our focus are on two adjacent cubicles. Lying in a human-outlined recess are BLUEY and GLYN. Clamps restrain their wrists, thighs and ankles. A bright light shines down on them. They are regaining consciousness.

RAVEN (VO)
Orders have been received from the Controller. We are to proceed with the conversion process on the fleshmen astronauts.

KORVING (VO)
These ape creatures are not like us. They still feel fear. We must eliminate fear from their brains. Their minds must be modified. Their bodies processed.

RAVEN (VO)
The Conversion Units are dormant through lack of use. We must reactivate them.

BLUEY
Hey... hey, what’s going on?

GLYN
Bluey? Is that you?

BLUEY
Glyn! What’s going on... I’m clamped down or something.

GLYN
Terri? Terri?

Two Cybermen loom over Bluey.

KORVING
The fleshmen have regained consciousness.

GLYN
You... you’re the ones that broke into the ship...

BLUEY
Where are we? What have you done with our colleague?

RAVEN
Your questions are unimportant.

KORVING
Your fate has been decided. The time has come.

It turns to the console and starts to power it up.

GLYN
What are you doing? HEY! Listen to me! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?!

Bluey swallows, pale.

BLUEY
Please, don’t kill us.

RAVEN
We do not kill. To kill would be wasteful.

BLUEY
Then what are you going to do to us?

The whole room is now brighter and mechanisms whirring. Korving moves around the console adjusting more settings.

KORVING
You are inferior to us.

RAVEN
You are weak. Cyberfrication will make you strong.

GLYN
How?

KORVING
You will become like us. The machinery you are inside will change you from fleshmen and make you into Cybermen. It is logical. Do not struggle.

RAVEN
The transformation process will not take long.

In unison, the Cybermen swing the glass covers over the booths, closing them and making cylinders. The voices of the astronauts are muffled.

BLUEY
No, please, wait a minute...

KORVING
You will become like us.

Korving crosses over to the main console. Its human hands operate the controls.

GLYN
No, you can’t! You mustn’t! Please!

BLUEY
Think what you’re doing, we’re human beings --

As Korving moves two slide controls to full, there is a nasty sound of electrical discharge. Both astronauts scream as machinery grinds into life, the sound of buzzing saws, grating of drills, and the shrill pulsing of laser beams. The screams are drowned out. Raven watches on, impassive and emotionless.

RAVEN
You will join us. We are the future.

Korving finishes at the console. The astronauts are no longer screaming.

KORVING
And the future is now.

The sound of machinery steps up a pitch.


10. MODEL SHOT

We pan from Mondas down to Earth.


11. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

A group of guards, lead by ANDREWS and TITO enter, hands behind their heads. A Cyberman follows them as they move down into the main gallery. Loktar holds its weapon aimed, guarding the main crowd, while Varen and Krail use the communicator.

KRAIL
Initial resistance quelled. Remaining defenses have been eliminated by the Cybermats. This structure is now secured.

Meanwhile, the TARDIS crew exchange whispers.

BEN
So that’s what ODIN wanted to do to us.

DOCTOR
Yes, in the end.

POLLY
It’s not a man or a woman, just... human shaped... it’s like...

BEN
The walking dead.

DOCTOR
Yes. Fascinating. A mixture of flesh and machine. It must have taken centuries to develop that sort of technology. Thousands of centuries...

BEN
You’re saying we’re out of our league?

DOCTOR
Yes, I’m rather afraid I am. You know, it is at times like this I begin to think I should have stayed back where I belonged.

The Doctor sighs and rubs his eyes, as if tired.

DOCTOR
But doubts and if onlys won’t help us now. So...

Krail turns to address the humans.

KRAIL
All non essential personnel will be removed from this facility at once.

Cutler looks up sharply.

CUTLER
Why?

KRAIL
They will not be harmed, merely relocated.

CUTLER
Relocated? Where?

KRAIL
Mondas.

CUTLER
You want to take them to the tenth planet?

KRAIL
Yes. Humanity will relocate there.

BARCLAY
What? Why?

KRAIL
This information is irrelevant. Your missile is aimed at Mondas. It must --

Cutler steps right in front of Krail, interrupting it.

CUTLER
How do you know all this?

KRAIL
We are the advance scout. We landed here on Earth many months before and infiltrated this establishment. All relevant information has been recorded and computed. Now the Cybermen have arrived in force. General Cutler, you will lead the skeleton staff to continue running Snowcap. Your security teams and shift workers are no longer needed.

Veran suddenly grabs Cutler and shoves him to one side.


12. EXT. POLAR LANDSCAPE (DAY)

The curved hull of the saucer sits, almost lost in the swirling snow. A doorway marked with the Cyberman logo slides up revealing the bright interior within. A Cyberman strides out unhesitatingly into the freezing snowstorm, followed by six more, who march across the landscape, being lost in the swirling ice.


13. INT. TRACKING GALLERY (DAY)

Barclay now stands with Cutler on the other side of the room, along with a handful of technicians and guards. Loktar is moving through the remaining crowd. Krail strides over to the TARDIS crew and stops before the Doctor.

KRAIL
You are the Doctor?

DOCTOR
I am. And who might you be?

KRAIL
I am Cyberleader Krail. Infra red scans indicate you are not like the other fleshmen.

DOCTOR
There is more to anyone that meets the eye.

KRAIL
You are known to us. We observed you with these two other fleshmen leaving the blue box in the entrance bay. That object materialized of its own accord. Earth fleshmen do not possess the technology to transmit matter. Who are you?

DOCTOR
A simple traveler, sir, nothing more.

KRAIL
The Cybermen do not possess matter transmission technology. You will explain its function to Cyberleader Krang when the phalanx arrives.

DOCTOR
Oh? Will I?

KRAIL
Yes. You will.

Krail turns and moves away.

KRAIL
The rest of you fleshmen will head to the surface and from there enter our Cybership.

CUTLER
You can’t be serious.

BARCLAY
It’ll be freezing out there.

VERAN
Current status is minus 28 degrees Celsius.

The Doctor arches an eyebrow.

DOCTOR
Ah, bracing too. We best get some goggles. We don’t want to be snow-blind, do we?

KRAIL
The distance to the main entrance is twenty of your yards. You fleshmen should withstand the atmospheric conditions without serious harm. We, however, can survive in any environment. We are superior to you.

CUTLER
I am not letting any of my people out into that blizzard, and that is final!

Krail turns and picks up one of the rifles which have been heaped on a console.

KRAIL
We are stronger and more efficient than you Earth fleshmen.

Krail turns to face Cutler, holding the rifle. Effortlessly, he bends it in half, the metal of the rifle squeaking in protest.

KRAIL
We must be obeyed.

Krail throws the useless gun to the feet of the astonished general.

KRAIL
Resistance is useless. Is this understood?

Cutler nods, not trusting himself to speak. Ben and Polly are just as pale.

BEN
Blimey...

POLLY
He just... bent it in half.

DOCTOR
Artificial arms and hydraulic muscles, I shouldn’t wonder.

They stare at Krail who looms over the rest of the tracking gallery.


14. INT. APARTMENT (DAY)

We are back to the cheap sitcom of earlier. DAVE and ANDREW crouch beside the fallen Christmas tree, which covers NIGEL’S middle. His left leg emerges from under the Christmas tree and, flamingo-like, points upwards to the ceiling.

NIGEL
Oh, God, the pain!

DAVE
Oh, fantastic. I warned you about this, Nigel!

NIGEL
Yes, yes, now can we sort out my leg before you start acting so damn self-righteous. If you were SO good, you wouldn’t have let this happen, would you?

DAVE
What are we gonna do, Andrew?

ANDREW
Well, I suppose we could do what the Spartans did in these situations.

NIGEL
What did they do in these situations?

ANDREW
Well, there was this fella they called... Hegisistratus of Elis!

An incredibly drammatic moment. A pause.

NIGEL
“Hedge-ee-sister-traitors of Elvis”?!

Andrew shrugs philosophically.

ANDREW
Pretty close. Well, Hegisistratus got stuck in a situation like this. Was locked in a cell by the Spartans with a manacle round his ankle, and that was what stopped him escape, a bit like you in the Christmas tree.

NIGEL
Well what did he do?

Andrew seems lost in thought.

ANDREW
Hmmm? Who?

NIGEL
Hedge-ee-sister-traitors of Elvis!

ANDREW
Oh him?! I’d completely forgotten about him!

Nigel moans unhappily.

DAVE
How did he escape?

ANDREW
Oh, easy. He chopped his foot off.

Nigel frowns, trying to understand the logic there.

NIGEL
And that helped... how?

ANDREW
He chopped his foot off, so the manacle no longer held him and he escaped to Tegea.

DAVE
They didn’t catch him hopping then, did they?

ANDREW
No, that was the clever bit, Dave. He had a wooden foot he prepared earlier, and he had that ready before the foot removal business.

NIGEL
So he survived?

ANDREW
No, he ended up hacked to pieces at Zacynthus when he bumped into the Spartans again.

NIGEL
Andrew, how in the name of all that is sane, does this help me?!

ANDREW
Help you? You don’t think broadening your miniscule education won’t help you? You now know one of the most famous anecdotes of the Greco-Persian Wars of 5th century BC, one of the wittiest chronicles of Herodotus AND the very first artificial limb transplant! You’re enriched, Nigel. En-riched!

NIGEL
I’m also trapped under a Christmas tree so what do you intend to do about it?

DAVE
Dunno about you, Drew, but I’m in favor of amputation.

NIGEL
WHAT?

ANDREW
Don’t worry, Nigel, this is the 1980s. No wooden peg legs for the people of today. Prosthetics have moved on along from those American metal things with a rubber glove on the end. Haven’t moved THAT far along them, of course, but distance is relative.

NIGEL
Can’t we just call an ambulance?

DAVE
You ever read Bernard Wolfe’s “Limbo 90”?

NIGEL
What? No! Should I have?

DAVE
I always loved that bit where they go – “demobilization through immobilization”!

NIGEL
What’s that mean?

DAVE
If we chop off someone’s arms and legs, they can’t really hurt anyone, so life becomes a lot more peaceful.

Andrew turns to Dave.

ANDREW
Should we try it?

Nigel opens his mouth wide and screams.

- to be continued...