The Tamaras Crisis – The Story (Part One)

Our final video production was called The Tamaras Crisis, and was by far the most professional of the three stories we made. It was also the most fun to do, and so it’s the production of this story that I will elaborate on the most. I haven’t bothered to try and explain the actual plot of either of our initial fan-vid productions, mostly because I can’t really remember then too well myself, but I’ll make an exception with The Tamaras Crisis as it did at least make some sense and can actually be followed through the story, a distinct advantage when it comes to plots, you must agree. So here goes………..

The Rani picks up a mayday call in her TARDIS from the planet Tamaras. The message explains that the planet’s mine workings, their prime means of industrial economy, are in crisis because the androids which work the mines have all gone haywire and are now uncontrollable, a problem which is beyond the means of the Tamarans to rectify. The reason for the Androids having to work the mines is because they are also the habitat of a particular type of insect, the venom of which is deadly to the natives and there’s no antidote. The Rani immediately sees an opportunity to seize control of the lucrative Zealonite mines if she were to offer to help, so ‘help’ she does.

Meanwhile, the Doctor has just regenerated into his 9th incarnation (the 8th being myself in our own Whoniverse, bearing in mind that this was way before Paul McGann, never mind Mr Ecclescakes) and is experiencing his usual post-regeneration traumas. His trusty companion, Ian-Lethbridge Stewart, is doing his best to assist but is rather a bumbling Harry Sullivan type and doesn’t really understand regeneration. The TARDIS suddenly lurches to one side and the lights flicker, causing its two occupants to fall about the place. Once the ship has righted itself, the Doctor and Ian return to the control room to discover that some technical fault has occurred causing the ship to auto-land in a forest on an unknown planet. The instruments have registered that there is another TARDIS in the vicinity, so off they go with the Doctor’s handy TARDIS detector thingy and set off through the forest.

The Rani has also landed on Tamaras and the natives elaborate on the Android problem. She explains her proposed solution (a microwave signal to correct the Androids’ faulty circuitry/software) and they set off towards her TARDIS. The Doctor and Ian locate the mystery TARDIS and see the Rani and two Tamarans enter her ship. The Doctor recognises the Rani immediately and vows to find out what she’s doing on the planet. The Doctor and Ian spot one of the Androids, and find a dismembered android hand nearby, and then continue, unaware that the Android is in pursuit. They discover the mine and attempt to find the entrance, but after a fruitless search the Doctor announces that he’s tired after his post regenerative excitement and they return to the TARDIS.

Meanwhile the Rani prepares to test the device for correcting the Androids’ behaviour, having to exit her TARDIS in order for the signal to transmit properly.

The Doctor is worn out and falls asleep on Ian’s bed. Ian suddenly realises that his gun is missing and exit’s the Ship to see if he dropped it outside. He scrabbles around in the undergrowth searching for the missing gun, unaware that the wayward Android is creeping up behind him. He managed to find his gun and at the same time hears a noise behind him, and turns round to see the Android advancing on him. He shoots at his assailant but the bullets just bounce off, and the Android knocks the gun out of his hand, the force of which also knocks Ian over backwards. He tries his best to slither away over the wet grass but the Android looms menacingly over him with an outstretched hand…….

Next Episode: The Tamaras Crisis – Part Two!