Gallifrey: Imperiatrix
Encyclopedia
Gallifrey: Imperiatrix is a Big Finish Productions
audio drama based on the long-running British
science fiction television
series Doctor Who
. The series is set on the Doctor's
home planet of Gallifrey
.
Leela suspects Darkel participated in these attacks for her own political gain. And indeed, she has initiated an election to challenge Romana for the Presidency. With Romana's support waining, Darkel is easily poised to overthrow her. Once again, Romana seeks advice from Imperiatrix Pandora, the ancient, evil Time Lord dictator with a limited presence within the Matrix
. She speaks through K-9 Mark II, who is also keeping her restrained. Pandora explains that the only way to stop Darkel is to embrace the future that Romana fears most.
So shortly before voting commences to elect Candidate Darkel to the Presidency, Romana invokes obscure Gallifrey
an law and declares herself Imperiatrix. She dissolves the democracy and secures indefinite, sole rule over the entire world. Just then, another explosion threatens all in attendance. K-9 manages to disarm it, but with his concentration broken, Pandora makes her escape. She seizes the Imperiatrix Imprimatur within Romana's body while simultaneously drawing bio-data out of the Matrix. Pandora weaves herself a corporeal body which emerges from Romana's. Pandora has resurrected into the form of Romana's first incarnation. Claiming to be the original Romana, Pandora declares herself to be the true Imperiatrix. With two separate and opposing Imperiatrix Romanas, allegiances are divided. The Dogma Virus will strengthen Pandora's forces, as it is now believed to be dormant within far more Time Lords than previously assumed. Even K-9 has been reprogrammed to obey Pandora. And Leela confronts the real Romana with a video showing her murdering her husband. As Leela is uncertain what elements within Romana may have caused her to do this, and because she is a friend, she can not avenge his death. Everyone is uncertain about the future, as the Gallifreyan Civil War begins.
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
audio drama based on the long-running British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television
Science fiction on television
Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. The series is set on the Doctor's
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
home planet of Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
.
Plot
President Romana reveals to Leela that her husband's body has been discovered. Leela admits she renounced him, but still vows to avenge his death. Before she can act, the newly integrated Academy is rocked by a terrorist bombing. Dozens of students are killed, many of them aliens from temporal powers on a weak diplomatic footing with the Time Lords. The remaining alien students are immediately evacuated, but as their ships are leaving the spaceport, it too is bombed. Leela's oldest friend, K-9 Mark I, anticipates the explosion and his warnings save a few lives. However, he is destroyed in the blast, as well as many others in the crowded, panicked bay.Leela suspects Darkel participated in these attacks for her own political gain. And indeed, she has initiated an election to challenge Romana for the Presidency. With Romana's support waining, Darkel is easily poised to overthrow her. Once again, Romana seeks advice from Imperiatrix Pandora, the ancient, evil Time Lord dictator with a limited presence within the Matrix
Matrix (Doctor Who)
The Matrix, in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, is a massive computer system on the planet Gallifrey that acts as the repository of the combined knowledge of the Time Lords....
. She speaks through K-9 Mark II, who is also keeping her restrained. Pandora explains that the only way to stop Darkel is to embrace the future that Romana fears most.
So shortly before voting commences to elect Candidate Darkel to the Presidency, Romana invokes obscure Gallifrey
Gallifrey
Gallifrey is a fictional planet in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who and is the homeworld of the Doctor and the Time Lords...
an law and declares herself Imperiatrix. She dissolves the democracy and secures indefinite, sole rule over the entire world. Just then, another explosion threatens all in attendance. K-9 manages to disarm it, but with his concentration broken, Pandora makes her escape. She seizes the Imperiatrix Imprimatur within Romana's body while simultaneously drawing bio-data out of the Matrix. Pandora weaves herself a corporeal body which emerges from Romana's. Pandora has resurrected into the form of Romana's first incarnation. Claiming to be the original Romana, Pandora declares herself to be the true Imperiatrix. With two separate and opposing Imperiatrix Romanas, allegiances are divided. The Dogma Virus will strengthen Pandora's forces, as it is now believed to be dormant within far more Time Lords than previously assumed. Even K-9 has been reprogrammed to obey Pandora. And Leela confronts the real Romana with a video showing her murdering her husband. As Leela is uncertain what elements within Romana may have caused her to do this, and because she is a friend, she can not avenge his death. Everyone is uncertain about the future, as the Gallifreyan Civil War begins.
Cast
- President RomanaRomanaRomana, short for Romanadvoratrelundar, is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
- Lalla WardLalla WardSarah Ward known as Lalla Ward, is an English actor, author and illustrator. As an actor, she is known for playing the part of Romana in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. She is married to evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.-Early career:Ward's stage name, "Lalla", comes... - LeelaLeela (Doctor Who)Leela is a fictional character played by Louise Jameson in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Leela was a companion of the Fourth Doctor and a regular in the programme from 1977 to 1978...
- Louise JamesonLouise JamesonLouise Jameson is an English actress, best known for playing Leela, the leather-clad barbarian warrior companion of the fourth Doctor in Doctor Who. Jameson has also appeared on Emmerdale , The Omega Factor Louise Jameson (born 20 April 1951 in Wanstead, London) is an English actress, best known... - K9K-9 (Doctor Who)K-9, or K9, is the name of several fictional robotic canines in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who, first appearing in 1977...
- John LeesonJohn LeesonJohn Leeson is a British actor who is best known for voicing K-9 on the television series Doctor Who from 1977 to 1979, and again in the 1980–1981 season. He was called back to do the voice of K-9 again for the 2006 episode "School Reunion" and again for the 2008 Doctor Who episode "Journey's End"... - Candidate Darkel - Lynda BellinghamLynda BellinghamLynda Bellingham is a Canadian-born English actress, broadcaster and author, who is known for her distinctive husky voice.-Early life:...
- Coordinator Narvin - Sean Carlsen
- Commander Hallan - Michael Cuckson
- Commentator Antimon - Robin SebastianRobin SebastianRobin Sebastian is a British actor, best known for his portrayals of actor Kenneth Williams. A native of London, he recently played the role of Kenneth Williams in the production of Stop Messing About at the Leicester Square Theatre and on a number one tour of the UK.-Personal life:Raised in...
- Student Galadina - Jenny Livsey
- Gold Usher - Nicholas BriggsNicholas BriggsNicholas Briggs is a British actor and writer, predominantly associated with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and its various spin-offs, particularly as the voice of the Daleks. Briggs sometimes uses the pseudonym Arthur Wallis...
- Nekkistani Ambassador - Daniel Hogarth
- Nekkistani Emperor - Conrad WestmaasConrad WestmaasConrad Westmaas is a British actor who trained at The Poor School, London from 1998-2000.Westmaas has appeared mainly in theatre, including Romeo and Juliet for Shakespeare's Globe in 2008 and also played Paul McGann's companion C'rizz in a range of audio dramas by Big Finish Productions based on...
- Imperiatrix Pandora - Mary TammMary TammMary Tamm is an English actress. She is best known for being the first actress to play the character of Romana in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, opposite Tom Baker as the Doctor, from the 1978–1979 season known collectively as The Key to Time.-Early life:Mary Tamm was born in...
(uncredited)
Continuity
- The dream Romana has is same as the Matrix projection she witnessed in NeverlandNeverland (Doctor Who audio)Neverland is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
, although the Nekkistani have now replaced the Daleks.