Made For War (Mentor Daleks)

[Imperial Overlord]

Sequel to Children of the Mentor

The universe is old. It has seen evils of unimaginable power and horrors that would shatter most of the minds unfortunate enough to encounter them. Old evils die or fade away and are replaced by new grown horrors. Such is the way of the universe. In the Unified Year five hundred and seventy-seven one such evil regards the galaxy of Mutter's Spiral with hungry eyes.

They are a race of engineered super soldiers, cloned in vast factories by the millions from one of a small number of genetic templates. They exist for no other purpose than war and conquest, indoctrinated and trained for nothing else. Scientist clones research new technologies and soldier variants, engineer clones supervise the construction of new engines of destruction, officers lead new campaigns of conquest, and unending legions of soldier clones fight.

They have no compassion or mercy. They do not trade. They do not eat or drink. They do not rest. They only war. They can travel through space at speeds faster than light and even through time. Only one race, a species as ruthless and cruel as them, has ever successfully resisted them. A bloody stalemate is waged across the stars as each race seeks to conquer the other.

Their conventional strategies have failed, a variant of their officer caste, made with heightened capacity for imagination and individualism, is charged with coming up with alternative plan. They do so. The neighboring arms of Mutter's Spiral are full of resources and are unlikely to possess a species capable of resisting them. Conquests there will enable their war machine to grow stronger and allow for the opening of a second front against their hated enemies. The plan calls for long range planning and a commitment of considerable resources, but is promising. The High Command approves it.

A hundred small egg shaped scout ships are dispatched towards the targeted areas to survey the new territories and the species inhabiting them for conquest and exploitation. One such ship orbits a blue-green world orbiting an orange sun. Scans have revealed that there is one small population center with significant energy readings.

The scout ship landed in stealth mode, appearing to be nothing more than another meteorite crossing the sky. The craft landed in a small ravine, its landing barely disturbing the grass. A tall humanoid encased entirely in space armour exited the golden egg. He exited the ravine by means of a trail and passed through a wood. His scanners had detected a nearby farmstead, which would undoubtedly contain useful specimens.

Wind rustled through the blood red leaves as the scout exited the wood. Before him stretched a log house and barn next to a field of recently tilled earth. The scout approached the house. The door was a crude but sturdy, constructed from local wood. The warrior's booted foot kicked it in.

The colonists were sleeping in two beds, one large and the other small. Two adults, humanoids, sprung from the large bed while shrieking started from the small. The scout raised his gun and stunned them all into unconsciousness. He bound his captives, two adults and a child about half as tall as an adult, and then tied them together. The warrior then lifted the bundle and began to walk back towards his ship despite his heavy burden.

Experiments would be performed to test the durability of this species and find their weaknesses. The most efficient and effective ways to kill them would be divined and then employed. Whatever knowledge the prisoners had of their civilization's technology and military would be extracted. And then they would die. And so would the rest of their colony, civilization and species. This pattern would be repeated across the entire spiral arm and eventually the entire galaxy and then all the galaxies until the only thing left was the Sontaran Empire.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Yay, I was waiting for you to continue this saga .

Love the twist, I was too busy wondering who might be a ruthless match for the daleks other than the TL's to consider the (in retrospect) obvious twist.
Update soon I say!

[NecronLord]

Yay. Daleks. Defenders of the weak and upholders of Truth, Justice, and the Skaran Way.

[Imperial Overlord]

The prisoners were secured, their hands bound with a plastic rope and drawn over their heads. The rope was bonded with the rock of the ravine, leaving the prisoners just barely able to touch the ground. The male had dark blonde hair, the female had light brown hair, and the child had pale blonde hair. They were all light skinned and fell within the norms of humanoid races found throughout the galaxy.

The Sontaran removed his helmet. He wasn't pretty by any standard. The Sontarans hailed from a high gravity world and it showed in their stocky build. His head was potato-like, hairless and smooth. He had ears that were flat against his skull, sunken dark eyes, and a flat nose. Blunt teeth filled a wide slit mouth.

The Sontaran stepped forward and slapped the male across the face. He groaned and shook his head. The Sontaran extended a squeeze bottle full of water, an fluid essential for life for many species. "Drink," he ordered. His scout shipped had monitored multiple transmissions and the translator programs had been able to manage it and download it to his armour systems. He pushed the plastic straw into the humanoid's mouth.

The male did so. The Sontaran permitted him a brief drink and then took away the water. "Please," said the man. "Let us go."

"No," said the Sontaran and approached the female. She had recovered consciousness. "Drink," the Sontaran ordered.

"Let my wife and daughter go," the male pleaded. "Please." Sontaran studies indicated that many species were excessively sentimental with regards to their mates and offspring. "Perhaps," the Sontaran lied.

He approached the child, who was still unconscious. The Sontaran slapped her. "No!" the female cried. The Sontaran slapped her again. The child woke and began to cry.

"Drink," the Sontaran ordered. The studies would be more accurate if subjects had received a modest water ration at the beginning of them. Tears streaming from her face, the child drank. The Sontaran withdrew the container.

"Who are you?" the male asked.

"I am Field Major Karss. Answer my questions satisfactory manner and I will let the child go."

"Please," the man begged.

"What is the name of your species?" the Sontaran asked.

"We're Skarosians," the female said. Karss already knew that from his coms monitoring. It was best to mix in questions with known answers during interrogation, as a means of verifying veracity.

"Where is your home planet?" Karss barked. They were both quiet. "Then I will keep the child."

"Wait!" said the male. "It's Skaro. Two hundred light years from here. Towards the galactic Rim."

"What is the population of Skaro?"

"I don't know," said the man. "Honest! Skaro is poisoned, radioactive. Chemically poisoned. Even with the clean up efforts its hell."

"Who did this?" It was very important to learn if their was a powerful alien species in this region.

"We did. Only a few people live on Skaro now, even with the clean up efforts. Please, let my daughter go."

"Not yet," said Karss. He removed his hand scanner from his belt and ran the beam over the male. He did the same with the female and the child and then saving the scans in the devices memory. "Tell me about your military. How many ships do you have? What weapons?"

"We don't have a military, really. There's the Patrol, but that isn't very big."

"Do they possess armed vessels?"

"Yes."

"How many? What kind?"

"Fast ships. Armed, I guess. Not very big. Maybe forty ships? I dont' know. I'm not Patrol."

Karss punched him in his lower ribs with his three fingered hands. Bones cracked. They were intolerably ignorant on important matters. And apparently their bones were frail as well. Karss stepped back. They would all die soon enough.

--------------------------------------

The land cruiser was big, dark green, and splattered with mud. It was designed to be able to go be able to handle rough terrain and get there quickly. The muddy roads of Denos weren't much of a problem. Inside the vehicle were two Skarosians wearing dark green uniforms with gold badges.

"So what is the big emergency?" the woman asked. She was tall, blonde and very typically Thal. Garana was twenty-five and this was her first dirtside posting with the Patrol.

"Missing family," said the man at the wheel. Klane was typically Kaled, with streaks of grey in his dark hair. He was more heavily built than his lean partner and he had seen a lot in his day. "Kaross family. Kid doesn't show up for school, parents don't answer the com. Not that big of a deal. Same thing today. So one of their neighbors goes and checks on their house. Door smashed in, everyone gone."

"Damn," she whispered. "Murder?"

"No blood or bodies or so he said."

"Rethenians?"

"The Daleks didn't find any evidence that the Rethenians were slaving and they investigated very thoroughly. The Patrol was right in it with them."

"The Daleks aren't infallible."

"True, but let's not jump to conclusions until we get some evidence." Klane took the next turn off and drove the land cruiser through a tree shrouded lane that opened up to reveal the farmstead and the planted fields. A smaller vehicle was parked by the farm house.

Klane parked the vehicle. "Let's go take a look," he said. The Patrol officers exited the land cruiser. A short, stocky blonde man approached them.

"Tyce," the man said, as he extended his hand. "I called it in."

Klane shook his hand. "Thank you. We'll go and take a look."

The two Patrol officers approached the house, eying the the broken door latch. Garana pointed. "Look at the size of those footprints."

The two patrol officers went to get a closer look. "Boots," said Klane. The Sontaran had walked over moist earth and left very clear boot prints. "Either this guy was a big bastard or he's all feet." The Patrol looked at the room.

"Beds in disarray, door busted in, but nothing else disturbed," said Garana. "Didn't go anywhere but towards the bed," she said eyeing the boot prints. "Only one set. Two adults and a child. How strong is this guy?"

"Depends," said Klane as he examined the prints. "Only one set of prints in and out. Damn strong I would say. Or he's go tech."

"Like a hover stretcher?"

"Yeah."

"The only thing he took were people," she said. "Maybe Rethenians?"

"Land cephalopods don't leave boot prints."

"I meant someone selling to them," she said acidly.

"Looking more and more like it," he said. "But so far we only have evidence of an abduction, not an interstellar kidnapping ring."

Garana unclipped her belt scanner and ran the beam over the prints. She then swept the yard. "Matching track."

"Soft earth, still wet, at the time of the attack. Makes sense if he was on foot. Don't even need the scanners here. Let's see where this leads."

[NecronLord]

Humm. I have a feeling two gold badged folks are going to die horribly too...

[Imperial Overlord]

Humm. I have a feeling two gold badged folks are going to die horribly too...

Kill likable minor supporting characters in the Whoverse? Never.

[Imperial Overlord]

Karss examined the Skarosians and spoke into his recorder. "It has now been thirty-two hours since capture. Subjects are disorientated, frequently passing out. Elevated heart rate has also been detected in all subjects. The immature subject is unconscious." He paused for a moment and stepped away from the Skarosians.

"Subjects are physically weak and unmartial. They are low gravity adapted with frail bodies and are highly vulnerable to environmental changes, although they have limited metabolic adaptation to changing temperatures. Subjects bodies fail rapidly when deprived of fluids and nutrition. Computer rates their capabilities as soldiers as seventeen on the Seelar Scale. Analysis of their technology has not begun due to the lack of suitable samples. Karss out."

The Sontaran had replaced his recorder on his belt when their was a warning hoot. He pulled out the device and checked. The hidden perimeter sensors had detected intruders. The Sontaran hurried to his scout ship.

The egg shaped vessel wasn't very big. There was literally almost no room for Karss to move around inside, just a chair surrounded by monitors, equipment, and controls. He checked the reception from the scanner.

Two Skarosians in green uniforms had approached the path that lead into the ravine. Both of them carried weapons holstered on their belts. Their appearance was consistent with the Patrol described by his prisoners. This was an excellent opportunity to examine the Skarosian warrior caste.

Karss put on his helmet and drew a weapon from his belt. It had a T-shaped grip and a slim barrel tipped with synthetic diamond. The Sontaran moved to a spot near where the path out of the ravine began a behind a large rock.

He didn't have long to wait. The two Skarosians finished climbing down the path, the grey haired male in the lead. Karss rose up to fire. The male shouted a warning, his hand going towards his gun. The Skarosian was fast. His gun cleared his holster as a violet beam incinerated his heart. He fell.

The female had dived for cover, not that there was much available, just a projection from the ravine wall. She had her pistol out and fired. There was a humming sound and chips of rock flew from the boulder Karss was hiding behind and then something hit him in the left shoulder. He felt heat and pain, but his armour held. He could use his arm without difficulty.

Karss returned fire, blasting chunks of rock of the ravine wall and then striking the female in the hip. She fell. She raised her pistol again and Karss shot her in the shoulder. The gun fell.

The Sontaran left cover and approached the wounded Skarosian. Smoke came from her wounds and she moaned softly. Excellent. He kicked the gun away and then put his away his. He ran his scanner over her body. The data on how long it took a healthy Skarosian to expire from those injuries would be very useful.

He picked her up and headed back to his other specimens, binding her and hanging her near the adults. The child was still unconscious. Karss pulled out his scanner and took another reading. She was dead.

The Sontaran raised his scanner again. "Thirty two and a half hours. Immature subject has perished from dehydration and environmental stress." Both parent let out wails of despair. "Two members of Skarosian military caste defeated. Subjects pistols were unable to penetrate Sontaran armour at close range. The male was killed, the female shot twice and apprehended alive. Monitoring is commencing on how long it will take her to expire from her injuries."

Karss headed towards his scout ship to beam his current status back to Sontaran high command. An attack squadron would be here soon, to annihilate the fledgling colony and seize this planet's resources for use by the Sontaran war machine, fueling its further expansion and conquests. Karss was quite pleased. This species was weak, its military was small, and it held considerable territory. The fighting should be easy and promotion was almost assured.

Karss would not have long to wait. His superiors received his communications with considerable eagerness. They were impatient to begin their campaigns and too many of their scouts had found dead planets and barren systems, suitable for exploitation but devoid of the enemies that conferred glory and advancement.

Inside the metallic green hull of a Sontaran battlecruiser Group Marshall Styke examined the report. It was very promising. A weak species with a small military and widespread holdings. An excellent target for the beginning of the campaign. He turned to face his junior officers.

Sontaran battlecruisers were only slightly less cramped that scout ships. They were not large vessels and most of that space was taken up by machinery. There was very little space left for the crew and no personal space whatsoever. The command center for Battlecruiser CS-1378 was no exception. "Inform the fleet that offensive operations will begin in six hours," he ordered. "Our first target will be the planet designated 'Denos' by the locals. The colony will be overrun by ground forces. The seizure of knowledgeable prisoners and data banks is a priority. No heavy ground weapons or orbital supporting fire without my expressed permission."

"Yes Group Marshall," said Captain Mesk. "Relaying your orders to the rest of the fleet."

Styke looked at the star map displayed on the monitor in front of him. Soon all of this would be Sontaran controlled space. Another glorious victory and another step closer to defeating the Rutan Host. It didn't occur to him that it could be any other way. The notion that the Sontaran destiny of universal conquest could be thwarted was as ridiculous as a the idea that a physically inferior being could be more dangerous than a Sontaran.

[The Grim Squeaker]

So the Rutans are the Sontarans nemesiss, interesting

[NecronLord]

It didn't occur to him that it could be any other way. The notion that the Sontaran destiny of universal conquest could be thwarted was as ridiculous as a the idea that a physically inferior being could be more dangerous than a Sontaran.

Someone's in for a hideous shock, aren't they.

[LadyTevar]

It didn't occur to him that it could be any other way. The notion that the Sontaran destiny of universal conquest could be thwarted was as ridiculous as a the idea that a physically inferior being could be more dangerous than a Sontaran.

Someone's in for a hideous shock, aren't they.

Does this mean the Daleks get to use the "We Are The Superior Beings" line?

[Imperial Overlord]

Nine ships coast through the void. Eight of them are identical saucer shaped craft, gleaming gold as the light of a distant sun falls on them. The bottoms of the saucer house reactors and drive system and the rest of the space is configurable for different rolls. In this particular case the central core houses the crew, computers, analysis laboratory, and life support systems. The outer edges of the saucer house sensors, force field generators, and electronic warfare equipment as well as bank after bank of beam weapons and missile bays. They are mid sized warships, but their power is greater than that of any other vessel they have ever encountered.

The ninth vessel dwarfs them in size and power. It is older, but it has been refitted with modern technology because Dalek analysis has shown that to be the most effective use of resources. The ship is painted blocky, a white painted blade shaped with a forked forward hull. Weapon mounts and missile tubes line the inner and outer edges of both forks as well as large portions of the rest of the hull. It out masses all eight saucers combined. In the Kaled language it is called The Sword of the Stars.

Buried near the center of the dreadnought's hull is a command center. Five consoles set up for direct interface with a Dalek's plunger arm line the room, allowing each Dalek to see the main display. They are a brilliant race and their hierarchy makes full use of the intelligence of each individual Dalek while establishing clear lines of authority and responsibility. Four of the pepper pot shaped Dalek machines, painted dark blue with black studs, man the consoles.

The door to the command center slides open and a Dalek painted completely black enters the command center. "Report," it commands in a neutral mechanical voice.

"We have received a call for help from the colony world of Denos," said Dalek Zarn. "Two members of the Patrol and a Skarosian family have disappeared."

"Current population of Denos?" the Black Dalek asked.

"As of thirty-nine standard days ago Denos had a population of four thousand two hundred thirty-two Skarosians. Five members of the Patrol were assigned to the planet."

"This is the third anomalous incident involving death or disappearances on the borders reported with the last three standard days," said Dalek Marr. "Possibility of hostile action needs to be considered."

"Inform the Patrol that Task Force Belezar will be responding to the call," ordered the Black Dalek. "Plot a hyperspace route to Denos and inform the Dalek Supreme of our course change."

"I obey," said Dalek Zarn. In a sphere approximately five hundred light years in diameter, centered around Skaro, the Daleks kept the peace. Four other sentient species shared that territory and the Daleks had kept the peace with a combination of superior fire power and generous treatment. It escaped none of the Daleks in the task force that those days might be over.

--------------------------------------------

Something crunched under Group Marshall Styke's boots. The Sontaran looked down and realized it was the charred body of one of the Skarosians. The interior of the building was no longer full of smoke, but the charring and the smell remained. "Report lieutenant."

The other Sontaran saluted his superior. "This structure was the center of their administration. It was full of civilians. Their resistance was spirited but ineffective. We managed to capture all but two of the computers with their records intact."

"Excellent work lieutenant. Your opinion of this species as soldiers?"

"Their discipline and skills were poor as was their equipment. They did fight bravely."

"Courage matters little in the way of superior firepower," said Styke. "Have the data retrieval teams make star charts and resource surveys their priorities. I want the automated factory builders set up as soon as possible and I want to know where I can strike to do maximum damage."

"At once Group Marshall," said the lieutenant as he saluted. Styke turned and left the battle scarred building. The air was better outside. He breathed in a deep lung full and looked around.

His orders had meant the town was stormed by infantry and many of its buildings were still intact. Three Sontarans had been killed and seven had been seriously injured, but they would be all be able to return to full duties after they made their recoveries. Burnt and blasted wrecks of ground vehicles were scattered through the streets, as were the fragile bodies of the dead Skarosians. Many buildings had huge holes in the walls from the effects of concentrated Sontaran firepower. Smoke rose from a dozen small fires and smoldering piles of debris.

It had been easy and many potentially useful prisoners had been taken. Styke reminded himself that this was a young and small colony and that other Skarosian worlds would be better able to defend themselves. All reports indicated they fought bravely, which he did not discount. Sontarans respected courage in their enemies, not that it made Sontarans any more inclined towards mercy. He made a mental note to increase the projected time alloted towards the conquest of the Skarosian worlds. Stubborn resistance had a way of delaying final victory, even when it was futile.

His belt unit chimed. "This is Styke," he said.

"Group Marshall, this is Colonel Rive in orbit. We have detected nine vessels approaching this system. It is likely that they are military."

"Launch all grounded ships," Styke ordered, "except for my own. I will reach it and be in orbit shortly."

"Yes Group Marshall."

Styke replaced his belt unit and headed towards the edge of town where his golf ball shaped battlecruiser had touched down. A space battle against real warships. That was the kind of action that looked good on one's record. Promotion might not be that far off after all.

[Chris OFarrell]

"YOU ARE SUPERIOR IN ONLY ONE RESPECT!....."

Yes. Now the 'nice' Daleks come to play I do like this universe you've spun up IO, I always wondered if you were going to write a squeal...

[Imperial Overlord]

"YOU ARE SUPERIOR IN ONLY ONE RESPECT!....."

All in good time.

Yes. Now the 'nice' Daleks come to play I do like this universe you've spun up IO, I always wondered if you were going to write a squeal...

To give credit to the appropriate people, the universe was invented in the Dalek Empire audios. I'm just filling in its history. As a side note, its really weird to listen to the third one in the series as David Tennant provides the voice of one of the main (human) characters.

[Shroom Man 777]

Is this an alternate universe where Daleks aren't insane genocidal crazies?!

[NecronLord]

Is this an alternate universe where Daleks aren't insane genocidal crazies?!

Yes. It's based off of the Nick Briggs (who plays the dalek voices in the new series) audio series 'Dalek Empire' where the Daleks, [Spoilers the size of worldships ahoy]among other things, hijack an Earth Alliance plan to find a universe where they have been defeated due to some weakness, and copy what happened there. Instead, the daleks seek out one where they have achived total power over the entire universe.

"I am the Emperor of the Daleks in this universe... We seek your Ultimate Power!" "We are accessing your command network... You have invaded this galaxy. You have enslaved its people, you have conquered, you have subjugated..." "Our achivements are humble..." "You have commited the greatest crimes known to our universe. Neutralise them!"

An earlier story involving the same.

[Imperial Overlord]

"Ranger scopes indicate thirty-two vessels of unknown design orbiting planet Denos," said Dalek Marr.

"Enhance scan and analysis," ordered the Black Dalek.

"Readings indicate activated force fieldss and scan jamming equipment," said Dalek Marr. Magnitude Seven rated power plants are indicated." This was disturbing news. The alien vessels were not very large. It strongly suggested that their power generation technology was superior to that of the Daleks.

"On screen," ordered the Black Dalek. Ships that closely resembled slowly rotating metallic green golf balls appeared in the void, stack vertically and horizontally to form a wall. None of the Daleks needed to be told this was a battle formation.

"Status of Denos Colony?" the Black Dalek asked.

"Ranger scopes read no power readings or residual radiation readings," said Dalek Marr. "Readings suggest it was seized in a limited ground assault."

"I concur," said the Black Dalek. "All ships to battle stations. Hail the alien vessels."

"I obey," said Dalek Zarn.

"I am Rek of the Dalek Protectorate," said the Black Dalek. "Your vessels are intruding in Dalek space and are suspected of having committed serious crimes. You will power down your vessels and surrender yourselves."

"They are responding," said Dalek Zarn.

"On screen," ordered Rek.

The bulbous and ugly head of Group Marshall Styke appeared on screen. "This is Group Marshall Styke of the Sontaran Empire. This does not concern you."

"Incorrect," said Rek. "All Skarosian colonies are under Dalek protection. You will surrender or be neutralized."

"Sontarans do not surrender to inferior species." The communication ended.

The Sontaran vessels opened fire. Missiles were launched from tubes located in the upper third of the spherical ships. The Sontaran battlecruisers continued to rotate, bringing new tubes to bear which fired immediately. By the time they would have completed a single rotation, the first tubes would have reloaded and be ready to fire again.

"The Sontaran vessels have opened fire with hyperlight missiles," Dalek Marr reported. "Commencing jamming and launching countermeasures. Beam weapons activated in missile interdiction role."

The Dalek battle computers were easily able to analyze the sensor and targeting systems of the Sontarans and their missiles. Selected frequencies were jammed by multifrequency projectors which were augmented by scrambler beams and disruption field initiators. The Dalek battle computers were smarter and faster than their Sontaran counterparts. They matched frequency shifts and cracked Sontaran evasive and targeting algorithms in seconds. Blue-white energy beams flashed through the void to blast missiles into their component atoms.

A small number of the missiles survived the hell storm of Dalek defensive measures. Most of them missed, but three smashed into the Sword of the Stars's force field and two struck a saucer. A seemingly endless stream of missiles continued towards the Daleks.

"Battle computers optimizing defensive operations," Dalek Vexx reported. "Nearing the edge of our effective missile envelope."

"All ships are to target Sontaran vessels designated twenty seven through thirty two," ordered Rek, having named the Sontaran vessels on the extreme right of the Sontaran wall of battle. "Mass firings on my command."

"I obey," said Dalek Vexx. "Standing by on your order."

"Entering the edge of Dalek missile envelope," said Dalek Marr. The Sword of the Stars shook slightly as another missile slammed into it.

"All vessels," said Rek, "neutralize!" Weapon ports opened on the Dalek saucers as they launched a full volley of missiles into space. The Dalek travel machines were excellent at intefacing with computers, but very poor at doing most physical tasks. As a result, automation was a high engineering art among the Daleks. Autoloaders had another volley of hyperlight missiles ready to fire within two seconds. More missiles raced towards the Sontarans.

The saucers' volley, as impressive as it was, paled in comparison with the torrent of death unleashed by the Sword of the Stars. From all along the edges of its hull, including the interior as well as the exterior edges of the fork bladed forward hull, missiles were launched into space. Autoloaders slammed new weapons home and another storm of Dalek missiles flashed through space at the Sontarans.

Dalek battle computers had analyzed their performance in the initial waves of Sontaran missile fire and implemented corrections and optimizations of their defensive measures. The whole fleet talked to each other and acted in a complimentary and coordinating manner, creating an almost impenetrable barrier against Sontaran missile fire. Almost wasn't quite good enough in this case as the Sontarans had no shortage of missiles and as the range closed, so did their accuracy.

Dalek return fire was far more accurate. The Dalek missiles didn't have the range and had weaker warheads, but were far more intelligent and sophisticated. The Sontaran countermeasures were clumsy in comparison to the Dalek systems. The lead Dalek missiles acted as data gathers and decoys so the missile swarms behind them could strike more accurately. The Sontarans watched the lead Dalek missiles succumb to their defences with smug confidence. Then the real attack wave hit.

A swarm of Dalek missiles slammed into four Sontaran battlecruisers on the edge of their wall of battle. Multiple hits overloaded their defences and the Sontaran vessels vanished brilliant explosions.

"Shift targets," ordered Dalek Rek. "Divert extra power to the shields as we enter energy weapon engagement range. Neutralize all targets."

[NecronLord]

Humm. The daleks appear to be doing well. And... Dalek <Name>. Yay!

[Imperial Overlord]

Missiles struck home against shielded hulls as the two sides closed on each other. Three more Sontaran battlecruisers were blown apart as they took multiple hits from Dalek weapons. Sontaran missiles hammered a Dalek saucer, collapsing its shields. The dalekanium hull survived the collapse, but was then struck by two more missiles. The saucer blew apart in a flair of light.

"We have entered beam weapon range," said Dalek Vexx.

"Fire," Ordered Dalek Rek. Two Blue-white beams shot from each one of the surviving saucers and four heavy mounts on the Sword of the Stars. Two damaged and one undamaged Sontaran battlecruiser were struck by the beam weapons and exploded.

"Dalek defences nearing saturation failure point," said Dalek Krenn. "They are still not targeting Sword of the Stars."

"Sontaran ships still using missiles exclusively," said Dalek Marr.

"Continue the engagement," ordered Dalek Rek. "Sontaran firepower will continue to degrade as casualties increase. Neutralize them."

Dalek death beams turned another two Sontaran battlecruisers into incandescent explosions while Dalek missiles turned a third into a battered hulk. Violet bolts flashed from the surviving Sontaran ships, now only nineteen in number. As the Sontaran ships rotated, another beam projector was brought to bear while the previous one recharged. The violet beams overloaded shields and then sliced through hulls. Two Dalek saucers were blown apart. Dalek weapons destroyed another pair of Sontaran battlecruisers.

"Sontaran beam weapons are inferior in range and power to Dalek weapons," said Dalek Marr. "Weapon array design is suboptimal."

"Sontaran defence network collapsing," said Dalek Vexx. "Dalek victory is assured."

"Three Sontaran ships are disengaging," said Dalek Marr. "Other Sontaran ships still defending them."

"Fleeing ship status?" asked Dalek Rek.

"Undamaged Sontaran ships from the former core of their formation," said Dalek Marr. "Even with redirection of all firepower, chance of successful interdiction is low."

"Neutralize the rest of them and prepare for ground assault," ordered Dalek Rek.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Two Dalek saucers escorted the Sword of the Stars in orbit above Denos. A third saucer was involved in a salvage operation with a badly damaged Sontaran battlecruiser.

"Ranger scopes indicate Sontarans are dug in at the ruins of the main settlement," said Dalek Marr. A projected image hovered in the air. Glowing red symbols marked the Sontarans.

"We need prisoners and samples of their technology," said Dalek Rek. "One of the saucers will land and dispatch a ground force to attack the Sontarans from the south. No heavy weaponry will be used. The other saucer will dispatch an attack force on transolar discs to attack from the northeast. Operations will commence at once. Dalek Scarn, your ship will land and send out the main attack force."

"I obey," said the black armoured Dalek.

The first Dalek saucer fell from the sky, towards the ruined and violated colony. The Sontarans on the ground took cover in and around buildings and piles of rubble arranged into defensive walls. They knew the likely outcome of their resistance, but this did not induce them to change their behavior. They were Sontarans, the best soldiers in the universe. Besides, if they held out long enough, relief might come.

They gripped weapon rods or heavy duty rifles with elaborate grips and waited for the Daleks to come. They had seen the saucer land to the south of them. Their sensors were being jammed, but the terrain was mostly open, except for a few copses of trees. There wasn't enough cover to advance without taking heavy Sontaran fire.

Their instruments detected the arrival of the other saucer, but it was late and still very far away. It hadn't even landed yet. It wasn't a concern at the moment.

The Dalek ship hovered in mid air and opened a bay door. Three rows of Daleks streamed out, each one mounted on a thirty centimeter thick disc that clamped on to the base of the Dalek machine. The column of Daleks, flying through the air on transolar discs, swooped down towards the rear of the Sontaran defences.

"Use paralysis beams on Sontarans in the open," ordered Dalek Thrass. "Maximum firepower on the Sontarans under cover. Neutralize!"

The Dalek formation spread out into an arrowhead shape. The Sontarans noticed them just before the Daleks arrived and turned to meet them. Dalek beams flashed down and around the exposed Sontarans. High powered paralysis beam strikes felled them. The ones in buildings fared better as the Daleks blew large holes in already damaged building.

A Dalek was struck by a rod-gun and took minor damage. A Sontaran rifle scored a glancing hit on another and it burned a deep wound on the Dalek's casing. Another Dalek was struck dead on and fell burning through the air.

Two buildings collapsed under massed Dalek fire. More beams flashed out from the south as the ground strike force began firing at long range in support. The crossfire was murderous. Every Sontaran in the open was down and the others were buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed by massed Dalek weapons' fire.

The two Dalek forces converged on what had been the Sontarans position. "Take the survivors for interrogation," said Thrass. "They will reveal everything under the mind probe. Capture all of their technology for analysis. The dead will be dissected."

Movement caught Thrass's attention. An arm wearing clothes of metallic fibre emerged from a pile of rubble. The Sontaran grabbed the earth and pulled its body half out of pile of debris. It was smeared with green blood. The Sontaran coughed and more blood came out.

"You are defeated," said Thrass.

"We . . . are the superior . . . race," said the Sontaran. "We . . . are . . . the greatest . . . soldiers . . . in . . . the . . . universe."

"You are superior in only one respect," said Dalek Thrass. "You are better at dying."

[NecronLord]

Ah, dalek efficiency. Don't you love it! Mind probes and dissections! And of course, the Sec quote.

[Imperial Overlord]

A blood red planet sits in a distant orbit around a blazing star. The system itself is crowded, relatively speaking, with manufactured satellites and space stations. Mining facilities rip into dead worlds and asteroids, as well as syphon off materials from gas giants. Starships constantly enter and leave the system. The system is the industrial and political heart of an empire in all but name that oversees everything within two hundred odd light years of this world.

The red planet's land mass consists of one super continent. The planet had once possessed seas but now only poisoned lakes remain. In several places foliage clung tenaciously to life. Petrified trees outnumbered living ones. Wind blows ash over devastated plains where life is carefully nurtured. Machines rip in the planet's crust, harvesting resources for the automated factories and smelters. Others crawled across the planet's poisoned surface, instruments of a five hundred year old project to clean up the planet.

This was Skaro, home planet of the Daleks. The humanoids who the planet had given life to had now almost totally abandoned it, leaving the Daleks to inherit it. From ten great metal cities the Daleks ruled the planet, created art, conducted experiments, developed technology, and managed their empire. This was Skaro, the poisoned jewel.

A Dalek with a black casing studded with white globes stands in a room surrounded by computers and communication terminals. Six Daleks with gold casings and black globes monitor the communications and data flow as well as perform analysis under their leader's watchful eyestalk. There is too much to information for one being, even a Dalek, to handle.

"Priority alert!" screeched one of the gold Daleks. "Priority transmission to the Dalek Supreme!" The Dalek with the black casing swirled on the spot.

"Route the transmission," he ordered. He was the supreme commander of all Dalek military forces, the head strategist of the Supreme Council, and second only to the Mentor in power in all of the Dalek empire. His word was law. He was the Dalek Supreme.

"I obey." Data was beamed directly to the Dalek Supreme as he abandoned his previous labours to focus his attention on this. The report was succinct and to the point, encoded with all the proper protocols.

"Order Task Force Belezar to join with Taks Force Kelak. Priority redirection commands to the nearest freighters. They are to bring all materials for analysis to Skaro!"

"I obey," said the Dalek.

"I will consult with the Mentor. Remain here and continue operations." The Dalek Supreme glided out of the room and down the metal corridors of the Dalek city.

The city was constructed with an eye for symmetrical geometrical shapes. Smooth curved corridors and apertures wormed their way through hexagonal towers and massive complex blocks. The walls were bare of art or decoration, but this was not because the Daleks were indifferent to it. A host of public entertainment channels carried songs, poetry, and computer generated art created by Daleks in their leisure time. To Dalek eyes and Dalek ears their was beauty everywhere.

Two Daleks with white casings and golden globes stood sentry at a circular door. "I must speak with the Mentor immediately," said the Dalek Supreme.

"Proceed," said the Dalek on the left. The metal door slid open and the Dalek supreme coasted through a short hallway, into a wide room that was contained seven Daleks of various kinds and up a lift into a room set with a huge oval window. Four White Daleks were in attendance along the sides of the room. A tall and wide throne face the window, away from the entrance.

"The Dalek Supreme is here," said one of the Daleks.

"Mentor," said the Dalek Supreme. "There is a matter of great urgency. I need your authority to for total war mobilization."

The chair rotated. Sitting in it was a woman of unearthly beauty. Her flesh was a golden synthetic marked by patches of circuitry. Her face was serene, her eyes softly glowing blue jewels. Dalek cybernetic and biological science had been devoted to restoring their creator and preserving her life and they had succeeded. "Is the matter so grave that such a measure is necessary?"

"Mentor, the enemy is a species known as the Sontarans. Their invasion force is intended to subjugate this entire spiral arm. They are merciless. Their war machine is set up to win by attrition, specializing in mass production of clone soldiers and warships. Their battlecruisers are half the size of our saucers and even less space proportionately allocated to power system, but they have equivalent power generation. They possess time travel technology."

"Time travel?" said the Mentor suddenly. "Are you sure?"

"Interrogation and preliminary analysis confirms this," said the Dalek Supreme. "Our scientists believe such a thing is possible. The ships are being brought to Skaro for examination. If time travel is possible, the Daleks will soon possess it."

"If they have time travel, they may be able to strike at us before you were even created."

"Preliminary investigations indicated that their time travel capabilities are limited. They will have to match Skaro's spatial coordinates to attempt such an intervention. They fear the results of drastic timeline alteration."

"As well they should," said the Mentor. "Enemy numbers?"

"The mind probe reveals the Daleks could inflict ten to one casualties and still be overwhelmed by sheer numbers," said the Dalek Supreme.

The Mentor flinched slightly. "Permission granted," she said. "Full wartime economy will be enacted by my order. Effective immediately."

"Thank you Mentor. You must convince all other species to join with the Daleks or we will all be exterminated."

"I will do that, do not fear," said the Mentor in a soothing voice. "Do you have a plan?"

"This contingency has been planned for. Case File Andranakess. Modifications for specific conditions will be implemented. The Daleks will survive. We will prevail. We will not fail!"

[Xon]

Hmm, good stuff.

Does the Doctor ever cross paths with the Mentor's Daleks?

[Imperial Overlord]

Hmm, good stuff.

Does the Doctor ever cross paths with the Mentor's Daleks?

No mention is made of the Doctor in the Dalek Empire audios.

[NecronLord]

Looks like they've got a fight on their hands after all. Well, on their suckers.

And yeah, it's probably no surprise that time travel is possible; Relativity, FTL, Causality - pick two.

[LadyTevar]

"The mind probe reveals the Daleks could inflict ten to one casualties (and) still be overwhelmed by shear numbers," said the Dalek Supreme.

Tsk tsk... you still need a proof-reader, m'dear
Does this make me your Mentor?

[Big Orange]

Good work, Imperial Overlord, I kinda of feel sorry for Sontarans...