I thought it was twinky before... (Spoilers, Dalek Empire 4)

[NecronLord]

Technical snippets from Dalek Empire 4.

It has, incidentally, a CGI Trailer

The single user air/space platforms the daleks are riding in that, by the way, are trans-solar disks. There’s more about those later…

"What we need is a single, crucial advantage, to strike at them, and turn the tide, and to do that, we have to admit something: The daleks have superior armaments, they have superior strategies, and an intelligence network that leaves us baffled. They are beating us. At the root of their superiority over us, is the dalek fighting machine, that houses the fierce, evil intellect of the dalek creature itself. This shell is a machine that can adapt to all environments, and is highly resistant to all forms of firepower. So, we have to fight them on their own terms.

"Remove the screen please.

"This is what we're calling, the spacer. As you can see, it strongly resembles a space suit. But it's so much more than that. Our best scientists have used every kind of cutting edge, experimental, classified research available to us. The fabric is infused with newly discovered ores, and charged with an energy field that makes it the most impervious battle armour ever worn by a human being. It carries enough life support and engine thrust to propel its wearer between solar systems. Linked in to its power matrix are assault tools and weapons that will be powerful enough to breach the hulls of space vessels and crucially, the outer casing of a dalek.

"Its wearer controls it through a combination of vocal commands, mental impulses, and delicate muscular control. It is a devastatingly fast, manoeuvrable and powerful instrument of war. So, I know what you're thinking. What's the catch?

"Well, time is the catch. Time.

"Even if we get the go-ahead for production today, it will take five years to manufacture enough spacers to create an effective strike force. But, to be blunt, this war shows no sign of ending. We are losing, but we are losing very very slowly. So we have to play the long game. If you give the go-ahead, today, I can start straight away on arguably the most significant task of all. The quest to find the human being who must be at one with his or her spacer, these human beings must be, exceptional, remarkable, and while production is in progress, it will be my job to seek out those exceptional people whose job it will be to save us from defeat, exceptional people at the peak of mental and physical fitness. Exceptional people who will form a regiment of spacers, a regiment of heroes, to inspire, and lead, our battle for victory. A regiment we will call The Fearless."

Brief intro to the power-suits that take up a lot of the plot here.

"Activate neutronic particle beams"
"Activating"
"Arm forward neutronic cluster missile battery"
"I obey"
"Earth Ship targeted"
"Fire"
"Exterminate"
SFX
"Earth assault craft totally destroyed"

Dalek ship to ship weapons, used on a powerless human cruiser.

The Earth Alliance commanders order their reserve flotilla to engage a dalek fleet, while on board a captured dalek ship, a half alive dalek observes this, and signals two of its surviving comrades, on light platforms called 'trans-solar disks.' They move ahead to the undefended Kedru VII. One turns back to attack the captured "Dead Hand" ship, home to a prototype 'energy neutraliser' weapon, it then turns back to head for Kedru VII.

Kennedy "Both resumed course for Kedru VII, at speed... I don't believe it"
Lieutenant Salus Kade "Talk to me
Ken "They're going in too fast"
[...]
Lieutenant Carlisle "Kedru seven ground gun crews now opening fire"
Earth Alliance General Agnes Landen "Good, is the Dalek Ship pulling back yet?"
Lt.C "General, it's increasing speed, as if it's trying to catch up with the disks. But... Oh my god."
Gen.L "Ops. Ops, what is it?"
[...]
Fisk "I don't believe it."
Lt.SK "Speak to me Kennedy. Well start understanding, space man!"
Fisk "Either the scanner's on the blink, or, those dalek disks... they're giving off something"
Lt.SK "What do you mean?"
Fisk "Well, I dunno. It's like there's some kind of really big power build up."
[...]
Gen.L "Let me see the energy readings"
Lt.C "On your screen now ma'am."
Gen.L "They're creating an overload in their flight chambers"
Lt.C "Err. A what, ma'am?"
Gen.L"Do you know the incredible power a dalek trans-solar disk must house lieutenant Carlisle? It's got to be able to travel between star systems without refuelling. If all that power is released in one single... You've got to get a signal through to the dalek ship. Kade's on board."
Lt. C "Kade?"
Gen.L "Never mind that. Just"
Lt.C "General. That other signal, whatever it was, has cut out. Our comms beam should be getting through now."
Gen.L "Patch me straight through to him!"
[...]
Fisk "The Dalek transmission has shut down. Something else is coming through. It's mission control..."
Gen.L (Comm)"Kade, Kade, are you reading me?"
Lt.SK "Punch it in Fisk! How did you know I was here?"
Gen.L (Comm)"Where else would you be? Kade, you must turn back 'round, those Trans-solar disks are converting themselves into bombs! You won't be able to stop them. They're going to destroy Kedru seven."
Lt.SK "No way."
Gen.L "Kade, you have to turn back! That's an order. We nearly lost you once today.""
Lt.SK "My wife and daughter are down there!"
Gen.L "Kade... I... I know... But I'm giving you a direct ord-"
Lt.SK "Fisk! Cut her off!"
Kennedy "Sir, we've gotta pull back! If that planet's going up we're too close to it."
Lt.SK "Shut it Kennedy, you want to cut and run again, that's all you ever do isn't it?"
[...]
Kennedy "It's too late. Those disks, they're blowing up!"
Lt.SK "Lajitta!"
[...]
Gen.L "Ops, Report, report!"
Lt.C "We're in the shockwave. All hull force fields are at maximum"
Gen.L (Quietly) "Kedru seven. Incinerated."
Lt.C "I think we're gonna make it."
Gen.L "Are we?"
Lt.C "Ma'am? I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."
Gen.L "Will there be anyone left? Do we have a report on any survivors on Kedru seven?"
Lt.C "General. There's no atmosphere. It's been burnt off."

Notably, this appears to be a threat to the (presumably capital level shielded) orbiting command platform General Landen is on. Presumably either the platform isn't built to deal with the momentum of that amount of ejecta, or the fuel supplies of a (long range?) trans-solar disk are so colossal that they pose a significant threat to Earth Alliance space stations. As they can actually resist Dalek firepower, however ineffectively, I assume the latter.

Alternately, it could be some kind of funky chain reaction, though I’d expect General Landen to have said as much, as opposed to talking about the total energy of their systems, especially given that it appears she may well have an engineering background of some sort. The bit about there being no atmosphere may be hyperbole, of course, but it’s still tremendously destructive, and depopulates the planet.

There's a number of bits I haven't mentioned; spacers surviving their ship being shot out from under them, being able to cut their way into the Dead Hand ship, and suffering minimal casualties (>15) while wiping out or mission killing all of its crew. Dalek personal level weapons appear to be a threat to spacers, but not much of one at all.

[Imperial Overlord]

So the Daleks wreck a planet by detonating two trans solar discs? And they have other solar systems on them? Holy munchkin, that's ridiculously powerful even by Who standards.

[Connor MacLeod]

Kennedy "Both resumed course for Kedru VII, at speed... I don't believe it"
Lieutenant Salus Kade "Talk to me
Ken "They're going in too fast"
[...]
Lieutenant Carlisle "Kedru seven ground gun crews now opening fire"
Earth Alliance General Agnes Landen "Good, is the Dalek Ship pulling back yet?"
Lt.C "General, it's increasing speed, as if it's trying to catch up with the disks. But... Oh my god."
Gen.L "Ops. Ops, what is it?"
[...]
Fisk "I don't believe it."
Lt.SK "Speak to me Kennedy. Well start understanding, space man!"
Fisk "Either the scanner's on the blink, or, those dalek disks... they're giving off something"
Lt.SK "What do you mean?"
Fisk "Well, I dunno. It's like there's some kind of really big power build up."
[...]
Gen.L "Let me see the energy readings"
Lt.C "On your screen now ma'am."
Gen.L "They're creating an overload in their flight chambers"
Lt.C "Err. A what, ma'am?"
Gen.L"Do you know the incredible power a dalek trans-solar disk must house lieutenant Carlisle? It's got to be able to travel between star systems without refuelling. If all that power is released in one single... You've got to get a signal through to the dalek ship. Kade's on board."
Lt. C "Kade?"
Gen.L "Never mind that. Just"
Lt.C "General. That other signal, whatever it was, has cut out. Our comms beam should be getting through now."
Gen.L "Patch me straight through to him!"
[...]
Fisk "The Dalek transmission has shut down. Something else is coming through. It's mission control..."
Gen.L (Comm)"Kade, Kade, are you reading me?"
Lt.SK "Punch it in Fisk! How did you know I was here?"
Gen.L (Comm)"Where else would you be? Kade, you must turn back 'round, those Trans-solar disks are converting themselves into bombs! You won't be able to stop them. They're going to destroy Kedru seven."
Lt.SK "No way."
Gen.L "Kade, you have to turn back! That's an order. We nearly lost you once today.""
Lt.SK "My wife and daughter are down there!"
Gen.L "Kade... I... I know... But I'm giving you a direct ord-"
Lt.SK "Fisk! Cut her off!"
Kennedy "Sir, we've gotta pull back! If that planet's going up we're too close to it."
Lt.SK "Shut it Kennedy, you want to cut and run again, that's all you ever do isn't it?"
[...]
Kennedy "It's too late. Those disks, they're blowing up!"
Lt.SK "Lajitta!"
[...]
Gen.L "Ops, Report, report!"
Lt.C "We're in the shockwave. All hull force fields are at maximum"
Gen.L (Quietly) "Kedru seven. Incinerated."
Lt.C "I think we're gonna make it."
Gen.L "Are we?"
Lt.C "Ma'am? I'm sorry, I didn't catch that."
Gen.L "Will there be anyone left? Do we have a report on any survivors on Kedru seven?"
Lt.C "General. There's no atmosphere. It's been burnt off."

Burning off teh atmosphere of a planet requires at a minimum some 4e26 joules of energy. Realistically this is the "perfect efficiency" calc, in reality its probably orders of magntiude higher (the explosion would cause significant ocean boil-off, which would make evacuating the atmosphere much harder.) I suspect with that factor as well as efficiencies it could go as high as e29-e30 joules (perhaps a bit higher) but the e28-e29 range would be a reasonable assumption.

Not quite "mass scattering" energies, but pretty close.

Notably, this appears to be a threat to the (presumably capital level shielded) orbiting command platform General Landen is on. Presumably either the platform isn't built to deal with the momentum of that amount of ejecta, or the fuel supplies of a (long range?) trans-solar disk are so colossal that they pose a significant threat to Earth Alliance space stations. As they can actually resist Dalek firepower, however ineffectively, I assume the latter.

I'm not sure there would be very much ejecta, or much that would directly threaten the ship. I'd be more concerned about the possibility of the atmosphere being propelled outwards at escape velocity (or fasteR). Probably at or near plasma state, too. That probably refers to the "shockwave" that hit the station.

Also remember that, since its an explosion, the station will only be absorbing part of it, especailyl depending on how far away it is out (I'd guess geostationary, but...)

There's also the possibility that whatever forcefield defenses they used, tey could angle them to "ricochet" the debris/atmosphere away without totally absorbing all the energy (deflection rather than deceleration.)

Alternately, it could be some kind of funky chain reaction, though I’d expect General Landen to have said as much, as opposed to talking about the total energy of their systems, especially given that it appears she may well have an engineering background of some sort.

I agree. It's clearly talking about power generation systems, so I doubt it would be hyperbole

It also suggests that although they cannot release it "all at once" short of self destruction, their FTL method does consume a not-insignificant fraction of that output (depends on how long it took them to reach the planet I suppose. Minutes? Hours?) That would likely put the Disc power output in stellar-level magnitude.

The bit about there being no atmosphere may be hyperbole, of course, but it’s still tremendously destructive, and depopulates the planet.

I don't see any reason to take the atmosphere bit as hyperbole, and even if we did, there's still other indicatons to the magnitude of the destruction.
For one thing, the "atmosphere burned off" suggests it was still FAR more violent than merely "mass extinction" event, and the "incinerated" bit the General mentions implies that it was at or near a "sterlization" level event (human bodies, for example, cremate at around 1000-1500 K, and raising atmospheres to that temp can require billions if not tens of billions of megatons easily.)

[NecronLord]

Of course, on reflection, this isn’t entirely inconsistent. Assuming the trans-solar disks here are the same as the ones in the trailer, the main body is approximately 1 meter in radius, and 50 centimetres thick, with a volume of ~1.5 m³

Assuming they put out a ‘modest’ 1e27 J, a (again, ‘modest’) 1e32 planet buster warhead would be about 150,000 m³ which seems rather larger than the one used in War of the Daleks, though of course, a planet-buster would be a dedicated and deliberately designed weapon, so presumably more compact.

If anything, I'd say this is evidence that their strategic explosives are actually 'conventional' rather than some kind of NDF or chain reaction thing. It's certainly nice to see writing with a concept of how dangerous such energy levels are.


Oh, another neat bit in this, is that it suggests that the slaves in Dalek territory continue to do technical work with rather than pure physical toil, as the cliche would suggest. It mentions slave-run factories, and features a starship crew who decide the daleks are likely to kill them in the name of security after they've transported a dignitary.

[Bedlam]

I've only listened to the first part of Dalek empire 4 so far. Has it been specifically stated when its set so far?

I cant decide whether its set during Dalek empire 1 or if its after Dalek empire 3. Common sense seems to suggest after 3 but nothing I've herd so far prevents it being during the original Dalek invasion in empire 1.

[NecronLord]

I've only listened to the first part of Dalek empire 4 so far. Has it been specifically stated when its set so far?

I cant decide whether its set during Dalek empire 1 or if its after Dalek empire 3. Common sense seems to suggest after 3 but nothing I've herd so far prevents it being during the original Dalek invasion in empire 1.

It's set during Dalek Empire 1. Suz is in it.

[Lord Woodlouse]

How does this Dalek Empire series fit in with regular Doctor Who continuity? Is the Doctor mentioned in it?

Also, do they explain how Daleks build anything outside of slaves? I keep wanting to see the "plunger" be explicitly used as some kind of gravity manipulation device on screen.

[The Grim Squeaker]

How does this Dalek Empire series fit in with regular Doctor Who continuity? Is the Doctor mentioned in it?

It's part of the continuity, from what I understand, The Daleks final war with the Time Lords happens some time after they Conquer the Universe after the events of DE3. There's also a short story collection that has the Doctor teaming up with Suz & someone else to help destroy a Dalek army on an ice planet or somesuch.

Also, do they explain how Daleks build anything outside of slaves? I keep wanting to see the "plunger" be explicitly used as some kind of gravity manipulation device on screen.

Well, lot's of slaves and programmable robots presumably

[NecronLord]

How does this Dalek Empire series fit in with regular Doctor Who continuity? Is the Doctor mentioned in it?

Yes and no. There's a book of short stories featuring what he various Doctors have done in that time period. There's also a script in there, for 'Return of the Daleks' which has now been made, and is essentially a crossover - the Doctor meets Suz and Kalendorf. The first couple of 'Dalek Empire' things ( Dalek Empire - The Genocide Machine and Dalek Empire - The Apocalypse Element) have him in, too, and the latter is mentioned by RTD in his essay/discourse on the runup to the Time War, as part of it. Given the resolution of The Apocalypse Element, it wouldn't surprise me if the Time Lords' agents were slinking around the background in the rest of the series.

Also, do they explain how Daleks build anything outside of slaves? I keep wanting to see the "plunger" be explicitly used as some kind of gravity manipulation device on screen.

They had automated factories from the start. Presumably they have drones to do most intricate labour.

John Peel's much-hated War of the Daleks attempted a retcon of the Movellans as a type of dalek servitor. While the book was pretty damn poor, anything that retcons the chronically stupid Movellans (a race who could be stopped with a dog whistle and wore their brains on their belts so they could be easily removed by enemies) is worth mentioning.

[Lord Woodlouse]

So it's official that Daleks can't build anything on their own? Humbug and bah.

[NecronLord]

So it's official that Daleks can't build anything on their own? Humbug and bah.

The Apocalypse Element has them doing assembly outside their casings, partly with their actual limbs in microgravity, partly telekinetic.