The Expedition

Dear Diary,

I’ve tried everything, but it’s no use. We must retrieve the fluid link if we’re to have any hope of piloting the TARDIS again. We do need Mercury, as well, funnily enough.

Whilst I was busying myself in the TARDIS, Chesterton (“Chest-ER-ton” as he reminded me) tried to rally the Thals into mounting a fight against the Daleks, but they would not consent. They are now pacifists and farmers, with no interest in war, still mourning the loss of their old world. The Daleks have more advanced weaponry, but we have speed and agility on our side. It is disappointing. We have a great army at our disposal and with me leading, I know they would fight. They have to. As Miss Wright pointed out, those metallic beasts are not going to remain within the city walls indefinitely. They will develop a method for traveling into the wild, and they will exterminate the Thals!

Chesterton determined to test their pacifist resolve by threatening to take their sacred records and turn them over to the Daleks. It didn’t work, but when he threatened to take them Alydon’s young lady friend, Alydon’s pacifist tendencies vanished and Chesterton received a nice bash on the nose! By this we determined that they would fight, given the right motivation, and Alydon gave a rousing speech to rally them to our cause. It was no St. Crispin’s Day speech, but it certainly sufficed.

The Dalek city is surrounded by the jungle to the front, mountains to the side, and a lake to the rear. The rear entrance is undefended; assuming the large mutated creatures living in that swamp would serve as a reasonable defence. My strategy is this: We should split into two groups. One group of Thals will approach from the rear, where the Daleks will not be expecting it. Alydon and I shall lead the other group to the front and further draw their attention from the rear assault.

And now as Susan and I approach the city, Chesterton and Miss Wright are accompanying the party through the swamp, encountering such beasts as one can only guess at. We shall rendezvous in three days in the Dalek city. I know this plan will succeed. It must!

Based upon the teleplay by Terry Nation, first broadcast on BBC 18th January, 1964