Sycorax

The Sycorax are a superstitious race of warriors which attempted to invade Earth in Christmas, 2006. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)

Physical appearance
The Sycorax have a raw, skinless appearance. The crew of the asteroid ship that invaded Earth wore insect-like helmets which conceal the exoskeletal carapaces upon their heads. They wore loose crimson robes. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)

When the Doctor travelled to 1599, an animal skull reminded him of that of a Sycorax's, giving William Shakespeare the idea to name a character in one of his plays, The Tempest. (DW: The Shakespeare Code)

Culture
They have a vague sense of honour and pride, with some respect for the laws of combat. Though they have advanced technology such as interstellar space travel and energy whips, they are still a superstitious race who believed in magic and witchcraft. Despite this, their leader saw through Rose Tyler's attempt at bluff and bluster (she pretended to have the authority to turn the invasion away) without any difficulty. Their native language is Sycoraxic. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)

Their skull masks, ritualised society and voodoo-like use of Blood Control are all highly reminiscent of Faction Paradox who share those traits and techniques. They may be one of the cultures the Faction 'seeded', such as the Remote (EDA: Interference), or inheritors of one of the caches of Faction technology that were left scattered through time following the fall of the Eleven-Day Empire (MB: Coming to Dust).

History


UNIT had no record of the Sycorax ever in their files, suggesting that the following was their first encounter with Earth, despite their apparent familiarity with its location and solar system.

A Human space probe, Guinevere One, crashed into a Sycorax spaceship near Mars. The Sycorax's intent was to enslave humanity and steal their resources. With a sample of A+ blood from the probe, they would use blood control to force humanity into surrendering. Their leader controlled everyone with the A+ blood type, commanding them to stand on the top of the tallest buildings. Then-Prime Minister of the Great Britain Harriet Jones and several UNIT personnel were brought to the Sycorax spaceship where they deliver their ultimatum: Half of the world to be sold into slavery or one third kill themselves.

The Doctor (who had just regenerated) and his allies Mickey and Rose and were inside his TARDIS. The Sycorax picked up a signal from the TARDIS’ advanced technology and teleported them to their ship. The Doctor activated the blood control but no humans killed themselves; their survival instincts were too strong. The Sycorax were forced to leave Earth and humanity alone after the Doctor defeated their leader in a sword duel. Although the Sycorax ship was retreating and leaving Earth Harriet Jones, ordered Torchwood to fire at it and had it destroyed outright. The Doctor considered this an act of mass murder. (DW: The Christmas Invasion)