Dalek War Machine

The Dalek War Machine was the name given to the weapon (and what would become the first variant of Dalek drone) created by scientist Yarvelling of the original Dalek race to aid in their war with the Thals. After the explosion of a neutron bomb destroyed both sides' civilisations, the Dalek mutants retreated into the casings of the machines. After the last of the original race, Yarvelling and Zolfian, had both perished (COMIC: Genesis of Evil) the name Dalek Machine to refer to the species remained for a time (COMIC: Power Play) before simply Dalek became the commonly used term. (TV: The Daleks, COMIC: Duel of the Daleks et al.)

Eventually, as their technology improved, the Daleks modified their design beyond the Dalek War Machine created by Yarvelling such as the addition of slats to their weapons platform. (COMIC: Shadow of Humanity, The Emissaries of Jevo et al.) These new and improved Daleks more closely resembled the Mark III Travel Machines supposedly created by the Kaled scientist Davros (TV: Genesis of the Daleks) but more accurately based on designs stolen from other scientists from whom Davros stole the credit in a bid to claim leadership over the Daleks. (PROSE: War of the Daleks)

History
The first Dalek War Machine was presented by Yarvelling to minister Zolfian at a War Council meeting. The latter ordered mass production of the machines, believing them to be the perfect weapon to destroy any surviving Thals after the explosion of their neutron bomb. As the bombs were accidentally exploded prematurely, the Humanoid Dalek race mutated from the radiation and were forced into the casings of the War Machines as protection.

After two years, Yarvelling and Zolfian emerged from their bunker and discovered what their race had become. They rebuilt the war factory but both perished before they could make more machines to shield themselves from the radiation. After they died, the first Machine Dalek declared himself Emperor. (COMIC: Genesis of Evil)