Bridgehead (audio story)

 was the third story in the audio anthology, Extinction, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Andrew Smith and featured Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, Ingrid Oliver as Petronella Osgood, James Joyce as Josh Carter, Ramon Tikaram as Vikram Shindi and Tracy Wiles as Jacqui McGee.

Publisher's summary
With Nestene energy units falling from the skies around the globe, UNIT's resources are stretched to breaking point as they try to respond.

Josh Carter has gone undercover inside Devlin FutureTech. His safety is jeopardised, however, by the activities of investigative journalist Jacqui McGee.

As the Nestenes progress their plans, Kate becomes a target.

Plot
UNIT and the Autons race and fight to claim the two-hundred and eighty-two Nestene energy units falling to Earth. Colonel Shindi is disappointed to learn that UNIT have only managed to find and destroy twelve, but Osgood shows him that they all landed near Devlin Futuretech facilities. Still without any concrete evidence against Devlin, he arranges close surveillance and Kate tasks Osgood with analysing the unit from the Gobi Desert and examining a 3D printer.

On Orbit TV News, Jacqui warns about the deaths connected to the Devlin printers and speaks out against Devlin and the control that he now has. She is removed from the studio after the broadcast and goes looking for evidence, calling a contact who, although she has since forgotten, previously supplied her with a pass to the Futuretech launch. Devlin intercepts the call and, wondering if she is working with UNIT, has her brought to him and leaves her to be killed by Autons.

Josh infiltrates Devlin Futuretech's sales and marketing department and Shindi has a satellite do a sweep of the headquarters, finding no readings in the central block due to shielding. Using the hologram projector, Kate sends Josh to investigate. He hears Jacqui being attacked and gives her instructions to get the Autons to destroy the door and allow her to get free. They run outside and Jacqui goes to let the world know that Devlin is mad.

All of the Devlin printers around the world activate and begin to print Autons, even after the devices are unplugged, in what Orbit TV reports is likely a publicity stunt. Josh informs Kate of Jacqui's intentions and she decides to speak with her and have Shindi speak with UNIT Central Control.

to be completed

Cast

 * Kate Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
 * Osgood - Ingrid Oliver
 * Colonel Shindi - Ramon Tikaram
 * Captain Josh Carter - James Joyce
 * Simon Devlin - Steve John Shepherd
 * Jacqui McGee - Tracy Wiles
 * The Nestene Consciousness - Nicholas Briggs

Continuity

 * Shindi was recently in Geneva. (AUDIO: Earthfall)
 * Devlin says that UNIT has used investigative journalists before. (TV: Robot)
 * Kate asks Devlin if the Nestene Consciousness's completed form will be a "giant squid with anger issues." (TV: Spearhead from Space)