Checkmate (audio story)


 * For other uses of "Checkmate", see Checkmate (disambiguation).

Checkmate is the fifth audio play in the Kaldor City series, written by Alan Stevens. It deals with Uvanov and Iago's struggle to contain the threat of the killer robots.

Publisher's summary
"Cause and effect. It applies to everything."

Taren Capel's legacy is unleashed, and death stalks the streets. As Uvanov fights for his career and life, Paullus contacts a force which could be the salvation of the people of Kaldor -- or their destruction.

With Carnell gone, Iago is the only one who can save the city from its fate -- but to do that, he must sacrifice everything...

Kaldor City - Checkmate uses characters and concepts from Chris Boucher's Doctor Who novel Corpse Marker to tell an apocalyptic tale of subterfuge and revelation.

Cast
(in order of appearance)
 * Iago - Paul Darrow
 * Uvanov - Russell Hunter
 * Packard - Nicholas Courtney
 * Voc 101 - David Bickerstaff
 * Cotton - Brian Croucher
 * Rull - Trevor Cooper
 * Carnell - Scott Fredericks
 * Paullus - David Collings
 * Blayes - Tracy Russell
 * Taren Capel - David Bailie
 * Justina - Patricia Merrick
 * Voice - Alan Stevens
 * Cresswell - Robert Lock
 * Yardley - Alistair Lock
 * Landerchild - Peter Miles
 * Kellen - Courtney King
 * Voc 13 - Bruce McGilligan
 * Producer - Mark Thompson
 * Announcer - William Johnston
 * Ghoul 1 - Danny Golem
 * Ghoul 2 - Nickey Barnard
 * Derhaven - Peter Halliday
 * Attendant - Miles Gould
 * Schraeder - Rachel Fishwick

Continuity

 * Several story elements were foreshadowed in previous stories; including the existence of Taren Capel's skull (AUDIO: Death's Head), and the emergence of the Fendahl (AUDIO:  Taren Capel).
 * The Fendahl once survived being dropped in the heart of a supernova. It has grown stronger from this. (TV: Image of the Fendahl)
 * At the close of the play, Iago is shot and apparently dying when the Fendahl (through Iago's paramour Justina) offers him a deal. This seems to involve him going back in time and killing his lover, although this may all have been an illusion created by the Fendahl for its own ends. He is seemingly taken back into the events as previously featured in AUDIO: Occam's Razor, when they are looking at the painting of the red pentagram.
 * The conclusion of PROSE: Corpse Marker, in which Uvanov was elected 'Firstmaster Chairholder', occurred "three years and thirty days" ago.
 * It's been ten months since Iago arrived in Kaldor City, an event which occurred at the start of AUDIO: Occam's Razor.