Destruction of Phaidon

The Destruction of Phaidon was a battle just before the official beginning of the Last Great Time War.

As a Temporal Power, the Warpwrights were a potential ally of Gallifrey in the Time War so the Daleks targeted them. (AUDIO: The First Days of Phaidon) An army of Daleks infiltrated the Phaidonian system dormant aboard a derelict ship. Days after the ship's discovery, the Daleks launched a massive attack on Phaidon. Of the population of nine billion, only five thousand survivors escaped in two timeships which reached Gallifrey's orbit.

Acting President Beglis, who had previously been a low level civil servant until all his superiors were killed, petitioned the Time Lords to give the survivors asylum. After he spoke before the High Council, President Livia agreed, though the War Council only accepted on condition that all their operations be given absolute secrecy from then on, even from the Celestial Intervention Agency. CIA Coordinator Romana reluctantly agreed to the condition, and with the agreement of all three agencies the asylum was offered. The War Council had in truth only agreed to this as one of their number, Admiral Valerian, believed the ensuing demand on resources could be politically useful in their goal of changing the leadership of the Time Lords to better face the Time War.

In light of the fall of Phaidon, President Livia decided to formalise hostilities with the Daleks. That evening she issued the formal declaration of war, marking the official start of the Time War. (AUDIO: Celestial Intervention)

As the Time War began, the Daleks perpetuated similar massacres on Gallifrey's other allies, exterminating the Nekkistani and the Monans, and wiping out the Sunari and Unvoss in one hit. (AUDIO: Desperate Measures)

Later in the Time War, the Daleks restored Phaidon as part of Operation Intercept, including a group of Warpwrights. (AUDIO: The First Days of Phaidon)