Imperiatrix (audio story)

Imperiatrix (identified on the cover simply as Chapter Nine) was the fifth story of the second series of Big Finish's Gallifrey audio series. It was written by Stewart Sheargold.

Publisher's summary
"Look out there, Romana. Look at that wasteland of ash. That is what we will become under your rule."

Darkel has played her hand, the Free Time influence in the Capital is spreading and opposition to Romana's policies from without and within is growing. When the bombs start going off, the High President of Gallifrey decides enough is enough.

While Leela and K9 race to track down the terrorists to avoid more bloodshed, Romana enters into a risky bargain for control with a dangerous, influential figure from her past. But she soon discovers that the answer to her problems lies in the future. A future she has already witnessed. And one she has been trying to avoid.

But someone desperately wants this future and will stop at nothing to make it occur.

Even if it means leading Romana and Gallifrey to civil war.

Part one
Romana awakes from a nightmare in which she ruled Gallifrey with an iron fist and destroyed the Nekkistani as their Emperor pleaded with her and believes that she now knows what these dreams mean.

Commentator Antimon reports from outside the Gallifreyan Academy on Romana's divisive decision to invite students from the other Temporal Powers and how this has led Darkel to invoke the right of challenge. Galadina interrupts the broadcast to question his statement that the students are a security risk and his obvious bias when there is an explosion. The entrance to the Academy is blocked and Antimon sees the bodies of the dead.

Commander Hallan informs Romana that Leela wishes to speak with her. Romana asks for an update on the situation at the Academy, where Valyes is unhappy about Leela's appointment as security advisor, and delicately tells her that the Chancellery Guard have found Andred's body in the Vaults, both of his hearts pierced to prevent regeneration. Whilst she does not think of him as the man that she loved, Leela feels that she must avenge him to give him and herself peace. Romana advises against this to avoid giving Darkel ammunition and plans to open a discreet and legal investigation into the murder.

Romana is interrupted by a call from Narvin, who informs her of the bombing at the Academy. There are many casualties, most of whom are off-worlders, and Romana orders him and his CIA agents to find survivors and take the remaining alien students to be guarded at a place of refuge. Telling K9 Mark II to remain and continue completing a task which she will not tell Leela about, Romana heads to the Academy with Leela.

Antimon interviews Darkel, who states than an insurrectionist Time Lord cell in opposition to Romana's policies is likely responsible for the attack. Whilst not condoning the actions, she says that she understands them and that educating other species in the secrets of Gallifrey could very well result in temporal catastrophe. Her suggestion is that the alien students be sent home for their safety, that the Academy be closed for a time and that an investigation be made. When Romana and Leela arrive, Darkel and Romana argue.

Narvin attempts to maintain order at the Academy, but the body count has risen to twenty-two and some alien students, wanting vengeance, might have to be locked up. Romana enters the ruins and tells Narvin that she will not bow down to the insurrectionists, sending him off to keep him occupied as she does not trust the CIA. In private, she confides in Leela that she feels responsible for the deaths of these students, one of whom Leela recognises as Galadina, and wonders if she has been doing the right thing. She has one final solution, one which she does not wish to resort to, and instead asks Leela and K9 Mark I to investigate the bombing. In the meantime, she will speak with the Temporal Powers.

Although Narvin is sympathetic to Darkel's campaign to become President, but he is upset by the attack and does not see how he can lead an investigation without exposing the both of them; he gave Darkel access to the CIA's codes and resources on the condition that there would be no major repercussions and the operation looks very much as though it was CIA-sanctioned. Darkel denies that she was involved and regrets that Andred, who was responsible for the Archivist's murder, is dead as they could have easily framed him for the attack. Once Narvin has gone, Darkel contacts Castellan Maxil and asks to be discreetly escorted to the Vaults to speak with her advisor.

Leela and K9 Mark I begin their investigation, wondering how a bomb could have got through Braxiatel's security system. They enter the security wing where K9 connects with the security console and finds that the recordings from twenty microspans before the bombing have been deleted. On the screen, Leela sees somebody looking for something and goes to intercept them, leaving K9 behind. She attacks him and, after the intruder flees, she finds what they had been looking for: damaged metal hardware which K9 recommends they take to Narvin to be identified.

to be added

Part two
to be added

Cast

 * President Romana - Lalla Ward
 * Leela - Louise Jameson
 * K9 - John Leeson
 * Candidate Darkel - Lynda Bellingham
 * Coordinator Narvin - Seán Carlsen
 * Gold Usher - Nicholas Briggs
 * Commander Hallan - Michael Cuckson
 * Commentator Antimon - Robin Sebastian
 * Nekkistani Ambassador - Daniel Hogarth
 * Student Galadina - Jenny Livsey
 * Nekkistani Emperor - Conrad Westmaas

Continuity

 * The Gillestes incident is mentioned. (AUDIO: Pandora)
 * Andred has been murdered. (AUDIO: Insurgency)
 * Andred was responsible for killing the Archivist. (AUDIO: Lies)
 * K9 Mark I is destroyed in this story, but appears to have survived later. (TV: Regeneration)
 * Romana previously saw a vision of herself as Imperiatrix during the anti-time debacle. (AUDIO: Neverland)