Earth Aid (audio story)

Earth Aid was the sixth and final story release in the second series of The Lost Stories, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was adapted by Andrew Cartmel and Ben Aaronovitch, from the original script by Ben Aaronivitch, and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Sophie Aldred as Ace and Beth Chalmers as Raine Creevy.

This story was originally intended to be the first story of the original Season 27, but was cancelled along with other planned stories when Doctor Who itself was cancelled in 1989.

Publisher's summary
Welcome aboard the Space Vessel Vancouver. Its mission: to guard a vast shipment of grain from Earth to the planet Safenesthome.

Its Captain is called Ace. She seems a little unsure of herself. In fact, some might almost think she was new to the job...

Its medical officer is called simply "the Doctor", and he's perhaps not all he seems.

When mysterious ships target the Vancouver, Ace and the Doctor are pushed to the limit. Meanwhile, there's something nasty in the grain containers. And it's not very happy....

Part one
Ace captains the Vancouver but, barely able to conceal her ignorance of what the job entails, tells the Doctor that she does not believe that she can maintain the ruse. The Doctor says, however, that the ship has almost reached its destination and that, if there is to be any trouble, it will happen soon. The ship loses contact with the Lilliput, a ship carrying grain, and Ace has Shepstay prepare a shuttle and boarding party so that they can investigate. The Doctor and Ace go one way whilst Lieutenant Baraki goes the other.

The Doctor and Ace find a freshly-served meal laid and investigate Baraki's report of detecting a running shower, but nobody is inside. The two groups reconvene on the bridge before going to the gym and finding Victor Espinosa using a rowing machine, apparently suffering from post-traumatic stress. Espinosa leads them to the armoury and starts shooting at them, asking to be left alone, until Ace shoots his gun from his hands. From the Vancouver, Yanikov reports that they have company and that Ace should return. On the Vancouver, Shepstay informs Ace of an approaching vessel.

The Lilliput is due to deliver five containers of grain and machinery to Safenesthome, but Espinosa came aboard with six containers. The Doctor and Baraki cut their way into the sixth container with a cutting torch and find it empty. The Doctor detects non-human proteins, however, and locates an old-fashioned safe which he cracks his way into. The door opens and Raine Creevy asks what took the Doctor so long.

Part two
to be added

Part three
to be added

Part four
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
 * Ace - Sophie Aldred
 * Raine Creevy - Beth Chalmers
 * Victor Espinosa - Paterson Joseph
 * Shepstay - Nadine Marshall
 * Yanikov - Basher Savage
 * Lt Baraki - Ingrid Oliver
 * The Metatraxi - John Banks
 * Grub - Alex Mallinson

Continuity

 * The Doctor, Ace and Raine previously encountered the Metatraxi in the Kafiristan in the Middle East in October 1989. (AUDIO: Crime of the Century)
 * Ace mentions that she almost became a cheetah on one occasion. (TV: Survival)
 * The Doctor mentions that he has previously encountered another sentient planet, namely Symbios during his sixth incarnation in 2010. (AUDIO: The Crimes of Thomas Brewster)
 * Ace is once again angered at being called small. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
 * Raine mentions that it's usually her that rescues the Doctor from a safe. (AUDIO: Crime of the Century)