Exotron (audio story)

 was the three-part story comprising part of the ninety-fifth release in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Paul Sutton and featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.

Released in 2007, it was the the second audio story that featured the Fifth Doctor and Peri Brown without Erimem. The first, Red Dawn, had been published seven years earlier in the year 2000.

Publisher's summary
Exotron (A Three-Part Story)

"The Farakosh attack us — and my Exotrons defend us."

On a distant colonial outpost of Earth, a group of terraformers is under threat from the planet's most fearsome predator: the giant carnivorous Farakosh. All that stands between the colonists and a grisly death are the Exotrons — huge robots equipped with devastating firepower, designed by the outpost's leader, Major Taylor.

But all is not as it seems. How are the Exotrons controlled, and where did the colonists find the resources to build them? The Doctor wants answers and Taylor is reluctant to provide them.

Meanwhile, outside the compound, the Farakosh are massing...

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Davison
 * Peri Brown - Nicola Bryant
 * Hector Taylor - John Duttine
 * Paula Taylor - Isla Blair
 * Sergeant Shreeni / Secretary of the Interior Ballentyne - Nick Brimble
 * Corporal Mozz / Christian Liptoye - Richard Earl
 * Weiss / Kucha / Computer - Claire Wyatt

The Doctor

 * The Doctor has studied Greek and knows the language.
 * The Doctor is prepared to sacrifice himself, noting that the TARDIS will look after Peri.

Individuals

 * Paula is the former wife of Major Hector Taylor.
 * Taylor's co-conspirator in the Exotron project is Secretary of the Interior Ballentyne, whose office is in Brussels, Belgium.
 * Paula had an affair with a lieutenant named Christian, which led to the deterioration of her marriage. He was killed by a Farakosh six months earlier.

Species

 * The Farakosh are a hyena-like species that have a natural telepathic field.

Technology

 * If the TARDIS is not too far away, the Doctor can link with the telepathic circuits.
 * The Exotrons are robots that serve as shells for dead soldiers.
 * Whenever they're activated, it causes the Farakosh pain as the Exotron Net disrupts their natural telepathic field. The Net itself is a single consciousness.
 * Taylor controls the Exotrons via a cerebral link interface with intravenous implants.

Psychic abilities

 * Telepathy can not only allow two minds to communicate, but with enough telepathic energy the stronger mind can actually control the weaker mind.
 * The planet is immersed in telepathic fields, allowing some individuals to hear the thoughts of others.

Government organisations

 * The terraformers answer to the Earth Authority.

Plants

 * Peri studies the xerophytes on the unnamed Earth colony and collects several samples to bring back to the TARDIS.

Continuity

 * Peri uses her botany skills to analyse the plants on the colony. (TV: The Mark of the Rani, Timelash)