Dalek Prime

The Golden Emperor, also known as the Master Brain (COMIC: City of the Daleks) or the Golden Dalek (COMIC: The Dalek Trap, PROSE: The Outlaw Planet) was an early Emperor of the Dalek Empire.

Characteristics
The Golden Emperor was slightly shorter than the other Daleks, with a disproportionately large spheroid head section rendered in gold rather than grey. It also had three sense globes on each panel of its base unit unlike other Daleks. (COMIC: Invasion of the Daleks)

Origin
According to one source, the Daleks were originally a race of blue humanoid men. One of them, a scientist Yarvelling, created a "machine" as a weapon. After asteroids caused the eruption of neutronic weapons owned by the Daleks, those caught in the blast were mutated.

The only humanoid Dalek survivors of the war, Yarvelling and the warlord Zolfian, emerged from hiding and encountered the machine that Yarvelling had built being occupied by one of the mutants. As they died from radiation poisoning, the agreed to make more machine cases for the mutated Daleks. The original Dalek was built a new casing, made of Flidor gold, quartz and Arkellis flower sap. The first Dalek Emperor was now in command. (COMIC: Genesis of Evil)

Early empire
Speaking in the City Centre, the Emperor brought up the issue of metal fatigue slowing the space conquest programme when inventor Zeg announced that his metalert is the key, demanding that he be made the new Emperor on the basis of his greater strength. Outraged by Zeg's challenge, the Emperor summoned the Black Dalek Leader to test Zeg's claim of invincibility, finding that even his gunstick could destroy him. As popular support moved to Zeg, the Emperor put the matter to the Brain Machine, which declared that Zeg must prove his intelligence and the Emperor must prove his strength in a duel for leadership.

The following day, the Emperor and Zeg were to meet on the plain. When Zeg reached the acid river, the Emperor blasted away at the rock ledge beneath him. Zeg escaped unscathed and followed the Emperor's trail to the mercury geysers, where he fired on his rival only to hit an inflatable facsimile, the Emperor having deployed a ruse to get Zeg within range of a geyser diverted towards him. Unaffected by the mercury, Zeg pursued the Emperor into the abandoned Dalek workshops. When the Emperor doused Zeg in liquid oxygen from one of the tanks, the cold cut through and caused Zeg to explode. Returning to the city, the victorious Emperor promised the other Daleks that they would improve on Zeg's invention and take to the stars. (COMIC: Duel of the Daleks)

Following several prototypes, the Daleks succeeded in developing interstellar travel and constructed a space fleet. Leading the fleet, the Emperor commanded a Dalek saucer designated Proto-Leader. Via radio, the Emperor warned "all planets in all galaxies" that the Daleks were coming before seeing to the invasion of Alvega, the nearest planet to Skaro. Finding only plant life, the Daleks' audio meter hinted at the presence of intelligent live and so the Emperor had Scout Daleks clear a path through the grass in their search. Soon after, the Daleks found themselves under attack by intelligent plants known as the Amarylls, who were led by a Controller. When the Amarylls turned on the Emperor's fleet, the Emperor fled the planet, leading the main space fleet to other conflicts while entrusting four ships remaining to wipe out all life on Alvega. The Emperor was witness to the successful destruction of Alvega, announcing that whatever the Daleks could not conquer was to be destroyed. He then turned his attention to Solturis, a mineral rich world populated by humanoids. (COMIC: The Amaryll Challenge)

Landing on Solturis, the Emperor claimed to come in peace and gained the trust of the planet's ruler Redlin. Learning that the planet had a defensive weapon, the Penta Ray, the Emperor had a fake created and smuggled into the capital city as the Daleks made off with the real Penta Ray. Upon returning to their ship, however, it was found that the weapon required a missing key to operate it. The Daleks were approached by Geltis, a Solturian traitor who offered the key in exchange for being allowed to rule Solturis. Confident of victory, the Emperor left the planet to attend to other conquests while leaving two Dalek ships behind. Shortly after, the Emperor learnt that the Solturians had reclaimed the Penta Ray, which they used to destroy the Dalek forces. However, his attention was drawn away by a message calling him back to Skaro. (COMIC: The Penta Ray Factor)

The Emperor returned to Skaro, where he found that a radioactive cloud of rust was wreaking havoc upon the Daleks, eating away at their outer casings. Fear of this plague led to Daleks attacking each other while the Emperor determined that it was being carried inadvertently by the Black Dalek Leader. Though the Black Dalek intended to die, the Emperor deemed that his loss would be unacceptable and so had his casing reconstructed while the Daleks worked to cure the plague.

As the Daleks rebuilt from the rust plague, a Monstron spacecraft had landed on Skaro, (COMIC: Plague of Death) and the Emperor watched as Dalek hoverbout patrols fell victim to its defenses. The Monstrons then sent their Engibrain soldiers to attack the Dalek City, entombing it in liquid metal. The Emperor survived, saved from an electric eel by the Daleks' magnetiser. Using the eel's electricity, the Emperor intended to use an underground river to launch a surprise attack only to find the spacecraft had been destroyed. Nevertheless, the Emperor was conscious of threats from space. (COMIC: The Menace of the Monstrons)

A few months later, the Dalek City was rebuilt as the Emperor ordered that a space station be constructed as a base for the mining and exploration of the planet Oric. However, the Emperor found that Skaro Control Sky Seven had been attacked by the Interceptors of the robotic Mechonoids, resulting in the destruction of a Red Dalek Leader. Learning that the Mechonoids made use of hypnotic clouds to enslave Daleks, the Emperor used the thought patterns of an afflicted Dalek to create the image of a Mechonoid. Preparing for galactic war, the Emperor ordered the Daleks to construct new defenses and weapons while searching through space for the potentially useful inventions of other races. (COMIC: Eve of War)

As the Daleks searched space, the Emperor was on Skaro when the hidden planet Phryne was uncovered and conquered by the Daleks led by Searcher One Leader, who ordered it reported to the Emperor. (COMIC: The Archives of Phryne)

The Astrodalek detected the appearance of a new, rogue planet, named Skardal by the Emperor, who ordered it be tracked. Finding that its course had been diverted to Skaro, endangering the Daleks, the Emperor had the Daleader's fleet set out to stop it. Using magnetic meteorites, the Daleks sent Skardal on a course to Mechanus. (COMIC: The Rogue Planet) Skardal was pursued by a Dalek rocket, actually commandeered by an alien agent, which the Emperor ordered detonated only after entering Mechanus' orbit. However, the rocket's warhead was detatched and sent back to Skaro, where it was destroyed by defensive rockets. This resulted in the destruction of Skardal before it could strike Mechanus, thus preventing war between the Daleks and the Mechonoids. (COMIC: Impasse)

When the Terrorkons endangered the underwater rocket defense system, the Emperor ordered against detonating the rockets lest the City be damaged and poison since the Terrorkons themselves were a means of defense. Finding that a Terrorkon had acquired a Dalek rocket, the Emperor went with the Red Dalek through the ancestors' extractor pipes to destroy the Terrorkon. Finding that the rocket had been discarded and inadvertently activated, the Emperor had the Red Dalek disarm it, saving the City. The Daleks themselves were saved from the Terrorkon when it was attacked by an eel, with the Emperor ordering a search to find all potential dangers on Skaro. (COMIC: The Terrorkon Harvest)

During the exploration of Skaro, the Emperor learnt of the existence of preserved Humanoid Daleks when a Dalek admitted to killing one. He then ordered patrols to search for other survivors so that the Daleks may learn the secrets of their ancestors. However, a clash between the two remaining Humanoid Daleks, Lodian and Zet, resulted in both their deaths after their capture, their secrets lost to the Metal Daleks. (COMIC: Legacy of Yesteryear)

Whilst ordering the construction of a new road on the Lake of Mutations, the Emperor was questioned by a Dalek who did not make themselves known. Placing his subordinates under scrutiny, the Emperor found that a One in a Million Dalek sought to preserve the beauty of flowers, destroying machinery and Daleks themselves to that end. His position as Emperor challenged, the Golden Dalek confronted the One in a Million Dalek and his growing faction. Pointing out that the Dalek had neglected to preserve the dying flowers on his own outer casing, the Emperor saw that he was exterminated, dismissing beauty as a concept for human beings who were to be destroyed. (COMIC: Shadow of Humanity)

When the Jevon spaceship Guardian approached Skaro, the Emperor had the magnetrap bring it down to the planet. Kirid, the Jevon commander, revealed that they were headed to Arides to destroy the plants there before they could pollinate and endanger all life in the universe. Though the Daleks believed themselves immune, they were deceived into believing they were susceptible. When a Dalek was destroyed while examining the Jevon weapon, the Emperor led ships to destroy the Guardian, doing just as it completed its mission on Arides. The Emperor then declared all-out war on humanoids everywhere. (COMIC: The Emissaries of Jevo)

Detecting the approach of the spacecraft Starmaker, the Emperor ordered it bombarded with meteorites, forcing the ship to land on Skaro. His attention was to acquire prisoners to learn the location of their planet. While Starmaker was destroyed by the Daleks, three survivors were able to escape using a stolen Dalek transporter. However, they left behind a sheet of paper revealing the path to their planet, Earth, which the Emperor vowed to conquer. (COMIC: The Road to Conflict)

Aboard his Dalek Flagship, the Emperor led an invasion fleet into the solar system on a course to Earth. Engaging what appeared to be a fleet of organic spacecraft, actually the mediums of the telepathic Elders, the Dalek fleet was overpowered and forced to regroup before attacking a human colony on Titan, moon of Saturn. Capturing six human colonists, the Emperor had them conditioned to operate Dalek spacecraft in order to attack the mysterious aliens. However, the Elders saw through this plan and freed the humans of the influence of the Daleks who, induced to state of confusion, destroyed the majority of their own fleet. Spared the power of the Elders, the humiliated Emperor was forced to retreat. (COMIC: Return of the Elders)

25th century invasion
In 2400, the Emperor gave an address at the Great Council Chamber, ordering a Dalek invasion of the solar system. (COMIC: Invasion of the Daleks)

Residing in the Emperor's Quarters, the Emperor gave the order to switch on the revitalising rays. He was unaware that he was being observed by the human Jeff Stone, who was conducting espionage in the Dalek City. (COMIC: City of the Daleks)

Ultimately, the war ended with the Emperor being forced to sue for peace by Earth ambassadors. In a televised ceremony, the Emperor renounced the Dalek dream of conquest and promised that the Daleks would never leave Skaro again. (COMIC: Battle for the Moon)

27th century invasion
After two hundred years of peace, a mysterious Mechanical Planet came which threatened both Skaro and Earth. The Emperor landed on Earth and made an offer to eliminate the threat in exchange for the return of confiscated Dalek weaponary, which the humans grudgingly accepted. Ultimately, the Daleks destroyed the Mechanical Planet and, with their weapons and power restored, the Emperor vowed to conquer "all the planets in every sky." (COMIC: The Mechanical Planet)

Having given him a tour of the Dalek City, the Emperor personally interogated Irishman Pat Kelley, who had arrived on Skaro in the spaceship Emerald Isle. Believing him to be a spy, the Emperor ordered all the Dalek inventions and technology, which Kelley had praised, to be screened for flaws. Interpreting Kelley's advisement for the Daleks to grow out their five-leaf clovers as an attempt at sabotage, the Emperor had his ship refitted before sending Kelley back to Earth with the clovers, believing that it would bring Earth to ruin. Little did he realise however, Kelley had infact been playing an elaborate ruse to acquire the clovers all along. (PROSE: The Five-Leaf Clover)

When the Skaro water plant was sabotaged, the Emperor initially believed that human slaves were responsible. Soon after, however, the Daleks caught an alien spy whom the Emperor ordered to be brought to him. The spy proved to be scout for an army of Birdmen that invaded Skaro. Though the invaders were ultimately exterminated, the Emperor lamented that their ability of invisibility, a potential asset to the Daleks, was lost with them. (COMIC: The Invisible Invaders)

Later campaigns
The Emperor participated in a temporal attempt to invade Earth before it knew what hit it; the Emperor followed the main invasion force in his time machine to 2415. However, his machine was faulty and he instead landed in the middle of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. While he was lost in Time, his forces, clueless as to what to do without their leader, surrendered, aborting the invasion. Some time later, the invasion of Uranus was likewise a failure for lack of efficient command by the Emperor, whose casing's sonic guard had been damaged by the supersonic waves used by an Earth colony on an artificial satellite orbiting Uranus.

Originally, the Dalek Prime and the Black Dalek Leader officially held the offices of Dalek Emperor and Warlord, respectively, on the basis of an election. Every Skaro-year, all the Dalek Commanders would convene in the Dalek City and choose whether to reelect their two leaders.

On the Super-Skaro year, however, in the 40th century, (COMIC: The Brain Tappers ) the Commander of the Red Extra-Galactic Squadron protested when the Black Dalek began to announce that the Emperor was to be reelected once more. According to the Red Commander, his squadron, during its distant travels, had witness the disastrous effects of the Emperor's strategies against humankind, leading the Red Daleks to rule the Dalek Prime unfit for leadership.

Outraged, the Emperor ordered the entire Red Squadron exterminated at the nonexistent hands of the Black Dalek. However, this sent the Dalek Prime in an identity crisis which spanned several weeks of reclusion, at the end of which he emerged with the conclusion that the Red Daleks had been right after all, and he was not perfect. However, this did not mean he relinquished power; instead, he allowed the Dalek Scientists to take his casing apart and rebuild it from the ground up, integrating more cybernetics than before. In the meantime, the Daleks were ruled by the Brain Machine, to which the Emperor had transmitted all his knowledge.

When he returned, the fault with the Golden Emperor's memory cells had been found and the entire first half of his casing had been replaced, now containing a large, external, artificial organic main brain in addition to the actual brain of the Dalek mutant, and which was far more powerful than any computer. (COMIC: The Secret of the Emperor)

The paradoxical Empire
Some time after the Last Great Time War, the Tenth Doctor encountered a version of the Dalek Empire who had no recollection of participating in the War. He referred to the event as a "paradox" which had "brought back" the Emperor.

The resurrected Dalek Empire was once again under the command of the Golden Emperor, and soon faced attack from the Hond, an omnicidal species from the Dark Times who had been believed to be extinct. The Emperor ordered a squadron of Silver Daleks to track down the Doctor and bring him to Skaro, where the Emperor explained the basics of the situation to the Doctor and commanded him to save the Daleks. After the Doctor pressured him, the Emperor amended his statement into a request for aid, which the Doctor reluctantly accepted. The Emperor then sent the Dalek Prime Strategist to apprise the Doctor of the state of Skaro's defences, with the two taking a tour of the Dalek City before heading into the Vault of Obscenities.

During his interview with the Doctor, the Golden Emperor was now wearing a battle armour similar to, but distinct from, the casings he wore earlier in his timeline; its globe-like "dome" was significantly smaller than previous models' and had two large white Luminosity discharger instead of a wreath of red ones. (COMIC: Defender of the Daleks)

Realising the timeline was "diverging", the Emperor ordered that the situation be rectified and appointed the Time Squad to travel back to the Dark Times and do what they could to ensure the fluctuations in Time worked out to the Daleks' advantage. (PROSE: The Guide to the Dark Times)

Behind the scenes

 * The Dalek Prime as written by John Peel bears remarkable similarity to the Golden Emperor, both in its backstory as the first-ever Dalek in creation who helped his race grow and then became its first leader, and in its appearance as a Dalek with a large sphere in place of a dome on its casing. Although the Dalek Prime is sometimes construed as an alternative title for the Dalek Emperor, there has, however, been no formal link drawn between the Dalek Prime and the Golden Emperor.
 * The Golden Emperor features in the Dalek annuals of the late 1970s, mostly in the form of reprinted Dalek Chronicles and games. However, he does not appear in any of the original stories, the majority of which concern the Daleks' conflict with Earth's Anti-Dalek Force in an undisclosed time.
 * The Golden Emperor also appears in Deadline to Doomsday, a Doctor Who Magazine back-up comic and follow-up to Return of the Elders which was under production with Ron Turner, the artist of the original TV Century 21's The Dalek Chronicles, when the artist passed away. The first two pages, with no text or header art, was printed in the end of Doctor Who Magazine 276 among an article remembering Turner. Years later, the comic was completed and printed in the fan magazine Vworp Vworp! 's third issue.