The Sontaran Project (audio story)

 was the third story in the audio anthology, Encounters, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Andrew Smith and featured Jemma Redgrave as Kate Stewart, Ingrid Oliver as Petronella Osgood and Ramon Tikaram as Vikram Shindi.

Publisher's summary
On a routine reconnaissance mission, Colonel Shindi finds more than he bargains for in the Forest of Ardennes. Back in England, an old colleague makes Osgood an offer she cannot refuse. The chance to take part in an exciting new scientific advance. Before long, UNIT is on collision course with a force of alien clones, and Kate must forge an unlikely alliance.

Plot
A Sontaran escapes from his confinement and is cornered by Professor John Torrance and Christine Colley. He refuses to return with them and, deemed too resistant, Torrance executes him. Christine decides that it is time to go ahead with Torrance's suggestion and bring in his former colleague and protégée, Petronella Osgood.

With Sam still missing and Shindi being in Brussels, Kate asks the Colonel to visit the Ardennes Forest following reports of lights in the sky almost three months ago. He finds residual ionising radiation, indicating the presence of alien technology, and lets her know by hologram projector before going in search of its source. Meanwhile, Kate is informed that Madley Tracking Station has detected a spacecraft heading for the Ardennes Forest and has UNIT Brussels to get a team to the area.

Osgood is at the New Science Conference as UNIT's delegate and is approached by Torrance, who tells her about his work in gene cloning and invites her to his facility. He introduces her to Christine and Max, a cloned monkey, before showing her the body of a Sontaran. Osgood examines him and, realising that it is a clone that Torrance and Christine have made, she tries to leave. Torrance holds her at gunpoint and shows her the faulty Sontaran clones growing in amniotic fluid, telling her that she will help them create viable ones before sedating her.

Appearing to Shindi via the projector, Kate helps him uncover a Sontaran scout ship sending out a distress call. Marshal Skar of the Eighth Sontaran Battle Fleet arrives and, after recovering Commander Merx's biotracker, sets the ship to self-destruct. The explosion damages the hologram projector and Kate tries to contact Shindi, but he is unconscious and taken away by the Sontarans into low orbit. Skar tortures him for information on Merx's whereabouts before accepting that he has no knowledge of him. He shows Vindi where Merx has been located: the Ardennes, Brussels, Leipzig, Vienna and near Sevenoaks in Kent.

to be completed

Cast

 * Kate Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
 * Osgood - Ingrid Oliver
 * Colonel Shindi - Ramon Tikaram
 * Marshal Skar / Commander Merx / Sontaran Escapee - Dan Starkey
 * Professor John Torrance - James Wilby
 * Christine Colley - Beth Goddard
 * Overseer - Matthew Cottle
 * Aide / Soldier - Jot Davies

Continuity

 * Sam is still missing. (AUDIO: The Dalek Transaction, Invocation)
 * Kate recalls the Sontarans' recent attempt to turn Earth into a Sontaran breeding planet through alteration of its atmosphere. (TV: The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky)
 * The Auctioneers operate a black market dealing in alien material on Earth. (AUDIO: The Dalek Transaction)
 * Malcolm has had all UNIT personnel immunised against the effects of known extraterrestrial pathogens and narcotics, like the Veralium truth serum. (TV: Planet of the Dead)