Nestene Consciousness

"The people I represent...can never have too much plastic."

- Colonel Masters

The Nestene Consciousness is a disembodied life force which can inhabit plastic. It is the collective consciousness of the Nestene race. It is the creator of the Autons.

Appearance
The Nestene has no set appearance, actually being made out of pure psychic energy. In order to manipulate the universe, the Nestene Consciousness needs to possess plastic. (PDA: Synthespians™) This material form is generally a cephalopod-like form (DW: Spearhead from Space and Terror of the Autons); it can also manifest as a more liquid form, which has a humanoid face (DW: Rose).

It could be that the Nestene Consciousness is similar to validium, whereas they must be a sufficient quantity of Nestenes for them to be a Consciousness.

Creation
At the beginning of the universe, Shub-Niggurath came into this universe from the previous universe pregnant. She was able to deliver her child on Polymos, who infused into the entire planet. This Nestene Consciousness created Swarm Leaders, which it sent out to other planets. The Nestene have been invading planets for billions of years, which they use for sources of plastic and protein. They first send several plastic asteroids to the planet. These asteroids can telepathically control specially created plastics, but are more effective when combined together. The Nestene then tries control people to create Auton forces to help with the next waves of invaders. Some of the planets which the Nestene Consciousness took over include Cramodar and Plovak 6.‎ (PDA: Synthespians™)

Invasions of Earth
The Nestene's first attempted to invade the Earth in the 20th century, using human-looking Autons to replace key government figures, was thwarted by UNIT with the help of the Doctor. Despite this, one of the Nestene asteroids survived and was discovered by the Master. (DW: Spearhead from Space)

In the next attempt, the Nestenes also made use of more mundane objects, animating plastic toys, inflatable chairs and artificial flowers in addition to their Auton servants. The Doctor convinced the Master that the Nestenes were too dangerous to be reliable allies, and they reversed the radio beam the invasion force was coming in on, sending it back into space. (DW: Terror of the Autons)

The Doctor helped UNIT to defeat another Nestene invasion. This did not appear to tax him overly, as he found time to take dance lessons during a lull in the crisis. (ST: Teach Yourself Ballroom Dancing)



In 2005, the Nestenes infiltrated Earth once more, using warp shunt technology. The Nestenes had lost their food planets in the Time War, so their intent was to overthrow and destroy the human race, as Earth was ideal for their consumption needs, being filled with smoke, oil and various pollutants. The Doctor eventually defeated them by spilling a vial of anti-plastic solution into the vat of molten plastic which housed the main bulk of the Consciousness, causing it to explode. (DW: Rose)

In the 101st century, the Nestene Consciousness was attempting to completely leave Polymos after an invasion of the Time Lords. It chose the New Earth Republic and attempted to transport its entire body to Reef Station One with the help of Walter J. Matheson. It was stopped by the Doctor, who trapped it in the body of an advanced Auton. (DW: Synthespians™)