A Genius for War (audio story)

 was the third story in the Once and Future audio series, produced by Big Finish Productions in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who.

It was written by Jonathan Morris and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Ken Bones as the General, Beth Chalmers as Veklin and Terry Molloy as Davros.

Publisher's summary
The Time War. The Doctor has been injured and brought to a Time Lord field hospital. His body glows with energy, but this is no regeneration into a future form – instead, the Doctor’s past faces begin to appear as he flits haphazardly between incarnations…

Staggering to his TARDIS, the Doctor sets out to solve the mystery of his ‘degeneration’. Who has done this to him? How? And why? From the Earth to the stars, across an array of familiar times and places, he follows clues to retrace his steps, encountering old friends and enemies along the way. Tumbling through his lives, the Doctor must stop his degeneration before he loses himself completely...

In the midst of the Time War, the Time Lords have received a communication from Falkus, the prison moon of Skaro. Its sole inmate, Davros, wishes to make them an offer. He will help them win the Time War… but only if the Doctor comes to his rescue.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
 * Davros - Terry Molloy
 * The General - Ken Bones
 * Veklin - Beth Chalmers
 * Aldan - Yasmin Mwanza
 * Bosco - Esmonde Cole
 * The Daleks / Dalek Supreme - Nicholas Briggs
 * The First Doctor - Stephen Noonan
 * The Second Doctor - Michael Troughton
 * The Third Doctor - Tim Treloar

Crew

 * Senior Producer - John Ainsworth
 * Cover Art - Lee Johnson
 * Director - Helen Goldwyn
 * Executive Producers - Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
 * Music and Sound Design - Howard Carter
 * Producer - David Richardson
 * Script Editor - Matt Fitton
 * Writer - Jonathan Morris
 * Daleks and Davros created by Terry Nation

Worldbuilding

 * Space Station Zenobia is used as a strategic base in the Time War, having been displaced from time prior to demolition.
 * The Time Lords used a time scoop to summon the Doctor.
 * Falkus is protected by a transduction barrier.
 * The Doctor identifies himself as “the Oncoming Storm”.
 * The General triggers the TARDIS’ Hostile Action Displacement System.
 * The TARDIS Cloister Bell tolls.
 * Davros returns to Skaro and finds the Lake of Mutations.
 * Davros mistakes Veklin at the Doctor's latest companion.
 * The Daleks continue to count by Rels.
 * The Doctor refers to change as "not a moment too soon."

Continuity

 * Davros was incarcerated on Falkus after being accused of treason by the Dalek Emperor. (AUDIO: Restoration of the Daleks)
 * The Doctor has heard the Kaled battle cry before. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks)
 * The Doctor asks if Davros remembers Napoleon. (AUDIO: The Curse of Davros)
 * Davros recalls his betrayal of the Kaleds to the Thals, (TV: Genesis of the Daleks) and leading Daleks against the Supreme. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks)
 * Davros notes the Time Lords’ attempt to use the Doctor to prevent the Daleks’ creation. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks) The General claims the event is now time locked and any attempt to meddle would unravel the causal nexus. (AUDIO: Shockwave) Davros also mentions the Daleks' own attempts to prevent the genesis of the Time Lords. (AUDIO: Effect and Cause)
 * The General recites the prophecy of the Hybrid. (TV: The Witch’s Familiar, Heaven Sent, Hell Bent)
 * The Kaled clones believe that Skaro is the only inhabited world in the universe. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks)
 * Davros refers to TARDISes as the "apotheosis" of the Time Lords' genius. (TV: Journey's End)
 * The Doctor disapproves of Zenobia's redecoration. (TV: The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors, The Day of the Doctor etc)
 * The General threatens to have the Doctor 'dematerialised.' (TV: The War Games)
 * The General vows to protect Gallifrey "For Gallifrey..." (TV: The End of Time)