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• The Dalek Chronicles
  • Introduction
  • Genesis of Evil
  • Power Play
  • Duel of the Daleks
  • The Amaryll Challenge
  • The Pentaray Factor
  • Plague of Death
  • The Menace of the Monstrons
  • Eve of the War
  • The Archives of Phryne
  • Rogue Planet
  • Impasse
  • The Terrorkon Harvest
  • Legacy of Yesteryear
  • Shadow of Humanity
  • The Emissaries of Jevo
  • Road to Conflict
  • Return of the Elders
  • Deadline to Doomsday
• Other Dalek Chronicles Web sites
  • Altered Vistas
  • The Dalek Chronicles

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The Daleks stray into Mechanoid space. The Mechanoids retaliate, melting the Dalek spaceship and declaring war on the Dalek race.

Art by Richard Jennings/Ron Turner

Part One

The Daleks rebuild their city and increase their defences. They are also in the process of building a refuelling satellite to allow them to reach the planet Oric. However, aboard the satellite, a Dalek becomes possessed by a strange space cloud, which makes it believe its comrades are enemies.

Part Two

The possessed Dalek is eventually captured and taken before the Red Dalek. However, he does not order it destroyed as he has detected alien messages from nearby. Their enemy is the Mechanoids!

From near to the story’s conclusion, the Emperor finally learns what a Mechanoid looks like. This makes him about as happy as Terry Nation was when he found out the same thing. CGI render from Altered Vistas production of The Eve of the War. 

Part Three

The Daleks realise that the source of their problem is the strange cloud in space and use their jets to clear it. Hiding inside is a Mechanoid spaceship. The Menoid orders the Mechanoids to retreat, but the Daleks blast the ship from the skies.

Part Four

The Mechanoids retaliate and send two ships to melt the Dalek saucer. They warn the Emperor to keep out of Mechanoid space. Soon they will come to Skaro and destroy all Daleks.

Illustration from the original Dalek Chronicles

Part Five

The Emperor orders the return of all Daleks and, using substance particles on the Dalek infected by the strange cloud, reveals the Mechanoids to the Dalek race. Now is the time to prepare for war. They must search the skies for weapons. They must defeat the Mechanoids.

• This story was originally published in issues 47-51 of TV Century 21.
• This is Richard Jennings’ last involvement with the strip.
• The Mechanoids had previously encountered the Daleks in the TV story The Chase.
• The Mechanoid leader, the Mechon, makes his one and only appearance in the strip.
• From this strip onwards, the Daleks are clearly based on those seen in the feature film Doctor Who and the Daleks.
• This strip is also known by the title The Daleks in A Fresh Start (The Amazing World of Doctor Who 1976).
• Altered Vistas CGI adaptation of Eve of the War was released in April 2006 and is available from their site: www.alteredvistas.co.uk.