TW: Glad you enjoyed it. Well, I'll try not to disappoint.
In the Cabinet War Rooms, various British officials are at work as sirens blare outside. Winston Churchill enters the room and is promptly informed that the enemy's planes are out of range. Normally, one of the officials states.
"What do they mean by normally?" Donna asked wearily as Jack narrowed his eyes.
"With the Daleks involved, I almost don't want to know," Jack mused.
"How bad is this?" Martha asked Jane uneasily.
"About as bad as you expect," Jane admitted.
"Bloody brilliant," Mickey said sarcastically.
Churchill demands they 'roll out the secret weapon'. One of the officials places a miniature Dalek figurine on the map.
"So the Daleks are now the secret weapons of the Allies during World War 2. What kind of sick, twisted world are we living in?" Martha bemoaned.
"Is it at all possible that this 'secret weapon' merely looks like the Daleks?" Wilf wondered.
"With early twentieth century technology? Unlikely. Besides, Torchwood has extensive files on The Doctor and all his enemies, including the Daleks. I spent a long time waiting for The Doctor, going over them. I'd know," Jack said firmly.
"So how do the Daleks end up as the secret weapons of Winston Churchill?" Mickey wondered.
"Only one way to find out," Donna said as they continued to watch.
In another part of the base, the TARDIS materializes. In his office, Churchill is doing paperwork when a beep goes off and he smiles. The Doctor exits the TARDIS to find himself face to face with various British soldiers, all aiming guns at him.
"Why does this always end up happening to him?" Martha asked, torn between amusement and exasperation.
"It's Boss. You honestly expect it at this point," Mickey pointed out and Martha nodded, conceding his point.
"Besides, he's The Doctor. It's almost part of the job description," Jack added.
The British Soldiers step aside to reveal Churchill. The Doctor introduces him to Amy as she steps out, now dressed in regular clothes.
"Well at least she's finally out of that nightie," Donna said in relief.
"On the other hand, seeing her meet Winston Churchill in a nightie would have been a sight," Jack said with an amused grin.
Churchill is shocked by The Doctor's new face and The Doctor greets him happily, seeming to hand Churchill something before laughing that Churchill falls for it every time. The Doctor explains Churchill wants the key to the TARDIS. Churchill points out all the good he could do with the TARDIS and The Doctor reminds him that's not how it works. Churchill jokes about taking it by force and The Doctor says he'd like to see him try. Churchill tells his men to stand down.
"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Humans were never meant to have that kind of technology," Jack said grimly. "Not even Winston Churchill."
"Perhaps it's for the best. Can you imagine if the TARDIS ever fell into the wrong hands?" Wilf asked and Jack and Martha exchanged a dark look.
"I don't have to," Martha said vaguely as she and Jack remembered what The Master had done with the TARDIS.
Churchill leads The Doctor and Amy through the base, noting The Doctor has changed his face once more. Amy geeks out over being in the Secret Cabinet War Rooms as Churchill reveals they're late. As he's asked to sign a requisition, Churchill says he called The Doctor a month ago.
"Would it kill you to be on time for once Spaceman?" Donna asked in exasperation.
"If he was, I think the universe might implode on itself," Jack joked.
"Hey now. He's always been there when we need him," Martha argued, remembering how The Doctor had come when she called him during the Sontaran invasion.
"Yeah, but not as much as we'd like," Mickey pointed out and Martha had to silently agree with her husband.
The Doctor apologizes, saying he's 'running in' the new TARDIS. Churchill gives the signed requisition to an official, who he calls Breen. Churchill notes she looks down in the dumps. She assures him she's fine. "Action this day Breen! Action this day!" Churchill declares.
"He is even more than the history books say he is," Donna noted, already liking Churchill.
"I met him once," Jack mentioned and everyone turned to him in surprise. "On assignment for Torchwood. I doubt he even knew who I was. But still, I was treated more decently than most British officials would have treated an unknown American at the time."
"So did I," Jane noted. "Back when I was still going by Jenny. It barely phased him when Dad told him who I was. Not a whole lot of historical figures live up to the legend. Winston Churchill is one of them."
Breen exchanges a smile with Amy before walking off. Another official walks up to Churchill, informing him that a squadron of enemy planes was approaching. Churchill encourages The Doctor to come along, claiming he has something to show him.
"I don't think that's going to go the way he thinks," Martha said wearily.
"Trouble is will Churchill listen? He's at war and the Daleks might seem the solution to stopping the Nazis," Mickey pointed out, remembering his battles against the Cybermen. "I know what I would do in his position."
"Well, he clearly trusts The Doctor. Hopefully he will listen to reason," Wilf said optimistically.
The Doctor and Amy follow Churchill into a lift. He smokes a cigar before speaking. "We stand at a crossroads Doctor, quite alone, with our backs against the wall. Invasion is expected daily. So I will grasp with both hands at anything that will give us an advantage over the Nazi menace," Churchill declares. The Doctor asks what that meant as the lift stops. Churchill leads The Doctor and Amy outside to the roof. A man wearing a helmet is looking up into the sky with binoculars. Churchill introduces the man as Professor Edwin Bracewell, head of the Ironsides project. Edwin greets them politely before returning to the binoculars. Edwin sees the squadron of enemy fighters approaching through the binoculars as Amy looks on in a bit of awe and horror at the war balloons. Its history, The Doctor tells her.
"It certainly is," Jack said with a faraway look in his eyes, remembering that time period.
"War is Hell," Mickey said darkly, remembering the battles against the Cybermen and no one disagreed.
"Truer words have never been spoken," Jane said grimly.
On Edwin's order, The Doctor and Amy watch in a bit of shock as several beams shoot into the sky, taking out the Nazi forces. The Doctor is in shock, knowing that human technology is not that advanced. Horror dawns as The Doctor as he realizes the truth, running up to Edwin and demanding he show him what that was. Churchill introduces their new secret weapon as a Dalek, with the British Flag stamped on its domed head, rolls into view.
"My word," Wilf muttered as they all stared at the screen.
No one spoke, having similar feelings as Wilf. Seeing a Dalek with the British Flag on it, it was hard for all of them to see.
"And here we go," Jack muttered to himself.
Horrified, The Doctor demands to know what the Dalek is doing there but the Dalek says it is his soldier. The Doctor notes the Daleks always know who he is but the Dalek claims his identity is unknown.
"Like we believe that," Mickey scoffed.
"I doubt he will either. But The Doctor isn't the problem. It's Churchill and all the British soldiers who think the Daleks will help them win the war," Jack pointed out.
"The Spaceman will have a bloody hard time convincing them the Daleks are a threat," Donna noted with a groan.
"If anyone can do it, its him," Martha said, trying to be optimistic.
Edwin explains the Dalek is one of his Ironsides before asking the Dalek if its aim was to win the war and squash the Germans, both of which the Dalek answers yes to. Edwin then asks what its ultimate goal is. "To win the war," it declares as The Doctor gives it a dark look.
"And that's not suspicious," Mickey said sarcastically.
"It's a Dalek. Do you need to know more?" Martha asked and Mickey shrugged.
In Churchill's office, The Doctor argues with Churchill, explaining who the Daleks are but Churchill shows him blueprints that Edwin had presented months earlier. Amy points out Edwin is a 'Scottish genius' before being shushed by The Doctor. The Doctor explains Edwin didn't invent the Daleks, as they are aliens.
"When he puts it like that, it is kind of hard to believe," Martha noted.
"He's friends with a time traveling alien, but this Churchill has a hard time with?" Mickey asked incredulously.
"Were any of us any different at first?" Jack pointed out and Mickey grumbled but couldn't disagree.
The Doctor pauses as a Dalek rolls by, waiting until it has gone on its way before adding they are hostile. But Churchill wants to use them to win the war. Churchill walks down the hall with The Doctor and Amy following him, The Doctor pleading for Churchill to listen to him. Churchill admits he had his doubts when he first called The Doctor but asks The Doctor to imagine what he could do with a thousand of the Daleks. But he is, The Doctors said grimly as they passed a Dalek, The Doctor giving it a dark look.
"He's getting emotional," Donna said uneasily.
"Can you really blame him? You know his history with the Daleks," Martha pointed out.
"And you know what he's like when he gets emotional," Donna shot back. "He loses his ability to listen to reason and does stupid, reckless things. And he can't do that here, with the Daleks posing as the secret weapon of the Allies in World War Two."
"Wish I could say you were wrong, but you always did have an uncanny ability to see right through Dad," Jane said with a grimace.
As Churchill heads into war room, The Doctor pleads with Amy to tell Churchill about the Daleks. But, to his shock, Amy claims to have no knowledge of the Dalek's invasion of earth.
"What? How can she not know about the Daleks?" Jack asked in complete disbelief as the past viewers stared at the screen in shock.
"I didn't remember anything and I knew about the Daleks. It was just stories but I still knew about them," Donna said in surprise.
"This doesn't make sense," Martha said, her mind whirling.
"I know it's confusing, but it'll make sense in a few more recordings," Jane promised.
"It has to do with that crack in her wall, doesn't it?" Jack asked after giving it some thought.
"Spoilers," Jane said with a slight grin.
Donna frowned, wondering what seemed so familiar when the recording continued.
As they enter the war room, The Doctor notes the Daleks are after something. To his alarm, Amy walks up to a Dalek, taping it on the dome. It turns to her and asks if it can be of assistance. Amy asks if it's an alien but it merely responds that it is Amy's soldier before wheeling off.
"Did she really think that would work?" Mickey asked, not sure whether to be amused or annoyed.
"She probably thinks The Doctor is overreacting," Jack pointed and Mickey shrugged.
"Well, she's doing better than Rose was her first encounter with a Dalek," Jane shrugged. "Now that's a story."
The Doctor approaches Churchill once more, pleading with him to listen, but Churchill explains the stakes and pressure he is under, families torn apart, men women and children slaughtered as they barely shave off the enemy. The Doctor reasons Churchill is a beacon of hope for the world but Churchill points out millions of lives will be saved if he uses the Daleks.
"He's between a rock and a hard place. And of course the Daleks are taking advantage," Martha said in disgust.
"It's what they do," Jack said darkly. "Let's just hope he sees reason before it's too late."
The Doctor explains about the Daleks as one asks if it can be of assistance. The Doctor shushes it, telling Churchill they are his oldest and deadliest enemies and that he cannot trust them. "If Hitler invaded Hell tomorrow, I would give a favorable reference to the Devil," Churchill declares.
"I wouldn't count on it," Donna said to Jack.
"I can hardly blame him for his desperation but the Daleks are not the answer," Wilf said sadly.
Churchill declares the Daleks are their salvation as sirens blare, signaling they are safe at the moment. Churchill walks off and The Doctor watches as a Dalek follows him. Amy walks up to him, asking if he's alright. He asks her what hate looks like, confusing her. "Hate looks like a Dalek," The Doctor said as he watched one from the corner. "And I'm going to prove it." The Doctor then walks off and Amy quickly follows after him.
"He's going to do something reckless, isn't he?" Donna asked Jane.
"You know him better than almost anyone. What do you think?" Jane asked dryly and Donna groaned.
In his lab, a Dalek offers Edwin some tea as The Doctor and Amy enter the room. The Doctor begins a casual conversation about the Daleks as Amy and Edwin compare notes on their Scottish heritage. Edwin begins to show The Doctor and Amy some of his notes on his other ideas. The Doctor asks Edwin if these are his ideas or the Daleks and Edwin assures him he has complete control of the Daleks. The Doctor warns Edwin that the Daleks cannot be trusted. "Call them whatever you like, Daleks are death," The Doctor said darkly. Churchill agrees as he enters the room, declaring they are death to the Nazis. And to everyone else The Doctor counters. A Dalek approaches him with some tea and The Doctor angrily smashes the cup, demanding to know what it wants.
"Oh Bloody Hell. He's losing it," Martha moaned as she put a hand to her face.
"This will not help his case," Jack said with a heavy sigh.
"You have no idea," Jane said darkly.
"Control your emotions Spaceman," Donna pleaded although she knew it was hopeless.
To help him it says. The Doctor asks what and it says to win the war. The Doctor clarifies which war, against the Nazis or the Dalek's war against the universe. It claims to not understand and The Doctor picks up a steel pipe, demanding it defend itself as he begins striking it, to the shock of everyone in the room.
"My word," Wilf asked as he stared at the screen in shock.
"Oh Spaceman," Donna said as she put a hand to her face.
"He's making it worse for himself," Jack noted.
"No, he's just making himself look mad," Martha sassed.
Edwin and Churchill protest but The Doctor ignores them as he continues to strike it, demanding it kill him.
"How the bloody Hell is that going to help?!" Mickey exclaimed in disbelief.
"He's trying to get the Daleks to expose themselves. By whatever means necessary," Jane said darkly.
"And him getting himself killed helps who exactly?" Donna asked angrily.
"Like you said, Dad loses his ability to listen to reason when he gets emotional like this," Jane pointed out.
Amy rushes to The Doctor, trying to reason with him as The Daleks says it is his soldier. "You. Are. My. Enemy!" The Doctor roared as he continued to strike it. "And I am yours! You are everything I despise. The worst thing in all creation. I've defeated you. Time and time again I've defeated you. I sent you back into the void. I saved the whole of reality from you. I am The Doctor! And you are the Daleks!" The Doctor kicked the Dalek and it was sent sliding back, hitting a car before stopping. "Correct," it said as it began to move back towards him.
"Uh oh," Jack said as they all tensed.
"Something tells me they just got what they wanted," Martha said uneasily.
The Dalek says it is reviewing testimony as a recording of The Doctor announcing his identity is heard. The Doctor demands to know what it is talking about as another claims to be transmitting the testimony.
"Testimony, what is this about testimony?" Wilf asked confused.
"Not entirely sure yet, but it can't be good," Jack said darkly.
In a ship orbiting earth's moon, another Dalek receives the 'testimony' of The Doctor, declaring 'Testimony accepted'. In the War Cabinets, the Daleks echo this as The Doctor demands they all step back. Churchill calls for his men but the Daleks fire, easily killing them as they arrive.
Wilf looked gutted upon seeing this. As a fellow solider, seeing these men gunned down by the Daleks was heartbreaking to him. Donna placed a hand on his shoulder although she looked just as upset by this. Jack, Martha and Mickey, although more used to things like this, were similarly affected.
"Daleks," Jack growled as though it were a curse of the vilest nature.
"Daleks," Jane agreed tiredly.
Edwin demands the Daleks stop as he created them. But a Dalek shoots a beam at his hand, destroying it and reveal circuits.
"Bloody Hell, he's a cyborg!" Mickey exclaimed as they all started in surprise.
"Makes sense now. The Daleks created him, then planted him in Churchill's inner circle so he could 'create' the Daleks," Jack put it together.
"We still don't know why though," Martha pointed out.
"I think we're about to find out," Donna muttered as the recording continued.
The Daleks had created him, it reveals before all the Daleks teleport away chanting 'victory'. Amy asks what just happened as The Doctor realizes he was their plan all along. The Doctor rushes out of the room as, on the Dalek ship, the three Daleks stand before another, clearly the leader, as it declares it is time to commence phase two as the Progenitor is activated.
"So that's phase two. What's this Progenitor though?" Martha wondered.
"Not sure. But it can't be anything good," Donna mused.
The Doctor rushes to the TARDIS, Amy right behind him as he explains that the Daleks wanted his testimony. Amy points out he was right before asking if they chase after them now, if that's what they do. The Doctor tells her to stay here, as its too dangerous. Amy is in disbelief that he considers the London Blitz safe.
"It's safe when you consider the Daleks in the area," Jack said dryly.
"To someone new to this, it does look pretty insane," Martha noted.
Churchill enters the room as The Doctor heads into the TARDIS. They watch it vanish before Amy asks what he expects them to do. Churchill says KBO: Keep Buggering On.
"All we really can do," Jack said as Donna and Martha laughed.
"I like this guy," Mickey said with a smile.
"So do I. He's a good man," Jane said wistfully.
In the TARDIS, The Doctor uses the scanners to determine the location of the Dalek's ship. Back at the War Cabinets, Churchill is alerted by Breen that RDF has located an UFO hanging in the sky. Churchill and Amy realize that's where The Doctor will be. On the roof, a solider is looking through his binoculars when he hears a noise behind him. Looking over his shoulder to see a light on, the soldier orders whoever it is to put the light out and the light goes out.
"That's suspicious," Jack noted with his eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?" Mickey asked in confusion.
"He means that this thing is structured like a show on the telly," Donna said, sharing Jack's thoughts. "Everything we're seeing is significant. So why show us something so ordinary?"
"Unless it's important," Martha caught on. "But why?"
"You'll see in a few minutes," Jane said simply but didn't elaborate.
On the Dalek ship, the Dalek leader orders all power be diverted to the Progenitor as the TARDIS materializes behind them. The Daleks turn their heads to see The Doctor walk into the room. They prepare to kill him when he pulls out a device he claims will cause the TARDIS to self-destruct.
"That's a jammie dodger," Mickey said blankly.
"Of course it is. Do you really think Dad would ever blow up the TARDIS?" Jane asked with a laugh.
"He'd rather cut off his own arm," Martha agreed with a smile.
"He's trying to buy time to figure out their plan and how to stop it," Donna realized.
They do not believe him and one prepares to scan it but he threatens to activate it if they try. Uneasily, the Daleks give into his demand. The Doctor notes the ship looks worn down and remembers the last time they met they should have been wiped out. The Daleks reveal one of their ships survived his clone's attempt to kill them. And so they fell back into time The Doctor notes. They disagree, revealing they picked up a trace of the Progenitor.
"So these are the Daleks the other Doctor tried to kill," Donna noted.
"Other Doctor?" Wilf inquired.
"When I received Time Lord DNA, there a two way transfer, my DNA went into the Doctor's severed hand –long story – and it created a duplicate of him, one that was half Doctor, half me," Donna explained. "He's in the other world with Rose and her family."
"I'm more interested in the Progenitor. What is it and why do the Daleks want it so much?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"It's nothing good," Jane said simply, to the surprise of no one.
The Doctor asks about the Progenitor and they claim it is 'our past and our future', as it contains pure Dalek DNA. Thousands were created, but this was the only one to survive their last encounter. The Doctor is confused about why they needed Edwin and they claim it was 'necessary'. The Doctor then laughs as he realizes the truth: the Progenitor wouldn't recognize them as Daleks, so they needed him to identify them as such, which is why they went through all the trouble of pretending they weren't.
"It makes sense. They mutated so much during the Time War and then with Davros, there's hardly any original Dalek DNA left," Donna mused.
"And they must have known The Doctor and Churchill were friends, so they knew Churchill would call The Doctor and he would identify them as Daleks," Jack realized.
"As far as plans go, it is rather brilliant," Martha admitted begrudgingly.
"The Daleks are monsters, but they're not stupid," Mickey muttered.
One of the Daleks plugged their eye into an outlet on the ship and The Doctor demands to know what they're doing. They demand he leave or London will burn.
"So here's the part whether they either force him to leave or let people die. Straight out of the Dalek handbook," Jack said darkly.
"Do we expect anything less from them?" Martha asked bitingly.
The Doctor calls out the ship as a wreck, arguing they don't have the power to destroy London. "Watch as the humans destroy themselves," the Dalek says. On the underside of the shit, a satellite like attachment emerges and a blue beam heads towards earth. At the War Cabinets, the soldier from earlier watches in shock as all across London, lights come on. Inside, Churchill is informed they can't switch off the generators as Amy realizes it's the Daleks. Churchill realizes the Germans can see them now.
"So that's their plan, expose Churchill during the London Blitz," Jack said in horror.
"My God, if Winston Churchill dies in the London Blitz…" Wilf trailed off but the implications were clear.
"History would change forever. The Nazis may end up winning the war," Martha said horrified.
"Which is why they did this. They know Boss won't let that happen," Mickey said grimly.
Churchill orders they get the lights out before being informed that the Germans are ten minutes out. Churchill prepares for a meeting in the War Room as Amy pleads with him to take the fight to the Daleks. Churchill argues they have no weapons to use against them until Amy realizes they have a gift from the Daleks.
"Huh?" Mickey asked as most of them looked confused until Donna's eyes lit up in realization.
"Oh she is good," Donna said with a smile.
"You know what she's talking about?" Martha asked.
"Their plan is going to backfire on them," Donna said with a beaming smile but didn't elaborate.
"Of course you'd figure it out," Jane with a laugh, to the confusion of the others.
On the ship, The Doctor demands the Daleks turn the lights back off or he'll activate the TARDIS' self-destruct. The Daleks demand he leave and they will turn the lights back off, not buying his threat. The Doctor asks if this was their plan, they just leave. The Daleks explain they will return to their own time and start over.
"The Daleks would come back. They'd be free to rain down death and destruction through the galaxy wherever they go," Donna said in horror.
"And come after The Doctor as well," Martha said uneasily. "Think of the things they'd do just to get to him."
"So The Doctor has to choose between letting the Nazis win the war or letting the Daleks go. Either way, he lets one threat grow more powerful, unchecked," Jack said as he realized the position the Daleks had put The Doctor in. "They've really thought this through."
Suddenly, there was a whooshing noise as the Progenitor stops. The Doctor turns as the Daleks declare DNA reconstruction has been completed. The doors to the Progenitor as a new kind of Dalek emerges, which the Dalek decree is a 'new kind of Dalek paradigm'. The Doctor watches in horror as four more join it. "Behold the resurrection of the Daleks! The resurrection of the master race!" One of the Daleks declares to the horrified Doctor.
"Bloody Hell. A new kind of Dalek," Mickey whispered as they all stared at the screen in horror.
"And I'm sure it's even more dangerous than those we've encountered before," Jack said darkly.
In the War Cabinet, Edwin is holding a gun, intending on killing himself when Amy and Churchill enter the room. Amy tells him they need his help but Edwin is struggling to grasp his situation, as he remembers the last World War.
"Poor Edwin," Wilf said, his sympathy going out to him.
"He never asked for this, and now his whole life has turned out to be a lie," Jack said, sympathizing with Edwin as well.
He desperately asks what he is and Churchill tells him he's either on their side or the Daleks. Churchill doesn't care if he's a machine, asking him if he's a man.
"Oi! Give him some time to process his whole life has been a lie!" Donna said angrily.
"It doesn't seem like they have the time. You said it yourself, the Daleks' plan is going to backfire on them. Whether he likes it or not, Edwin is the secret weapon against the Daleks," Jack pointed out, having realized this is what Amy meant.
Amy gently pries the gun from Edwin, telling him she understands. But thousands of people may die tonight if they don't stop the Daleks and Edwin is the only one who can do it. He's alien technology, as smart as the Daleks. Amy begins spit-balling ideas, first a rocket and then a missile. Churchill at first dismisses this then ponders a missile. Churchill asks Edwin if they can send something into space and Edwin hands him his notes on the gravity bubble, which would theoretically allow them to send a missile into space.
"A space missiles. It's so crazy it just might work," Martha said with a grin.
"Dad would approve," Jane said with a tight smile.
"So why don't you seem very happy about it?" Jack noted and she grimaced.
"Just watch."
Churchill tells Edwin to start 'thinking big' as he hands him the file. On the Dalek ship, the original Daleks are worshiping the new ones, who note they are superior. The old Daleks agree before the new Daleks use their lasers to disintegrate the old ones, to The Doctor's shock. "Blimey. What do you do to the ones that mess up?" The Doctor wonders.
"Bloody Hell," Wilf exclaimed in shock. "They're no better than the Nazis."
"Killing anything that they see as 'impure'. I'd say that's an accurate comparison Wilf," Jack said darkly.
The new Daleks declare The Doctor must be exterminated. "Don't mess with me, sweetheart," The Doctor warns them as he holds out his supposed self-destruction device. At the War Cabinets, the building is shaking as the Germans attack. Edwin enters the War Room, wheeling in a machine that resembles the TARDIS scanner as he wears headphones. He explains to Amy and Churchill this will pick up transmissions, tapping it to get it to work. The device shows The Doctor on the Dalek ship, facing one of the new Daleks.
"For technology from the early forties, this is impressive," Jack said impressed.
"With the right knowledge, you can make technology out of almost anything," Donna said certainly.
The Dalek introduces the new Daleks: Scientist, Strategist, Drone and Eternal, with the leader declaring himself the Supreme. As The Doctor sarcastically mocks Supreme, Amy notes uneasily they need to hurry. Edwin receives a call and gives the green light to Churchill. Once Edwin gives them the coordinates of the Dalek ship, Churchill orders Group Captain to order the strike and Group Captain makes a call to 'Danny Boy'.
"Well here we go then. Let's just hope Boss has a plan, because I don't think the Daleks are just going to let them fire at the ship," Mickey noted uneasily.
"It's The Doctor. I'm sure he'll come up with something," Martha said confidently, not noting Jane's grimace.
On the ship, The Doctor threatens to blow up the TARDIS if they don't shut off the Progenitor. Supreme notes that it would kill him as well, which The Doctor calls an occupational hazard. However, Strategist has performed a scan and reveals the self-destruct trigger doesn't exist. The Doctor eats it, revealing it's a jammie dodger, joking he was promised tea.
"Not the time for jokes Spaceman," Donna groaned.
"Jig's up. But he bought enough time for the others to come up with a plan," Jack noted.
The Daleks turn towards the scanner, which reveals an unidentified projectile was approaching the ship. But it's not one, but multiple. The Daleks demand to know what the humans have done but The Doctor is as clueless as them. Danny Boy then contacts The Doctor and The Doctor laughs, gleefully ordering Danny Boy to target the side of the ship. The Daleks attack The Doctor but he dodges, heading towards the TARDIS as Churchill orders Danny Boy to attack the side. Danny Boy and his team, all piloting planes, dodge the Dalek ship's attacks but one of the team is hit, the plane blowing up.
"Damn it. Of course the Dalek ship would be armed," Jack groaned.
"Even a shell of itself, the ship is till enough to take out those Spitfires," Mickey said grimly.
"More innocent people are lost to the Daleks," Martha said sadly.
"Just like every time the Daleks come. People die," Jack said darkly. "I can see why The Doctor hates them so much."
Danny Boy informs Group Leader that they've lost Jubilee and Group Leader informs Churchill the beam is still active, so Churchill orders them in again. Danny Boy and another plane fire at the beam but their missiles seemed to be blocked as the other pilot is killed, leaving only Danny Boy.
"Oh bloody Hell. Of course it would have shields. Because why would the Daleks make things easy?" Martha almost growled.
"There must be some way to take the shields out," Wilf said hopefully.
"If there is, Boss'll find it," Mickey said certainly.
The Daleks note the shields are intact as Danny Boy contacts The Doctor again, informing him that he's the only one left. In the TARDIS, The Doctor tells Danny Boy he can disrupt the shield but not for long.
"See?" Mickey said pointedly.
Jack narrowed his eyes. As much as he'd like to celebrate, something about this felt too easy.
Danny Boy goes back in as The Doctor uses the TARDIS to disrupt the shields. Danny Boy flies in, firing and taking out the Dalek's satellite. Group Leader informs everyone in the War Room of this and they all take a moment to celebrate as the lights go out all across the city. The soldier on the roof taunts Hitler to 'do your worst'.
"And that he will," Martha said darkly as they all exchanged dark looks.
"Dad can't change everything, he's not a god. Some things he just has to let happen," Jane said with a sigh.
"We know. Doesn't mean we have to like it," Donna said grimly.
Danny Boy announces he's going in for another attack and The Doctor orders him to destroy the ship, assuring him that he'll be okay. Supreme suddenly appears on the TARDIS scanners, ordering The Doctor to call off the attack. The Doctor refuses, declaring that this will be the 'final end' of the Daleks. Supreme threatens to destroy the earth if the attack isn't called off. The Doctor doesn't believe him until Supreme reveals that Edwin is a bomb. The Doctor is skeptical until it is revealed Edwin is powered by an Oblivion Continuum.
"Bloody Hell!" Wilf exclaimed as they all started.
"Of course this was too easy. As if the Daleks would let The Doctor stop them," Jack growled. "I should have known they'd use an Oblivion Continuum."
"What is an Oblivion Continuum?" Martha asked confused.
"It uses a wormhole. It's basically a nuclear warhead if it goes off," Jack explained to their horror. "Most races in the universe don't use them; they've been outlawed because of how dangerous they are. Only the Daleks would dare to use them. If it goes off, it could destroy the whole planet."
"So The Doctor either lets earth be destroyed or he lets the Daleks. And the Daleks know he'll never let the earth be destroyed," Donna said as she realized how thoroughly the Daleks had planned for this.
"Damn them all to Hell," Mickey growled and no one disagreed.
The Doctor initially refuses, wanting to see The Daleks destroyed, as they'll be stronger than ever if he doesn't let them be destroyed now. Supreme goads him, telling to choose between the Daleks and earth. Supreme orders the countdown to begin and, after a moment, The Doctor orders Danny Boy to withdraw. Danny Boy is confused by the change in orders but The Doctor tells him there's no time. Reluctantly, Danny Boy withdraws as The Doctor returns to the War Cabinet, running out of the TARDIS.
"He made the right choice…but the Daleks will be stronger than ever, he's right about that," Jane muttered.
"Slay the demon today, fight the Devil tomorrow," Martha mused. "Like you said, he just has to let some things happen."
"The Doctor has failed. His compassion is his greatest weakness. Daleks have no such weakness," Supreme declares as he triggers the countdown.
"What you call weakness, we call being human. Not that you'd understand that, you twisted R2-D2s," Donna sneered.
"The Daleks have no appreciation or understanding of love or compassion. You'd be wasting your time trying to make them understand," Jack said grimly. "Some species just like to watch the galaxy burn around them."
"Species like the Daleks," Martha agreed darkly and Jack nodded.
The Doctor rushes into the War Room, slugging Edwin to the shock of everyone and injuring his hand. The Doctor quickly explains that Edwin is a bomb, explaining what the Oblivion Continuum is and that it will destroy the earth. Opening up Edwin's shirt, The Doctor uses his screwdriver to open up his skin, revealing the bomb as the Daleks activate it from their ship. Amy asks about the bomb and The Doctor admits he's never seen one up close.
"Oh bloody brilliant. So basically he's walking around in the dark," Mickey said sarcastically.
"Basically. And Oblivion Continuums are notoriously difficult to defuse. I'm not sure how he's going to do it," Jack said easily.
"If anyone can do it, I'm sure he can," Wilf said confidently.
The Doctor explains the moment the bomb turns red it will explode. As Amy frantically tries to think of anything, which The Doctor notes isn't helpful, Churchill notes Edwin remembers his life. Realizing Edwin had false memories implanted; The Doctor implores him to talk about his life. Edwin hesitates and The Doctor tells him he needs to prove he is human as, on the Dalek ship, the countdown has begun.
"So the key to stopping the bomb is to bring out the humanity in a machine made by the Daleks. I'm not sure if this is a twisted joke or a bad dream," Jack noted.
"Could be both," Martha said dryly
Edwin starts by talking about the post office his family ran and The Doctor implores him to talk about his parents. Edwin calls them good people who died from Scarlet fever and The Doctor asks him how it felt when they died. Edwin starts crying, noting it hurt like a wound. The Doctor implores him to remember the pain as he sees that three of the five parts of the bomb have turned red as a fourth turns yellow.
"It's not working. Try something else Spaceman!" Donna snaps uneasily.
"Reminding him of pain won't work. He needs to go at this from another angle," Martha said uneasily.
The Doctor implores Edwin to believe he's a human being as Amy walks over and the fourth part has turned red, leaving only one. As the last part turns yellow, The Doctor realizes he can't stop it.
"He finally came up against something he couldn't figure out," Jack said, more in surprise than anything else.
"Well obliviously something happened, because we're all still here. So the earth didn't blow up," Martha pointed out.
"Just watch," Jane said simply.
Amy kneels down, asking Edwin if he's ever fancied someone he shouldn't, noting that it hurts. The yellow part, which had started to turn orange, turns yellow once more. Although awkward, Edwin notes he doesn't want to talk about 'her'. As the yellow turns blue, The Doctor asks her name. Edwin tells them about Dorabella, whose blue eyes were almost violet and, as he remembers her, the countdown is stopped and the bomb turns completely blue.
"Wait. Are you telling that the world was saved because Bracewell…remembered a girl he fancied?" Mickey asked in disbelief.
"It makes sense, as much as any of this does. Pain is universal, but love is the most powerful emotion, the most human," Martha mused.
"It's also why Dad couldn't get through to Edwin while Amy could. Dad may look human, but he's not. He tries to understand you guys but sometimes he fails. He's more human than he'd like to admit, but simple human concepts do sometimes escape him," Jane noted.
"In any case, let's just be glad the world is saved," Jack said in relief.
On the Dalek ship, Supreme is in disbelief that the Oblivion Continuum was deactivated. But the time jump is almost here and so he can do nothing.
"The Daleks are going to get away. There's no way The Doctor can get back in time to stop the jump," Donna realized.
"He made the only choice he could make. It was humanity or the Daleks. And he wouldn't be The Doctor if he hadn't saved the earth," Jack noted.
"Still, Boss isn't gonna be too happy about that," Mickey pointed out.
"No, no he won't," Jane agreed with a grimace.
In the War Cabinets, The Doctor welcomes Edwin to the human race. He calls Amy, Churchill and Edwin all 'brilliant', kissing Amy on the forehead before he stands up, rushing out of the room to stop the Daleks. But Edwin tells him it's too late as, in space, the Dalek ship jumps through time.
"They got away. They actually got away," Martha said in disbelief, putting a hand to her head. "All the trouble they'll cause. They'll be stronger than ever now."
"They'll rebuild the Daleks. They'll be worse than ever. But it's a lesser evil than letting the world end," Jack said with a heavy sigh, feeling his age.
"Like Martha said, slay the demon today, fight the Devil tomorrow," Jane noted.
As Edwin notes he can feel the Daleks have gone, The Doctor despairs that the Daleks have gotten away from him again. Amy points out he stopped the bomb. "I had a choice and they knew I'd choose the earth. The Daleks have won," The Doctor notes in despair. Amy argues that he saved the earth. "Not too shabby, is it?" Amy asked. Looking around at all the people he saved, The Doctor agrees. Church calls it brilliant, offering The Doctor a cigar which he politely turns down.
"He's not happy but he's taking it better than I expected," Martha said in surprise.
"With experience comes wisdom. Dad's had several lifetimes' worth," Jane said with a slight smile. "Doesn't mean the Daleks won't still be a problem. But that's a problem for another day."
The next day, Britain's flag is put on the roof as, in the War Room; Amy asks Churchill what happens now. Churchill notes he still has a war to run as he is handed a progress report. The Nazis have attacked the palace and Saint Paul's once more.
"Of course they have," Mickey sighed as the mood plummeted.
"The Blitz is over, but the war goes," Jack noted. "It's the way these things work."
"It's the way of the world," Wilf said sadly.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same," Martha sighed.
Amy notices Breen crying and asks Churchill about it. Her boyfriend has been killed on the front lines, Churchill informs Amy sadly as another woman confronts Breen.
Not a word was spoken. Jack and Wilf both felt empathy for the women, Wilf remembering his wife while Jack thought of Ianto, Estelle, his wife and his many other loved ones he'd lost over the centuries. Mickey and Martha grasped hands tightly, as though afraid the other might disappear while Donna thought of Shaun, wondering how she was going to explain all this to him when she got home.
Amy asks where The Doctor is as he walks into the room, declaring he has been tying up loose ends. He's removed all the alien technology from Edwin. Churchill requests The Doctor reconsider, as he could win the war in a day with the Spitfires. The Doctor points out this is why he has to. Churchill asks they can't put an end to all the misery. "Oh, it doesn't work like that Winston. It's gonna be tough. There are terrible days to come. The darkest days. But you can do it. You know you can," The Doctor assures him.
"The darkest days were yet to come," Wilf said darkly. "The Doctor must have such strength, to know what is to come and let it happen."
"He's not God. A lesson the last version of him learned too late," Jane mused as she thought of the events on Mars just prior to The Master's return. "He knows the consequences of using time to his whims. No one should have that power."
"Whenever someone starts thinking of themselves as above the laws of normal people, they become a threat," Jack noted and Jane smiled tightly.
"You're not wrong Jack."
Churchill pleads with The Doctor to stay, that the world needs him. But the world doesn't need him when it has Winston Churchill, The Doctor assures him. The two laugh, exchanging a hug as they say goodbye. Churchill then says goodbye to Amy, who says it was amazing to meet him. He agrees before beginning to walk off. Amy then calls out to him, holding out her hand and telling him to give her the TARDIS key. She knows he took it as The Doctor frantically checks his pocket.
"Winston Churchill, who knew you had a bad side," Jack said with a grin as they all laughed, the dark mood around the room lifting slightly.
"It's always the ones you least expect," Donna said with a laugh.
Churchill chuckles, handing her the key and noting Amy is almost as sharp as himself. After Churchill walks off, The Doctor holds out his hand and Amy rolls her eyes before giving him the key.
"Looks like he's not ready to give you that key just yet Amy," Martha noted.
The smile then left Jane's face, replaced by a pensive look. Unfortunately, Amy never would get her own TARDIS key. Both Jack and Donna noted the look on Jane's face. Jack frowned, wondering what that was about as Donna looked at Jane in concern. But what they had already learned was that Jane was her father's daughter, she liked her secrets and would share them when she felt like it.
In his lab, The Doctor and Amy walk in as Edwin faces away from them, saying he knew this moment would come. He believes The Doctor has come to deactivate him.
"I guess that makes sense. He's Dalek technology after all," Martha said, although she did feel sad for Edwin.
"Wait for it," Jane said, the smile returning to her face.
The Doctor plays along as Edwin notes he's Dalek technology and has no business on earth. The Doctor agrees, saying he'll be back to deactivate him in ten, fifteen minutes. Edwin is confused as The Doctor and Amy mention they have an urgent task to perform.
"He's letting Edwin go," Donna said, smiling as they all realized The Doctor's intentions.
"He'll need to spend the rest of his life out of the public eye, keep his head down but yes, he'll get to live his life," Jane said smiling.
"Guess he finally learned something about humanity," Martha noted with a smile.
"Oh Spaceman," Donna said beaming.
Edwin says he will stay here as Amy mutters about him being slow on the uptake. Amy says they might be gone for half an hour and The Doctor tells Edwin not to go running off, subtly suggesting he go to his parents' post office and find Dorabella. Finally catching on, Edwin laughs soon joined by The Doctor and Amy, thanking them profusely. The Doctor then walks out, telling Amy to come along. Amy follows after him as Edwin grabs a suitcase and frantically begins to pack.
"For Dalek tech, he really is slow," Mickey agreed with Amy amused.
"Well, Daleks never were big on humanity and love," Jack said amused.
"But at least Edwin gets to live his life now," Martha said optimistically.
As they head to the TARDIS, Amy asks The Doctor about his enemies. He evasively says everyone has enemies. Amy points out there's a difference between enemies and arch-enemies. The Doctor agrees after a moment as Amy muses that this was more dangerous that she thought. The Doctor asks if that would be a problem and she points out she still here. They laugh before she notes he's worried about the Daleks. He acknowledges that but Amy points out it will take time to pull themselves together.
"It'll take them some time to rebuild, she's right," Jack noted.
"With a time machine, years, decades could pass for them as they rebuild," Donna pointed out darkly.
"And when they come, The Doctor will deal with it. He'll be there to stop them until the end of time," Martha said certainly.
The Doctor though is concerned about why she doesn't remember the Dalek's invading earth. Amy wearily follows The Doctor into the TARDIS and it takes off. After it vanishes, the wall behind where the TARDIS stood reveals a crack, identical to the one on Amy's wall.
"Another crack, just like in Amy's wall," Martha exclaimed in shock as the past viewers stared at the screen as it went black.
"First in Amy's room, then on Starship UK, now the Cabinet War Rooms. It keeps showing up wherever The Doctor and Amy go. But why?" Jack asked himself.
"It'll make sense soon," Jane promised.
"You keep saying that. Why don't you just tell us?" Donna demanded, getting a little tired of the secrets.
"It's something you need to see for yourself. I know it's frustrating but you need to trust me. The only way you'll understand is by seeing this for yourselves," Jane explained patiently.
"Donna, please, let's just keep watching," Wilf pleaded and, after a moment, Donna nodded.
"Alright…alright, I'll keep watching. For now," Donna said begrudgingly.
Jane nodded, grateful as the next recording started.
And that's that. Victory of the Daleks is one of my favorite episodes of the fifth series, so I do hope I did the reactions justice.
And next chapter we get RIVER!