The Dalek Transaction

"Humans will never defeat the Daleks."

Writer: Matt Fitton

Format: Audio

Released: November 2017

Series: UNIT: Encounters 5.01

Featuring: Kate, Osgood

Synopsis

When a rogue guerrilla faction offer an alien artefact for auction, Kate Stewart and her team go undercover to the jungles of Central America. But they find that the prize on offer is far deadlier than its owners realise. Captive, desperate and alone. That's when a Dalek is at its most dangerous.

Verdict

The Dalek Transaction was a brilliant start to the Encounters fifth series of UNIT adventures from Big Finish! There is definitely a great deal that can be done with a spinoff like this within the modern era and I thought this was a fine example of using all capabilities. It started intriguingly with Kate on the phone to a foreign woman talking about a transaction with all sights set on an undercover rendezvous to the Americas to obtain something rather valuable, and dangerous. The noise of the Dalek being fed was quite something and I liked how that was used to sell that what UNIT were getting was being well looked after. The woman soon being revealed as Captain Gonsalves was good and I thought she was an excellent character. The guerrilla faction that she headed was unique and contemporary which I was a huge fan of and I liked in general taking things to Central America. You don't get many Doctor Who universe stories in a jungle! The hint of Martha being a part of UNIT North America was a nice touch and I do wonder if Freema Agyeman would ever show up as part of this series. Sam was noticeable by his absence after picking up a trail that would end up being the Dalek and whilst he'd deduced that it involved underground traders, he'd been off the beaten track for five days. This led Kate, Osgood, Josh and Shindi to go on an undercover mission with pretty decent aliases. That was a really fun premise. The concept of the Dalek being locked up, but being in pieces, was terrific and the anger it demonstrated was superb. Kate going as far as bribing local officials to leave them alone on their stay in the Americas was unexpected fun and I liked how the guerrillas turned out to be more resourced than they'd made out to be. The way the UNIT quartet were blindfolded and then gassed on their travels to the guerrilla local was great. Once there, Osgood was able to scan the Dalek and found that its chromosomes were changing. This Dalek was a new breed of superior being which I thought was fantastic to play around with. Its claim that the Daleks had already invaded was interesting with them apparently finding a new way to Earth and they now lay dormant with a task force hidden in the jungle. UNIT investigating that with some guerrilla locals was very good and I loved that it turned out all to be a rouse. The transaction between UNIT and Gonsalves only pertaining to the Dalek mutant and not the casing and technological weaponry was magnificent. Sam's trail coming back into things with the weapons set for auction was really good and I really enjoyed the moment where Osgood and Josh were caught past the security barriers within. The Dalek mutant vanishing in the jungle and having burned the lock of its cage was quite spectacular and everyone realising that they'd been duped was quite delightful. The Dalek mutant itself was still incredibly intelligent and set traps in the jungle. I was a big fan. I do wonder if Chris Chibnall gave this a listen prior to Resolution as there are more than a few resemblances. Osgood realising that the mutant had been getting out of its casing whilst in captivity all along was terrific and it wanted access to weapons, but why hadn't it made its move before? The jungle attack was excellent and I liked the use of a tank with an energy weapon. It was quite the brawl against the Dalek! Gonsalves was rightfully distraught that UNIT personnel survived, whilst her people all died. The Dalek mutant being literally destroyed was good, but from there Gonsalves kept the fate of the UNIT quartet in the hands of her auctioneers. She'd plan to disappear, but of course the Dalek had only shed some skin and was still on the loose. I didn't expect that to be honest! It had retrieved its casing which was great and whilst it didn't have its gun, it did have the sucker and could exterminate by any means necessary which I thought was magnificent. It had accessed the weapon stores and released a toxin that proved an efficient method of extermination. Gonsalves being angry resulted in her death as she attacked the Dalek in vain, and the sound of her being suckered to death was quite something! Very well done. Carter and Shindi finding the Dalek gun and using it against it was a good moment, but I was surprised that Osgood wanted to save the Dalek mutant in the hopes of learning from it. Of course, the Dalek still wasn't quite destroyed and to prevent any salvage and human survival, it self destructed. Except, UNIT personnel managed to get out just in time with the North American branch then retrieving them from the site. Overall, a fantastic listen! 

Rating: 9/10