Council of War, cont’d


With the revelation that the three humans are no longer on Earth, Benton learns that they are on a world that blames Phipps for their dire situation.  Due to something that hasn’t yet happened for Phipps, the aliens blame her for their complete and total pacifism which has left them with no defence against a species that has enslaved them and stripped their planet bare

To get some payback, they put her on trial for her crimes but, before they can proceed, the attackers are back to enslave the rest of them.  They have no way to fight back, and no weapons to fight with.  Fortunately, they now have a Benton and, with Phipps sounding a rallying call, Benton prepares the troops

When the attackers arrive, the troops distract them whilst Benton uses the time/space travel device to get on board their giant spaceship

I’ve not yet completed the adventure, but it’s fun to hear a story designed around giving Benton centre stage.  It does rely on quite a bit of latitude on the part of the listener.  For example, we’re told that the aliens have no ability to fight and no weapons – yet the whole adventure began because they used a time/space device to kidnap Phipps.  Couldn’t they use this device to return to Earth, collect a bunch of weapons?  Or, couldn’t Benton use it to obtain help from the Doctor or the Brigadier?  But, no, he just uses it to get on board a spaceship that he could have got on anyway when the attackers order the enslaved on board

Still, the lack of the actors playing the Doctor or the Brigadier, and the necessity to spin this story around Benton means we have to allow the story its little foibles.