Arc of Infinity

123 – Arc of Infinity
Doctor Who serial
Omega removes his mask to reveal that he has taken on the appearance of the Doctor
Cast
Doctor Peter Davison (Fifth Doctor)
Companions Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka)
Others Leonard Sachs — President Borusa Elspet Gray — Chancellor Thalia Michael Gough — Councillor Hedin Paul Jerricho — The Castellan Max Harvey — Cardinal Zorac Colin Baker — Commander Maxil Ian Collier — Omega/The Renegade Neil Daglish — Damon John D. Collins — Talor Alastair Cumming — Colin Frazer Andrew Boxer — Robin Stuart Maya Woolfe, Guy Groen — Hostel Receptionists Malcolm Harvey — The Ergon
Production
Directed by	Ron Jones
Written by	Johnny Byrne
Script editor	Eric Saward
Produced by	John Nathan-Turner
Executive producer(s)	None
Incidental music composer	Roger Limb
Production code	6E
Series	Season 20
Length	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
Originally broadcast	3 January–12 January 1983
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → Time-Flight Snakedance
List of Doctor Who serials

Arc of Infinity

Author	Terrance Dicks
Series	Doctor Who book: Target novelisations
Release number	80
Publisher	Target Books
Publication date	20 October 1983
ISBN

Arc of Infinity is the first serial of the 20th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 3 January to 12 January 1983.

On Gallifrey, the Doctor's home planet, a Time Lord traitor is at work, stealing the bio-data code of another Time Lord and killing a technician who stumbles across the crime. The traitor provides the bio-data to a creature known as the Renegade, which is composed of antimatter and uses the bio-data to invade the TARDIS and the Doctor's metabolism. His companion, Nyssa, helps him recover. The Renegade is shielded in this attempt by the Arc of Infinity, a curious curve between the dimensions containing "quad radiation", which has the ability to shield antimatter. The Doctor decides to head to Gallifrey to track down the supplier of his bio-data knowing that, unless the creature trying to cross universes is stopped, its incursion could cause a chain reaction proving ultimately fatal to our universe.

The High Council of the Time Lords is also taking the matter seriously and has decreed that the Doctor’s TARDIS should be recalled for the same reason. The Chancellery Guard, under the over-zealous Commander Maxil, seizes both the Doctor and Nyssa. He stuns the Doctor to ensure his delivery to the High Council.

When the Doctor is brought before the High Council, the new Lord President, Borusa, is inscrutable, while Chancellor Thalia and Cardinal Zorac are openly hostile; only his old friend Councillor Hedin seems pleased to see him. The President stresses the gravity of the situation since the Renegade poses such a threat to the Universe, and the High Council has had no alternative but to issue a Warrant of Termination on the Doctor to ensure the Renegade can no longer bond with him. The Doctor is taken away protesting, sure his bio-data has been compromised and stolen from within the High Council. Fortunately an old friend, Damon, another technician in the records section, provides him with the proof he needs that a member of the High Council did indeed steal his bio-data extract. The Doctor is soon taken for execution, despite Nyssa’s attempts to save him, and placed in a dispersal chamber. Sentence is carried out.