Earthshock ( TV story ) Earthshock was the sixth story of season 19 of " Doctor Who " . It was notable for its high ratings , the deliberately unannounced return of the Cybermen , and the death of Adric . Indeed , this serial and " Time - Flight " together offered producer John Nathan - Turner his highest consistent chart positions . " Earthshock " was the only serial in JNT ' s producership whose episodes were all in the top fifty of programmes watched on British television . JNT took a now - well - known publicity gamble with this serial by deciding that he wanted to keep the return of the Cybermen a surprise . Normally , there was a public gallery overlooking the studio floor at Television Centre which allowed public viewing of proceedings . For " Earthshock " , JNT had this area closed and security kept people out . Nathan - Turner also turned down a " Radio Times " photo shoot to ensure this secret did not leak out . The death of Adric was also a considerable gamble , since no long - running companion had ever been killed on " Doctor Who " before . Special , downbeat titles were commissioned for the end of part four , making the final part the only episode , , to have no end theme music and play only silent credits . While there is no doubt that JNT and his team absolutely intended Adric ' s unambiguous death , the ending of the story has been materially changed by Big Finish ' s " The Boy That Time Forgot " , during which it was revealed Adric did not die but went on to live in a bubble universe the Fifth Doctor accidentally created , before finally crossing back into the normal universe in Victorian London . Synopsis . A conference to unite military powers against the Cybermen is taking place and the Cybermen plot to destroy the Earth by crashing a space freighter into it . The Doctor must stop them , whatever the cost . . . Plot . Part one . Lieutenant Scott and his team climb up a bleak hillside on Earth , escorting Professor Kyle to a camp set up by Scott ' s team . The scanning equipment at the campsite is directed at a cave to detect mammalian life forms . Kyle had been part of a scientific expedition investigating the caves for fossil remains , but the expedition has disappeared . The lack of readings suggests they are all dead . Kyle ' s knowledge of the tunnels is necessary to direct Scott and his team into the caves to find out what happened , while two troopers remain outside to maintain a constant scan . As they investigate , the squad is being stalked by two dark figures . Meanwhile , in the TARDIS , Adric begins arguing with the Fifth Doctor about the lack of attention and respect he receives compared to Tegan or Nyssa . Finally , he declares that he wishes to return to his home planet of Terradon , which the Doctor loudly proclaims is not possible . However , Adric is insistent that he can calculate the coordinates to guide the TARDIS back into E - Space ; to the Doctor ' s displeasure , Adric begins to write down his calculations . Scott ' s squad splits into two groups , but a strange jangling sound comes over the communications system , and one group ceases contact . Outside , a flare appears on the outside scanner . Walters and Snyder , who remained outside , see more life - forms appear on the scanner — the TARDIS crew , which have just landed in the caves . Scott instantly assumes that the newcomers must be responsible for the deaths , especially when he is informed that one of the new life signs shows two heartbeats . While Adric computes his calculations , the Doctor has gone for a walk in the caves . With Tegan and Nyssa , he examines the fossils of dinosaurs on the cave walls , musing that he had always wanted go back and determine exactly how they died . As the wounded party is making slow progress , Snyder goes in to help , but they are attacked by the dark figures . The jamming increases , and Snyder is reduced to a pile of smoking remains . As the survivors start to investigate , they continue to be picked off one by one . Scott and the remainder of his squad come across the Doctor and his companions and capture them . Scott accuses the Doctor of the murders and , while the Doctor tries to convince him otherwise , the dark figures continue their approach . Digging away at a recent rockfall , they discover the remains of the scientists as well as a metal hatch which begins to emit a trilling sound ; Scott orders the Doctor to open the hatch . The dark figures pick up their pace and begin to attack as everyone dives for cover . The Doctor realises that the attackers are androids , which is why they did not show up on the scans . The androids appear to be defending the hatch and shrug off the troopers ' counter - attacks . Kyle recognises the sound the androids are making , and realises that they were the ones who murdered the others . As an android focuses its gaze on the Doctor , the image is transmitted elsewhere to their masters . . . the Cybermen . The Cyber - Leader orders that the androids " destroy them at once . " Part two . Inside the TARDIS , a signal is detected . Adric wanders out of the TARDIS , trying to locate the Doctor and determine the source of the signal . He is able to distract one of the androids long enough for Scott and his team to destroy it . The other one is subjected to intense fire attack , also resulting in its destruction . The Doctor has realised that the signal is being transmitted to whatever is inside the hatch . He runs back to the TARDIS and is able to jam the transmission . He and Adric return with the Doctor ' s tool kit . Tegan and Nyssa usher the rest back into the TARDIS where they will be safe as the Doctor and Adric open the hatch to discover an explosive device within . The Doctor fiddles around with the bomb and inadvertently reactivates it , but together with Adric disarms it before it detonates . Returning to the TARDIS , the Doctor informs the others that they are going to trace the source of the transmission . He then thanks Adric for his help in the cave and apologises for their earlier argument , telling him he ' s willing to try and enter E - Space . Adric apologises too for overreacting and reveals he doesn ' t actually want to return home , he was just trying to make a point . The Cybermen , are puzzled as to why the bomb failed to detonate . Reviewing the recorded images transmitted by the androids , they see the TARDIS . They realise the Doctor is involved , and begin to review their past encounters with the Time Lord . Meanwhile , out in space , a freighter is being inspected by Earth security forces while replenishing its supplies and crew . However , the morale of the crew is low , kept going only because of the promise of their bonus for delivering the cargo on time . Ringway , one of the bridge crew , wonders if the bonus is worth it , with several disappearances having already taken place . Berger seems to think that it is , and suggests Ringway adopt a more cheery attitude towards the crew to maintain their morale and his . Having arrived on board , the Doctor goes to explore the freighter with Adric deciding to tag along also . However , Berger spots the two travellers on the camera and tells the captain , a middle - aged woman named Briggs . Briggs orders that Berger sound the alarm . The Doctor and Ardic hear the alarm and start back towards the TARDIS . Hearing screams , Adric and the Doctor run to investigate . Adric spots the bodies of two crewmen and go to examine the bodies . Unknown to them , Ringway arrives behind them and raises his gun . Having examined the bodies , they turn to face an armed Ringway , who states that " on this ship we execute murderers " . . . Part three . Ringway escorts the two travellers to meet the captain , Briggs , who is only concerned about the bonus . Scott and Kyle start to worry about the Doctor and Adric , although only Scott says anything . Scott announces that he wants to go find the Doctor , but Nyssa replies that the Doctor will not thank them for taking such a risk . Scott takes no notice . Tegan , also wishing to help , goes with Scott and his remaining soldiers . The Cyber - Leader decides that it is time to take control of the freighter , and orders a unit of Cybermen to be activated . The unit marches on the bridge and is spotted on one of the monitors . Briggs orders a blockade set up outside the bridge , despite the Doctor pleading that her men won ' t stand a chance if they do that . Sure enough , the Cybermen effortlessly blast through the barricade . At the same time , Ringway turns on the crew and announces that he now works for the Cybermen , having grown tired of Briggs . The Doctor disarms him and closes the bridge door s before the Cybermen can get inside . Briggs seems confident that they can hold out until they get back to Earth , as there are only a few Cybermen ; when Adric inquires as to how many cargo containers there are , she realises that all 15 , 000 are probably full of Cybermen . As Scott , Tegan and the others kill one Cyberman and damage a second , the Cyber - Leader has his troops soften one of the bridge doors with a thermal lance . The Doctor taps into the antimatter storage system and uses it to stabilise the door just as a Cyberman breaks through , with the result that the Cyberman is fused into the door . The Cyber - Leader had also fitted explosive charges to the other bridge door , however . Just before it goes to detonate them , the Cyberman that escaped from Scott and Tegan crawls up . His lieutenant points out that all the crew have been accounted for , and the Cyber - Leader erroneously concludes that Ringway lied about the crew numbers . The explosives are detonated , destroying the bridge door . The Cybermen take the bridge , and the Leader has Ringway killed for his " deception " . The Doctor then sourly jokes , " You never change ; always the perfect guest " . The Doctor and the crew members all watch as the additional Cybermen are revived , in order to deal with the other humans . As they march through the hold the Leader declares , " My army awakes , Doctor ! " The horrified Doctor looks on as the Cybermen march through the hold . . . Part four . The Cybermen fit a device to the ship ' s computer which locks it on course to collide with Earth . The Cyber - Leader then explains his mission - several galactic powers are going to meet on Earth that day and hold a conference that will unite them in a war against the Cybermen . Their original plan was to use the bomb to virtually destroy Earth , commandeer the freighter and use the army to kill anyone who survived . Due to the Doctor ' s interference , the Cyber - Leader has switched to his backup plan - crash the freighter into Earth . As it is powered by antimatter , the resulting blast will be every bit as devastating as the bomb would have been . Tegan gets separated from Scott and his men and is eventually captured . Scott returns to the TARDIS , but is followed by a pair of Cybermen . The troopers kill the Cybermen and take their guns , but Kyle is killed in the process . Tegan , meanwhile , is taken to the bridge . Noting the Doctor ' s reaction when she is brought into the bridge , the Cybermen comments that emotions must be a severe handicap for the Doctor . The Doctor argues that emotions are what makes life worth living - in response , the Cyber - Leader orders that Tegan be killed . The Doctor throws himself in front of Tegan , and the Cyber - Leader remarks that emotions are a disadvantage , as now he only has to threaten to kill Tegan for the Doctor to obey him . Scott and the troopers leave the TARDIS again , as the Cyber - Leader decides to leave the ship in the TARDIS . Briggs , Berger and Adric are left on - board so that a few remaining Cybermen can observe their reactions , and thus better understand human weaknesses . The Doctor and Cybermen leave in the TARDIS , and Scott takes out the Cybermen guarding the bridge . Briggs wants to abandon ship , but Adric tells her that he might be able to override the device controlling the ship ' s computer . He overrides one segment of it and Berger tries to bring the ship out of warp , but this has an unexpected effect - the freighter jumps into a time warp and goes backwards in time . Tegan is relieved at this , believing the Earth to be safe . Her relief is soon shattered when the Doctor points out that it has made the situation far worse - not only will Earth still be destroyed , but with the freighter now back in an earlier point of its history , the planet ' s whole existence will be nullified . Adric overrides another part of the control device , bringing the freighter out of warp - but still perilously close to Earth . Briggs decides that it ' s time to abandon ship , but Adric is still determined to break the codes . Scott drags him into the escape pod , only for Adric to jump out at the last second and continue his efforts . Back on the TARDIS , the Doctor points out that they have travelled back 65 million years - at about the time the Earth collided with an object which killed the dinosaurs . Tegan realises that the object was really the freighter , and that rather than erasing Earth ' s history , the explosion will form a key part of it . While Adric continues in his efforts , Scott signals the TARDIS and informs them that Adric ' s still on - board . The Cyber - Leader decides to kill the TARDIS crew , but Tegan jumps on him and the Doctor breaks up Adric ' s gold - plated Mathematics Achievement badge into the Leader ' s chest unit . The maddened and asphyxiating Leader fires its gun aimlessly , damaging the TARDIS console in the process . The Doctor grabs the gun and shoots the Leader , killing it . Adric is closing in on fully deactivating the control device , but is thwarted when a damaged Cyberman tries to shoot him . The shot misses Adric and destroys the freighter ' s controls instead , leaving no chance of altering the freighter ' s course . Adric serenely muses that now he will never know if he was right . The Doctor tries to save Adric , while Nyssa quickly deals with the Cyber - Lieutenant . The TARDIS console is too damaged . The Doctor , Nyssa and Tegan watch helplessly as the freighter explodes , killing Adric . As Nyssa and Tegan begin to weep , the Doctor remains silent , shocked at his failure in saving his companion and friend . . . " The episode ends with silent credits to mark Adric ' s death , rolled over an image of his shattered star - shaped badge . " Home video and audio releases . DVD releases . This story was released as " Doctor Who : Earthshock " . Contents : Notes : Video releases . This story was released as " Doctor Who : Earthshock " . Audio Release . A soundtrack album of the music from this serial was released by Silva Screen Records as " Earthshock : Classic Music from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Vol . 1 ( FILMCD 709 ) " . This is an edited re - release of the " BBC Records " release , " Doctor Who the Music : Volume 1 " . Of the 22 tracks , only three are from " Earthshock " .