Peril in Mechanistria ( short story ) Peril in Mechanistria was the fifth short story published in the " Doctor Who Annual 1966 " . Summary . During an escape from the Dalek s on Skaro , the TARDIS ' space - time locator is damaged . The Doctor cannot accurately pilot the TARDIS . He is happy when it lands and decides to rest for the night before exploring his new surroundings . The following morning , the Doctor finds the ground of this world is made of metal and there is a strange , throbbing hum in the air . As he investigates the metal terrain , a huge robot ( later identified as a Grukker ) almost runs him over but he is rescued by unseen persons and loses consciousness . When the Doctor awakes , he finds himself in the company of primitive - seeming humans calling themselves the Korad and calling their world Korad as well . The Doctor learns this world has no soil nor seas nor plant life , just machines that the Korad use . When asked where he comes from , The Doctor says too much about the TARDIS before he realises the Korad are more mechanically savvy than they first appeared . Drako , the leader of this haven ( encampment ) of Korad mechanics , takes the Doctor prisoner and sends for the Wise Ones from another haven . While he is held , Drako explains that machines are the masters of this world . The Korad are only allowed to live because of their usefulness to them . Drako pleads with the Doctor to help plan an escape for the mechanics before the Wise Ones arrive and take the TARDIS for themselves . As the Doctor devises a plan , Beran , one of the Wise Ones , arrives to interrogate him . Beran announces he will examine the TARDIS to learn its secrets before destroying it . When the Doctor objects , Beran informs him that the first law of the Mechanistrian s , the machine rulers , is that no machine that was not made on the world , which is Mechanistria , not Korad , is allowed to remain there . The machines of the world , Beran reveals , house human brain s . Among the Wise Ones , who call themselves Mechanistrians , having their brain used in the a new machine is the highest honour . When joined into the machine , a Wise One gains the knowledge of all other machines and a type of immortality . As Beran finishes his explanation he momentarily lets his guard down . Drako wrests Beran ' s small , gun - like atomizer from him and forces Beran to follow as he and the Doctor head toward a small aircraft to get to the TARDIS . Once in the air , Drako , refusing to shoot Beran , forces him to jump from the craft . Landing close to the TARDIS , Drako turns the atomizer on the Doctor and demands he take him back to a time before the Mechanistrians began their rule and prevent it from happening . The Doctor , at first worried that Drako may attempt to overpower him and take the TARDIS for himself , finally agrees to transport him . After the trip , the Doctor opens the doors to the world that is known at this time as Korad . Drako exits , kneeling down to feel the grass and looking up to see clouds that no Koran had seen in thousands of years . The Doctor , accepting Drako ' s thanks , closes the doors and continues on his journeys . He notices that the atomizer , which Drako left behind , has vanished , which he takes to mean that Drako succeeded in his task . Notes . " to be added "