Pilot ( The Macra Terror ) The Pilot was the senior executive of the colony that had been taken over by the Macra , in charge of the pits and most of the day - to - day organisation . He was consulting with Barney about his dance troupe for the next competition when Medok ran past , having escaped from the correction centre . The Pilot ordered Ola and his guards to pursue him . After Medok had been caught thanks to the arrival of the Second Doctor , Polly , Ben and Jamie , the Pilot welcomed them to the colony and escorted them to visit Barney at the refreshing department . When the Doctor released Medok from his cell , the Pilot accepted his ignorance of the law and had him and his companions sent to visit the pits instead to learn more about the colony . When the Doctor was found with Medok , the Pilot was unable to accept that they had seen Macra but believed Medok ' s claim the Doctor had been trying to make him give himself up . He oversaw the attempts to " correct " Medok but , when he resisted , sent him to the pits for life . The Doctor and Jamie were brought before the Pilot again after the Doctor had destroyed microphones intended to brainwash his companions . The Doctor destroyed a similar device in the Pilot ' s office before Ben arrived with Polly , who claimed they had been attacked by Macra . Control claimed that Polly was hallucinating , prompting the Doctor to demand to see the Controller in person . The Pilot made the request and they witnessed the Controller being attacked by Macra . The Pilot ordered the Doctor , Polly and Jamie sent to the pits anyway , telling Ben to keep an eye on them , and was then instructed by Control to forget what he had seen . The Pilot was angry when he visited the pit office to find the Doctor had used the instruments to work out how the colony ' s gas flow operated . When Ben reported that Jamie had escaped down the old shaft , the Pilot asked permission from Control to send guards after it but was denied and instead instructed to tell Officia to pump gas down the shaft , intended to revive the Macra there . When the Doctor took charge of the pit head and redirected the gas flow , the Pilot sent guards to stop him . After Jamie was recaptured , Ola criticised the Pilot ' s handling of the situation , accusing him of lacking discipline and authority . The Doctor and Polly arrived and the Doctor asked the Pilot to accompany him into forbidden territory . Control ordered all colonists back to work and instructed the strangers be placed under arrest but the Pilot refused to obey and accompanied the Doctor , even after hearing Control relieve him of authority and order his arrest . There , he discovered that Control was a Macra . The Pilot returned to the colony , intending to take charge and defy Control , but Ola had him placed under arrest along with the Doctor , Polly and Jamie and imprisoned in the pipe room . The Macra then began to fill the room with gas , intending to brainwash them . They were saved by Ben , who followed the Doctor ' s instructions and redirected the gas flow , causing an explosion that killed the Macra . Grateful for the travellers ' help , the Pilot announced that a " strangers ' trophy " would be awarded each year in memory of them . ( TV : " The Macra Terror " )