Hidden Persuaders (audio story)

Hidden Persuaders is the third audio play in the Kaldor City series. Written by Jim Smith and Fiona Moore, it follows the attempts of the Church of Taren Capel to commit an act of terrorism to further their cause.
== Publisher's summary ==
"Nothing is yet known of the terrorists' demands, but Security remain poised to act instantaneously on any information received."
Terrorism is on the increase and — amidst a media frenzy — hostages are being taken. The Church of Taren Capel are fighting back and nobody in Kaldor City is safe. Who is behind the cult's remarkable success, and what is their next target? Most importantly, when it comes to politics, who really has the most to gain?
Kaldor City - Hidden Persuaders uses characters and concepts from Chris Boucher's Doctor Who novel Corpse Marker to tell a gripping tale of corruption and media manipulation.
== Plot ==
to be added
== Cast ==
(in order of appearance)
* Landerchild - Peter Miles
* Uvanov - Russell Hunter
* Packard - Nicholas Courtney
* Carnell - Scott Fredericks
* Iago - Paul Darrow
* Justina - Patricia Merrick
* Blayes - Tracy Russell
* Rull - Trevor Cooper
* Cotton - Brian Croucher
* Crane - Jim Smith
* Manzerak - David Bickerstaff
* Paullus - David Collings
* Guido - Robert Lock
* Bextor - Alistair Lock
* Voice - Tony Lang
* Leighton - Mark J. Thompson
* Caitlion - Alison Taffs
* Corda - Scott Andrews
* Berganza - Alan Stevens
* Damon - Nickey Barnard
* Zala - Jasmine Breaks
* Voc Voices - Bruce McGilligan
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Individuals ===
* Guido is the best flierman currently in Uvanov's employ, he usually pilots flier 372.
* Rull's pay-packet has several deductions.
* Iago last met Leighton 3 months ago in Uvanov's office.
* The news channel will be speaking with Thrate Corda's family.
* Diss Pitter died in a flier explosion alongside his longtime companion Cailio Techlan. Pitter's daughter (Sel Pitter, also known as Padil) was kidnapped by a distant faction four years ago and found dead a year later.
=== Objects ===
* Cotton comments on Justina's painting of a red pentagram.
* Manzerak uses a stun kill on its lowest setting.
* A flier is equipped with heat detectors.
* Leighton was inventor of the six-handed multi-tasker, a robot so heavy it fell through the floor.
=== Kaldor City ===
* A single day on Kaldor lasts 26 hours.
* Westmar Township is situated in Zone 5. Its population is 4523.
=== Oxgenator Four ===
* Oxygenator Four supplies about 30% of Kaldor City's additional oxygen requirements. If it is disabled everyone in the eastern sector will find breathing difficult.
* The Church of Taren Capel's attack on 'Oxgenator Four' coincides with a security drill.
* Rull thinks it's the Anti Robot Front who have attacked 'Oxgenator Four'. They are usually responsible for things like that. None of the terrorist groups are security trained.
=== Blind Heart Desert ===
* A storm mine picked up Taren Capel's skull a couple of years back in the Blind Heart Desert.
* The Tarenists believe Taren Capel walked away free into the Blind Heart Desert, and one day he will return as a god to judge them all.
=== Tarenists ===
* The Tarenists are highly dangerous anti robot fundamentalist group operating out of the sewerpits.
* Whenever Taren Capel's name is mentioned it is followed with "humanity be in him".
* Diss Pitter was a strong opponent of social toleration being extended to Tarenists.
* A Tarenist cell known as the Church of Taren Capel has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks that have occurred in Kaldor City during the last 3 months.
== Notes ==
* The title of the story is derived from by media theorist and is partially an attempt to introduce some of the themes of his work into the series. The reporter Zala Vance and the newsreader Daniel Packard in this story are named after him.A Day in Kaldor City: 8 August 2002 by Douglas McNaughton
* Writer Jim Smith had the idea for the story, involving oxygen production, during the writing of Occam's Razor:
* The story is set four months after the previous Kaldor City audio, Death's Head, and one month before the next, Taren Capel.Magic Bullet Productions on Facebook: "A firm timeline for the events of Kaldor City." The third edition of Mad Norwegian Press' reference work AHistory dates Hidden Persuaders to the year 2890.
* A specially recorded audio trailer was released to promote this story taking the form of a short monologue as read in character by Paul Darrow as Iago.Hidden Persuaders Trailer
* The copyright notice printed on the CD release of this production states: "Unauthorised copying, hiring, renting, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited or Leighton will sell you a crap robot."
* This story was part of a recording block that also consisted of Taren Capel and Checkmate.The True History of Magic Bullet: An interview with Alan Stevens, producer of Kaldor City and Faction Paradox. (Part 1 of 2)
* The play reintroduces the character of Poul from The Robots of Death, again played by David Collings, here going under the name of Paullus. The next play confirms it is the same character.
* The CD cover art was designed by Andy Hopkinson.
== Continuity ==
* This story opens with an announcement of the deaths of the characters Padil, Diss Pitter, and Cailio Techlan from PROSE: Corpse Marker. In that story, Padil was affiliated with the Tarenists, Diss Pitter was Firstmaster Chairholder of the Company Board, and Cailio Techlan was Uvanov's executive assistant.
* 'Z9' explosives were previously used in TV: The Robots of Death, and by the Doctor to destroy SASV1 in PROSE: Corpse Marker.
* Rull's investigation into the Larson Project pays off in the next audio, AUDIO: Taren Capel.
* Cotton comments on Justina's painting of a red pentagram. It previously featured in AUDIO: Occam's Razor. This is foreshadowing the emergence of the Fendahl. (AUDIO: Checkmate)
* Iago now considers himself to be Uvanov's 'personal assassin'. In AUDIO: Death's Head Iago considered his title to be 'personal security consultant', whereas Uvanov previously considered him to be his 'personal bodyguard'.
* Iago took a holiday sometime last year, just before he started working for Uvanov. It lasted one day and ended up with the Hotel being burnt down. Uvanov sent in a team of trigger-happy thugs to apprehend Iago. (AUDIO: Occam's Razor)
* The attendant seen at the Gentlemen's Oasis in AUDIO: Death's Head is revealed here to be an agent for the Church of Taren Capel, named here as Manzerak.
* The existence of Taren Capel's skull is revealed. A fake skull covered in contact poison featured in AUDIO: Death's Head
* Blayes has been supplying the Tarenists with technical advice for the past 5 months. (Uvanov gave instructions for Blayes to be manipulated into becoming their rebel leader at the end of AUDIO: Death's Head.)
* The Tarenists have claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks that have occurred in Kaldor City during the last 3 months.
* Iago last met Leighton 3 months ago in Uvanov's office. Who Uvanov mistakes for Hume. (Hume died in Uvanov's office in AUDIO: Death's Head)
== External links ==
* 
== Footnotes ==
Category:2002 audio stories
Category:Kaldor City audio stories
Category:Stories set in 2890
Category:Stories that crossover with non-DWU series