Autons

The **Autons** were robots that resembled plastic shop-window mannequins, animated by the Nestene Consciousness as soldiers. Though they were not the only creations of the Nestenes, they were the most easily identifiable and were utilised during every Earth invasion.

## Characteristics

### Appearance and abilities

The typical Auton did not look particularly lifelike. It resembled a mannequin, was robotic in its movements and mute, although the Nestenes might speak through an Auton leader, generating a robotic voice. It could also be used as an interface with allies. (DW: *Terror of the Autons*) Autons were primarily noted for the concealed wrist-gun within their hands, which could kill their target. (DW: *Spearhead from Space*)

They were vulnerable to intense heat, as this caused them to melt, and they would also be deactivated if the controlling Nestene manifestation on a planet was destroyed. (DW: *Spearhead from Space*, *Terror of the Autons*, *Blood of the Autons*)

### Duplicates

In addition to the basic Auton, more agile and manoeuvrable models were made as duplicates of humans. The first Auton created, Channing's human appearance allowed him to infiltrate Auto Plastics and organise the Nestene invasion. (DW: *Spearhead from Space*)

More sophisticated Autons could be created to copy and impersonate specific individuals. The originals needed to be kept alive to maintain the copy, although these were sometimes imperfect, looking and acting human except for a slight yellowing sheen or glint to the skin and a flat-sounding voice. When destroyed, the duplicates reverted to the appearance of a basic Auton, sometimes leaking Nestene blood. (DW: *Spearhead from Space*)  Occasionally if a copy wasn't necessary and an Auton simply needed to appear human, it could wear a plastic mask. (DW: *Terror of the Autons*)

## History

### 20th Century

The late 20th century development of plastics by humans created opportunities for invasions of Earth. One invasion was coordinated by a Swarm Leader known as Channing. Channing took over Auto Plastics and arranged for standard Autons to be mass produced and placed in shops across Britain. Channing also obtained a contract from Madame Tussaud's to make plastic "waxworks" of key government and military leaders. The attack was coordinated first thing in the morning. The Autons broke out of shops to attack key strategic positions whilst the facsimiles helped soften resistance.

Unfortunately for the Autons, the Third Doctor and the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce had found their base and rigged a device to destroy Autons and the Nestene. (DW: *Spearhead from Space*)

Some months later, the Nestene made an alliance with renegade Time Lord known as the Master. Although the Nestene used standard Autons for this operation, the assault relied on deadly plastic daffodils. The Third Doctor convinced the Master to stop his alliance with the Nestene, as the Nestene would not distinguish between the Master and anyone else in their takeover, and the two worked together to fling the Nestenes back into space by "chang[ing] the polarity" whilst the transfer shift of the radio telescope that summoned the Nestene invasion force was still open. This caused the Autons to stop functioning. (DW: *Terror of the Autons*)

### 21st Century

In 2001, the Nestene used the Autons to invade Seattle Washington, placing them in various department stores as shop window dummies. The Autons later began an attack, but were stopped when the Tenth Doctor and Stella Cunningham destroyed the radio transmitter and the Nestene. (DW: *The Auton Skirmish*)

### Legacy

To Be Added. (DW: *Ascend From Darkness*)

### Alternate timelines

To Be Added. (UNIT: *Alternate Realities*)

## Behind the Scenes

According to DWM 467's The Fact of Fiction article, the Autons were originally set to appear in *The Five Doctors*, but their scene was cut.