Frontier in Space

"The treaty between out two empires established a frontier in space. We have never violated that frontier. You have invaded our part of the galaxy many times!"

It is the 26th Century. Known space is divided between the great empires of Earth and Draconia. A fragile peace exists between the humans and the lizard like Draconians, a peace that is put in jeopardy when each race claims that its cargo vessels are being raided by the other's warships.

When the TARDIS accidentally brings the Doctor and Jo aboard Earth cargo ship C982, they find it under attack. As the ship is boarded, a strange pulsing sound fills the air. The crew believe their attackers to be Draconians, but the Doctor and Jo see only Ogrons - brutish simian mercenaries - who steal the cargo, including the TARDIS, and head off into space.

The Doctor's investigations take him to Earth, the Moon and then Draconia itself. He discovers that the Ogrons are employed by his sworn enemy the Master, who is attempting to provoke a war between the space empires. The Doctor suspects the scale of the plan is too grand for the Master, but even he is shocked to discover the identity of the far deadlier foe waiting in the wings . . .

• Sadly, "Frontier in Space" is the last appearance of Roger Delgado as The Master.  Shortly after filming this story, he died as the result of a car accident.   Although not seen on screen, Delgado and Pertwee were close friends and the death of his friend (among other factors) led to Pertwee's decision to leave the series the following year.

• If you look closely you will see that space suits of the future will have thin wires attached to their exteriors.  Hmm...

• The events in "Frontier in Space" are resolved in the next Doctor Who adventure "Planet of the Daleks."

• This is the second appearance of the Ogrons.  The first was in "Day of the Daleks" two years previously.  They did make a brief cameo appearance in "Carnival of Monsters" earlier in the season.

• Debuting in this story are the Draconians, an intelligent reptilian species who prize honor above all else.  They were among Jon Pertwee's favorite alien during his tenure on the series.  This is their first and only appearance on the TV series, although they do feature in several Doctor Who novels recently written.

• If the Draconian emperor sounds at all familiar, that is because he is being played by none other than John Woodnutt.  Woodnutt has appeared frequently in Doctor Who.  His first appearance was as the Auton controlled character of Hibbert in Pertwee's debut story "Spearhead from Space."  He would later go on to play the double role of the Zygon commander Broton/the Duke of Forgil in the classic Tom Baker story "Terror of the Zygons."  His final appearance was as counselor Seron in Tom Baker's penultimate "The Keeper of Traken."