Storm Warning

Storm Warning was the 16th release in Big Finish's monthly range. It was the first Big Finish story to feature the Eighth Doctor, and also introduced a new companion named Charlotte Pollard.

=Synopsis= October, 1930. His Majesty's Airship, the R101, sets off on her maiden voyage to the farthest-flung reaches of the British Empire, carrying the brightest lights of the Imperial fleet. Carrying the hopes and dreams of a breathless nation.

Not to mention a ruthless spy with a top-secret mission, a mysterious passenger who appears nowhere on the crew list, a would-be adventuress destined for the Singapore Hilton... and a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.

There's a storm coming. There's something unspeakable, something with wings, crawling across the stern. Thousands of feet high in the blackening sky, the crew of the R101 brace themselves. When the storm breaks, their lives won't be all that's at stake...

The future of the galaxy will be hanging by a thread.

=Plot=

Part 1
The Doctor went through his shelf for a book to read as the TARDIS performed an emergency stop. The Doctor activated the scanner and saw a Time Ship crashing on a repeated loop and Vortisaurs appear to pick on the debris. The Doctor piloted the TARDIS to shoo them away and tried to stop the ship. the TARDIS ended up being swarmed by Vortisaurs as an explosion occurred.

The airship R101 embarks on its maiden voyage and its crew celebrate onboard. Lieutenant Colonel Frayling voiced his concerns to Tamworth on the extra weight added onto the ship. Tamworth eased his mind and as he left, he signalled to Rathbone to keep an eye on him. He then asked Rathbone to go downstairs to tend to their mystery passenger.

The Doctor woke up later, the TARDIS still being swarmed by Vortisaurs. The Doctor realised he was successful and dematerialised the TARDIS. Meanwhile, Charlotte Pollard was writing her memoirs when Chief Steward Weeks banged on her cabin door. She rushed to put on her uniform pretending to be a steward named "Simon Merchford".

The TARDIS materialised in a dark room with metal walls. Setting off to explore, the Doctor climbed up a ladder to escape. In the cabin, Frayling detected the airship listing to one side and ordered Ballast Tank 3 to be emptied. As the Doctor emerged into a corridor as the ballast tank was emptied. Back in the cabin, Charlotte Pollard was found out by Tamworth and escaped. While the Doctor explored, he ran into Charlotte Pollard. They hid behind a curtain as Weeks came in. As Weeks were unable to find them, they emerged from their hiding place and continued to explore.

In the cabin, Frayling spotted something flying outside the ship. Tamworth did not believe him. In the hallways below, the Doctor realised that the ship is the R101 as Charley mentioned they were headed for Karachi, India. The Doctor explained that according to history, the R101 crashed in France with no survivors. In the cabin with Rathbone and the mystery passenger, a Vortisaur broke through the side of the ship and attacked them...

Part 4
=Cast=
 * Paul McGann - Eighth Doctor
 * India Fisher - Charlotte Pollard
 * Hylton Collins - Weeks
 * Barnaby Edwards - Rathbone
 * Helen Goldwyn - Triskele
 * Nicholas Pegg - Frayling
 * Gareth Thomas - Tamworth

=Notes=
 * This is the first Big Finish release to feature the Eighth Doctor.
 * The opening theme played twice in this story, one at the beginning and a second time after the cold open.

Continuity

 * This story takes place long after the Doctor Who TV Movie.

=Links=
 * Storm Warning