The Ribos Operation

Written by Robert Holmes

"It consists of six segments, and these segments are scattered and hidden throughout the cosmos. When they are assembled into the cube, they create a power which is too dangerous for any being to possess"

Episode Title	Premiere Date
Episode 1	02/09/1978
Episode 2	09/09/1978
Episode 3	16/09/1978
Episode 4	23/09/1978

Having left Leela on Gallifrey, the Doctor and K9 Mark II don't remain footloose for long. The TARDIS is soon intercepted by the White Guardian, who assigns the Doctor an urgent mission to locate the six segments of the Key to Time, which are well disguised and hidden in odd corners of time and space. Once assembled, the Key will allow the White Guardian to restore balance to a universe descending into evil and chaos. To assist the Doctor, the White Guardian has appointed Romana, fresh out of the Time Lord Academy and none too well traveled. Despite an initial bout of "negative empathy," the Doctor and Romana trace the first segment's signal to Ribos, a remote, primitive planet that suffers from 32-year winters. There they are surprised to meet other interplanetary travelers, including two conmen, Garron and Unstoffe, and the Graff Vynda-K, a warlord who's in the market for an inexpensive planet to buy as a base.

Cast & Crew

The Doctor: Tom Baker

Romana: Mary Tamm

K9 (voice): John Leeson

Guardian: Cyril Luckham

Garron: Iain Cuthbertson

Unstoffe: Nigel Plaskitt

Graff Vynda-K: Paul Seed

Sholakh: Robert Keegan

Shrieve Captain: Prentis Hancock

Binro: Timothy Bateson

The Seeker: Anne Tirard

Producer: Graham Williams

Director: George Spenton-Foster

Scriptwriter: Robert Holmes