The Dalek Emperor oversees the completion of new Dalek City. Then Dalek instruments detect a strange object arriving on Skaro, which unbeknownst to the Daleks in a spaceship. They cover the city in sand to hide it from the invaders. The ship is owned by the Krattorian Kest. He sees the fortune of sand waiting on the planet and sets his slaves to work gathering it. Realising they are at risk of being discovered, the Emperor orders them destroyed. However, the magnetism from the Dalek City begins disrupting Kest's ship's instruments and it tells the slaves they can rest. The Emperor has them examined and learns that two slaves, Sala and Astolith, are planning a rebellion against Kest. The Emperor believes this is the chance for the Daleks to seize the ship for themselves.