Control Rooms

"Well, I must congratulate you. This is really a most splendid machine. I do notice there's been a few changes though?"
"Oh yes, Doctor. In fact this one is fitted with automatic drift control."
-The Doctor and The Monk

A Control Room is the nerve center of a TARDIS and serves as the bridge or cockpit. All major functions and almost all minor ones can be monitored and controlled from this room.

Dominating every Control Room since the Type 20 TARDIS is a large freestanding Master Control Console. Most (if not all) TARDIS's are designed to be operated with six pilots, one of which is the symbiotically linked Time Lord. This is why almost all consoles have 6 sides. The casings of all Control Consoles are constructed of Pseudometal. and are resistant to time winds that would badly damage even a Time Lord. Inside, their biomechanical circuitry is held together with Mergin Nuts. The Heisenberg Circuits control a console's form and structure and are quite useful during bicentennial refits. The circuits are even capable of reducing or increasing the total number of panels if desired. Some consoles are equipped with a central column that provides continual data on the Dynamorphic Generators. Normally the panel with the Main Door Control is the one closest to the Main Doors, but the Console can be set to rotate if the operator would prefer a different orientation. Each panel or "station" on a console is assigned a number. However these numbers can be assigned clockwise or counter clockwise depending on the Mark number of the Console. The panels are equipped with numerous controls, read-out displays and screens. The console can be reconfigured to alter the location of the instruments and controls if the operator desires. The pedestal the console is attached to is called the Console Stem. If the illusion of the Environmental Metaphor's Desktop Theme is relaxed the Control Console appears to be a multidimensional "thing" that would drive lesser species insane.

If the Isomorphic Security System has been set, then only the proper Time Lord may use the controls. Parts (or all) of the console can be electrified using the Immobilizer Switch. The console has voice-interaction circuits that can control, among other things, the Main Doors. Most operators appear to find it quicker to input commands directly into the console. It is possible that all the controls of a console are labeled in a way that can only be "seen" using on a Time Lord's 22 temporal senses. By the time of Time War, voice interaction with systems such as the Navigator is much more popular on non-military TARDISes. While it can be done, these ships are not designed for manual control.

The design of this Control Room is a three-dimensional model of a TARDIS's 4 dimensional Heart. The console in the center is directly connected to a TARDIS's power source. The Main Doors are always located in the active control room. From the Control Room the Time Lord operator can access the rest of the TARDIS via a dimensional bridge which leads to the Core Service Module. The Master Control Console can be made to appear outside the TARDIS's Exo-Shell if the operator uses the Architectural Configuration Program to locate the Console outside on the end of a dimensional juncture link. Once configured in this manner the Console can be physically transported independently from the rest of the TARDIS and yet still maintain its link.

A TARDIS manual can be accessed from the console by pressing a button marked "Manual". The interior lights can be controlled from a switch on the console and can be raised to painful brightness. TARDISes can interface with lower tech devices (such as image translators, radios and cell phones) fairly easily and a large collection of sockets and connectors can be found beneath a hatch on the console. There is a slot in the console's stem for playing large data cartridges as well as a computer interface plug behind a panel. The power outlet sockets are located beneath the Power Monitor Panel on the Console. They can instantly adapt to the power needs of any apparatus requiring energy. Power from the TARDIS can be used to recharge some types of space ships. This takes 3-4 hours.

A large octagonal Power Source hangs above the Master Control Console. It collects unused Artron Energy from the central column and recycles it back into the transpower systems. A switch on the panel closest to the door lowers the device to assist with regenerations by providing Artron Energy to the crewmember. While active the lights will strobe and a high pitch screech will be heard. This piece of TARDIS technology is considered to be a vital part of regeneration for without this assistance regenerations take much longer and are much more random.

If the operators are expecting a large amount of turbulence, Safety Belts can be connected to the Master Control Console and hold the operators next to the console. If there are more then six crewmembers then two padded couches with safety belts can extend out of the wall by activating a switch on the Control Console. In an emergency life-support masks supplied by tubes will drop from the ceiling. There will be one mask for each crewmember.

All TARDISes created after the Type 24 have more then one control room. These other control rooms all occupy the same space but each is located in different time phase. They can be reached by traveling through the TARDIS's pedestrian infrastructure, but for safety purposes, there's always about 2.4 to 4.8 miles of corridor between the Secondary (or Number 2 Control Room) and Primary Control Rooms. The Main Door can be shifted from one Control Room to another from any of the console rooms or from the outside using a TARDIS key.

The Primary Control Room (or Number One Control Room) is designed for standard flights. It contains a more stylized Control Console, which is mostly automated with few advanced options. Indeed many versions lack even a Time Rotor. Like almost all TARDISes created after the Type 19, the Console is a freestanding hexagonal structure, The interior design of a control room (and the rest of the TARDIS) is driven by device similar to a Chameleon Circuit - thus the interior has about as much possibility for variation as the exterior does. In the case of the Primary Control Room, the aesthetics of the operator often take precedence over functionality. This is expressed by users choice of Desktop Theme. The overall décor of the Primary Control Room is always fashioned to fit the whims of the Time Lord operator. Some aren't even hexagons.

The Secondary Control Room (or Number Two Control Room) is a much simpler Block Transfer program than the more aesthetically oriented Primary Control Room. Since it is designed to function as something of a Safe Mode, the Secondary Control Room, desk-top theme can't be altered from default. Only minor modifications can be made to its décor and the console can only be altered by upgrading to a higher Mark number. Number 2 Control Room has six walls that are about 4.6 meters tall and is about nine meters in diameter. In the center of the room is the Master Control Console. This hexagonal console has many technical capabilities that the Primary Control Room lacks. Located on the underside of this Control Console are the circuit breakers for all of a TARDIS's major systems and a silver switch that triggers a localized but powerful electromagnetic pulse. The supporting plinth contains a small storage locker.

The Tertiary Control Room is found near the center of a TARDIS's interior. It has a smaller Control Console with only four sides and a miniature Time Rotor. Some Tertiary Control rooms have green lighting and a console made of stone. This Control Room can generate its own exo-plasmic Shell and split off from the rest a TARDIS. In this form it can serve as a short term escape pod. When launched, it will home in on the "closest" habitable planet. It is also capable of locking onto and returning to its TARDIS if the operator wishes.

In addition to the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Control Rooms there are also several Control Relay Rooms which look like smaller versions of the Secondary Control Room. Given time, a TARDIS can rebuild/grow new Control Rooms to replace one that has been destroyed.

Type I Prototype TARDIS Control Room

(Cold Fusion)

Mark V Primary Control Room

(Doctor's TARDIS: Season 14)

Mark VIII Primary Control Room

(The Rani's TARDIS)

Mark IX Primary Control Room

(Doctor's TARDIS: Human Nature)
Panels 1 and 6 shown
	Panel 1: NAVIGATION Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR Panel 3: EXTERIOR MONITOR Panel 4: POWER MONITOR Panel 5: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 6: INFORMATIONAL

Mark IXB Primary Control Room

(Doctor's TARDIS: TV Movie)
Panels 1 and 6 shown
		Panel 1: NAVIGATION Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR Panel 3: EXTERIOR MONITOR Panel 4: POWER MONITOR Panel 5: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 6: INFORMATIONAL

Mark XC Primary Control Room

(9th and 10th Doctor's TARDIS)
Panels 1 and 6 showing (Panels are numbered counterclockwise)
	Panel 1: POWER MONITOR Panel 2: NAVIGATION Panel 3: INFORMATIONAL Panel 4: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR Panel 5: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

These panels contain the following systems:

Panel 1: POWER MONITOR

Panel 2: NAVIGATION

Panel 3: INFORMATION

Panel 4: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR

Panel 5: ARTRON MAINFRAME

Panel 6: EXTERNAL MONITOR

Mark I Secondary Control Room

(Doctor's TARDIS: Seasons 1-7)
Panels 6, 5, and 4 shown
	Panel 1: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL Panel 3: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS Panel 4: POWER MONITOR Panel 5: NAVIGATION Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Mark II Secondary Control Room

(The Master's TARDIS: Terror of the Autons - The Sea Devils/The Doctor's TARDIS : Seasons 8-11)
Panels 5 and 4 shown
	Panel 1: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL Panel 3: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS Panel 4: POWER MONITOR Panel 5: NAVIGATION Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Mark III Secondary Control Room

(The Master's TARDIS: The Time Monster)
Panels 6 and 5 shown
	Panel 1: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL Panel 3: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS Panel 4: POWER MONITOR Panel 5: NAVIGATION Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Mark IV Secondary Control Room

(The Monk's TARDIS)
Panels 5, 4, 3, and 2 shown
	Panel 1: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL Panel 3: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS Panel 4: POWER MONITOR Panel 5: NAVIGATION Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Mark I-Mark IV Secondary Console: Partial List of Controls

(Panels are numbered clockwise)

Panel 1: ARTRON MAINFRAME

Panel 2: ENVIRONMENTAL

Panel 3: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS

Panel 4: POWER MONITOR

Panel 5: NAVIGATION

Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Mark V Secondary Control Room

(The Doctor's TARDIS: Season 13)
Panels 4 and 5 shown (Panels number counter-clockwise)
	Panel 1: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS Panel 2: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 3: NAVIGATION Panel 4: EXTERIOR MONITOR Panel 5: POWER MONITOR Panel 6: ENVIRONMENTAL NOTE: Panel 1 contains the Computer Readout Screen

Mark VI Secondary Console

(Partial List of Controls)

(The Doctor's TARDIS: Seasons 15-20)
Panels 1, 2 and 3 shown
	Panel 1: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS Panel 2: POWER MONITOR Panel 3: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 4: NAVIGATION Panel 5: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR NOTE: Station #1 of the TARDIS console contains the Library Computer.

These panels contain the following systems:

Panel 1: INFORMATIONAL ACCESS

Computer Readout Screen

Panel 2: POWER MONITOR

Panel 3: ARTRON MAINFRAME

Panel 4: NAVIGATION

Panel 5: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR

Panel 6: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Mark IX Secondary Control Console

(The Doctor's TARDIS: Seasons 20-26 / The Master's TARDIS: Planet of Fire, Trial of a Time Lord)
Panels 2, 1, and 6 shown (Panels are numbered clockwise)
	Panel 1: NAVIGATION Panel 2: ARTRON MAINFRAME Panel 3: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR Panel 4: INFORMATIONAL Panel 5: EXTERIOR MONITOR Panel 6: POWER MONITOR

Panel 1: NAVIGATION

Panel 2: ARTRON MAINFRAME

Panel 3: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR

Panel 4: INFORMATIONAL

Databank Access

Panel 5: EXTERIOR MONITOR

Panel 6: POWER MONITOR

Mark X Secondary Control Console

(Scream of the Shalka)

Tertiary Console Room and Mark IX Console Room pictures courtesy of Daryl Joyce

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