UNIT and various iterations of the Doctor have had a strong working relationship that dates back toDoctor Who‘s classic era. The Doctor holds a senior position within the organization, but isn’t always on Earth to give UNIT the leadership it sometimes requires during times of crisis. So, UNIT is always developing new ways to account for the Doctor’s inability to always be present when needed. Some of these inventions come together quite quickly, whereas others can take decades of tweaking before they operate consistently and as desired.
UNIT’s Indigo Device In “The Reality War” Is The Finished Version Of Project Indigo From 2008’s “The Stolen Earth”
Ruby’s transmat backpack is a later version of the tech Martha uses in Doctor Who season 4
Doctor Who season 4 brought back Freema Agyeman as Martha Jones, with the Tenth Doctor’s former companion appearing in five episodes despite leaving the TARDIS at the end of season 3. Revealed to be working for UNIT, Martha is pivotal in saving the Earth from its abduction by Davros (Julian Bleach). When fleeing UNIT HQ, Martha does so by using a device developed under the name of “Project Indigo.” It turns out to be a back-worn teleportation device, but it is still in the prototype stage when it debuts in “The Stolen Earth.”
There was a very notable risk that Martha wouldn’t survive the use of the teleporter in “The Stolen Earth.
Martha’s use of Project Indigo was a last resort and was born out of desperation as the Daleks arrived. There was a very notable risk that Martha wouldn’t survive the use of the teleporter in “The Stolen Earth.” As explained by John Barrowman’s Captain Jack Harkness, Project Indigo was built from salvaged Sontaran technology, but UNIT had neither the “coordinates or stabilization” for it to work. Despite Jack’s warnings, Martha uses the experimental device, leading Jack to believe that Martha had been “scattered into atoms.” Thankfully, Martha got lucky and survived, and Project Indigo worked.
In Doctor Who season 15, episode 8, “The Reality War,” Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) is given a very similar piece of technology called the Indigo Device. Now out of the experimental phase of development, UNIT has seemingly perfected the teleporter so that it can be used consistently and with far fewer risks. The Indigo Device now has at least two functions. The yellow button allows a short-range trip, and the blue button is for jumps further afield. Ruby is also injected with something that makes the Indigo Device’s software respond to her.
Perfected Teleportation Technology Makes UNIT Even More Formidable Ahead Of Doctor Who’s Upcoming Spinoff
The War Between the Land and Sea will show an important UNIT battle
UNIT was already a formidable organization in Doctor Who lore, but the Disney era has made Kate’s team the most powerful iteration yet. As well as the relevant divisions boasting military-level training, the perfection of the Indigo Device makes UNIT soldiers an even bigger force to be reckoned with. With The War Between the Land and Sea set to pit UNIT against the Sea Devils, it seems that a key contributor to Earth’s safety is even more prepared for the conflict than anyone probably expected.
There is likely more tech yet to be revealed that UNIT will use to fight the Sea Devils in the upcoming Doctor Who spinoff.
“The Reality War” also reveals that UNIT Tower is essentially a skyscraper-sized gun turret that can even rotate to better target any incoming threats. Furthermore, the existence of the Time Window, as shown in Doctor Who season 14’s two-part finale, gives UNIT a huge advantage when it comes to reconnaissance missions and other forms of research. There is likely more tech yet to be revealed that UNIT will use to fight the Sea Devils in the upcoming Doctor Who spinoff.
