Autons

The Autons were robots that resembled plastic shop-window mannequins, animated by the Nestene Consciousness as soldiers. Though they were not the only creations of the Nestenes, they were the most easily identifiable and were utilised during every Earth invasion.

Every Auton was a fragment of the Consciousness, since it existed in everything it controlled, with Autons actually containing a sliver of Nestene intelligence (AUDIO: Brave New Town, PROSE: Autonomy) to animate them, albeit still controlled by a central Nestene brain to fully control and guide them. Larger fragments were given to replicas to allow copying of brain patterns and memories to allow them to pass off as the originals, and in some cases like the Swarm Leader Channing a large portion of the Consciousness could be given to an Auton so that it could almost be individual, having something akin to feelings and being able to directly control other Autons. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion) Although usually directed by the Consciousness, if its manifestation was damaged or disoriented, Autons units could become rogue and act independent. This could also occur with Autons left over from invasions that were randomly activated. (AUDIO: Brave New Town, PROSE: Autonomy)