Manual Symbiotic Bypass Controls
Every time a TARDIS dematerializes it leaves behind a telepathic "thumb print" of the operator's Symbiotic Nuclei. These "thumb prints" make it very easy for the High Council of Gallifrey to track a TARDIS through Time and Space. Through extensive modifications it is possible to bypass the symbiotic relationship and distort the telepathic "thumb print," thus preventing a TARDIS from being tracked.
To do so, a TARDIS's structure must be changed by installing controls and systems made of real matter and by drastically altering the operating system. The only way to achieve this is to remove several parts of the ship that are created out of block transfers and replace them with a combination of semi-organic, fiber-optic, metallic, and acoustic circuitry from the real Universe. This bypasses the Briode-Nebuliser, keeping it from automatically absorbing the Molecular/Dematerialization Codes from the operator's Symbiotic Nuclei.
Unfortunately, these codes are essential for dematerialization and safe vortex travel. Thus to ensure an accurate trip the operator needs to input the codes manually. Usually the inputting of the dematerialization codes is done telepathically before dematerialization, but they can be permanently programmed into the console as well. Without this telepathic "coaxing" some TARDISes with a Symbiotic Bypass won't even dematerialize.
This manual inputting bypasses the symbiotic circuits' normal access to the Rassilon Imprimatur. However, while all Time Lords carry the molecular dematerialization codes in their symbiotic nuclei the codes are not widely known to most Time Lords. The complex codes are quite difficult to compute and memorize, and even minor errors will result in malfunctions in the Directional Unit. These malfunctions often lead to a miss-jump, causing the TARDIS to materialize at the wrong point in space and time. If even parts of the code are still a secret, it can take more than a dozen attempts to successfully navigate the TARDIS to a desired location.
Another side effect is that a symbiotically bypassed TARDIS doesn't require the presence of a Time Lord to initiate a space-time jump. The Symbiotic Bypass also allows a TARDIS a large amount of free will. It is not unknown for such a TARDIS to allow any sapient being that it "likes" to have access to its Heart and other systems. In some cases, lesser species who input the proper Coordinates have even been able to initiate a space-time jump.
Color Key
The following color code is used:
- Black: For information from the TV Series, including Dimensions in Time, and 1996 TV Movie.
- Blue: For information from the Novels and Audios including Target, Virgin, BCC, and Big Finish.
- Green: For information from 'licensed' reference sources such as the Technical Manual, Doctor Who Magazine, and the Role Playing Games.
- Red: For information from unofficial sources -The Faction Paradox series, behind the scenes interviews, author's speculation, and popular fan belief.
The TARDIS Technical Index is copyright Will B Swift.
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