Set during the Kaled-Thal war, Sixteen-year-old Davros’ father, Nasgard, wants him to join the military, but his ambitious mother, Calcula, wants him to become a scientist. When Nasgard is killed by a mysterious bomb, Tutor Magrantine makes an attempt on Davros’ life, revealing Nasgard was indirectly responsible for the death of his son. Davros locks him in a radioactive chamber.

A 29-year-old Davros develops weapons within the Kaled Military Elite. Unsatisfied by his rank, he seeks to join the Scientific Corps. The Supremo offers Davros a dangerous mission to sabotage Thal weapons, which, if successful, will lead to promotion. Davros’ sister Yarvell passionately supports peace with the Thals. During an argument, he inadvertently reveals the upcoming mission.

During the mission, the team is ambushed. Davros leads the surviving commandos to destroy the Thal’s rockets. On returning, they are attacked by mutated plants, created by a mutated Margrantine. He claims his hate for Davros motivated him to survive.

Years later, Davros forms a strange romance with co-scientist Shan, as they discover methods to manipulate a creature’s genetics. Calcula, who has become an influential politician, encourages Davros to engage in Kaled politics. He begins to develop a militaristic worldview, stating that only one species should survive the war.

Section Leader Fenn, under the Supremo’s orders, lures Calcula to Davros’ lab to destroy both Davros’ increasingly immoral work and Calcula’s influence. Calcula increases the lab’s radiation, killing them both. Davros arrives and believes Fenn to be a Thal spy. Calcula’s death leads to military rioting, which Davros offers to stop if the Supremo grants him more resources for his experiments. Horrified at Davros’ corruption, Shan argues for peace with the Thals and is executed by the Supremo.

After Davros is kidnapped by Thals, a crack squad, led by Lieutenant Nyder, is sent by the Supremo to retrieve him. Meanwhile, the Thal spy Baran infiltrates the guard's ranks. Nyder rescues a grateful Davros, who has become even more spiteful of the Thals. With Nyder's help, Davros unveils to the Kaled council his plan to mutate all Kaled offspring into a mutation impervious to irradiation. When the Supremo adamantly refuses, Davros kills the council via electric receivers in their anti-radiation tablets.