[TARDIS in prehistoric field]

Doctor Who Chronology: Prehistory

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Before the creation of the universe

In a "time" before time as we understand it began, the Disciples of Light rise up against a massive, horned Beast and, in his own words, "chain him to the Pit for all eternity". While it is unclear exactly what this means, after the universe comes into existence the Beast is trapped at the core of a planet named Krop Tor in close orbit around a black hole, a prison that he cannot escape without be pulled into the black hole. Also after the crossover, the Beast is able to spread some influence across the universe, causing many civilizations to develop horned demons and devils as part of their religions, including Satan and Lucifer on Earth.

"The Impossible Planet" and "The Satan Pit" (assuming, of course, that the Beast is telling the truth).

A similar being called Abaddon appears to be trapped in the same way, eventually ending up trapped beneath the Cardiff Rift on Earth.

"End of Days" (TW).

13 700 000 000 BC

The universe is created when the time-travel-capable Terminus space-station visits the beginning of time and is forced to eject some of its unstable fuel, causing a massive explosion to become known as the Big Bang. Terminus is thrown forward through time billions of years and comes to rest in the center of the Universe. An anti-matter universe is also created, which will co-exist with the original for all time. Also formed in the explosion are two ultimate forces of Good and Evil; the Evil force will become the being dubbed Fenric by the Vikings. It is possible that the Doctor is present to witness the Big Bang. Moments after the universe's creation, the Shadow is placed at the beginning of time by the Black Guardian to await the existence of the Key to Time. During the first few microseconds (the Leptonic or Quark-Lepton Era), Helium 2, which is not able to exist after this point, is produced. Some time after the event, electrons and protons combine into hydrogen, one of the basic building blocks on the Universe.

The date for the creation of the universe is from current scientific theory. Terminus and the cause of the Big Bang is from "Terminus." The existence of the anti-matter universe is established in "The Planet of Evil." Fenric is from "The Curse of Fenric." The Doctor implies he was present at the Big Bang in "Destiny of the Daleks." In "The Armageddon Factor," the Shadow says he has been waiting for the Key to Time "since eternity began." The Leptonic Era, properly called the Quark-Lepton Era in current scientific theory, is from "Time and the Rani." The creation of hydrogen, referred to in "Castrovalva," is also from current scientific theory.

The early history of the Universe sees the development of the Carrionites, a race able to manipulate reality uses words the way other races use mathematics. They are banished from reality by the Eternals.

"The Shakespeare Code".

4 600 000 000 BC

During the period in the universe's history known as "the Dark Times", a war is waged between the Fledgling Empires (which includes the ancestors of the Time Lords) and the half-humanoid, half-arachnoid Racnoss. The Racnoss are almost completely wiped out.

Prior to "The Runaway Bride".

The Runaway Bride: At this point, the Earth is only a cloud of dust and rock waiting to form a planet. The 10th Doctor and Donna, investigating the Empress of Racnoss' desire to reach the Earth's core, witness the formation and discover that a Racnoss ship, containing the last survivors of that race, is the point around which the Earth shapes itself.

1 000 000 000 BC

A non-corporeal race called the Nestene begins moving from planet to planet, feeding off all life on those worlds. They will eventually reach the Earth in the 20th century.

"A thousand million years" before "Spearhead from Space" (1972).

Also around this time, the last seas on Androzani Minor dry up.

A billion years before "The Caves of Androzani" (2784).

In a solar system known as the Scarlet System, the Pallushi race develops a mighty civilization that will last for a billion years, at which point it will be destroyed when the System is pulled into black hole K37Gem5.

"The Impossible Planet".

400 000 000 BC

A vicious race called the Jagaroth almost completely wipe themselves out in a war. The last survivors of the conflict land their spacecraft on primeval Earth.

Shortly before "City of Death."

City of Death: 1/4: Scaroth, the last of the Jagaroth, attempts a premature lift-off from Earth. A future version of Scaroth arrives from the 20th century to stop the attempt, which will result in an explosion. The 4th Doctor, the 2nd Romana and Duggan arrive and stop the future Scaroth, ensuring that the disaster takes place on schedule. This causes Scaroth to "splinter" throughout time, where he will heavily influence human history. The explosion also causes the beginning of life on Earth.

The date of 400 000 000 BC is given by several characters throughout the story. This date is in fact incorrect, life having developed on Earth 3.5 billion years ago, by current thinking. Presumably, this is just another difference between the "Doctor Who" universe and our own.

200 000 000 BC

At this point, all of Earth's land masses are part of one super-continent called Pangaea.

Current scientific theory. The Doctor discovers a globe showing the Earth in this state in "Doctor Who and the Silurians."

150 000 000 BC

On the planet Kastria, scientist Eldrad has constructed spatial barriers to keep out solar winds which would otherwise lay the planet to waste. He has also devised a silicon-based form for the Kastrians, as well as much machinery to help replenish the planet and its atmosphere. Eldrad then attempts to take control of the planet from King Rokon, but is unsuccessful. In retaliation for his defeat, Eldrad destroys the barriers, dooming his people. The Kastrians construct an "obliteration module" which is launched into space containing Eldrad.

Some time before "The Hand of Fear."

The Hand of Fear: 1: Due to a problem in the computer systems on Kastria, Eldrad's module is exploded prematurely.

These events are described several times by the Doctor as having happened 150 million years before the rest of the story (1976).

The Kastrians realize that all life on their planet is doomed because of Eldrad's actions. They choose to allow themselves to die off, rather than live a miserable existence underground. They also destroy their race banks, fearing that Eldrad may return and use his people as an army. King Rokon leaves a recorded message for Eldrad should he return. Meanwhile, the only remaining fragment of Eldrad, his hand, lands on Earth and becomes buried.

Some time after "The Hand of Fear."

140 000 000 BC

Their world devastated in the cross-fire of the Vardon-Kosnak war, what is left of the race called the Xeraphin (combined into one gestalt entity to hold off radiation poisoning) leave to relocate on Jurassic Earth. Once there, they are contacted by the Master, who persuades the evil portion of the Xeraphin to work with him to fix his TARDIS. As part of the effort, the Master creates a time contour which pulls a Concorde flight back in time from 1982. The Master decides to use those on board as labour.

Some time before "Time-Flight."

Time-Flight: 1,2,3,4: The 5th Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan arrive in Jurassic era Heathrow in a Concorde from 1982, attempting to find another Concorde gone missing. They find the crew and passengers of that flight being used as labour by the Master. The Master is attempting to incorporate the gestalt race called the Xeraphin into his malfunctioning TARDIS. Although the Doctor successfully frees the crew and passengers, the Master does make the Xeraphin part of this TARDIS. The Doctor then follows the Master back to 1982.

At about this time, several dinosaurs, including Stegosaurus and Brontosaurus, are pulled ahead through time to 1975 as part of Operation: Golden Age, and return shortly afterwards.

"Invasion of the Dinosaurs." Both these dinosaurs lived during the late Jurassic period (195 million BC-140 million BC).

130 000 000 BC

A Plesiosaurus is abducted by Vorg's Mini-Scope and brought forward to the year 3073. It is returned shortly after due to the 3rd Doctor's actions.

"Carnival of Monsters." The Doctor notes that the Plesiosaurus has been extinct since this time (early Cretaceous).

65 000 000 BC

Around this time, several dinosaurs, including Pterodactyl, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops, are briefly pulled ahead through time to the 1970s as part of Operation: Golden Age. The Rani also takes several T. Rex embryos from this period for experimentation.

Operation: Golden Age from "Invasion of the Dinosaurs"; the Rani from "The Mark of the Rani." All these dinosaurs lived during the late Cretaceous (140 million BC-65 million BC).

Earthshock: 4: While the 5th Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan look on from the TARDIS, a freighter from the year 2526 with Adric on board crashes into the Earth. The ship's anti-matter engines explode, causing catastrophic changes in Earth's environment. These changes will eventually cause the extinction of the majority of dinosaur species.

60 000 000 BC

A ship of Xylok, a crystalline life-form, crashes on Earth and is buried beneath the Earth's crust.

"60 million years" before "The Lost Boy" (SJA) (2008).

38 000 000 BC

The Earth at this time is inhabited by a race of intelligent reptiles, eventually mis-named "Silurians," and their amphibian cousins, nicknamed "Sea Devils." Silurian scientists detect a large meteor headed for the Earth, which will cause enormous destruction to the planet. The Silurians and Sea Devils enter suspended animation underground to avoid the effects of the disaster. However, the meteor goes into orbit around the Earth, becoming its only moon. As a result, the Silurians and Sea Devils are not re-awakened until the late 20th century.

This date is first given by the Silurian Elder in "Doctor Who and the Silurians." As many Doctor Who reference materials take joy in pointing out, the Silurians are misnamed, and actually belong in the Eocene period, as corrected by the Doctor in "The Sea Devils," where we also learn of the existence of the Silurians cousin race.

12 000 000 BC

On the Fifth Planet of Earth's solar system, a creature called the Fendahl comes into being. It feeds on all life, indiscriminately. Considered too great a threat by the Time Lords, they destroy the Fifth Planet, and place it in a time loop, thus hiding their actions. The Fendahl, however, escapes, and lands on Earth, leaving nothing behind but its skull. The skull begins to affect evolution on Earth, heavily influencing human development over the next 12 million years. It feeds into the RNA of certain humans instincts and abilities that will eventually allow the Fendahl to revive itself.

"Image of the Fendahl." The Fendahl skull found is 12 million years old.

10 000 000 BC

The Gallifreyan engineer know as Omega causes a super-nova in order to supply power which will make time-travel technology possible on the planet Gallifrey. Omega appears to die in the explosion. However, Omega does not die, he is instead pulled into an anti-matter universe where he will remain a prisoner for millions of years.

Another Gallifreyan engineer called Rassilon captures the nucleus of a black hole, which is dubbed the Eye of Harmony, and has it contained under what will become the Time Lord's Capitol for use as a power source. He constructs several artifacts, including the Sash of Rassilon and the Rod of Rassilon, which allow the bearer safe access to the Eye, and the Great Key of Rassilon, which is a vital component in the construction of the De-Mat Gun, one of the most powerful weapons in existence. He also sets up the transduction barriers around Gallifrey to keep out any possible invaders. For all his accomplishments, Rassilon is elected the first President of the High Council of the Time Lords. It is decided that the Great Key is too dangerous for anyone to have access to, so it is secretly given the the High Council's Chancellor and will remain in a Chancellor's possession for all time. Rassilon and the Eye will eventually come to be remembered only as legends for millions of years.

Date for these events is based on the Doctor's statement in "The Trial of a Time Lord" that the Time Lords have had "10 million years of absolute power" (the 6th Doctor, as usual, tending towards hyperbole). Omega's story is told in "The Three Doctors" and we learn about Rassilon in "The Deadly Assassin" and "The Invasion of Time."

500 000 BC

Around this time, the earliest known Thal records are written on the planet Skaro.

"The Daleks." The Doctor says that the Thals' records are "nearly half a million years old."

140 000 BC

In E-Space, a ship from the planet Terradon called the Starliner crash-lands on the planet Alzarius, killing all aboard. The Alzarians natives, which will become known as Marshmen, start to evolve into replicas of those aboard, eventually believing themselves to be Terradonians. They begin to repair the Starliner. However, the records explaining how to fly the ship are lost. This fact is hidden from most of the faux-Terradonians, and "repair" of the ship is continued for thousands of years.

These events are described as happening "4000 generations" before "Full Circle" (1980). The figure of 140 000 years is borrowed from The Discontinuity Guide.

100 000 BC

The Time Lords, having just recently started their explorations of time and space, come across the planet Minyos. The Time Lords decide to do all they can to help Minyan civilization develop, offering them highly advanced technology. As a result, the Minyans come to see the Time Lords as gods. However, the Minyans eventually turn against their "gods," forcing them to leave Minyos. A series of wars break out, destroying all life on the planet. Before the end, however, a ship, the P7E, is launched, containing the race banks of the Minyan people. It is hoped that these can be used to populated another planet on the other side of the universe. When contact is lost, another ship, the R1C, is sent to find it. This "Quest" will take 100 000 years. Because of these events, the Time Lords adopt a non-intervention policy, deciding to be merely observers of time and space.

"100 000 years" before "Underworld" (1978).

After the rest of his tribe dies out from the cold, Kal crosses the nearby mountains, where he finds and joins Za's tribe.

Some time before "100 000 BC."

100 000 BC: An Unearthly Child; The Cave of Skulls; The Forest of Fear; The Firemaker: The 1st Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara encounter a group of cavemen seeking the secret of fire. Believing the travellers to have the secret, they are held captive until they reveal their knowledge. Ian discovers a way to trick the cavemen, and the group are able to escape.

Date comes from title.

Around this time, the immensely powerful Dæmons visit Earth for the first time. They will influence human development for the next 100 000 years, and their images will appear in many mythologies and religions around the world.

"Nearly 100 000 years" before "The Dæmons."

55 519 BC

Monarch leaves the planet Urbanka in Galaxy REI489 and heads for the planet Earth. He carries on his ship the entire population of Urbanka on computer chips.

"Four to Doomsday." The ship's initial journey takes 20 000 years before reaching Earth in 35 519 BC.

35 519 BC

Monarch's ship reaches Earth for the first time. Monarch and his crew abduct the Australian aboriginal Kurkurtji and a number of his contemporaries. Their memories are recorded and they are given androids bodies.

"Four to Doomsday." The trip back to Urbanka takes half the time as it previously did, placing this event 10 000 years before Monarch's return to Urbanka in 25 519 BC.

30 000 BC

A ship of Ice Warriors from the planet Mars crash-land on Earth towards the end of the Ice Age. The ship is caught in an avalanche, freezing the Ice Warriors. They will not be revived until the year 3000.

"The Ice Warriors." The ship is said to have crashed during the last ice age, which lasted from 70 000 BC-30 000 BC.

25 519 BC

Monarch's ship arrives back at Urbanka. Some time later, Monarch begins another journey to Earth.

"Four to Doomsday." 10 000-year trip back to Earth, arriving in 15 519 BC.

20 000 BC

Late in the Pleistocene Period, two Kynoid pods land in the Antarctic. They become embedded in the ice and will remain dormant until the late 20th century.

"The Seeds of Doom."

15 519 BC

Monarch visits Earth for a second time. While there, he abducts Mayan Princess Villagra and some of her subjects. They are given android bodies.

"Four to Doomsday." This happens 5000 years before Monarch's return to Urbanka in 10 519 BC, the trip once again being cut in half.

(Mayans, contrary to the story, did not flourish at this time, but from c.300 AD to c. 900 AD. Either Villagra comes from some pre-Mayan civilization, or this is just another difference between the "Doctor Who" universe and our own.)

10 519 BC

Monarch reaches and leaves Urbanka, once again heading for Earth.

"Four to Doomsday." 5000 years before Monarch's next visit to Earth in 5519 BC.

6700 BC

On the planet Skaro, a war breaks out between the Thals and the Kaleds. This war, which will last for a thousand years, will eventually use up all the planet's resources, causing the armies on both sides to use more and more primitive weapons as the fighting goes on. During the first century of the conflict, biological weapons are used extensively. These weapons lead to mutations on both sides which are named "mutos" and banished to the no-man's land between the the cities of the two peoples. In the Kaled city, a group of scientists is placed in charge of finding a way to help bring the conflict to an end. This group will slowly grow in power until they effectively control the Kaled dome.

The war started "1000 years" before "Genesis of the Daleks" (5700 BC).

5700 BC

On the planet Skaro, Kaled scientific leader Davros reinforces the Kaled dome to better help protect it from Thal rocket attacks.

"Months" before "Genesis of the Daleks."

Genesis of the Daleks: 1,2,3,4,5,6: The 4th Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive on the planet Skaro. They have been sent by the Time Lords in an effort to prevent the creation of the Daleks. At this point in time, a thousand-year war is being between the Thals and the Kaleds. In the middle of this war, the time-travellers meet Davros, a scientists who is responsible for the experiments which will mutate the Kaleds into the Daleks. The Doctor is unsuccessful in preventing the Daleks' creation, but is able to do enough damage that they will not dominate the entire universe as foreseen by the Time Lords. Davros is apparently killed by his creations.

Davros does, in fact, survive the attack. There is damage to his primary life-support systems, but the secondary systems keep him alive in a state of suspended animation.

These events are difficult to date. In Lance Parkin's History, the war is placed approximately 6000 years before "The Daleks." Although my date for "The Daleks" is different, I am placing the war the same amount of time previously. Davros' survival is revealed in "Destiny of the Daleks."

(This is unlikely to be the war mentioned in "The Daleks," as that war is described as being specifically between the Thals and the Daleks, not the Kaleds. There is also reference to a single "neutron bomb" which irradiates large portions of the planet. Those events are placed in 201 BC.)

5246 BC

On the planet Uxarieus, the inhabitants of that world develop a weapon capable of causing a star to go super-nova. This device is tested on a nearby star, resulting in what will be called the Crab Nebula. The radiation from the explosion eventually poison the soil of Uxarieus and the race begins to fall into savagery.

"Colony in Space." The Crab Nebula became visible on Earth in 1054 and is approximately 6300 light years away, implying this date.

5519 BC

Monarch visits Earth again, this time kidnapping mandarin Lin Futu of the Futu dynasty in China, as well as a number of his contemporaries. Their identities are transferred to androids bodies.

"Four to Doomsday." 2500 years (the trip being cut in half yet again) before Monarch's next visit to Urbanka in 3019 BC.

5089 BC

After destroying his home planet of Phaester Osiris and leaving a trail of destruction across the galaxy, Sutekh the Destroyer is cornered by his fellow Osirans on Earth in Egypt. It takes the power of 740 Osirans led by Sutekh's brother Horus to defeat Sutekh. Horus has his brother imprisoned by a force field in a pyramid, and sets up the field's power source on Mars. The Osirans are mistaken as gods and become the basis for ancient Egyptian religion and culture.

"7000 years" before "Pyramids of Mars" (1911).

3019 BC

Monarch returns to Urbanka; he leaves for Earth again soon after.

"Four to Doomsday." The trip back to Earth takes 2500 years, ending in 519 BC.

2650 BC

The Daleks' Master Plan: Golden Death; Escape Switch: The 1st Doctor, Steven and Sara Kingdom encounter the Daleks, Mavic Chen and the Meddling Monk near the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of King Khufu was built at about this time.

2100 BC

The Meddling Monk uses anti-grav lifts to help in the construction of Stonehenge.

"The Time Meddler." Exact date is conjecture; Stonehenge was built over a substantial period of time.

2064 BC

In the city of Atlantis, the Atlanteans attempt to gain control of the Kronovore Kronos through the use of the Kronos Crystal. The attempts are unsuccessful, turning one man into a Minotaur. The Atlanteans then try to destroy the Crystal, but this only causes it to split in two, the second Crystal being lost in time. The original Crystal is then hidden away, with the Minotaur as guard.

537 years prior to "The Time Monster" (1527 BC).

2022 BC

The Cessair of Diplos, a criminal accused of murder, theft of the Great Seal of Diplos, and the removal of several Ogri from their homeworld is being transported in a ship through hyperspace to her trial. Something goes wrong, and she is able to escape to Earth, leaving the ship stranded in hyperspace. She takes on the identity of the Cailleach, a local Druidic goddess, and over the next 4000 years will pose as a number of rather infamous women, including the Lady Morgana Montcalm, Mrs. Trefusis and Señora Camara.

4000 years before "The Stones of Blood" (1978).

1992 BC

The Kalasium Lights are seen from Earth, for the last time until 2008.

"4000 years" before "The Lost Boy" (SJA) (2008). (I'm sure I've gotten "Kalasium" wrong as I can't quite make out what Sarah calls the light show. If anyone with this story and closed captioning could let me know what's really said here, I'd appreciate it.)

1527 BC

The Time Monster: 2,3,5,6: The 3rd Doctor and Jo are unsuccessful in their attempt to prevent the Master from taking over Atlantis and summoning Kronos. As a result, Atlantis is destroyed. The Doctor and Jo pursue the escaping Master in the TARDIS.

The Doctor estimated that these events happened 3500 years before the 1973 portion of the story.

1210 BC

In ancient Troy, Troilus is born.

Troilus is almost 17 at the time of "The Myth Makers" (1193 BC).

1203 BC

In ancient Troy, Melenaus challenges Paris to personal combat for taking Helen from him. Paris refuses; this leads to the Trojan War. At some point during the War, the Rani spends some time harvesting chemicals from the brains of soldiers involved.

The war has been going on for 10 years by the time of "The Myth Makers" (1193 BC). The Rani's presence is established in "The Mark of the Rani."

1193 BC

The Myth Makers: Temple of Secrets; Small Prophet, Quick Return; Death of a Spy; Horse of Destruction: The 1st Doctor, Vicki and Steven are caught up in the events of the final days of the Trojan War. The Doctor is forced to invent the Trojan Horse; Vicki, who has taken on the identity of Cressida, falls in love with Troilius, and stays behind; and, after being injured in battle, Steven is saved by a girl named Katarina, who leaves with the other time-travellers.

1017 BC

Mawdryn and seven allies steal a metamorphic symbiosis generator from the Time Lords in an effort to achieve immortality. Instead, they mutate horribly and become unable to die, constantly and painfully regenerating. They are exiled from their homeworld for their actions. Their ship is caught in a warp ellipse and reaches a new planet every seventy years, when one of the mutants can transmat down to the planet, seeking help.

3000 years before "Mawdryn Undead" (1983).

1000 BC

At approximately this time, the Exxilons visit Peru on Earth, where they help the Incas build their temples.

"Death to the Daleks." The Doctor theorizes that the Exxilons were responsible for the construction of the temples in Peru. These temples are about 3000 years old (from Sarah's late 20th century point of view), placing the Exxilons visit around this time.

Also arriving on Earth around this period are three alien parasites with the ability to turn people to stone with their gaze; they become the source of Gorgon myths. Having lost their talisman, which opens a portal back to their homeworld, these "Gorgons" are stranded on Earth. One of the three is also killed during this period by a Greek hero, inspiring the Greek myth of Perseus killing Medusa.

Approximately 3000 years before "Eye of the Gorgon" (SJA) (2008).

800 BC

A great Bronze Age warrior chieftain is buried in the barrow which will eventually come to be known as the Devil's Hump.

"The Dæmons." According to Professor Horner's theory.

574 BC

In ancient Greece, future philosopher Bigon is born.

"Four to Doomsday." Bigon says he has memories of 2555 years, suggesting he was 55 years old when taken in 519 BC.

519 BC

Monarch's ship returns to Earth yet again. A number of Greek citizens, among them the philosopher Bigon are taken by Monarch and placed in android bodies.

"Four to Doomsday." This happens 1250 years before Monarch's return to Urbanka in AD 731; the trip is again cut in half.

508 BC

The Roman Cult of Demnos is formed. The Cult will be active until well into the 15th century.

"The Masque of Mandragora." One of the Cult members mentions a "dream of 2000 years come true," placing the Cult's origins at this time.

440 BC

Around this time, a group of Greek sailors are abducted by the Eternals to compete in their 1983 race.

"Enlightenment." Exact date is conjecture; the Greeks come from the time of Pericles (490 BC-429 BC).

218 BC

During the Second Punic War, Carthaginian military commander Hannibal crosses the Alps with an army to invade Italy. When boulders block the army's path, Hannibal's engineers heat the boulders with wood fires, then pour vinegar over them. The rocks, weakened by the heat, are broken up into smaller, more easily movable pieces by the vinegar, allowing Hannibal's forces access.

Historical records and "World War Three."

210 BC

About this time, the Eternals kidnap a group of Chinese sailors for their 1983 space race.

"Enlightenment." Exact date is conjecture; sometime during the Ch'in Dynasty (221BC-206 BC).

201 BC

A war between the Daleks and the Thals comes to an end. A "neutron bomb" irradiates most of the planet, and a group of Daleks move into their metal City; the Thals take up new lives as farmers.

"More than 500 years" before "The Daleks" (AD 300).

147 BC

Many soldiers are taken from the fighting between the Greeks and the Romans by the War Lords to fight in the War Games in 1969. They are returned by the Time Lords shortly after.

"The War Games." A "Greek war zone" is mentioned. In the year I have chosen, the Greeks were fighting Roman invaders.

50 BC

Roman soldiers are taken from this time by the War Lords to battle in the War Games in 1969. They are returned home by the Time Lords.

"The War Games." At this time, the Romans were at war with Pompey.

36 BC

On the planet Marinus, technology reaches its peak with the construction of the Conscience of Marinus.

2000 years before "The Keys of Marinus" (1964).

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