Cyber-Planner Network

The immobile command center that directs the Cyber-fleet's invasion of Earth.

The Cyber-Planner Network refers to the specific unit type introduced in the 1968 serial "The Wheel in Space." Unlike standard infantry units, the Cyber-Planner is an immobile command entity designed to direct the Cybermen's operations. First encountered on a marooned Earth space station in the 21st century, this unit served as the central brain for a fleet intending to invade Earth after securing the station. The Doctor and his companions faced this specialized form alongside regular Cybermen, marking a distinct evolution in their command structure where a static unit could coordinate mobile forces.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Cybermen (Various Incarnations)

Reader's Guide

To understand the Cyber-Planner, one must look to the 1968 serial "The Wheel in Space." This unit is defined by its immobility and its function as a director of forces. It was part of a scenario where the Cybermen intended to secure a space station before invading Earth. The defeat of this force came when the Doctor employed an x-ray laser, destroying the Cybermen and their command structure. Unlike the Cyber-Controllers seen in "The Tomb of the Cybermen" or the Leaders in other stories, the Planner is specifically noted for being stationary while managing the fleet's broader strategy.

Did You Know?

The name "Cyberman" is derived from cybernetics, a term popularized by Norbert Wiener in his 1948 book "Cybernetics or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine."
The Cybermen first appeared in "The Tenth Planet" (1966) as humans from Mondas who upgraded themselves for self-preservation.