Cyber-Planner Network

Lore & Background

In "The Wheel in Space" (1968), the Cyber-Planner appears as an immobile unit which directs the Cybermen. The plot centers on a marooned Earth space station in the 21st century where the Doctor and his crew confront this threat. The Cybermen's plan was to take over the space station first, after which their fleet would invade Earth. This strategic approach highlights the Planner's role as a tactical hub rather than a frontline fighter. The unit represents a specific configuration of the Cyber-race encountered during the Second Doctor's era, distinct from the later Cyber-Controllers or Leaders who commanded through different means.

In Their Own Story

On the marooned space station in the 21st century, the Doctor and his companions discovered that the Cybermen were not merely raiding but executing a calculated invasion. The Cyber-Planner, an immobile unit, sat at the heart of their operations, directing the mobile forces. It oversaw the plan to seize control of the station as a prerequisite for launching the fleet against Earth. The Doctor utilized an x-ray laser to destroy the Cybermen, effectively neutralizing the threat posed by both the infantry and their static commander. This confrontation in "The Wheel in Space" remains a key turning point where the immobility of the Planner was its defining characteristic before the station's defenses turned the tide.

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 Cyber-Planner was introduced in the 1968 serial "The Wheel in Space" as an immobile unit that directed other Cybermen.
• In "The Wheel in Space," the Doctor used an x-ray laser to destroy the Cybermen and their planner on a marooned Earth space station.
• The Cybermen's plan involving the Planner was to take over the space station before launching a fleet invasion of Earth.
• 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.