:''For the Cybermen of the revived series, see [[Cyberman (Pete's World)]]. See also [[Cyberman (disambiguation)]].''
''"You've no home planet, no influence; nothing! You're just a pathetic bunch of tin soldiers skulking about the galaxy in
an ancient spaceship."''―[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]]
The '''Cybermen''' were a race of artificially modified [[near-Human]]s which originated on the [[planet]] [[Mondas]], [[Earth]]'s [[twin planet]].
==Characteristics==
===Physical characteristics===
[[Image:649px-Newcyberman.jpg|thumb|200px|Two Cybermen ([[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'')]]
The Cybermen were [[cybernetic]]ally augmented [[humanoid]]s. Though the Cybermen varied greatly in design through time, the various versions of the Cybermen had several things in common. Nearly all were silver in colour, though, for stealth purposes, a black variety also existed in the [[London sewers]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]''). They also exhibited exposed circuitry and tubing which may contain hydraulic fluids for motion, covering a rubber or mylar-like outer skin. Cybermen frequently attempted to increase their numbers by [[cyber-conversion]].
:''It seems that the evolution of the Cybermen has not proceeded in a linear fashion or in the same way in the same places.''
The Cybermen which [[First Doctor|the Doctor]] met on [[Snowcap Base]] in [[1986]] had undergone a less radical conversion and still retained biological hands. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'')
Cybermen encountered on [[the Moon]]'s surface were entirely covered up in their metallic suits. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')
:''It is presumed that inside the more advanced Cybermen, there still exist organic components and they are not completely cybernetic, but this has not been confirmed.''
The Snowcap Cybermen had a quavering voice which put certain inflection on certain syllables in a seemingly random, sing-song manner. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'') Later Cybermen spoke in more of a monotone, emphasizing their lack of emotion. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'' onwards)
[[Image:Damaged by gunfire.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Various Cybermen can be damaged by gunfire. ([[DW]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'')]]
{{Quote|We are human-point-2. Every citizen will recieve a free upgrade. You will become like us.|Cyberman|Rise of the Cybermen}}
====Vulnerabilities====
Cybermen had a number of major weaknesses, of which the most notable was the element [[gold]]. Gold, having a non-corrosive nature, choked their respiratory systems, a property exploited by the [[glittergun]], a weapon used during the [[Cyber-Wars]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Earthshock]]'', ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'') On occasion, the mere touch of gold seemed toxic to them, with gold coins or gold-tipped arrows able to destroy them. ([[DW]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'') Gold also blocked their sensors and caused the [[cybermat]]s to malfunction. ([[DWN]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (novelisation)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
Other weaknesses of the Cybermen included the combination of solvents known as [[Cocktail Polly]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'') and excessive levels of [[radiation]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'').
The '''Cybus Cybermen''' originated in [[Pete's World|another universe]], where they were created by [[John Lumic]], the owner of [[Cybus Industries]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'')
Cybermen affected by the [[cerebreton mentor]], an emotion enhancing device, went "mad". ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')
They believed that all people must be "upgraded" to Cyber-form as they were weak. These Cybermen believed that emotions were proof that they destroyed the individual which was why they were converted to remove them. This concept they believed must be shared with others, from Humans to the universe itself.
==Technology==
Conversion involved removing the brain of the subject and placing it within a suit of armour. This process was horrific with screams often being heard by the victims that were forcibly subjected through the procedure. Once complete, the newly developed Cyberman had a special implant placed within their brains which prevented them from feeling their emotions or registering their past memories making them cold calculating machines.
===Technology===
The Cybermen forces in [[2526]] employed the use of the Cyberlance, a powerful hand-held cutting weapon. They also made use of the Cyberscope, an observation device that allowed Cyber commanders to both view the battlefield remotely and access a computer database (containing, at least, information on their race's encounters with [[the Doctor]]). ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'')
===Weapons (Short Range)===
However, if the implants were disrupted then the Cybermen entered into a traumatic state as they were overloaded by the pain of the conversion resulting in them dying in agony or their heads exploding from the overload of emotions.
Cybermen have possessed a variety of short range weapons, some in-built.
During their attack on Earth in [[1986]] they had large hand-held energy weapons. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'')
Typically, Cybermen were led by [[Cyber Leader]]s during conversion missions. If the Cyber Leader was terminated then the Cybermen downloaded the shared files and nominated a new Cyber Leader.
On the [[Moon]] in [[2070]], Cybermen possessed the power to generate arcs of electricity from their hands which had the power to stun and disable. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')
: ''Note: the name "Cybus Cybermen" has been created by fans to differentiate these "new series" Cybermen with those of the classic series. It has, to date, not been used on screen to describe these creatures.''
In the [[21st century]], the Cybermen who attacked [[Space Station W3]] had death rays built into their chest units. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'')
The Cybermen encountered by [[UNIT]] in the late 20th century had displayed these same built-in weapons as well as also carrying large rifles for medium distance combat. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')
The Cybermen who attacked the [[Nerva Beacon]] had their weapons built into their helmets, activated with a touch of a hand. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
Other appearances have shown them armed almost exclusively with hand-held [[cyber-gun]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'' onwards)
[[Image:500px-Cybermenmoon.jpg|200px|thumb|Cybermen on the surface of [[the Moon]] (with cannon) ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')]]
===Weapons (Other)===
In [[2070]], the Cybermen possessed a cannon which could operate in vacuum. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')
Cybermen in [[2526]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'') and the Cybermen removed by [[Time Scoop]] to the [[Death Zone]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'') had [[cyber-bomb]]s.
[[Neurotrope X]] has acted as a means to incapacitate Humans before making an overt move. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]''). On some occasions they have used a [[cybermat]] to spread the virus. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
==Culture==
''"Cybermen do not subscribe to any theory of morality."''-Cyberleader
Cybermen made "survival" their central objective. Since they could not reproduce naturally, they needed to reproduce by other means, via [[cyber-conversion]]. At times they have tended to focus on converting the population of Earth, at other times with simply destroying it. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')
Cybermen tended toward covert activity, scheming from hiding and using Human or other agents ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Earthshock]]'', ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]''), cybermats or [[android]]s ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'') to act as their proxies until they appear.
===Individuality and emotion===
Throughout their history, Cybermen have, for the most part, lacked individuality or names.
Some Cybermen had individual names such as [[Krang]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'') or [[Kroton (Cyberman)|Kroton]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[Throwback: The Soul of a Cyberman]]'')
:''In the script and cast listings for [[The Tenth Planet]] the individual Cybermen had names. They were [[Krail]], [[Talon]], [[Shav]], [[Krang]], [[Jarl]] and [[Gern]].'' ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia]]'')
Cybermen in positions of authority have included the ground level [[Cyber-Leader]], sometimes aided by a [[Cyber-Lieutenant]]. Immobile [[computer]]-like [[Cyber-Planner]]s have sometimes made decisions ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'', ''[[The Invasion]]''). The [[Cyber-Controller]]s, with an enlarged cranium, had, possibly, the position of highest possible authority. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'', ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'')
:''Only one Cyber-Controller ever appeared at one time.''
==History==
==History==
===Origin of the Cybermen===
{{Quote|This broadcast is for humankind. Cybermen now occupy every landmass on this planet; but you need not fear. Cybermen will remove fear. Cybermen will remove sex, and class, and colour, and creed. You will become identical. You will become like us.|Cyber Leader.|Doomsday}}
Cybermen were originally a wholly organic species of [[Near-Human]]s originating on [[Earth]]'s former [[twin planet]], [[Mondas]], which was knocked out of solar orbit and drifted into deep [[space]]. The natives began to implant more and more [[cybernetic]] parts into their bodies. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'', [[BFA]]: ''[[Spare Parts]]'')
Another account says that Mondas originated on the planet [[Marinus]] and that the Cybermen originated as a species called [[Voord]] that, through the use of [[Worldshaper]] devices manipulated time to speed up their [[evolution]]. In the "sped up" future they implanted themselves with more and more cybernetic parts. Also Marinus changed and became Mondas.([[DWM]]: ''[[The World Shapers]]'')
:''Possibly, Cybermen did evolve on the not very Earth-like Marinus, ventured into space and persuaded the Mondasians to also convert themselves into Cybermen. This theory, however, remains speculative and only an attempt to resolve the conflicting accounts.''
===The 20th Century and Early 21th Century===
Mondas acquired a drive propulsion system in place of the [[planet]]'s core to move the entire world. As the original Cybermen were limited in numbers and were continually being depleted, the Cybermen decided to invade [[Earth]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'')
[[Seventh Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Ace]] fought Cybermen in [[1940]] [[London]] ([[PDA]]: ''[[Illegal Alien]]'') The same team would fight them in [[1950s]] [[Nevada]]. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Good Soldier]]'')
By [[1970]] or before, Cybermen had established a base on the dark side of [[the Moon]]. The [[Cyber-Planner]] had contacted the industrialist [[Tobias Vaughn]], the head of the [[International Electromatics]] corporation. The Cybermen had him install mind control circuits in electrical appliances manufactured by his company, paving the way for a ground invasion. They had also grafted cybernetic arms onto several of his workers. Vaughn had a [[Cyber-Planner]] installed in his office and communicated with it.
The plot was uncovered by the newly formed [[United Nations Intelligence Taskforce]] and by [[Second Doctor|the Doctor]] who assisted in beating off the invasion both on the ground and from the Cyberman base on the Moon. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'').
:''These Cybermen had evolved considerably from Mondasian form and from the Cybermen which would invade Earth in 1986. The exact date of this invasion remains unknown, though estimates range of its date range from [[1969]] to [[1979]]''
[[Image:Invasion.jpg|thumb|Cybermen prowl the [[sewer]]s of [[London]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')]]
From the mid [[1970s]] to [[1985]], Cybermen lurked in the sewers below London, awaiting another invasion, which would come in [[1986]]. One Cyberman's head was taken and was stored in [[Henry van Statten]]'s [[the Vault|artefact collection]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]'')
:''According to its label, it was recovered from the [[London]] sewers in [[1975]], though its design seems subtly anachronistic for its era and more typical of the designs seen in the post-Cyber Wars era.''
Cybermen in the future, having captured a [[time vessel]], knew that [[First Doctor|the Doctor]] would destroy Mondas, so planned, instead, to divert [[Halley's Comet]] towards Earth. ([[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'')
In [[December]] [[1986]], [[First Doctor|the Doctor]] met an advance force of Cybermen that landed near [[Snowcap Base]] in [[Antarctica]]. This advance force was to prepare for the return of Mondas to the [[Sol system]] and the draining of Earth's energy for the use of the Cybermen. Mondas absorbed too much energy and was destroyed, as were the Cybermen on Earth who depended on Mondas for power. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tenth Planet]]'')
From the crack in the universe, the Parallel Earth Cybermen were able to travel from their dimension into ours, and infiltrated the planet in the disguise as the benign ghosts of deceased Humans. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'')
In [[November]] [[1988]] a fleet of Cyber warships was assembled to turn Earth into New Mondas now that their homeworld had been destroyed. A scouting party was sent to Earth in search of a statue made of [[validium]] called [[Nemesis]], a [[Time Lord]] weapon. ([[DW]]: ''[[Silver Nemesis]]'')
The established a base inside the Torchwood Tower at Canary Wharf. While there, they started making some new Cybermen, using purely Earth materials from our universe.
In [[2006]], Cybermen once more invaded the [[South Pole]] of Earth. ([[NA]]: ''[[Iceberg]]'')
After two months (three years in Parallel Earth time), the Cybermen suddenly appeared in their true form,occupying every landmass on the planet before breaking into houses and promising to upgrade all Humans, commanded by the new Cyber-Leader. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday]]'', [[TW]]: ''[[Everything Changes]]'')
===Later Cyber Empire era===
Simultaneously, the [[Cult of Skaro]] had exited the Void Ship with the [[Genesis Ark]]. The Cult, led by Dalek Sec, extracted information from a member of staff from Torchwood 1, and proceeded to communicate with the Cybermen via Dalek Thay and declare war or in Dalek Sec's words, "pest control". ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
''The chronology of several of these events in relationship to each other remains unclear.''
In [[2070]], by which time Earth's weather was being controlled by the [[Gravitron]] installation on the [[Moon]], Cybermen planned to use the Gravitron to disrupt the planet's weather patterns and destroy all life on the planet. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Moonbase]]'')
In the middle to late [[21st century]], the [[Space Station W3]] was the site of a takeover by Cybermen on [[Earth]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Wheel in Space]]'')
After a skirmish Humans and Cybermen versus Daleks, the Cult traveled to the main room in Torchwood Tower Canary Wharf, elevated outside above the roof, and opened the Genesis Ark, releasing millions of Daleks who, under Sec's command, proceeded to "exterminate all life-forms below", killing Human and Cyberman alike. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
[[Sixth Doctor|The Doctor]] encountered Cybermen in [[2191]] ([[MA]]: ''[[Killing Ground]]'')
During the battle, the Cybermen began to convert Torchwood personnel, like Yvonne Hartman and Lisa Hallett in large numbers. These were, at least in some cases, not full conversions, with the brain removed and put in a Cyber-shell, but partial conversions where the Cybermen built over the Human body beneath. ([[TW]]: ''[[Cyberwoman]]'')
In [[2526]] several planets would unite in war against the Cybermen in an event called the [[Cyber-Wars]]. A force of Cybermen tried to devastate Earth using a [[Cyberbomb]] and convert the survivors. Failing this, they hoped to crash the freighter into Earth and cause an ecological disaster. Although the attempt failed, the freighter was catapulted back in time to become the "[[meteor]]" that wiped out the [[dinosaur]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Earthshock]]'') One of the last acts of the Cybermen during this war was to blow up the planet [[Voga]] in order to stop the production of [[glittergun]]s. ([[DWN]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen (novelisation)|Revenge of the Cybermen]]'') Following the [[Cyber-Wars]] the Cybermen had been reduced to scattered remnants groups around [[Mutter's Spiral|the galaxy]]. Several centuries later, one group returned to the [[Sol system]] in order to destroy [[Voga]], the "planet of gold". ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')
The Doctor and Rose Tyler opened the Void, sucking all the Daleks and Cybermen who had been in the Void back into it, and finally nearly sucking Rose herself in, but Pete Tyler teleported through the Void, grabbed her and teleported back to his parallel Earth where her parents, Jackie Tyler, that universe's version of her father, Pete, and Mickey Smith had decided to stay. The entire battle had lasted less than a day, but the Doctor commented that "so many" people died that day, and that the effects on Earth were devastating. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doomsday]]'')
[[Image:St--4d33.jpg|thumb|[[Cybermen]] and [[Cyber-Leader|their leader]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[Revenge of the Cybermen]]'')]]
However, this was not the last of the Cybermen. The Cybermen that were made on Earth, had never passed through the Void, therefore they were not sucked in. Some escaped, but a lot of these Cybermen were then boxed up.
The Cybermen had all but passed into legend when an archaeological expedition to the planet [[Telos]] uncovered their Tombs. In the Tombs, they they waited, in [[cryogenic suspension]], ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'')
After the battle, many jobs were lost. Harry and Sam, best friends, were working on a model train set, when they found stuff from Harry's dad's previous job. Inside the box was a Cyberman, in all his individual pieces. Not knowing what it was, Sam decided to put it back together so it could watch them play. Eventually, it awoke, threatening to upgrade both Harry and Sam. It forced Sam to help build a "Cyber-Conversion Unit" using the other leftover electronics from the Torchwood Tower in the box. They destroyed the Cyberman, by pushing it into the finished machine, frying it's circuits. (''Going off the Rails'')
:''Though this does not help us in dating this event precisely, the last Cybermen appearance known to Humans had happened five centuries before this date.''
On Telos, the Cybermen plotted to change history and, as already noted, divert Halley's Comet to Earth in order to destroy it and to save Mondas. ([[DW]]: ''[[Attack of the Cybermen]]'')
Due to the Daleks' damaging the barriers between realities ([[DW]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]''), the Cybermen were able to escape the Void, assisted by technology stolen from the Void-trapped Daleks. Landing in 1851 London, they made an alliance with the human Miss Hartigan, created a minion race known as [[Cybershade]]s, and began construction of a dreadnought robot called the [[CyberKing]] with which they planned to conquer the Earth. They were stopped and destroyed, with the CyberKing being sent back to the Void.
:''As noted previously, these actions would have repercussions in the year 1985.''
===Final evolution===
Here, they had began using devices called infostamps: canisters which could wirelessly broadcast streams of information, allowing the Cybermen to swiftly gain data. Infostamps could be sabotaged so that the data streams would overload Cybermen, and when one was corrupted it meant they could no longer recognise the [[Tenth Doctor]].([[DW]]: ''[[The Next Doctor]]'')
By the [[101st Century]], the Cybermen had nearly died out. Several centuries before that, they choose a new name for their species and became pacifists. ([[PDA]]: ''[[Synthespians™]]'')
Later Cybermen would develop time travel, heading back in time to 21st Century Earth to convert it. They used rain that caused extreme emotions (sadness, fear, anger) in an attempt to convert the peoples of the world. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The Flood]]'')
== Weapons and Technology ==
{{Quote|Delete! Delete!|The battle-cry of the Cybus Cybermen.|Rise of the Cybermen}}
Transcending into pure energy, the Cybermen would ultimately redeem the whole of sentient life and become the most peace loving species in the whole of creation.. ([[DWM]]: ''[[The World Shapers]]'')
Unlike the [[Mondasian Cybermen]], these Cybermen were created by taking the brain of [[human]]s and placing them in robotic bodies. These exo-structures were stauncher and more heavily built than Mondasian Cybermen, and so far the common Cyberman weakness for gold was present in the early developement of the Cybermen but was eliminated.
===[[Rassilon Era]]===
These new Cybermen were without a [[Cyber-Controller]] after their creator [[John Lumic]] was slain. Their only weapons were their electrified hands and a small wrist-mounted energy weapon. They were also programed with a computer chip that disabled them from having emotion or sense of feeling though it can be shut down with the code '''6879760''', to prevent them realizing what they are.
*During the [[Dark Times]] on [[Gallifrey]], the Cybermen were excluded from the Death Zone games, possibly out of fear that they would pose a threat to the Time Lords should they escape. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'')
*[[Second Doctor|The Doctor]] projected an image of a Cybermen to the Time Lord tribunal as an example of the enemies he had fought to protect the innocent. ([[DW]]: ''[[The War Games]]'')
*[[Borusa]] transported a Cyberman squadron to the [[Death Zone]] to threaten and harry [[the Doctor]]'s various incarnations. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Five Doctors]]'')
===Minor appearances and references===
When they crossed the [[Void]] and entered our world, they now had built-in lasers and were under the leadership of a [[Cyber-Leader]]. When one Cyber-Leader is slain, the Cybermen just download the rank into another and therefore always have a leader. ([[DW]]: ''[[Army of Ghosts]]'' / ''[[Doomsday]]'')
* A Cyberman was among the life-forms exhibited in Vorg's [[Miniscope]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters]]'').
[[Image:Miniscope.jpg|thumb|200px|A Cyberman inside [[Vorg]]'s [[Miniscope]] ([[DW]]: ''[[Carnival of Monsters]]'')]]
==Mysteries and discrepancies==
== Behind the scenes ==
*Several different accounts exist of the origins of the Cybermen which contradict each other in minor or in some cases, major, ways.
The Cybermen are to return in the 2008 Christmas special - [[The Next Doctor]]. Pre-broadcast publicity, as well as the pre-credits sequence broadcast in November 2008 as part of the annual [[Children in Need]] appeal, suggest different forms of Cybermen may also appear, such as the [[cybershade|Cybershade]].
*The degree to which Cybermen do or do not retain emotions also differs.
*On [[Telos]], the Doctor seemed to have knowledge, if not foreknowledge of the Cyber-tombs. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'') This might suggest that before he met [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]], the Doctor had encountered the Cybercontroller before.
This same encounter May have been the same one where he met the Cyber-Director on [[Planet 14]].
==See Also==
*[[Gallery of Cybermen#Mondasian Cybermen|Cybermen Gallery]]
*[[Cybershades]]
==Behind the Scenes==
{{Series 2 aliens}}
*As of 2008, the original Cybermen have yet to appear in the revived TV series. The new series has acknowledged them on screen once in the form of the head of a Cyberman, which is examined with fondness by the [[Ninth Doctor]] in ''[[Dalek (TV story)|Dalek]]''. [[Jack Harkness]] also mentions the Cybermen of his universe in ''[[Cyberwoman]]'', which does not, however, feature them. The Daleks also acknowledge that the alternate-Earth Cybermen they encounter in ''[[Doomsday]]'' are not the ones they are familiar with. The online ''[[Captain Jack's Monster Files]]'' feature has Jack refer to the Mondasian Cybermen and speaks as if he was present during the Cyber-Wars.
They believed that all people must be "upgraded" to Cyber-form as they were weak. These Cybermen believed that emotions were proof that they destroyed the individual which was why they were converted to remove them. This concept they believed must be shared with others, from Humans to the universe itself.
Conversion involved removing the brain of the subject and placing it within a suit of armour. This process was horrific with screams often being heard by the victims that were forcibly subjected through the procedure. Once complete, the newly developed Cyberman had a special implant placed within their brains which prevented them from feeling their emotions or registering their past memories making them cold calculating machines.
However, if the implants were disrupted then the Cybermen entered into a traumatic state as they were overloaded by the pain of the conversion resulting in them dying in agony or their heads exploding from the overload of emotions.
Typically, Cybermen were led by Cyber Leaders during conversion missions. If the Cyber Leader was terminated then the Cybermen downloaded the shared files and nominated a new Cyber Leader.
Note: the name "Cybus Cybermen" has been created by fans to differentiate these "new series" Cybermen with those of the classic series. It has, to date, not been used on screen to describe these creatures.
History
This broadcast is for humankind. Cybermen now occupy every landmass on this planet; but you need not fear. Cybermen will remove fear. Cybermen will remove sex, and class, and colour, and creed. You will become identical. You will become like us.Cyber Leader. [Doomsday [src]]
From the crack in the universe, the Parallel Earth Cybermen were able to travel from their dimension into ours, and infiltrated the planet in the disguise as the benign ghosts of deceased Humans. (DW: Army of Ghosts)
The established a base inside the Torchwood Tower at Canary Wharf. While there, they started making some new Cybermen, using purely Earth materials from our universe.
After two months (three years in Parallel Earth time), the Cybermen suddenly appeared in their true form,occupying every landmass on the planet before breaking into houses and promising to upgrade all Humans, commanded by the new Cyber-Leader. (DW: Army of Ghosts / Doomsday, TW: Everything Changes)
Simultaneously, the Cult of Skaro had exited the Void Ship with the Genesis Ark. The Cult, led by Dalek Sec, extracted information from a member of staff from Torchwood 1, and proceeded to communicate with the Cybermen via Dalek Thay and declare war or in Dalek Sec's words, "pest control". (DW: Doomsday)
After a skirmish Humans and Cybermen versus Daleks, the Cult traveled to the main room in Torchwood Tower Canary Wharf, elevated outside above the roof, and opened the Genesis Ark, releasing millions of Daleks who, under Sec's command, proceeded to "exterminate all life-forms below", killing Human and Cyberman alike. (DW: Doomsday)
During the battle, the Cybermen began to convert Torchwood personnel, like Yvonne Hartman and Lisa Hallett in large numbers. These were, at least in some cases, not full conversions, with the brain removed and put in a Cyber-shell, but partial conversions where the Cybermen built over the Human body beneath. (TW: Cyberwoman)
The Doctor and Rose Tyler opened the Void, sucking all the Daleks and Cybermen who had been in the Void back into it, and finally nearly sucking Rose herself in, but Pete Tyler teleported through the Void, grabbed her and teleported back to his parallel Earth where her parents, Jackie Tyler, that universe's version of her father, Pete, and Mickey Smith had decided to stay. The entire battle had lasted less than a day, but the Doctor commented that "so many" people died that day, and that the effects on Earth were devastating. (DW: Doomsday)
However, this was not the last of the Cybermen. The Cybermen that were made on Earth, had never passed through the Void, therefore they were not sucked in. Some escaped, but a lot of these Cybermen were then boxed up.
After the battle, many jobs were lost. Harry and Sam, best friends, were working on a model train set, when they found stuff from Harry's dad's previous job. Inside the box was a Cyberman, in all his individual pieces. Not knowing what it was, Sam decided to put it back together so it could watch them play. Eventually, it awoke, threatening to upgrade both Harry and Sam. It forced Sam to help build a "Cyber-Conversion Unit" using the other leftover electronics from the Torchwood Tower in the box. They destroyed the Cyberman, by pushing it into the finished machine, frying it's circuits. (Going off the Rails)
Due to the Daleks' damaging the barriers between realities (DW: The Stolen Earth), the Cybermen were able to escape the Void, assisted by technology stolen from the Void-trapped Daleks. Landing in 1851 London, they made an alliance with the human Miss Hartigan, created a minion race known as Cybershades, and began construction of a dreadnought robot called the CyberKing with which they planned to conquer the Earth. They were stopped and destroyed, with the CyberKing being sent back to the Void.
Here, they had began using devices called infostamps: canisters which could wirelessly broadcast streams of information, allowing the Cybermen to swiftly gain data. Infostamps could be sabotaged so that the data streams would overload Cybermen, and when one was corrupted it meant they could no longer recognise the Tenth Doctor.(DW: The Next Doctor)
Weapons and Technology
Delete! Delete!The battle-cry of the Cybus Cybermen. [Rise of the Cybermen [src]]
Unlike the Mondasian Cybermen, these Cybermen were created by taking the brain of humans and placing them in robotic bodies. These exo-structures were stauncher and more heavily built than Mondasian Cybermen, and so far the common Cyberman weakness for gold was present in the early developement of the Cybermen but was eliminated.
These new Cybermen were without a Cyber-Controller after their creator John Lumic was slain. Their only weapons were their electrified hands and a small wrist-mounted energy weapon. They were also programed with a computer chip that disabled them from having emotion or sense of feeling though it can be shut down with the code 6879760, to prevent them realizing what they are.
When they crossed the Void and entered our world, they now had built-in lasers and were under the leadership of a Cyber-Leader. When one Cyber-Leader is slain, the Cybermen just download the rank into another and therefore always have a leader. (DW: Army of Ghosts / Doomsday)
Behind the scenes
The Cybermen are to return in the 2008 Christmas special - The Next Doctor. Pre-broadcast publicity, as well as the pre-credits sequence broadcast in November 2008 as part of the annual Children in Need appeal, suggest different forms of Cybermen may also appear, such as the Cybershade.
For the purposes of this list, a "Cyberman story" is one in which one living, authentic Cyberman plays a part within the confines of the story, outside of flashbacks to previous stories and cliffhangers that lead into the following story. For this reason, stories such as Dalek are absent due to only featuring deceased Cybermen on display. Stories like Carnival of Monsters, A Good Man Goes to War and The Vanquishers are also not included due to the Cybermen's appearance being of little consequence to the plot of the story.
