The Powers Behind the Throne was the second short story in DWPM 2, which was devoted to the Cybermen. It cast a look back at the story of the Cyber-Controller, here construed, as in a few other sources, as a singular individual (implicitly equivalent to the Daleks' singular Emperor) rather than a title.
Summary
As discovered by the Second Doctor, the true mastermind behind the Brotherhood of Logicians plot on Telos is actually the malevolent Cyber-Controller. The Controller is seemingly destroyed, leading to further Cyberman plans having to be carried out under the leadership of non-sapient, non-humanoid Cyber-Planners, but the Controller is only biding his time until he resurfaces to oppose the Sixth Doctor. Again he appears to be annihilated, but is it another trick?
Characters
Worldbuilding
- The Cyber-Controller possesses a "special cranium design", giving him his enhanced intelligence.
Notes
to be added
Continuity
- The narrative briefly goes over the ill-fated alliance between Tobias Vaughn and the Cybermen. (TV: The Invasion)
- The Second (TV: The Tomb of the Cybermen) and Sixth Doctors believe, at various points, that they have destroyed the Cyber-Controller. (TV: Attack of the Cybermen)