Late CyberFaction

Late CyberFaction
Main aliases:	The Faction
Biological type:	Cyborgs
Place of origin:	Mondas, Planet 14
First appearance:	The Wheel in Space
Appearances:	PROSE: The Wheel in Space COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen PROSE: Dr. First
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The Late CyberFaction referred to a variant of Cybermen belonging to the second incarnation of the CyberFaction, as identified by the ArcHivist Hegelia and following the Early CyberFaction. (AUDIO: The Early Cybermen)

Characteristics

As observed by ArcHivist Hegelia, there was a direct correspondence between the "Late CyberFaction" and their predecessors. However, there were also several differences. The striated headblocks on each side of the Cyber-helmet were gone. In addition to larger tear drop holes at the eye-pods, there was also one at the mouth slit. Exoskeletal supports to the limbs had become less delicate with series of rods powered by blocks at the limb joints. Fibrillary piping extended from top to bottom of the chest units. Most significantly, their Cyber-hands were no longer clearly five-fingered, with closer scrutiny reveal that a three-fingered hand was formed out of what was originally a five fingered hand; each of two pairs of fingers were forced together into single channels and topped with a metal cap while the thumb, similarly capped, mades up the third finger. Unlike the early CyberFaction, the exoskeletal powering rods now longer stopped but extended to the three fingers.

Recalling that the original CyberMondasians retained use of the human hands, nerves, tendons, muscles, stimulated directly perhaps by a cybernetically assisted arm, Hegelia suggested that, having become independent of Mondas, CyberFaction evolved further from the human form and encased the hand in the armoured material which now covered the entire body. She further reasoned that these organic remnants were losing their capacity to be stimulated and so were evolved into the more easily synthesised and less intricate three-fingered variety. Later, more sophisticated CyberNomads would achieve full five finger synthesis. (AUDIO: The Early Cybermen, TV: The Wheel in Space)

Technology

The Cybermen of the Late CyberFaction used Cybermats with photoreceptors for eyes rather than crystal-based eyes, spines down their backs and lacked the antennae. Otherwise, they looked similar to the Cybermats used by the CyberTelosians. (TV: The Wheel in Space)

History

Alternate timeline

In an alternate timeline where Rassilon gave a colony of Cybermen from the end of the universe the means to conquer all of history, the Cybermen of the Late CyberFaction invaded Moonbase Laika, (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen) instead of the CyberTelosians. (TV: The Moonbase) During the invasion, the Second Doctor was partially cyber-converted (COMIC: Prologue: The Second Doctor) and allied with the Late CyberFaction. This timeline was ultimately negated when, on Gallifrey at the end of the universe, the Twelfth Doctor and a betrayed Rassilon used the Eye of Harmony's regeneration energy to restore the original timeline through the Cyberiad's dominance across all of history. (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen)

Behind the scenes

Hybrids

A hybrid Cyberman costume (1970).

During the gap between the broadcasts of The Invasion and Revenge of the Cybermen, a number of hybrid Cyber-suits were crafted out of existing Cyberman parts for publicity purposes.

• The Cyber-head of a "late CyberFaction" along with the chest unit of an "early CyberFaction" was fitted to what was the Cyber-body of the CyberTelosian Controller to form a new Cyber-suit which posed with Third Doctor actor Jon Pertwee for the Radio Times in 1970. Notable for being potentially the first appearance of a live-action Cyberman in colour, its image later appeared on the classic Doctor Who website and The Doctors Revisited.
• The Radio Times' Doctor Who Special (1973) featured a pair of Cyberman pursuing Polly Wright and Ben Jackson. One suit was a mostly standard CyberTelosian, with head, chest unit and body but with the legs of the Controller, whilst the other was a "late CyberFaction" head atop a standard Telosian body.

Invalid sources

• The Doctor Who Role Playing Game: The Cybermen identified the "Late CyberFaction" and CyberTelosians collectively as "Model II Cybermen", followed by the all but identical "Model III Cybermen" and the "Model IV Cybermen".

Other matters

• A Cyberman from the "late CyberFaction" from The Wheel in Space features on the cover of PROSE: Illegal Alien.