Barricading Against Cyber-Controlled Crew
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Ben and Jamie discuss and prepare to barricade the door, expressing concern about the reactivated individuals and the limited effectiveness of their makeshift defenses.
As Ben and Jamie attempt to barricade the door with a metal table, a controlled man appears, and they ram him with the table, then secure the door, knowing it won't hold for long.
Recognizing the barricade's weakness, Ben directs Jamie to reinforce it with chairs as the controlled men begin to force the doors open with a strip of metal.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Urgent and focused, with a steely resolve to do whatever it takes to survive. There is no hesitation in his actions, but his emotional state is one of controlled intensity—he is fully aware of the stakes and the brutality required to meet them.
Ben takes charge of the barricade effort, directing Jamie to help drag the metal table into place. When a controlled crew member emerges, he acts swiftly and ruthlessly, impaling the attacker with a metal rod to prevent the door from being breached. He then orders Jamie to press the locking button and reinforce the door with chairs, demonstrating a no-nonsense, pragmatic approach to survival. His dialogue is urgent and commanding, reflecting his role as the de facto leader in this crisis.
- • Secure the sickbay door to prevent the controlled crew members from breaching it
- • Eliminate the immediate threat posed by the converted crew member to buy time for further action
- • The Cybermen’s control over the crew members makes them a direct and immediate threat that must be neutralized
- • Hesitation or moral reluctance in this situation will result in failure and likely death
Tense and conflicted, oscillating between loyalty to Ben and discomfort with the violence required to survive. His actions are driven by urgency, but his internal resistance to the brutality of the moment is palpable.
Jamie drops his end of the metal table when startled by the sudden appearance of a controlled crew member, then quickly recovers to help Ben impale the attacker with a metal rod. He assists in reinforcing the door with chairs, his movements tense and hesitant, reflecting his discomfort with the brutal necessity of their actions. His dialogue reveals his skepticism about the barricade’s effectiveness and his growing unease as the threat escalates.
- • Protect Ben and the sickbay from the controlled crew members at all costs
- • Reinforce the barricade to buy time for a more permanent solution
- • The barricade is a temporary measure and may fail under sustained attack
- • Using lethal force against the converted crew members is morally distasteful but necessary for survival
Not applicable (off-screen), but his conversion is a source of dread and urgency for Ben and Jamie. His absence is a constant reminder of the vulnerability of the crew and the insidious nature of the Cybermen’s control.
Evans is not physically present in this event, but his recent conversion into a Cyberman-controlled crew member is the catalyst for the urgency of the barricade. His absence is felt acutely—Ben and Jamie’s actions are a direct response to the threat he now poses, and the knowledge that he has been turned fuels their desperation. The mention of his conversion looms over the scene, reinforcing the idea that the enemy is no longer just external but has infiltrated the heart of the moonbase’s defenses.
- • N/A (Evans is not acting of his own volition; he is controlled by the Cybermen.)
- • N/A (Evans is no longer in control of his actions; his beliefs are subsumed by the Cybermen’s influence.)
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The metal rod is seized by Ben in a moment of desperate improvisation and used to impale the controlled crew member attacking the door. This brutal act is a turning point—it stops the immediate threat and reinforces the barricade, but it also marks a descent into violence that Ben and Jamie must now embrace. The rod, initially an innocuous object, becomes a weapon of last resort, its sharp end now stained with blood. Its use underscores the moral ambiguity of their situation: survival requires actions that challenge their humanity.
The chairs are dragged by Ben and Jamie to reinforce the metal table barricade after the initial attack. They are jammed against the door, their flimsy frames scraping and wobbling under the assault from the controlled crew members. Though not as sturdy as the table, they contribute to the makeshift defense, buying precious time. Their inclusion in the barricade highlights the ad-hoc, desperate nature of the companions’ efforts—anything that can be used to slow the enemy is pressed into service.
The metal table is the first line of defense in Ben and Jamie’s makeshift barricade. Initially suggested by Ben as a way to block the sickbay door, it is dragged into place but proves insufficient on its own. When Jamie drops his end in surprise, the table becomes a symbol of the fragility of their defenses. Later, it is wedged against the door alongside chairs, its solid frame absorbing the initial pounding from the controlled crew member. Though temporary, it buys critical seconds, reinforcing the desperation of the companions’ situation.
The locking button on the sickbay door is pressed by Ben in a futile attempt to secure the entrance. Though it engages briefly, the mechanism is weak and cracks under the assault from the controlled crew members. Its failure underscores the vulnerability of the moonbase’s systems and the desperation of Ben and Jamie’s situation. The button becomes a symbol of the companions’ dwindling options—even the most basic security measures are no longer reliable.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The corridor outside sickbay is a claustrophobic battleground where Ben and Jamie’s desperate struggle plays out. The narrow space amplifies the tension, forcing the companions into close quarters with their enemies. The fluorescent lighting casts a sterile, unnatural glow over the scene, highlighting the stark contrast between the moonbase’s technological environment and the brutal, primal violence unfolding. The hum of machinery and the distant alarms create a dissonant atmosphere, underscoring the urgency and desperation of the moment. This location is no longer a place of safety but a trap, where the companions must fight for their lives against an enemy that wears the faces of their allies.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Cybermen’s influence is felt acutely in this event, not through their direct presence but through the actions of the controlled crew members. Their strategy of infiltrating and converting the moonbase personnel is on full display—Evans, once a trusted medical officer, is now a weapon turned against his former allies. The Cybermen’s ability to manipulate the crew members into breaching the sickbay door underscores their adaptability and ruthlessness. This event is a microcosm of their broader goal: to seize control of the moonbase and use it as a tool to manipulate Earth’s climate. Their power dynamics are one of dominance, using the converted crew as disposable pawns in their larger scheme.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Cyberman control spreading followed by Ben and Jamie discussing how to reinforce the door, adding tension and risk."
Cybermen convert three crew members in Sickbay"Ben directs Jamie to reinforce medical room which is then followed by Hobson attempting to reason with Evans. Demonstrating threat is still a current issue."
Hobson’s final refusal to Cybermen"Ben directs Jamie to reinforce medical room which is then followed by Hobson attempting to reason with Evans. Demonstrating threat is still a current issue."
Cybermen breach the domeKey Dialogue
"JAMIE: Well, that's all right. We haven't passed any of them."
"BEN: Well, maybe it was only Evans who's been reactivated."
"JAMIE: Aye. We'd better keep watch just here."
"BEN: They're not Cybermen, mate. They're just flesh and blood like us. Come on, get hold of the other end."
"BEN: Hey!"
"JAMIE: (A man starts to walk through the door.) Behind you!"
"BEN: (Number ten get the thin metal rammed into his stomach. He falls back.) Quick! Ram him!"
"BEN: Press the locking button."
"JAMIE: It won't hold for long, will it."
"BEN: (The controlled men use a strip of metal to prise the doors apart.) No. Look, get those chairs and we'll block 'em in."