Fabula
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

Mondas Collapse and Cybermen Defeat

The event opens with the Cybermen’s final, desperate attempt to gas the humans in the tracking room, only for Ben, Dyson, and Barclay to outmaneuver them using radioactive rods—exploiting the Cybermen’s vulnerability to radiation. As the Cybermen collapse, the group’s focus shifts from immediate survival to the Doctor and Polly’s rescue. The tension escalates when the emergency battery fails, plunging the room into darkness and forcing the humans to confront their helplessness against the Cybermen’s relentless advance. The moment of crisis is abruptly interrupted by the sight of Mondas disintegrating in the radar display, its destruction triggering a cascading failure in the Cybermen’s systems. Their mechanical bodies deactivate en masse, their reliance on Mondas’ power source exposed. The sudden shift from despair to victory is underscored by the restored communication with Zeus 5, confirming the global threat has ended. However, the relief is tempered by the lingering uncertainty over the Doctor’s fate and the urgent need to rescue him and Polly before the Cybermen’s ship departs. The event marks a pivotal turning point in the conflict, shifting the narrative from defense to rescue and leaving the Doctor’s mysterious transformation as an unanswered question.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

1

The Cybermen disintegrate as Mondas is destroyed, revealing their dependence on it for power, and Zeus 5 re-establishes contact to Snowcap.

hope to relief ['Tracking Room']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

8

Anxious but determined, with a mix of fear and resolve

Dyson assists in ambushing the Cybermen with radioactive rods and later coordinates the return of the rods to the reactor. He expresses concern about the emergency battery failure and the Cybermen's advance but remains resolute in the face of danger. His technical expertise and adaptability are vital to the humans' survival and the base's recovery.

Goals in this moment
  • To neutralize the Cybermen using radioactive rods
  • To restore the base's systems and ensure safety
Active beliefs
  • The Cybermen's vulnerability to radiation can be exploited
  • The base's systems must be restored to prevent further threats
Character traits
Technically skilled Anxious but resolute Adaptable under pressure
Follow Wigner's journey

Uncertain and transformative (by implication, as his absence and potential fate drive the group's desperation)

The Doctor is not physically present in this event but is referenced by Ben and Barclay as a hostage aboard the Cybermen's ship. His mysterious transformation and absence are a driving force behind the humans' urgency to act, as they fear losing him forever if the spacecraft departs. The Doctor's fate looms over the scene, adding a layer of emotional stakes to the confrontation.

Goals in this moment
  • To be rescued from the Cybermen's ship
  • To avoid a permanent transformation or loss
Active beliefs
  • The Cybermen pose an existential threat to Earth and his companions
  • His companions will find a way to save him
Character traits
Absent but central Symbol of mystery and transformation Motivational force for action
Follow The Second …'s journey

Determined and urgent, with a mix of adrenaline and desperation

Ben takes charge of the human resistance, devising a plan to lure the Cybermen back to the base using their communication device. He coordinates the ambush with radioactive rods, prepares to face the Cybermen despite the darkness, and urges the group to act quickly to rescue the Doctor and Polly. His leadership and urgency are central to the humans' survival and the eventual victory over the Cybermen.

Goals in this moment
  • To lure the Cybermen back to the base and neutralize them
  • To rescue the Doctor and Polly before the Cybermen's ship departs
Active beliefs
  • The Cybermen's vulnerability to radiation can be exploited
  • Time is running out to save the Doctor and Polly
Character traits
Decisive leader Strategic thinker Urgency-driven Protective of companions
Follow Ben Jackson's journey

Anxious and desperate (by implication, as her absence fuels the group's urgency)

Polly is not physically present in this event but is referenced by Ben as a hostage aboard the Cybermen's ship. Her absence drives the urgency of the humans' actions, as Ben insists on rescuing her and the Doctor before the spacecraft departs. Her fate is a critical motivator for the group's desperate plan to lure the Cybermen back to the base.

Goals in this moment
  • To be rescued from the Cybermen's ship
  • To reunite with the Doctor and Ben
Active beliefs
  • The Cybermen are a grave and immediate threat
  • The Doctor and Ben will find a way to save her
Character traits
Absent but pivotal Motivational force Symbol of vulnerability
Follow Polly Wright's journey

Coldly determined, then abruptly powerless as Mondas collapses

Krang, the Cyberleader, issues a final ultimatum to the humans, ordering the release of gas to eliminate them. His authority is undermined as the humans outmaneuver the Cybermen using radioactive rods, and his forces collapse when Mondas disintegrates. Krang's defeat marks the end of the Cybermen's invasion, though his fate is left ambiguous as the scene shifts to the humans' victory.

Goals in this moment
  • To eliminate the human resistance using gas
  • To maintain control over the situation
Active beliefs
  • The humans are no match for Cyberman technology
  • Mondas' energy will sustain the Cybermen indefinitely
Character traits
Authoritative but vulnerable Mechanical and unemotional Defeated by human ingenuity
Follow Krang's journey
Supporting 3

Astonished and relieved, shifting from tension to triumph

Radar observes the disintegration of Mondas on the radar display, his astonishment palpable as he witnesses the planet's collapse. His reaction triggers the realization that the Cybermen are dependent on Mondas' energy, leading to their sudden deactivation. Radar's role is pivotal in confirming the humans' victory and the end of the threat.

Goals in this moment
  • To monitor and report on Mondas' status
  • To confirm the Cybermen's defeat
Active beliefs
  • Mondas' collapse will weaken the Cybermen
  • The humans' survival depends on understanding the Cybermen's vulnerabilities
Character traits
Observant and reactive Quick to recognize critical developments Voice of confirmation for the group
Follow Snowcap Base …'s journey
Haynes
miner
secondary

Relieved and focused, contributing to the group's recovery

Shav (Note: This appears to be a duplicate entry. Correcting to Terry for the remaining agents.) Terry re-establishes communication with Snowcap from Zeus 5, confirming the global threat has ended and requesting assistance for splashdown. His role is critical in coordinating the recovery efforts and ensuring the safety of the Zeus 5 crew.

Goals in this moment
  • To confirm the threat is over and coordinate recovery efforts
  • To ensure the safety of the Zeus 5 crew
Active beliefs
  • The threat has been neutralized
  • Coordination with Snowcap is critical to recovery
Character traits
Communicative and authoritative Relieved and focused Supportive of recovery efforts
Follow Haynes's journey

Relieved and focused, contributing to the group's recovery

Philips is instructed by Dyson to return the radioactive rods to the reactor. His role is functional and supportive, ensuring the rods are secured and the base's systems are stabilized. His actions contribute to the humans' recovery and the prevention of further radiation exposure.

Goals in this moment
  • To secure the radioactive rods and prevent further risks
  • To support the base's recovery efforts
Active beliefs
  • The rods must be returned to the reactor for safety
  • The team's efforts are critical to the base's survival
Character traits
Dutiful and precise Supportive of the team Focused on technical tasks
Follow Philips's journey

Objects Involved

Significant items in this scene

6
Cyberman Communication System

The Cyberman Communication Device is used by Ben to lure the remaining Cybermen back to the base. By activating the device, Ben exploits the Cybermen's reliance on their communication network, drawing them into a trap where they are neutralized by the radioactive rods. The device's use is a critical strategic move, ensuring the Cybermen are gathered in one location for the humans' ambush. Its activation marks the final phase of the humans' counterattack.

Before: Retrieved by Barclay and given to Ben for …
After: Deactivated along with the Cybermen, as their power …
Before: Retrieved by Barclay and given to Ben for use in luring the Cybermen.
After: Deactivated along with the Cybermen, as their power source is severed by Mondas' collapse.
Dyson and Ben's Guns

Dyson and Ben's Guns are prepared for use against the approaching Cybermen, though the humans ultimately rely on the radioactive rods for the ambush. The guns serve as a backup plan, symbolizing the humans' readiness to defend themselves at all costs. Their presence underscores the desperation of the situation and the humans' determination to survive. The guns are not fired, as the Cybermen are neutralized before they can reach the tracking room.

Before: Prepared and ready for use by Dyson and …
After: Returned to storage as the threat is neutralized.
Before: Prepared and ready for use by Dyson and Ben, though ultimately not fired.
After: Returned to storage as the threat is neutralized.
Krang's Cybermen Communication Screen

Krang's Communication Monitor serves as the Cybermen's primary tool for issuing ultimatums and demands to the humans. During this event, it is used by Krang to order the release of gas into the tracking room, though the humans outmaneuver the Cybermen before the gas can be deployed. The monitor symbolizes the Cybermen's authority and control, which is ultimately undermined by the humans' ingenuity and the collapse of Mondas.

Before: Active and displaying Krang's image, used to issue …
After: Deactivated along with the Cybermen, as their power …
Before: Active and displaying Krang's image, used to issue threats and demands to the humans.
After: Deactivated along with the Cybermen, as their power source is severed by Mondas' collapse.
Snowcap Base Reactor Rods (Extracted Weaponized Rods)

The Snowcap Base Reactor Rods are the humans' primary weapon against the Cybermen, exploited due to the Cybermen's vulnerability to radiation. Dyson and Haines use the rods to ambush the Cybermen in the corridor, causing them to collapse. The rods are later returned to the reactor by Philips, ensuring the base's systems are stabilized and preventing further radiation exposure. Their use is a turning point in the conflict, shifting the balance of power in favor of the humans.

Before: Stored in the reactor, later retrieved by Dyson …
After: Returned to the reactor by Philips, ensuring the …
Before: Stored in the reactor, later retrieved by Dyson and Haines for use against the Cybermen.
After: Returned to the reactor by Philips, ensuring the base's systems are stabilized.
Snowcap Base Tracking Room Radar Screen

The Tracking Room Radar Screen plays a pivotal role in revealing the disintegration of Mondas. Radar observes the planet's collapse on the screen, triggering the realization that the Cybermen are dependent on Mondas' energy. The radar's display of Mondas' destruction is the catalyst for the Cybermen's deactivation, marking the turning point in the conflict. The screen symbolizes the humans' technological advantage and their ability to monitor and understand the broader cosmic stakes of the battle.

Before: Active and displaying the approach of Cybermen ships …
After: Showing the disintegration of Mondas and the deactivation …
Before: Active and displaying the approach of Cybermen ships and the status of Mondas.
After: Showing the disintegration of Mondas and the deactivation of the Cybermen, confirming the humans' victory.
Tracking Room Emergency Battery

The Tracking Room Emergency Battery fails, plunging the room into darkness as the Cybermen advance. The battery's failure heightens the tension and desperation of the moment, forcing the humans to confront the Cybermen in the dark. The sudden blackout underscores the humans' vulnerability and the critical nature of their situation, though the Cybermen's deactivation shortly after renders the battery's failure irrelevant to the outcome.

Before: Functioning but running low on power, eventually failing …
After: Depleted and non-functional, though the threat is neutralized …
Before: Functioning but running low on power, eventually failing and plunging the room into darkness.
After: Depleted and non-functional, though the threat is neutralized before it can impact the humans' survival.

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

3
Corridor Outside the Radiation Room

The Corridor Outside the Radiation Room serves as the primary battleground for the humans' ambush of the Cybermen. Ben, Dyson, and Haines use the corridor to flank the Cybermen with radioactive rods, exploiting their vulnerability to radiation. The corridor's narrow confines and strategic positioning allow the humans to outmaneuver the Cybermen, leading to their collapse. The location's role is critical in the humans' counterattack, shifting the balance of power in their favor.

Atmosphere Tense and claustrophobic, with the low hum of radiation and the echoes of urgent commands.
Function Battleground for the humans' ambush of the Cybermen.
Symbolism Represents the humans' resourcefulness and their ability to turn the Cybermen's own environment against them.
Access Restricted to the humans and Cybermen involved in the ambush; the rest of the base …
Narrow and dimly lit, with the faint glow of radiation rods. Echoes of footsteps and the mechanical voices of the Cybermen. The cold, metallic scent of the base's corridors.
Mondas

Mondas, the Cybermen's home planet, plays a pivotal role in the event as its disintegration triggers the Cybermen's deactivation. The planet's collapse is observed on the radar display in the tracking room, revealing the Cybermen's dependence on Mondas' energy. The disintegration of Mondas marks the turning point in the conflict, shifting the balance of power in favor of the humans and leading to the Cybermen's defeat. The location's role is symbolic and narrative, representing the Cybermen's vulnerability and the humans' ultimate victory.

Atmosphere Fiery and chaotic, with the planet's surface brightening and darkening erratically as it collapses.
Function Power source for the Cybermen; its destruction leads to their deactivation.
Symbolism Represents the Cybermen's ultimate weakness and the humans' triumph over an existential threat.
The erratic brightening and darkening of the planet's surface. The faint hum of energy as Mondas collapses. The distant echoes of the Cybermen's mechanical voices as they deactivate.
Snowcap Base

Snowcap Base functions as the humans' last line of defense against the Cybermen. The base's tracking room, corridors, and radiation room are the primary locations for the humans' counterattack, where they ambush the Cybermen with radioactive rods and lure them into a trap. The base's systems, including the reactor and communication devices, are critical to the humans' survival and their ability to coordinate their efforts. The base's role is central to the narrative, serving as both a battleground and a sanctuary for the humans.

Atmosphere Chaotic and urgent, with the hum of machinery, the crackle of radios, and the tension …
Function Last line of defense for the humans and the primary battleground against the Cybermen.
Symbolism Represents human ingenuity and resilience in the face of an existential threat.
Access Restricted to authorized personnel; the Cybermen have seized control of parts of the base.
Dimly lit corridors with flickering emergency lights. The hum of the reactor and the crackle of radios. The scent of ozone and the faint glow of radiation.

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

3
International Space Command (Geneva)

International Space Command (Geneva) communicates with Snowcap via monitor, confirming the danger is over and requesting a full report. Their role is authoritative and coordinating, ensuring the global response to the Cybermen threat is managed effectively. Their involvement marks the transition from local defense to global recovery and the confirmation of victory. The organization's influence underscores the importance of centralized coordination and the shared effort to overcome the Cybermen threat.

Representation Through direct communication with Snowcap via monitor.
Power Dynamics Exercising authority over global space operations and coordinating the response to the Cybermen threat.
Impact The organization's role in confirming the threat is over and coordinating global recovery efforts highlights …
Internal Dynamics The chain of command is reinforced as personnel adapt to the aftermath of the Cybermen …
To confirm the threat is over and coordinate global recovery efforts. To ensure the safety of all personnel and the stability of operations. Centralized coordination and communication with Snowcap Base. Shared effort to overcome the Cybermen threat and manage the aftermath.
General Cutler's Forces (Snowcap Base)

Snowcap Base functions as the humans' last line of defense against the Cybermen. The base's personnel, including Barclay, Dyson, and Ben, coordinate their efforts to ambush the Cybermen with radioactive rods and lure them into a trap. The base's systems, including the reactor and communication devices, are critical to the humans' survival and their ability to coordinate their efforts. The organization's role is central to the narrative, serving as both a battleground and a sanctuary for the humans.

Representation Through the collective action of its personnel, including Barclay, Dyson, and Ben.
Power Dynamics Exercising authority over the base's systems and personnel, though initially constrained by the Cybermen's invasion.
Impact The base's role in the humans' victory underscores the importance of human ingenuity and resilience …
Internal Dynamics The chain of command is tested as personnel adapt to the Cybermen's invasion and coordinate …
To neutralize the Cybermen using the base's resources and personnel. To restore the base's systems and ensure the safety of all personnel. Coordination of personnel and resources. Exploitation of the Cybermen's vulnerabilities (e.g., radiation).
Zeus 5 Crew

The Zeus 5 Crew re-establishes contact with Snowcap, confirming the global threat has ended. Their role is critical in coordinating the recovery efforts and ensuring the safety of all personnel involved. The crew's communication with Barclay marks the transition from combat to recovery and the confirmation of victory. Their involvement underscores the importance of global coordination and the shared effort to overcome the Cybermen threat.

Representation Through direct communication with Snowcap via radio.
Power Dynamics Cooperating with Snowcap Base to ensure the safety of all personnel and the stability of …
Impact The crew's role in confirming the threat is over and coordinating recovery efforts highlights the …
To confirm the threat is over and coordinate recovery efforts. To ensure the safety of the Zeus 5 crew and facilitate their splashdown. Communication and coordination with Snowcap Base. Shared effort to overcome the Cybermen threat.

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 7

"The ambush with the radioactive rods on the Cybermen is followed by Ben returning."

Ben ambushes Cybermen with radiation rods
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"The ambush with the radioactive rods on the Cybermen is followed by Ben returning."

Cybermen demand conscious human capture
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"Cybermen pumping gas into the room on the humans escalates tension but then Haynes and Dyson ambush the Cybermen on the other end."

Ben ambushes Cybermen in radiation room
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"Cybermen pumping gas into the room on the humans escalates tension but then Haynes and Dyson ambush the Cybermen on the other end."

Ben ambushes Cybermen in gas-filled room
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"After the Cybermen ambush, Dyson directs everyone to return to their posts and emphasizes that the Doctor and Polly require rescue."

Ambush and Mondas’ Collapse
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"After the Cybermen ambush, Dyson directs everyone to return to their posts and emphasizes that the Doctor and Polly require rescue."

Ben Lures Cybermen to Their Doom
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"After the Cybermen ambush, Dyson directs everyone to return to their posts and emphasizes that the Doctor and Polly require rescue."

Ben Demands Doctor and Polly’s Rescue
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4
What this causes 6

"After the Cybermen ambush, Dyson directs everyone to return to their posts and emphasizes that the Doctor and Polly require rescue."

Ambush and Mondas’ Collapse
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"After the Cybermen ambush, Dyson directs everyone to return to their posts and emphasizes that the Doctor and Polly require rescue."

Ben Lures Cybermen to Their Doom
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"After the Cybermen ambush, Dyson directs everyone to return to their posts and emphasizes that the Doctor and Polly require rescue."

Ben Demands Doctor and Polly’s Rescue
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"The fact that everything is safe means Ben frees Polly and comforts her."

Doctor’s abrupt departure after collapse
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"The fact that everything is safe means Ben frees Polly and comforts her."

Doctor’s Urgent, Cryptic Departure
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

"News arrives that the Cybermen menace has ended worldwide, prompting Wigner to request a full report."

Barclay faces bureaucratic urgency after crisis
S4E8 · The Tenth Planet Part 4

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Part of Larger Arcs

Key Dialogue

"BEN: Quick, Dyson. Help get Barclay out of here."
"BARCLAY: No, wait! If you try and tackle the spacecrafts on your own, you don't stand a chance. We don't know how many Cybermen there are left."
"BEN: Well that's a risk we've got to take."
"SHAV: Resistance is useless. Drop your weapons."
"BARCLAY: The end of Mondas."
"BEN: Hey! The Doctor and Polly!"
"BARCLAY: Snowcap here. The danger is apparently over."