Cybermats fail to activate for Toberman
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
The Controller initiates the release and activation of Cybermats, intending to use them to target Toberman's brain as part of the conversion process.
The Controller observes that the Cybermats are dormant, indicating a malfunction or lack of recent use, calling for an inspection.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Detached and unaware, his emotional state is neutral. He does not react to the Cybermats’ inactivity, as he lacks the context or initiative to question his surroundings.
Toberman stands motionless near the Cybermats, his towering frame a silent testament to his physical dominance. Though targeted for conversion, he remains unaware of the Cybermats’ failed activation, his expression blank and his posture passive. His loyalty to Kaftan and his role as her strongman leave him oblivious to the broader implications of the Cybermats’ malfunction—he is merely a pawn in the Cybermen’s trap, his fate hanging in the balance of their technical failures.
- • None—Toberman is acting on Kaftan’s prior orders and has no agency in this moment.
- • Unknowingly, his presence serves as a catalyst for the Cybermen’s conversion protocol, though the malfunction spares him—for now.
- • His role is to follow Kaftan’s commands without question, regardless of the consequences.
- • The Cybermen’s technology is beyond his understanding, so he does not perceive their failure as significant.
Coldly frustrated, with a flicker of irritation at the Cybermats' failure—an emotion it would typically suppress. The malfunction forces it to confront an imperfection in its otherwise flawless systems, creating a rare moment of internal tension.
The Cyber Controller stands at the control panel, methodically testing a lever to release the Cybermats. It issues sharp, authoritative commands to activate the devices near Toberman, its voice betraying no emotion but growing increasingly insistent as the Cybermats fail to respond. Frustration seeps into its tone as it inspects the dormant machines, diagnosing their inactivity as a technical failure. The Controller’s rigid posture and precise movements reflect its unwavering commitment to the Cybermen’s protocol, but the malfunction forces it to acknowledge a flaw in its systems—an rare moment of vulnerability for a being built on logic and dominance.
- • Successfully activate the Cybermats to begin Toberman’s conversion, securing a physically superior specimen for the Cybermen’s revival.
- • Diagnose and resolve the Cybermats’ malfunction to restore operational efficiency and maintain the Cybermen’s dominance over the situation.
- • The Cybermen’s technology is infallible and must function as designed—any failure is an anomaly to be corrected immediately.
- • Toberman’s physical prowess makes him a prime candidate for conversion, and his assimilation is critical to the Cybermen’s resurgence.
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The Cybermat Release Control Panel serves as the interface through which the Controller attempts to activate the Cybermats. It features a lever that, when tested, is supposed to trigger the release and activation of the Cybermats—but the system fails to respond. The Controller’s repeated commands to the panel go unanswered, highlighting a deeper technical issue within the Cybermen’s infrastructure. This malfunction is not just a setback for the immediate conversion of Toberman but also a sign of broader systemic vulnerabilities in the Cybermen’s technology, which the Doctor may later exploit.
The three Cybermats, each approximately a foot long, are released from their dormant state and positioned on the cavern floor near Toberman as part of the Cybermen’s conversion protocol. Designed to target and assimilate superior humanoid brains, they are commanded to activate and latch onto Toberman—but remain motionless, their systems unresponsive to the Controller’s repeated directives. Their failure exposes a critical flaw in the Cybermen’s revival plan, as these biomechanical devices are essential to the conversion process. The Cybermats’ inactivity creates a tense standoff, leaving Toberman unharmed and the Controller frustrated.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The cavern serves as the battleground and operational hub for the Cybermen’s revival efforts. Its vast, shadowy expanse is rigged with control panels, dormant Cybermats, and the remnants of the Cybermen’s trap. The location’s oppressive atmosphere is heightened by the failed activation of the Cybermats, as the Controller’s frustration echoes through the chamber. The cavern’s role shifts from a place of impending doom (as the Cybermen prepare to convert Toberman) to a site of unexpected vulnerability, where the Doctor and his companions may find an opening to disrupt the Cybermen’s plans.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Cybermen’s organization is represented through the Controller’s actions and the failed activation of the Cybermats. This event exposes a critical weakness in their operational systems, as the Cybermats—essential to their conversion protocol—remain dormant despite repeated commands. The malfunction disrupts their meticulously planned revival, forcing the Controller to acknowledge a flaw in their otherwise dominant technology. This moment of vulnerability could allow the Doctor to intervene, thwarting the Cybermen’s immediate threat and delaying their resurgence as a galactic power.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"After the Doctor, Parry and Toberman are seized, then the Controller initiating the release and activation of Cybermats to target Toberman's brain as part of the conversion process."
Doctor stalls Cyber Controller’s plan"After the Doctor, Parry and Toberman are seized, then the Controller initiating the release and activation of Cybermats to target Toberman's brain as part of the conversion process."
Cybermen capture Doctor and companionsKey Dialogue
"CONTROLLER: Release the cyber mats. We will use the power of cybernetics."
"CONTROLLER: Activate them. The brain of this humanoid will be their target. Now."
"CONTROLLER: These Cybermats are dormant through lack of use. Inspect them."