Cybermats

Cybermats
A Cybermat, as seen in Revenge of the Cybermen
Place of Origin	Mondas
First Appearance	The Tomb of the Cyberman
Latest Appearance	Spare Parts

The following article is written from an In Universe perspective.

  Cybermatswere small cyborgs used as advance guards, plague carriers and energy thieves by the Cybermen.

Characteristics 

By some accounts, the Cybermats were created by Cybermen from bodies or body parts of humanoidsnot suitable for cyber-conversion: small animals. (DW: Illegal Alien, Spare Parts)

Variants

Prior to Mondas' total cyber-conversion by Cyber-CommanderZheng, the last surviving Mondasians kept Cybermats as pets, and were simply referred to as "Mats". Some Mondasians could become "Mat Catchers". During this time, Cybermats came in numerous different versions, such as Deluxe Mark Sixes; Deluxe Mark Twelves, a black variant of Cybermat, were exclusively used by the Central Committee. (DW: Spare Parts)

Before the CyberTelosians froze themselves on Telos, some Cybermats had crystalline eyes and antennae through which they received commands. These Cybermats resembled oversized metallic silverfish. They had segmented bodies with cilia-like tactile sensor probes along the bases of their heads. Some, though not all, Cybermats of this kind could fit in the palm of a humanoid hand. Cybermats like this were almost unnoticeable. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

In the 21st century, when the Cybermen of the Late CyberFaction attempted to infiltrate Space Station W3, they had photoreceptors for eyes rather than crystal-based eyes, spines down their backs and lacked the antennae. Otherwise, they looked similar to the kind seen on Telos. (DW: The Wheel in Space)

Weaknesses

Cybermats shared the Cybermen's weakness for gold, but it was possible for gold to be placed inside them without damaging their systems and the gold could be injected into Cybermen as they would inject other humanoids. (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen) They could also be disabled with electric charges, (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

History

Origins on Mondas

Cybermats were developed on Mondas before the last surviving underground Mondasian city been converted. They were kept as pets. The Ninth Doctor reprogrammed a swarm of Cybermats to feed off their electricity supply of the Central Committee of Mondas, killing them. His efforts were, ultimately, in vain as eventually all of the Mondasians underwent forced cyber-conversion. (DW: Spare Parts)

Late 21st century

During the late CyberFaction's attack on Space Station W3 in the year 2079, Cybermats were deployed by the Cybermen following the orders of the Cyber-Planner (The Wheel in Space). These Cybermats proceeded to consume the space station's store of bernalium need to power the x-ray laser, leaving the station vulnerable to meteorites. They were discovered by engineer Bill Duggan before scurrying away. Elsewhere, the Cybermats attacked and killed engineer Kemel Rudkin. Ultimately, the Second Doctor neutralised the Cybermats by jamming their audio frequency, causing them to disintegrate. (DW: The Wheel in Space)

Telos

The Cyber-tombs on Telos had tunnels for the Telosian Cybermats to move from the tombs to the main control rooms. Along with the CyberTelosians, these Cybermats lay dormant until Telos was found by the Brotherhood of Logicians. A small Cybermat was found by Victoria Waterfield. When the Cybermen were reawoken, this Cybermat became active and attacked the Kaftan as she held Victoria at gunpoint, rendering the Logician unconscious and inadvertently saving Victoria, who destroyed it with Kaftan's gun. Larger Cybermats were used by the CyberTelosian Controller to attack the humans after he and the other Cybermen were trapped underground by the Second Doctor. The doctor was able to disable the Cybermats with an electric cable. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)

Nerva Beacon

Cybermats were used by the CyberNomads in their attack on Nerva Beacon. Transmitting venom with a bite, these Cybermats first infected crewman Warner, who soon died. A Cybermat then attacked Sarah Jane Smith, companion of the Fourth Doctor who killed the Cybermat with gold dust before curing Sarah. Taking control of a Cybermat, the Doctor used it to threaten Kellman, the Cybermen's humanally. Later, the Doctor filled the Cybermat with gold dust and used it to a Cyberman, injecting it with the dust and killing it. (DW: Revenge of the Cybermen)

30th century

Cybermen from the 30th century who travelled back to 1940 also employed Cybermats and harvested animals to make more of them. (DW: Illegal Alien)

Behind the Scenes

• Wood lice inspired the creation and look of the Cybermats. In their first appearances in The Tomb of the Cybermen and The Wheel in Space, they were realised in the studio by a variety of techniques, including clockwork and radio-controlled models. In some shots they were pulled by wires or simply pushed into view. Shots of the Cybermats leaping onto their victims were achieved by pulling the Cybermat away with wires and playing the film backwards.
• Cybermat effects in Revenge of the Cybermen used a combination of strings, puppetry and CSO. The Cybermats (or rather the single Cybermat which appeared) went through a radical re-design and resembled a cybernetic silverfish.

List of Appearances 

Doctor Who Season 5 (1967-1968) The Tomb of the Cybermen The Wheel in Space Season 12 (1974-1975) Revenge of the Cybermen Season 29 (1992-1993) Illegal Alien Season 40 (2003) Spare Parts