REVENGE OF THE CYBERMEN

Written by Gerry Davies (with Robert Holmes, uncredited).

Directed by Michael E. Briant.

Transmitted originally: 19 April 1975 to 10 May 1975.

"Cybermen can survive more efficiently than animal organisms. That is why we will rule the galaxy."

THE STORY

The Doctor, Sarah and Harry return to Nerva, but discover they are in a period thousands of years earlier than their first visit. The station is currently acting as beacon, warning ships of a new asteroid orbiting Jupiter. This is Voga, also known as the planet of gold due to the abundance of the metal. The beacon is in the grip of a deadly space plague, which has killed off most of the crew. The Doctor discovers the plague is being transmitted by Cybermats, the machine creations of the Cybermen. A human scientist, Kellman is working for the Cybermen, who intend to destroy Voga. Gold is one of the few effective weapons against the cybernetic creatures, as it clogs up their breathing apparatus and suffocates them. By destroying the asteroid, they hope to remove the greatest source of the metal.

The Cybermen invade the beacon and force the Doctor and the two remaining crew to each carry a cobolt bomb to the centre of Voga. Kellman, however, is a double agent working for the Vogans, the natives of the asteroid who have resorted to a hidden lifestyle to escape the attention of the remaining Cybermen. The Vogans planned to bring the remains of the Cyber-race to Voga so they can be destroyed once and for all by a rocket, known as Skystriker. The Doctor manages to get rid of the bomb and returns to the beacon, which the Cybermen evacuate when they learn of the rocket. The Doctor manages to redirect the missile towards the Cybermen's craft, which is destroyed. The TARDIS arrives and the Doctor finds an emergency message has been sent by the Brigadier...

CAST:

The Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter), Kellman (Jeremy Wilkin), Commander Stevenson (Ronald Leigh-Hunt), Lester (William Marlowe), Warner (Alec Wallis), Vorus (David Collings), Magrik/ Colville/ Voices (Michael Wisher), Cyberleader (Christopher Robbie). Tyrum (Kevin Stoney), Sheprah (Brian Grellis), First Cyberman (Melville Jones), Cybermen (Tony Lord, Pat Gorman), Monitor Voice (Michael E. Briant).

FACTS:

A number of sets in this story were reused from the story recorded immediately before it,'The Ark in Space' , as they represented the same space station in two periods of its (very long) history.

Kevin Stoney, who played Vogan leader Tyrum in this story had played both an ally to the Daleks, Mavic Chen from 'The Dalek's Master Plan' and the Cybermen in 'The Invasion', in which he played the villainous Tobias Vaughn.

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