Cyber Conversion Unit

In the Doctor Who universe, the Cyber Conversion Unit is a machine that turns humans into Cybermen. This machine has been used in the BBC series Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood.

History

The machine was first seen in "Tomb Of The Cybermen", where it appeared as a form of operating table with a large box in the middle. It was later shown as a cubicle into which convertees were strapped in while the conversion was performed on them. ("Attack of the Cybermen")

These versions did not seem to be automated, rather they acted as a life support system whilethe hapless subject was converted by more conventional surgery.

In the continued series (which depicted an alternative form of Cyberman), the machine was automated and self contained, it was also seen in far greater detail.

The machine consists of 4 mechanical limbs that have the components needed for conversion. They are:
* 2 circular saws on one limb
* 6 knives
* 1 laser/ welding device
* 1 injector

There is a central section that delivers parts to the conversion, the helmet, for example, as seen in "The Age of Steel".

According to a transcript on the Torchwood website these machines understood humans more delicately than anyone could imagine.

This exact machine was seen in three episodes of "Doctor Who". In the "Rise of the Cybermen" we get a very brief glimpse of the units. In "The Age of Steel", Battersea Power Station's huge rooms are being used as mass conversion chambers. These chambers contain many Conversion Units.

In "Doomsday", Cybermen who infiltrated the Doctor's universe managed to construct a Cyber Conversion Unit using only Earth materials and technologies.

In the Torchwood episode "Cyberwoman" it was revealed that when the Cybermen were desperate for troops in 'The Battle Of Canary Wharf' instead of transplanting brains the Cybermen begun to graft the components directly onto bodies. We also see that 'subjects' are now strapped down to a table. The process is more reminiscent of the original style of "conversion" rather than an "upgrade".

In this episode three conversions are attempted. Dr. Tanizaki was killed after his upgrade merely 'failed'. Cyber components were grafted on clumsily in an attempt to replace his eyes (which were defective, necessitating glasses) and his leg (which was defective, necessitating a cane). The power to the conversion unit was cut moments before the conversion process of Gwen Cooper began. Finally, Lisa Hallett, the 'Cyberwoman', used the machine to transplant her brain into the body of a pizza girl.

Mind Control

It is relatively common for subjects to be under some form of mind control prior to physical conversion, During "Silver Nemesis" Metalic headsets were attached to humans, renderingthem mentally similar to Cybermen, while in the New Series episodes of "Doctor Who", bluetooth like earpods could be used to subvert humans. In the Patrick Troughton Story "The Wheel in Space" the cybermen were able to mind control a number of humans on the wheel.

The Mind Control is not perfect, "Attack of the Cybermen" depicted a pair of humans whohad been partially converted, but whose brains rejected the conditioning. Rather than complete the process the Cybermen simply enslaved them. DeFlores was also immune to conversion in "Silver Nemesis" and even after conversion, Toberman in "The Tomb of the Cybermen" was eventually able to throw off the conditioning. Most spectacularly, in "Doomsday", Yvonne Hartman rebelled against the other cybermen after she was converted.

In addition to the earpieces subjects are also injected with drugs to modify their brains, the Torchwood website contains a transcript from a partial convertee, in which he claims he had received a drug that "turned his brain into mush" prior to the conversion. During his conversion Lytton urged The Doctor not to waste time trying to save him, claiming that his brain had already been irreversibly damaged by the drugs he had been given.

In some circumstances the Cybermen have also identified some individuals as "incompatible" and killed them rather than converting them. Normally after a demonstration of rational resistance by that individual. In the series depicted from 2006, the mind control of fully converted cybermen is based on an "emotional inhibitor", with cybermen immediately rebelling or remembering their human life when the device is disabled. By this rationale someone who would act against the cybermen out of pure logic rather than emotional bias could not be upgraded by simply removing their emotions.

The process of conversion is very painful to say the least; all of those converted not under the influence of the mind-controlling earpod scream as the sparks fly.

Methods of Conversion

In the original run of Doctor Who, turning a human into a cyberman was referred to as "conversion", and takes several common forms.

* Mind Control - The Brain is adjusted, but the subject otherwise left unmodified, this results in a being that appears human, but does the cyberman's bidding. These specimens normally seem quite passive, even by cyberman standards.

* Limbs and Mind - Stronger artificial limbs are grafted onto the body of a human, although they are not fitted with a helmet or chest pack. The cybermen sometimes convert otherwise resistant people in this fashion, if they require slaves.

* Full Conversion - All of the victim's limbs are replaced, and they are fitted with a chestpack and helmet, to create a full cyberman. Many of the internal organs are replaced in this procedure, the chestpack has often been stated to replace the heart and lungs. Damage to the pack, or introducing gold into it, results in the immediate death of the cyberman.

* Specials - The "Cyber Controller" (seen in "Attack of the Cybermen" and "The Tomb of the Cybermen") has a different head unit, and originally no chestpack. This is an entirely different design of cyberman. It has also been implied that the "Cyber Planner" in "The Invasion" contained a brain.

Fully converted cybermen do not need air. It is not clear how much flesh and bone remained in such cybermen, although Peri and The Doctor noticed that long dead cybermen stank of rotting flesh.

In the New Series, the process has been described as "upgrading" typically this involves removing the brain from a human, and then dismantling the body to obtain the rest of the nerve tissues. These tissues are then built into the body of the cyberman, while the brain is modified and installed in the head. Only the nervous system is used for this form of conversion.

The conversion itself starts with the leg and works itself up to the head, however in "Torchwood", the conversion begins at the head.