Matt Smith era Cybermen, what are they called?

[Cyber Leader]

I am just reposting a response I had in another thread. Was a good conversation for thought I think.
Basically, what are the Matt Smith era Cybermen called? What do you call them?

I personally wish they would confirm if they are a MK VIII or not since Big Finish used the MK VIII name but the image was not like the Cybus style. So technically if the BBC acknowledges the Big Finish version, then there is a whole generation of cybermen missing and the new Matt Smith era would be MK IX.

Technically there is a SMALL possibility they could be related to the Cybus, however the Cybus were not time travelers like all other cybermen. They were also a parallel universe which should keep them out of current time line.

So just curious what others think since I have yet to discover the truth. If I don't find out in the next 3 weeks, I will try my hardest to remember to ask Mr. Nicholas Briggs and see if he is aware of a proper name since he still does Cyberman voices and is part of Big Finish productions.

[Subcommander Steff]

I have no idea if they have a Mk. ## designation or if they go by 2.1, etc. I would love to hear if Mr. Briggs has an answer honestly.

Aside from that, I have a question about the Cybus cybermen. Granted they came from a parallel universe, however, would it not be possible that a small number did not get sucked back through the void vortex? I cite the Torchwood episode Cyberwoman, the Doctor Who special The Next Doctor and even the Doctor Who episode Closing Time. Is it possible that a few cybers got scattered through time (Next Doctor) or got left behind & went underground (Closing Time/Cyberwoman)? Lost on Earth separated from their Cyber Leader, they did what all creatures do to survive: propagate/replicate their species in whatever way they can? In both Who stories the Cybermen were trying to rebuild while creating a situation/set up to make a new leader. I don't remember all the details of Cyberwoman, but did she not also try to use the apparatus in the Hub to make more Cybers?
Discussion ensues...

[MagePro]

I can ask Nick or Jason about that over the next few weeks. I still have some contact with them. The Mark designation still has some validity as it is mentioned in the books as well as the Big Finish audios. Keep in mind that not all BF Cybermen stories were considered canon for the TV series. It is a strange mix of what they count and what they don't. Unfortunately, that tends to change as well over time. As time has progressed with BF doing Doctor Who audios, BBC has granted that the TV writers may use some reference to them, BUT (and this is a big one) they are only a wink (head nod) to acknowledge they were done. In some cases, they can use them, in others, they can not. It's all rather a bit complicated.

However, they do not apply to the Cybermen from the parallel universe in most cases. Subcommader Steff made some fine observations. Let's tackle one at a time. The Torchwood Cyberwoman was not of the parallel universe and would not contain that other-worldly signature that would draw her back through the portal to the Void between worlds. Such would be the case for all those converted in the prime world. I won't get into the details of the 'null space' at this time, but there could be some surviving conversions or partial conversions still running around. These would be Cybus versions (most likely bareing the Cybus trade mark) and not Mondus related and not viable for the Mark # designation.

The second site is another really good observation. Here is the explanation: The Next Doctor similarity factor between the Parallel Cybermen and the one from the past is a rearward reflection of the P-Cyber from the future (yes, there are more Cybermen left on Earth!) As you recall, both Daleks and Cybermen were drawn into the Void. In order to escape before this Void was destroyed, the Daleks and Cybermen actually worked together... sort of. They don't go into great detail, but at this point, you have to wonder just how tied together these P-Cybermen are with the Daleks. But, I digress. Basically, the PP-Cybermen were able to adapt Dalek technology much like the tech Rose used to travel between worlds to be able to pass back through the Void. Unfortunately, this scattered quite a few of them through time and alternate dimensions as well. [Fanfare!] P-Cybermen in 1861! The CyberKing idea was a bit of a bosh. The "forthcoming Temporal Collapse" almost made it an non-issue as it was more of a fanciful temporary alternate reality/pocket dimension. Many of the Cybermen created here were very inferior due to lack of pre-processed materials. For example, they could easily succumb to electrical shocks not having the insulation factor of their makers.

The Best Observation by far made by Subcommander Steff is about the ones from Closing Time. Yes, a difficult call indeed. A few things tend to lend credence to her statements: One - The "re-introduction" of the Cybermats with TEETH! (*COOL*). Two - the ancient Cybermen spaceship and Three - the transmat (teleporter) setup.

Two of these things tend to suggest that these are not exactly the same P-Cybermen from the Void. The Transmat could be an adaptation of Dalek tech they gathered from the void. The Cybermat could be something similar to the Cybershade experiment that they tried in 1861. The biggest thing that gives credence to Subcommander Steff's thoughts (IMHO) is the spaceship! They stated very clearly that THEY crashed there long ago.

Spaceship Explanation: Take careful note that these Cybermen did NOT bare the seal of Cybus as do all the other P-Cybermen! These are, in fact, Mondus Cybermen who were barely surviving. They had managed to grab some parts from damaged Cybus Cybermen to 're-construct' themselves and parts of their ship. So, although they have the same basic design as the Cybus version, they are a new model (minus the tech of millions of years of advancement). It is questionable if any survived.

However, there is always the possibility that some scouts were off the ship trying to find other resources for repairing the ship and eachother. With this thought, the construction a Mark IX version can be logically designated.

How's that?

[Cyber Leader]

That is a great breakdown of the Cybermen in more recent seasons. It does make sense even though I would wonder how the cybermen looked the same with or minus the Cybus logo. I suppose that can go either way as far as who had the design first if there was some tampering in time travel. As much as I hate the idea of my Cyberman being called Cybus when I left the logo off on purpose, I have always wondered what to really call it since everybody refers to all Cybermen of that style as Cybus.