The Psi Inferno
Das Psi-Inferno
Plot Summary
The story opens with the aftermath of the Drivers' desperate landing in Greenland, near the Holy Valley, following their escape from Valdec's forces. Only a fraction of the ships made it, and the Drivers are exhausted and unable to form a Super-Lodge. David terGorden, feeling a bond with the Drivers, fights alongside them against the advancing Gray Guards. Lithe seeks her father, Merlin III, guardian of the Holy Valley, for help. David, impulsively following Lithe, is nearly killed but saved by Llewellyn 709.
Merlin III, in his cave, prepares a ritual to aid the Drivers, drawing on their PSI powers and summoning the life energy of twelve ancient warriors, King Arthur's Round Table. This creates an illusion that drives the Gray Guards away, but the effort kills Merlin. Lithe, devastated, blames the Drivers for her father's death and banishes them from the cave. Before they leave, she gives David a video message from Merlin.
Meanwhile, Valdec struggles with the Driver resistance and the political machinations of the Council. He reinstates Queen Mandorla and seeks support from Chan de Nouille, the head of the Gray Guards. Chan de Nouille demands a high price for her support: a 50% share in the Kaiser Corporation and the end of PSI experiments. Valdec refuses.
Elsewhere, Asen-Ger, imprisoned in the Moon Dungeons, is subjected to experiments aimed at creating human robots. He is freed by Kristan Percott, a Lodge Master sent by Chan de Nouille to undermine Valdec. They escape in a stolen spacecraft, but Valdec remotely reprograms the ship to fly into the sun.
Back on Earth, David, guided by Merlin's video message, seeks the ancient defense installations in his family's palace. He encounters Brak Shakram and his band of Nomans, outcasts living in the palace's bunkers. Shakram, recognizing David as Growan terGorden's son, helps him find the hidden computer controlling the defense systems. David activates the Omega Program, triggering a series of events that lead to the eruption of volcanoes in Greenland, destroying the Gray Guards and flooding Ultima Thule.
Asen-Ger and Percott, facing certain death, manage to launch in a glider and crash land near Ödrödir. David and Shakram, escaping the flooded city, are ambushed by Gray Guards. Shakram is mortally wounded, but they are rescued by Asen-Ger, Llewellyn, and Narda. The Drivers are temporarily saved, but the future remains uncertain.
Key Events
- 01 The Drivers crash-land in Greenland near the Holy Valley.
- 02 David terGorden fights alongside the Drivers against the Gray Guards.
- 03 Lithe seeks help from her father, Merlin III.
- 04 Merlin III uses PSI powers to create an illusion, driving away the Gray Guards, but dies in the process.
- 05 Lithe banishes the Drivers from the Holy Valley.
- 06 Valdec reinstates Queen Mandorla and seeks support from Chan de Nouille.
- 07 Chan de Nouille demands a high price for her support, which Valdec refuses.
- 08 Asen-Ger escapes from the Moon Dungeons with the help of Kristan Percott.
- 09 Valdec remotely reprograms Asen-Ger's spacecraft to fly into the sun.
- 10 David, guided by Merlin's message, seeks the ancient defense installations in his family's palace.
- 11 David encounters Brak Shakram and the Nomans, who help him find the hidden computer.
- 12 David activates the Omega Program.
- 13 Volcanic eruptions destroy the Gray Guards and flood Ultima Thule.
- 14 Asen-Ger and Percott crash land near Ödrödir.
- 15 David and Shakram are rescued by Asen-Ger, Llewellyn, and Narda.
Characters
David terGorden — Heir to the mistletoe consortium and a Driver. He fights alongside the Drivers, seeks the ancient defense installations, and activates the Omega Program.
Llewellyn 709 — A Riemenmann and a leader among the Drivers. He saves David's life and supports his efforts.
Merlin III — Guardian of the Holy Valley and Lithe's father. He uses his PSI powers to help the Drivers but dies in the process.
Lithe — Merlin III's daughter. She is devastated by her father's death and blames the Drivers.
Max von Valdec — Lord Colonel and Chairman of the Council. He struggles to suppress the Driver resistance and maintain his power.
Chan de Nouille — The Great Gray and supreme authority of the Gray Guards. She attempts to blackmail Valdec and undermines his efforts.
Asen-Ger — A Summacum and Terranaut leader. He is imprisoned and experimented on in the Moon Dungeons but escapes with Percott's help.
Kristan Percott — A Lodge Master of the Gray Drivers. He helps Asen-Ger escape from the Moon Dungeons on Chan de Nouille's orders.
Brak Shakram — Leader of the Nomans, outcasts living in the palace's bunkers. He helps David find the ancient defense installations.
Narda — A young Driver girl with strong PSI abilities. She is sensitive to the emotions and thoughts of others and supports David's efforts.
Queen Mandorla — A Queen in the Gray Guards, temporarily relieved of her post, then reinstated by Valdec.
Queen Shu-Bad — A Queen in the Gray Guards, temporarily replacing Mandorla, but requesting to be relieved of her post.
Norwy van Dyne — A merchant and member of Asen-Ger's Lodge, who is with David and Llewellyn.
Flint — A former Gray Guard who is now with the Drivers.
Ouspensky — A Terranaut from the lodge of the nearby WIEN.
Petar — One of the Drivers from the BAGDAD, who is made their spokesman.
Carlos Pankaldi — Valdec's deputy.
Captain Antonio - Captain in the Gray Guards.
Growan terGorden - David's deceased father.
Myriam - David's deceased mother.
Nolan - A Noman.
Locations
Greenland — The primary setting of the story, where the Drivers have crash-landed and are fighting against Valdec's forces.
Holy Valley — A hidden valley in Greenland, home to Yggdrasil and Merlin III.
Ultima Thule — A city in Greenland, built by the terGorden family. It is flooded due to the activation of the Omega Program.
Moon Dungeons — A prison complex on the Moon, controlled by the Kaiser Corporation, where Asen-Ger is imprisoned.
Space — The setting for Asen-Ger's escape and the attempt to remotely destroy his spacecraft.
Ödrödir — The location where the Drivers have entrenched themselves.
Ships & Vehicles
FENRISWOLF — A Driver ship, where David and Llewellyn are stationed.
CHIKAGO — A Driver ship that is destroyed.
WIEN — A Driver ship equipped with a laser cannon.
BAGDAD — A Driver ship that is destroyed by self-destruct.
ASE — Combat vehicles for atmosphere, water, and ground, constructed by the Kaiser Corporation.
Ringo — Spacecraft used by the Gray Guards.
Technology & Concepts
PSI — Parapsychic powers used by the Drivers to control their ships and for other abilities.
Drivers — Individuals with PSI abilities who control spaceships.
Gray Guards — Valdec's military force, used to suppress the Drivers and enforce his will.
Super-Lodge — A collective PSI-block formed by the Drivers.
Space II — An alternate dimension or realm.
Kaiser Force — A powerful force or technology developed by the Kaiser Corporation.
Protop — A versatile material used for armor, ships, and other constructions.
Summacum — Individuals with exceptional intelligence and abilities.
Nomans — Outcasts of the earthly caste system.
Omega Program — The ultimate defensive level, which prevents Ultima Thule and the Holy Valley from falling into enemy hands.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of resistance against oppression, the cost of power, and the clash between technology and ancient forces. The tone is dark and action-packed, with elements of political intrigue and personal sacrifice. The narrative style is fast-paced and descriptive, focusing on the characters' struggles and the unfolding events.
Connections
Continues from: Die Terranauten 005
Leads into: The fate of the Drivers and the outcome of the conflict with Valdec are left unresolved. The threat of the Kaiser Force and the political power struggles within the Council remain.
Related booklets: Booklets focusing on the Gray Guards, the Kaiser Corporation, or the history of the terGorden family.