The Hour of the Strapman
Die Stunde des Riemenmanns
Plot Summary
Max von Valdec, the Council Chairman, visits the Dead Spaces prison in Berlin, accompanied by Queen Mandorla and Mater Pernath. He instructs Queen Kerish, the prison commandant, to transfer the imprisoned Drivers, including the notorious Llewellyn 709 (the Strap-man), to Luna. Summacum Jorgez, the prison's chief scientist, objects, wanting to experiment on Llewellyn 709. Valdec promises him access later.
Meanwhile, Llewellyn 709 explores the Dead Spaces and discovers a potential escape route. He encounters Scanner Cloud, another prisoner, who tries to dissuade him from escaping, hinting that the Moon Dungeons would be preferable. Llewellyn 709 distrusts Cloud and suspects he is a spy.
Valdec attends a holographic conference with other GeneralManags, including Carlos Pankaldi and Hennister Legrain, who question his handling of the Kaiser Force experiments and his relationship with David terGorden. Suzan Li of Alfa-Mercedes demands clarification. Pankaldi and Legrain push for David terGorden's extradition to a Council tribunal. The conference is interrupted by news of a delegation of Summacums led by Hadersen Wells arriving at the Kaiser House.
Wells demands Valdec release Asen-Ger and David terGorden to the jurisdiction of the Council of Zoe. Valdec denies holding David terGorden, but Wells knows he is in the building. Valdec refuses and ends the meeting. He orders Queen Mandorla to move David terGorden to ES-50, an energy satellite.
David terGorden, imprisoned in a glass chamber, is visited by Mater Pernath, who attempts to influence him but fails. He reveals he briefly made telepathic contact with someone outside. Pernath leaves him, disturbed.
Llewellyn 709 and other prisoners prepare to escape. They are attacked by Rosen and his "Dark Ones", prisoners who have succumbed to the psychological effects of the Dead Spaces. Scanner Cloud helps them fight off the Dark Ones. The prisoners use Llewellyn 709's PSI powers to break through a bricked-up passage.
The escape is detected. Valdec dispatches Gray Guard forces to recapture the prisoners. Mater Pernath leads the search. The escapees are cornered in the ruins of old Berlin. Scanner Cloud, Altamont O'Hale, and Serge-Serge Suvez sacrifice themselves to allow Llewellyn 709, Angila Fraim, Sardina Giccomo, and Ishmail Tout to escape.
Llewellyn 709, Angila Fraim, Sardina Giccomo, and Ishmail Tout are aided by Hanstein, a former Manag turned Noman, who leads them through a secret tunnel to the edge of the ruined city. He directs them to a villa owned by a Servis, where they can hide.
Mater Pernath, conflicted and questioning her loyalty, locates the escapees but allows them to escape. She provides them with a magnetic glider and directs them to Stojska-Stellar, a spaceport in the Urals, where they can board a freight container. She is discovered by Ishmail Tout and Sardina Giccomo and reveals her intentions to help them.
Valdec learns of Mater Pernath's betrayal. He orders her arrest and the recapture of the Drivers. Mater Pernath informs Valdec of the Drivers' plan to reach ES-50 and free David terGorden. She then commits suicide.
Llewellyn 709, Angila Fraim, Sardina Giccomo, and Ishmail Tout reach Stojska-Stellar and board a freight container. They are transported to a Ringo spacecraft. They hijack the Ringo and set course for ES-50.
Valdec orders Queen Mandorla to kill David terGorden. Queen Mandorla, conflicted, reveals the order to David terGorden and helps him escape.
Llewellyn 709, Angila Fraim, and Sardina Giccomo attack ES-50. Ishmail Tout is killed in the attack. Queen Mandorla helps David terGorden fake his death and escape with the Drivers. Queen Mandorla remains on ES-50 to face the consequences.
Cosmoral Martha arrives with Gray Guard forces. Queen Mandorla claims David terGorden is dead and that she killed him. She allows the Gray Guard to take her into custody.
Key Events
- 01 Max von Valdec inspects the Dead Spaces and orders the transfer of Drivers to Luna.
- 02 Llewellyn 709 discovers a potential escape route in the Dead Spaces.
- 03 Llewellyn 709 encounters Scanner Cloud, who tries to dissuade him from escaping.
- 04 Valdec attends a holographic conference and faces criticism over the Kaiser Force and David terGorden.
- 05 Hadersen Wells demands Valdec release Asen-Ger and David terGorden.
- 06 Valdec orders Queen Mandorla to move David terGorden to ES-50.
- 07 David terGorden is visited by Mater Pernath, who attempts to influence him.
- 08 The prisoners, led by Llewellyn 709, escape the Dead Spaces.
- 09 The escapees are attacked by Rosen and his "Dark Ones".
- 10 Scanner Cloud, Altamont O'Hale, and Serge-Serge Suvez sacrifice themselves to allow the others to escape.
- 11 Hanstein, a Noman, helps the remaining Drivers escape the ruined city.
- 12 Mater Pernath allows the Drivers to escape and provides them with a magnetic glider.
- 13 Valdec learns of Mater Pernath's betrayal and orders her arrest.
- 14 Mater Pernath informs Valdec of the Drivers' plan and commits suicide.
- 15 Llewellyn 709, Angila Fraim, Sardina Giccomo, and Ishmail Tout reach Stojska-Stellar and board a freight container.
- 16 They hijack a Ringo spacecraft and set course for ES-50.
- 17 Valdec orders Queen Mandorla to kill David terGorden.
- 18 Queen Mandorla reveals the order to David terGorden and helps him escape.
- 19 Llewellyn 709, Angila Fraim, and Sardina Giccomo attack ES-50.
- 20 Ishmail Tout is killed in the attack.
- 21 Queen Mandorla helps David terGorden fake his death and escape with the Drivers.
- 22 Queen Mandorla remains on ES-50 to face the consequences.
Characters
Max von Valdec — The Council Chairman and Lord Colonel, determined to suppress the Drivers and maintain control. He orders the transfer of Drivers to Luna and later orders David terGorden's assassination.
Llewellyn 709 — Also known as the Strap-man, a powerful Driver and leader of the Terranauts. He leads the escape from the Dead Spaces and attempts to rescue David terGorden.
Queen Mandorla — A member of the Gray Guards and Valdec's household Queen. She is ordered to kill David terGorden but ultimately helps him escape.
Mater Pernath — A PSI specialist and security officer for imprisoned Drivers. She is initially loyal to the Council but begins to question her allegiance after encountering David terGorden. She ultimately betrays the Council and commits suicide.
Hadersen Wells — A Summacum and representative of the Council of Zoe. He demands the release of Asen-Ger and David terGorden.
Scanner Cloud — A prisoner in the Dead Spaces who initially tries to dissuade Llewellyn 709 from escaping but later helps the Drivers. He sacrifices himself to allow the others to escape.
Queen Kerish — The commandant of the Dead Spaces prison.
Summacum Jorgez — The chief scientist at the Dead Spaces, interested in experimenting on Drivers.
Carlos Pankaldi — GeneralManag of the Green Hill Corporation and a political rival of Valdec.
Hennister Legrain — GeneralManag of the Armstrong-Braun Foundation, critical of Valdec's handling of the Kaiser Force.
David terGorden — The heir to the Biotroniks Corporation and a leader of the Driver revolt. He is imprisoned by Valdec and later rescued by Llewellyn 709 and Queen Mandorla.
Altamont O'Hale — A Driver who helps Llewellyn 709 escape and sacrifices himself.
Serge-Serge Suvez — A Driver who helps Llewellyn 709 escape and sacrifices himself.
Ishmail Tout — A Driver who helps Llewellyn 709 escape but is killed on ES-50.
Angila Fraim — A Driver woman who helps Llewellyn 709 escape.
Sardina Giccomo — A Driver woman who helps Llewellyn 709 escape.
Rosen — The leader of the "Dark Ones", prisoners who have succumbed to the psychological effects of the Dead Spaces.
Hanstein — A former Manag turned Noman who helps Llewellyn 709 and the other Drivers escape the ruined city.
Cosmoral Martha — Commander of the terrestrial defense fleet.
Locations
Dead Spaces (Berlin) — A bunker complex converted into a prison on Earth, possessing a PSI-Shield.
Kaiser House (Berlin) — The headquarters of the Kaiser Corporation in Berlin, where David terGorden is initially imprisoned.
ES-50 (Energy Satellite) — An energy satellite in orbit around Earth, used to transmit solar energy to the planet. David terGorden is temporarily held here.
Stojska-Stellar (Spaceport in the Urals) — A spaceport in the Urals, used for interstellar travel. The Drivers use it to reach ES-50.
Moon Dungeons — A prison on Luna, considered escape-proof.
Ships & Vehicles
KAISER-Nine — A fast interplanetary space yacht used by Queen Mandorla to transport David terGorden to ES-50.
Military Gliders — Armored aircraft used by the Gray Guards for combat and surveillance.
Ringo — A type of spacecraft used for interstellar travel. The Drivers hijack one to reach ES-50.
Technology & Concepts
PSI-Shield — An energy field that strips PSI powers from Drivers. Used in the Dead Spaces.
Drivers — Humans with parapsychic abilities.
Terranauts — A group of rebellious Drivers who oppose the Council.
Gray Guards — An elite military force loyal to the Council, often brainwashed and conditioned.
Kaiser Force — A new energy form being developed by the Kaiser Corporation.
Summacums — Members of the Council of Zoe, a powerful organization of Lodge Masters.
Lodge Masters — Leaders of PSI-sensitive groups, often with significant political influence.
Space II — A higher energy dimension from which Drivers draw their PSI powers.
Nomans — People living in the ruins of old Berlin, outside of Council control.
Relax — People living in the ruins of old Berlin, outside of Council control.
Arbiters — People living in the ruins of old Berlin, outside of Council control.
MHD Drive — Magnetohydrodynamic drive, a propulsion system used for spacecraft and containers.
Ringo — A spacecraft used for interstellar travel.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of rebellion, betrayal, and the conflict between individual freedom and societal control. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with a focus on the psychological effects of imprisonment and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of power. The narrative style is action-oriented, with frequent shifts in perspective and a focus on the internal struggles of the characters.
Connections
Continues from: Likely follows previous booklets detailing the Driver rebellion and the Kaiser Force experiments.
Leads into: The rescue of David terGorden and the ongoing conflict between the Terranauts and the Council. The fate of Queen Mandorla is left open.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring Max von Valdec, Llewellyn 709, David terGorden, and other members of the Terranauts. Booklets detailing the Kaiser Force project and the Council of Zoe.