The Supreme Colonel's Gambit
Der Triumph des Lordoberst
Plot Summary
Max von Valdec, aboard the STERN VON TERRA orbiting Zoe, prepares to attack the planet and crush the Lodge Masters and Drivers. His ultimatum to open the PSI-Shield is ignored. The fleet unleashes a devastating laser and nuclear barrage, but the shield holds. Frustrated, Valdec orders a retreat, realizing brute force alone won't work. He believes cunning is needed to defeat the Terranauts. A Council courier ship, the HYBRID, arrives, carrying Milton Daut, who informs Valdec that the Council Assembly, led by Manag Pankaldi, has stripped him of power and ordered a ceasefire with Zoe. Asen-Ger, leader of the Terranauts, agrees to negotiate with the Council on Earth.
Meanwhile, on Yenderson, Ennerk Prime, a Driver, witnesses the Gray Guard brutally suppressing a Driver strike. He escapes into the swamps, fearing for his life. On Volonder, Suzan Oh, another Driver, survives the destruction of her ship, the PEKING, and the murder of her friend by anti-Driver settlers incited by the Shadows. She flees as Gray Guard landing boats arrive. On Siam-Sin, Onnegart Vangralen, a Driver, observes the Gray Guard herding Drivers into a facility where they are stripped of their PSI abilities.
Back on Zoe, Queen Mandorla, a Gray who defected to the Terranauts, decrypts the HYBRID's message. Asen-Ger decides to go to Earth to negotiate with Pankaldi, despite David terGorden's distrust of the Council. Asen-Ger leaves David in charge of Zoe's defense. Valdec returns to Earth, where he meets with his loyalists, Manag Glaucen, Manag Frost, and Manag Zarkophin. They reveal that they have allowed Pankaldi's opposition to grow in order to identify and eliminate all dissenters. Frost reports that the Gray Guard is systematically stripping Drivers of their PSI abilities across the galaxy. Zarkophin announces the completion of the MIDAS II, a spacecraft powered by the Kaiser Force, freeing the Council from reliance on Driver space travel.
Asen-Ger arrives on Earth and attends the Council Assembly, where he presents the Drivers' demands. Valdec suddenly appears and declares the assembly dissolved, accusing its members of treason. He reveals the MIDAS II and the Kaiser Force, rendering Driver space travel obsolete. Chan de Nouille, leader of the Gray Guard, pledges her support to Valdec. Daut tries to help Asen-Ger escape, but is killed by the Gray Guard. Asen-Ger is captured, but Rollo and other Drivers rescue him using their PSI powers, transporting him back to the VENEDIG.
Valdec launches a full-scale attack on Zoe, using the Kaiser Force transmitter to destabilize the planet. Queen Ayden Sin leads a ground invasion, but the Super-Lodge retaliates, causing the Kaiser Force to run wild. The NEBELBARON and QUASAR are destroyed, and Ayden Sin is killed. Valdec orders a retreat, but the Kaiser Force continues to wreak havoc, threatening to destroy Zoe and the entire system. The Super-Lodge decides to surrender to the Council in order to save lives, but David and Asen-Ger must escape. Queen Mandorla contacts Valdec to arrange the surrender. As the Gray Guard begins the evacuation, David, Asen-Ger, Queen Mandorla, and a few other Terranauts escape in a courier ship, detonating a nuclear bomb to slow the Kaiser Force. The STERN VON TERRA retreats as Spilter goes nova and Zoe is destroyed. The Gray Guard strips the captured Drivers of their PSI abilities. Valdec dreams of conquering the galaxy with the Kaiser Force.
Key Events
- 01 Max von Valdec orders an attack on Zoe, but the PSI-Shield holds.
- 02 The HYBRID arrives with Milton Daut, who informs Valdec of the Council's decision to negotiate with the Drivers.
- 03 Asen-Ger agrees to negotiate with Pankaldi on Earth.
- 04 Ennerk Prime witnesses the Gray Guard suppressing Drivers on Yenderson.
- 05 Suzan Oh survives the destruction of the PEKING on Volonder.
- 06 Onnegart Vangralen observes Drivers being stripped of their PSI abilities on Siam-Sin.
- 07 Valdec meets with his loyalists, who reveal their plan to eliminate dissenters.
- 08 Zarkophin announces the completion of the MIDAS II and the Kaiser Force.
- 09 Asen-Ger attends the Council Assembly, where Valdec declares a state of emergency.
- 10 Chan de Nouille pledges her support to Valdec.
- 11 Daut is killed, and Asen-Ger is rescued by Rollo and other Drivers.
- 12 Valdec launches a full-scale attack on Zoe, using the Kaiser Force transmitter.
- 13 The Super-Lodge retaliates, causing the Kaiser Force to run wild.
- 14 The NEBELBARON and QUASAR are destroyed, and Queen Ayden Sin is killed.
- 15 The Super-Lodge decides to surrender to the Council.
- 16 David, Asen-Ger, Queen Mandorla, and a few other Terranauts escape in a courier ship.
- 17 The STERN VON TERRA retreats as Spilter goes nova and Zoe is destroyed.
- 18 The Gray Guard strips the captured Drivers of their PSI abilities.
Characters
Max von Valdec — The Lord Colonel of the Council, determined to crush the Drivers and maintain his power. He orchestrates the attack on Zoe and manipulates events on Earth to his advantage.
Asen-Ger — The leader of the Terranauts, who agrees to negotiate with the Council in an attempt to end the persecution of the Drivers. He is ultimately betrayed by Valdec.
David terGorden — The Heir of Power, a powerful Driver who is skeptical of the Council and distrusts Pankaldi. He is left in charge of Zoe's defense while Asen-Ger negotiates.
Queen Fay Gray — A loyal Gray Guard officer who serves as Valdec's second-in-command. She carries out his orders without question.
Queen Mandorla — A Gray who defects to the Terranauts after saving David's life. She provides valuable intelligence but is ultimately unable to prevent the destruction of Zoe.
Milton Daut — The Speaker of the Council Assembly, who attempts to negotiate with the Drivers and remove Valdec from power. He is killed by the Gray Guard.
Chan de Nouille — The Commander-in-Chief of the Gray Guard, who pledges her support to Valdec and helps him crush the opposition.
Manag Pankaldi — A Council member who opposes Valdec and attempts to negotiate with the Drivers. He is ultimately betrayed and executed by Valdec.
Queen Ayden Sin — A Gray Guard officer who leads the ground invasion of Zoe. She is killed when the Kaiser Force runs wild.
Ennerk Prime — A Driver on Yenderson who witnesses the Gray Guard's brutal suppression of a Driver strike.
Suzan Oh — A Driver on Volonder who survives the destruction of her ship and the murder of her friend.
Onnegart Vangralen — A Driver on Siam-Sin who observes Drivers being stripped of their PSI abilities.
Rollo — A tall, heavyset Driver from the Deneb system who helps rescue Asen-Ger and escape from Zoe.
Manag Glaucen — Valdec's security officer, who orchestrates the elimination of dissenters on Earth.
Manag Frost — Valdec's news manager, who oversees the systematic stripping of Drivers' PSI abilities across the galaxy.
Manag Zarkophin — The master builder who develops the Kaiser Force and the MIDAS II.
Greeny — A Driver who accompanies Asen-Ger and David on their escape.
Whity — Greeny's twin sister, who also accompanies Asen-Ger and David on their escape.
Narda — A PSI-girl who coordinates the parapsychic forces of the Drivers.
Locations
Zoe — The planet of the Lodge Masters, which is attacked by the Council and ultimately destroyed.
Earth — The headquarters of the Council, where Valdec and Pankaldi vie for power.
Yenderson — A Terran colony in the Capricorn system, where Drivers are on strike.
Volonder — A Terran colony in the Cariga system, where Drivers are persecuted by anti-Driver settlers.
Siam-Sin — A Terran colony in the Assyrbrun system, where Drivers are being stripped of their PSI abilities.
Space — The setting for the space battles and travel between planets.
Grottos of B'ai Ching — Underground caves on Zoe where the Drivers hide and coordinate their PSI powers.
Porto Novo — A city on Zoe, abandoned by the Drivers, that is targeted by the Gray Guard.
Berlin — A city on Earth, where the Council Assembly meets and Valdec and Pankaldi clash.
Ships & Vehicles
STERN VON TERRA — Valdec's flagship, a heavily armed warship.
HYBRID — A Council courier ship used to transport Milton Daut.
PEKING — A Driver ship on Volonder that is destroyed by anti-Driver settlers.
MIDAS II — A spacecraft powered by the Kaiser Force.
VENEDIG — A small Driver ship of the courier class used by Asen-Ger and his companions.
QUASAR — A space transporter used to deploy the Kaiser Force transmitter on Zoe.
NEBELBARON — A supply ship of the blockade fleet.
PULSAR — A sister ship of the STERN VON TERRA.
SIRIUS — A sister ship of the STERN VON TERRA.
SPHERE — A ship sent to evacuate the Drivers from Zoe.
COSMORAL WAAN — A ship sent to evacuate the Drivers from Zoe.
BLACKSTAR — A ship sent to evacuate the Drivers from Zoe.
MEDIKRAT — A hospital ship used to strip Drivers of their PSI abilities.
Technology & Concepts
PSI-Shield — A psionic force field used by the Drivers to protect Zoe.
Lodge Masters — Leaders of the Driver Lodges, who coordinate their PSI powers.
Drivers — Individuals with PSI abilities who are essential for space travel.
Terranauts — A group of Drivers who oppose the Council.
Gray Guard — The military force of the Council, known for their ruthlessness and loyalty.
Shadows — An unknown group that stirs up anti-Driver sentiment.
Council Assembly — The governing body of the Council.
Kaiser Force — A dangerous form of energy that the Council seeks to use for space travel.
Super-Lodge — The psionic union of several thousand Drivers.
Space II — An alien, life-hostile cosmos from which the Kaiser Force draws energy.
Yggdrasil's Seed — A seed pod that guarantees the rise of Yggdrasil and the supply of mistletoes for space travel.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of oppression, betrayal, and the dangers of unchecked power. The tone is dark and pessimistic, highlighting the brutality of the Council and the desperation of the Drivers. The narrative style is fast-paced and action-oriented, with frequent shifts in perspective.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the conflict between the Council and the Drivers.
Leads into: The aftermath of the destruction of Zoe and the fate of the surviving Terranauts.
Related booklets: Booklets focusing on the Kaiser Force, the Gray Guard, and the internal power struggles within the Council.