In the Realm of the Winged
Im Reich der Gefluegelten
Plot Summary
The story begins with Llewellyn 709 regaining consciousness aboard the wrecked MIDAS after a failed space jump using the Kaiser Force Drive. He discovers that many of the Luna prisoners have been turned into glassy corpses, victims of the drive's malfunction. He finds Leande, who is behaving strangely, and learns that Scanner Cloud is alive and working in the engine room. Llewellyn 709 meets with Scanner Cloud, and they discuss the nature of Psyters and the destroyed planet Psyta.
Morgenstern informs them that Lavski has partially repaired the generator. They discover they are in intergalactic space, near a green sun named Moloch, orbiting a Black Hole. The MIDAS is being pulled toward the Black Hole. Scanner Cloud orders the ship to turn and head directly into the Black Hole, hoping to use its gravitational pull to slingshot them away. Llewellyn 709 and the other Drivers form a lodge to shield Scanner Cloud during this dangerous maneuver. They manage to escape the Black Hole's pull but crash-land on a planet they name Hobo.
Meanwhile, on Hobo, Deschmarn-Drag, a winged Ashra hunter, observes the arrival of the MIDAS. He leads a hunt for Finner, ostrich-like creatures, but is disturbed by the appearance of the ship. He initially believes the ship is related to the "Shadows from the Sea," a hostile force that has been attacking other Ashra swarms. Scanner Cloud and Leande explore the planet and encounter Deschmarn-Drag, who attacks Scanner Cloud out of fear.
Back on the MIDAS, Scanner Cloud organizes an expedition to make contact with the natives. Llewellyn 709 and Leande accompany him. During the night, the Ashras, led by Deschmarn-Drag, stampede a herd of Finner toward the MIDAS, resulting in the deaths of three Luna refugees. Scanner Cloud and Llewellyn 709 realize the Ashras are responsible for the stampede. The next day, the expedition sets out, but they are ambushed by the Ashras, who use a numbing gas. Llewellyn 709 and Scanner Cloud are captured, while Leande is left behind.
The captured Drivers are taken to the Ashras' eyrie, where they are imprisoned. They witness an attack by the "Shadows from the Sea," who are revealed to be Zoptics led by Solvan von Vrest, who are attempting to exterminate the Ashras. Leande arrives in the flying disc and helps Scanner Cloud and Llewellyn 709 escape. Deschmarn-Drag realizes his mistake and tries to stop Leande, but she insists on helping her companions.
Scanner Cloud devises a plan to use the MIDAS's technology and the Ashras' knowledge of the land to drive the Zoptics away. They use holographic projections and sound inductors to create illusions of giant monsters, scaring the Zoptics into abandoning their colonization efforts. Solvan von Vrest, defeated and disgraced, commits suicide. The Ashras and humans celebrate their victory, and Llewellyn 709 wonders if the Zoptics will return in the future.
Key Events
- 01 Llewellyn 709 awakens on the wrecked MIDAS and discovers the "Glassy Ones."
- 02 Llewellyn 709 learns that Scanner Cloud is alive from Leande.
- 03 The MIDAS is pulled toward a Black Hole near the green sun Moloch.
- 04 The Drivers form a lodge to help Scanner Cloud escape the Black Hole.
- 05 The MIDAS crash-lands on the planet Hobo.
- 06 Deschmarn-Drag observes the arrival of the MIDAS and attacks Scanner Cloud.
- 07 The Ashras stampede a herd of Finner toward the MIDAS, killing three refugees.
- 08 Llewellyn 709, Scanner Cloud, and Leande are ambushed and captured by the Ashras.
- 09 The Zoptics attack the Ashras' eyrie, killing many.
- 10 Leande helps Llewellyn 709 and Scanner Cloud escape.
- 11 Scanner Cloud devises a plan to use technology and Ashra knowledge to scare away the Zoptics.
- 12 Holographic projections and sound inductors are used to create illusions of giant monsters.
- 13 The Zoptics, led by Solvan von Vrest, are driven away from Hobo.
- 14 Solvan von Vrest commits suicide.
Characters
Llewellyn 709 — A Driver and Riemenmann who survives the failed space jump and plays a key role in helping the MIDAS escape the Black Hole and driving away the Zoptics.
Scanner Cloud — A Psyter who leads the crew of the MIDAS and devises the plan to escape the Black Hole and defeat the Zoptics.
Leande — A Centrist girl who is affected by the Soul Diver secretion and has a strange connection to Scanner Cloud. She helps Llewellyn 709 and Scanner Cloud escape from the Ashras and operates the computer.
Deschmarn-Drag — An Ashra hunter who initially attacks the humans but later becomes an ally.
Solvan von Vrest — A Zoptic nobleman who leads the extermination campaign against the Ashras and is ultimately defeated and commits suicide.
Morgenstern — A Luna prisoner who helps Scanner Cloud and is responsible for selecting the holo-images.
Angila Fraim — A Driver who participates in the lodge and helps drive away the Zoptics.
Altamont O'Hale — A Driver who participates in the lodge and helps drive away the Zoptics.
Sirdina Giccomo — A Driver who participates in the lodge and helps drive away the Zoptics.
Serge-Serge Suvez — A Driver who helps drive away the Zoptics.
Pija — A prisoner from the Moon Dungeons who dies during the space jump.
Ershmet-Lorn — The Old One, the Wise One, the pilot of the Oomp Ashra swarm.
Locations
Hobo (planet) — The planet where the MIDAS crash-lands and where the Ashras and Zoptics live.
Oomp Ashra Eyrie — The mountain home of the Oomp Ashra swarm.
Black Hole — The collapsed star that Moloch orbits.
Luna — The moon where the prisoners were held in the Moon Dungeons.
Ships & Vehicles
MIDAS — A large spacecraft equipped with a Kaiser Force Drive.
MIDAS-Zwei — A smaller lifeboat/shuttlecraft from the MIDAS.
Flying Disc — A small, disc-shaped aircraft used for reconnaissance and combat.
Zoptic Submarines — Primitive submarines used by the Zoptics to travel between continents.
Technology & Concepts
Kaiser Force Drive — A dangerous and experimental drive that allows for faster-than-light travel.
Psyters — Individuals with advanced mental abilities and a connection to the destroyed planet Psyta.
Centrists — Individuals whose minds have been altered by the Soul Diver secretion.
Soul Diver — A secretion that alters the mind and creates a foreign egocentric reality.
Glassy Ones — Individuals who have been transformed into glassy corpses by the Kaiser Force Drive.
Holo-Projectors — Devices that project realistic holographic images.
Sound Inductors — Devices that amplify and project sound over long distances.
Shock Rifles — Weapons that emit low-frequency, high-energy waves that disrupt the nervous system.
Progress Injection — A program to rapidly advance the technology of a civilization.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of survival, prejudice, and the consequences of technological advancement. It has a tone of adventure and suspense, with elements of horror and social commentary. The narrative style is descriptive and action-oriented, with a focus on the characters' struggles and decisions.
Connections
Continues from: Likely follows directly from the events of booklet 013, given the mention of the failed space jump and the aftermath of the Kaiser Force Drive.