Marooned on Rorqual
Gestrandet auf Rorqual
Plot Summary
Following the fall of Zoe to Valdec and the Gray Guards, David terGorden, Asen-Ger, Mandorla, and other Drivers escape in the courier ship TASCA. Attempting a jump into Space II, David's subconscious memories of the planet Rorqual interfere with the transition, and the TASCA ends up near the planet. The ship's instruments are damaged, and the Drivers launch two lifeboats to explore. Asen-Ger's boat disappears, and David's boat experiences strange phenomena, including a "black sun." They crash land on Rorqual.
Meanwhile, on Rorqual, Thorna, a young woman who escaped a colony of girls held captive by the Green Flyers, is rescued from the gas-river Nebelland by Orson Orson, captain of the merchant ship North Wind. The North Wind is heading to the northern reaches of Rorqual to trade for ore. During a storm, David terGorden's lifeboat crashes near the North Wind. David and Claude Farrell, another Driver, are rescued, but Asen-Ger's fate is unknown.
David, Claude, and Zandra van Heissig, another Driver, disembark in the port town of Hayvant. David encounters Debussy, the captain of the sailing vessel Polaris, who recognizes David's Triadic Monochord as belonging to a dying man he rescued – likely a member of Asen-Ger's group. Debussy offers information in exchange for metal. Thorna, curious about the newcomers, follows them. At Debussy's ship, a Green Flyer named Vasik attacks David and Claude. David and Thorna are imprisoned.
Debussy reveals that he knows David is searching for the other Drivers and wants to use them to escape Rorqual. He takes David, Claude, Zandra, and Thorna to the Mango Archipelago, specifically O'Broinsland/Devonary, where he found the dying Driver. Debussy forces David and Thorna, chained together, to search for Asen-Ger, escorted by two of his men and Vasik. Vasik abandons them, revealing that O'Broinsland/Devonary is at war and the Vascinis have freed the slaves. They are captured by Justin O'Broin, who mistakes David for a nobleman. David learns that Debussy has allied himself with Padraig O'Broin, Justin's brother. David discovers Rianna Ross, another Driver from Asen-Ger's group, working as a slave. David, Thorna, and Justin plan to escape in Justin's hot air balloon. David rescues Zandra and Claude from Debussy. They all escape in the balloon, but Justin is killed by a crossbow bolt. The balloon drifts northward, towards the Northern Mountain Range.
Key Events
- 01 The Gray Guards launch their third assault on Zoe.
- 02 Valdec's Kaiser-Transmitter causes a cosmic catastrophe, destroying Zoe.
- 03 David terGorden, Asen-Ger, and other Drivers escape in the courier ship TASCA.
- 04 The TASCA attempts a jump into Space II, but David's memories of Rorqual interfere.
- 05 The TASCA ends up near Rorqual, and its instruments are damaged.
- 06 Asen-Ger's lifeboat disappears, and David's boat experiences strange phenomena and crash lands.
- 07 Thorna escapes the colony and is rescued by Orson Orson on the North Wind.
- 08 David and Claude Farrell are rescued by the North Wind.
- 09 David encounters Debussy, who recognizes his Triadic Monochord.
- 10 Debussy attacks David and Claude, imprisoning David and Thorna.
- 11 Debussy takes David, Claude, Zandra, and Thorna to O'Broinsland/Devonary.
- 12 David and Thorna, chained together, are forced to search for Asen-Ger.
- 13 Vasik abandons them, revealing the war and slave situation.
- 14 David and Thorna are captured by Justin O'Broin.
- 15 David discovers Rianna Ross working as a slave.
- 16 David, Thorna, and Justin plan to escape in Justin's hot air balloon.
- 17 David rescues Zandra and Claude.
- 18 They all escape in the balloon, but Justin is killed.
- 19 The balloon drifts northward.
Characters
David terGorden — The protagonist, heir of Yggdrasil, and a powerful Driver. He leads the escape from Zoe and seeks to reform the Terranauts. He is determined to find Asen-Ger and escape Rorqual.
Asen-Ger — A Terranaut and skilled Driver. He helps David escape Zoe and leads the other lifeboat, which disappears.
Thorna — A young woman who escaped a colony on Rorqual. She is rescued by the North Wind and becomes involved with David's group. She is chained to David and helps him escape.
Claude Farrell — A Driver who escapes Zoe with David. He is rescued by the North Wind and helps David in his efforts to escape Rorqual.
Zandra van Heissig — A Driver who escapes Zoe with David. She is captured by Debussy and later rescued by David.
Justin O'Broin — The brother of Padraig O'Broin and a scientist who is building a hot air balloon. He befriends David and helps him escape, but is killed by a crossbow bolt.
Debussy — The captain of the Polaris, a ruthless and paranoid merchant who seeks to exploit David and his group for his own escape from Rorqual.
Orson Orson — The captain of the North Wind, a merchant ship that rescues Thorna, David, and Claude.
Vasik — A Green Flyer who is allied with Debussy.
Rianna Ross — A Driver from Asen-Ger's group who is captured and enslaved. She is rescued by David.
Gylla Orbanassi — A Driver who is injured in the crash landing on Rorqual.
Kerwin Trogg — The oldest member of the Driver group.
Tell terKwangshi — A Driver who dies after the crash landing on Rorqual.
Padraig O'Broin — The brother of Justin O'Broin and the lord of O'Broinsland/Devonary.
Locations
Zoe — A planet that is destroyed by Valdec's Kaiser-Transmitter.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Rorqual — A mysterious planet in Space II with a red sky and strange phenomena. It is the location where the TASCA crash lands.
O'Broinsland/Devonary — An island in the Mango Archipelago ruled by the O'Broin family. It is the location where David finds Rianna Ross and escapes in the balloon.
Mango Archipelago — An island group in the Scarlet Sea on Rorqual.
Scarlet Sea — A large inland lake on Rorqual.
Northern Mountain Range — A mountain range on Rorqual that no human has ever crossed on foot.
Ships & Vehicles
North Wind — A merchant ship captained by Orson Orson.
Lifeboats — Two small spacecraft used to explore Rorqual.
Hot Air Balloon — A hot air balloon built by Justin O'Broin.
Technology & Concepts
PSI — Psionic abilities.
Gray Guards — Valdec's enforcers.
Kaiser-Transmitter — A device that can undermine PSI defense shields.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Triadic Monochord — A symbol of the Drivers.
Green Flyers — A winged race that lives on Rorqual.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of survival, betrayal, and the struggle for freedom in a hostile environment. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with elements of science fiction and fantasy. The narrative style is a first-person report, interspersed with third-person accounts.
Connections
Leads into: The search for Asen-Ger and a means of escaping Rorqual. The fate of the TASCA is unknown.
Related booklets: Likely related to other booklets featuring David terGorden, Asen-Ger, and the Terranauts.