Invasion of the Soulless
Invasion der toten Seelen
Plot Summary
David terGorden and the CYGNI rescue more Drivers from prison worlds, but are pursued by Gray Guard warships commanded by Queen Rolande and Hauptmann Grith Shath. They attempt a risky transition to Space II near Taurus 17 to reach Rorqual, where Asen-Ger is building a fortress. The transition is catastrophic, destroying the pursuing Kaiser Force ships but also damaging the CYGNI and causing casualties.
Upon arriving near Rorqual, David leads an expedition with Llewellyn 709 and other Drivers in two gliders towards Pitcairn. They encounter a strange fog and a desert illusion, and David sees a vision of Leande, who is supposed to be on Pitcairn. The fog returns, and the Drivers are lured out of the glider by illusions of deceased loved ones. David snaps out of it and saves Llewellyn from a possessed Driver.
They eventually reach what they believe is Pitcairn, but it's a volcanic island. A volcanic eruption damages their glider, and they discover that their course computers are malfunctioning. They attempt a manual landing, encountering singing rainbows and a dancing Leande, who is trying to lure them to their deaths. David and Llewellyn combine their PSI powers to break through Leande's control, freeing her from the influence of Banshees.
Back on Pitcairn, David confronts Asen-Ger about his fortress-building obsession. He also confronts Calen Cameron, who admits to trying to force Leande to kill herself due to his fear of her dreams. Calen then attempts to kill David using his PSI powers, but Asen-Ger intervenes, accidentally killing Calen. Tensions rise between David, Llewellyn, and Asen-Ger regarding their priorities and strategies.
David embarks on an expedition with Zandra van Heissig, Claude Farrell, and Thorna to explore Rorqual. They encounter the Ha'adri people and learn about the Walch and the city of Hayvant. They also learn about the Green Flyers and their practice of abducting women. They rescue Guy La Ramee, whose wife was abducted by the Green Flyers. While attempting to infiltrate the Green Flyers' base, Guy La Ramee is injured, and David is bitten by a winged creature, causing a euphoric effect and lifting the PSI-block. They are captured by the Green Flyers and taken to their base, where David learns that the Green Flyers are being controlled by Banshees, including the former president Torrister Lark. David is then contacted by the Varnha, the Thought-Masters of the Green Flyers, who reveal their tragic history and their attempts to prevent the extinction of their race. The Banshees then attack the Varnha, taking over their bodies. David is contacted by the spirit of Merlin II.
Key Events
- 01 The CYGNI rescues more Drivers from prison worlds.
- 02 Gray Guard warships pursue the CYGNI into Space II.
- 03 Risky transition to Space II destroys the Kaiser Force ships but damages the CYGNI.
- 04 David and Llewellyn lead an expedition to Pitcairn in gliders.
- 05 They encounter a strange fog and desert illusion.
- 06 David sees a vision of Leande.
- 07 Drivers are lured out of the glider by illusions.
- 08 They reach a volcanic island instead of Pitcairn.
- 09 A volcanic eruption damages their glider.
- 10 Singing rainbows and a dancing Leande try to lure them to their deaths.
- 11 David and Llewellyn break through Leande's control.
- 12 David confronts Asen-Ger about his fortress.
- 13 Calen Cameron admits to trying to force Leande to kill herself.
- 14 Calen attempts to kill David using PSI powers and is accidentally killed by Asen-Ger.
- 15 Tensions rise between David, Llewellyn, and Asen-Ger.
- 16 David embarks on an expedition with Zandra, Claude Farrell, and Thorna.
- 17 They encounter the Ha'adri people and learn about the Green Flyers.
- 18 They rescue Guy La Ramee, whose wife was abducted.
- 19 Guy La Ramee is injured, and David is bitten by a winged creature.
- 20 They are captured by the Green Flyers.
- 21 David learns that the Green Flyers are being controlled by Banshees.
- 22 David is contacted by the Varnha, the Thought-Masters.
- 23 The Banshees attack the Varnha, taking over their bodies.
- 24 David is contacted by the spirit of Merlin II.
Characters
David terGorden — Leader of the Terranauts, haunted by visions and determined to fight the Council. He leads rescue operations and explores Rorqual.
Llewellyn 709 — The Riemenmann, a skilled pilot and PSI user. He assists David in rescue missions and provides guidance.
Asen-Ger — Former Summacum, now focused on building a fortress on Rorqual. He clashes with David and Llewellyn over priorities.
Queen Rolande — Commander of the Gray Guards, pursuing David terGorden.
Hauptmann Grith Shath — A Gray Guard Hauptmann under Rolande's command, eager to destroy the Terranauts.
Torrister Lark — Former president of Forsythe, now a Banshee controlling a Green Flyer.
Guy La Ramee — Captain of Parlay's Pearl, whose wife is abducted by the Green Flyers. He joins David's expedition.
Zandra van Heissig — A Driver who accompanies David on the expedition and has a brief romantic encounter with him.
Claude Farrell — A Driver who accompanies David on the expedition and provides combat support.
Thorna — A former prisoner of the Green Flyers who guides David's expedition.
Calen Cameron — A Driver with uncontrolled PSI powers, who attempts to harm Leande and David.
Sirdina Giccomo — A Driver who accompanies David on the expedition.
Angila Fraim — A Driver who accompanies David on the expedition and is close to Llewellyn.
Bitrius — Leader of the Ha'adri people.
Reta — Guy La Ramee's wife, abducted by the Green Flyers and rescued by David.
Farrah Glandon-Gor — A Banshee.
Grinn Rorshak — A Banshee.
Marion Pellegrini — A Banshee.
Ryu Shinda — A Banshee.
Merlin II — The spirit of Merlin II.
Locations
Rorqual — A strange planet in Space II, serving as a base for the Terranauts. It has a PSI blockade and is home to various phenomena.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for interstellar travel.
Taurus 17 — A prison planet from which Drivers are rescued.
Pitcairn — The main base of the Terranauts on Rorqual.
Veldvald — A prison world where the Terranauts conducted a liberation operation.
Hayvant — A city on Rorqual, known for its merchants.
Southern Sea — A sea on Rorqual where the Ha'adri live.
Red River — A river on Rorqual.
Scarlet Sea — A sea on Rorqual where the Red River flows out of.
Argyle — A continent on Rorqual.
Forsythe — The home planet of Torrister Lark.
Ultima Thule — David terGorden's former home on Earth.
Greenland — A location on Earth.
Ships & Vehicles
CYGNI — A spacecraft used by David terGorden for rescue operations.
FORD — A Kaiser Force warship commanded by Queen Rolande.
SPENCER — A Kaiser Force warship commanded by Hauptmann Grith Shath.
Parlay's Pearl — A ship owned by Guy La Ramee.
STURMVOGEL — A trading vessel owned by Collyn.
Technology & Concepts
Driver — Individuals with PSI powers.
PSI — Psychic abilities.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Kaiser Force — A technology used by the Gray Guards for faster-than-light travel and weaponry.
Gray Guards — The military force of the Council, tasked with suppressing dissent and capturing Drivers.
Banshee — Souls trapped in Space II, capable of possessing living beings.
PSI-Blockade — A phenomenon on Rorqual that inhibits PSI abilities.
Mistletoes — A plant used by Drivers to navigate Space II.
Summacum — A high-ranking member of the Terranauts.
Riemenmann — A pilot skilled in navigating Space II.
Varnha — The Thought-Masters of the Green Flyers.
Varnitlana — The Green Flyer word for Banshees.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of survival, identity, and the corrupting influence of power. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with elements of horror and psychological drama. The narrative style is action-oriented, with a focus on the characters' internal struggles and moral dilemmas.
Connections
Continues from: Die Terranauten 028
Leads into: The fate of David, Llewellyn, and the Terranauts on Rorqual is uncertain, as is the future of the Green Flyers and the Banshees. The search for the primeval tree seeds is unresolved.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, Asen-Ger, and the Terranauts. Booklets dealing with the Green Flyers and the Banshees.