The Pirate Lodge
Die Piraten-Loge
Plot Summary
The story begins with Abashe doNhor, a young adept of the Gray Guards, undergoing extreme-worlds training on Shondyke. She successfully defeats a Springbeetle in a simulated desert environment, impressing her trainer, Queen Codiak. Meanwhile, aboard the STEELFIST in Space II, Queen Alian and a mysterious Shadow discuss the increasing disappearances of container haulers, suspecting the involvement of pirate Driver lodges. The STEELFIST is escorting six container haulers to the inner sector of the empire.
The STEELFIST transitions back to normal space at the Usher Cube, a rest and orientation point. The Shadow expresses concern about a nearby meteor swarm, Mothers Little Children, suspecting it could conceal a pirate ship. Her suspicions prove correct when a Driver freighter, the PHOENIX, emerges from the swarm and attacks the container haulers. The STEELFIST engages the PHOENIX, destroying it with ship-to-ship missiles. Three Driver survivors, Ares 17, Artemis 11, and Plutos 23, are captured and placed in deep-sleep chambers.
The Shadow, invoking her Alpha Legitimation and instructions from the Cosmorality, assumes command of the STEELFIST and orders a course change to Contradom and then to a secret Guard world, Borzeyke-Two, before finally arriving at Shondyke. During the journey, the captured Drivers, who are revealed to be Super-Drivers enhanced on the hell-planet Sarym by Max von Valdec, use their combined PSI abilities to break free from their deep-sleep chambers. They kill Queen Alian and the Shadow, seize control of the STEELFIST, and begin wreaking havoc.
Meanwhile, on the planet Rubin, David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud prepare to use a junction of space roads in the abandoned non-human city of Bortzynn to reach Shondyke. They succeed in their attempt, arriving in a desolate valley on Shondyke. They discover that the planet is located within the Fire Bowl, a region of intense energy, and that the surface is being systematically destroyed by crystal formations. David and Llewellyn briefly make mental contact with another Driver, sensing a powerful PSI presence. The story culminates with the Super-Drivers attacking Arda-City on Shondyke, causing widespread chaos and destruction. Abashe doNhor, an adept of the Gray Guards, is tasked by the Cosmorality to connect with a seedling of Yggdrasil taken from the corpse of a Driver. She is attacked by other Guards who have been taken over by the Super-Drivers. She escapes with the seedling and meets David, Llewellyn, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud, who is revealed to be her father.
Key Events
- 01 Abashe doNhor completes extreme-worlds training on Shondyke.
- 02 Queen Alian and a Shadow discuss missing container haulers aboard the STEELFIST.
- 03 The STEELFIST encounters and destroys the Driver freighter PHOENIX at the Usher Cube.
- 04 Ares 17, Artemis 11, and Plutos 23 are captured and placed in deep-sleep chambers.
- 05 The Shadow assumes command of the STEELFIST and sets course for Shondyke.
- 06 The Super-Drivers break free from their deep-sleep chambers and seize control of the STEELFIST.
- 07 David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud travel to Shondyke via space roads from Rubin.
- 08 They arrive in a desolate valley on Shondyke and discover the Fire Bowl.
- 09 The Super-Drivers attack Arda-City on Shondyke, causing chaos and destruction.
- 10 Abashe doNhor is tasked to connect with a seedling of Yggdrasil.
- 11 Abashe escapes with the seedling and meets David, Llewellyn, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud.
- 12 It is revealed that Scanner Cloud is Abashe's father.
Characters
Abashe doNhor — A young adept of the Gray Guards from Sigma Chorn, chosen for a special mission due to her unique physical constitution and non-brain-operated status. She is tasked with connecting to a seedling of Yggdrasil. She is revealed to be the daughter of Scanner Cloud.
Queen Alian — The commander of the STEELFIST, a loyal Gray Guard who is ultimately killed by the Super-Drivers when they seize control of the ship.
David terGorden — A Driver and Terranaut, the Heir of Power, who travels to Shondyke with Llewellyn, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud to weaken the Gray Guards and free Yggdrasil's cutting.
Llewellyn 709 — A Riemenmann and Terranaut, a Super-Driver whose body is altered by PSI and who must wear a strap-weave. He accompanies David to Shondyke.
Scanner Cloud — A Psyter and Terranaut, who accompanies David to Shondyke. He is revealed to be the father of Abashe doNhor.
Queen Mandorla — A former Queen of the Gray Guards who deserted to the Terranauts. She accompanies David to Shondyke and provides her knowledge of the Guards.
Ares 17 — A Super-Driver enhanced on Sarym by Max von Valdec. He leads the attack on the STEELFIST and Arda-City.
Artemis 11 — A Super-Driver enhanced on Sarym by Max von Valdec. She is part of the team that attacks the STEELFIST and Arda-City.
Plutos 23 — A Super-Driver enhanced on Sarym by Max von Valdec. He is part of the team that attacks the STEELFIST and Arda-City.
Chan de Nouille — The Great Gray, the mistress of the Gray Guards and direct successor of Arda. She tasks Abashe with connecting to the Yggdrasil seedling.
Queen Codiak — Abashe doNhor's trainer during extreme-worlds training.
Queen Lesseur — Commander of the Central Control, who brings Abashe before the Cosmorality.
Orger Moon — A Humo scientist who is an expert on the Yggdrasil complex.
Locations
Shondyke — The central world of the Gray Guards, located within the Fire Bowl. It is a desolate planet with a thin atmosphere and a surface being destroyed by crystal formations.
STEELFIST — A Guard ship commanded by Queen Alian, later seized by the Super-Drivers.
Arda-City — The underground city on Shondyke, the main base of the Gray Guards.
Rubin — A thinly populated planet where David, Llewellyn, Queen Mandorla, and Scanner Cloud begin their journey to Shondyke.
Bortzynn — The abandoned non-human city on Rubin where the space road junction to Shondyke is located.
Usher Cube — A rest and orientation point in space where the STEELFIST encounters the PHOENIX.
Space II — An incomprehensible cosmos where the STEELFIST travels using the Kaiser Force drive.
Sigma Chorn — The colonial world where Abashe doNhor is from.
Sarym — The hell-planet where Ares 17, Artemis 11, and Plutos 23 were enhanced into Super-Drivers.
Borzeyke-Two — A Guard world where Queen Alian is not permitted to know the details of.
Ships & Vehicles
STEELFIST — A Guard ship, a Kaiser Force cruiser, commanded by Queen Alian, later seized by the Super-Drivers.
STEELFIST-Three — A Ringo used by the Super-Drivers to escape the STEELFIST and land on Shondyke.
CYGNI — A Kaiser Force cruiser converted into a Driver ship used to transport the Terranauts to Rubin.
Technology & Concepts
Gray Guards — The military force of the Council, responsible for maintaining order and suppressing dissent.
Super-Drivers — Drivers whose PSI abilities have been artificially enhanced through biochemical and mental treatments.
PSI — Psionic abilities, mental powers.
Kaiser Force — A technology that allows ships to travel through Space II.
Space II — An incomprehensible cosmos that allows for faster-than-light travel.
Fire Bowl — A region of intense energy surrounding Shondyke, making it difficult to locate and reach.
Space-Time Stroboscope (RZS) — A technology that creates space roads, allowing for travel between distant points in space.
Yggdrasil — A primeval tree with psionic properties, used to control space roads.
Cosmorality — The governing body of the Gray Guards.
Alpha Legitimation — A high level of authorization within the Gray Guards.
Shadow — A member of the security service of the Gray Guards.
Multi-Sensory Mask (MS-Mask) — A device worn by Shadows that enhances their sensory abilities.
Springbeetle — A man-sized, armored insectoid creature used in Gray Guard training.
Deep-Sleep Chamber — A capsule used to induce a state of suspended animation.
Killer-Block — An artificial mental block implanted in the Super-Drivers to ensure their loyalty.
Sarym-Shield — An anti-PSI field.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the dangers of unchecked power. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with elements of action and intrigue. The narrative style is fast-paced and plot-driven, with a focus on the unfolding events and the characters' reactions to them.
Connections
Continues from: The events following the destruction of Zoe and the rise of Max von Valdec are referenced.
Leads into: The search for Yggdrasil's cutting and the conflict between the Terranauts and the Gray Guards continue. The Super-Drivers and their connection to Valdec pose a new threat.
Related booklets: Booklets dealing with the Terranauts, the Gray Guards, Max von Valdec, and Yggdrasil.
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