Flames Over Shondyke
Flammen ueber Shondyke
Plot Summary
Ares 17, Artemis 11, and Plutos 23, three Super-Drivers loyal to Lord Colonel Valdec, arrive on Shondyke, the secret heart of the Gray Guards, via the botanical transmitter system, aiming to sow chaos and weaken the Guards. Their arrival coincides with that of David terGorden, Mandorla, Scanner Cloud, and Abashe doNhor with Baby, the Yggdrasil offshoot. The Super-Drivers begin their attack, causing widespread destruction and panic in Arda-City. Cosmoral Mi Lai and Cosmoral Ci Anur, two golden-eyed clones within the Gray Guards, are revealed to have their own agenda, seeking to separate Shondyke from the Council and establish a matriarchal society.
As the Super-Drivers' attacks intensify, Scanner Cloud establishes contact with Baby and learns of the danger the attacks pose to the stability of the fire-shell surrounding Shondyke, which is a gateway to Space II. He convinces David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 that they must help the Grays to save themselves. Meanwhile, Mi Lai and Ci Anur plot against Chan de Nouille, the leader of the Gray Guards on Shondyke, and plan to use the chaos to seize control. Ci Anur meets with the Terranauts and agrees to an alliance, revealing the existence of the clone Queens and their desire for a different future.
Ares 17, driven by ambition and contempt for his teammates, manipulates Artemis 11 into a suicidal mission, leading her to her death at the hands of the Gray Guards. He then incapacitates Plutos 23 to buy himself time. David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 confront Ares 17 in a psionic duel, with Llewellyn 709 ultimately killing him, triggered by his own killer block. However, before his death, Ares 17 manages to hijack a space shuttle and heads towards the control pin, intending to destroy it and sever Shondyke's connection to the Empire.
Scanner Cloud and Ci Anur join forces to stop Ares 17. Ares 17 is ultimately defeated when Baby uses its connection to Yggdrasil to transport him far away from Shondyke, stranding him in an unknown region of space where he commits suicide. Chan de Nouille is removed from power, and the clone Queens, led by Ci Anur, take control of Shondyke, establishing their matriarchal society. David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 depart Shondyke, leaving Scanner Cloud and Abashe doNhor behind to help the clone Queens adapt to their new society.
Key Events
- 01 Plutos 23 suffers a psionic breakdown due to the anti-PSI fields on Shondyke.
- 02 Ares 17 expresses his contempt for Plutos 23 and Artemis 11.
- 03 Ares 17, Plutos 23, and Artemis 11 launch a psionic attack on the Gray Guards, causing chaos and confusion.
- 04 Cosmoral Mi Lai investigates the damage caused by the psionic attack and encounters a Gray Guard who has been taken over by the enemy.
- 05 Cosmoral Mi Lai meets with Cosmoral Ci Anur to discuss the situation and their plans for the future of the Gray Guards.
- 06 Scanner Cloud establishes contact with Baby and learns of the danger the Super-Drivers' attacks pose to the stability of the fire-shell.
- 07 Scanner Cloud convinces David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 that they must help the Grays to save themselves.
- 08 Ci Anur reveals the existence of the clone Queens and their desire for a different future.
- 09 Ares 17 manipulates Artemis 11 into a suicidal mission, leading her to her death.
- 10 Ares 17 incapacitates Plutos 23 to buy himself time.
- 11 David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 confront Ares 17 in a psionic duel.
- 12 Llewellyn 709 kills Ares 17, triggered by his own killer block.
- 13 Ares 17 hijacks a space shuttle and heads towards the control pin.
- 14 Baby uses its connection to Yggdrasil to transport Ares 17 far away from Shondyke.
- 15 Chan de Nouille is removed from power, and the clone Queens take control of Shondyke.
- 16 David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 depart Shondyke, leaving Scanner Cloud and Abashe doNhor behind.
Characters
Ares 17 — A Super-Driver loyal to Valdec, driven by ambition and contempt. He manipulates his teammates and ultimately dies in a failed attempt to destroy the control pin.
Artemis 11 — A Super-Driver loyal to Valdec, manipulated by Ares 17 into a suicidal mission.
David terGorden — A Terranaut leader who initially distrusts the Gray Guards but ultimately helps them to save Shondyke.
Mandorla — A former Queen of the Gray Guards who struggles with her conditioning and her desire to return to her former life.
Scanner Cloud — A Psyter who can communicate with Yggdrasil and who helps the Terranauts and the clone Queens.
Abashe doNhor — A former adept of the Gray Guards and the daughter of Scanner Cloud, who helps her father to communicate with Baby.
Ci Anur — A clone Queen who leads the rebellion against Chan de Nouille and establishes a matriarchal society on Shondyke.
Chan de Nouille — The leader of the Gray Guards on Shondyke, who is ultimately overthrown by the clone Queens.
Llewellyn 709 — A Terranaut who helps David terGorden to fight the Super-Drivers.
Queen Bleux — A Gray Guard in control of the electroshock installations at the roots of the control pin.
Locations
Shondyke — The secret heart of the Gray Guards, a planet discovered by chance centuries ago and reachable only via the botanical transmitter system.
Arda-City — The underground city on Shondyke where the Gray Guards are based.
Space near Shondyke — The area surrounding Shondyke, including the location of the control pin.
Bortzynn — A location where David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 arrive after leaving Shondyke.
Ships & Vehicles
STEELFIST — A ship whose entire crew was killed by the Super-Drivers.
GARIBALDI — A ship that picks up David terGorden and Llewellyn 709 after they leave Shondyke.
Space Shuttle — A vehicle hijacked by Ares 17 to attack the control pin.
Ringo — A type of space shuttle used by the Gray Guards and the Terranauts.
Technology & Concepts
Super-Driver — Ordinary Drivers whose psionic potential has been artificially amplified, whose memories have been stripped away, and whose loyalty has been secured through the killer block.
Killer Block — A mental barrier that makes every disloyal behavior impossible.
Cosmorality — The ruling council of the Gray Guards.
Gray Guards — The army of the Council, directed by the Cosmorality.
Yggdrasil — The primeval tree of Earth, a source of great power and knowledge.
Fire-Shell — A phenomenon surrounding Shondyke, a gateway to Space II.
Space II — An alternate dimension or reality.
Sarym Shield — A technology used to block psionic attacks.
Control Pin — A gigantic, petrified tree in orbit around Shondyke, used to control the system of space lanes.
Kaiser Force — A dangerous technology used by the Council, opposed by the clone Queens.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the desire for a better future. It features a complex plot with multiple factions and hidden agendas, and a tone that is both suspenseful and philosophical. The narrative style is descriptive and action-packed, with a focus on the internal thoughts and motivations of the characters.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the experiments on Sarym and the rise of Valdec.
Leads into: The aftermath of the Shondyke rebellion and the ongoing conflict between the Terranauts and the Council.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring the characters of David terGorden, Scanner Cloud, and the Gray Guards.