The Gravity Trap
Die Schwerkraft-Falle
Plot Summary
The LASSALLE, a Driver ship commandeered by Edison Tontor and crewed by Asen-Ger and his Terranauts, arrives near Oglallah, a planet under Council control. Tontor, now the First Representative of the League of Free Worlds, intends to liberate the planet. After a tense standoff with Gray Guards led by Queen Eirene, the LASSALLE uses the Gravitron, a devastating weapon developed by Einstein III, to destroy the spaceport of Soox. Oglallah surrenders, and Tontor begins establishing League control.
David terGorden is on Aqua, discussing the Terranauts' cooperation with the League with Argan Pronk. He observes the construction of a new Terranaut base and learns of the arrival of Narda. Tontor's methods and thirst for power begin to worry Asen-Ger, especially when Tontor interrogates the deposed governor of Oglallah, Onar Cluf, who reveals the existence of a hidden fleet of decommissioned Driver ships in the Walhalla System. Tontor demands Queen Eirene reveal its location. When she refuses, she kills Cluf.
Ladina Volstoj, a Shadow within the Gray Guards, escapes Oglallah and informs Max von Valdec on Earth about the League's plans. Valdec dispatches Fay Gray and a fleet to the Walhalla System. Meanwhile, Tontor pressures Pronk into giving him a captured Kaiser Force cruiser. The Terranauts extract the location of the fleet from Queen Eirene and prepare to travel to the Walhalla System.
The LASSALLE and Tontor's cruiser, the THOMAS ALVA, arrive in the Walhalla System. Tontor, holding David terGorden hostage, forces the Terranauts to help him seize the Driver ships. The Terranauts begin activating the ships, but Fay Gray's fleet arrives. A battle ensues. Einstein III uses the Gravitron to destroy a Gray Guard ship, but the weapon malfunctions, creating an uncontrollable gravity field and a Black Hole that threatens to consume the system. The Terranauts escape into Space II with sixteen ships, while Tontor and his crew are consumed by the Black Hole. David terGorden is rescued from the THOMAS ALVA by Merlin and brought aboard the LASSALLE.
Key Events
- 01 The LASSALLE arrives near Oglallah and prepares to liberate the planet.
- 02 Edison Tontor leads the League of Free Worlds in a confrontation with Queen Eirene and the Gray Guards.
- 03 The Gravitron destroys the spaceport of Soox, forcing Oglallah's surrender.
- 04 David terGorden visits Aqua and witnesses the Terranaut base construction.
- 05 Onar Cluf reveals the existence of a hidden fleet of Driver ships in the Walhalla System.
- 06 Queen Eirene kills Onar Cluf to prevent him from revealing more information.
- 07 Ladina Volstoj, a Shadow, escapes Oglallah and informs Max von Valdec of the League's plans.
- 08 The Terranauts extract the location of the fleet from Queen Eirene.
- 09 The LASSALLE and THOMAS ALVA arrive in the Walhalla System.
- 10 Tontor, holding David terGorden hostage, forces the Terranauts to help him seize the Driver ships.
- 11 Fay Gray and a Gray Guard fleet arrive in the Walhalla System, initiating a battle.
- 12 The Gravitron malfunctions, creating an uncontrollable gravity field and a Black Hole.
- 13 The Terranauts escape into Space II with sixteen ships.
- 14 Tontor and the THOMAS ALVA are consumed by the Black Hole.
- 15 David terGorden is rescued by Merlin and brought aboard the LASSALLE.
Characters
David terGorden — The Heir of Power and a key figure in the Terranaut movement. He is captured by Edison Tontor and held hostage to force the Terranauts' cooperation. He is eventually rescued by Merlin.
Edison Tontor — The General Manager of the Consolidated Tontor Corporation and First Representative of the League of Free Worlds. He is power-hungry and seeks revenge against Max von Valdec. He is consumed by the Black Hole in the Walhalla System.
Asen-Ger — A leader of the Terranauts and a skilled Driver. He is wary of Edison Tontor's ambitions and tries to protect his people.
Llewellyn 709 — A Strap-man and commander of the LASSALLE. He is loyal to the Terranauts and concerned about David terGorden's safety.
Queen Eirene — The commander of the Gray Guards on Oglallah. She is captured and interrogated by the Terranauts.
Max von Valdec — The Supreme Commander of the Gray Guards and Chairman of the Council of Corporations. He is Edison Tontor's enemy.
Fay Gray — A Queen in the Gray Guards and loyal to Max von Valdec. She leads the fleet to the Walhalla System.
Einstein III — The chief scientist of ConTon and the developer of the Gravitron. His weapon malfunctions and creates the Black Hole.
Argan Pronk — The governor of Aqua and Second Representative of the League of Free Worlds. He is more interested in the well-being of his planet than galactic conquest.
Onar Cluf — The deposed governor of Oglallah. He reveals the existence of the hidden fleet of Driver ships before being killed by Queen Eirene.
Ladina Volstoj — A Shadow within the Gray Guards who escapes Oglallah and informs Max von Valdec of the League's plans.
Narda — An old comrade-in-arms of David terGorden who arrives on Aqua.
Claude Farrell — A Terranaut who is close to David terGorden.
Merlin — A mysterious wizard who exists in both the normal universe and Space II. He saves David terGorden from the Black Hole.
Locations
Oglallah — An agricultural planet in the Schiwa System, conquered by the League of Free Worlds.
Walhalla System — The location of a hidden fleet of decommissioned Driver ships.
Earth — The homeworld of humanity and the seat of the Council of Corporations.
Ships & Vehicles
LASSALLE — A Driver ship used by the Terranauts.
THOMAS ALVA — A Kaiser Force cruiser commandeered by Edison Tontor.
Technology & Concepts
Gravitron — A weapon developed by Einstein III that creates an artificial gravity field. It malfunctions and creates a Black Hole.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Driver Lodge — A group of psionically gifted individuals who can manipulate Space II.
Kaiser Force — A type of energy used in ships developed by the Kaiser Corporation. It is considered dangerous and disruptive to the cosmic balance.
Shadow — A PSI-gifted individual who serves in the Council's espionage apparatus.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of power, revenge, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with a focus on political intrigue and military conflict. The narrative style is fast-paced and action-oriented.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the rise of the League of Free Worlds and the Terranauts' struggle against the Council.
Leads into: The fallout from the destruction of the Walhalla System and the League's future direction.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring the League of Free Worlds, the Terranauts, and the conflict with the Council.