The Hate Plague
Die Hassseuche
Plot Summary
The story begins aboard the CYGNI, a captured Kaiser Force ship, where a deadly virus called the Hate Plague is spreading. Queen Ishiya and a group of Gray Guards, along with surviving scientists from Quostan, are prisoners. The Terranauts, Lyda Mar and Llewellyn 709, are attempting to reach Earth to obtain an antidote for the plague, which is causing uncontrollable rage and madness.
Queen Ishiya and her guards manage to escape their confinement after a medo-robot is destroyed. They aim to seize control of the CYGNI and deliver Valhala 13, a powerful PSI operative, to Max von Valdec on Earth. They believe Valhala 13 holds information that can destroy the Terranauts. Lyda Mar and Llewellyn 709 discover the escape and realize the danger Valhala 13 poses. Claude Farrell and Ruben Carcones intervene to stop Queen Ishiya, leading to a confrontation in the deep-sleep chambers where Valhala 13 and two other Drivers, Angila Fraim and Sirdina Giccomo, are in stasis. Claude Farrell manages to put Valhala 13 back into deep sleep, but the virus has already infected him.
As the CYGNI approaches Earth, Max von Valdec awaits their arrival, aware of the Hate Plague. Llewellyn 709 contacts Valdec, offering an exchange: the Gray Guards, including Queen Ishiya, for the antidote. Valdec refuses, demanding unconditional surrender. The CYGNI is then attacked by Gray Guard space fighters, forcing Lyda Mar and Llewellyn 709 to flee into Space II. The ship is damaged, and the Grays sabotage the normal drives.
The CYGNI unexpectedly emerges near Rorqual. David terGorden and Narda approach the CYGNI in a Ringo to investigate. They are warned of the plague, but a Gray launches a Ringo infected with the virus towards Rorqual. Lyda Mar and Llewellyn 709 destroy the Ringo. A plan is hatched to lure Valdec into a trap using a false surrender and the BERLIN, a ship with a mutated Ebberdyk Effect. The BERLIN is used to contact other Kaiser Force ships to awaken their Seeker consciousness. Valdec takes the bait and sets out with his fleet, believing he will finally crush the Terranauts.
Key Events
- 01 The Hate Plague virus spreads aboard the CYGNI.
- 02 Queen Ishiya and her guards escape their confinement.
- 03 Queen Ishiya attempts to awaken Valhala 13.
- 04 Claude Farrell and Ruben Carcones intervene, stopping Queen Ishiya.
- 05 The CYGNI approaches Earth, and Llewellyn 709 contacts Max von Valdec.
- 06 Valdec refuses to provide the antidote, demanding unconditional surrender.
- 07 The CYGNI is attacked by Gray Guard space fighters and flees into Space II.
- 08 The CYGNI emerges near Rorqual.
- 09 David terGorden and Narda approach the CYGNI in a Ringo.
- 10 A Gray launches a Ringo infected with the virus towards Rorqual, but it is destroyed.
- 11 A plan is hatched to lure Valdec into a trap using a false surrender and the BERLIN.
- 12 Valdec takes the bait and sets out with his fleet.
- 13 Valhala 13 begins to awaken.
Characters
Queen Ishiya — Leader of the Gray Guards, prisoner aboard the CYGNI, seeks to deliver Valhala 13 to Valdec.
Llewellyn 709 — A Terranaut and powerful Driver, immune to the Hate Plague, helps Lyda Mar navigate the CYGNI.
Claude Farrell — A Terranaut and Driver, infected with the Hate Plague, tries to stop the Grays.
Ruben Carcones — A PSI assassin, infected with the Hate Plague, assists Claude Farrell.
David terGorden — Heir of Power, leader on Rorqual, investigates the CYGNI's arrival.
Max von Valdec — Council Chairman, seeks to destroy the Terranauts and uses the Hate Plague as leverage.
Valhala 13 — A powerful PSI operative in deep sleep, sought by Queen Ishiya and Valdec.
Angila Fraim — A Driver recovering in deep sleep.
Sirdina Giccomo — A Driver recovering in deep sleep.
Narda — A young Driver on Rorqual, accompanies David terGorden.
Glaucen — Security Manager for Max von Valdec.
Elroy Matman — A scientist who survived the rampage on Quostan.
Ennerk Prime — An old Driver and Terranaut veteran.
Yoron Errehan — A Terranaut.
Janyne Valanth — A physician from Aqua.
Karmah Madras — A physician.
Rowl Hellinger — A Terranaut.
Zandra van Heissig — A Terranaut.
Collyn — A Terranaut.
Arlene Chi — A Terranaut.
Vangralen — A Terranaut.
Locations
CYGNI — A captured Kaiser Force ship, the main setting for much of the story.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Earth — The location of Max von Valdec and the antidote to the Hate Plague.
Rorqual — A mysterious planet serving as a Terranaut base.
Quostan — A planet overrun by the Hate Plague, home to the Ice Devils.
Ships & Vehicles
CYGNI — DELTA class Kaiser Force ship captured by the Terranauts.
BERLIN — A courier ship with a mutated Ebberdyk Effect.
Valhala 13 — A powerful PSI operative in deep sleep, sought by Queen Ishiya and Valdec.
Technology & Concepts
Hate Plague — A deadly virus causing uncontrollable rage and madness.
Drivers — Individuals with psionic abilities used for space travel.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Kaiser Force — A technology used for space travel and warfare.
Ebberdyk Effect — A phenomenon related to artificial intelligence and consciousness transfer.
PSI — Psionic abilities.
Medo-robot — A medical robot used for administering injections.
Seeker — A consciousness conglomerate within Kaiser Force ships.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of desperation, sacrifice, and the moral implications of biological warfare. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with a focus on the psychological effects of the Hate Plague. The narrative style is action-oriented, with frequent shifts in perspective between different groups of characters.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the capture of the CYGNI and the escape of Valhala 13.
Leads into: The confrontation with Valdec and the attempt to secure the antidote. The fate of Quostan remains unresolved.
Related booklets: Booklets detailing the history of the Terranauts, the nature of Space II, and the Ebberdyk Effect.