The Wreckage Nebula
Das Wrack-System
Plot Summary
The GARIBALDI, carrying Llewellyn 709 and Hadersen Wells' lodge, orbits Veldvald to seek help from Ro Ulema in reaching David terGorden stranded on Rorqual. Llewellyn reveals to Hadersen Wells and Maury Jacques that the lodge member Luther Straightwire is an imposter, as his skull matches that of a man who died 20 years prior. Ro Ulema activates a RZS to transport the GARIBALDI, but they end up in the Turquoise (star system), a graveyard of derelict spacecraft orbiting the planet Glimmer.
The crew splits up to investigate. Hadersen Wells, Dime Mow, and Winchinata Jacques explore Glimmer, discovering semi-intelligent plant life that attacks them and destroys their Ringo. Llewellyn 709 and Tsien-Wan examine strange stone plates in orbit, determining they drain energy from ships. Luther Straightwire and Maury Jacques explore the wrecks, where Straightwire claims they all used Kaiser Force drives.
Meanwhile, Queen Jenver aboard the CORTES investigates missing Kaiser Force ships in Space II. Shadows Lalaja Banimanjaja and her superior observe Jenver's unusual ability to consciously traverse Space II without PSI powers. The CORTES is caught in the RZS and arrives in the Turquoise (star system).
Back on Glimmer, Hadersen Wells dies from a poisonous thorn. Maury Jacques becomes increasingly suspicious of Luther Straightwire. Ngk-guk, an alien stranded in the wreck system, observes the GARIBALDI and plans to make contact. Llewellyn 709 and Tsien-Wan head to Glimmer to rescue Winchinata Jacques and Dime Mow. Maury Jacques confronts Luther Straightwire, who reveals cryptic information about loyalty and his past. Straightwire then attacks Maury Jacques and escapes in a Ringo towards the CORTES.
Ngk-guk's ship collides with the GARIBALDI, destroying both. Lalaja Banimanjaja learns of the GARIBALDI's destruction and Luther Straightwire's arrival. Straightwire boards the CORTES and reveals that the ship will disintegrate in 54 minutes. He seeks to prevent the Cosmorality from studying Queen Jenver's Space II anomaly. Lalaja Banimanjaja tries to stop him, but he overpowers her and kills Queen Jenver. Straightwire reveals his true nature to Lalaja Banimanjaja, causing her death, and escapes before the CORTES disintegrates.
Llewellyn 709 and Winchinata Jacques arrive on Glimmer, where Llewellyn 709 is forced to cooperate with the Shadows. Llewellyn 709 discovers the Shadow is a PSI vampire draining their energy. Winchinata Jacques kills the Shadow. Llewellyn 709 receives a message from Luther Straightwire, revealing a Potential Amplifier implanted in the Shadow's brain. The booklet ends with the Terranauts preparing to leave Glimmer.
Key Events
- 01 Ro Ulema activates a RZS to transport the GARIBALDI, but they end up in the Turquoise (star system).
- 02 Hadersen Wells, Dime Mow, and Winchinata Jacques explore Glimmer, discovering semi-intelligent plant life that attacks them and destroys their Ringo.
- 03 Llewellyn 709 and Tsien-Wan examine strange stone plates in orbit, determining they drain energy from ships.
- 04 Hadersen Wells dies from a poisonous thorn.
- 05 Luther Straightwire attacks Maury Jacques and escapes in a Ringo towards the CORTES.
- 06 Ngk-guk's ship collides with the GARIBALDI, destroying both.
- 07 Luther Straightwire boards the CORTES and reveals that the ship will disintegrate in 54 minutes.
- 08 Luther Straightwire kills Queen Jenver and reveals his true nature to Lalaja Banimanjaja, causing her death.
- 09 Straightwire escapes before the CORTES disintegrates.
- 10 Llewellyn 709 discovers the Shadow is a PSI vampire draining their energy.
- 11 Winchinata Jacques kills the Shadow.
- 12 Llewellyn 709 receives a message from Luther Straightwire, revealing a Potential Amplifier implanted in the Shadow's brain.
Characters
Llewellyn 709 — A Strap-man and high-PSI Driver. He investigates the Straightwire imposter and leads the effort to escape the wreck system.
Hadersen Wells — A Lodge Master and committed Terranaut. He flies the GARIBALDI to Veldvald and leads the initial exploration of Glimmer, where he dies from a poisonous thorn.
Luther Straightwire — A lodge member who is revealed to be an imposter. He attacks Maury Jacques, escapes to the CORTES, kills Queen Jenver, and reveals his true nature before escaping.
Maury Jacques — A Driver and member of Wells' lodge. She is suspicious of Straightwire and is attacked by him.
Queen Jenver — Commander of the CORTES. She is investigating missing Kaiser Force ships and is killed by Straightwire to prevent the Cosmorality from studying her Space II anomaly.
Ngk-guk — A three-legged extraterrestrial stranded in the wreck system. He studies human culture and attempts to make contact with the GARIBALDI.
Lalaja Banimanjaja — A Shadow aboard the CORTES. She investigates Queen Jenver's anomaly and attempts to capture Straightwire, but is killed by him after he reveals his true nature.
Dime Mow — A corpulent Driver and member of Wells' lodge. He explores Glimmer with Wells and Winchinata Jacques and is later drained of PSI energy by the Shadow.
Winchinata Jacques — A Driver and twin sister of Maury Jacques. She explores Glimmer with Wells and Dime Mow and later kills the Shadow.
Farewell-Paal — A bearded Driver and member of Wells' lodge. He stays on board the GARIBALDI and is later drained of PSI energy by the Shadow, resulting in his death.
Tsien-Wan — A reserved Driver and member of Wells' lodge. He explores the stone plates with Llewellyn 709 and is killed by the Gray Guards on Glimmer.
Morpot the Sturdy — A Quom (Veldvald native) who joins the GARIBALDI crew. He is loud and intrusive, constantly seeking heroic deeds.
Centurio Klode — A stocky, coarse-boned woman who commands the legion of Gray Guards on the CORTES.
Locations
GARIBALDI (spaceship) — The Terranaut spaceship carrying Wells' lodge. It is destroyed in a collision with Ngk-guk's ship.
Space II — The inter-existential zone used for faster-than-light travel.
Helander Sector — The space sector where the CORTES is investigating missing ships.
Turquoise (star system) — The star system where the GARIBALDI ends up after the RZS malfunction. It is a graveyard of derelict spacecraft.
Glimmer (planet) — The planet in the Turquoise (star system) around which the wrecks orbit. It is covered in green flora and red wildfires, and is inhabited by semi-intelligent plant life.
CORTES (spaceship) — The Gray Guard battle cruiser commanded by Queen Jenver. It is caught in the RZS and arrives in the Turquoise (star system), where it is later destroyed.
Ships & Vehicles
Technology & Concepts
PSI — Psionic abilities.
RZS — RaumZeitStroboskop (Space-Time Stroboscope), a network of space lanes.
Kaiser Force — A type of drive technology used by the Gray Guards.
Potential Amplifier — A device implanted in the Shadow's brain that allows her to absorb and amplify PSI energy.
Space II — The inter-existential zone used for faster-than-light travel.
Multi-Sensory Mask (MS-Mask) — A mask worn by Shadows that conceals their facial features and enhances their senses.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of identity, loyalty, and the dangers of unchecked power. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with a focus on the moral compromises and sacrifices required in the fight against the Gray Guards. The narrative style is action-oriented, with frequent shifts in perspective and a focus on the internal struggles of the main characters.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets dealing with the search for David terGorden and the conflict with the Gray Guards.
Leads into: The aftermath of the GARIBALDI's destruction, the fate of Llewellyn 709 and Winchinata Jacques, and the implications of the Potential Amplifier.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring Llewellyn 709, the Gray Guards, and the RZS.