Death Awaits on Sarym
Auf Sarym wartet der Tod
Plot Summary
Queen Yazmin and Expert Mira, along with Gray Guards, explore the Maritime Coral City on Sarym, seeking access to its lower levels for Max von Valdec's research. They use force to breach a wall, triggering a defense mechanism: Dream-hooks and a contracting corridor. They barely escape, losing several guards. Queen Yazmin then detonates explosives to create a new entrance, but Dream-hooks attack again, leaving most of the team dead or incapacitated.
Meanwhile, aboard the CYGNI, Lyda Mar, David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, and others investigate the destruction of OUTPOST, a Gray Guard base in the Norvo System. They are attacked by Kaiser Force torpedoes, remnants of the battle, and barely survive by hiding in an asteroid field. They proceed to Sarym, where David, Lyda, and Llewellyn plan to neutralize Valdec's research station.
Queen Yazmin reports the arrival of a Kaiser ship to the remaining Gray forces on Sarym. The Grays launch to intercept, triggering a PSI response from the Maritime Coral City. This response creates a field that disables ships, causing the CYGNI and the Gray ship to crash on Arioch. David, Lyda, and Llewellyn escape in separate capsules. David is captured by Valdec's forces, while Lyda and Llewellyn crash land.
Lyda and Llewellyn steal a Gray combat glider and head towards the Maritime Coral City, hoping to connect with its PSI aura. They encounter Dream-hooks and are nearly captured, but Lyda manages to open a passage into the city. Inside, they experience the PSI aura, with Llewellyn encountering an echo of his past self, Mar-Estos, and Lyda connecting with Damon Credock and her unborn daughter, Aura Damona Mar. They learn of a "panic program" within the aura.
Valdec attempts to use super-Drivers (Prometheus 107, Phoenix 34, Isis 31) and David to force an entrance into the Maritime Coral City. They succeed, but the PSI aura neutralizes the super-Drivers. Valdec flees, leaving Lyda and Llewellyn to escape the underwater base before it self-destructs. They manage to escape, but the base explodes, damaging their glider. Lyda and Llewellyn crash land in a fog bank, while Valdec prepares to use David for further experiments. Aura Damona Mar warns Lyda of the impending chaos as the Great Ebb approaches, triggering the release of Dream-hooks programmed to spread chaos across Sarym.
Key Events
- 01 Queen Yazmin leads a team into the Maritime Coral City and triggers a defensive response.
- 02 The CYGNI is attacked by Kaiser Force torpedoes near Sarym.
- 03 OUTPOST is destroyed, leaving debris in orbit around Sarym
- 04 David terGorden, Lyda Mar, and Llewellyn 709 crash land on Sarym in escape capsules.
- 05 David is captured by Max von Valdec's forces.
- 06 Lyda and Llewellyn steal a Gray combat glider.
- 07 Lyda and Llewellyn enter the Maritime Coral City and experience its PSI aura.
- 08 Max von Valdec uses super-Drivers and David to force an entrance into the Maritime Coral City.
- 09 The PSI aura neutralizes the super-Drivers.
- 10 Lyda and Llewellyn escape the underwater base before it self-destructs.
- 11 The underwater base explodes.
- 12 Lyda and Llewellyn crash land in a fog bank.
- 13 The Great Ebb begins, triggering the release of Dream-hooks programmed to spread chaos.
- 14 Valdec prepares to use David for further experiments.
Characters
Lyda Mar — A Driver and Terranaut, pregnant with Damon Credock's child. She is able to connect with the PSI aura of the Maritime Coral City.
Max von Valdec — Former Council Chairman, now a fugitive seeking power on Sarym. He plans to control the PSI aura of the Maritime Coral City.
Queen Yazmin — Valdec's commander, a Gray Guard who leads expeditions and carries out his orders.
Expert Mira — An expert studying the Maritime Coral City. She advises Queen Yazmin and Valdec on the city's nature.
David terGorden — A Terranaut and son of Myriam, captured by Valdec and intended for use in super-Driver experiments.
Llewellyn 709 — A Terranaut and PSI monster, formerly Mar-Estos. He accompanies Lyda and seeks to neutralize Valdec's research.
Prometheus 107 — An artificially bred super-Driver in Valdec's power, initially planning a revolt but ultimately controlled by Valdec.
Aura Damona Mar — The unborn child of Lyda Mar and Damon Credock, able to communicate telepathically and influence events.
Damon Credock - Deceased father of Aura Damona Mar, whose echo remains in the PSI aura.
Locations
Sarym — A green planet with a strong PSI aura, the setting for the story. It is the location of Valdec's research station and the Maritime Coral City.
Maritime Coral City — A city of buds of the tree, a large coral structure in the ocean with a powerful PSI aura. It is a key location for Valdec's research and the source of the Dream-hooks.
Research Station on Sarym — Hermano Lotz's research station off the coast of the South Continent, where experiments on Drivers are conducted.
CYGNI (ship) — A Kaiser courier ship used by the Terranauts to investigate Sarym.
OUTPOST (destroyed) — A Gray Guard base in the Norvo System, destroyed before the story begins.
Ships & Vehicles
CYGNI — A Kaiser courier ship used by the Terranauts.
Underwater Gliders — Used by Queen Yazmin and her team to explore the Maritime Coral City.
Combat Gliders — Used by the Gray Guards for patrol and combat.
Technology & Concepts
Dream-hooks — Dragonfly-like creatures that induce bizarre dreams and visions by connecting to a human's bloodstream.
PSI Aura — A powerful psychic field emanating from the Maritime Coral City and other coral cities in the Norvo System.
Super-Drivers — Artificially bred humans with enhanced PSI abilities.
Kaiser Force — The military force of the Kaiser Corporation, known for its advanced technology and ruthless tactics.
Sarym Shielding — Technology that protects against PSI attacks.
Great Ebb — A rare event on Sarym when the tide recedes significantly, exposing the Maritime Coral City.
Panic Program — An old directive within the PSI aura that triggers defensive measures, including the release of Dream-hooks.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of power, control, and the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with a focus on the psychological effects of PSI manipulation and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of power. The narrative style is fast-paced and action-oriented, with frequent shifts in perspective.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the Driver persecutions and Valdec's expulsion from Earth.
Leads into: The impending chaos on Sarym caused by the Dream-hooks and the need to rescue David terGorden. The story leaves open the question of whether the PSI aura can be controlled and whether Valdec can be stopped.
Related booklets: Booklets that feature the characters of Lyda Mar, David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, and Max von Valdec, as well as those that explore the themes of PSI powers and the Maritime Coral City.
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