War of Minds
Krieg der Gehirne
Plot Summary
On the planet Sarym, the Terranauts face a mental war against Max von Valdec and his super-Drivers. David terGorden is held in stasis while his mind is used to attack the PSI-aura of the Maritime Coral City on Equilibrium. Llewellyn 709, the Riemenmann, and Lyda Mar, pregnant with Aura Damona Mar, crash-land on Sarym's North Continent and seek to contact the PSI-aura to stop its panic program, which is harming the native Surinen.
Meanwhile, Valdec, aided by Queen Yazmin and Hermano Lotz, attempts to control the PSI-aura using super-Drivers like Prometheus 107, Isis 31, and Phoenix 34. They force David terGorden's mind to open a connection to the PSI-aura, but the aura fights back, killing Expert Mira and empowering Prometheus 107. Prometheus breaks free from Valdec's control and plans to dominate the PSI-aura himself, using Llewellyn and Lyda as keys.
The Manipulator in the Hall of Eternity awakens to counter the threat to the PSI-network. It activates Modificators to release change-seeds, altering Equilibrium's ecosystem. Renar Goth and Aina Kember, two Surinen mediators, encounter these changes as they explore the North Continent.
Prometheus captures Llewellyn and Lyda, intending to use them to access the PSI-aura. However, Dor Masali, a cyborg assistant to Hermano Lotz, attempts to destroy the Maritime Coral City with fusion bombs, believing the super-Drivers' minds reside within. The attack fails, and Dor Masali is killed by the PSI-aura.
David, Llewellyn, and Lyda find themselves in a symbolic reality within the PSI-aura, encountering echoes of past individuals. They are captured by Silver Ones and enslaved. Prometheus and his super-Drivers find them, seeking to exploit their connection to the PSI-aura. Lyda, aided by Aura Damona Mar, uses her powers to transport them to the heart of the PSI-aura, where the super-Drivers are destroyed.
Valdec orders a Kaiser Force ship to destroy the Maritime Coral City, but Lyda and Aura Damona Mar, now merged with the PSI-aura, turn the ship's power against Valdec, causing a Kaiser Force shockwave that is absorbed by the petrified Modificators. Lyda and Aura Damona Mar remain in the Maritime Coral City to control the PSI-aura, while David and Llewellyn prepare to face new threats. The story ends with Valdec escaping again, and the Surinen changed by the events.
Key Events
- 01 The Manipulator awakens in the Hall of Eternity to counter a threat to the PSI-network.
- 02 Valdec attempts to control the PSI-aura of the Maritime Coral City using super-Drivers.
- 03 Prometheus 107 breaks free from Valdec's control after being empowered by the PSI-aura.
- 04 Llewellyn 709 and Lyda Mar crash-land on Sarym's North Continent and seek to contact the PSI-aura.
- 05 Dor Masali attempts to destroy the Maritime Coral City with fusion bombs but fails and is killed.
- 06 Prometheus captures Llewellyn and Lyda, intending to use them to access the PSI-aura.
- 07 David terGorden, Llewellyn, and Lyda find themselves in a symbolic reality within the PSI-aura.
- 08 The Terranauts are enslaved by Silver Ones in the symbolic reality.
- 09 Prometheus and his super-Drivers find the Terranauts in the symbolic reality.
- 10 Lyda, aided by Aura Damona Mar, transports the Terranauts and super-Drivers to the heart of the PSI-aura.
- 11 The super-Drivers are destroyed within the PSI-aura.
- 12 Valdec orders a Kaiser Force ship to destroy the Maritime Coral City.
- 13 Lyda and Aura Damona Mar turn the ship's power against Valdec, causing a Kaiser Force shockwave.
- 14 The Kaiser Force shockwave is absorbed by the petrified Modificators.
- 15 Lyda and Aura Damona Mar remain in the Maritime Coral City to control the PSI-aura.
Characters
David terGorden — A Terranaut and Driver with superior PSI abilities, held captive by Valdec while his mind is used to attack the PSI-aura. He eventually helps defeat the super-Drivers.
Llewellyn 709 — The Riemenmann, a super-Driver whose body is covered in golden straps. He crashes on Sarym with Lyda and helps her contact the PSI-aura.
Lyda Mar — A Terranaut and Driver from Naria, pregnant with Aura Damona Mar. She possesses the abilities of a "Mediator" and plays a crucial role in contacting and controlling the PSI-aura.
Max von Valdec — The main antagonist, who attempts to control the PSI-aura using super-Drivers. He is ultimately defeated and flees.
Prometheus 107 — An artificially bred super-Driver in Valdec's service who breaks free from his control and seeks to dominate the PSI-aura. He is eventually destroyed within the PSI-aura.
Dor Masali — A brain in a robotic body, immune to PSI manipulation. He attempts to destroy the Maritime Coral City but fails and is killed.
Aura Damona Mar — Lyda's unborn child, who intervenes in events with her PSI powers and eventually merges with the PSI-aura.
Queen Yazmin — Valdec's ally, who assists him in his plans to control the PSI-aura.
Hermano Lotz — Station director of the research base, aiding Valdec in his schemes.
Expert Mira — A scientist working for Valdec, killed by the PSI-aura.
Isis 31 — A super-Driver who assists Prometheus 107, eventually destroyed within the PSI-aura.
Phoenix 34 — A super-Driver who assists Prometheus 107, eventually destroyed within the PSI-aura.
Renar Goth — A Surinen mediator exploring the North Continent with Aina Kember.
Aina Kember — A Surinen mediator exploring the North Continent with Renar Goth.
Michelle Estache — A young Surinen mediator who helps Llewellyn and Lyda.
Locations
Sarym — The planet where much of the action takes place, featuring the North Continent and an underwater research base.
Equilibrium — The planet where the Maritime Coral City and the Hall of Eternity are located.
Hall of Eternity — A colossal structure on Equilibrium housing the Manipulator.
Maritime Coral City — A coral city on Equilibrium with a powerful PSI-aura, targeted by Valdec and Dor Masali.
Underwater Research Base — A base off the coast of Sarym's South Continent, used by Valdec to conduct his experiments.
North Continent — A landmass on Sarym where Llewellyn and Lyda crash-land and encounter the Surinen.
Desert City — A settlement in the symbolic reality within the PSI-aura, where the Terranauts are enslaved.
Ships & Vehicles
CYGNI — A ship that crashed on Arioch due to the switching of the PSI-network.
Ringo — A small spacecraft used by Dor Masali to attack the Maritime Coral City.
Technology & Concepts
PSI-aura — A psionic energy field surrounding coral cities, capable of influencing events and minds.
Super-Drivers — Artificially bred humans with tremendous psionic powers.
Riemenmann — A person whose body is covered in golden straps to protect others from their PSI radiation.
Manipulator — A plant mesh in the Hall of Eternity that controls the Modificators and monitors the PSI-network.
Modificators — Plant-like structures that release change-seeds to modify the ecosystem.
Change-Seeds — Seeds released by the Modificators to transform the life-units on Equilibrium.
Kaiser Force — A powerful, entropy-accelerating force used in space travel.
Thing-Stones — Stones that radiate a unique energy, used by the super-Drivers in the symbolic reality.
Mediator-Gift — The ability to communicate with and influence native life forms.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of control, manipulation, and the consequences of unchecked power. The narrative is dark and suspenseful, with a focus on the mental and psionic battles between the characters. The story blends science fiction with elements of mythology and spirituality, creating a unique and complex world.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the conflict with Valdec and the Terranauts' mission on Sarym.
Leads into: The aftermath of the Kaiser Force shockwave and the new roles of Lyda and Aura Damona Mar in controlling the PSI-aura. The warning about the galaxy-spanning Kaiser Force catastrophe.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring David terGorden, Llewellyn 709, Lyda Mar, and Max von Valdec. Booklets discussing the PSI-network, the Buds of the Tree, and the Ancient Ones.