The Emerald Sanctuary
Das gruene Paradies
Plot Summary
The story begins with David terGorden and other Terranauten discussing the alarming reports of chaos on the Rim Worlds, threatening activities by Max von Valdec, and the emergence of cosmic spores. They are concerned about the Silent Drivers, former PSI-gifted individuals who have had their powers surgically removed and are now being resettled on Sarym. Duryea Ankrum, a psychomechanic, presents a troubling report: a subgroup of Silent Drivers (Third Category) are developing a strange illness, exhibiting catatonia, muscle cramping, and resistance to psychomechanic interventions. She believes something external is controlling this process.
The Terranauts debate whether to halt further transports of Silent Drivers to Sarym, but the MIDDLEHAVEN is already in orbit with 800 more. They send a group to Surin, hoping the unique ecology there will help. Meanwhile, Pascal Flander, a psychomechanic in Surin, discovers the Silent Drivers are experiencing intense pain and are being driven towards a specific goal. He attempts to intervene but is trapped within their minds. Back on Sarym, David terGorden views the color compositions created by the Silent Drivers and suffers a severe psychic shock, falling into a catatonic state. Duryea Ankrum attempts to rescue a fellow psychomechanic, Cheryl LaRoche, who is trapped within the mind of a Silent Driver, and barely succeeds.
Duryea Ankrum then tries to help David terGorden, but cannot penetrate his mind. They realize the key lies in understanding the color compositions. The Silent Drivers are being affected by something unique to Sarym. Asen-Ger learns that a group of Silent Drivers in Surin has overpowered their caretakers and are moving deeper into the forest. An eco-patrol is attacked, and the psychomechanic is trapped. Duryea Ankrum is needed again. She enters the mind of Pascal Flander and discovers that the Silent Drivers are being driven by a force towards a specific goal. She also discovers that the Silent Driver whose mind Pascal Flander is trapped in is Alarone, her former mental partner.
Duryea Ankrum follows Alarone and the other Silent Drivers, realizing they are being drawn to a specific location. She discovers a hidden installation of the Buds of the Tree, where the Silent Drivers are seeking a synthesis with plant spores. Lyda Mar appears and reveals that David terGorden is in danger of being lost in his own subconscious and that she can help him. Duryea Ankrum reaches Alarone and sacrifices her remaining strength to save him, falling into a state of near-death. She and Alarone are integrated into the plant network, achieving a state of harmony. The Silent Drivers are healed through integration with the plant spores, becoming multi-mediators. The story concludes with the Driver Council discussing the events and the potential for using the spores to transform other worlds.
Key Events
- 01 Duryea Ankrum reports on the strange illness affecting Silent Drivers of the Third Category.
- 02 A group of Silent Drivers is sent to Surin in hopes of finding a cure.
- 03 Pascal Flander is trapped within the mind of a Silent Driver in Surin.
- 04 David terGorden views the color compositions and suffers a severe psychic shock.
- 05 Duryea Ankrum rescues Cheryl LaRoche from the mind of a Silent Driver.
- 06 Duryea Ankrum attempts to help David terGorden but is unsuccessful.
- 07 Asen-Ger learns of the attack on the eco-patrol in Surin.
- 08 Duryea Ankrum enters the mind of Pascal Flander and discovers that the Silent Drivers are being driven towards a specific goal.
- 09 Duryea Ankrum discovers that the Silent Driver whose mind Pascal Flander is trapped in is Alarone, her former mental partner.
- 10 Duryea Ankrum follows Alarone and the other Silent Drivers to a hidden installation of the Buds of the Tree.
- 11 Duryea Ankrum sacrifices her remaining strength to save Alarone.
- 12 Duryea Ankrum and Alarone are integrated into the plant network, achieving a state of harmony.
- 13 The Silent Drivers are healed through integration with the plant spores, becoming multi-mediators.
- 14 The Driver Council discusses the events and the potential for using the spores to transform other worlds.
Characters
David terGorden — A Terranaut and leader, he is affected by the color compositions and falls into a catatonic state. He is eventually rescued by Lyda Mar and Duryea Ankrum.
Duryea Ankrum — A psychomechanic, she investigates the illness affecting the Silent Drivers and attempts to rescue trapped psychomechanics. She is reunited with her mental partner, Alarone, and helps the Silent Drivers find peace.
Asen-Ger — A Terranaut and deputy chairman of the Driver Council, he deals with the crisis involving the Silent Drivers.
Llewellyn 709 — A Riemenmann and Terranaut, he is involved in the discussions about the Silent Drivers and their condition.
Lyda Mar — A former Terranaut living in the PSI-aura of the maritime coral city, she intervenes to protect David terGorden from his second self.
Claude Farrell — A Terranaut involved in the discussions about the Silent Drivers.
Pascal Flander — A psychomechanic who is trapped within the mind of a Silent Driver.
Cheryl LaRoche — A psychomechanic who is trapped within the mind of a Silent Driver and rescued by Duryea Ankrum.
Alarone — Duryea Ankrum's former mental partner, who has become a Silent Driver.
Janh Kruger — An eco-warden on Surin who is attacked by the Silent Drivers.
Mija Karon — An eco-warden on Surin who is attacked by the Silent Drivers.
Mandorla — A former Queen and Terranaut, she investigates the unresponsive Ringo and deals with the Silent Drivers on board.
Myra Moran — A psychomechanic who is caught in a hurricane and rescued.
Nadine Thulin — A mediator who is caught in a hurricane and rescued.
Locations
Neu-Thule — The central administration of Neu-Thule and Sarym, located on Sarym.
Sarym — The planet where the Silent Drivers are being resettled and where the strange illness is occurring.
Surin — The northern continent of Sarym, reshaped by the Buds of the Tree, where the Silent Drivers are sent in hopes of finding a cure.
Undersea Research Station — A formerly Valdecian research base off the coast of Sarym, used to treat the Silent Drivers.
Maritime Coral City — A coral city on Sarym that steers the psionic center of the aura.
Ships & Vehicles
MIDDLEHAVEN — A Driver freighter in orbit, carrying Silent Drivers in hibernation.
Ringo — A small spacecraft used for transport within the Norvo system.
Technology & Concepts
PSI Factor — The psionic ability possessed by Drivers.
Silent Drivers — Former PSI-gifted individuals who have had their powers surgically removed.
Psychomechanics — Individuals with the ability to enter the minds of others.
Mediators — Individuals with the ability to communicate with and influence the variable ecology of Surin.
Variable Ecology — The unique ecosystem of Surin, reshaped by the Buds of the Tree.
Buds of the Tree — A race of plant intelligences that reshaped the ecology of Surin.
Color Compositions — Images created by the Silent Drivers that have a strange penetrating quality.
Modification Submatrix — A factor in the network of PSI-auras that governs the biopsionic system.
Multi-Mediators — Silent Drivers who have been integrated into the bio-PSI system of Sarym through contact with plant spores.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of identity, loss, and the search for belonging. The tone is often somber and introspective, reflecting the suffering of the Silent Drivers and the challenges faced by the Terranauts. The narrative style blends scientific exposition with personal narratives and dreamlike sequences.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets dealing with the resettlement of Silent Drivers and the aftermath of the Valdec conflict.
Leads into: Further exploration of the Buds of the Tree, the nature of the variable ecology, and the potential for transforming other worlds. The open question of what David terGorden's destiny will be.
Related booklets: Booklets dealing with the Buds of the Tree, the variable ecology of Surin, and the PSI-abilities of the Terranauts.
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