Starship Pursuit
Raumschiffjagd
Plot Summary
The IRMINSUL, led by Llewellyn 709, is en route to Finstermann to disrupt a Gray Guard base. They are intercepted by a Gray Guard reconnaissance vessel. Llewellyn 709 orders an attack, but the vessel escapes into Space II. This forces the IRMINSUL to accelerate its timeline to reach Finstermann before a courier ship can warn the base. Jana, the Witch, owner of the IRMINSUL, expresses her frustration with Llewellyn 709's strict military discipline, which she believes hinders the crew's effectiveness.
Llewellyn 709 grapples with doubts about the mission's justification, given the dire supply situation in the stellar realm. He recalls a past conference where David terGorden cautioned against alienating the colonies. Dime Mow, now hardened and cynical, informs Llewellyn 709 that he detected a coded telepathic communication between someone on the IRMINSUL and the Gray Guard reconnaissance vessel, suggesting a traitor. Dime Mow suspects Mater Lian, a former Gray Guard Driver in Jana, the Witch's Lodge.
The IRMINSUL arrives at Finstermann, where Llewellyn 709 learns that a large number of Gray Guard spacecraft are present, but show no patrol activity. Dime Mow leads a combat group to attack the base, while Llewellyn 709 plans a separate, secret operation. During the attack, Dime Mow orders his troops to kill all Gray Guard personnel, prompting Llewellyn 709 to intervene and countermand the order. The combat group lands on Finstermann and breaches the base, but encounters heavy resistance from K-robots. Llewellyn 709 and a small team head towards the command center, encountering no personnel.
Llewellyn 709's group is ambushed and stunned. He is captured along with his team and brought to the command center, where Queen Brainflakes mocks him. Dime Mow's group manages to cut off the power, disabling the Sarym Shields. Llewellyn 709 uses his PSI powers to stun the Gray Guards and telekinetically manipulates the base's computer systems. He reprograms the Gray Guard's Kaiser Force tugs to plunge into the nearby Black Hole. Dime Mow and his team rescue Llewellyn 709, and they learn that the Gray Guards are sending reinforcements. They escape in a stratospheric jet with Jana, the Witch's Lodge providing parakinetic assistance.
During the escape, Jana, the Witch is incapacitated by a mysterious force linked to her medallion. Kalia determines that an alien entity is involved. Llewellyn 709 experiences a vision of a triple sun system and receives a telepathic message from an alien entity named "Sam". The IRMINSUL rescues the combat group from the jet. Llewellyn 709 confronts Silent Chorp, revealing that he knows he is the traitor.
Key Events
- 01 The IRMINSUL is detected by a Gray Guard reconnaissance vessel.
- 02 Llewellyn 709 orders an attack, but the reconnaissance vessel escapes into Space II.
- 03 Dime Mow reports detecting a coded telepathic message between someone on the IRMINSUL and the Gray Guard reconnaissance vessel.
- 04 The IRMINSUL arrives at Finstermann and discovers a large Gray Guard presence.
- 05 Dime Mow leads a combat group to attack the Gray Guard base.
- 06 Llewellyn 709 countermands Dime Mow's order to kill all Gray Guard personnel.
- 07 Llewellyn 709's group is ambushed and captured.
- 08 Dime Mow's group cuts off the power, disabling the Sarym Shields.
- 09 Llewellyn 709 uses his PSI powers to manipulate the base's computer systems.
- 10 Llewellyn 709 reprograms the Gray Guard's Kaiser Force tugs to plunge into the nearby Black Hole.
- 11 Jana, the Witch is incapacitated by a mysterious force linked to her medallion.
- 12 Llewellyn 709 experiences a vision of a triple sun system and receives a telepathic message from an alien entity named "Sam".
- 13 The IRMINSUL rescues the combat group from the jet.
- 14 Llewellyn 709 confronts Silent Chorp, revealing that he knows he is the traitor.
Characters
Llewellyn 709 — Leader of the Terranauts, a super-Driver with powerful PSI abilities. He plans and leads the attack on the Gray Guard base on Finstermann.
Jana, the Witch — Lodge Mistress and former pirate who owns the IRMINSUL. She is skeptical of Llewellyn 709's military discipline. She is incapacitated by a mysterious force.
Dime Mow — Driver and Terranaut, leader of the combat group. He is hardened and cynical after the events in the Wreck System.
Silent Chorp — Llewellyn's mute adjutant, a young Driver with strong telepathic abilities. He is revealed to be a traitor working for the Gray Guards.
Kalia — Oldest member of Jana, the Witch's Lodge, with a sharp, analytical mind. She helps Llewellyn 709 plan the Finstermann operation and investigates Jana, the Witch's incapacitation.
Lem Odebreit — Youngest member of Jana, the Witch's Lodge, a Driver with passive PSI abilities that amplify the powers of other Lodge members. He is a fervent admirer of Llewellyn 709.
Mater Lian — Former Gray Guard Driver and member of Jana, the Witch's Lodge. She is initially suspected of being a traitor.
Queen Brainflakes — Commander of the Finstermann Guards, an ambitious and somewhat unstable leader.
Shifty McSmart — Driver in command of the four-Ringo group on course toward the located KK-tugs.
Ana Madashi — A Zinti member of Jana's Lodge, known for her grace and uncompromising character.
Tse Irlowna — A Zinti member of Jana's Lodge, known for her psychokinetic talent and her pocket computer "Dom Dote".
Sam — An alien entity that communicates with Llewellyn 709 during the escape.
Locations
IRMINSUL — A Driver spacecraft used by the Terranauts for their mission to Finstermann.
Finstermann — A wandering planet orbiting a Black Hole, used as a base by the Gray Guards.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Black Hole — A celestial object with extreme gravitational pull, located near Finstermann.
Ships & Vehicles
IRMINSUL — A Driver spacecraft used by the Terranauts for their mission to Finstermann.
Ringos — Small spacecraft used by the Terranauts for boarding operations and ground actions.
Stratospheric Jet — A staff aircraft used by the Terranauts to escape from the Gray Guard base.
Technology & Concepts
PSI — Psionic abilities, used by Drivers for telepathy, telekinesis, and other mental powers.
Sarym Shield — A technology that blocks parapsychic influences.
Kaiser Force — A type of energy used for faster-than-light travel, but which is also associated with entropic phenomena and cosmic catastrophes.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Black Hole — A celestial object with extreme gravitational pull.
K-robots — Primitive shooting machines used by the Gray Guards for defense.
Glitsch 4000 — A liquid that creates an extremely slippery surface.
Konnex Crystal — An extremely rare and mysterious object with unknown properties.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of leadership, trust, and the moral compromises of war. The tone is tense and action-packed, with moments of dark humor and philosophical reflection. The narrative style is fast-paced, with frequent shifts in perspective and a focus on the internal thoughts and feelings of the main characters.
Connections
Continues from: Previous booklets detailing the aftermath of the Wreck System incident and the rise of Llewellyn 709 to leadership.
Leads into: The interrogation of the Shadow, the implications of Silent Chorp's betrayal, and the mystery surrounding Jana, the Witch's incapacitation and the Konnex Crystal.
Related booklets: Booklets featuring Llewellyn 709, Jana, the Witch, Dime Mow, and other Terranauts, as well as those dealing with the Gray Guards, Kaiser Force technology, and the threat of supercivilizations.