The Mistletoe Conspiracy
Das Mistel-Syndikat
Plot Summary
Umpathar Floglyn, Donnar's representative, is eager to return home from Aqua with eight mistletoes, crucial for his presidential campaign. Llewellyn 709, the Strap-man, intercepts him, claiming the mistletoes are forgeries and swapping them for "genuine" ones. However, this is a ruse orchestrated by the Mistel Syndicate to steal the real mistletoes.
Meanwhile, the tramp ship STORTIS, captained by Artuur Morgh and with Jeng-Jeng as First Officer, is smuggling five mistletoes to Parisienne for a group planning to overthrow the planetary government. Their Driver Lodge, including Laacon Merlander, Oona Karf, Ain Lavalle, Siri Lankard, Zeus Alpha, and newcomers Thor and Jelina, are essential for navigating Space II. They are pursued by Parisienne space surveillance. Morgh attempts to evade capture, but the surveillance ships close in. The STORTIS's Driver Lodge erects a PSI Shield to protect the ship, but the effort is draining.
Back on Aqua, Floglyn reports the theft to the Defense Committee, learning that Llewellyn 709 was not on Aqua and that he was deceived. The Defense Committee suspects the Mistel Syndicate and hopes Llewellyn 709 can stop the mistletoe smuggling operation on Parisienne. On the STORTIS, Thor and Jelina discover the true nature of their mission and the STORTIS escapes into Space II.
In Space II, Kirju Haapala reveals himself to be Edison Tontor, the former GeneralManag and co-founder of the League of Free Worlds, returned from the dead. Tontor sabotages the ship and takes Morgh and the mistletoes, leaving the STORTIS to crash. Llewellyn 709, on Parisienne, learns of the STORTIS's escape and suspects ConTon's involvement. Tontor, as Ulan terHara, convinces Thor and Jelina to join him, claiming to be with the Driver Assistance. He contacts Paryl Val at ConTon, arranging a rendezvous. Thor has a vision of being imprisoned by Tontor. He and Jelina try to warn others, but Tontor captures them. Llewellyn 709 intercepts the ConTon ships, but Tontor escapes to a ConTon Satellite with the mistletoes. Thor tricks Tontor into surrendering to the Driver Assistance, revealing Tontor's plans and the Mistel Syndicate's mastermind, the Duke of Britt. Thor and Jelina join the Terranauts, while Tontor is taken for mental evaluation.
Key Events
- 01 Umpathar Floglyn is intercepted by a fake Llewellyn 709 and his mistletoes are stolen.
- 02 The STORTIS, captained by Artuur Morgh, is pursued by Parisienne space surveillance for smuggling mistletoes.
- 03 The STORTIS's Driver Lodge erects a PSI Shield to protect the ship from laser fire.
- 04 Thor and Jelina discover they are being used to smuggle mistletoes.
- 05 The STORTIS escapes into Space II to evade capture.
- 06 Kirju Haapala reveals himself to be Edison Tontor and sabotages the STORTIS.
- 07 Tontor takes Morgh and the mistletoes, leaving the STORTIS to crash.
- 08 Llewellyn 709 learns of the STORTIS's escape and suspects ConTon's involvement.
- 09 Tontor, as Ulan terHara, convinces Thor and Jelina to join him, claiming to be with the Driver Assistance.
- 10 Thor has a vision of being imprisoned by Tontor.
- 11 Tontor contacts Paryl Val at ConTon, arranging a rendezvous.
- 12 Llewellyn 709 intercepts the ConTon ships, but Tontor escapes to a ConTon Satellite with the mistletoes.
- 13 Thor tricks Tontor into surrendering to the Driver Assistance.
- 14 Tontor's plans and the Mistel Syndicate's mastermind, the Duke of Britt, are revealed.
- 15 Thor and Jelina join the Terranauts, while Tontor is taken for mental evaluation.
- 16 The STORTIS attempts a transition to Space II but is destroyed by the monsters of Space II.
Characters
Umpathar Floglyn — Ambassador from Donnar, easily deceived and robbed of his mistletoes.
Llewellyn 709 — The Strap-man, a leading figure in the Terranaut movement, head of the Planetary Office and Driver Aid organization, and member of the League's Defense Committee. He investigates the mistletoe smuggling operation.
Artuur Morgh — Captain of the tramp ship STORTIS, involved in smuggling mistletoes.
Jeng-Jeng — First Officer of the STORTIS.
Laacon Merlander — Lodge Master of the STORTIS's Driver Lodge.
Oona Karf — Member of the STORTIS's Driver Lodge, a telepath.
Ain Lavalle — Member of the STORTIS's Driver Lodge, a former Gray Guard.
Siri Lankard — Member of the STORTIS's Driver Lodge.
Zeus Alpha — Member of the STORTIS's Driver Lodge.
Thor — New Driver recruit from Riglan, possesses precognitive abilities.
Jelina — New Driver recruit from Riglan, Thor's clan sister, also possesses precognitive abilities.
Kirju Haapala/Edison Tontor — A sick Driver who is actually Edison Tontor in disguise, a former GeneralManag and co-founder of the League of Free Worlds. He is the mastermind behind the mistletoe theft.
Paryl Val — An old loyalist of Tontor's, now a Manag at ConTon Parisienne.
Schaganok — The Defense Secretary of Parisienne.
Locations
Aqua — Administrative metropolis of the League of Free Worlds, location of the Council Assembly.
Gallia System — Planetary system containing Parisienne.
Parisienne — A highly developed industrial world and main planet in the Gallia System.
ConTon Satellite — A factory satellite in orbit around Parisienne, owned by the ConTon Corporation.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
Ships & Vehicles
Technology & Concepts
Mistletoe — Offshoots of Yggdrasil, essential for Driver space travel.
Driver — Individuals with PSI abilities who can navigate Space II.
Driver Lodge — A group of Drivers working together to pilot a ship through Space II.
Space II — An alternate dimension used for faster-than-light travel.
PSI Shield — A shield created by Drivers using PSI energy to protect a ship.
Protop — A versatile material used for containers and other items.
Chemirette — A cigarette-like smoking device.
Beamer — A handheld weapon capable of firing laser beams or paralysis rays.
Strahler — Another term for a handheld weapon, possibly a beamer.
Memo-Crystals — Devices used to store and replay memories or information.
Telepathy — The ability to read the thoughts of others.
Precognition — The ability to see future events.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of deception, betrayal, and the struggle between good and evil. It has a fast-paced, action-oriented narrative style with elements of mystery and suspense. The story also delves into the political and economic complexities of the Terran Star Empire, particularly the control and distribution of mistletoe.
Connections
Continues from: Not explicitly stated, but builds upon the established universe and conflicts.
Leads into: The exposure of the Duke of Britt as the mastermind behind the Mistel Syndicate, and Thor and Jelina's entry into the Terranauts.
Related booklets: Likely related to other booklets dealing with the Mistel Syndicate, the Terranauts, and the political situation on Parisienne.