The Dark Wheel "The Story So Far" ISSUES #1-14 Synopsis 640x350x16 #1 - "Betrayal" The year is 3392 A.D., in Reorte orbit a Cobra Mark III carrying Commander ALAN FLYNN makes it's orbital approach. Just as Flynn engages the docking computers, he is attacked by a VIPER police ship. After noting the tactics of the attacker, Flynn grows suspicious of the true nature of his enemy. After disembarking from his vessel, he is arrested by a Galactic Cooperative [GalCop] security agent. Flynn... resists this attempt and meets with the Station Manager of Reorte Coriolis Six. He finds and old 'friend', who dares Flynn to shoot him (?!). The last thing seen is Flynn's laser blast. Meanwhile, in deep space, the Constrictor II is on testing maneouvers. It is attacked by a foolish pilot in a GECKO class ship. The Captain [McMurphy] returns fire, destroying the ship utterly. At this same time, a mysterious intruder knocks the ship's first officer cold. (The first officer was on his way to the weapon control room for a quick post-battle inspection.) As the ship enters jump-space, the stranger dumps the first officer out of Airlock 73. The stranger remarks on his promotion prospects. #2 - "Old Friends Die Hard" The next chapter in the story opens on the surface of Reorte. A rather evil looking man breaks into the Reorte Ship Federation Research and Design Center, apparently searching for valuable computer information. Meanwhile, up on Corilois Six we find that Flynn's blast was aimed for a near miss. The 'old friend' doesn't even flinch. Flynn's old friend turns out to be McGreavy, a former member of the "Order of the Elite". McGreavy shows Flynn data on the new Constrictor II and asks for transportation to the test-sector. McGreavy wants to take over the Constrictor II for... personal reasons. He promises Flynn the opportunity to get even with certain members of the Space Navy. Flynn agrees. Several days later on the Constrictor II, the Captain notices strange behavior from his 'first officer'. The ship's navigation system fails (unboutedly caused by the 'first officer'). Back on Reorte, the thief is hacking to the RSF's computer system. Finished, he takes off with the stolen data, with the Vipers not too far behind. #3 - "Mantronix" The third part of our story opens over Reorte where Sayble and his companion are eluding three viper police ships. Sayble quickly punches in a multi-jump program into the navigational computer -- the final destination is USLE, one of the Space Navy's bases. Just as they make the jump Sayble activates an energy bomb destroying the pursuing vipers. Several days later, Flynn and McGreavy are transported over to their new ship; an Anaconda [with a crew of 60] with a full fighter group. Immediately after the transport docks, the ESSEX goes into jump-space. Around a month later, Sayble reaches Usle. Upon docking, he notifies [via the Coriolis's network] all his crewmembers to board. His new ship is a Python with the name "Bloodwing". The Bloodwing engages it's Galactic Hyperdrive, it's destination is XEINOS in Galaxy-2. Meanwhile, the Constrictor II exits witch-space*. The crew find themselves in orbit over an uncharted world. Several minutes later a fuel pod, of unknown origin, approaches the 'first officer' reveals himself to be MANTRONIX. MANTRONIX, after a demonstration of his power, orders the crew to dump all the old fuel and re-fuel the ship from the mysterious pod. Back on the ESSEX, McGreavy receives a transmission from the Galactic Cooperative Council. The council member informs McGreavy that the Constrictor II has changed it's course. #4 - "Massacre" 320x200x256 (VGA) 640x350x016 (EGA Dithered Verson; Dark Wheel: Volume 1 (EGA)) The Constrictor II, captured by Mantronix, re-enters witch-space. Flynn and McGreavy, aboard the Essex, arrive at Atarza. Atarza was recently attacked by the Thargoid invaders, and thus a mighty space dredger has been built. McGreavy tells Flynn that he has some business to take care of on the Dredger. After arriving, he makes a vid-call to a member of the GalCap Council. The Councilmember informs McGreavy that the Constrictor II has been hijacked. He gives McGreavy the ship's known destination, which on the charts is deep space -- it seems to be something else to McGreavy. Elsewhere, a developing planet is attacked by the Thargoids. #5 - "Council of War" 640x480x016 (VGA Palette) 640x350x016 (EGA Palette - Dark Wheel: Volume One (EGA Version)) Two weeks have passed since "Massacre". Onboard the Essex, McGreavy briefs the newly recruited pilots and troopers on what's the come. To practice for the 'rough spot' they're about to enter, the pilots and troopers engage in a simulated Wargame. During the course of the Wargame, a pilot attempts to murder Flynn. Flynn dispatches his enemy with cold precision. The suit-less occupant dies horribly in space. "Beta" team uses this distraction to take control of "Target-A", the object of Beta's wargame. Their attempt is foiled by "Watchdog", an "Alpha" member who really isn't supposed to be there. War has never been fair, and never will be. The Essex suddenly calls all the Wargame players back to the ship, the jump has to be made in on hour. No explanation is given. Meanwhile, Sayble arrives at Xenios and negotiates with the leader of the feline race. The Constrictor II [modified by Sayble himself] plans are offered in trade for twelve completed warships. The deal is completed. Meanwhile, the GalCop Ruling Council attempts to deal with the increased Thargoid threat. With the Thargoid invasion increasing, the fleet spread all over eight galaxies in addition to intergalactic space, added to the financial aid need by the GalCop worlds a solution seems impossible. A familiar looking councilmember says "I have a plan that just might work." TO BE CONTINUED... Next Episode: "Dogfight!" NOTE: The Reorte Ship Federation is one of the strongest members of the Galactic Cooperative. They are the builders/designers of the finest fighter craft in existance, their technology unmatched. [They build the VIPERS, MAMBAs and several others]. * The space which ships pass into for faster-than-light travel is sometimes referred to as "witch space" due to the effect it has on the unshielded human mind. THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #6 640x350x016 "Dogfight!" Synopsis: The Essex enters the first of three "anarchy" systems. Almost immediately they are attacked by a fleet of KRAIT fighters. The Fighter Squadron launches from the Essex and engages the enemy. Pilot Ikegami gets a few kills and sees a rather interesting ship*. A trooper, in a fight-suit, gives a worm pilot a break and then promptly takes over a Krait for himself. Who is he? Two Kraits attempt to attack the Essex, thinking it an unarmed cargo vessel, they are proved wrong as McGreavy orders the ship to return fire. The battle rages on, and after capturing several Krait ships, the Essex skims the sun, refuels and makes another jump. Elsewhere, the Constrictor II reaches it's destination, a stargate. TO BE CONTINUED... Next Episode: "The Spirit of the Snake!" * The ship that Chieh Ikegami shoots down is the "Jolly Roger" from "Space Rogue" by Origin Systems [(C) 1989 OSI]. THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #7 640x350x016 "The Spirit of the Snake" Synopsis: The Constrictor II enters the stargate. Upon exiting into normal space, Mantronix calls up and sends the dataprints for the Constrictor II to his employers. Sayble is talking to a GalCop parlimentary member, the member is frantic. Sayble asks for more time, but it's not available. Without the Constrictor mark II fleet, humanity doesn't stand a chance from the Thargoid Invasion. The mighty anaconda enters the last dangerous system. The attacking mamba disable the fighter bay forcing most of the crew to exit in fighting suits. Flynn uses this to "escape" the ship and commandeer a mamba. Flynn approaches a Fer-De-Lance, the homeship of the attackers and docks with it. It seems that they were expecting their captain! Flynn reflects on events over half a lifetime ago, in 3379. Vowing revenge on McGreavy (now that he knows what he's up to) he docks with his ship. TO BE CONTINUED... Next Episode: "Raxxla" THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #8 640x350x016 "Raxxla" 12/10/89 Synopsis: After Flynn (and several other crewmen) leave the Essex, it is discovered that Flynn himself commands the attacking Fer-De-Lance. The Aries. Flynn, who has been tracking McGreavy for months, confonts his nemesis. McGreavy, a former member of the Order of the Elite, has been selling out his former comrades to GalCop and the highest bidder. The Order of the Elite, a criminal organization of pirates, bounty hunters and the like manages to keep trade going in the other worlds in addition to be the best pilots in the Dark Wheel. The Order has been assisting the Galactic Cooperative for years battling the insectoid invaders (Thargoids). Unfortunately, McGreavy's activities have disrupted trading and worse, has FORCED GalCop to take action against the outlaws. It seems that Flynn's purpose for visiting Reorte in 3392 (Issue #1: Betrayal 7/1/89) was to carry out his bounty hunting mission and kill McGreavy under command of the Order. However, when Mantronix stole the Constrictor II, Flynn was told to ALLOW McGreavy to live. McGreavy, on the other hand, was only using the Constrictor II hijack as an excuse to attack Raxxla, the system where the Order is headquartered. His purpose for bringing Flynn was to gain entry to the base. When Mantronix entered the Raxxla stargate, the rules changed. At this same time, a powerful Thargoid invasion wave began. Needing as many Deadly or Elite pilots as possible, Flynn was told to allow McGreavy to actually go to Raxxla. However, Flynn had other plans. In 3379, McGreavy was bounty hunting a young criminal. He found him and fired. Flynn lost his right eye as a result and vowed revenge on the man that shot him. Now in 3394, Flynn has NO intention of allowing McGreavy to live. After sealing the bay doors (in #7), Flynn and his most trusted teammates left the Essex under the mamba raid's fire and boarded the Aries. Flynn fires on the Essex, damaging it severely. McGreavy barely escapes by punching the hyperspace activator. The coordinates were pre-locked in for Raxxla. After the jump, McGreavy looks at his viewscreen and what he sees fills him with fear... Meanwhile, in Galaxy-2 on Xeinos: Three constrictor mark 2's have been built. The Avenger, Lexington and the Excelsior. However, Prince Jakarta informs Sayble that the Reorte Ship Federation has discovered that their files have been copied and have hired several bounty hunters to kill Sayble. Sayble, already suspicious has assumed a disguise... unfortunately it didn't seem to work on the Prince. The Aries makes the jump to Raxxla... TO BE CONTINUED... Next Episode: "Thargoids!" THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #9 640x350x016 "Thargoids!" Synopsis: The war begins. McGreavy, who is under contract, sends a message to GalCop that Thargoids are arriving at the Raxxla coordinates. The Aries arrives in the system, just as a Thargoid strikes a mortal blow to the Essex [McGreavy has POSSIBLY escaped in a pod, for future story threads]. Flynn, wishing to kill McGreavy himself, is greatly annoyed. After dispatching the thargoid, Flynn realizes just how many enemy ships there are. Realizing the scope of the threat, Flynn contacts Rafe Zetter asking for his assistance. Rafe declines saying that he's just been hired for a really BIG job. Rafe DOES, however, offer to contact all the combateers and bounty hunters he can find and send them to help. Flynn is thrilled. Flynn begins the fight, knowing it to be a losing battle. During this the first hunters arrive, including one Ryan Gerthman (a rather... traditional pirate... probably swashbuckles on the side...) In spite of this, the battle seems lost. Next Episode: "The Gate" THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #10 640x350x016 "The Gate" Synopsis: Continuing several hours after Issue 9, Flynn sends a probe into the gate (and back) and discovers that the gate is a Thargoid construction. Realizing that the Hyperspacial generator on the other side must be destroyed, Flynn boards the Essex and sets the engines to overload in fifteen minutes. His job done, Flynn re-boards the Aries (a modified fer-de-lance) and calls the pirate capital, Raxxla. Flynn requests a Viper, and within five minutes, one docks. Flynn gives the pilot a pre-programmed disk and asks him to just use it rather than fly the mission himself. The Viper activates a tractor beam on the Essex and heads for the gate at maximum velocity (.32 Light Mach). During this, the other pirates and bounty hunters (including the Aries) attack the thargoids and defend the Viper. In spite of this, the Viper is it... it's guidance computer malfunctions. Realizing what he has to do Flynn orders the Aries to pursue the Viper. When the two ships are side-by-side, Flynn jet packs across to the Viper. Flynn assumes manual control and enters the gate. It is at this time that the cavalry (the Galactic Navy) arrives. Just a bit late. Chieh Ikegami, now the Commanding Officer of the Aries, notices this and heads for the gate. Ikegami's plan is to enter the gate himself, rescue the Captain and get them both out faster than the Viper could. Meanwhile, the Reorte Ship Federation arrives at Xenios and finds twelve Constrictor II's in orbit. The RSF orders Sayble to surrender the ill-gotten ships (he DID steal their blueprints and designs!) but Sayble refuses. --- On the other side of the Gate, Flynn accelerates towards the generator. At peak speed, he breaks the tractor beam and heads for the gate. A thargoid fires upon the Essex, but it is to close and destroys both the thargoid warship but also the generator. Flynn, who was entering the gate during this event, disappears. Which side is he on? If he's even alive. --- Sometime later, in Corilois-1 orbiting Lave, Ryan addresses the Galactic Parliment. As a reward to the rogues Raxxla is to be kept a secret and a safe haven for pirates, and other rogues. The destruction of the gate means two things: The end of the Thargoid threat, but the end of wide-spread trade. You see, the pirates were able to trade far and wide with the gate. "We thank you and the other rogues for defending our space." Ryan smiles and says, "Good. Then you won't mind paying all of us..." SECOND SEASON THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #11 Episode 11: "Escape" 640x400x256 The RSF confronts Sayble, asking for his surrender. Sayble refuses and a battle begins. During the battle, Sayble heads for one of the fighter bays onboard his flagship. Inside his is Cobra Mk 3. He leaves the Avenger but is met by a Reorte Mamba-class fighter. Just as the fighter destroys his Cobra, Sayble ejects (according to his plan, as when a vessel is destroyed, the owner's records are wiped clean - such as criminal charges). As he falls towards XEINOS, however, a Python slave-cruiser picks up his escape pod and leaves for an unknown (until next month anyway) destination. Meanwhile, the battle continues. In Thargoid space, Flynn's viper has crash-landed on a desert planet. Suddenly a figure approaches him... Next Episode: "Trapped" THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #12 02/02/91 Episode #12: "Trapped" 640x400x256 Synopsis: Sayble's escape pod was picked up by a Python after he ejected from his Cobra mk ]I[ in an effort to escape the RSF (Reorte Ship Federation). However, this is not just an ordinary Python-class cruiser. It is a slave ship! At first Sayble believe's he is in an RSF vessel headed towards Reorte, but after talking with another prisoner he finds things couldn't be much worse. Using a recording strip (used for inventory) from a package wrapper, Sayble is able to record the code for the lock onto the strip. He escapes his cell, and finds that the Captain of the ship has a WORM fighter. (WORM fighters are generally used on Anaconda (such as the Essex) vessels but also are occasionally used as an emergency vessel on Pythons and other large ships. They do not have a hyper-drive, however, which limits usage.) Sayble enters the WORM, and blasts a hole in the hull of the Python. Unfortunately, the Python is in hyperspace. The WORM clears the Python as it explodes. Without a hyperdrive the WORM simply falls out of the hyperfield. Sayble is unconscious and is in an unknown system somewhere in Galaxy-2. TO BE CONTINUED... Next Episode: "Revelations" ELITE: THE DARK WHEEL ISSUE #13 "Revelations" (New Art System) Synopsis: The story opens on a desolate planet somewhere in "Thargoid Space." After crash landing in his Viper [See issue #11], Flynn [who's cybernetics are severly damaged] is taken to a base. Flynn awakens to find that two humans have rescued him, he cannot understand their language until Joanna interfaces his cybernetics to the main computer. During the course of the interfacing, feedback causes Flynn to black out. Days later, he is revived. All injuries and damage have been repair to the best of the strangers' abilities. However, Flynn is confused and demands to know what galaxy he is in. It is during this conversation that the strangers find that Flynn is from a true inter-galactic civilization. After going through the remains of Flynn's Viper, they find three data-chips. The third chip turns out to be a star-chart and they match it up with their data. Using a Thargoid inter-galactic and regular hyperdrive systems and cannibalized pieces of other ships, they build a new ship capable of returning Flynn to his civilization. The intent of the humans is to assist Flynn and GalCop in destroying the Thargoid menace (whom the humans have fought for centuries), but Flynn seems... distant. What is HIS plan? Meanwhile in Galaxy-2, Sayble's WORM begins to enter a planet's atmosphere. However, Sayble is unconscious and his ship begins to burn. At the last moment, a strange tractor beam locks on... In December of 3395 A.D., Flynn's vessel is launched and he begins the long trip home... TO BE CONTINUED... Next Episode: "Hyperjump" ELITE: THE DARK WHEEL Story Synopsis Plot by Solomon English & Alan Flynn Illustrated by Alan Flynn and & Ed Hawkins #14 "Hyperjump" In Galaxy-1 a lifepod docks within a space station. Inside is Douglas McGreavy, thought to be the hero of the most recent Thargoid War. Meanwhile, in the Milky Way Galaxy -- Flynn begins his journey home. He must "link" to the ship's computer to operate the Thargoid Galactic Hyperdrive, all goes well until he actually enters Witch-Space... To Be Continued... THIRD SEASON