Heavy Spoilers below. This section covers the second of the three parts of the book. Note that this picks up after the events of Space:1999 The Final Revolution, where the following things have occurred:
- Moonbase Alpha has been severely damaged by fighting with a culture called the Ruans
- During one portion of the book, Victor Bergman, a Ruan defector, and an out of place human being from Earth, encounter a strange portion of the space they’re in, where they sense a being who speaks in riddles
- Victor Bergman appears back on Moonbase Alpha, seeming falling from the sky, with fatal injuries, offering his apologies to all.
- The Alphans conduct Operation Exodus
- After the Alphans have departed, an automated protocol reactivates a dormant part of Computer, and a recorded message of a somewhat younger Victor Bergman appears on the empty base, requesting that someone use some technology he has left behind to attempt to repair the base.
- A confused, and once again restored David Kano, confined in Computer, expresses his chagrin and confusion.
Part Two of Odysseus Wept
Once again, this synopsis was generated by an AI program — it is not perfect and has required a fair amount of correction and editing.
John Koenig, Ariana Carter, Maya, and Helena Russell are all reflecting on their upcoming arrival on a new planet. Koenig feels a mix of excitement and apprehension as he realizes that his time in space is coming to an end and that his future will be determined on this new planet. Ariana struggles to get her father, Alan Carter, to stay still and heal from his broken leg. Maya reflects on her relationship with Victor Bergman and how his absence will impact her.
Paul Morrow on Pyxidea sees the ships in the sky, knowing they are not the real ships from Earth, but a facsimile. He wonders what he would say to the real John Koenig if he were to encounter him.
Morrow confronts the facsimiles of his old colleagues from Moonbase Alpha. He is initially impressed with the accuracy of their appearance, but also notices some errors in their representations. Morrow confronts the fake Koenig and tells him that they are not welcome on Pyxidea. The facsimiles, claiming to be the real crew insist that they are refugees and have no choice but to stay. Morrow remains skeptical of their claims, but eventually agrees to hear them out. They discuss their past experiences, including the destruction of Alpha and passing through a tear in space. Morrow warns Koenig of the dangers present on Pyxidea and they discuss their personal lives since their time on Alpha. Despite their differences, Morrow and Koenig acknowledge the importance of their past actions and attempt to find common ground.
Morrow and Koenig discuss the chaotic nature of the universe and the constant disruptions they face on a particular planet being visited by different forces. Morrow warns Koenig that they will be invaded by a force worse than they have encountered before. They discuss the uncertainty of the situation and the need to question everything while also having faith in something. They discuss the technology and powerful forces at play on the planet and the potential attacks they may face. They agree that more people need to be aware of the situation and study the technology on this world. They also discuss the difficulties they have faced and the surprises they have encountered on the planet. Sandra Benes and Morrow reminisce about the past and discuss the changes they have experienced. They recognize that things were important at certain points in their lives but less important now. Koenig and Russell discuss finding their way home and the loss of Victor Bergman. They talk about grieving and readjusting to life on the planet. Koenig mentions how strange it will be to wake up to sunlight.
The Alphans discuss the possibility of building cities on Pyxidea and the challenges they may face, such as food, shelter, fuel, and sanitation. The Morrow group describe their homestead, which is solid and weathered with aged wood and clay tiles, and talk about the memories they have of explosions in the sky caused by battles over the resident generator. The characters discuss the importance of trust and safety in numbers. The passage then shifts to Ariana’s perspective, as she wakes up early to watch the dawn and reflects on her memories of sunrises and adapting to the natural environment. She contemplates the challenges they will face in finding food and starting from scratch on Pyxidea. Ariana has a conversation with Annette Fraser, who recently became widowed and is reflecting on the changes in her life. They discuss their relationship and the absence of a connection between them.
Both are grieving the loss of a loved one. Annette is trying to cope with the sudden death of someone she cared about deeply, while Ariana is carrying the weight of leaving her own family behind, the “Another Time, Another Place” versions of Bill and Annette. The two find solace in each other’s pain and forge a deep connection.
Meanwhile, there is a growing sense of community and a desire to rebuild and establish themselves on the planet Pyxidea. Morrow describes the Goltig Generator that has the power to move worlds. He discussed the Fessa Union, who built these generators as a means of protection. However, there is also a conflict involving the Space Brains, a sentient race of telepaths who coordinate the Goltig Generators. It is unclear who the enemies of the Fessa Union are, but various groups have been fighting over control of the generators. Morrow reveals that there are different factions involved, with some trying to fix the generator and others trying to prevent it from being fixed. Communication with these groups is possible with the help Fawso’s abandoned Meeter. Additionally, there is a mention of the Titans, a topic that Morrow approaches with caution and uncertainty. The group is eager to learn more and prepare for the challenges ahead. They describe the Titans as evolved forms of multiple kinds of life representing the peak of evolution.
Titans are able to evolve into some kind of energy, which then transfers to another universe. If this energy transfer doesn’t happen, the other universe starts sucking the energy out of our universe, causing destruction. The Fessa Union, the group in charge of the generators that use Titans as an energy source, doesn’t believe in the other universe or the Titans. They view the generators as only doing good things. The forces opposing the Fessa Union are trying to destroy the generator, and the Alphans realize they must confront or hide from any Titan or force representing a Titan that comes along. The group discusses the need for a plan of action, including finding shelter, agriculture, and sanitation, as shortages are imminent. They also discuss the need to hide their ships and prioritize resources. Koenig suggests that Ariana Carter should take charge, as she has shown leadership and energy. Everyone agrees, and the group starts assigning roles and tasks to address the challenges they face.
Ariana Carter is tasked with choosing team leads. The group nominates and votes for Sandra Benes as the executive officer. They discuss the need for shelter, a sewage system, and farming. Harry Kirwan suggests building barracks and smaller facilities at the farms, as well as isolating the outhouses from the crops. Ariana tells Kirwan that she can’t provide all the building materials in one day, but they can start with the barracks. She asks him to find out more about how the wood is being processed. Ariana meets with John and Mindy Salmon, who have pre-existing lists of their crops and seeds. They discuss the need for protein-yielding crops and the possibility of using fertilizer from outhouses. The Salmons mention that the ground is fertile due to graves left from the previous population of Cryptodira. Tony Cellini is monitoring the atmosphere for threats while also helping with lunch.
Maya and Victor Koenig meet with Gentry and Verdeschi to discuss the generator and its creators. Gentry suggests that the generators may be organic life forms that evolved rather than being invented. Maya mentions the integration of human consciousness with a hive mind on her world and how David Kano merged with Psyche. Gentry reveals that the Cryptodira communicated with something that communicated with the Space Brains. Maya questions the motive behind the Fessa Union’s interest in the Cryptodira and whether they were protecting Pyxidea or the Cryptodira. Verdeschi comments on the difficulty of analyzing a complex system with limited information. Gentry suggests hiding the Eagles and Hawks to decrease the likelihood of hostilities. Koenig and Morrow realize their eagerness to pass the mantle of leadership to Ariana Carter on this new world. Koenig reflects on his past decisions and the lack of nobility in leaders he has encountered.
Koenig reflects on his emotions and the loss of Victor Bergman. He is comforted by his partner, Russell, and they discuss grief. Ariana appears and talks about her excitement and vision for the future. She meets a man named Sam Morrow who volunteers to help with building, and they discuss a meeting and the absence of commlocks. Ariana reflects on her role and the potential for change.
Ariana addresses the assembled Alphans the next morning, expressing excitement about the day and the new world they have embraced. She announces that they will have a place to live and efforts will be made to understand the technology in the world. A plan is made for an agricultural team and farmers, who will turn farms into crops to feed the group. Attention is drawn to the need for tools and a blacksmith’s shop is planned to be built. The focus is on the fields and the importance of soil and fertilization. The group is divided into teams and assigned tasks. A visit to the next team reveals progress in building barracks. Plans are made for future projects.
The executive team discusses the need to defend themselves against visits from Titan-related cultures and the challenges they face with refueling their Eagles. The team also talks about the potential threat of the generator and the importance of finding a solution. They mention past encounters with Titans and the different perspectives on the role of the generator in preventing disaster. The team divides into two groups, one focused on the generator and the other on defense. They decide on team leads and make plans to visit the generator control room. They discuss the makeshift entrance to the control room and the need for a better solution. The team members prepare to descend the ladder into the underground tunnel.
The team discovers a hidden elevator and control panel in the chamber they are in. They decide to test the platform and it successfully descends to an access tunnel. They discuss the possibility of people visiting the generator without their knowledge and decide to leave some team members behind. As they descend further, they notice changes in the air quality and discover a dark, cage-like space at the bottom. They express concern about the lack of a ladder but decide to continue exploring. Gentry stays with the elevator while Koenig and Maya venture further. Maya contacts Verdeschi to stay in touch and they continue their exploration.
Maya and Victor Koenig explore the control room filled with scanning technology connected to the Goltig Generator. They discuss the possibility of using their own energy to power the scanners but are cautious not to break anything. The lights suddenly come on and Tony Verdeschi accidentally activates an area of the panel by sitting on it. They discover that weight functions as a switch to activate the power. Zidony Verdeschi hypothesizes that this control mechanism was designed for primitive workers and suggests that something other than Fawso’s people may have been working there.
Meanwhile, John Koenig and Gentry venture deeper into a cavern, sensing something alive down there. They hear a voice that causes them pain and see three figures briefly before a vibration shakes the rock. They encounter a being who claims to be the last of its kind, not a Titan but once a Cryptodiran. It reveals that the generator stopped its transformation into a Titan, and it declares the deaths of its brethren as necessary for its own greatness. Koenig and Maya reject this viewpoint and decide to leave, but Maya queries the being about Victor Bergman, to which it responds that it speaks to those who address it. The being does not recognize the names of the humans and emphasizes its existence outside of time and place.
Koenig and Maya discuss the nature of good and evil and the boundaries of different dimensions. Meanwhile, the group back at the control room tries to activate consoles and start the generator, but they are facing challenges such as limited fuel and lack of weapons. They also discuss the possibility of hidden truths and the need for caution. Ariana expresses doubts about her capabilities as a leader, but Koenig and Morrow reassure her. Koenig shares the information they discovered about the Cryptodira Titan and the potential dangers they face. The group contemplates the concept of survival of the fittest and the potential threats they may encounter if they turn on the generator. Overall, there is a sense of uncertainty and the need for caution as they navigate their current situation.
The conversation revolves around the need to adapt fuel sources to make the Eagles and Hawks functional for defense against a potential attack. There is uncertainty about the timetable of the Titans and the reason for their presence. They discuss the feasibility of turning on the generator, but the focus is on prioritizing food, shelter, and solving immediate problems. Ariana acknowledges the need for a command crew and delegate responsibilities to utilize available resources effectively. They discuss exploring nearby cities and the possibility of evacuation in case of emergency. The completion of shelters and prioritizing agriculture, exploration, and shipbuilding are emphasized. Department heads are assigned, and Ariana expresses gratitude for the support and faith they have placed in her. However, standing by the water, she gains confidence and realizes she is ready to lead because she loves her crew. As her command crew approaches the others, they hear laughter and the sounds of eating utensils. A wooden structure is being built and sudden applause breaks out when it stands tall.
In nearby space, Manzera, the leader of the Fessa Union forces, feels insecure and fears not living up to expectations. Gaulfix, who is sick in bed, expresses his desire to join the others but Manzera assures him that he can contribute from where he is. They discuss their plans to determine if Fawso is involved with their fleet being sent away years earlier and what their next steps should be. Manzera walks to her quarters and is surprised to find a projection of Fawso waiting for her. Fawso tries to reason with her and convince her to turn her fleet away, but Manzera refuses to listen.
Ariana and Sandra continue their rounds and meet with Tony Cellini to get a report from him. Cellini explains to Ariana that the special satellite they dropped into orbit uses radiation to detect objects and draw a picture. They discuss the possibility of an unknown presence hiding behind a planet, and Cellini suggests launching an Eagle for early warning. They debate whether or not to remove weapons from the Eagle and consider the potential threat. Maya and Verdeschi discuss the lack of defenses and the importance of the generator.
Manzera reflects on a past conversation where someone left her and tells her to imagine he was never there – this is her last memory of her father, Fawso, from her childhood. In the present, Manzera detects surprising motion on the tactical screen and notices empty seats in the command section. Her crew is conducting an attack without her order.
Koenig and Russell discuss the possibility of an attack after Cellini sees some ships on the scanners. Koenig emphasizes the importance of taking precautions, while Russell expresses her concerns about their lack of medical personnel. Suddenly, the campsite is attacked and chaos ensues. Koenig and Russell join the defense efforts, but their weapons are ineffective against the small and fast enemy ships. Ariana comes up with a plan to create a laser grid using hand lasers and liquid fuel. They coordinate their efforts to gather the necessary lasers and prepare for the upcoming battle. Meanwhile, Cellini sacrifices himself by drawing off the enemy ships in his shielded Eagle. The passage ends with the group getting ready to implement their plan and Ariana acknowledging the risks involved.
Various characters are involved in a battle against attacking ships. Ariana, Alexander, and Morrow discuss a strategy to defend against the small, maneuverable ships. They decide to set a trap using the generator as bait. Meanwhile, Manzera reflects on her command being overridden and contemplates her future. Namon Hol, one of Manzera’s commanders, leads the attack and gains confidence as she successfully eliminates the creatures resisting the generator’s reactivation.
Ariana and Cellini plan to bury the ships as part of their trap. During a sudden attack, Tony Verdeschi is killed, blocking a burst meant to hit Helena Russell. To his horror, the ship fires again, leaving nothing of Helena Russell but a falling lock of her hair.
Morrow is able to navigate through the terrain to reach the generator. The small ships attacking the agricultural team are recognized as similar to those seen in the past, Fawso’s fleet, which had been banished.
The ships are fast and maneuverable, making it difficult for the Alphans to find safe haven. Fires are starting to spread in the woods, but thankfully the crops are not in danger yet. The attackers have no problem killing Alphans, and Alexander’s directive to gather people near the barracks has not been effective. Ariana calls on Morrow and tells him to get everyone out of the control room cave. They come up with a plan to trap the attackers in the cave. Meanwhile, Victor and Maya discover gauges that may show the history of the generator. Morrow encounters the attackers and narrowly escapes an explosion – one of the smaller ships has attacked another of the smaller ships, saving his life.
Several characters are engaged in a battle involving ships and ground targets. Ariana, Cellini, and Alexander are piloting the Eagle and the Wedge ships, trying to defend against enemy ships. Namon Hol wants to start the generator to rebuild the Fessa Union, while Manzera is attacking her own fleet’s ships. Alexander and Sam come up with a plan to stop the enemy ships by using a corkscrew maneuver and weak tractor beams. They successfully destroy one enemy ship and move on to the next.
Namon Hol is trying to take out Manzera, and Manzera’s ship is damaged when Ariana comes up with a plan to capture the small ship attacking them by using their magnetic docking system from the Eagle. The plan is successful, but the smaller ship fires, killing Tony Cellini and sending the Eagle plummeting toward the ground, still connected to the small ship. Sam Morrow and Alexander are able to cushion the fall using tractor beams from the Wedge, and the ship is pinned to the ground as the Eagle lands.
The Alphans quickly gather around the Eagle, and Ariana is pulled out of the cockpit, alive but coughing. Morrow checks the smaller ship and realizes it can still escape if the magnetic hold is released, debating whether to blast it with his laser. He decides to speak to the enemy instead, instructing the available laborers to block the ship’s weapons and wedge it under the Eagle. A Meeter appears near the Eagle, and Morrow warns it not to get any closer. Morrow explains that the Meeter is one of the Meeters they described, and they thought they were all gone.
The Meeter claims that Namon Hol, the leader of the Fessa Union forces, is responsible for killing their people, while Manzera, another projection, argues that Namon Hol forced her way into command. The Alphans express their lack of interest in the generator and accuse Namon Hol of only caring about their own lives. Namon Hol threatens them, but Manzera seeks sanctuary among the Alphans.
John Koenig arrives and points his laser at Namon Hol, ready to attack, but Ariana stops him. Koenig is filled with rage over the deaths of Helena and Verdeschi, but Ariana convinces him not to surrender to vengeance. Fawso, without a projection, joins the scene, and Manzera accuses Namon Hol of mutiny. Fawso explains that they were never going to leave the planet alone and that the generators belong to the Alphans. Ariana questions Manzera’s intentions and suggests that she was leading a mission to destroy them. Manzera clarifies that they were investigating why the generator lost its connection and explains that they were sent away in the past. Namon Hol reveals that she can order the fleet to stop but refuses to do so. Fawso expresses concern that the Titans will be undermined if the generator is restored. Ariana proposes that there is room for everyone on the planet, but Fawso claims that the Fessa Union will never share and will seek another opportunity to destroy them. Manzera accuses Fawso of wanting the generator destroyed, but Fawso admits that it still serves a purpose.
A harsh sound fills the air and the characters are transported to a strange place where the ground shakes and low frequency vibrations fill the air. The environment undergoes changes, with dark green bands cutting through space. Morrow seeks balance by leaning against a tree, but soon loses his sense of reality as his senses play tricks on him. The characters hear a powerful voice and realize they are close to death. The place they are in is dark and muffled, with visible but non-radiating energy. Ariana can only move her hand slightly and wonders if she is already dead. She and Fawso have a conversation with other powerful voices, discussing protection and the nature of Titans.
Titans have arrived. They destroy the generator, ignoring Fawso’s pleas, and the group is returned to their original location. Fawso reveals that he needed the generator to stop a failsafe plan, a planet destined to strike Pyxidea if he was unable to keep the generator from the Fessa Union’s control.The planet will collide with Pyxidea in 25 years, causing their ultimate destruction. Maya confirms that they have no way of stopping it, and Namon Hol decides to leave, considering the planet now worthless.
Ariana and Manzera discuss their trust in Namon Hol and Ariana agrees to grant her sanctuary with the condition of deactivating Namon Hol’s ship’s weapons. Ariana reflects on the weight of her decisions and the pain that comes with leadership. Meanwhile, Carter comforts Ariana and they discuss the uncertainty of the future. Manzera disables Namon Hol’s weapons and warns her of potential intrigue and challenges within her command. Manzera then meets with Fawso, her father, who reveals that the Titans are not finished with him. Paul Morrow expresses concern over Fawso’s humiliation and the possibility of revenge. Ariana finds John Koenig and they discuss their loss and the difficulty of their current situation. Ariana encourages him not to give up, but he believes that things won’t get better.
Ariana leaves him, joining the others around a bonfire. The community mourns the loss of many lives and discusses the need to rebuild and explore the planet for technology that can help them. Fawso, a potential ally, has left, and they acknowledge that their survival is in doubt. Despite the challenges, they find solace in humor and the support of their community. They discuss the importance of fear as a motivator and joke about their old age. Ariana and Sam Morrow reflect on the gravity of the situation and the need to find solutions. They find comfort in the possibility of miracles and the faith that others have in them.