# XVIII explained — Space Viking

> Chapter companion for Space Viking by H. Beam Piper.

## What happens

Lucas Trask and his crew arrive at Audhumla to find Dunnan's forces attacking. They engage in a space battle, teaming up with the crippled Mardukan ship Victrix under Prince Simon Bentrik. After a fierce exchange, they destroy the Yo-Yo and severely damage the Enterprise, though Dunnan's fate remains uncertain.

## Themes in this chapter

### Revenge and Justice

Trask's relentless pursuit of Dunnan drives the battle, seeking personal vengeance for the raid on his wedding.

### The Cost of Raiding and Colonialism

The devastation of Seshat and Audhumla by Dunnan's forces illustrates the brutal consequences of space Viking raids.

### Technology and Progress

Advanced weaponry like planetbusters, contragravity fields, and nuclear missiles are central to the conflict.

## Character check-ins

### Lucas Trask

Commands the Nemesis, leads the attack on Dunnan's forces at Audhumla, coordinates with Prince Bentrik.

### Sir Paytrik Morland

Suggests Dunnan may be hiding in a cave city; participates in the battle.

### Simon Bentrik

Commands the crippled Mardukan ship Victrix, allies with Trask against Dunnan.

### Sir Nevil Ormm

Appears on the screen commanding the Enterprise, reacts with shock upon seeing Trask.

### Vann Larch

Ordnance officer on the Nemesis, deploys a planetbuster and other weapons against the enemy.

### Alvyn Karffard

Navigator/pilot of the Nemesis, manages acceleration and deceleration during the battle.

### Paul Koreff

Provides sensor and communication analysis, identifies ships and decodes signals.

### Guatt Kirbey

Assists with navigation calculations for the jump to Audhumla.

## Key lines

> We don't even know Dunnan did it, personally. For all we know, he's down in an airtight cave city on some planet nobody ever heard of, sitting on a golden throne, surrounded by a harem.

Paytrik Morland suggests that Dunnan might be hiding in a secure underground city, ruling over a hidden empire.

_Reflects the uncertainty about Dunnan's whereabouts and the possibility of a hidden base._

> I'm a friend of anybody who owns Andray Dunnan his enemy. Sword-World ship Nemesis ; I'm Prince Lucas Trask of Tanith, commanding.

Trask declares his alliance with anyone opposing Dunnan, introducing himself as the commander of the Nemesis.

_Establishes Trask's primary motivation and his willingness to ally with strangers against a common foe._

> If only he could be sure Dunnan was there to see it. If it had only been Dunnan's face, instead of Ormm's, that he had seen in the screen.

Trask regrets that he saw Ormm rather than Dunnan on the enemy ship, as he craves certainty of Dunnan's death.

_Highlights Trask's obsession with personally witnessing Dunnan's demise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/space_viking_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/space_viking_se/chapters