PRINCE SALANDER

Keen to protect the Draconian Empire that he loves so much. Loyal, principled, brave, intelligent, a keen judge of character, and capable of making difficult decisions with dignity and integrity.

Salander hears news of his son’s cowardly actions...

“No, not my ssson! I have no weakling ssson like that! Leave now, Karinisss... Deny you were ever here! Do not become involved in tonightsss eventsss.”

Salander prepares to leave Draconia for the last time...

“Perhaps I should have left a statement clearing my subordinates and giving my reasons for leaving... but I doubt it would ever reach the Emperor’s ear... So farewell to Draconia, and the empty joys of position and power... And Daak and I will write our bitter tale across the stars.”

VOL MERCURIUS

World-weary, cynical, sharp, sarcastic and fairly emotionless, but also a lover of beauty, highly intelligent and a skilled tactician. He hates Daak.

Mercurius plays a game of strategy with his robot companion Klikbrain on the doomed world of Dispater...

“Tell me, Klikbrain... suppose every move we made on the para-chess board was a miniature version of what’s happening in real life... What would the odds be against that?

Still, it’s an interesting though, isn’t it old friend?”

FIRST SECRETARY AXIRON

Eager to make himself heard, ambitious but essentially a coward keen to preserve his own position, even if it means bribing court officials and attempting to make peace with the Daleks.

Axiron prepares to interrupt Salander as he addresses the Emperor...

“(to his Aide)Lisssten to him prattle! Always pushing for more battle-cruisersss... because he ownsss the Empire’s biggest shipyard. But I’ll get Censssor Pralisss to impeach him. A few pounds of diamonds will sssee to that! (to the Emperor) Forgive me, Majesssty. I disssagree. The Daleksss are already at war with the humansss from Earth... They will not fight on two frontsss. Let usss negotiate with the Daleksss. We can make a treaty to give usss peace in our time!”

GENERAL KARINIS

Gruff, determined war-dog who has lived and fought through the Draconian Empire’s glory days. He is one of Salander’s fellow officers and intensely loyal to the prince.

Karinis pays a secret visit to Salander and Daak to tell him some bad news...

“I bribed the guardsss. They won’t sssay a word. But I thought you ought to know that Axiron and Pralisss are presssenting an accusssation to the Emperor againssst you. It’sss looking bad. But there is worssse, too. The Emperor hasss forbidden our shipsss to engage the Daleksss...”

Old, wise, dignified but ultimately cautious and keen to avoid trouble of any kind, even if it leaves the Draconian Empire open to the threat of the Daleks.

The Emperor considers Axiron’s charges against Salander...

“These chargesss ssseem very vague, Axiron... Ssome ssspeculation about Sssalander’sss businesss affairsss... and only the affair of thisss Earthman held againssst him.

The impeachment is disssmisssed!

And I have decided to inssspect thisss ssspace-yacht the Earthman arrived in persssonally. You will accompany me, Axiron.”

IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL

Small-time officious official with ideas above his station. A stickler for read tape.

Abslom Daak is presented at the Immigration Bureau. He mentions Princess Taiyin...

“Pirncesss? (to Salander) I don’t understand the word, my Lord... (To Daak) Is she aboard?

Why didn’t you sssay ssso before? It isss she I should be interviewing, not a mere pilot! I asssume she’sss in the locked compartment... our team haven’t opened that yet.”

CENSOR PRALIS

Shifty official of the Draconian court whose allegiances are easily bought and sold for a reasonable price.

Censor Pralis addresses the Draconian Emperor, having been bought off with gemstones...

“Prince Sssalander hasss been exceeding hisss authority, Imperial Majesssty! Only yesssterday he allowed the Earthman landing permisssion without consssulting your augussst ssself... and the lissst of hisss indissscretionsss isss long.”

RECEPTIONIST

Sassy but bored receptionist at Slash Killerstein’s Murderama, the best place on Paradise to go and get yourself killed. She has plenty of attitude but not much regard for life.

Abslom Daak visits the Murderama asking for Harma the Ice Warrrior...

“Cubicle Number Two... Two credits, please.

Wait! You haven’t signed the liability release!”

And after Daak enters the cubicle...

“That’s funny... your friend seems to have been in there a long time without anything happening. (PAUSE) Ah, there we go... Very efficient, Harma is.”

DOCTOR ZORYNX

Bumbling Draconian court doctor who has seen better days.

Zorynx is examining Princess Taiyin...

“Hit by a Dalek energy-blassst? How long before you got her in here?

Ah, if only it had been two minutesss! Well, let me sssee...”

“I am sssorry, Earthman... what you asssk isss beyond the range of Draconian medical ssscience... I cannot revive her...”