Plague Ship · Chapter
IX: Plague! explained
The crew of the Solar Queen is struck by a mysterious plague that leaves victims in a stupor.
What happens
The crew of the Solar Queen is struck by a mysterious plague that leaves victims in a stupor. Dane, Ali, Weeks, and Rip, who drank a Salariki brew, appear immune. They care for the sick while Jellico and the immune few manage the ship. After a tense snap-out from hyperspace, Rip collapses from exhaustion, not the plague.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Dane and Rip realize the hydro—the ship’s li…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Survival and Ingenuity
The immune crew improvises care and theorizes about the cause of immunity based on past experience.
- Corporate Power and Rivalry
I-S is suspected of orchestrating the plague to seize the Koros trade.
- Science and Medicine
The crew attempts to understand the disease and immunity without a medic, using basic first aid and observation.
Characters to notice
- Dane Thorson
Helps care for the sick and assists during snap-out.
- Ali Kamil
Proposes the immunity theory from the Salariki brew and mans the engine room during snap-out.
- Rip Shannon
Takes charge of the hydro garden and handles astrogation; collapses from exhaustion after snap-out.
- Jasper Weeks
Assists in caring for the sick and helps in the engine room.
- Captain Jellico
Remains active, caring for the sick and piloting the ship through snap-out.
- Medic Craig Tau
Falls victim to the plague early; his notes provide no clue about the disease.
Key passages
“If no one raises a howl Sargol will be written off the charts as infected, I-S sits on her tail fins a year or so and then she promotes an investigation before the Board.”
If no one complains, Sargol will be officially listed as infected, I-S will wait a year, then push for an investigation.
Ali explains I-S's plan to cover up the plague.
“We keep on the Old Man's course, get lost in the asteroids until we can do some heavy thinking and see a way out.”
We follow the Captain's course and hide in the asteroids while we figure out a solution.
Dane suggests a temporary escape plan.
“I wonder if we've been salted”
I wonder if we've been made immune by a prior treatment.
Ali proposes that the Salariki brew gave them immunity.
