# Verkan Vall — Short Fiction character guide

> Verkan Vall in Short Fiction by H. Beam Piper.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Vall, D. Verkan Vall, Assistant Verkan

**First appearance:** 0000-time-and-time-again

## Snapshot

A Paratime Police operative who moves between timelines like other men cross streets, hunting slavers and outtime criminals with cool, pipe-smoking pragmatism.

## Who they are

Vall works the Esaron and Kholghoor Sectors under Chief Tortha Karf, and his instincts run toward the patient, structural read of a case rather than the quick raid. He argues that the Slave Trust's speed and reach prove a disciplined organization worth chasing on Home Timeline, not just outtime. His partnership with Dalla and his willingness to bring her into the cops shape the investigation's early direction.

## Relationships

### [Hadron Dalla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/hadron_dalla)

_professional_

Hadron Dalla and Verkan Vall are colleagues in a high-stakes interstellar operation, with Dalla often serving as Vall's trusted operative.

### [Tortha Karf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/tortha_karf)

_rivalry_

Tortha Karf is a cunning antagonist who constantly schemes against Verkan Vall, creating a tense adversarial dynamic.

### [Edward Chalmers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/edward_chalmers)

_professional_

Edward Chalmers and Verkan Vall interact as representatives of different worlds, often negotiating or clashing over strategic interests.

### [Salgath Trod](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/salgath_trod)

_rivalry_

Salgath Trod is a formidable adversary of Verkan Vall, engaging in a dangerous game of espionage and power.

### [Ranthar Jard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/ranthar_jard)

_friendship_

Ranthar Jard is a trusted ally and friend of Verkan Vall, often aiding him in dangerous missions.

### [Hadron Dalla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/hadron_dalla)

_professional_

Hadron Dalla and Verkan Vall are colleagues in a high-stakes interstellar operation, with Dalla often serving as Vall's trusted operative.

### [Edward Chalmers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/edward_chalmers)

_professional_

Edward Chalmers and Verkan Vall interact as representatives of different worlds, often negotiating or clashing over strategic interests.

### [Tortha Karf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/tortha_karf)

_rivalry_

Tortha Karf is a cunning antagonist who constantly schemes against Verkan Vall, creating a tense adversarial dynamic.

### [Tortha Karf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/tortha_karf)

_rivalry_

Tortha Karf is a cunning antagonist who constantly schemes against Verkan Vall, creating a tense adversarial dynamic.

### [Ranthar Jard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/ranthar_jard)

_friendship_

Ranthar Jard is a trusted ally and friend of Verkan Vall, often aiding him in dangerous missions.

### [Salgath Trod](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/salgath_trod)

_rivalry_

Salgath Trod is a formidable adversary of Verkan Vall, engaging in a dangerous game of espionage and power.

### [Hadron Dalla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/hadron_dalla)

_professional_

Hadron Dalla and Verkan Vall are colleagues in a high-stakes interstellar operation, with Dalla often serving as Vall's trusted operative.

## In the story

### [Police Operation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/police-operation)

Inquires about the Ardrath matter and explains paratime theory to a pilot.

### [Last Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/last-enemy)

Leads defense of the dome; discusses politics and Dalla's work; plans escape.

### [Temple Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/temple-trouble)

Special assistant to Chief Tortha of the Paratime Police; investigates the crisis at Zurb and advocates for pragmatic enforcement of paratime laws.

### [Null-A.B.C.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/null-a-b-c)

Central character navigating temporal and parallel realities.

### [Time Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/time-crime)

Investigates the temporal anomaly and the parallel timeline.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/i)

Chief's Assistant coordinating the raid on Wizard Trader camps and discussing the threat to Paratime Civilization.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/ii)

Called away from dinner by Tortha Karf; discusses the Organization and Salgath Trod's surrender.

### [The Keeper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/chapters/the-keeper)

A Southron who appears in the airboat and speaks with Raud. He is calm and analytical, and seems to be in charge of the operation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters/verkan_vall
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_24_se/characters