Bradley Johansson
Names: Bradley JohanssonJohanssonBradleyBradBrad Myo
First appears in Book 1: Pandora's Star, chapter 3 (TWO)
Appearances
What you know
Book 1: Pandora's Star
- Ch 3Johansson sends Adam a reliable encrypted warning that Paula Myo is on Velaines.
- Ch 3He leads the terrorist group the Guardians of Selfhood.
- Ch 3Paula describes Johansson as a charismatic lunatic whose Guardians of Selfhood movement is effectively his private personality cult.
- Ch 5Johansson was first director of the Marie Celeste Research Institute; clan lore says the Starflyer enslaved him until the Silfen freed him on Silvergalde.
- Ch 5After liberation, Johansson returned to Far Away and freed other people enslaved by the Starflyer, who became the seven founding families of the clans.
- Ch 5Justine views Johansson as a wicked old man who uses legends to keep his followers in line and paying dues.
- Ch 10Leader of the Guardians, obsessed with destroying the Starflyer; tall, aristocratic-looking, enigmatic, with superb intelligence sources.
- Ch 10Gets his rejuvenation at the Unstorn clinic on Jaruva, reached by a Silfen path, and offers to take Adam there and pay.
- Ch 10Plans to extend Guardian operations beyond Far Away to confront the Starflyer's agents in the Commonwealth, with the Second Chance as primary target.
- Ch 12Johansson leads the Guardians, who have attacked the Institute on Far Away for 150 years and denounce the Second Chance as a Starflyer project.
- Ch 13Johansson smuggles advanced equipment through the gateway to the Guardians along many innocuous routes.
- Ch 13A reporter named Brad interviewed Wendy months earlier and left a message for Paula, shocking her by knowing her name.
- Ch 14Johansson is a revered leader of the Guardians who believes the Second Chance's flight begins the Starflyer's endgame; he will make the final decision on Kazimir.
- Ch 20Paula expects Bradley Johansson to be waiting somewhere down the line of Rigin's arms shipment.
- Ch 20Bradley says he escaped the Starflyer's slavery; the Silfen cured him and took his memory of what the Starflyer looked like.
- Ch 20Bradley approved Kazimir and warned he may ask him to die so Far Away can have its revenge.
- Ch 20Bradley wants to contact Wilson Kime and convert him, believing Kime is not a Starflyer agent and doubts the loss of Bose and Verbeke.
- Ch 20Bradley believes the Starflyer disregards human children and love, and this misunderstanding of human nature could be its downfall.
- Ch 20Believes the Starflyer is an old alien manipulating humanity, and wants Kime to order a fresh review of the Second Chance system logs.
- Ch 20Hopes the logs will prove Second Chance switched off the barrier and that losing Bose and Verbeke was no accident.
- Ch 22Bradley Johansson once walked the Silfen paths and told Ozzie of tree reefs floating in a nebula of gas.
- Ch 23He founded the Guardians of Selfhood after claiming to return from the Silfen paths, and stole money to fund the movement.
- Ch 23He used the museum's old wormhole generator to rob a Las Vegas casino vault, evading capture by using front men and Guardian members.
- Ch 23Johansson has long insisted a Starflyer exists, and Paula admits his constant belief could explain inconsistencies in the case.
- Ch 24Johansson believes an alien influence was aboard the Second Chance on its Dyson Pair flight and wants the flight logs analysed.
- Ch 24Johansson instructed Adam to contact Oscar.
- Ch 25Johansson posed as a reporter, asked Wendy about the charities funding Dudley's observation, and told her to give Myo a message.
- Ch 26Johansson earlier described the Silfen realm as a haven of mystery; his airborne coral reefs are mentioned, and he seemingly returned directly to the Commonwealth.
Book 2: Judas Unchained
- Ch 2Johansson urgently needs the Martian data; the alien attack on phase two space disrupted the Guardians' timetable.
- Ch 3Bradley founded the Guardians to protect humanity from the Starflyer, and was himself a victim of what it does to those left behind.
- Ch 3Bradley believes the Starflyer will try to return to Far Away when the war with the Primes is at its worst, and wants to strike then.
- Ch 3Bradley regrets forming the Guardians to attack the Institute, calling it an instinctive reaction, and wonders if he should have gone the political route.
- Ch 3Bradley says the shotgun accusing Elaine Doi of being a Starflyer agent was a fake not made by his side.
- Ch 3Bradley is dropping the propaganda shotguns as too late to influence opinion, unless absolute proof can be produced.
- Ch 5Tall, fair-haired, obviously centuries old; posed as reporter Brad Myo of the nonexistent Earl News, a cover he had used on Wendy Bose.
- Ch 5Asked Trisha basic questions about Howard Liang, questions Renne believes were important to him.
- Ch 6Johansson described a reef in the gas halo and walked home to the Commonwealth after being on one.
- Ch 9Johansson named these structures reefs and, per Ozzie, walked back to the Commonwealth from one.
- Ch 10Bradley believes Bernadette's behavior shows an investment paying off and fears the navy assault on Hell's Gateway has met trouble.
- Ch 10Bradley admits he never promised that exposing the Starflyer would end the war, and doesn't see how the Primes can be stopped.
- Ch 10Johansson persuades a doubting Adam to continue by arguing the Starflyer must be stopped, that force will triumph, and that one can only choose who wields it.
- Ch 13Bradley Johansson admires the ingenious evacuation plan while watching the broadcast with Adam Elvin in a Narrabri café.
- Ch 13Bradley decides to join Adam's team permanently, saying there is little else he can do in the Commonwealth and it is time to go home and face the Starflyer.
- Ch 13Bradley believes Narrabri's wormhole generators will be used for time travel, so the world will not be moved; he suggests Senator Burnelli block the Boongate wormhole.
- Ch 14Bradley Johansson leads the Guardians, has been hunted for a hundred thirty years, and says he was cured at the dreaming heavens at the end of the Silfen paths.
- Ch 14Bradley Johansson tests Senator Burnelli's offer by demanding that Paula Myo personally deliver Kazimir McFoster's data to him, as a trust gambit.
- Ch 14Warns of a second train approaching Boongate gateway; Nigel says the Commonwealth owes him an apology.
- Ch 14Bradley has spent 130 years preparing to confront the Starflyer and believes the Guardians can stop it on Far Away.
- Ch 15Bradley questions Adam's plan to put everything in one plane but then defers to Adam's leadership.
- Ch 15Johansson founded the Guardians and claimed the Silfen removed his Starflyer conditioning in the gas halo; Ozzie met him over a century ago.
- Ch 15Bradley, founder of the Guardians, looks mid-thirties with silver-blond hair and dark eyes, and has never used reprofiling.
- Ch 15Bradley's scheme, the planet's revenge, will steer a force-field-amplified superstorm onto the Marie Celeste to hurl it to destruction.
- Ch 15Bradley is determined to go back through the wormhole despite the odds, and tells Morton he may take the Carbon Goose to Shackleton.
- Ch 16Bradley thanks the non-Guardians and Guardians for their sacrifices and says humanity will thank the Guardians once the species is free.
- Ch 16Bradley leads the pursuit of the Starflyer with three armored cars, accompanied by Cat's Claws, the Paris team, Qatux and Tiger Pansy.
- Ch 18Began the plan against the Starflyer 130 years ago; he reassures Stig that the bombing was crucial to putting the Guardians back on target.
- Ch 18Suspects Paula Myo as the possible Starflyer agent because she has tried to stop him for 130 years.
- Ch 18Bradley pursues the Starflyer's convoy along Highway One, falling to about four hours behind after clashes with Institute Cruiser patrols.
- Ch 18Bradley set the Guardians' plans in motion over a hundred years and likens them to an avalanche begun by a thrown pebble.
- Ch 18Bradley says the Starflyer is unimaginative, repeating tactics that worked before and absorbing ideas from humans under its control, whose originality diminishes over time.
- Ch 18Bradley is uneasy at the unquestioning respect the clans give him, which makes the Commonwealth's cult-leader label seem almost apt.
- Ch 18Bradley refuses to leave the dying Harvey behind and orders him put in a jeep so he is among comrades.
- Ch 18Bradley orders that any vehicle unable to cross the river under its own power be abandoned.
- Ch 19Johansson realizes he must attack the Starflyer head-on because his convoy will catch it only at the Institute, before the storm.
- Ch 19Bradley deduces that Paula's repeated open-channel message means the Starflyer agent is among the navy people who will fly hypergliders to do the observation on Aphrodite's Seat.
- Ch 19Bradley reveals over open radio that Adam contacted Oscar because they were at Abadan station together, knowing it effectively condemns Oscar.
- Ch 19Bradley leads the Guardians preparing a roadside ambush, doubting the navy team reached the summit, and orders Scott to pull his people back.
- Ch 19Bradley commands the assault on the Starflyer convoy, rides in an armored car, and kisses a pendant with a turquoise glow before battle.
- Ch 19Bradley decides to ram the MANN truck with the armored cars as the only way left to stop it reaching the Marie Celeste.
- Ch 19Bradley says the group cannot disable the starship, only delay its launch until a storm arrives, and asks for help with one option.
- Ch 19Bradley hides stealthed in a drainage ditch as soldier motiles run past, then infiltrates toward the starship, sensing the Starflyer's collective mind.
- Ch 19Bradley remembers the Starflyer's neural 'language', so the Institute valley's network accepts his orders as if from a genuine motile and he slips aboard the Marie Celeste.
- Ch 19Bradley bluffs the Starflyer with claims of hidden bombs and sabotage aboard, and deliberately stays inside the ship to die with it.
- Ch 20Bradley Johansson wakes alive in a Silfen body with wing membranes, after Clouddancer says the Silfen named him a friend.
Connections
- ally ofAdam Elvinworks with him on occasion
- leadsGuardians of Selfhoodfounder
- has memberAdam ElvinElvin works for Johansson's Guardians of Selfhood
- leadsMarie Celeste Research Institutefirst director
- enemy ofStarflyer
- enemy ofPaula Myopursues him
- ally ofKazimir McFoster
- ally ofGuardians of SelfhoodAdam supplies equipment to Johansson's cause
- related toAdam ElvinJohansson directs Adam's mission
- member ofGuardians of Selfhood
- ally ofOzzie Fernandez Isaachelped him in the Great Wormhole Heist
- createdGuardians of Selfhood
- ally ofStig McSobeldriver and follower
- ally ofAlic Hogan
- ally ofQatuxQatux stayed with Bradley
- ally ofScott McFoster
Key moments
- Book 1 · Ch 3Johansson warns Adam
An encrypted message from Bradley Johansson warns Adam Elvin that Paula Myo is on Velaines; Paula's team detects the message but cannot decrypt it.
- Book 1 · Ch 10Adam commits to Bradley's crusade
In a Leithpool café, Bradley asks Adam to lead direct action against the Starflyer's interests. After wavering over rejuvenation and hope, Adam agrees, tasked with assembling a crew to destroy the Second Chance.
- Book 1 · Ch 13Paula questions the Boses' lawyer and wife
At the Manby clinic Paula reveals the Guardians of Selfhood hacked a charity account using a Trojan based on Bose's codes; Wendy explains a break-in copied their household array and relays Bradley's message.
- Book 1 · Ch 20Bradley meets Kazimir
On Santa Monica beach Bradley meets and approves Kazimir, telling him he may be asked to die for the cause, then hands him over to Adam Elvin.
- Book 1 · Ch 20Breakfast at The Georgian
Bradley and Adam discuss the gallery attack, blockade running, a courier for Mars data, and Bradley's plan to convert Wilson Kime.
- Book 1 · Ch 20Bradley asks Adam to contact someone close to Kime
Bradley wants Kime to review Second Chance's system logs and proposes Adam approach an old contact with access to Kime. Adam angrily refuses.
- Book 1 · Ch 22Electronics return on the ringed world
On a new world, Ozzie's devices work again. With the handheld array, Tochee and Orion converse for the first time, and Ozzie spots a gas halo around the star, recognizing the place from Bradley Johansson's tale.
- Book 1 · Ch 23The Great Wormhole Heist
Johansson's team broke into the museum, restarted the old wormhole generator, robbed a Las Vegas casino vault of 1.17 billion dollars, and escaped while guards were locked outside by their own force field.
- Book 1 · Ch 23Paula consults Leonard
Paula visits Leonard, tells him about the case, and weighs pursuing Johansson versus the Starflyer. Talking it through, she decides to go to Far Away and approach the Guardians.
- Book 1 · Ch 24Adam Elvin confronts Oscar
Adam, Oscar's old comrade, appears in his hotel room, admits attacking the Second Chance, and asks Oscar to review its flight logs for evidence of Starflyer influence on behalf of Johansson.
- Book 1 · Ch 24Adam pressures Oscar to examine the flight data
Adam argues Oscar should search the flight data for background activity, such as who was on deck thirteen when the barrier came down. Oscar protests, but Adam reminds him of Abadan station and leaves, promising fortnightly check-ins.
- Book 2 · Ch 3Adam and Bradley meet at Big Ben
Adam reports Kazimir's death and the Martian data loss to Bradley; they discuss the Starflyer, the planet's revenge, and planning a run to break the Boongate blockade.
- Book 2 · Ch 5Trisha reveals a false reporter visited
At the Kolda Valley lodge, Trisha tells Renne a man calling himself Brad Myo of Earl News interviewed her about Howard Liang. Renne concludes it was likely Bradley Johansson, and that neither Guardians nor Halgarths staged the shotgun.
- Book 2 · Ch 10Bradley's grim assessment of the war
Bradley tells Adam the navy attack on Hell's Gateway seems to be in trouble and the war may continue regardless of exposing the Starflyer.
- Book 2 · Ch 10Johansson convinces Adam to continue
Adam, shaken, nearly refuses to go on. Johansson says Institute mercenaries are raiding Guardian villages and the Starflyer is returning to Far Away. Adam agrees to prepare the train to break the blockade, then leaves for the CST station.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Time-dilated wormhole evacuation announced
Doi and Nigel announce the New48 populations will walk through modified wormholes emerging on fresh planets years later, giving time to build cities.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Guardians react to Boongate and Starflyer pursuit
Bradley and Adam discuss the war, the nova bombs and Marisa's report that Victor Halgarth entered a Boongate warehouse. They plan to have Senator Burnelli block the Boongate wormhole, and Bradley joins Adam's team.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Bradley and Burnelli negotiate
Senator Burnelli proposes joining forces; Bradley demands Paula Myo deliver McFoster's data to prove trust.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Gateway hijacked
Nigel opens Boongate for Alic's team, but Mellanie and Johansson reveal Victor and a second unregistered train; Nigel loses control of the gateway system and Alster stops responding.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Guardians and allies pursue
Nigel agrees to send Bradley's Guardians, Paula, Qatux, Tiger Pansy and others through to Boongate with Justine's data crystal, then Adam's train heads through.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Teams advance to Half Way gateway
The train is halted by broken rails. Teams transfer to armored cars and trucks; Vic stays to hunt Tarlo while the others attack the Half Way gateway defenses.
- Book 2 · Ch 15Wormhole lost and race to Port Evergreen
The Guardians find the Half Way wormhole gone, trapping them. Adam decides to fly Carbon Geese to Port Evergreen before the Starflyer blows the last wormhole.
- Book 2 · Ch 15Nigel questions Ozzie about the Starflyer
Nigel asks if Ozzie is a Starflyer agent; Ozzie explains his Johansson contact and confesses to taking part in the Great Wormhole Heist.
- Book 2 · Ch 15Bradley explains the planet's revenge
On the Carbon Goose, Bradley tells Paula the smuggled force field equipment will steer a superstorm to smash the Marie Celeste on Far Away.
- Book 2 · Ch 15Carbon Goose lands and plan to reopen wormhole
After landing at Port Evergreen, Adam proposes hijacking the stormrider to power the wormhole. Morton objects, Bradley insists on going, and Qatux offers to compute a new wormhole end location.
- Book 2 · Ch 16Guardians arrive on Far Away
Wilson sends the stormrider into the neutron star; Qatux opens a wormhole and Bradley's party crosses to Far Away near Armstrong City, then the wormhole is closed.
- Book 2 · Ch 16Stig contacted by Bradley
After a failed pursuit of the Starflyer's convoy, Stig is startled to hear Bradley and Adam on the radio and is told to meet at rendezvous point four.
- Book 2 · Ch 16Stig meets the allies
Stig reunites with Adam and Bradley, is stunned to find Paula Myo and others allied with them, and nearly shoots her. Teams are divided for the Starflyer chase and the revenge project delivery.
- Book 2 · Ch 18Chase down Highway One and the sabotage warning
Stig's convoy races Cruisers south through Highway One's urban stretch while Bradley reassures him. Adam's garbled message reveals sabotage and a likely Starflyer agent in his group, prompting a debate over suspects.
- Book 2 · Ch 18Chase along Highway One
Adam's party follows radio news of Bradley's pursuit of the Starflyer; Guardians destroyed the bridges, ambushes occur, and Institute reinforcements slow Bradley.
- Book 2 · Ch 18Convoy smashes Institute blockade
Guardians' Loko trucks and the Cat ram through four Land Rover Cruisers blocking Highway One; Stig drives through the burning gap and the Cat survives.
- Book 2 · Ch 18Scorched towns along Highway One
Bradley's convoy passes Haville and other towns razed by the Starflyer, with every comms node masered to sever communications.
- Book 2 · Ch 18Harvey dies-bound at the Anculan ford
At the Anculan crossing the Guardians find the battlefield and the dying Harvey, who gives Bradley the Starflyer's eighty-seven-minute lead; Bradley takes him along.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Paula broadcasts to Johansson
Paula sets a repeating short-wave message telling Johansson Adam was murdered and asking who contacted Oscar to review the Second Chance logs. Johansson's group receives it.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Bradley deduces the observation trap
Realizing Paula's message concerns the hyperglider observation, Bradley sends a verification message over short-wave naming Oscar's link to Adam at Abadan.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Clans confront the Starflyer convoy
The clans block Highway One, mine it and encircle the Starflyer convoy; Barsoomians arrive on king eagles, and the Institute sends out hundreds of soldier motiles.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Zone killer strike on the convoy
Zone killers destroy most of the Starflyer convoy and a stretch of road, but the MANN truck and seventeen Cruisers survive. Cruisers then slaughter the charging Guardian horses and riders.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Armored cars charge and meet soldier motiles
Bradley orders the armored cars to ram the MANN truck, but hundreds of soldier motiles block the way. Morton kills one in close combat and the Paris team ends up nearly surrounded.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Bradley infiltrates the valley
Bradley hides in a ditch while soldier motiles pass, then stealthily approaches the starship and senses the Starflyer's unified mind as it boards.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Bradley infiltrates the Marie Celeste
Using the Starflyer's neural language, Bradley passes the force field, guards and alarms, enters the ship and taunts the Starflyer with claims of sabotage while launch is prepared.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Megastorm destroys the Marie Celeste
A megastorm overwhelms the starship's force field and buries the ship under a huge wave of sand and stone, killing Bradley and the Starflyer.