Nigel Sheldon
Names: Nigel SheldonNigelNigeMr. SheldonDaddyDadDynasty chief
First appears in Book 1: Pandora's Star, chapter 1 (PROLOGUE)
Appearances
What you know
Book 1: Pandora's Star
- Ch 1Nigel Sheldon is a young man in a homemade pressure suit who appears on Mars behind Eagle II, mocking the crew over radio.
- Ch 4Rejuvenates every fifteen years; he and Ozzie developed the math behind wormhole generators, and he built CST into the largest corporation in human history.
- Ch 4Despises career politicians like Elaine Doi, though he accepts their rule as the price of civilized society; he has not yet given her his support for the presidency.
- Ch 4Lives at Cressat with senior Sheldon family members and runs the operations side of CST.
- Ch 4Nigel proposes building a faster-than-light starship instead of a slow chain of wormholes to reach the Dyson Pair, estimating under a year to build.
- Ch 4Nigel kept starship proposals in his personal files for over a century and remembers admiring the Eagle II landing on Mars.
- Ch 4Nigel says he will not captain the mission himself but knows a man with the necessary qualities and experience.
- Ch 6Nigel Sheldon opens a wormhole from the CST exploratory gateway on Augusta to reach Wilson in person, accompanied by two CST security personnel.
- Ch 6Nigel says he is not joining the starship crew himself.
- Ch 6Nigel argues that CST's explorers lack experience of isolation from the unisphere, so Wilson, the last true space cadet, is needed as captain.
- Ch 6Nigel Sheldon leads CST and built the original wormhole gateway with Ozzie; he is wary yet friendly with Wilson, like old friends mending an argument.
- Ch 6Nigel fears an alien encounter that slips past CST's safety procedures and believes the mission might be that dreaded encounter.
- Ch 6Nigel had the ship built at Anshun rather than the High Angel to keep political control, so CST stays primary operator.
- Ch 8Nigel Sheldon's staff help locate old crew, and he told Wilson who his best Operations Director was.
- Ch 10Inspects the Second Chance weekly with Wilson; helped design the hyperdrive engine and says the project is now Wilson's show.
- Ch 10Hints that Wilson should take Dr. Bose because of public and Vice President pressure, then raises the issue of Bose's age.
- Ch 10Nigel Sheldon reluctantly argued that CST should keep the Hive gateway open, to protect all gateways from cause campaigns.
- Ch 11Sponsor of the starship project built at Anshun; his proxies sometimes need Senate votes.
- Ch 16Nigel Sheldon defended Captain Kime's decision to leave two crew behind and supports a return mission, ideally with more than one fast, strong ship.
- Ch 17Nigel has been troubled for months by Ozzie's lack of any communication, though Ozzie often vanishes for long periods.
- Ch 17Nigel proposes the new starflight agency go further and incorporate security bodies, effectively forming a covert navy, and wants it prepared before the scoutships leave.
- Ch 17Nigel has contingency plans, including evacuating his entire family from Commonwealth space in the worst case.
- Ch 18Nigel dislikes careerist politicians, which is why he kept Patricia dangling, but he has learned to be a pragmatist.
- Ch 22Paula suspects the Venice Coast operative worked for Nigel Sheldon, but cannot see how Sheldon benefits from arms reaching Far Away and then attacking a merchant.
- Ch 23Nigel Sheldon is somehow mixed up in the case; Burnelli said he blocked inspection of cargo shipped to Far Away.
- Ch 24Paula says Thompson found Nigel Sheldon had been preventing inspection of goods shipped to Far Away.
- Ch 25Nigel Sheldon has spent recent months between Augusta and Earth and has wetwired interface inserts; he raises CST station force fields.
- Ch 25Nigel used the SI to reconfigure three Narrabri gateway wormholes into open-ended fissures, overloading and destroying a Prime wormhole above Wessex.
- Ch 25Tu Lee is Nigel's young descendant, who died when the Second Chance was destroyed above Anshun; Nigel vows he will hear the laugh again.
Book 2: Judas Unchained
- Ch 2Thompson told Paula that Nigel Sheldon had been blocking her requests; Gore suspects Sheldon may be enslaved by the Starflyer.
- Ch 3Endorses Kime's plan and says the new technology's theories are perfect, with practice depending on funding; urges tax rises.
- Ch 3Nigel has secretly been building escape ships for months, which the other Dynasty leaders have discovered.
- Ch 3Nigel refuses to authorize genocide of the Primes yet but says he would press the button himself after another devastating strike.
- Ch 3Nigel agrees to sell progressive wormhole generators for starships to the other Dynasties.
- Ch 3Nigel thinks Heather lacks originality and sees the Prime crisis only in terms of her Dynasty; he withholds his own ideas from her.
- Ch 4Nigel Sheldon attended the wedding with four of his harem; reporters hoped to get exclusives from him.
- Ch 6Nigel Sheldon gives Wilson the expedition to Mars as a wedding present, and joins it out of curiosity.
- Ch 6Nigel was waiting on Mars when Commander Dylan Lewis stepped out, so Lewis was not truly the first man on another planet.
- Ch 6Nigel feels a pang of guilt over the broken Eagle II, and his mood turned bleak after returning from Mars.
- Ch 6Nigel believes only Ozzie could have cracked the wormhole mathematics and built the hardware.
- Ch 6Nigel has a large harem of wives and many children, and mixes younger sex-athlete women with older comforting wives.
- Ch 6Nigel started the lifeboat project as a contingency in case the Primes defeat the Commonwealth, and he has a doomsday weapon at design stage.
- Ch 6Nigel refuses to give the doomsday weapon to the navy, saying it frightens him and could destroy more than one star system.
- Ch 6Nigel admits he pushed for the Second Chance mission and asks Perdita whether the Dynasty is being blamed.
- Ch 6Nigel keeps his private world Cressat out of the unisphere as a refuge, and distrusts the SI during wartime because its aims are unknown.
- Ch 6Nigel orders discreet observation of Mellanie and asks Nelson to find out whether Ozzie is alive, since Ozzie has not contacted him after the Prime attack.
- Ch 6Nigel reads classic printed books to his young children nightly and has an expanded mentality linked to an artificial neural network.
- Ch 6Nigel grows curious about Mellanie after Dynasty security reports her visiting Paul Cramley, and calls Michelangelo for information.
- Ch 6Nigel suspects the SI or a powerful hacker shielded Paula's data when Paul was caught.
- Ch 7Nigel Sheldon chose Cressat for its botany and is secretly building evacuation starships there in case the Commonwealth loses the war.
- Ch 8Nigel visited Ozzie's asteroid habitat looking for his friend, planning to build a starship, and found only a recording; he was dismayed.
- Ch 8Nigel, unsettled that he does not know what is happening among the Dynasties, ordered Nelson to run an information collection job.
- Ch 9Sheldon is building a starship fleet, driven by healthy paranoia, and will likely use it even if the Primes are beaten back.
- Ch 9Nigel Sheldon insists on extreme security at the lifeboat project, which is why bots do all services and are shipped to Augusta for repair.
- Ch 11Nigel has authorized eleven colony ships and is now prepared to use the Dynasty's secret weapon against the Primes to defend the Commonwealth, despite hating the bloodshed.
- Ch 11Nigel orders the frigate assembly bay attached to a lifeboat starship so the Charybdis can be finished en route to Wessex within thirty hours.
- Ch 11Nigel believes Wessex will be a top Prime invasion target, and asks Giselle to review emergency evacuation protocols for the Dynasty.
- Ch 11Paula needs at least one Dynasty's support to announce the Starflyer; Sheldon's position is unclear, though his office may have blocked Far Away cargo inspections.
- Ch 11Nigel confirms the Sheldon Dynasty has full confidence in Paula Myo and will oppose any proposal to remove her.
- Ch 12Nigel Sheldon, Dynasty chief, is busy dealing with Wessex and is asked to look into using CST wormholes to deflect the Primes.
- Ch 12Nigel uses CST wormhole generators to merge with and stabilize a Prime wormhole, locking its exit inside Wessex so the Charybdis can pass through.
- Ch 13Nigel's family warship and weapons project saved the Commonwealth, yet he suffers a political defeat in the War Cabinet; he feels disgust at the weapon he built.
- Ch 13Nigel will use the weapon on the Primes' homeworld unless they negotiate, and proposes novaing every star where Primes are detected.
- Ch 13Nigel proposes opening forty-seven fresh planets and transferring the New48 populations through time-dilated wormholes so cities are built beforehand.
- Ch 13Nigel asks that Justine and Investigator Myo bring Mellanie Rescorai to meet him, surprising Justine with how much he knows.
- Ch 13Nigel decides not to release nova bombs to the navy and not to make the Starflyer revelation public, and orders a secret strike on Dyson Alpha.
- Ch 13Nigel is attracted to Mellanie and wonders why she is with Dudley.
- Ch 13Nigel realizes the war that destroyed human stars was largely the result of Starflyer manipulation.
- Ch 13Nigel knew about Dorian's fate on Cypress Island and says he followed Mellanie's activities; he distrusts the SI.
- Ch 13Nigel wants to marry Mellanie and has many wives; he intends to nova MorningLightMountain because no one else will help humanity.
- Ch 13Nigel believes the SI is a snob that looks down on humans and may not help against genocide.
- Ch 13Nigel argues the Starflyer is using humanity as a new class of motile to fight the original Primes and destroy both sides.
- Ch 13Nigel is an old physicist who is now the imperial Dynasty leader, and he agrees to set up the operation at Narrabri.
- Ch 14Nigel Sheldon heads the largest Dynasty, already knows the Starflyer is real, and agrees to let the five-person arrest team through Boongate's wormhole briefly.
- Ch 14Nigel Sheldon repeatedly proposes marriage to Paula Myo; she always refuses.
- Ch 14Nigel angrily accepts Paula's refusal and orders Justine to negotiate for another acceptable courier; he has not forgotten Abadan.
- Ch 14Authorized the wormhole opening for the navy team but then loses all control of the Boongate gateway system.
- Ch 14Nigel agrees to let Johansson's Guardians go through the wormhole to Boongate with a team and promises no catch.
- Ch 14Nigel plans to recode the gateway management routines so only he can activate it, and to fire half his security staff after the breach.
- Ch 14Nigel will send a starship to Far Away as backup, fearing the Starflyer's Marie Celeste may have been modified for faster-than-light travel.
- Ch 15Nigel has his security team collect Ozzie and takes him to a Cresset mansion to question whether Ozzie is a Starflyer agent.
- Ch 15Nigel now knows the Starflyer is real; the knowledge that Ozzie had helped Johansson in the heist deeply hurts him.
- Ch 15Nigel plans to send a ship carrying a nova bomb to Dyson Alpha to destroy MorningLightMountain's star within a week.
- Ch 15Nigel quarantines Ozzie and his friends because he cannot rule out that Ozzie is a Starflyer agent, pending Johansson's confirmation.
- Ch 15Nigel admits Alster fooled him; he blames Ozzie for not warning anyone about the Starflyer threat earlier.
- Ch 16Nigel Sheldon is impatient for another frigate flight and wants at least three frigates sent to Dyson Alpha and two to Far Away.
- Ch 16Nigel and the others have decided to use the nova bomb on Dyson Alpha and any other MorningLightMountain-colonized stars, and keep Ozzie locked up.
- Ch 16Nigel is building a secret project to save his own skin and will have fresh security protocols that lack Ozzie's authorization.
- Ch 17Nigel runs the evacuation effort, condescending toward officials, and openly admits that if a generator fails the evacuees die.
- Ch 17Nigel has promised to wipe out Dyson Alpha; Patricia believes he will keep his word.
- Ch 17Nigel leads the Sheldon Dynasty and his security squad arrives at the dock; he is furious when Mellanie is gravely hurt.
- Ch 17Nigel demands Ozzie return the Charybdis, saying it and another item are needed to eliminate the Prime threat and ensure humanity survives.
- Ch 17Nigel threatens to hunt Ozzie down with other frigates, kill him, and ensure he is never re-lifed.
- Ch 17Nigel promises Mark immediate re-life and care for Liz, Barry and Sandy while Mark is on the ship.
- Ch 19Nigel plans to turn Dyson Alpha's star nova about six hours after the Charybdis arrives, and opposes Ozzie's gamble.
- Ch 19Nigel has spent the flight troubleshooting the failing Scylla and will personally authorize the nova bomb if Ozzie must be destroyed.
- Ch 19Nigel Sheldon contacts Ozzie by maser and offers help; later the Scylla fires a quantumbuster outside the Dark Fortress, wiping out the Prime fleet.
- Ch 19Nigel declares the mission accomplished and wants to go home, with one slight detour.
- Ch 20Nigel Sheldon and Ozzie flew to Dyson Alpha and restarted the barrier generator; Nigel suspended his interview offer to Mellanie.
- Ch 20Nigel Sheldon is a guest on Michelangelo's show about the real story behind the war, and had offered Mark any home anywhere.
Connections
- related toWormhole gatewaySheldon stands in front of the gateway to a physics lab
- friend ofOzzie Fernandez IsaacOld friends and co-inventors of the wormhole generator
- member ofCommonwealth ExoProtectorate CouncilDeputy chair
- related toDaniel AlsterChief executive aide
- leadsCST
- has memberDaniel Alsterworks for Sheldon's project
- friend ofWilson Kimeold friends, wary after an argument
- ally ofOzzie Fernandez Isaac
- family ofTu Leegreat-great-great-granddaughter
- family ofCampbell Sheldongreat-great-grandchild
- createdWormhole gateway
- ally ofHeather Antonia Halgarthfellow Dynasty leaders, disagreeing
- ally ofAlan Hutchinsonfellow Dynasty leaders
- family ofNelsonNelson is Nigel's twentieth child
- family ofBenjamin Sheldonfirst grandson
- family ofAstridwife
- family ofNualawife
- family ofPalomayoung wife
- family ofAurelieyoung wife
- family ofTroyyoung child
- ally ofNelsonDynasty security chief
- ally ofDaniel Alsterworks for the Dynasty political office
- family ofOtisson
- family ofMark Vernondescendant
- leadsSheldon family
- family ofThameninth-generation grandson
- createdNigel's weapon
- ally ofMellanie Rescorai
- family ofMichelangeloson
- partner ofMellanie Rescoraihe proposed; she hasn't answered
- ally ofJustine Burnelli
- related toNelsonworks for as security chief
- has memberNelsonworks for Nigel's security
- family ofJasmine Sheldonfifth-generation granddaughter
- enemy ofOzzie Fernandez Isaac
- related toOzzie Fernandez Isaackeeps Ozzie penned up in the mansion; runs CST day to day
Key moments
- Book 1 · Ch 1Strangers appear through a gateway
A sniggering voice over radio claims to be Nigel Sheldon. Wilson finds him behind the lander in a homemade suit beside a gateway opening onto a Californian physics lab.
- Book 1 · Ch 4ExoProtectorate Council convenes over the Dyson barriers
Powerful Council members gather in New York to assess the threat posed by the barriers around the Dyson Pair, discovered by Dudley Bose. They debate whether the barriers are defensive or imposed.
- Book 1 · Ch 4CST reveals Beta's identical enclosure
Nigel reveals that CST's exploratory wormhole showed Dyson Beta's barrier formed within three minutes of Alpha's, identical to it, suggesting a defensive action by one civilization.
- Book 1 · Ch 4Council approves a starship
Nigel proposes building an FTL starship to investigate the Dyson Pair; the Council votes unanimously in favor and CST will partly fund it.
- Book 1 · Ch 6Nigel punched and recruits Wilson
Nigel Sheldon arrives through a wormhole at Wilson's vineyard, is punched, then asks him to captain the starship to Dyson Alpha. Wilson agrees to take it on.
- Book 1 · Ch 6Tour of the Second Chance
Wilson tours the Anshun complex and assembly platform with Nigel and Daniel, sees the unfinished ship, and discusses timetable, power, and safety.
- Book 1 · Ch 6Wilson names the ship
Nigel lets Wilson name the starship, and Wilson chooses Second Chance. He also sets a cautious approach for the mission.
- Book 1 · Ch 10Inspection of the Second Chance
Wilson and Nigel tour the ship's assembly platform, discussing tanks, plasma rockets, funding, crew selection, and Nigel's pressure to consider Dr. Bose.
- Book 1 · Ch 11Meeting the Chairwoman
Toniea Gall coolly criticises Sheldon's choice of Anshun, then reluctantly lets Oscar and Mac use the Association's channel to ask the High Angel about the Dyson Pair.
- Book 1 · Ch 12Assault on the gateway complex ends
CST security takes the control center after Rob Tannie surrenders; the gateway reopens and Wilson Kime returns to acclaim.
- Book 1 · Ch 13Farewell gala at the Regency Palace
On the eve of departure, Wilson, Anna and Oscar attend the First Speaker's gala, where Council members debate the mission, weapons, funding and defense, and the Second Chance is saluted with fireworks.
- Book 1 · Ch 13Second Chance departs into the wormhole
Wilson leads the crew aboard, Douvoir disengages the ship from its platform, and Tu Lee opens the wormhole. The ship enters it, cutting its link to the unisphere.
- Book 1 · Ch 16Nigel Sheldon's interview
Mark watches Nigel Sheldon defend Captain Kime and the mission and call for a return mission with multiple ships, answering Alessandra Baron's criticisms.
- Book 1 · Ch 17Council debates response to the Dyson aliens
After Second Chance's return, the Council concludes a third party removed the barrier, considers the Dyson aliens a threat, and discusses the risk that Bose and Verbeke are captured.
- Book 1 · Ch 17Council votes for a starflight agency
Nigel pushes for a covertly built navy within a new agency overseeing scoutship missions to Dyson Alpha. The Council votes unanimously to propose the agency to the Executive Office.
- Book 1 · Ch 22Cargo inspections ordered and Sheldon implicated
Burnelli tells Paula that Far Away cargo will be inspected at Boongate, and that lobbyists blocking her request work for Nigel Sheldon.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Prime invasion begins
Forty-eight wormholes open in each of 23 Commonwealth systems, and the Primes bombard planets with nukes and projectiles. Wilson, Rafael and Nigel raise force fields and launch defenses.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Nigel destroys a Prime wormhole above Wessex
With the SI's help, Nigel overloads one Prime wormhole using three CST gateway exits and power from nuclear stations; further successes follow, though burning out many CST generators.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Loss of the Second Chance
The Second Chance is destroyed in orbit above Anshun while trying to escape Prime wormholes.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Primes launch invasion fleet
After bombardment, MorningLightMountain halts the projectiles and sends forty-eight thousand ships through toward the besieged worlds; Wilson's council plans evacuations.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Primes begin planetary landings
Wilson's team watches Prime ships enter atmospheres on many planets, immune to aerobot fire and heading for water landings, so reinforcement of cities is planned.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Evacuation and defense of Anshun
Commonwealth forces funnel refugees and aerobots through Wessex; aerobots deploy from Treloar to confront Primes landing at Scraptoft, but are beaten back by Prime fusion exhaust and smog.
- Book 1 · Ch 25Humans fall back
Wilson, Nigel and the President decide to evacuate all assaulted worlds as Prime wormholes stay open and gateway machinery is landed.
- Book 2 · Ch 2Suspicion of Nigel Sheldon
Paula tells Justine and Gore that Thompson learned Nigel Sheldon blocked cargo inspections. They resolve that Justine will find Thompson's source and Gore will build a resistance network.
- Book 2 · Ch 3First War Cabinet meeting
Meeting in Washington's Senate Hall, the War Cabinet hears Kime's assessment of the Prime assault and unanimously approves his three-stage strategy, with the Seattle Project noted as stage four.
- Book 2 · Ch 3Dynasty leaders confer at Narrabri
Nigel, Alan and Heather watch Doi tour refugees, argue over refugee distribution, genocide of the Primes via the Seattle Project, and escape ships; Nigel agrees to sell wormhole generators.
- Book 2 · Ch 3Cabinet infighting over Wilson
Heather, Nigel and Alan discuss presenting a united front and whether to replace Wilson after the Prime invasion, with Heather threatening to shift the navy to her control.
- Book 2 · Ch 4Wilson and Anna's wedding
Wilson and Anna marry in a media-saturated chapel ceremony at High Angel, attended by politicians and navy personnel, then leave for a short honeymoon before returning to work.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Expedition returns to Mars
Wilson, Anna, Nigel and a navy team pass through the old CST gateway to Arabia Terra. Wilson sees the wrecked Eagle II and cargo landers, and searches for the lost flag.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Souvenirs at the Eagle II
On Mars, Nigel, Wilson and Anna argue about the wrecked Eagle II and the old wormhole rivalry before Anna hands them each a pebble.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Dynasty review conference
After breakfast, Nigel meets senior Dynasty members to discuss the refugees, the Primes, and the secret doomsday weapon, then asks Perdita and Nelson to stay behind.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Nigel suspects Mellanie is an SI observer
Nigel, Nelson and Perdita review Mellanie's background; Nigel concludes she is probably an SI observer and orders discreet surveillance, and a search for Ozzie.
- Book 2 · Ch 6Nigel investigates Mellanie
Nigel is alerted to Mellanie's visit to Paul Cramley's house and begins digging into her, then phones Michelangelo.
- Book 2 · Ch 8Nigel finds Ozzie's recording
Nigel reaches Ozzie's habitat, learns of the Halgarth-Burnelli clash over Paula Myo, and finds Ozzie gone into Silfen paths on Silvergalde, leaving only a recorded message.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Nigel accelerates the frigate program
Nigel tours the Speedwell and frigate bay, then orders Mark Vernon to attach the assembly bay to the lifeboat Searcher and finish the Charybdis en route to Wessex within thirty hours, with the weapon section moved too.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Planning at Tulip Mansion
Justine, Gore and Paula discuss the failed assassination, the need for Nigel Sheldon's support, and plans to approach him through Campbell and watch Boongate.
- Book 2 · Ch 11Justine secures Sheldon support for Paula
At Nitachie, Campbell asks Nigel, who declares the Sheldon Dynasty will oppose Paula's dismissal from Senate Security.
- Book 2 · Ch 12Mark fixes the frigate's regulators
After forty hours of stress, Mark patches the power management software so the flux shunt regulators work, enabling the Charybdis to launch before collapsing from exhaustion.
- Book 2 · Ch 12Charybdis sent through to Hell's Gateway
Nigel merges CST wormholes with a Prime one, letting the stealth ship Charybdis pass through and fire a missile that sends the Primes' staging post star nova.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Wilson forced to resign
The War Cabinet demands Wilson Kime's resignation after the invasion and revokes his codes; he warns them the Starflyer is real before leaving.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Rafael made navy commander; Nigel's weapon plan
The War Cabinet votes Rafael Columbia in command of the navy, and Nigel offers his star-destroying weapon against the Primes' homeworld and firewall strategy.
- Book 2 · Ch 13War Cabinet votes to exterminate Primes
The War Cabinet unanimously approves using every means, up to extermination, against the Primes, and debates evacuating the New48 worlds.
- 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 13Meeting at Newark station
Paula, Justine and Mellanie tell Nigel and Nelson the Starflyer is real and has infiltrated the navy and Halgarths. Nigel orders a secret strike on Dyson Alpha, and Paula deduces the Starflyer travels in a train wagon.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Ozzie's role revealed
Daniel finds that Ozzie ordered the political office in 2243 to block Far Away cargo inspections, showing the Guardians, not the Starflyer, were behind the obstruction.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Night with Nigel
Mellanie visits Nigel's bedroom; he reveals he got information through his son Michelangelo and asks her to marry him. She declines but stays tempted.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Breakfast confrontation and Dudley's demand
Morton confronts Paula Myo at breakfast. At the meeting, Dudley demands lifeboat berths and reveals the Second Chance's message to the Primes.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Origin of the Starflyer revealed
Dudley explains the Dyson Beta alienPrimes and that the Starflyer is a MorningLightMountain subsidiary that fled to Far Away; the group infers the Starflyer's plan to pit humans against the Primes.
- Book 2 · Ch 13Plan to trap the Starflyer
They decide to arrest known agents, set up a secret operation at Narrabri with Morton's squad, and execute the Starflyer quietly once found.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Columbia briefs Oscar
Admiral Columbia tells Oscar he now believes the Starflyer threat and sends him to ask Nigel Sheldon to open the wormhole for an arrest team after Tarlo.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Oscar's request approved
Nigel Sheldon agrees to let an arrest team go through the Boongate wormhole to capture Tarlo, on the condition of secrecy and that memory data goes through his operation.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Qatux arrives with Tiger Pansy
Qatux and Hoshe come through the wormhole into the High Angel; Qatux links with Tiger Pansy, then goes to the analysis center to help find Starflyer agents.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Paula refuses Johansson's demand
Johansson demands Paula deliver Kazimir McFoster's data; Paula flatly refuses, angering Nigel, who tells Justine to negotiate alternatives.
- 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 14Alster massacres gateway staff
Daniel Alster killed the Narrabri gateway control center staff and was chased by Nelson's security squad.
- Book 2 · Ch 14Train breaks through to Far Away
Adam drives the Guardians' armored train through the Boongate gateway, then Nigel closes the wormhole behind them. They approach the Far Away station section.
- Book 2 · Ch 15Ozzie taken to Nigel
Drunk after reviewing events, Ozzie is seized by Nelson's security team, sobered up, and taken with Orion and Tochee by hypersonic and maglev to Nigel's mansion on Cresset.
- 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 15Nigel quarantines Ozzie
Nigel reveals the nova bomb plan to destroy MorningLightMountain, rejects Ozzie's pleas to try repairing the barrier generator, and confines Ozzie and his friends over suspicion he may be a Starflyer agent.
- Book 2 · Ch 16Mark learns of another frigate flight
Mark wakes with Liz, and Otis tells him Nigel wants more frigates flown soon, revealing the Dynasty believes the Starflyer is behind the war.
- Book 2 · Ch 17Hanko evacuation begins
The Hanko wormhole opens to Anagaska; Hasimer Owram drives through first and millions of refugees begin to stream in as Doi and Nigel watch.
- Book 2 · Ch 17Mellanie shot
Armored security squad arrives; Mellanie tries to deflect their sensors and is gravely wounded, with Nigel appearing as she blacks out.
- Book 2 · Ch 17Nigel's ultimatum
Nigel contacts Ozzie via the TD channel, demands the ship's return, tries a Trojan takeover and threatens to hunt him down. Ozzie refuses and cuts the link.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Scylla nears Dyson Alpha
Nigel readies the nova bomb and neutron lasers as Scylla closes on Charybdis near Dyson Alpha.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Quantumbuster strikes at the Dark Fortress
Nigel Sheldon's Scylla fires a quantumbuster, annihilating the Prime fleet. Ozzie and Mark then reach the core and launch a quantumbuster at the Sparks ring distortion.
- Book 2 · Ch 19Flare bomb hits the Dark Fortress
Ozzie's flare bomb flashes at the Dark Fortress; afterwards Dyson Alpha's light and MorningLightMountain's signals vanish and the crews head home.
- Book 2 · Ch 20Mark's family moves into their new house
Mark and Liz settle into their huge new house near Tanyata, receive Ozzie's gift, meet neighbors, and watch Michelangelo's show featuring Nigel, Ozzie and the Bose motile.