instrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-mainINSTRUMENTALITY
TREASURY SATELLITE

Classification: Alternate Reality (Reality-8116) extraterrestrial; technology

Creator: Unidentified parties associated with the Instrumentality

Possessors: Instrumentality;
    Sentry-Rob; unidentified cyborg guard;

Visitors: Syzygy Darklock, Vanth Dreadstar, Rainbow, Willow (Willow 327);
    Oedi remained in the group's "Big Bundle" ship while the others boarded the satellite

First Appearance: Dreadstar#1 (November, 1982)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: Like other similar satellites, this Instrumentality Treasury Satellite was stationed in deep space and housed about 1/10 of the Church's wealth.

    It was externally protected by enough computerized armament to pulverize a planet. However, these could be bypassed via entry codes, which were known the assistant and presumably the head treasurer of the Instrumentality's mystic Order of Vieltoor.

    At least one doorway was protected by an invisible Barrier of Forbiddance.

    The interior contained sentry-rob (robot), and at least one of them contained a cyborg guard.

History:
(Dreadstar#1 (fb) - BTS) - Having more money than they knew what to do with, the Instrumentality had a number (presumably ten) of satellites that each housed about 1/10 of the Church's wealth.

instrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-metals(Dreadstar#1 (fb) - BTS) - As the assistant treasurer of the Order of Vieltoor, Syzygy Darklock was given the entry codes to one of the satellites.

(Dreadstar#1 (fb) - BTS) - In order to finance their revolution to end the war between the Monarchy and Instrumentality, Dreadstar and company resolved to raid one of these satellites.

(Dreadstar#1) - As the entry code had not been changed since Syzygy had visited the treasury satellite, he was able to lead his group, traveling in their "Big Bundle" ship to bypass the external defenses and proceed to docking bay 3.

    Oedi stayed aboard the Big Bundle and kept an eye on the radar screens for Instrumentality ships (and sent along a mini-scan drone via which he could both monitor and communicate with the others). Syzygy Darklock, Vanth Dreadstar, Willow and her "seeing eye" companion Rainbow, along with a robot loading crew (perhaps twelve or more) boarded the satellite. They were swiftly confronted by a sentry-rob, which Willow used her cybernetic telepathy to convince that they were supposed to be there, and it allowed them to pass. As they headed toward the treasury storage, Syzygy detected and disabled a mystic barrier of forbiddance. As they continued along, the treasury's cyborg guardian observed them, and Syzygy detected that they were not alone on the satellite. Willow also sensed a human mind, but found it to be somehow shielded from her powers.

    Oedi subsequently detected that an alarm was being transmitted from the satellite, and his allies increased their pace, appreciating that the place would soon be crawling with priests and soldiers. Willow opened the computerized vault doors, and they entered the vault, encountering enormous quantities of gold, silver, platinum and all of the precious metals, with walls lined with drawers filled the brim with rare gemstones.

    Soon after, however, the cyborg guard dropped from the ceiling, surprising and knocking out the powerful mystic Darklock. The others assumed it to be a robot, and Willow prepared to take it out but found instead that it was not computerized but rather containing a shielded human mind. After the giant cyborg fired on Dreadstar, who narrowly dodged the blast, he realized that they would have to do things "the hard way," and he summoned his powerful Sword of Icy Fire and shattered the cyborg with a single blow.

    Willow confirmed Syzygy to be alive but unconscious, and Dreadstar had the robot loading crew begin loading the metals and gems, as well as bringing Syzygy back to the Big Bundle. While the loading process was estimated at about one hour, Oedi was certain they would not complete the job in time, and he "felt it in his bones" just before the radar picked up an Instrumentality destroyer appeared via precision teleportation.

    After Oedi supplied the exact location of the destroyer, Instrumentality robots teleported into the Big Bundle and attempted to arrest Oedi.

    Other Instrumentality robots, along with Deacons of Deltor and other Instrumentality warriors, teleported into the Treasury Satellite and confronted Vanth and Willow as they headed to sub deck#2. The two invaders fought their way past past these forces, and when larger numbers of attackers rushed up the stairs that they had planned to descend, Vanth tore a hole in the floor with his sword and leapt with Willow (and Rainbow) to the lower level. The two continued to fight off Instrumentality forces, although Vanth took a laser through the shoulder, until Vanth -- after getting Willow and Rainbow into space suits -- slashed a rent through the satellite's hull.

(Dreadstar#1 - BTS) - From space, Vanth projected a powerful blast through his sword and blew up the destroyer's power pack, incapacitating it. After they had returned to the Big Bundle, intending to ambush and destroy the Instrumentality robots there, they found that the revived Syzygy had already melted them into slag.'

    The crew flew the Big Bundle away, having acquired the wealth needed to finance their revolution against the Instrumentality, buying ships, equipment and weapons, start a spy network, hire technicians, start Plan M or do anything they needed to end the war.

    The Papal communed with his gods and was granted "all the power he would ever need."

Comments: Created and owned by Jim Starlin.

Dreadstar / Reality-8116 primer


Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Instrumentality Treasury Satellite should be distinguished from:
Barrier of Forbiddance
instrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-barforinstrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-barfor-quiet
     A mystic barrier of Forbiddance was placed across a passageway en route to the treasury vault.

     As they headed toward the treasury storage, Syzygy detected that the vibratory patterns in the doorway were wrong, and he touched it with his wooden staff, detecting the Barrier of Forbiddance.

     With a simple spell, Sygyzy disabled the barrier, allowing them to continue their travel to the vault.

--Dreadstar I#1

Note: I'm not certain whether the barrier merely blocked progress, or whether it would have disintegrated anyway who tried to pass through it.
 		.
instrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-barfor-spell



Instrumentality Treasury Satellite Sentry-Rob
instrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-sentrob-profinstrumentality_treasury_satellite-8116-sentrob-front.
.
     After entering the satellite, Dreadstar, Darklock, Willow and Rainbow were swiftly confronted by a sentry-rob(ot), which Willow used her cybernetic telepathy to convince that they were supposed to be there, and it allowed them to pass.

     The sentry-rob had a scanner and/or a weapon atop its head, spiked plates over its shoulders, and apparently blaster weapons in place of each of its hands.

.
.
--Dreadstar I#1


images: (without ads):
 Dreadstar I#1, pg. 12, panel 2 (main);
       pg. 14, panel 4 & 6(sentry-rob, profile and frontal);
       pg. 15, panel 6-8;
       pg. 17, panel 1-2 (precious metals and gems)

Appearances:
 Dreadstar I#1 (November, 1982) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First posted: 07/25/2025
Last updated: 07/25/2024

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Items