Fralk

Fralk (d 1984) was a Minervan male of the great clan Skarmer. He was domain-master Hogram's eldest of eldest and, since his father had predeceased his grandfather, stood to inherit Hogram's domain upon the elder Minervan's death.

Immediately before the first human visit to Minerva, he crossed the Ervis Gorge to deliver an ultimatum to Omalo domain-master Reatur. Reatur sent him away without acquiescing to his demands.

While returning to Hogram's castle, Fralk became the first Minervan to make contact with the Soviet space shuttle Tsiolovsky. Fralk became Hogram's point man for dealing with the humans. He used to opportunity to trade with them to make himself a considerable fortune, and the communists recognized that he was a capitalist. However, since most Minervans were feudalists, Fralk was actually a progressive according to Karl Marx's dialectical materialism.

Fralk, who stood to become domain-master of Reatur's domain if it could be conquered, led the military expedition across the Ervis Gorge. Though met with early success, his campaign faltered near Reatur's castle when the American humans made a serious effort of defending Reatur's domain, and Fralk was killed when Sarah Levitt dropped an incendiary weapon near him from the Damselfly.