Category: Air Fleet

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Ten Lunar Years of Solitude (continued . . .)

















	














After he had had a long conversation with the mystery caller, Senator Rossi replaced the receiver.

This is fantastic! But what can I do? Except obey him!

Immediately, the senator drove out of the city in his sumptuous automobile—without, for once, his uniformed chauffeur.

After all, he has pledged to pay all my gambling debts, and save my reputation!

In a lonely part of the mountain road beyond Trigan City, Rossi stopped the vehicle. He took off his outer clothes and laid them in the driver’s seat.

I don’t see the sense of it but this is what he told me to do.

And then . . .

There it goes!

Hardly had the expensive vehicle dashed itself to scrap metal on the rocks far below than the sound of engines made Rossi look up.

This must be—him!

The next moment . . .

Nicely done, Excellency! And now, get in . . . animal!
























	














Early the next morning, a group of fishermen found the wreckage of the senator’s vehicle in a mountain stream.

The driver’s clothes are here!

But he never could have survived that awful drop!

The report of the disappearance of one of his most promising politicians was brought to the Emperor Trigo. 

Senator Rossi was seen leaving his villa, Imperial Majesty, and heading for the mountain road. And now—nothing but a pile of clothes!

I remind you, Imperial Majesty, that Rossi makes the eighth.

A few days later, Janno recovered consciousness after his crash.

The abandoned weather station . . . Somebody . . . Someone . . .

Easy now, Lieutenant. You need a lot of rest. Don’t tire yourself.

His half-incoherent babblings were examined by the staff of Air Fleet Headquarters. 

Janno says, and we only have his evidence, that he was fired on from the old weather station.

But the only feasible explanation, according to the computer, is that he was fired on from the ground.

That weather station has been deserted for ten lunar years.

Nevertheless, the old weather station in the stratosphere was given a cursory look-over—from a distance.

See any sign of life?

You must be joking.

But a pair of hate-filled eyes watched both aircraft leave.

Good for you! If you had stayed an instant longer, I would have destroyed you both—as I did the other!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 756 on 10 July 1976.

 
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The Lost Valley (continued . . .)

















	














Barring the path of the Caton armada was a massed force of deadly fighter-craft.

The Trigans!

The Emperor’s brother, Brag, in the lead fighter was in contact with Trigo.

They’ve seen us! The question now is—will they risk destruction and continue, or will they turn back?

The captain of the lead Caton bomber asked for orders.

They’re not moving out of our way! To get through, I shall have to start shooting! Do I have your permission?

It was a tense moment back at Caton High Command.

Prime Minister, are we ready to go to war with the Trigan Empire for the sake of an obscure valley?

Even if this valley contains the richest mineral resources on the planet?

There are other methods of getting the valley. Call back the bomber force!

Break off the operation! Return to base!

We will take the valley with our ground forces. To do this, they will have to pass through the Tharv province. Send emissaries to the Potentate of Tharv, to ask permission for our army to cross his territory.
























	














Zad Krakkar, the wily old Potentate of Tharv, held his ramshackle empire together by playing off one major foreign power against the other.

Sit down, gentlemen. Of course your soldiers may pass through my province . . .

The passing of such a large force will, of course, cause havoc with the roads . . .

Shall we say ten million thullars compensation? And no armour—only infantry.

But, Excellency . . .

No armour! I have a treaty with the Trigan Empire that forbids the passing of foreign armoured troops through my territory!

A full report of all this tortuous diplomacy was brought to Janno and Peric in the valley of the Nobes.

So the old demon’s letting them through—but no armoured war-machines.

What does it matter? The Catons are sending 10,000 picked troops and the Nobes have nothing to stop them.

We can raise 10,000 strong young Nobes. Can’t we, Kalli?

Yes! They don’t know what the word war means but you can teach them.

At that moment they were interrupted by a disturbance in the street.

Get out of the way! I . . . I can’t stop it!

It was then that Janno had his brainwave.

Yes! We’ll raise a Nobe Army and our army will be MOBILE!

With motorised infantry and armoured warmachines!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 745 on 24 April 1976.

 
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The Green Fog

















	














The blind beggar Uruz had sat at the base of Trigo’s statue in the great square of the city for as long as anyone could remember. One morning, Janno the Emperor’s nephew was crossing the square. As always, he dropped a coin into the beggar’s hat.

A thousand thanks, Lord Janno.

You knew who I was! Yet I never uttered a word!

So you think that I can see after all. But you are wrong, Lord Janno. Why, I know you from the sound of your footfall, from the very rustle of your uniform. My eyes are my ears!

The incident had passed from Janno’s mind by the time he reached the air fleet base, climbed into his tiny fighter craft and took off.

Calling control. Have cleared the ground. Your orders, please.

His orders took him to the stratosphere, high above the surface of Elekton, patrolling the sky frontiers of the Trigan Empire.

At about noon, people in the great square of Trigan City saw . . . IT!

Look!

What is it?

It was a wall of swirling green fog that swept across the great capital, enveloping everything . . .

It’s fantastic!

I’ve never seen such a thing before!
























	














. . . in a blanket of green blindness!

Help!

Where are you?

I can’t see a thing!

High above, Janno was shocked to hear the controller’s panic-stricken cries over his communicator.

It’s all gone green! I’m blind! Janno, for pity’s sake! . . .

What’s happening down there?

Receiving no reply, Janno brought his craft down in a screaming dive. Nearing the ground, he saw the ominous green cloud that shrouded the city.

It’s . . . unbelievable!

Even as he looked, the green murk cleared away and the capital of the Trigan Empire lay below him in all its accustomed glory.

It’s . . . gone!

The pandemonium in the city was indescribable, with crashed vehicles littering the streets, and frightened and bewildered people wandering about in shock.

It was as if the end of the world had come.

What if it happens again?

I think I shall go out of my mind!

Uruz, the blind beggar, cried out in a loud voice.

I tell you something terrible has taken place! An alien people have been amongst us.

What? Explain yourself!

His words struck a chill into the hearts of all his listeners.

While this green fog of which you speak was upon us, while you were all stumbling about like the newly-blind . . . there came amongst us some who walked with sure-footed tread, as if they could see!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 732 on 24 January 1976.