The Trigan Empire

The following dawn, two figures shook hands in a deserted part of the Trigan waterfront.

Good luck go with you, Voss. Leave everything to me.

Goodbye, Lord Janno! I shall never forget what you have done for me.

A sensational treason case followed, in which Janno gave evidence against the three accused.

I saw Nils Zenna struggling with his treacherous servant and the two Catons . . . .

The court found that Nils Zenna had perished for the empire in the ruins of his villa. By Imperial decree, a statue was erected to his memory.

The scoundrelly Ritto spent the rest of his days—a puzzled man—in the dreaded punishment mines.

What went wrong? What went wrong?

Voss lived out his life in a remote province of the Empire. Happy with a large family, he followed his father’s old trade as a tailor.

But what of the real Nils Zenna? What of the arrogant young air fleet pilot whose identity Voss had stolen all those lunar years ago? Did he really perish?

In the trackless heart of the Daveli jungle, it is said, dwells a man whose life is devoted to good works and meditation. He may be the missing pilot—but he is saying nothing!

All that happened in the years of Yarri. Our next strange story begins in the month of Yuss, on the day of the Imperial Examinations.

A raggedly-dressed student named Robi took his seat among candidates from all over the Trigan Empire.

The questions are simple enough. If I had bothered to go through the drudgery of study, I could have answered them all . . .

. . . as it is, I shall have to rely on this tablet, which contains all the information I need!

Robi was a brilliant scholar but lazy. He cheated, and passed out top of the Imperial Examinations.

At the head of the list is . . . Robi!

Ha!—that should get me a top job in the Imperial Service!

Indeed, the cheat was appointed assistant to none other than Peric, the most brilliant scientist on Elekton!

My boy! With all the great work I am carrying out, it is an enormous relief to have the assistance of such a promising young scientist as yourself. And when I am gone, all this will be yours!

Pompous old windbag! Does he think I’m going to wait around to step into his shoes? Not me! If I haven’t lied and cheated my way into fame and fortune within the next lunar year, my name isn’t Robi!