Category: Trigan City Harbour

Posted on

The Heat Controller

















	














On the third hour of the twenty-fifth day of the year of Hoth, people in the streets of Trigan City began suddenly to act in a most remarkable manner.

Aaaaah! The cold! The icy cold!

What’s happening to us?

Within instants, ice was forming everywhere.

Get under cover, before we all freeze to death!

Help me with this old man before he perishes.

Down in the harbour, the sudden and fantastic fall in temperature froze the sea. Ships were crushed in the grip of the mountainous ice formations.

The Trigan Bay bridge, weighed down by the sudden addition of the ice mass, sagged and broke . . .

. . . with disastrous results!

At noonday, the temperature rocketed back to normal and the streets of the city ran deeply with melted ice.

It’s unbelievable! Fantastic!
























	














The Emperor Trigo summoned an Imperial Council meeting, to discuss the strange disaster. Peric, Elekton’s top scientist, gave his opinion.

It is my theory that the phenomenon of the falling temperature had no natural cause.

Are you suggesting, Peric, that it was caused deliberately?

I am, Majesty! I believe that a person or persons unknown have discovered a means to control the magnetic field of this planet, and consequently control the weather and climate.

I do not have to remind you that such total command over life on Elekton makes this person or persons virtual dictators.

I am convinced, however, that the source of this magnetic power can be detected from the air. So I have devised a piece of equipment which can be carried in an ordinary air craft.

The great silence was interrupted by Janno, the Emperor’s nephew.

I’ll do it! I’ll fly the detector craft!

I half guessed that my young friend would volunteer!

Two days later, Janno took off in his specially-equipped air craft. His task, to circumnavigate the planet at zero height, searching for the source of the sinister power.

That same day, totally without warning . . . it happened!

Aaaaah! The heat, the heat!

I must have water!

All the continent of Victris lay under a searing heat wave! The temperature rose to dizzy heights. In the great square of Trigan City, people staggered to the fountains, trying to slake their thirsts in the overheated waters.

We are all going to die! No one can live through this heat!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 682 on 8 February 1975.

 
Posted on

The Wish-Fulfiller

















	














The second year of Venni went down in the annals of the Trigan Empire as the year of revolutions. It began with a terrible riot in the City.

Give us food!

Down with the tyrant!

The Imperial Palace was burnt to the ground by the mob, and Trigo and his family barely escaped with their lives.

Shortly after came the great naval mutiny. The men of the great ocean fleet eliminated their officers . . .

. . . And then bombarded Trigan City itself.

. . . Till the mighty ships were silenced by the loyal Air Fleet.

The Emperor’s own nephew Janno took part in the punitive raid.

I never thought I would ever be called upon to wage war upon my fellow-Trigans!
























	














While the fighting still raged, the Emperor called an emergency meeting of the Imperial Council.

Gentlemen! The Empire is falling apart! Why? Why? What has happened to cause this? What is wrong with us?

Peric, the wisest man on Elekton, answered his Emperor.

Majesty! I should have foreseen these events, for I have observed a gradual deterioration in our national life during the last few lunar months . . .

Food production has gone down by thirty per-cent—hence the food riots. Exports have fallen by sixty per-cent and industrial output by twenty-five per-cent. I have come to the conclusion that a large proportion of our population have ceased to do any real work!

Peric had a solution.

I suggest the appointment of Yarri Zemph as Minister of Finance and Trade. He is the finest economist in the Empire. With his guiding hand, we will return to prosperity and peace.

Yarri Zemph was given the job. In the days that followed, he worked long hours at his Ministry.

Good evening, Minister.

Good evening, driver. Take me straight home, please.

Hidden eyes watched his progress.

Subject leaving the Ministry now . . . proceeding in the direction of his residence . . .

Yarri Zemph arrived home.

I have work to do in my study. See that I am not disturbed.

And there . . . it happened!

Uuuuugh . . .

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 541 on 27 May 1972.

 
Posted on

The Masked Raiders

















	














In the fourth lunar month of the year of Yedd, the “Princess of Vorg”, largest ocean-going liner ever, was launched in Trigan City harbour by Salvia, daughter of Elekton’s top scientist.

I name this vessel “Princess of Vorg”! May she voyage the oceans of this planet in safety and tranquillity.

As the massive hull glided down the vast slipway, the Emperor Trigo made a gracious presentation to the girl who had performed the ceremony.

Salvia, I should like you to accept this small memento of the occasion.

Your Imperial Majesty is too kind.

Later that year, all Trigan City turned out to see the “Princess of Vorg” gliding from the harbour on her maiden voyage.

This is the Imperial News Service bringing you, live from Trigan City, this unforgettable spectacle. Passengers aboard the liner on this, her maiden voyage, include his Imperial Majesty, the Lord Janno, Peric and his daughter Salvia . . .

Swiftly, the great liner spanned the ocean, past the forbidding peaks of the untrodden ice continent.

Within the vast hull, safe from the killing winds, the great ballroom resounded to the music of the dance.

Enjoying the voyage, Salvia?

Yes, Janno. And you?

But disaster threatened! The liner’s helmsman was the first to suffer . . .
























	














Suddenly the doors of the ballroom burst open. The music faltered to silence, in obedience to a harsh order.

Quiet!—Stand still!—Any who offer resistance will suffer dearly!—Be prepared to hand over your valuables!

The newcomers moved among the hushed, horrified passengers. A gloved hand reached out and snatched the Emperor’s gift from Salvia’s neck . . .

Oh!

By all the stars!—You’ll not get away with that . . .

Janno paid for his gallant act!

Eeeeeeegh!

In less time than it takes to tell, the small army of intruders stripped the “Princess of Vorg” of all the valuables aboard her. And then, a dark vessel came alongside.

This is piracy!—By all the demons of Daveli, you monsters will pay for tonight’s work!

Silence, Captain, and pay heed!—We are leaving now. Very soon, the “Princess of Vorg” will be no more. If you wish to save your passengers’ lives, get them into the lifeboats!

The liner’s commander was swift to take this piece of grim advice. Later, in the lifeboats, the passengers saw the end of the pride of Trigan!

Adrift in the waste of icy ocean! Salvia clutched the stricken Janno more tightly—and shuddered.

It’s like some dreadful nightmare from which there’s no awakening!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 506 on 25 September 1971.