At dawn the following day, the massed air fleet of Cato flew low over the valley of the Nobes in a brutal display of power.

The people of the valley stared up, awestruck.

It can’t be true!

It’s some kind of trick!

Living creatures can’t fly so high and so fast!

Later, the Caton emissaries delivered an ultimatum to the Nobes.

The Nobes will acknowledge the overlordship of the Caton state, or the people and cities of the valley will be destroyed from the air.

What you  suggest is absurd.

Next, the emissaries of the Trigan Empire, with Janno as spokesman.

The Trigan Empire offers  you the protection of its power. All you have to do is ask.

I thank the Trigan Empire, but we can look after ourselves.

After all, we, too, have a superior technology. Think, for instance of our air fleet!

As Janno said later, to his new friend Kalli.

Do you think you could defend the valley for any length of time with that collection of museum pieces?

We can but do our best.

If the Catons come, I, for one, will take the air against them!

Then I request the honour to accompany you, Kalli!

Back in far-off Trigan City, the latest news reached the Emperor Trigo and his advisors.

Well, gentlemen, what can we do?

The Nobes have rejected our help. If our forces entered now, we would be as guilty of invasion as the Catons.

Then the Catons have outmanoeuvred us. Order Janno and Peric to return.























But the message of recall never reached Janno and Peric. At noon, a force of Caton low-level battle-craft entered the valley. 

Commence a pattern of destruction! Fire upon everything that moves, and reduce all buildings to rubble!

The Nobe’s lovely and gracious towns were pounded with high explosive and their gentle inhabitants sent fleeing in panic.

Aaaah! It’s the end of the world!

One of the Caton gunners happened to scan the horizon behind his craft.

I see it, but I . . . I don’t believe it!

Here comes the Nobes’ fighting air fleet!

. . . All of it!

This instalment was originally published in Look and Learn issue no. 743 on 10 April 1976.