ie rte RAGE

SR aemey s
!
 g
Fantastic
Planet A world of
magic and mystery
Steven Caldwell
The Survey and Preliminary Study
Service probably demands a degree of
courage and dedication far beyond any
other branch of the Galactic Federa-
tion’s forces. The men who explore the
furthest frontiers of the Federation con-
front the unknown in the knowledge
that they have only their own initiative
to rely upon.

Even a routine charting trip is fraught

with danger, as the three-man crew of
the Stellar Ranger discovered when
their instruments recorded the presence
of a planet that could not be seen.
The Fantastic Planet is an account,
reconstructed from the diary of Com-
mander Lenain, of the crew’s forced
landing on the strange world of Mystery
and the momentous events which
swept them up in the shaping of Its
destiny.

Steven Caldwell joined the Galactic

Federation Security Force in 2393, and
quickly rose to the rank of Group 1
Battleforce Commander. During his 15
years of active service he traveled to all
parts of the Federation, and was
awarded the Andromeda Star for his
part in the settlement of the Perimeter
Worlds.

He now runs his own company pros-

pecting for the ore zyri//ium—the major
propulsive fuel for Interstellar Military
Interceptors.
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2022 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https://archive.org/details/fantasticplanetwO0000cald
 The
Fantastic Planet
A world of magic and mystery

Steven Caldwell

CRESCENT
New York
Contents

The invisible planet...............

The rulers of Mystery.............

Flight from horror..............

The gathering of tribes..........

Battleodawniee- =

Into the citadeli. --...... een

The nightmare ends .............

Illustration credits
Les Edwards, pages 53 & 54; Peter Elson, pages 9, 72/73
20/21, 47, 56/57, 63 & 64; Nick Fox, pages 23, 58/59 & 6
Fred Gambino, pages 6/7; Colin Hay, pages 77, 24/25 & 34/35
Robin Hiddon, front & back cover & pages 27, 29 & 30/31
Melvyn, title page & pages 14/15, 16/17, 37, 42/43, 44/45
46/47 & 48/49; Angus McKie, page 5; Terry Oakes, pages 38/39
Joe Petagno, pages 18/79; Dave Pether, pages 32/33 & 50/57

Copyright information on last page

Introduction
Whatever advances are areas and into the un- beyond the Perimeter, this
made in astronautics and known reaches outside the hazard is increased a hun-
the technology of space Federation's Perimeter, dredfold, and even the
travel, the vacuum be- where in times of difficulty most routine of survey
tween the stars will always or danger their only re- sweeps involves the accep-
be a hostile environment course is to their own tance of significant risk.
for the frail creatures that initiative and courage. So it was for the crew of
venture out into its un- Their job is primarily to act the Stellar Ranger as they
fathomable darkness. Every as scouts, charting and ex- raced out towards the star
new discovery highlights ploring the regions outside of Beta Sagitta, their
Our ignorance about the the Federal frontiers, and thoughts already on the
universe we inhabit and indicating any areas of comforts of the team base
each answer wrested from special interest for further which awaited their return.
it raises new questions. study by one of the spec- But instead of an unexcit-
While the main concern ialized teams. ing data-collecting mis-
of the Galactic Federation Despite thorough posi- sion, they were soon to be
has to be the everyday tion and _ status checks, the unwitting catalysts of
affairs of its members, it is their task is a dangerous an extraordinary adventure
also responsible for seek- and often thankless one on an unknown world in-
ing to extend the realms of and all too frequently ends volving some of the most
knowledge, and one of the in disaster. The immense bizarre creatures ever en-
means to this end is the forces of space allow only countered by Man.
Galactic Research _Insti- narrow margins of safety Their attempts to escape
tute. This organization em- in even the most familiar from the grip of a planet
braces groups from almost circumstances and the vast that their eyes told them
every branch of science distances often mean that did not exist, resulted in
who work together to solve a relatively minor mal- their being swept up in a
the mysteries which sur- function or error can prove cataclysmic war between
round us. The problems fatal when assistance Is its inhabitants and the
that they tackle and the seldom close at hand. Out oldest colonial power in
places upon which they recorded history. In an
concentrate their energies, Survey Service Badge. atmosphere of sorcery and
are often the result of the demonic magic, the three
activities of one of the most Federation officers played
isolated arms of the Federal an important part in over-
services. throwing the evil power
The men of the Survey that had governed the lives
and Preliminary Study Ser- of anintricate, but primitive
vice are something of a culture for much of its
special breed and are re- existence.
garded with considerable Once the tide of events
respect by their colleagues had flooded over the planet
in other branches of the they had named Mystery,
Research Institute. Their and swept it free of Its
long and lonely tours of sinister masters, another
duty carry them far beyond new world joined the ranks
the normal operational of the Galactic Federation.
5
CHAPTER ONE
a

The invisible planet

SHIP’S LOG-DAY 23:First half of tour completed. Although the instruments of
Altered course for home at 18.45 GMT. All in the Stellar Ranger insisted
that a planet lay ahead of
order except the Autogalley, serving lukewarm
them, only a strange
food. Approaching Beta Sagitta. shimmering disc betrayed its
presence to the eyes of the
For the crew of the survey before taking their places for Crew.
ship, Stellar Ranger II, it was the first run past the huge ball
a routine trip and they were of light that was glowing in Lavogue ran a directional
at the mid-point of their long the middle of the navigational velocity check to establish
sweep out to the edge of their visual display unit. whether the object was
sector. In less than three The viewports cleared as orbital, while Denton fixed its
weeks they were due to ease the ship emerged from warp position and keyed the in-
the dust-pitted hull of the and they gazed out into the formation into the naviga-
adapted long range freighter darkness while the sensor tional computer.
into the empty bay of the systems burst into a sudden A minor course adjustment
research station. After off- spate of activity, probing the was made to take them within
loading the ore samples that vacuum for signs of any non- visual range of the planetary
lay neatly stacked in one of luminous orbital companions. mass and as they approached
the holds and feeding their Captain Lenain set the Stellar the three men peered out to
accumulated data chips into Ranger on a long, curving where it lay, but nothing met
the main computer, they course to take them past the their eyes but the star-
could look forward to a well- sun as close as the thermo- speckled vista of deep space.
deserved period of relaxation. stats would permit, while the Confused, they glanced back
Two of the three men aboard two technicians, Denton and to the various display screens.
could also dream about a Lavogue, bent over their con- All registered as they had
two Earth-month leave at the soles watching the stream of done earlier, and clearly indi-
end of their present duty tour. incoming data. They swept cated that the Stellar Ranger
In a few hours they would past the blaze of Beta Sagitta was closing rapidly with a
be 250 light years out from and were heading outwards solid mass of a density similar
Earth and just outside the again when the low-mass to that of Earth. According to
furthest charted point in the scanner registered the pre- the instruments the viewports
Sagitta sector. The apogee of sence of something ahead of should have been filled with
the round trip lay in the them. With practiced ease, the reflected light of a newly
hitherto uncharted region of discovered world, but instead
the Sol-type star, Beta Scanner view of Mystery. there was only endless night.
-Sagitta. There, they were to The Albedo Scanner con-
carry Out a preliminary local firmed that nothing out there
survey to ascertain whether was bouncing back the light
any planetary companions from the G7 sun. The rest of
orbited the yellow sun, and if the sensor gear must have
so, to mark them and run a been malfunctioning, and the
quick analysis of their basic technicians hurriedly started
characteristics before setting to run another check on its
course for the wide swing Operational status. Utterly
home. baffled, they argued furiously
As Captain Lenain began as each item was cleared as
to make the transition to fully functional and was
normal space/time, his com- brought on-line only to repeat
panions ran yet one more the previous positive signals,
exhaustive systems check except that now they were
4
With the main drive out of
action, Captain Lenain
wrestled with the antigrav
controls to bring them safely
down on the mysterious
planet.

even closer to the indicated

position.
The three men stared out
of the ports, trying to work
out what was going wrong,
when one of them suddenly
noticed a peculiar phenom-
enon. A huge arc of space
was Curiously blurred and ata
point along its edge, the dis-
tinctive crescent of an
eclipsed sphere appeared at
the same time as the equip-
ment began to identify a
second, much smaller mass.
As they watched, the object
grew into a round disc like a
moon as they streaked to-
wards it, and in the area
where the equipment told
them a planet should be, the
distant stars grew increas-
ingly dim and distorted as
though viewed through an
imperfect lens.
There was obviously some-
thing there and unless they
altered course they were
going to find out exactly how
solid it either was or was not.
Captain Lenain decided to
assume for the moment that
it was indeed a solid planet,
and a short burst of the
attitude thrusters brought the
ship into an approach line.
As it dropped lower in line
with the direction of spin
indicated by the instruments,
the background stars faded
from sight completely and
were replaced by a milky
Opacity which rapidly in-
creased in density until the
unmistakable image of a
planetary atmosphere filled
the screens. There was a
stunned silence as the three
j
men tried to comprehend the tearing metal. In the silence Suddenly aware thathe was
abrupt change, followed by a which followed, their heart- no longer alone, the crew-
flurry of activity as they leapt beats seemed deafening as man turned to find himself
back to the consoles and they collected themselves be- cut off from the Stellar
began taking readings. Re- fore gathering in the tilted Ranger.
gardless of what their eyes cabin.
had told them just a few Their first move was to As they walked the tech-
seconds earlier, they were establish the extent of the nician studied them more
now, undeniably, about to damage sustained in the closely. They were distinctly
curve down through a per- emergency landing, and then humanoid, and although
fectly breathable and mois- to identify the mysterious heavily armed, did not seem
ture-carrying atmosphere to- power loss which had forced at all aggressive.
wards a richly vegetaged and them down. Eventually they crested the
patently solid surface. It was soon clear that the slope above the ship where
At that moment the vessel Stellar Ranger had suffered another party of the creatures
kicked, shuddered and began badly and there were numer- could be seen standing. The
tolose power, Lenain frowned ous rents in the skin of the airlock was open and it was
and quickly scanned the con- ship. More seriously, the tell- obvious that some of them
trol console for an explana- tale discoloration around had entered the vessel. One
tion, but the instruments some of the key stress points appeared in the. entrance as
simply indicated that the drive suggested that she could not the river party approached,
train was shutting down for withstand another launch - then went back inside and
no apparent reason. Whether without major repair. returned with Captain Lenain,
they liked it or not, they were While Lenain and Denton who jumped down_ and
going to take a much closer continued to examine the walked to meet them. On the
look at the planet than they ship, Lavogue decided to take way back, he outlined the
had planned, and, if the anti- a look around, and arming situation to the nervous tech-
grav units behaved’ as himself with a blaster, wand- nician. The warriors had
strangely as the main drive, it ered off towards a distant arrived from the blind side of
would be a fatally quick re- bluff. He slid down a slope to the ship, allowing no time for
connaissance. As they hurtled where a_ broad, shallow the two men to arm them-
towards the ground below, stream of water flowed past a selves, but they had made no
Captain Lenain gingerly oper- high wall of rock, and picked attempt to harm them. Lenain
ated the controls and with a his way over the stony shore had persuaded their leaders
sigh of relief, the ship started away from the stranded ship. to enter the craft and they
to respond and decelerate as As he was passing a tributary, were now working with the
he juggled with the direc- he tensed and slowly turned, computer to establish a lan-
tional output to brake the aware of a movement behind guage link.
craft's careering descent to- him. Horrified he found him- Some hours later a simple
wards the surface. self confronted by a silent vocabulary had been worked
They belted themselves in host of humanoid figures Out and imprinted into the
for the uncomfortable landing carrying an assortment of central memory. Rigging up
ahead, and as the ground primitive weapons. He started three improvised translator
swept up to meet them, to raise the blaster, but sets from their pocket comps
Lenain threw the antigravs realised that he could not took a little longer, but event-
into maximum output. Even hope to cut his way through ually it was possible to carry
in the cocoons of their de- all of them and lowered it on a simple conversation
celeration couches, the crew again. Thefigures approached with the natives, who invited
fought to remain conscious and gathered around him. them to return to their main
as the large vessel shuddered Then one of them raised his settlement. There was little
toa halt. Lenain cut the power lance in the direction of the that the crew could do alone,
and they dropped heavily ship and pulled at the crew- so after collecting some of
onto the surface of the un- man’s sleeve to indicate that their gear, they accompanied
known planet with an omin- they should head back down their hosts through the
ous sound of buckling and the river. gathering darkness.
8
CHAPTER TWO

The rulers of Mystery

Spt ee eee eee Waking in the crumbling
SHIP’S LOG-DAY 24: Unexplai ned shutdow n on
native settlement, the crew
all drive units and made forced landing on saw in the nearby industrial
unknown world. In custody of local inhabitants complex the first clue that
who seem harmless. Denton is understandably life here was not as simple
worried about the safety of the Stellar Ranger. as it had seemed.
With communications equipment malfunctioning
we will have to effect major repairs on the planet. and try to communicate with
these planetary overlords.
They were sure that in those
The three men from the Stellar one of their hosts held up his vast structures lay the tech-
Ranger spent that night in one hand. Although much of what nology to repair the ship, and
of the crude and primitive he said was beyond the they decided to make their
mud buildings where their capacity of their improvised way to the city of which the
hosts dwelt and greeted the translators, the sense was tribesmen spoke in hushed
next day after a restless night clear. Whoever had created and nervous voices. But they
spent pondering their dilem- this vast industrial complex needed a guide. Their request
ma. The other occupants of was feared and disliked by fell on deaf ears until a young
the house were preparing these creatures. Great num- couple pushed through the
food, and while the two bers of their kind had been knot of figures surrounding
technicians were testing the summoned to the entrance of the three men and said they
edibility of the sustenance the complex and had never would take them, then slipped
offered, Captain Lenain wan- been seen again, at least not out of the door and dis-
dered outside to consider their intact. They spoke of sorcery appeared.
position. No sooner had he and magic powers against Early next morning the
passed through the doorway which they were defenseless young guides awoke the crew
than he burst back in and and which had dominated and beckoned them to follow.
grabbed his companions, the planet for as long as they Outside, in the grey light of
dragging them outside into could remember. Every year dawn stood five huge crea-
the sunlight and pointing to each region and tribal group tures, half camel, half lizard,
where an amazing sight met were instructed to send a which were clearly intended
their eyes. Towering over the certain quota of people to the to be their transportation.
shabby settlement was a complexes which were situ- With some trepidation the
huge, awesome collection of ated over most of the world’s three crewmen cautiously
monolithic structures of mark - surface. mounted the massive beasts
edly different design to the In the face of the crew's and the party set off into the
natives’ primitive dwellings. insistent questions, — their lightening gloom. As_ they
A technology which was hosts became increasingly rode, they learned a great deal
capable of producing arte- agitated until finally they about the strange planet the
facts like these would surely learned that in any case, the crew had named Mystery, al-
be able to provide the means Torkral, creators of the com- though as expected the two
of repairing the crippled plexes, did not inhabit these tribespeople could offer no
Stellar Ranger. places. Only their fearsome explanation of the strange
They returned inside and servants occupied the great effects that the team had
excitedly questioned _ their factories while they lived observed during their abrupt
hosts, only to be met by a wall in the cold and mysterious and puzzling approach to the
of frigid silence and evasion. regions of the north planet.
They patiently explained the It became clear that for the They did learn, however,
importance of contacting men of the Stellar Ranger, that not all the people living
whoever inhabited the vast their only hope of returning to in the shadow of the Torkral
and impressive complex, until their own world was to find were prepared to accept the
10
The travellers crested the hill
and there, across the mist-
filled valley, gleamed the
home of the sinister Torkral.

situation. Reluctant to talk at

first, the couple eventually
revealed that all over the land,
resentment and anger was
growing, and soon a great
uprising would sweep the
dreaded Torkral from the face
of the world. But despite their
fierce determination, some-
thing in their eyes disclosed a
deep-seated fear of the ter-
rible forces of the Torkral, and
after a while, silence fell over
the group. The swaying beasts
carried them mile after mile
into the bleak vista. before
them.
They had been travelling
for almost a week through
terrain that was growing more
mountainous and mist-
shrouded, when both the
guides and the great beasts
which bore the five riders
began to grow restless and
fretful. Gusts of chill wind
began to blow fitfully around
them and the damp atmo-
sphere seemed to penetrate
to their bones. The next day,
they crested a rocky, barren
slope and stumbled to a halt.
Across a deep valley stood
the city of the Torkral, a mas-
sive collection of fortress-like
towers.
They stood in silence as
they gazed across at the eerie
sight, the crew of the Stellar
Ranger wondering whether
the key to their escape lay
within their grasp.
Suddenly, a terrible shriek -
ing filled the air and shadows
flickered across the jumbled
rocks as huge __leathery-
winged creatures swept out
of the mist above them, their
mouths gaping to reveal rows
of vicious fangs.
12
 The two tribespeople leapt Suddenly, the mist above
into the saddles of the pan- them was filled with the
icky beasts and shouted for sound ofleathery wings, and
the crewmen to follow them hideous creatures hurtled
to a cleft in the rocks. The out of the gloom as they
party raced at full stretch to- raced for the safety of the
wards the dark gap in the cliff rOCKS.
face, dodging the howling
attacks of the huge creatures. Behind it, two more giants
Nearing the gap, they threw moved ponderously out of
themselves off their mounts the ruined cliff and came to
and ran towards their refuge. stand over the five beings
They were almost there, lying rigid with fear at their
when the entire cliff seemed feet. Then slowly and care-
to disintegrate and the ground fully, they stooped and swept
beneath their feet shifted and the puny figures up in their
trembled, sending them powerful arms and swayed
sprawling. A vast tower of down the slope of the mist-
darkness seemed to loom laden valley towards the city
over them, seemingly spring- of the Torkral.
ing from the rock itself. As it As they drew nearer the
moved nearer it took the form fortress city, the terrified
of a huge and terrifying crea- captives glimpsed shadowy
ture that discarded the shat- movements among therolling
tered rocks as it slowly and mist-banks, and snatches of
deliberately made its way to- mournful cries could be heard
wards them. above the remorseless tread TT
P
a

Map of the Torkral city showing the main complex and the
derelict buildings outside for the hapless slaves.
of the giants’ feet. The city minute, the two groups faced
towers rose out of the gloom each other in utter silence.
to meet them, and a moment Lenain felt increasingly un-
later they were moving down easy and disturbed. His mind
a black tunnel, helpless in the became full of strange sensa-
grip of their captors. After tions and images which grew
what seemed an eternity, they in intensity as the light con-
arrived at a great doorway centrated in the eyes of the
and found themselves being silent visitors. He suddenly
placed gently on the ground. realised that they were in-
As they peered into the in- truding into his thoughts,
tense blackness, they could probing and searching
hear the soft footsteps of the through telepathy or some
creatures receding down the similar means, and he strug-
shaft. A flicker of light danced gled to shut them out.
off the rough walls beside Concentrating with all his
them and a strange collection strength, he tried to isolate
of sinister beings rounded the intrusion and fill his mind
the corner beyond the door- with a welter of trivial details
way, all armed with an assort- and vague moods to mask his
ment of lances and pikes and inner thoughts.
carrying burning — brands. His brain became a battle-
Grasped firmly, the five had ground as the forces within it
no choice but to accompany clashed and wrestled with
them into the depths of the each other with increasing
city. They were led into a ferocity, until the pressure
huge chamber and left alone reached an almost unendur-
in the dimly lit room as the able climax and then suddenly
door thudded shut behind dissipated, leaving him gasp-
them. ing and exhausted.
In the face of the things As soundlessly as they had
they had seen, the object of arrived, the three spectral
the journey had fled from figures departed and black-
the minds of Captain Lenain ness engulfed them once
and his companions. Their more. For some reason Lenain
thoughts were now on sur- had been the only one of the
vival and escape from this dire five to have been singled out
place, and they debated how in this way and the others
they could find a way back to
the light, past the legions of Bursting out of the rocks
macabre and sinister beings themselves, huge and
which flitted through the fog monstrous shapes bore
banks. down on the terrified party
They had been crouching and swept them up, carrying
in the darkness for two hours the helpless band into the
when the door opened and very heart of the city
three slender figures drifted Overleat
soundlessly into the chamber. The door to the subterranean
In the pale light, the captives chamber opened, and three
faced the female shapes. spectral figures moved
Their eyes glowed strangely, soundlessly into the room,
and a hush fell over them all their eyes glowing with an
as the atmosphere around unnatural light as they
them seemed to thicken and probed the mind of the
grow heavy. For one awful captive crewman.
16
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had no recollection of the Captain Lenain struggled for
wraithlike visitors at all. his sanity against the terrible
More time passed until one being whose image
wall of the chamber began to shimmered on the rock wall
glow with a cold light and an of their prison.
image slowly took shape in its
center. A hooded form inside his brain and pulled
crouched over a luminous and wrenched unmercifully
sphere and a fierce light until the very fibres of his
burned where its eyes should nervous system burned with
have been. A clawlike hand raw agony. He felt his whole
stretched forth and touched identity being drawn relent-
the orb which shimmered and lessly from deep within him
changed colour. Streaks of and knew that if he failed to
lighter hue appeared and cling to it, he would be
moved across it and Lenain destroyed. In sheer despera-
realised that it was a repre- tion he ran towards the wall
sentation of the planet and dashed his forehead
Mystery as they had seen it against the rough stone. A
from space. white light exploded inside
Again he felt the strange his tortured brain and a shriek
forces inside his head, only of fury echoed throughout his
this time they were stronger, entire being before the dark-
more insistent, and he realised ness flooded over him and he
that he would not be able to slid unconscious to the floor
resist them. He screamed as at the feet of his astonished
the waves of power broke companions.

Constellation of Sagitta showing Mystery’s sun.

CHAPTER THREE
i

Flight from horror

a hl a in
SHIP’S LOG-DAY 32: Crew and guides captured /mprisoned deep beneath the
Torkral city, the captives
by unknown party who seem to have telepathic
began to despair in the
ability. Morale low and situation uncertain, suffocating darkness.
intention of captors unclear but seems to be Suddenly, the door burst
malevolent. Can only await developments. open to reveal the legendary,
half-winged figure of Rathryl
The other four captives had wing. A horned, vizored hel- and the flight to safety
witnessed the silent struggle met hid its face and a great, began.
between the Captain and the wickedly curved blade shone
hooded figure whose image from its right hand. The crea- the obstacles in their path
had filled the wall, but had ture paused, then darted into began to be visible. Flecks
played no direct part in the their midst and seized the of mica or metallic ore in the
bitter conflict, and knew arm of their frightened male walls glinted with light re-
nothing of the powerful forces guide, whispering urgently in flected from far ahead of
that had been unleashed in the native language. The them and they halted, gasping
Lenain’s mind. Bewildered guide’s manner changed im- for breath once more. The
and uncertain, they ran to mediately and he turned to- winged creature directed
where his body lay slumped wards the startled crew, and them to remain where they
at the foot of the wall and indicated that they should were, and vanished round
checked for signs of life. He follow the macabre figure. another corner, returning a
seemed unhurt except for a Without pausing to won- moment later to lead them on
large gash on his forehead der about the identity of their to a jumbled mass of stone
and presently stirred. With a unlikely saviour, they ran which blocked the tunnel in
low moan he raised his head after the swiftly moving front of them. Light streamed
and groggily sat up, his eyes shape, stumbling _ blindly in from overhead and gusts of
still closed against the throb- through the dark corridors chill, damp air cooled the
bing pain. He described what and tunnels which twisted sweat which poured from
had happened as best he and writhed through the hill- them after the rush through
could and had no need to side beneath the ghostly city. the thick, stale air of the
explain the danger they were At intervals, the softly gleam- underground labyrinth.
facing. The rulers of Mystery ing feathered limb would The powerful frame of the
would exact a terrible price flicker in the gloom, halting bird-thing scrambled up the
from those who sought to their headlong dash and bid- wall of fallen rock and through
disturb the centuries-old ding them to keep silent as a gap in the ceiling. The two
order of service to the Torkrals. the horned head tilted as if natives followed and helped
They were searching the listening to distant sounds to pull the others after them.
rough-hewn, irregular walls carrying through the rock. They huddled in a low cave
of the room for some means Then the race would con- and looked out into the grey,
of escape, but without suc- tinue as each member of the swirling mist which now
cess, when the sounds of party tried to keep pace with seemed almost attractive after
hurried movement outside the others without dashing the stifling dungeon from
caught their attention, and his brains out against the which they had escaped. The
the heavy door was hurled jagged ceiling or blundering entrance darkened briefly as
violently open with a bang into the boulders which were the strange figure of their
that echoed in the cavernous strewn about the floor of the rescuer returned from a brief
vault. Framed in the doorway shaft. sortie into the miasma. He
was another horrific figure, Soon they noticed that the beckoned them to follow,
shaped like a man except that shapes of their companions before slipping silently out of
in place of its left arm, there were growing more distinct the cave. They anxiously
extended a_ white-quilled and their speed increased as Strained their eyes into the
Pa)
_
The ship carried the
company and their urgent
message across the bleak
northern ocean to where the
rebel stronghold lay.

fog, afraid to lose sight of the

agile form as they slipped and
sprawled over the wet bould-
ers and patches of wiry
vegetation.
They began to tire, and
only fear of what lay behind
them enabled them to main-
tain the cruel pace. At last the
cold mist began to thin and
glimpses of blue sky could be
seen through the haze. Gasp-
ing for breath, they stumbled
out into the pale sunshine
beyond the valley and threw
themselves to the ground in
exhaustion. Once they had
regained control over their
wracked bodies, they sat up
and looked for the unearthly
creature who had led them
out of the dread city, but it
was nowhere to be seen. The
two natives stood and stared
into the mist behind them,
raising their hands in a silent
salute before turning to the
crewmen to lead them away
from the dangers which
would surely follow once
their escape from the city had
been discovered. Wearily,
they set off towards the dist-
ant line of hills, keeping a
watchful eye on the horizon
behind them.
Following the example of
the natives, they fell into a
loping stride that seemed to
eat up the distance without
straining them too much, and
even allowed the crew suffi-
cient breath to question their
companions as to the identity
of their saviour. They ex-
plained that te was Rathryl, a
being who was the subject of
many myths and legends.
According to the tales that
24
they had been told aschildren, ship and disappeared over Exhausted, the fugitives sat
many of the people forced to the side, the crew of the slumped on the snowy
enter the complexes of the Stellar Ranger slumped down ground until suddenly aware
Torkral were changed by the exhausted, feeling as though that they were not alone.
dark magic that lay in such they had been swept up in a The tall figure of Athdoryl
places into evil and distorted whirlpool of events far be- stood watching them silently
beings existing solely to serve yond their control. Their sur- and waiting for them to
the purposes of their masters. vey mission seemed so far explain their presence in his
One day a young man, away as to be part of another barren domain.
Rathryl, was one of those life and they wondered
summoned to face the horrors whether they would ever see They watched the boat all
of the sinister places, but des- the endless vistas of space the way back to the larger
pite the fate which befell his again. Preoccupied with their ship before turning to survey
body, he managed to keep his own thoughts, they hardly their surroundings. As they
mind intact. He escaped and noticed the reappearance of climbed up a rocky path to
swore eternal vengeance on the native couple who the crest of the cliff, the crew
those who had imprisoned squatted down beside them asked if the couple knew the
him in deformity. No other for a few moments before way to the rebel stronghold.
being would have been will- telling them that they had The question was answered
ing to help them and then arranged passage across the with a shrug and the reply
return to those black and sea to the rebel base. Now that they would be taken
terror-filled tunnels. unbearably tired, the three there soon enough. Once on
The Torkral must have men climbed to their feet and top they looked around at the
realized by this time that made their way on to the ship. bleak and snowy landscape
something was afoot among They slept for hours after that stretched to the horizon.
the tribes. The native people the vessel had edged out of The wind that plucked at
would have to be warned to the sheltered cove, awaking their clothes was surprisingly
prepare for the fury that could only to share a meal with the mild and they followed the
be released at any time, and uncommunicative crew be- guides’ example and_ sat
the small band therefore de- fore falling asleep again. down to wait.
cided to make for the strong- Eventually refreshed, they The dusk was beginning to
hold of the rebel groups and spent the rest of the voyage close in when they became
their leader, Athdoryl. As they on deck wondering what lay aware that they were no
talked, the hills drew near, ahead of them and watching longer alone. A tall, heavily
and their speed began to the cold waves slip astern muscled figure was standing
slacken as the ground grew until at last the featureless a few yards away, dressed
steeper until they found outline of land crept over the only ina loincloth and watch-
themselves overlooking a horizon. A line of hills grew ing them calmly. The couple
broad sweep of ocean that rapidly in size, visible through sprang to their feet and ran
stretched as far as they could the flurries of snow that every towards him. They stopped a
see. After a brief pause they so often swept over the ship, few feet from him and, bow-
set off, sliding and leaping and details of the terrain be- ing their heads, began to
down the steep slope which gan to |emerge. When they explain why they had come.
led to a small settlement had drawn into the shadow After a while he silenced
clustered around a tiny har- of the steep cliffs, the native them, and ordering them to
bour. A sailing vessel was couple informed them that follow, set off into the white
moored at the quayside, and the sailors were not prepared landscape without a _ back-
they could see the crew star- to take them any closer to ward glance. Eventually they
ing up at them as_ they their destination and would arrived at the massive walls of
plunged towards them in a drop them at the first suitable the rebel fortress, and once
cascade of stones and earth. place that could be found. inside were shown to rooms
Once down, they made About two hours later, they where they spent the first
their way to the tiny dock and were taken ashore in a small comfortable night since the
while the natives climbed up boat and withouta word, dep- Stellar Ranger had crash-
the gangplank of the sailing osited on the stony beach. landed on Mystery.
26
CHAPTER FOUR
LEE E EEE

The gathering of tribes

Proud and defiant, the rebel
SHIP’S LOG-DAY 43: Have escaped safely thanks leader Athdoryl realised that
to creature referred to as Rathryl by the two the long awaited moment
guides. Spent last night in stronghold of rebel for the tribes of Mystery to
leader, Athdoryl. Crew in better spirits, but | throw off the evil yoke of
suspect there are other dangers to come. the Torkral had arrived.

The next day, each of them Everywhere was a bustle of was of the utmost importance
awoke in their own time and activity with figures rushing that they should return to the
made their way to the cham- to and fro, scarcely acknow- Stellar Ranger immediately,
ber where they had dined the ledging their presence. From as the ship and its contents
night before. While they the windows they could see could provide weapons and
breakfasted there, Athdoryl runners sprinting away into equipment which would be
sat and listened to the tale the snow covered hills; they of great use to the rebel forces.
they had to tell, occasionally began to feel impatient to What they were and how they
interrupting to ask for more make some contribution to worked was beyond Ath-
detail, particularly of their the hurried preparations that doryl’s ability to comprehend,
time -.inside the Torkral city. were in progress. Suddenly but he knew enough of the
When they had finished, he Lenain remembered the Stel- strangers to realise that they
sat deep in thought for some lar Ranger. had access to knowledge and
time before agreeing that He set off to find the rebel power that seemed to him
there was no time to be lost. leader, the others following. magical, and he readily agreed
He stood up and strolled to They tracked him down in the that they should return to the
the window to stare at the central courtyard where he crippled vessel.
craggy landscape, then turned was obviously preparing to He explained that he was
and announced that the time make a long journey. When about to set out on the long
had come to summon the he saw the three men ap- and dangerous journey to the
tribes. If they waited any proaching he smiled at them, far northern lands of the
longer before striking against clearly relieved that the time Shaftoin people, a fierce and
the evil Torkral they would for action had at last come. independent warrior tribe that
lose what small advantage Lenain tried to explain that It lived in the desolate polar
the element of surprise could
give them. Even now the Typical Shaftoin weapons, lethal in hand-to-hand combat.
enemy could be marshalling
his forces and preparing to
devastate the land. They
would not waste time search-
ing out the rebels but would
almost certainly follow the
easier course of decimating
the tribes and allow the
innocent to die with the guilty,
Athdoryl then strode pur-
posefully from the room, leav-
ing the others contemplating
the prospect of the bitter
and unequal struggle ahead.
The native couple eventually
left the chamber and the three
crewmen wandered out into
the corridors of the fortress.
28
The elements were not the
only hazards facing the
party during their journey to
the lands of the Shaftoin.

regions. If they agreed to join

the battle against the Torkral,
they could then sweep south-
wards, collecting other re-
cruits as they went, and at
the same time escort the crew
to where the ship lay stranded.
Lenain and his companions
agreed to this plan and pre-
pared themselves for the trek
into the frozen lands of the
Shaftoin. Early the next day
they set out, marching swiftly
and in silence as the gaunt
battlements of the stronghold
disappeared from sight.
They were hard pressed to
keep up with the powerful
stride of Athdoryl as they
plunged into the ever more
mountainous terrain ahead,
and were thankful when they
arrived at a ravine where
Athdoryl stopped and _ indi-
cated that they would rest for
the night. Despite their
fatigue, they found it hard to
sleep inthe numbing cold and
dozed fitfully until the sun
began to rise over the horizon,
and Athdory! shook them out
of their confused dreams. He
told them that from now on
the dangers would increase
until they reached the lands
of the Shaftoin, as some of
the foul creatures created but
cast out by the Torkral wand-
ered in these isolated lands.
With this knowledge _ fore-
most in their minds, they
marched onwards expecting
an attack at every turn.
When it came, it happened
with such speed that the crew
were totally unprepared. Just
as they were mounting a
snowy rise a hideous shriek
split the air and a terrifying
shape sprang from the snow
oi
in front of them and struck at The crew’s translators were
Athdory! with its wickedly unable to interpret the intense
curving blade. But the clumsy discussion that ensued, but
blow was parried easily and Athdory| finally returned and
the fiend had fallen to Ath- explained that the tribe al-
doryl’s sword before the ready knew of the planned
startled crew had time to uprising and were preparing
collect their wits. From then to defend themselves. The
on, the pace quickened; no- travellers were welcome, and
one was willing to be the last they accompanied the war-
riors back to their settlement
set high in the cliffs.
The next day, a great com-
pany filed out of the city of
caves. The crewmen strug-
gled to accustom themselves
to the ungainly gait of their
two-legged mounts to the
amusement of their fierce
neighbours, as they set off
for the warmth of the south.
After a week of jolting
and bouncing over mountain
paths, the air grew noticeably
warmer and the landscape
more verdant. The crew were
glad to shed the heavy cloaks
that had protected them from
the icy winds and flurries of
snow. The mountains petered
out and were replaced by
rolling downland as the huge
First glimpse of the Shaftoin strides of the beasts carried
as two out-riders appear. them swiftly along.
During a pause for food
in line and they covered a one afternoon, one of the
considerable distance before warriors shouted and pointed
night fell. at the sky where a huge
The next two days passed winged shape wheeled and
without further incident and swooped above them. As they
Athdoryl announced that they watched, it dropped towards
were in the realms of the them and swept overhead as
Shaftoin. An hour later he Athdoryl and the warriors
pointed to the skyline where
two figures mounted’ on Mounted on the strange
strange bird-like creatures beasts which would carry
were keeping pace with them. them into battle, the warriors
Eventually the silent escort of the Shaftoin set out on
disappeared and two miles the long march to the south.
further on they rounded a Overleat
fEegem tom tind» 4 Group sor The gliders for which the
warriors blocking their way. Machim were renowned
Athdoryl motioned for the served as the eyes of the
crew to wait and alone ad- vast army assembling on the
vanced to the mounted band. southern plains.
Sy
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 resting place of the Stellar
Ranger. Lenain and his crew
at last fully realised the
enormity of the venture in
which they were involved.
Their fate was inextricably
bound up in its outcome.
Somehow, their original in-
tention of seeking a means to
repair the ship in order to
return to the comfort of a
Survey Station hanging
somewhere out in the inter-
stellar void seemed _ trivial
compared to the events that
they had inadvertently set in
motion on this wild and un-
charted world.
They became even more
subdued when they crested
The desert tent of a Gothgaryn warrior. the last rise and saw the host
that had assembled on the
waved to a tiny figure whose The crewmen awoke the plains below. As far as the
head protruded from its upper next day to find that Athdory| eye could see, shelters and
surface. The rebel leader ex- had already returned and as tents had been erected amid
plained that it was a scout they mounted up and set off a sea of movement and
from a tribe skilled in the craft once more, he explained that activity.
of making machines to fly on the tribe he had gone to meet Even the hardened warriors
the wind, who had been sent were warriors from the great who had accompanied them
to watch for their arrival. desert tribe, the Gothgaryn, gasped in amazement at the
After circling them a few who were on their way to awesome sight that met
times, it picked up a thermal join the rebel army that was their eyes. Athdoryl’s face
and climbed away into the gathering ahead of them. glowed with pride as he
distance leaving them to re- They had told him of other looked out over the vast
mount for the last leg of their bands that they had _ en- horde, then spurring his
journey. countered in their long trek mount, he thundered down
As the day drew to a close from the sands of their terri- the slope and was swal-
they saw a dark line moving tory, and it seemed that the lowed up in the throng.
parallel to them a few miles greatest army in the planet's
away. Athdoryl and a few of history was coming together. From the great desert regions
the warriors raced off towards Recognising that this was of Mystery came the silent,
the slowly moving procession the time to act if the dreadful proud warriors of the
and the rest slowed their yoke of the Torkral was ever Gothgaryn on their massive,
pace to watch as_ they to be lifted, they were willing horned chargers. The
dwindled to specks in the to face the full fury of the presence of these normally
undulating landscape. Other rulers of Mystery in order to solitary beings emphasized
shapes detached themselves liberate themselves, or die in the scale of the events that
from the black thread and the attempt. were about to take place.
moved out to meet them, the As they drew closer to- Overleaf
fading sunlight glinting as it their destination, they met From all over the land,
reflected off bright metal. greater and greater numbers fighting men converged
Then the darkness slowly of armed groups from all over singly, in small bands or as
swallowed them up and they the land who were converging whole companies to join the
prepared for yet another night on the agreed rendezvous, greatest army ever assembled
beneath the stars. just a few days ride from the in the history of the planet.
36
 ite
ace lee ES
Ps
c
anPRE

))
CHAPTER FIVE
EEE

Battledawn
SHIP’S LOG-DAY 59: Have arrived at our The small band of natives
destination in the company of the Shaftoin. who, under the Torkral spell,
waited in ambush for the
Tribes from many parts of the planet are
return of Lenain and his
assembled here. We must assist somehow. men, were no match for the
warriors who leapt on them
Athdoryl was immediately to comparable technology. from the darkness.
swept up in the whirlpool of Nothing that they had seen so
activity inevitable in such a far indicated that this was so, cated to the natives exactly
sizeable operation and was but they had yet to discover where the Stellar Ranger lay.
able to spare little time for the what was contained in the The warriors ordered them
crew. He did, however, pro- gleaming complexes, like the to remain behind and the
vide them with an escort to one that lay nearest to the armed men went ahead to
see them safely to the Stellar ship. investigate.
Ranger, and they set off with- As they drew closer to the Two hours later, as the
out delay. As they travelled ship, the party grew quieter. crew were becoming restless,
they discussed ways in which They wondered if in fact it they heard a distant clamour
they could improvise arma- still rested there, and whether and a number of thudding
ments from her equipment the bizarre agents of the explosions. Shortly, wisps of
and systems, and started to enemy had already taken black smoke rose from beyond
feel part of the great enter- control of the ship and its the nearest line of hills and,
prise and less like useless contents. The same thoughts as one man, the three crew-
observers. From all that they were clearly in the minds of men spurred their mounts in
had seen so far, they felt con- their escort, who were mur- that direction. By the time
fident that the technology muring among themselves in they arrived, the skirmish was
represented by the Stellar a tongue for which the trans- over, and the leader of their
Ranger and her equipment lator was not programmed. escort grinned as he reined to
could play a very important They appeared to reach agree- a halt beside them and pointed
part in the coming con- ment, and lapsed once more to where the stern tubes of
frontation and could even into silence until the terrain the Stellar Ranger showed
tilt the balance of power in began to seem familiar to the beyond an outcrop of rock. It
the rebels’ favour, unless crewmen. Lenain spotted the seemed that the ship was
the Torkral also had access tip of the complex and indi- intact and unoccupied, and
had been guarded only by a
Grenade. A-metal case, B-p/lunger, C and D-chemicals. handful of local villagers who
had fallen under the spell of
their Torkral masters. Asked
about the explosions, the
warrior showed them one of
the small grenade-shaped
missiles that hung from his
belt. They seemed incon-
gruous against the long sword
that glinted redly in his hand.
The bodies of the enemy
lay where they had fallen in
the surprise attack. The crew
stared at them as they passed
on their way to the familiar
shape of the ship, aware that
some of the natives whose
hospitality they had enjoyed As the ghastly shriek died
during their first day on this away, the crew of the Stellar
extraordinary world might lie Ranger rushed out from the
among them. Once at the ship. In the light of their
ship, however, these thoughts torches a hideous shape
soon evaporated as they set turned towards them.
about the task ahead of them.
Their escort seemed wary of welders and cabin lights,
the huge buckled craft, and until a scream split the air,
refused to come too close to penetrating even through the
it, preferring to settle down clamour within the confined
around the base of the slope space of the equipment bays.
where it lay. They rushed outside and
Once aboard, the sight of shone their handlamps in the
the familiar interior brought direction of the bloodcurling
back memories of the thous- sound. A hideous sight met
ands of hours they had spent their eyes as the beams
there, and suddenly their played over a monstrous blue
recent adventures seemed too shape that crouched where
extraordinary to be real. Len- the natives’ camp had been.
ain sat down at the central It spun to glare balefully at
command console and ab- them, still gnawing at the
sentmindedly fingered the severed limb that was grasped
array of instruments as he in its massive hand. Numbed
recalled the comforting image with horror, the three crew-
of the station to which they men backed slowly towards
had been returning. But the the airlock, until the grotesque
mood soon passed with the creature threw down _ the
recollection of the vast horde grisly remnant and moved
which covered the plains less with astonishing speed to-
than two days away, and wards them. They turned and
they turned their minds to the sprinted to the aperture and
task of transforming the con- hurled themselves through it,
tents of the survey vessel's gasping with relief as the door
hold into an arsenal. hissed shut.
As they were sorting Seconds later, the entire
through the mass of equip- ship shuddered with the im-
ment there, Lenain suddenly pact of the beast as it thudded
felt something tugging at his into the metal barrier. They
mind. Memories of the black could hear it moving about in
Torkral dungeon and the terri- the darkness, searching for
fying image onits wall flooded another way in. Suddenly,
over him, and he realised that they remembered the open
they were trying to find him. equipment bay door, and
The news of the crewmen’s leapt to their feet. Lenain
return to their ship must have thought desperately for a
reached the Torkral by now, moment, then shouting in-
and they would be anxious structions, ran to one of the
to know what they were cable ducts nearest the steps
doing. A sense of urgency to the hold and began tearing
gripped the three men, and at the casing. The others
they threw themselves into joined him, and as it clattered
their work, labouring on as to the deck, he ran to shut
darkness fell. The hold danced down the power while Den-
with shadows from the laser- ton and Lavogue tugged at
42
9,a
i
With a resounding crash, the eat some of the ship’s rations
two armies met in the dark before continuing until the
pall of battle. Within minutes next morning. Most of the
men were falling and heavy work had been done
disappearing beneath the and they were busy rewiring
crush. Circuits and reprogramming
control units when a rider slid
the heavy duty cables within. to a halt outside the hull and
Once they had finished re- rushed to the entrance shout-
directing it, they clambered ing in his excitement. Al-
Onto the nearby couches and though the crew could not
waited with bated breath. understand the words, the
Sounds of stealthy movement meaning was clear enough: a
below grew closer until the great battle had been joined.
doorway filled with the huge Lenain indicated that they
bulk of the beast. Lenain would soon be ready, and the
threw the switch and the warrior squatted down to
cabin was filled with a spray wait, his agitation receding
of sparks and molten metal as as wide-eyed, he watched
the creature executed a their final preparations.
macabre dance before its Two days’ ride away, there
blackened shape crumpled to was a very different scene;
the floor. Cutting off the the great rebel army was on
power again, the crew weakly the move. Scouts had seen a
repaired the line and stared broad pall of dust rising on
at the carbonised thing that the horizon which seemed to
blocked the gangway. blot out the sun itself, and a
Time was running out, and long shadow stretched across
they threw themselves into the land, sliding over the
the work with renewed undulating hills like some evil
vigour. The next day, they flood. Athdoryl and _ the
wasted no time looking for leaders of the other tribes
the rest of the natives that watched the ranks of men
had accompanied them, but and beasts march grimly past
worked without a break until them towards the torrent of
dusk. They stopped only to unknown and grisly looking

The Torkral horde advances upon the rebel army.

creatures that poured from the high with the dead and dying
mountains of the north, then, of both armies, and the fight-
saluting each other, they rode ing spread into the hills as
down to join their individual each side sought an advant-
contingents. With a terrifying age. But the rebel warriors
inevitability, the two huge were beginning to tire against
armies pounded towards each the mad and relentless ferocity
other beneath a darkening, of their demonic foes. Here
dust-filled sky and the ground and there small groups were
began to vibrate beneath their forming to allow their com-
tread. As they increased their rades to rest their agonised
speed the rhythm dissolved muscles within the defensive
in the appalling thunder of wall before taking their places
their meeting. in exchange. And still the
The thick air boiled with unflagging waves of the
dust and smoke, hiding the enemy hurled themselves
ghastly scenes of carnage against the swords’ and
and death within its gloomy . spears, bearing down in sul-
mantle, as bodies fell and cidal rushes, until the wall of
were crushed into the earth men broke and _ dissolved
beneath the locked mass. under the relentless press.
Out of the darkness hurtled There was little doubt that
nightmare shapes of inhuman the rebels were being slowly
things, slashing and tearing In overwhelmed by the sheer
insane fury at the men who weight of an enemy driven
faced them. by something beyond under-
Within minutes all semb- standing. The warriors could
lance of order and strategy now scarcely lift their weap-
had vanished in the terrible ons and more and more were
maelstrom. Desperately, the swallowed up by the dreadful
rebel leaders rode to and fro tide. In despair, Athdory|
amidst the battle, striving to looked behind for a way to
direct its course and search- extricate his forces from the
ing for the key to victory, but battle, and his eyes widened
it was clear that this was a at the huge object which
struggleto the death. The foul appeared on the hill above
creatures that heedlessly the seething mass of fighting.
threw themselves at the ranks Unable to believe that a new
of the brave warriors were not horror was about to enter the
driven by reason or courage
but by the fury of their All the courage and skill of
masters. Only strength and the rebe/ warriors could not
numbers would decide the prevail against the insane
outcome of this hellish clash, fury of the enemy attack.
and throwing their careful Overleaf
planning aside, the com- Just as the evil flood was
manders of the tribes plunged beginning to engulf his
into the fray beside their men. exhausted forces, Athdoryl
The dark, writhing sea turned to face the new
washed backwards and for- horror that appeared over
wards between the hills leav- the hill behind him. Then
ing isolated pools of the fallen beams of unbearable heat
strewn around the perimeter Swept over the enemy,
of the battle. The fury began cutting huge gaps in the
to subside as the ground piled packed ranks.
46
as
ae
ae
 When the dust of battle
settled, the rebels looked out
on a scene of death and
destruction. The dead of
both sides lay heaped about
_ the field but the first victory
was theirs.

battle against him, he stood

rooted to the spot as an un-
earthly wailing sound cut
through the din of war and
the monstrous shape plunged
down the slope. Then he
noticed the figure of one of
his warriors standing on the
very top of the creature, and
at that moment brilliant rods
of scarlet light streaked from
it, cutting a smoking swathe
through the packed ranks of
the Torkral army as it scythed
across the field.
With the switch of the
alarm siren taped firmly down,
Lenain steered the survey
tractor at full speed into the
mass of foul creatures while
the two crewmen swung the
observation turret and its
makeshift battery of laser-
lance drills to and fro so that
the rodlike cutting beams
slashed huge gaps in the
dense mass of the enemy. A
thunderous cheer went up
from the beleaguered rebels,
and they charged against the
dark mass with renewed
strength. The tractor raced
across the plain, spun on its
tracks and cut another path
back, and attacked again and
again until the decimated
enemy broke and began to
scatter. They were quickly
harried and pursued by the
rebel cavalry, leaving the field
silent except for the cries of
the wounded.
The tractor ground to a
halt, ahatch swung open and
Lenain looked down at the
exhausted figure of Athdoryl
and nodded a silent greeting.
50
ayST eee a
CHAPTER SIX
LL

Into the citadel

Guarding the entrance to the
SHIP’S LOG-DAY 65: The rebels have routed the Torkral city was the huge
enemy thanks to the laser-lance drills but the and fearsome bulk of
city still lies ahead. The terrain is proving too Horgarth the Deathbringer.
difficult even for the tractor, but we are not
looking forward to abandoning it. We are in stones, and silence filled the
good shape but the tribes have suffered badly. gloom, broken only by the
God only knows how this will end. small sounds of their own
progress as they hauled them-
selves up the cliffs below the
The legions of the Torkral had ther; some had collapsed city. As they drew nearer,
been driven from the field, through sheer exhaustion, their sense of foreboding in-
but their masters still lurked some had died of their creased and pressed down
within the walls of their wounds and others had fallen on them like a huge weight.
dreadful citadel, and there in skirmishes with roving Even the air seemed to lack
could be no rest until they bands of Torkral demons vitality and robbed them of
had been utterly destroyed. along the way, but there the little strength that re-
The rebel army had to press could be no respite, and they mained in their tired and
on towards their stronghold plunged into the dank fog bruised bodies.
before they lost what advant- below. Lenain and his men were
age they had gained, so with- It soon became evident unable to find any sign of the
out delay, the weary and that the fissures and tumbled tunnels through which they
battered warriors prepared rocks of the slopes were too had been carried into the
themselves for the march into treacherous for the Stellar bowels of the fortress, and
the dark and misty valley of Rangers tractor, and the were soon far above the floor
the Torkral city. Athdoryl and three crewmen reluctantly of the valley.
the other tribal leaders abandoned the vehicle, and The mist was thinning and
watched the exhausted men having grabbed the weapons the massive walls gleamed
stumble past; few were un- retrieved from the ship's store, wetly above them as they
hurt and too many lay among clambered down to join the approached. To their left
the heaps of dead which warriors picking their way could be seen the only visible
covered the plains. They had among the slimy rocks. aperture in the great sheet
paid dearly for this first vic- The shadowy mass of men, of stonework, a black square
tory, and the greatest test was their limbs leaden with wide enough for only one
yet to come. The awesome fatigue, slipped and stumbled man to pass through.
powers that had shaped the among the debris of the valley They halted and listened
army of horrors that they had floor, expecting to be at- for any sound of movement,
faced that day, would un- tacked in the shroud of fog at but nothing could be heard
doubtedly present them with any moment. But no evil above the pounding of their
even more terrible obstacles shapes sprang from. the blood and_ their rasping
once the rebels threatened
the city itself, and Lenain A crewman’'s standard weapon with extra power-packs.
feared that even the tech-
nology they could draw upon
would prove inadequate.
Eventually, the army strag-
gled to a halt at the edge of
the gloomy valley and stared
across the city on the other
side. The forced march had
thinned their ranks still fur-
52
eee Tipe ean
ate ees

ee
See
wi

Pie
/n a battle which would
become part of tribal legend,
Fenryl, champion of the
Denador, cleared the way
and brought out the sword
of the Deathbringer.

breath, and they cautiously

made their way to the narrow
entrance and peered in.
The shaft gradually wid-
ened out as it led through
the masonry, ‘and the men
clustered round the edge fell
back in horror at the sight of a
monstrous creature that filled
the corridor with its bulk. Its
huge deformed body entirely
blocked the passage and was
surmounted by acruel, horned
head which snarled and slav-
ered at the puny figures
before it. ln each hand was a
broadblade, glinting wickedly
in the dim light as the creature
snuffled and leered, its eyes
glowing redly. It was Hor-
garth the Deathbringer, a
being who pervaded the an-
cient myths and legends of
Mystery, and the men outside
shrank in terror at the sight of
the nightmarish legend stand-
ing before them in hideous
reality.
But the rebels had not
come this far to be turned’
away atthe final moment, and
one of the warriors hefted his
battleaxe, took a deep breath
and stepped into the narrow
entrance. Others followed and
hurled themselves at the evil
form, only to die one by one
in the cramped confines of
the shaft. Suddenly, a huge
figure stepped through the
warriors and paused before
the doorway. Fenryl, a warrior
of the Denador tribe who
were renowned for their size
and strength, stood in the
dark rectangle. These war-
riors from the tropical regions
of Mystery, were treated with
54
Once inside the stronghold, As they gradually made
the exhausted rebel warriors their way forward, they found
fought desperately in the themselves ascending and
darkness beneath the soon the leading warriors
Torkral city. burst from the dark shafts
into the grey light of day.
considerable respect by the ' Before them lay the city itself
other inhabitants of the pla- and they advanced towards
net. They were an ancient the great gates of the central
people dwindling in num- complex where the three
bers, and lived in obscure crewmen blasted at the locks
isolation with little contact with their handbeamers. The
with other tribes. They had metal of the huge hinges ran
nevertheless, sent five of in molten rivulets as the
their braves to join the battle beams cut deep, until with a
against the Torkral. groan, the slabs fell inwards
A hush fell over the com- and crashed to the ground.
pany as Fenryl’s broad back The tide of tribesmen
disappeared into the gloom, poured through and stopped
and the clash of weapons in the vast, dust-filled cham-
echoed down the corridor. ber within. They spread out
The sounds of the struggle and stared about them in
seemed to continue for hours nervous curiosity. Dust lay
but at last there was silence. everywhere and cobwebs
Something could be heard festooned the walls and hung
moving down the tunnel to- like tattered banners from the
wards the men outside, and high ceiling. Absolute silence
they stepped back in fear as it reigned as they shuffled un-
approached. A roar went up certainly in the deep carpet
from those nearest to the of silt and stared at the faded
doorway and Fenry! stepped and rotten tapestries that
out, raising aloft one of the hung in shreds on the walls.
swords of Horgarth the Athdoryl pushed through to
Deathbringer. He stepped the front, looked about him,
aside and the rebel warriors then climbed the stairs which
poured down the tunnel. led from the hall.
Lenain and his men were The spell was broken, and
swept along in the press and the horde rushed after him,
found themselves in the thick their clamour echoing
of the fighting which raged through the empty space and
in the labyrinth of airless shaking the dust into the air.
tunnels and chambers within. They ran through endless
Fiendish shapes hurled them- corridors and rooms, all as
selves at the invaders from empty and derelict as the last,
every crevice as the army until they came to a gleaming,
battled their way towards the polished metal door that con-
centre of the fortress. Once trasted strangely with the
or twice Lenain thought he decay they had seen. Stand-
glimpsed a familiar, horned ing before |t was the slender,
and half-winged shape dart- winged form of Rathryl, his
ing among the enemy wreak- curved sword wet with blood
ing havoc with a vicious as it dangled from his one
sickle-shaped sword before hand. Athdoryl stepped up to
disappearing again into the him, and they spoke in a mur-
darkness. mur for a while. Then he
0/
turned to tell the company Many died in the airless
that behind the white steel stench of the catacombs
door lay the Torkral. Lenain before the rebels finally cut
and the others walked to the their way through to the
barrier and once more brought surface and stood before the
the searing beams to play last retreat of the Torkral.
against it. Half-an-hour later,
asmall circle of glowing metal
crashed to the floor and synapses. He could sense
Rathry! stepped through, fol- the direction from which
lowed by Athdoryl and they emanated, and walked
Lenain. towards them. The torn and
As the rest of the rebels exhausted men behind him
filed through, they found seemed to realise that the
themselves blinking in the danger had passed, and
bright light which filled the stayed where they were,
space inside. Everything was watching as he_ vanished
spotless and gleaming in the through one of the doors
harsh glare. Lights winked which hissed open to let him
like jewels from panels set pass.
into the walls, and a soft As he walked, the sounds
humming reminded Lenain in his mind grew stronger and
and his men of the Stellar clearer. They seemed to be
Ranger. Suddenly Lenain be- pleading with him as he
came aware of a Stirring in his passed the serried ranks of
mind and stopped, listening machines and equipment that
to the words that whispered lined the passage and filled
inside his head. Somehow he the rooms on either side.
could understand the mean- Then, as he stepped through
ing of the pitiful, whining another portal, they died away
sensations that — trickled and he found himself in a
imploringly — through his large chamber, the walls of
which were dominated by
Inside the citadel. huge viewscreens showing
views of all parts of the
stronghold, including the
waiting group of warriors
incongruous against the clin-
ical white background and
panels of instruments. At the
far end a curved control desk
spanned the width of the
room, and seated behind it
were ten stooped and shriv-
elled creatures who stared at
him with dark, listless eyes.
No word was spoken, but
the questions which drifted
into his mind were quietly
answered, and as he turned
to return to the waiting tribes-
men, he knew that these
weak and decaying old figures
were all that remained of the
mighty Torkral nation.
CHAPTER SEVEN

The nightmare ends

Deep within the Torkral
SHIP’S LOG-DAY 69: The rebels have gained fortress lay the /aboratories
control of the Torkral city but skirmishing and research chambers
continues outside the main building. Now that where they carried out their
it’s over it seems incredible that these pitiful dreadful experiments in their
creatures have dominated an entire world and desperate search for
its people for so long. Have been unable to immortality.
discover their original home. There’s plenty of
work here forthe Planetary Welfare organizations. they adapted the system of
ultrasonics initially developed
as an agricultural tool in
Once the rebels had pene- venture out into the open regulating plant growth to
trated the inner sanctum of the spaces beyond. influence and control the
citadel, resistance melted Several generations passed neighbouring tribes. Once
away and the remnants of the before they noticed that their they had been drawn into the
demonic Torkral legions van- birthrate was rapidly declin- factory complexes, they at-
ished into the lightless laby- ing, but it was soon apparent tempted to reconstruct them
rinth that spread into the hills that their numbers were for their various purposes.
beneath the city, or fled into dwindling at an alarming rate. Their methods were crude
the mist. While the warriors The radiation spectrum of and though effective to a
threw themselves down for a Mystery’s sun was harmful to degree, produced the legions
much needed rest, Lenain them and they were becoming of mindless monsters that
and the tribal leaders returned a sterile species. Those that served them.
to the inner chamber and had possessed the knowledge But despite their efforts,
confronted the wizened be- of astronautics, stellar naviga- they were losing the battle
ings that sat behind the tion and the skills essential against time and it became
enormous control desk from for space travel had long clear that they were never
which they had directed the since passed away, and it had going to escape from the sur-
destiny of an entire world. never been considered neces- face of Mystery. Having faced
There were many questions sary to preserve that know- this fact, their energies were
to be answered, and the ledge. Somehow it would redirected to the conquering
Torkral ancients were anxious have to be rediscovered if of death itself. Their experi-
to co-operate now that they they were to escape the slow ments in biological engineer-
were powerless. extinction that awaited them, ing became more and more
Hundreds of years before, so they set about trying to bizarre as they sought the
their forefathers had come to recreate the lost sciences. key to eternal life. By now all
Mystery as colonists from a But first they had to try to the Torkrals were living far
star system far across the buy more time, so they em- beyond their natural span,
Galaxy, and had settled, using ployed their already con- but they still searched with
the technology and equip- siderable knowledge of the mounting desperation for the
ment they had brought with biological sciences to find solution which would entirely
them to make a new home. means of extending their own halt the ageing process.
The planet was already in- lives. By the time this initial Now only ten remained
habited but the natives re- objective had been achieved, where once there were thous-
sented the arrival of the aliens there were even fewer of ands, and though older than
and constantly harassed them and not enough to they could remember, the final
them, forcing them to isolate operate the factories which door was still firmly closed
themselves from the rest of supported them. The tribes against them and their last
the world. They remained in which inhabited the lands years were slipping painfully
the factories and complexes around them would not have away as they sat behind the
they had built and did not volunteered their help, so long console that continued
60
to reach into the lives of the turned their attention to the /n answer to the signals sent
planet’s original inhabitants great structures which dom- winging through space from
to cast the shadow of fear inated the landscape. Lenain and his crew, the
over the land. They entered the one near- huge bulk of a Federation
Looking at the shrunken, est the ship and spent a great research ship settled to earth
frail bodies of the rulers of deal of time searching for the beside the battered remains
Mystery, and into their pain- means by which the ship of the Ste/lar Ranger.
and fear-dulled eyes, Lenain could be repaired. Although
and the tribal leaders could everything needed for the homed in on the _ rusting
feel only a sense of revulsion task was found there, a remains of the Stellar Ranger
and disgust, and the desire speedier and less arduous and dropped to the surface.
for vengeance ebbed away method of escape came to Surrounded by a cluster of
from them. The commander light. The machinery by which astonished and _ intrigued
of the Stellar Ranger bent the Torkral had gained con- tribesmen, Lenain and _ his
down and tore out the ter- trol over their unwilling hosts colleagues walked to the foot
minals from inside the long proved to be the instrument of the ramp that slid out from
desk as the empty eyes of the of the crew’s salvation. It was the airlock of the massive
Torkrals watched the lights of easy for the crewmen to sphere and grinned in relief
their power wink out in front modify some of the huge at the familiar uniforms of the
of them. All over the planet, arrays of ultrawave equip- men that emerged = and
the factories and vast com- ment to signal direct to the climbed down to meet them.
plexes that churned out the base for which they had The research vessel had
means of support and nou- been headed so long ago. not seen the strange, shim-
rishment for a race that had Their message hurtled mering image of the planet
ceased to exist, ground to a through the vacuum giving they had been briefed to
halt and fell silent. their position and a_ brief expect, and Lenain assumed
Their defeat extinguished history of events, and warn- that it had been part of a
the will to survive that had ing the rescuers of the visual defence system established
driven them for countless phenomenon they were likely by the Torkral to protect them
years, and the ten ravaged to. experience when ap- from unwelcome visitors.
descendants of a once mighty proaching the planet. Aboard the ship, he and his
species seemed to dissolve A few weeks later, instead men sat down at the first
before the eyes of the men of a Security Force rescue familiar meal they had en-
they had enslaved. In a few ship, the enormous bulk of a joyed for a very long time,
days their bodies surrendered Federation Research vessel and began to describe the
the battle they had fought for
so long and the Torkral no The rescue ship approaches Mystery.
longer lived on the planet of
Mystery.
Once they had gone, anew
spirit seemed to flow through
the land. The tribes dispersed
to their homes and the great
rebel army was disbanded.
But for Lenain and his men
the problem they had been
faced with on that fateful day
when the Stellar Ranger had
crashed heavily to earth still
remained. Their plan had
been to seek the solution
from the huge complexes
that towered over the native
settlements, and so, for the
second time, the three men
62
 momentous events in which fore returning to their duties, Demons still lurk in the
they had participated since but each of them requested, northern hills, living out their
their arrival on Mystery. and was granted, a transfer to unhappy span, and_ the
They were returned to their the Planetary Study Station stronghold of the Torkral still
respective homes for a well- that had been set up among rears over the mist-filledvalley
deserved extended leave be- the tribes of Mystery that at its feet. Some say that the
they had come to know and bright wing of Rathryl can
Unable to forget the people understand so well. Lenain occasionally be glimpsed
among whom they had lived became the Chief Liaison darting among the empty
and fought during the Officer and continuedto work barren stones of that un-
Torkral War, Lenain and his closely with Athdoryl until earthly place, hunting for
colleagues returned to this the latter was appointed traces of any that deformed
Federation base to work Mystery’s ambassador to the him who might still live
once again with the tribes Federation and travelled to among the catacombs on
of Mystery. Earth. which the city rests.

First English edition published 1980 by Intercontinental Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Book Productions, Berkshire House, Queen Street, Caldwell, Steven, 1947-
Maidenhead, Berkshire The fantastic planet
Copyright © MCMLXXxX by Intercontinental Book Productions |. Title
All rights reserved PZ4.C1478Fan 1980 (PR6053.A378) 823'.9'14 79-52718
This edition is published by Crescent Books, a division of ISBN 0-517-29225-4
Crown Publishers, Inc. by arrangement with Intercontinental
Book Productions Printed in Italy
 Pe
Bs
Lives
if

heaves
Tesh
Baie
Pet gu
oa
The GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS series
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in order to provide a comprehensive
service for space travelers.

Although most of its publications are

highly technical programs for licensed
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Titles in the
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A guide to the inhabited galaxy.
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The account of the first epic voyage
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THE FANTASTIC PLANET
A description of the most mysterious
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The many aspects of warfare in space
SETTLERS IN SPACE
Colonization and the struggle for
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A profile of law enforcement in the
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