Cycle 2 : Atlan und Arkon / Atlan and Arkon
Title 50: Die Einsame der Zeit 42 / Time's Lonely One
Theme: Atlan
Timeline: 2040
Location: Earth, ZW-2535-K957 - Hellgate
Star Systems: ZW-2536-K957 12,348 ly from earth
Races: Arkonide, Humanoid
Ships:
Characters:
Synopsis: 56 years have elapsed since Earth’s fake demise was recorded by the Aras, Springers, and Arkonides. Mars and Venus are now prospering colonies and the Vegans are allies. During this time Perry and Thora have married and a son is born, although no information about him is given.At the time of the nuclear alert, back in 1971, Atlan the mysterious Arkonide decided to place himself in hibernation for 69 years to avoid the holocaust which never happened. He is captured by an atomic submarine while trying to surface from his underwater retreat off the coast of Portugal. He studies the history of the Solar Imperium, but is tracked by a mutant telepath, so he heads back to his dome for several more weeks to adopt a new identity.Using a series of phony documents he eventually secures a position in Terrania as a scientist and boards a "space jet" with Perry on board. Perry is headed for Hellgate, to get an update on a mutant operation in progress. On this very hot and unbearable planet Atlan and Perry have their first duel. Perry barely defeats him and takes him prisoner.
Title 51: Jagd nacht dem Leben / 43, Life Hunt
Theme: Arkon-Springers-Aras, Thora and Khrest aging
Timeline: May 2040
Location: Hellgate, Revnur’s Star - Tolimon #2
Races: Froghs Two headed serpents (intelligent, 18 feet)
Star Systems: Revnur’s Star 81 ly from ZW-2536-K957, 6 planets
Characters:
Synopsis: Atlan is sent back to earth while Perry attempts to find the Ara serum that is rumored to prolong life. John Marshall (Ixt, Springer) and Laury Marten (Arga Slim, Arkonide) have been on assignment on Tolimon, the home of the Aras Galactic Zoo, working with a Springer ally Captain Rohun.With constant threat of exposure Laury infiltrates the zoo and meets the Count de Berceo as John works with the Springers. She falls hard for the Count. To help the Count escape and get some serum she reveals her mental abilities. With Rohuns’ and Agxts’ help they end up on the run and are able to get a message to Perry on Hellgate.
Title 52: Der falsche Inspekteur / 44, The Pseudo One
Theme: Arkon-Springers-Aras, Thora and Khrest aging
Timeline: May 2040
Location: Revnur’s Star - Tolimon #2
Ships: Koos-Nor Luxury yacht, 100 x 60 feet
Characters:
Synopsis: Pucky is called in from a mission on Venus where he is suppressing a minor rebellion. Betty Touffry, who is now second in command of the Mutant Corps' Venus Base headquarters, briefs him and prepares the Koos-Nor, an Arkonide luxury yacht.Perry and Pucky play the role of an Arkonide inspector, named Tristol, and his ‘unique’ valet to allow them to land on Tolimon and effect the rescue of John, Laury and Count Rodrigo. All goes well until a real inspector Glogol shows up unexpectedly. Although they escape with the small vial of serum, Pucky does reveal his abilities to some degree, which causes Perry to go into hiding for a few weeks hoping that the information will not trigger the memories of his enemies. They end up at a double star which appears to be uninhabited. Laury and Rodrigo fall deeper in love.
Title 53: Die Verdammten von Isan 45 / Unknown Sector : Milky Way
Theme: Interlude
Timeline: 2040
Location: Isan - Wilan
Races: Isanians - Humanoid
Star Systems: Isan (double star) Red Giant, 2 planets; Blue Dwarf, 1 planet
Ships: Drusus, Universe Class
Characters:
Synopsis: The system they are waiting in is inhabited by the remnants of a civilization destroyed by nuclear holocaust. Two of the surviving bunkers are both running out of food and attempting to tunnel into the others location. Although he doesn’t want to get involved Perry sides with the Fenomations and a good citizen of the Sallonians. Laury begins to realize that she and Rodrigo will not be able to bridge the gap of 400 years.The leader of the Sallonians manages to cripple the Koos-Nor due to Rodrigos’ foolish attempts to learn things and in fact Pucky is injured by an automated trap while attempting to survey the planet. The Count is killed while attempting to save Perrys’ life. In the end, it is Laury's power that saves the day.The Drusus arrives, distributes food and restores order. Commander Harrings informs Perry that Arkon has stepped up activity in the Earth’s sector of space, and he believes the Regent has made the connection. This cuts short his time to study the history of what happened on Isan, which they find out is an old Arkonide colony.
Title 54: Die Zweikampft / 46, Again, Atlan
Theme Atlan Timeline June - July 2040 Location Earth, Venus Ships Gloria Planetary Transport, 150 feet, no lightspeed Characters Allan D. Mercant Promotion Solar Marshall Marlis Gentner Human Venusian Atlan Abilities Mono Screen, Extra Brain (Photographic Memory, Cell Activator) Synopsis Kosnow and Mercant question the prisoner unsuccessfully. The infatuated Marlis helps him escape to Venus, where he continually is running and hiding from troops, mutants, and eventually Perry. Even Pucky can’t break his mono-screen, but they stay on his tail.Atlan and Perry have their second dual with Atlan the victor this time, but he cannot destroy Perry. Once he vents his anger and frustration he and Perry become friends, with Perry soliciting his assistance in overthrowing the Regent. Many of his abilities and history are revealed. He has lived over 10,000 years, supervised the construction of the brain on Venus, and has known numerous famous men and women throughout earth’s history.
Title 55: Der Schatten des Overhead 47 / The Shadow of the Mutant Master
Theme: Discovery of Earth
Timeline: July 12, 2040 to July 31, 2040
Location: Hesperais - Volat #2
Races:
Star Systems:
Ships: Lotus - Light Cruiser, City Class - 300 feet
Characters:
Synopsis: Ralph Sikeron is stationed on Volat and signals a ‘3 bells’ alarm to earth. This indicates that Earth is in danger, and he may or may not have survived after giving the alarm. Fellmer Lloyd goes in disguised as a Prebonian (an Arkonide colony). Volat is a business nexus for Springers, Aras, and Arkonides and Sikeron was working out of the headquarters of the Uxlad Clan of Springers. Sikeron is dead, but leaves the clue ‘Mutant Master’, and that Lloyd should visit the Omniscient Mother of the native race the Volatians.Lloyd is continuously shadowed, but eventually he tracks down the Omniscient Mother. Kuri, an Uxlad Clan member, assists Lloyd by gather an odd grouping of forces including Springers, Nose Giants, Haspros, and Volatians. He then tracks down two renagade Mutant Corps members, Gregor Tropnow (who joined after the defeat of Clifford Monterny) and Nomo Yahutin. Both left the Corps after they were denied the Cell Shower. Their intended to blackmail Rhodan by threatening to reveal the location of Earth to the Springers, but Yahutin reveals the information too soon. O-oftftu-O teaches Lloyd how to construct a mind shield, and he successfully destroys the Re-9 whose computer has the location of Earth in it. Most of Lloyd’s team is lost and Tropnow and Yahutin are not captured.
Title 56: Die Toten leben / 48, The Dead Live
Theme: Discovery of Earth, The Colonists
Timeline: August 2040
Location: Earth, Volat
Races: Katanians - Feline creatures used by the Springers. Susceptible to hypnosis.
Characters:
Synopsis: The Anti-Social Free Settlers are given permission to leave Earth as the message comes in to the Lotus that Thora has been kidnapped by Gregor Tropnow while vacationing on Mars. The Lotus was returning from Volat with Pucky, Rhodan, and Andre Noir.Tropnow’s Gazelle is immediately shot down in the Volatian jungle, where Kuri and Lloyd are recovering. Perry returns in the Lotus and along with Noir, Pucky, and his new found Katanian friend KittiKat stage a psuedo-rebellion to get the attention of the Arkonide Administrator. Mansrin and Commander Arona are ready to put the rebellion down. Tropnow is killed and Yahutin commits suicide rather than be caught. Thora is rescued and Lloyd and Kuri tighten up their relationship.The 56 years of hiding comes to an end as their old friend Talamon the Mounder, enters a room just in time to see Perry and Pucky teleporting away. Perry expects the worst but the Regent surprises him by requesting his assistance, even though the Empire seems more stable than ever under its supervision. Peace has reigned under the Regent's rule.
Title 57: Die Attentäter / 49, Solar Assassins
Theme: The Colonists
Timeline: September 2040
Location: Earth, Grautier #7
Star Systems:
Ships: Adventurous, 3000 foot sphere
Characters:
Synopsis: Mullon comes from Seattle to assassinate Rhodan, falls for Freddy Nicholson, and is captured by Hollander, a terranian police officer. Their combined attempt fails due to "Agent" Freddy. Under Solar Law the 8000 insurrectionists are to be transported to Rigel 3 in Orion in the Adventurous.Freddy goes with him and they are married. The 2 factions continue to haggle en route. Hollanders group takes over the ship. Mullon strikes back, but the ensuing combat damages the hyperdrive. The transition take them several thousand light years of course. They crash land, after the True Democrats retake the ship, on a new planet, christened Grautier. A Guppy and a good amount of equipment ensures that the new community of Greenwich should do well.A distress call sent out by Mullon was picked up by earth, but they choose to remain hidden, allowing them to watch Perry’s new "Great Social Experiment" under the leadership of Mullon.
Title 58: Attacke aus dem Unsichtbaren / 50, Attack from the Unseen
Theme: The Unseen
Timeline: September - October, 2040
Location: Mirsal 3
Star Systems:
Ships:
Characters:
Synopsis: Ralf Marten is called back from Trebola 2 and John Marshal from Reno 25, where Springer pirates have taken over the government. John just manages to escape as the Regent suppresses the revolt.Perry, 6 mutants, and the crew of the new Drusus are ready to respond to the Regent. They agree to meet on Mirsal 3 with 1 ship each (Arc-Koor, Titan Class) and Talamon as the Arkonide representative. The Regent also sends a positronic brain link to discuss the mysterious disappearances that have plaguing the Empire during the past 10 years. Entire planets have been depopulated leaving no trace of any life forms.A surprise attack by invisible ships and beings results in the loss of Cadet Becker. The mutants cannot make contact telepathically and the Regent calls Talamon back to avoid the loss of the Arc-Koor. Perry is left on his own, and the K-7 is lost as Rous attempts to find Becker. Perry withdraws temporarily to evaluate his position since only the teleporters can escape the clutches of this new unseen enemy.Pucky and Tama search for Rous as Perry joins Talamon in the investigation of a "rocket ship" heading from Mirsal 2 towards Mirsal 3 which now would appear to be inhabited. The Unseen swallow this ship along with Mirsal 3. Perry finally convinces the Regent to give him command of the Arc-Koor as he and Talamon head for Mirsal 2.
Title 59: Rückkehr aus dem Nichts / 51, Return from the Void
Theme: The Unseen
Timeline: September - October, 2040
Location: Mirsal 2, Arkon 3
Characters:
Synopsis: Rous, Perez, and Fellmer Lloyd are planted on Mirsal 2 to observe the disappearances first hand. They find that Arkonide transport suit shields can protect them to a degree. Rous and Lloyd construct an annular ring field that lets them peer into the "other dimension" where the Unseen live.The 4th attack takes Perez. Lloyd and Rous pierce the dimension door and Rous goes in. He saves Perez in this curiously slowed down world (72,000 times slower). Using the lens he is unharmed. The Drusus and Arc-Koor are summoned and survive several attacks while 100,000 inhabitants are saved, but millions die.They travel to Arkon 3 to meet with the Regent who yields to Perry’s demands giving him control of 75% of the Arkonide Fleet, all commanded by humanoid troops. They prepare for the showdown with the Unseen.
Title 60: Festung Atlantis / 52, Fortress Atlantis
Theme: Atlan, The Unseen
Timeline: Novemeber 2040
Location: Earth, Venus
Ships:
Characters:
Synopsis: Before tackling the Unseen, Perry goes back to reconcile with Atlan and to solicit his assistance in the upcoming war. Atlan recaps his early time on earth after a discussion of the Unseen triggers his eidetic memory.Atlan, The Crystal Prince, is called in to suppress a corrupt administration on Larsa 2 (Venus). Of the two million population, 50,000 Zakgrebians are unhappy and request relocation to Larsa 3 (Earth). After investigation, Atlan agrees to settle them in "Atlantis" on the equator.The "Methane Wars" take him away from his namesake community. Two years later as the war is proceeding badly for the Empire, Atlan is called back to Earth because the Unseen have depopulated Venus. Arkon evacuates all but 15,000 settlers to help populate the thinning army, as Atlan is orderd to try and capture the "weapon" used by the Unseen.A new invention partially stops the menace but he loses most of his fleet. The under-sea dome is built, and eventually IT appears giving Atlan a Cell Activator and a new weapon, a 5th dimensional converter cannon. But the story ends abruptly without a full resolution, other than to explain that the new weapon successfully defeats the Methane Breathers.
Title 61: Der Robot-Spion / 53, Spybot!
Theme: Discovery of Earth
Timeline: November 2040
Location: Swaft - Swoofon #2
Races:
Star Systems: Swaft, 992 ly from Earth, 3 planets, Swoofon #2
Characters:
Synopsis: Mutant Kulman gives the top priority 3 alarm signal and the Drusus comes running to Swoofon. But when the arrive they find that he believes he never sent the signal. He has a powerful mind block. The Drusus decides not to head directly home but to make a series of transitions hoping to determine who the spy is on board. At first they believe it is Kulman, but eventually suspicion gravitates to Muzzel, the "pet" that Kulman picked up on Swoofon, who has also befriended and fooled Pucky. Either the Springers or the Regent are after the Earth’s location and Muzzel is their plant who is dropping tiny micro-transmitters after each hyperjump. Atlan exposes Muzzel and he is terminated.
Title 62: Die blauen Zwerge / 54, The Blue Dwarfs
Theme: The Colonists
Timeline: November 2040
Location: Grautier (The Grey Beast)
Races:
Characters:
Synopsis: Hollander and Mullon are still vying for control of the colony. During Mullons’ exploration expeditions they meet the Mungos, who assist them in curing a local disease, and the Blue Dwarfs. Hollander attempts to kill Mullon and take over.Pashen, a Hollander double agent, kills Mullon, but the Blue Dwarfs are able to revive him. After a long recovery, Mullon and his small force head back to the village. They run into Chellish, a Rhodan agent. Hollander has the village tightly controlled under martial law, so they head back to the Dwarfs to plan their next move.
Title 63: Die Mikro-Technicker / 55, The Micro-Techs
Theme: Discovery of Earth
Timeline: November 2040
Location: Swoofon
Characters:
Synopsis: With Muzzel eliminated Kulman remembers that the Swoons were hired to build a structural compensator detector and that the Regent is prepared to violate his agreement with Rhodan as soon as the Unseen threat is over. The Drusus, Titan, and General Pounder cordon off Swaft in an effort to capture the detectors design. Perry realizes that destroying the plans will only delay the inevitable, so they opt to copy the plans while allowing them to continue to build it. This will permit them to begin the creation of a counter weapon.Pucky and Noir work with the Swoons Markus and Waff and obtain a copy from the Springer Drog. Perry then forges an alliance with the Swoons who are taken back to earth, as the major scientific university where they work is destroyed.
Title 64, Im Zeit-Gefängnis / 56, Prisoner of Time
Theme: The Unseen
Timeline: January 2041
Location: Morag - Tats-Tor #2
Races: Druufs, Caterpillars
Star Systems:
Characters:
Synopsis: Lt. Rous heads a mission to the next target of the intersecting time planes, Tats-Tor. They use a gazelle equipped with a Lens Field Generator (LFG). They try to convince the local Arkonide administrator that their world is threatened, but it falls on deaf and suspicious ears.After activating the LFG they are trapped in the other world and they meet the "Druufs" in this frozen plane where time moves 72,000 times slower. However, the Masters of the Druufs attack them and cripple their gazelle. They find that they can bring the caterpillars into their own time reference by traveling faster than the local speed of light in their Arkonide Battle Suits. They eventually find the lost Guppy (K7) that disappeared on Mirsal 3 under Rous’ command. They revive the crew members but are still stuck and await help from Rhodan.
Title 65: Ein Hauch Ewigkeit / 57, A Touch of Eternity
Theme: The Unseen
Timeline: July 13, 2041
Location: Tats-Tor
Ships: Sherbourne - Light Cruiser, 300’ sphere
Characters:
Synopsis: Perry finds the broken down LFG on TatsTor. They build another but it fails also. For months no one can determine why. Dr. Erb, using Gustav 6, finally solves the problem. They design a new large scale LFG that can open a hole large enough for a cruiser to enter. In spite of their haste, the Druuf’s seal the hole with enemy ships as soon as the Sherbourne enters the other universe. Ras and Pucky manage to disable one of their ships, discovering that they are manned by Robots. While rescuing Lt. Rous and attempting to defeat the enemy they discover that they are gradually phasing into the enemies time ratio. They also determine that the Druufs are a slave race that have lived at the edge of the other dimension for thousands of years.The second mission is a success for Ras, but Pucky is captured by a more powerful robot. Pucky manages to escape, so the Druuf Mother Ship takes action. The Sherbourne destroys a third ship and its destruction throws them back in time without Pucky.The telepathic creatures from the Mother Ship, whom Perry is still unable to get a glimpse of , send their envoy Kruukh. He attempts to hypnotize the human crew and convince them to surrender. The Mutant Corps successfully foils him. Using the tele-transmitter they swing into action and break away and through the LFG hole. Only 2 minutes have passed since they left, but they are unsure as to whether they destroyed the Mother Ship.
Title 66: Wächter der Verbannten / 58, The Guardians
Theme: The Colonists
Timeline: August 2041
Location: Grautier
Races: The Whistlers - Humanoid, very thin and tall. Inhabitants of Myrtha #12
Synopsis: Mullon, Milligan, Freddy, and Chellish work with the Blue Dwarfs to capture Hollander, the helicopter, and the town. Hollander is put to death and his supporters punished.Then the Whistlers attack. They ransack the town and take everyone prisoner. Chellish is in contact with Captain Blailey but they are not permitted to intervene. The prisoners are forced to harvest wheat, while Pashen, an old Hollander supporter, allies himself with the Whistlers. With a little help from their friends, they overthrow the Whistlers guarding them, and create a miniature Atom Bomb that destroys the enemy ship when it returns 4 months later. Pashen is shipped back to earth.
Title 67: Zwischenspiel auf Siliko V / 59, Interlude on Siliko 5
Theme: Thomas Cardiff
Timeline: Late 2041
Location: Rusuf, Heet-Ri, Siliko
Star Systems:
Ships: Cyclops Heavy Cruiser
Characters:
Synopsis: Graduation day. 80 new cadets. The three top graduates Hal Stockman (assigned to Venus under Dirkan), Tilf Reyno (assigned to Hellgate, replacing Lt. Bings), and Thomas Cardiff (assigned to Rusuf under Colonel Tifflor) all make lieutenant.Cardiff, Rhodan and Thora’s son, has been raised without knowing his origin. Thora can no longer resist seeing him and arrives on Rusuf in a new prototype gazelle, with a range of 10,000 light years. She is kidnapped by a ship with a new anti-tracking device and a hyper-compensator. Cardiff is assigned to scouting duty in Thora’s gazelle, and Perry arrives in the Drusus along with 8 additional Terra class cruisers. The Mutant Corps’ actions uncover the Springer name ‘Itzre Delegin’ but the cannot find him. During their missions Marshall and Ishibashi are almost killed.A clue on Heet-Ri leads Cardiff’s team to Siliko 5, a heavily defended Arkonide outpost only 50 miles in diameter. Cardiff is captured by the robots on this immense fortress while Perry’s full fleet (1 BB, 9 CA, 23 CL) arrives to attempt a rescue. But the Regent outsmarts Thora and she reveals who Cardiff really is. With the help of the invincible Tele-Transmitters Perry penetrates the "impregnable" planet, but they destroy the local positronic brain. This permits the Regent to deny any knowledge of the existence of this base.Thomas, Thora, and Perry do not reconcile.
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