The Merchandise Guide
Annual 1977

The small, coffin-shaped metal cannister had ap- peared suddenly. A mere speck in space that might have passed unnoticed save for the ultra- sophisticated probe equipment in Main Mission. Together, Commander John Koenig and Chief Pilot Alan Carter had taken Eagle Two to investigate, and now, even as they drew near, their ears were blasted by a sudden, shrieking transmission that seemed to fill every inch of their craft!    That it came from the strange object there could be no doubt. And it was just as certain that they were powerless against it! Such was the intensity of that fearful noise that it shook at the foundations of their very minds. Blocked their reflex impulses. Paralysed their nervous systems so that they could only sit con- torted with agony, their hands clamped in vain over their jangling ears! Within seconds, both of them passed mercifully into total unconsciousness!    In Main Mission, Controller Tony Verdeschi rose from his desk and strode across to the big video screen. Neither he nor his colleagues had heard anything of the shattering din that had overcome pilot and commander, but audio contact with the Eagle had naturally been lost.    "Commander! Come in! Do you copy? Can you hear me?"    David Kano turned from the computer. "Must be some technical fault. The Eagle's okay . . . look."

Sure enough, the big screen clearly showed Eagle Two turning from its objective, to begin its run for home.    "Standby Medical unit to docking area," snapped Verdeschi. "Just in case."    Doctor Helena Russell and her team were ready at the interior airlock even as the Eagle landed. And long minutes ticked by.    "What's keeping them?" This from her assistant, Doctor Mathias. "Do you reckon we ought to suit up and go out there . . ?"    But then the airlock doors slid open, and the med- ical team were startled into frozen amazement. Yes, Koenig and Carter were there - but limp in the grasp of a tall, swarthy alien, his powerful chest banded with golden straps.    "Who - who the blazes . . ?" Mathias was the first to recover his speech.    The alien smiled, not without a trace of nervous- ness as he looked about him. "I am Vamar," he said, simply. "I very much regret what has happened to your friends!"    "Are they . . ?" Helena's face was an ashen mask.    "Oh, no. Not dead," said Vamar hastily. "Believe me, they will recover. I fear they were stunned by the protective radiation from my capsule."    "You flew the Eagle back here . . ?"    Vamar nodded. "Luckily, the controls were within my sphere of understanding. Er - should you not take

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