Rival Rigelians / Planetary Agent X

*Rival Rigelians* The team from Earth had the task of raising backward planets to the home world's high level. The situation on Rigel was this: "The most advanced culture on Rigel's first planet is to be compared to the Italian cities during Europe's feudalistic yeas The most advanced of the second planet is comparable to the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish conquest" "These planets are in your control to the extent that no small group has ever dominated millions before. No Caesar ever exerted the power that will be in your collective hands. For half a century, you will be as gods and goddesses!" But the Rigelians were themselves descended from the lost colonists of old Earth and they could learn their lessons as fast as they could be taught. In fact, they could even teach their teachers a thing or two. And therein lay the peril the professors from space never dreamed of. *Planetary Agent X* Newly accepted as a Special Agent of the star-spanning United Planets organization, Ronny Bronston found that his first assignment was one which had taken the lives of dozens of agents before him: he was to track down a man named Tommy Paine. "We've been trying to catch him for twenty years," said Ronny's section chief. "How long before that he was active, we have no way of knowing. It was some time before we became aware that half the revolts, coups d'etats and assassinations that occur in the United Planets have his dirty finger stirring around in them." "But what motivates him?" Ronny asked. "What's he get out of all the war and killing he stirs up?" "Nobody seems to know. But the best guess is that he's insane -- a homicidal maniac on an intergalactic scale. He's dangerous, Ronny, and you've got to get him!"