The Sarcophagi of the Sixth Continent, Volume 1: The Universal Threat is the sixteenth Blake and Mortimer book in the series. Plot In February 1958, at Simla, Indian warlords came together around Acoka, former risen Emperor of India, who tells them they are developing a "new weapon" that will allow India to take revenge on the West. After his speech, Acoka talks with Major Varitch of the Red Army participating in the operation, and they agree to take revenge on Blake and Mortimer. Many years ago, the young Philip Mortimer returns for the first time in several years in India to find his parents. In Bombay, he helps a compatriot, Francis Blake, plagued with extremists. The two young men became friends during their journey by train. After having escaped a bomb attack thanks to the fact of having been knocked out of Ambala station, Philip finally gets to Simla, where he finds his parents. The next day, he finds his childhood friend, Sushil, who is very cold with him. Invited to come and listen to the speech of Acoka, the young Scotsman falls in love with Princess Gita. During the reception organized by the Mortimers in honor of their son, Acoka appears suddenly and ordered the guests to leave his country and Philip away from his daughter. Archibald Mortimer, the disappointed by his son's attitude, decides to return him to England the next day. At night, Philip goes on his date with Gita but, arriving late, misses it. The next day, at Simla station, Acoka comes to accuse him of being the cause of the suicide of his daughter and curses him. Back in February 1958, in London, Mortimer, awakened by a nightmare, is about to join the team of the British Pavilion of the world exhibition of 1958 in Brussels. At the same time, in Antarctica, Professor Anartapur supervises the unloading of a fragile equipment for the Indian base of Gondwana. In a secret underground cavity, he finds Acoka and Major Varitch escorting Colonel Olrik. The Emperor explains to the latter that he will have to work on the plan and that he will win the opportunity of revenge on Mortimer. In Brussels, Mortimer makes Blake visit the British pavilion where a permanent radio contact with the Halley Antarctic base is set up. At the French pavilion, the two friends meet the Professor Labrousse who is about to leave