The Emperor and the Monster

Jan 1977 mass market paperback, William Voltz (Paladin). On September 2, 2103, the IRONDUKE and a Terran squadron of four thousand vessels arrives in the system of the planet Saos. Cardif-Rhodan whose physical appearance is becoming worse by the hour wants the Antis to cure him. He appears increasingly intolerable. He wants to remove Hunts Krefenbac from his position as second in command of the IRONDUKE because he refuses to pick up a fallen collar button from the ground.