" Perry Rhodan 0103 - (95) The Plasma Monster" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

unmistakable clarity it revealed a definite flattening of both poles of the
alien vessel. It was 18:57. When Fitzgerald gave his instructions to the Com
Room he only spoke 6 words: "Order 486. Red alert to Headquarters!" Order 486
referred to Rhodan's warning bulletin. Two short pulse bursts had been coded
and prepared by the positronicon. They were beamed forth from the station's
hypercom antenna. The Solar Fleet Headquarters in Terrania was advised by the
interstellar operator in 3 short sentences concerning the observation of
station Ori-12-1818 Terrania did not return any questions. The contents of
the dispatch were all they required. Alarm sirens howled on board the
superbattleship Drusus. To the 3 duty officers in the giant Control Central
there could be no mistake about their signals. The Chief had given the alarm
himself and that meant a crash takeoff. . . . . Newsman Walt Ballin
was fascinated by Perry Rhodan's lightning-swift but carefully considered
actions. He finally began to realize that he was witnessing a key moment in
which new developments were taking place. "Bell, are you there?... Marshall!
All available mutants to the Drusus-red alert!... Freyt, you take over-I have
to go!... Drusus...!" Now for the first time the loudspeaker came to
life. "Yessir, this is Control Central of the..." "Emergency takeoff in 15
minutes. I want a 3-way hypercom channel hookup between the Drusus, Command
Headquarters and Ori-12-1818!" "Understood, sir. Emergency takeoff
in..." But Rhodan had already changed his connection to Fleet Headquarters.
"Instructions to Orion Fleet Task Force. Do not intercept alien spaceship in
Orion Sector. The Drusus is joining you. But in case additional alien ships
appear you are to attack per Order 486-A. This is a red alert for all Orion
Fleet units. That is all!" When Rhodan glanced sharply at him, Ballin was
startled. "Care to come along?" The newsman felt a second shock run through
him. "You mean me?" "Yes, I mean you, sir. Come along. We're taking off in 13
minutes!" Rhodan was already passing him on his way to the door, so all Ballin
could do was follow him. The antigravitor carried them to the roof of the
skyscraper. While they were floating up the shaft, Rhodan spoke to the
journalist. "If you'd prefer not to, Ballin, you don't have to make the
flight. It's my guess that some very heavy risks will be involved." "Are you
kidding, sir? I'm grabbing the chancel. What profession doesn't involve a
risk?" His words brought a smile to Rhodan's face but Ballin couldn't tell
whether it was an expression of sympathy or mockery. "It's true what you say
about risks in general, Mr. Ballin, but I doubt if you understand the
difference between professional risks and those that are involved in flights
such as this." They reached the roof just as Reginald Bell's aircar rose up
and shot away in the direction of the spaceport. A few moments later, Ballin
was sitting next to Rhodan in a second aircar. Under forced acceleration the
vehicle hurtled toward that section of the spaceport where the giant spherical
hull of the Drusus loomed into the sky. The bewildered journalist heard
Rhodan saying: "I'm surprised you aren't asking any questions, Ballin.
Naturally you should know where this flight is heading, and why I issued the
red alert." He ignored Ballin's astonishment and once more scanned his
thoughts. He could see that the reporter was aware of a big newsbreak of some
kind but that he had no suspicion of the fact he was sitting next to someone
who was equipped with special faculties. "Sir, this whole change of situation
has happened so unexpectedly... I..." Ballin broke off in confusion when he
heard Rhodan laugh. "For you, Ballin-but not for my closest aides and