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

formed an overlapping, interlocked ring of surveillance posts which were
designed for policing Rhodan's policies and making sure that all Galactic
Trader elements observed it. If there were any violations, Rhodan's space
squadrons would make a lightning-swift appearance and demand that the
unannounced ship identify itself in a hurry. Lt. Fitzgerald quickly glanced
at his oscillographs and saw that the spacewarp had been generated by a normal
hypertransition. "That's another Springer, for sure!" he said. All he had to
do was press a button. Instantly a datalink signal was transmitted to the two
Solar ships that were cruising at picket stations in his sector. The automatic
data hookup provided the patrol ships with all information necessary for them
to reach the point of emergence of the unknown spacer-that is, if in the next
moment the stranger did not disappear in a new transition jump. The Nile was
a ship of the Terra class, measuring 200 meters in diameter and carrying a
400-man crew. It had been alerted by Fitzgerald's data-link signal. The Nile's
big positronic computer processed the coördinates and started programming the
transition manoeuvre. The powerful impulse engines opened up with a full-power
propulsion blast. The power stations and inertial generators started to howl
and the converters built up swiftly to maximum output. 400 crewmen quickly
donned their spacesuits and scrambled to their stations. The ship's weapons
control central announced its battle readiness. The loudspeakers began to make
the transition countdown. In the ship's Control Central the operation was
routine. The alert had been no cause for undue excitement. These men were
veterans of far more serious missions than merely flagging a ship that had
failed to announce its approach. "Normal hyperjump?" asked the commander.
Communications had just completed evaluating the pulse-coded input from
Ori-12-1818, so he was double-checking to make sure. "Sir, it's a normal
jump. 3 minutes later the Nile made a hypertransition and emerged back into
the normal void some 28 light-years away, travelling at a velocity of 0.4
light-speed. Even in the moment of rematerialisation its tracking instruments
spotted the alien vessel and fed the data into the positronicon. While the
crew was still recovering from the transition shock the Nile was already on an
automatic course toward the unidentified spaceship. The instruments indicated
that the stranger's speed was 0.1% greater than that of the Nile. "Sir,"
remarked Corp. Penter without looking up from his tracking console, "we should
have been equipped by now with the new 3-D sensors like the relay
station." "Are you thinking of Rhodan's latest alert orders, Penter?"
returned the Nile's commander. "Yessir. Because we might be facing one of
those Akon ships. What's to prevent those pre-Arkonides from still being able
to use 'Stone-Age' equipment like ours and bumble through hyperspace like we
do?" In the course of test-flying the research ship Fantasy, Rhodan and his
companions had penetrated the centre of the galaxy and there had discovered
the Blue System which was the home of the Akons, an incredibly advanced race
that was evidently the true ancestors of the Arkonides. Since that time,
Rhodan and the Solar Fleet had been expecting a visit from the Akons. But no
one was certain as to how they would come-whether in a spaceship or by means
of a technology which was so advanced that most men hadn't dreamed of it as
yet. Rhodan's alert order to the Fleet and to all relay stations read as
follows: In the case of unannounced penetrations of our zone of interest,
should any alien ship give any indication of an unusual form of propulsion,
Terrania Headquarters shall be alerted immediately. The commander of the