"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0010 - (5a) Space Battle in the Vega Sector" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"So?"

The single word seemed to hang in the air, threatening trouble.

Bell shrugged his shoulders. He ground out the barely lit cigarette under his heel. "Finished,~ he said, with no trace of emotion on his broad face. "We’ve done what we could. That ray beam from the super giant did us in. I’m finally grasping what Khrest always meant when he insisted on calling this an auxiliary boat. Against a real battleship we couldn’t show any teeth at all, and we always thought we had a powerful fighting instrument in our hands."

"We had enough teeth to put the Topides in their place."

Granted, but we would have been a ridiculous nonentity against Arkonide cruisers. And if you bump into a superclass battleship with ray beams bigger than the Good Hope itself, then…"He interrupted himself with a harsh laugh. After a moment he concluded curtly. "So, what is there left to say about it? We’re stuck. It’s a real miracle that we were able to land at all. The pulse drive system needs a complete overhaul. Hyperjumps are no longer possible. Since the Ferrons don’t know anything about the principle, maybe we’ll have to stay in the Vega system forever. To put it mildly, this is the worst blow that the Third Power has been hit with to date. Our hypertransmitter is still working. We’re repairing the power source. At least with that we’ll be able to send a report to Earth. It’ll be up to Colonel Freyt now whether Terra remains strong and unified or not. In spite of our own disgraceful luck, at least our people will be able to complete the new ships. It’s possible with good conditions that they could pick us up in about two years."

"It’s a tempting idea and well taken, but it’s untenable," Perry advised with granite calm. "The new ships will never fly without our own special knowledge."Bell suddenly looked crestfallen. An oppressive silence pervaded the control room. Only the special robots continued their repair work undistractedly. The incapacitated detection system had to be put back in service as quickly as possible.

"I sense strong excitement in neighbouring space," announced Betty Toufry. She sat with closed eyes and continued speaking. "Very great consternation among the Ferrons. Confused thought streams. A very high ranking person seems to have abandoned them."

"Abandoned?" Rhodan stressed the word, as though it might have several connotations. "Can you furnish any specific data?"

"No. Their thoughts are too confused—all worked up. There is a mood of panic."

"Marten, see if you can grab on to a cognizant Ferronian consciousness—somebody in the area she’s talking about. Betty, work with him. Marshall, plug yourself into this, too."Between Rhodan and Bell, the air began to shimmer. Teleportationist Tako Kakuta appeared. His small child’s face showed the first symptoms of exhaustion. Since the landing he had been flitting about continually."There is chaos on the whole planet," he reported. "But it looks like the Topides are avoiding a direct attack—just a few recon ships in wide orbit. The planet is young, Earth climate, still only sparsely settled. There are oceans, mountains, and wide plains. Just like at home. This city is called Jugnor, the only large settlement on the planet of Rofus. The main space port is here, but there are hardly any Ferronian ships left. Almost all of them have taken off. Only a few damaged units are lying about the countryside. Any further orders, Chief?"

"Take a breather, Tako," Rhodan murmured pensively. "You look tired. For the time being we couldn’t care less what our surroundings look like. This planet is probably like 10,000 others of the same type. It’s strange, but I’m gradually beginning to think in cosmic terms." He laughed, then added cryptically. "No more extracurricular activities, Take. I’ll soon have to send you on some difficult missions."Only Reginald Bell detected the nuances in Rhodan’s voice. He seemed to be listening to his own inner sensors. Finally he looked up and his eyes narrowed. Dryly, he whispered, "You’re cooking something, old man!"A hypertransmission report came in. Major Deringhouse appeared on the visiscreen. It spared Rhodan from giving Bell a direct answer.

"We’re standing close to the central planet," came Deringhouse’s filtered voice. "The last Ferronian defence line has been smashed. We’ve destroyed ten Topidian ships, but now Big brother out here is beginning to give us the look. He seems to think maybe we’re a hit too playful. What shall I do, sir? He’s turning our way—I have him on the survey sensors. Shall I attack?"

"You’ve lost your marbles," replied Rhodan. "Set down immediately—full power! Make a diversion path like a pretzel, and don’t you let that gorilla swipe you with a ray beam! I still have plans for you, buddy, so get down here on the double!"

"Sir, that won’t make friends and influence people in Ferronialand. Our two fighters are worth a hundred of their egg crates! Maybe it sounds corny, but we’ve become the backbone of the Ferronian fleet!"

"You and Klein pull out of there. When that battleship loses interest in you, maybe you can return. In the mean time, disappear. How do things look to you on the eighth planet?"

"The Topides have started landing operations, but it’s not a planetwide blitz—their attacks are only against obvious military defence centers. The cities are being spared. We can count the nuclear blasts down there—none of it very strong."Rhodan switched off. The situation had developed as he had suspected. He smiled grimly. "I had a good hunch in not landing us on Ferrol—that’s become the hot spot now. Those lizards are landing there—they’re going to knock it into line, Topide style, and then strike out at the colonial planets. So for the present, we have a sanctuary. What’s the matter with him?"He looked across at Chaktor. The blue skinned Ferron stood in front of the short range visiphone and carried on an obviously excited conversation with another man of his race.

Betty Toufry put herself in rapport with them. Khrest remained in his state of dull apathy, the victim of ultimate resignation.

For the time being it seemed that no untoward event was to be expected, at least not here. Deringhouse supported this consensus by reporting excitedly that the giant battleship had turned its attention from the small space fighters and was apparently set for a landing on planet number eight.

"We weren’t faster than they were, just more nimble and frisky. I am continuing reconnaissance."At this moment Rhodan switched suddenly from his apparent lethargy to his old self, galvanized for decisive action.

"Khrest!"

The sharply spoken word brought the Arkonide abruptly out of his stupor. He looked into a pair of eyes that glistened with hard decision.

"Before you get lost in yourself, I’d like to request a bit of information. Are you certain that that space monster is actually a space battleship of your own race?"

"Naturally," Khrest answered. "Otherwise, nothing could have conquered us."

"It isn’t logical that Arkonides would take part in or give support to an invasion by nonhumans. Therefore, the ship must be manned by Topides. One small question—how did those freaks get hold of a ship that is the most powerful class of battlewagon in the whole imperial fleet?"Khrest shrugged helplessly. He seemed to have no answer. Thora stared blankly at the wall.

"There are two possibilities," Rhodan continued. "Either the battleship has gone over to the Topides under control of decadent Arkonide officers or it was simply captured. Considering the carelessness and lethargy of your people, God knows that wouldn’t be surprising! In either case, however, the further question arises—how can the Topides manage to handle the complex Arkonide instruments and equipment with such an expert touch? Captive Arkonides have handed over their knowledge."