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

"That is an insult!" said Thora.

"I’m recalling our own experiences with you. You were in trouble yourselves, and so you trained us. The main difference is that you fell into the hands of humans, not Topides. Thora, I want you to start training our men immediately."She drew herself up haughtily. He moved over to the Ferron, who was still speaking excitedly into the visiphone. On the screen, in addition to Chaktor’s countryman, a large vaulted hall was visible."What training are you talking about?" asked the Arkonide woman, amazed. Khrest’s features tautened. Bell grinned knowingly. He knew his former captain like a book. For Rhodan there was no such concept as "impossible."

"Seven of my men were killed in our recent skirmish. Therefore, in your capacity as a former cruiser commander, you will see to it that the forty-three surviving crewmen are placed in readiness to operate the most essential control units of a super battleship—or are they manageable by only one person?"

"Impossible! In spite of a high level of automation, at least three hundred fully trained people are mandatory. You are insane! You simply can’t—"

"I shall, and what’s more—soon," Perry interrupted. "Or did you assume that I was going to spend the rest of my life on a planet of the Vega system? Ferronian spaceships are limited to light speed and are therefore of no interest to us. We could probably never unsnarl lizard logic sufficiently to figure out the Topide system of hypertravel. So the only choice remaining is to dig into that Arkonide battleship, where we’d eventually have a chance of understanding its operation. We’re going to take the whole hog. You will start the training without delay. Thank you."That was all. All persons present exchanged significant glances. Only the two Arkonides remained troubled and confused.

Finally, Thora half whispered, "Has it occurred to you that the battleship has probably landed on the eighth Planet by now?"

A fleeting ironic smile touched Rhodan’s lips. "I’m starting on that problem now," he said softly. "Have you noticed a few background details in that visiphone screen that Chaktor is talking into? Take a look at those heavy, pillar-shaped pieces of equipment with the heavy duty cable connections. You should remember that Khrest mentioned something about some s-called matter transmitters the Ferronians have, which are able to convert any kind of matter into energy and transmit it. Very well—what you see glimmering in those force fields may well be organic life!"They became aware of the dull, heavy humming sound coming out of the loudspeakers. Chaktor pointed excitedly at the screen and shouted several words at Betty Toufry.

She turned immediately: "in his thoughts I see a high ranking personality. It’s getting clearer. He calls this high person ‘thort’—its not a common name, but a title. That’s it—a title, like emperor or king, but it seems even more than that The Thort is the supreme ruler."

"They’re abandoning a sinking ship," Rhodan muttered with narrowed eyes. "Women and children are also arriving. That means the ruling family has made an exodus from their besieged home planet to seek refuge here. Things are getting interesting."Chaktor addressed him in great perturbation.

Betty paraphrased from his consciousness: "The Thort requests an immediate conference with you, The chief of the Ferronian fleet gave him a complete report hours ago. The Thort has been given exact details of our participation, including our getting shot down. You won’t have to take up time explaining all that."Whereas Rhodan restricted himself to a thoughtful clearing of the throat, Bell gasped in sudden excitement "Good Lord! If the supreme ruler himself has climbed into a transmitter just to talk to you, that really means something! These people are way out ahead of humankind on Earth If you can wrangle a good deal out of him! Man! Save your credit cards!"

"There’s the slight detail of getting back to Earth first," Rhodan retorted. "Right now we’re going to keep up the role of superiority with these people. In fact, there’s no other choice if we don’t want to pull a major deception on these fellows when their back is to the wall. We and the Good Hope are apparently their last hope. Besides that…"Rhodan paused to reflect a moment, then said, "Besides that, there’s an advantage in dealing with people who are hard pressed and in retreat. In most cases you can approach them with reasonable arguments. Understand, I want the Thort here in the control room—outside I’m not on as firm a footing. Bell, plug in the automatic translator. We’re going to have to do something right away about learning the Ferrons’ language. Khrest can help out there with a crash hypno course. We’ve got all we need already in the data banks of the translator."Rhodan looked at Chaktor, who seemed to wither in awe of the situation. Apparently this was the first time in his life that he had been confronted with a chance to be in the presence of the Thort.

"Take it easy, Perry," Bell cautioned. "This is the ruler of an entire planetary system. How can you tell him—"Rhodan went over to the instantaneous translator, followed by a flustered Chaktor. "Betty, make it clear to him that the commander of this spaceship requests the visit of the Thort in these quarters, because the equipment is here to overcome speech difficulties. The representative facilities are unfortunately not portable."

The telepath spoke over the translator to Chaktor, who immediately transmitted the information over the telecom in his own language. It required only a few moments before. The Thort’s acceptance was returned. An elder Ferron appeared on the visiscreen."It is Lossos, the leading Ferronian scientist," Betty announced.

Rhodan spoke softly into the command transmitter on his wrist. In the cargo hold of the ship, the Arkonide fighter robots awoke. Ponderous yet surprisingly agile, the special automatons stomped through the large cargo ramp into the open.

Bell rasped out an oath. "What the devil! What do you think you’re doing!"

"A little psychology is all. We’re making an impression," Rhodan advised him. "Marshal, you have a splendid uniform. How loud can you shout?"

"If you want, I can bellow like a bull, Chief!"

"Then go out there on the ramp and take command of the robots. I want high protocol—the whole bit, with a full military salute, although a few days ago I considered such things as nonsense. There’s a reason for it hare, and I want the Thort to be received with all honours."The mutant disappeared.

"If you get away with the introductions," sneered Thora, "what are you going to say to the Thort? You are dealing with an advanced race of people."

"Naturally. They know and can do more than humans, ourselves excepted," Rhodan admitted. "I’m requesting you urgently not to contradict me in what I tell them. For the Ferronians we will all be Arkonides who have come from a planet that is 34,000 light-years distant."

"As you please," she answered, sarcastically.

Rhodan adjusted his uniform. Two fighter robots standing in the control room were given special instructions. The screen field projectors of the mighty pulse generators began to shimmer. The machines were ready for action.

Everything must appear in working order," said Rhodan. "Bell, is the simultaneous translator ready? Thank you. Betty, scrounge around in the supreme ruler’s consciousness. I want to know what kind of wheels are turning behind his words."The girl failed to suppress a brief smile before she nodded her acquiescence.



The distance between the local transmitter room and the Good Hope was apparently not very great, because the Thort’s party appeared quickly on the scene. Outside they heard Marshall’s bellowed command: "Pre-e-e-sent arms!" It was as though he were trying to be heard throughout the planet.A deep roaring sound of a landing ship was heard. In the same moment, on another screen, those in the control room observed the reaction of the robots outside. On command, their weapon arms raised up high in a precision salute. It was an impressive reception for the Thort and his entourage of high officers and officials. Marshall’s officious greeting and salute would have made General Pounder himself respond instinctively if he had been there. The Thort recognized the ceremony with both hands extended in imperial salute. It was a magnificent spectacle. Then the party was signaled on board.Rhodan spoke swiftly to his companions. "Gentlemen, never forget that you represent the human race! Comport yourselves graciously but impressively. Don’t let the Thort ever get the impression that we feel inferior to him. Bell, you do the reception formalities and introductions here."