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

"Well, what or whom should I introduce you as?" Bell asked worriedly.

"As the ruler of the Third Power, same as if it were the Great Empire itself. The term ‘President’ will mean as much to him as anything else. It’s as strange a word to him as Thort is to us. Here he comes!"

"How impudent!" whispered Thora.

Only Khrest began to smirk appreciatively. The top Arkonide scientist seemed now fully aware of the strategy.

Rhodan stood motionlessly beside the translator. As Bell’s formal announcement and introduction emerged from the loudspeakers in the Ferronian language, the Thort received his next shock of surprise. He observed the ultradvanced translator machine with obvious amazement Rhodan exhibited a friendly smile, but it was essentially more casual than Bell’s.Then the two intelligent beings from widely separated cultures stood facing each other—the Thort old, small, and drawn with worry and Rhodan tall, lean, and in command of every nerve fibre."You are welcome, sir. Won’t you be seated, please?"The two fighter robots stepped silently between the two commanders. The fluorescing muzzles of their weapons remained pointed at the ceiling. After taking a long look at them, the Ferronian ruler sat down in one of the control seats. Rhodan spoke a few more courteous words into the translator for the sake of protocol.

The Thort waited until he had finished. When his reply came, it was extremely brief and surprising. This man surmised the significance of the demonstration he had witnessed, and he accepted the implications. Although well aware of the alien differences between his own kind and the human race, he gave full recognition to the fact that these aliens had come to the defence of the battle pressed Ferrons.

"Your spaceship is severely damaged," came the translation. "You know that we are lost without your help. Therefore, what can I do for you? My empire stands at your disposal.Can your ship be repaired?"

The statement was clear and unambiguous, which didn’t surprise Rhodan. The Thort appeared to be anything but a weakling. Obviously, he was a strong, logical thinker. It suited Rhodan’s character to be even more brief and succinct. In this situation there could be no misunderstandings.Before he could answer, however, an announcement came over the hyperwave communicator that the now famous giant Arkonide space sphere had landed on the eighth planet. Major Derringhouse was on the hookup. Rhodan instructed him to continue surveillance and to keep detailed reports coming in. Then he cut the connection.

"Was that one of the pilots of the small fighter ships?" one of the higher Ferronian officers inquired excitedly.

Rhodan confirmed that it was.

"But how can the transmission operate that fast?"

"We have not only ultralight speed space travel, but ultra-speed visiphone transmission. Distance is immaterial."

When the translation came through, the officer looked at his companions in triumph. Apparently he had expressed this theory to them and had been met with disbelief. Rhodan could appreciate the impact of these things on the Ferrons.

From then on the officers remained very silent. The Thort continued to examine his surroundings with a penetrating eye.

"Sir, did you arrive here by means of a matter transmitter?" Rhodan asked. He caught a fleeting, strange reaction on the part of the blue skinned ruler.

"Of course. I was forced to leave the eighth world precipitately. What do you know of the transmitter? Do you know anything of its operating principle? To us it’s the greatest mystery of the universe."

"Absolutely nothing," Rhodan replied gently. He did not pursue the subject any further. The Thort was disturbed enough. "Sir, you offered me your assistance. Yes, my ship is unflightworthy. You do not have the technologies necessary to repair. It The surprise shot we received from the battleship was a mortal wound."

"Then—I must resign myself to being without you?"Rhodan saw the blue skinned features of the other sag with despair. A dull pain of hopelessness was apparent in the deepset eyes of the Ferron.

"By no means!" he said. "It is merely necessary that you place your transmitter station at the disposal of myself and my people. You’ve just heard the report that the supership has landed on the eighth planet. You simply have to make it possible for me, with the help of your transmitters, to land there in the quickest and most unobserved manner. If that is not permissible, I’ll have to take the more complicated alternative of using my two small fighter ships to get there."The Thort was astonished. Nevertheless, he immediately agreed to the request, followed by another question. What~ will you do there? The planet is under enemy occupation."

"I will take the battleship. Then we will make further plans." Rhodan said easily. "As stated, this ship is no longer usable. I was on a short exploration trip, for which this vessel was quite suitable. If I had suspected that a Topide invasion was going on, I would have come here with a fleet. I’m very sorry."Bell would have liked to at least clear his throat, but he controlled himself. Excited interrogations followed. Rhodan explained clearly who the Topides were, where they came from, and their capabilities. The Thort again pledged every possible assistance. Rhodan received permission to use the transmitters. Then came the touchy question

"Will you be able to operate the supership?"

Rhodan replied calmly, "Sir, it is a battleship of my own race."

This elicited a strong reaction among the Ferrons. The officers froze. Only the Thort remained calm. Obviously, he was self-possessed and shrewd.

"But certainly it is not manned by people of your race?"

"Naturally not. It’s a mystery to me how the Topides got possession of it. I am urgently requesting that no pains be spared to bring me a living Topide. Have you taken any prisoners?"No, they had not been able to salvage a single Topid. However, one young officer added that a Topidian lifeboat had been shot down and had made an emergency landing in the north polar region. The Ferronian soldiers couldn’t get near it because the alien crew was equipped with unknown superior weapons and their defence was impenetrable.Rhodan did not hesitate. "Sir, I would like to have you transport two of my people to the landing place and have your troops draw back. I want those fellows alive."