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

"They have terrible weapons," interjected Lossos, the leading Ferron scientist.

"Ours are better. Sir, please issue the orders and furnish my people with your fastest aircraft or a small spaceship. We have no time to lose."

While the Thort issued instructions, Rhodan turned to search his own people carefully with his eyes. Finally he said, "Tako Kakuta and Betty, get ready. Each of you take along a psychoradiator and convince those shot down Topides to come out like good fellows from under cover. I need the officers especially—there should be a few among them. Tako, in an emergency you could pop in behind them. But just take care of yourself."The mutants prepared themselves, Tako with a smile and Betty with casual resignation.

The Thort was startled. "But…how can those two manage to disarm a heavily armed crew like that?" The colour of his skin turned to a pastel blue. Rhodan noted that he was agitated for the first time."They are entirely adequate. We have forces and powers that are unknown to you. Sir, is the transportation ready?" Tako winked and disappeared. The Thort sat down slowly.

"This is beyond me," he whispered into the translator. "Who are you? Where do you come from? You are a fearful people. Your capabilities seem to be unlimited."

Rhodan supplied them with complete details as to their origin, without, however, making any mention of Earth. For the Ferrons they were all advanced Arkonides. And all his assertions were unhesitatingly accepted.

Perry utilized the waiting period by finding out more about the Ferrons. An excellent relationship was gradually established with the Thort, whose office, as it was revealed, was not inheritable. After his death a new Thort would have to be chosen from among the most capable leaders. There was little evidence of political intrigues. Rhodan perceived a shining future for these people, but something undefinable seemed to be missing.

After two hours, ship’s time, Tako announced himself over his portable microtransmitter. "We have them, Chief. Five live ones, two of them officers. It was no sweat Betty located them for me, and I jumped into working distance from them. They responded immediately to the psychic ray. We’ll be there in a half hour. This flier is very fast"

"Now we shall see," said Rhodan in cold, impersonal tones.

The Thort tensed. He suddenly looked upon this tall, lean man with a new perspective. All Rhodan’s former equanimity was gone; there was no more of courteous protocol and friendly formality."I am beginning to understand that in comparison to your high station I might best be considered a small provincial office holder," the Thort said. "Command me as you will—all I ask is that you help my people."Rhodan had never been so deeply moved. Bell compressed his lips tightly. Dr. Haggard struggled to conceal his own embarrassment.





CHAPTER 9

"When we’re dealing with Topidian space officers," Khrest advised, "we must use the Inter-Cosmo language, which is universal to all Systems of the Great Empire. Each Topidian officer must learn it of course, the instantaneous translator is automatically programmed to handle Inter-Cosmo, so there will be no problem there."Moments later the prisoners were brought in, completely under the dominance of the mutant Kakuta’s will. The deep posthypnotic effect of the psychic ray had changed them into obedient automatons. With a sudden horrified outcry, the Thort rose from his chair. Never before had he seen a Topide, nor had anyone on Ferrol known exactly the physical nature of their attackers.Instinctively, his officers drew their weapons. They carried excellent ray guns, operating on the principle of ultra-high intensity light quanta. The creatures who entered the control room in their passive state were looking at a bristling array of needle bore ray muzzles.

After a slow, deep breath, Rhodan said carefully, "Please put your weapons away—it might precipitate an accident. Your people are edgy, Your Excellency. Please advise them that I will take care of the security here."The Thort transmitted the order. The small ray guns went back to their holsters.

The cross examination of the prisoners proceeded in the damaged control room. Doctors Haggard and Manoli were momentarily absent while procuring certain medical equipment from the infirmary. There could be no doubt that these intelligences were strictly nonhuman. Nor could anyone refute the obvious fact that they had evolved from a reptilian phylum of the tree of life. Rhodan examined them very thoroughly. They wore close fitting uniforms that emphasized the unusually slender form of their physiques. Rhodan made a signal for Thora and Betty to leave the room. He used the Inter-Cosmo translator.

"The Topidian officer on the left will disrobe…and hurry it up!" he said.Then, to Tako Kakuta and John Marshall, keep your feelers out and watch his thought processes for me."Tako focused the fanned out beam of the psycho weapon on the indicated Topidian officer. With unusually agile movements, the latter began to remove his uniform.

Rhodan clamped his mouth tight in order to suppress the same horrified outcry that the Ferronian ruler had made. Here for the first time was a revelation that the returning doctors would no doubt be able to verify.

"My God!" whispered Dr. Haggard, his forehead reddening with shock. I had not considered this!"

"Dress yourself again," Rhodan ordered curtly, through the translator. "Bell—Betty and Thora can come back now. The thing is finished. Tako, switch to mass hypnosis. Give them a standing order to answer every question with absolute truthfulness."While Tako converted the psychic ray and administered the hypnotic instruction, Rhodan took one last searching look at the alien figures. Although they possessed two arms and two legs and walked erect, they were not even humanoid. They were oxygen breathers, but there the similarity to humans ceased. Their dark brown scaly skin was enough in itself to confirm this, and Rhodan didn’t care to speculate on their metabolic processes. Their lizard skulls were hairless, broad, and low, their wide, thin lips were needle-toothed, and their large, startlingly protruding eyeballs possessed independent movement like those of chameleons. The intense light of the Vega system was probably a strain for them.Their enormous intelligence was no camouflage for the fact that they were of a totally inhuman character with utterly alien concepts of tolerance, ethics, and morality. The idea of sympathy or compassion was unknown to them. On the other hand they possessed other principles or concepts of ethic that, to humans and Ferrons alike, were strange and in some ways ridiculous. One could only negotiate with these six fingered descendants of reptiles on the basis of the most extreme caution. As Khrest had explained, treaties and other agreements made with them never retained validity for long.

Rhodan began a cross examination of one of the two officers. The prisoner answered in perfect Inter-Cosmo and dispelled any last doubts of his identity. Alter a few routine questions, Rhodan turned quickly to the core of the problem.

"You have told us that your ship was shot down by a small Arkonide space fighter near planet eight. You are the commander, so you must know where that imperial class Arkonide battleship came from so suddenly. How did your people obtain possession of it? Who is manning it? Are there Arkonides on board?"

"They were killed," explained the officer in dull tones. His great eyes were unseeing and waxen while under the continuing influence of the psychic ray.

"We captured the battleship on Topid. It had landed there to obtain fresh water. The crew was asleep and we overpowered the guards with gas. We forced the Arkonides to train us. The battleship is the spinal column of our fleet"

The explanation was more or less stammered out, interrupted by much cross questioning. Finally, Rhodan had learned enough. He allowed the prisoners to be taken away by Ferron guards.