"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0040 - (32) Challenge of the Unknown" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

2/ A TERRIFYING MONSTROSITY

The automatic ship's calendar, which had by now been set for Earth time, indicated the 17th of June. Since
yesterday, nothing had changed.
The Titan's communication centre operated routinely at full capacity. The receivers were in a permanent scanning
mode in order to detect and record all possible information emanating from Arkon. The hypertrans sensors picked
up all variations in the surrounding area and registered all such data in the computer memory bank. From such
technical inputs a constant was derived, which indicated an hourly average of 500 hyper-transits within the system
of Voga. It was no wonder, then, that the Titan had not been discovered.
Gradually, Rhodan began to piece together an assessment of their situation. The robot brain on Arkon had issued a
red alert to no avail. All fighting forces stationed in star cluster M-13 had been ordered to report the space giants
appearance immediately. A direct engagement was not recommended, as the robot brain was only too well aware of
the invulnerability of the stolen ship in the hands of a shrewd commander. It had already recognized in Rhodan a
commander of such calibre.
Thus the greatest search mission ever seen in this part of the Milky Way had been unleashed. Moreover, no one had
the slightest reason to suspect that a similar situation had once occurred in another part of the galaxy.
Rhodan was waiting it out As long as he remained undetected, he had time to continue training his crew. Only when
this training was completed could he make further plans. Then the eventual return to Earth would cease to be a
problem. But before all that, be had to accomplish one thing more: he had to make the robot brain understand that he
was a friend of the Empire.
A new message came in. The communications chief sent it through to him:
SECTOR BM-G-Y-378-J. STRONG HYTRANS INDICATIONS IN DIRECTION OF CN-G-76-K. NONE OF
OUR OWN UNITS THERE. SEARCH PROCEEDING. MAY BE SEVERAL SHIPS. END OF MESSAGE.
No signature. No clues. Just the one piece of raw data.
Bell, who had finally recovered from his personal adventure, handed the dispatch back to Rhodan. "So? We've had
this information for hours already. It can hardly be intended for us."
"Nobody's saying it is but at some time or other there may be a piece of data traffic that involves us. So we always
have to be prepared."
Bell rubbed his chin. "I can't see why you insist on sweating it out here when we have a terrific chance to just
disappear without being detected. Why not let the Brain think whatever it wants about us? The main thing is, we're
outside its domain."
Rhodan gave him a cold smile. "Who would venture to say how extensive the sphere of influence of such a robot
brain may be?"
"Well, the nebula, or star cluster, is just about a hundred light-years in diameter. Id say that ought to be enough
territory for the monster."
"In all probability it isn't. The security of the Empire is top priority. We probably endanger that security. I'm
convinced that in case of any threat the sphere of the brain's influence isn't going to be limited to a specific number
of light-years. I'm further convinced that if it recognizes a need for defensive action, and if it knows our home-base
position, it could attack and destroy the Earth in about a half hour's time. Does the magnitude of our precarious
position sink in?"
Reg revealed his dawning fear but nevertheless gave a rebuttal. "So, granted all that, what do you gain by staying
here? It's not going to make the Brain more lenient. Don't forget, we've stolen an Empire ship."
"If we can prove that it was done for the good of the Empire, the robot brain won't be able to reject the logic of it.
The only chore to accomplish here is-to prove it!"
"And how do you propose to do that?"
As Rhodan was about to answer, one of the communications officers came into the control room.
"Sir, turn on your optical scanner. A ship is approaching from the Voga system."
Rhodan made a lightning move to the manual grips and swung the visual scanner, manoeuvring the servomechanism
for direct viewing outside. Only then did he speak. "Only one ship? How big is it?"
"I don't believe it can classify as a threat, sir. It's hardly 300 feet long, flying at light-velocity. Considering delay for