by Perry Rhodan
Kutlos looked about him warily. He had to keep a continuous lookout for the silent approach of the monitor eye which could give Hepna-Kaloot a clear view of his location and movements. However he could see no sign of it at the moment. The balance of weapons-strength had now gone to Hepna-Kaloot's advantage. As Kutlos' runner, Tasnor was badly wounded and out of action, while Hepna-Kaloot could still use all his weapons the same as before.
In spite of this the stocky little Anti had remained deliberately on the defensive. He had steadily retreated from Kutlos, who had no other recourse but to keep following his enemy's trail. But the brutal attack on Tasnor had changed this pattern to the extent that the retreating movement stopped because Kutlos had stopped. The treacherous innovation with the floating monitor had made him especially cautious.
What Kutlos still couldn't figure out was what Hepna-Kaloot expected to do with his canister of water. Rack his brain though he might he could not imagine how water could be used as a weapon. Yet his opponent had represented himself as an experienced Paloot fighter. He must certainly have a definite purpose in mind in choosing the canister because he had seemed so sure that he could overcome Kutlos with it.
Still gripping his raygun, Kutlos remained hidden behind his cover. He was thinking of the order he had heard Hanoor issue over the P.A. system. The Terrans evidently were not giving up their invasion plan. Which was a good thing in one sense, thought Kutlos, because it would serve to goad the Imperator into action.
His train of thought was interrupted by a groan from Tasnor.
He didn't want to risk calling out any words of encouragement to him for fear of betraying his own location. Kutlos did not exclude the possibility that Hepna-Kaloot knew where he was but was playing it safe for the moment. The dust raised by Tasnor's fall by the ruined wall had begun to settle again. It deposited a grey coating over the young priest's remaining clothing. Kutlos belly-crawled around two larger segments of shattered masonry, which made him conscious again of the impractical cape he still wore. Yet he still hesitated to remove this symbol of his dignity and station.
Then he saw the spying eye!
All this time it had been in his immediate vicinity. Instead of being overhead where he had expected it to appear, it was ahead of him between two broken wall segments. Through the narrow cleft the insidious device gleamed like a smoldering ember-balefully. It was by pure chance that he had discovered it. So Hepna-Kaloot knew exactly where the high priest was located and what he was doing. Kutlos was grudgingly forced to admire the skilful manner in which the TV eye was being utilized.
By a conscious act of will he suppressed his initial reaction to fire at the robot spy. Undoubtedly Hepna-Kaloot was watching him like a cat and at his first suspicious movement he would make the thing flit out of range.
The high priest avoided looking directly at the hiding place of the monitor. He knew he mustn't let on that he had seen it. He lay there in tense perplexity, realizing that he'd probably have only a single chance to strike a counterblow. The main thing was to be very clever about it. A quick shot was out of the question as Hepna-Kaloot would react instantly and besides the flying camera was well protected behind its barrier.
He bit his lower lip, tensing for new action. Turning on his side he glanced unobtrusively toward the glowering eye. And then an idea came to him. Carefully and calmly he began to unwind the Lagoo rope. He had to make it appear to Hepna-Kaloot that he merely wanted to examine the line. As the elastic material slipped through his hands it seemed to be like a snake-and in a certain sense a Lagoo rope was designed to operate like a reptile. Generally the priests used it for binding prisoners. The cord had a spontaneous reflex of its own. Once it was set in motion toward an opponent the latter was usually powerless to escape from it.
Initially Kutlos had intended to use the rope while in close combat with Hepna-Kaloot but now his plan was changed. He would use it against the other priest's most dangerous weapon.
Against the nemesis eye!
• • •
He could feel his pulse pounding harder now and the rush of blood brought a flush of heat to his scalp. Hepna-Kaloot had placed his microscreen in front of him and was intently observing the high priest's movements as well as everything in the surrounding area.
The robot spy had three 'eyes', any of which the operator could switch on at his option. The frontal orb was flanked by two auxiliary eyes. In its present position the frontal eye was sufficient since it was the only one that could give a direct line of sight toward Kutlos' hiding place between the masonry fragments.
Hepna-Kaloot was gratified to notice his opponent's increasing nervousness. Kutlos kept looking above him and fumbling around with his Lagoo rope. Tasnor was already knocked out of the combat. Hepna-Kaloot practically caressed the water canister and his Sostoos knife. Before he died in the attack bombardment of the Terrans he wanted to prove to himself and the high priest that he-the insignificant little man with no influence or apparent importance-was the stronger of the two after all.
He knew that Kutlos couldn't hold out much longer in his present position. Soon he would attempt to leave his cover and come hunting for him-and that would be the end of him.
A dark shadow flitted across the viewscreen. It happened so suddenly that Hepna-Kaloot needed a second or so to collect his wits. The picture fluttered, became blurred and then vanished. He shouted a curse and shook the micro-receiver. But in the next moment he froze, gripped by a sudden realization.
"By Holy Baalol!" he exclaimed to himself. "He's released the Lagoo rope against the monitor!"
Apparently one of the rope's multiple tendrils had wrapped itself around the frontal lens of the viewer and was trying to draw the device upward into the line of fire of Kutlos' raygun. Hepna-Kaloot went into frenzied action. He spun the main rheostat of the control box around to its limit so that all energy reserves of the monitor would be turned on. The raster of the micro-screen flickered uncertainly, alternately producing a pattern of lines and an intermittent picture of the high priest's grimly determined features.
Hepna-Kaloot switched on one of the lateral 'eyes' of the remote device. From what he could determine there were now two arms of the rope which had wrapped themselves around the monitor. One of them was directly over the frontal lens, blurring his reception, and through the lateral lens Kutlos could not be seen.
He switched the remote power to full and drew the monitor back, low over the ground. The ropy tendrils were dragged along a short distance before they could anchor themselves on some chunks of fallen masonry. This happened within five meters of Kudos' hiding place. Hepna-Kaloot activated the other auxiliary lens and saw to his horror that another rope strand was taking hold of the flying instrument. He knew he could not keep the driving force of the device going at maximum power because it would soon drain the batteries. Quickly he manipulated his control switches and the robot spy dropped toward the ground. The Lagoo strands coiled like rubber and dragged the stone anchorage with them. There was a recoil action which banged the monitor against the earth.
Hepna-Kaloot threw in a new burst of maximum power and drove the box at full speed toward Kutlos' location. This freed the camera eye and it raced onward. He cried out in triumph but in that moment one of the Lagoo tendrils whipped out from behind and attached itself to one of the side lenses. The rest of the rope coils rolled after it with a feathery lightness while Hepna-Kaloot glowered at the picture transmitted by the forward lens. Kutlos couldn't be seen from this angle anymore but he was no doubt waiting for a chance to take a shot at the monitor.
Now the rope strands swept over the box like so many tentacles. He shut down the power because at the moment an attempt to break away would have been useless. He had made poor use of his chance to free the robot viewer. Instead of getting it up into the clear he had only brought it more completely into the rope's range of action.
But it was useless to brood about the mistake at this stage. He alternately switched on one lens of th
e box after another but none of them offered a clear picture transmission. The Lagoo rope had ensnared the monitor entirely. In fact it was slowly raising the device into the air-a process which he knew would continue until Kutlos could get a clear shot at it.
At that moment, however, would be the time to take swift action. If Kutlos didn't want to risk destroying the rope, which was one of his weapons, he would have to wait until the strands had let go. In that fraction of a second while the spy box hung free in the air, everything would depend upon who was the quickest to act: Hepna-Kaloot at his remote controls or Kutlos with his trigger finger.
The two Antis were so engrossed in their own battle that they were not aware of the approaching 10 cruisers of the Solar Fleet until one of the other energy plants went up in a mighty explosion.
6/ TRACKING DOWN TRAKARAT
The explosive eruption of dust, torn earth, molten pieces of metal and plastic, flaming wood fragments and bubbling globules of incandescent glass was only discernible as an energy burst on the sensor indicator of the Corvette space-jet.
"It's started!" exclaimed Lt. Stant Nolinov as he switched on the propulsion system of the small craft. The ponderous airlock hatches of the hangar had opened and the rush of air into the outer void created enough suction to ripple the rubber flange guides on the doors.
Bell's freckled face appeared on the vidcom screen. "You know what's at stake for us in this action," he said gravely. "Take no unnecessary chances. Our 10 ships have met with heavy defense fire. The fight can't last another hour. You know what you have to do."
"You can count on us, sir," answered Nolinov, and Alkher added a confirming, "Roger, sir!"
"One of the round dome structures has just been wiped out," Bell reported.
"That has to be one of the Antis' four power stations," commented Alkher. "We detected the explosion on the sensor."
"Take off now," Bell ordered. "And good luck!"
The viewscreen went blank. The Corvette, long nicknamed 'Guppy' by the Solar Fleet, was designated simply as the F-32. Now it swept out of the hangar and shot into space in the vicinity of Saos. On board was a 32-man team which was operating under special orders of Reginald Bell and Allan D. Mercant. The combat commandos were equipped with a new kind of special weapon. It was a combination impulse beamer and automatic rifle. The double-barreled handgun simultaneously fired a thermo-beam along with a stream of antimagnetic plastic bullets. The normal projectiles were released a fraction of a second later than the light-speed energy beam so that both types of shots would reach the target together.
It was thus a weapon that was effective no matter what the enemy did. If the Antis were using the mental phase of their defense screen the plastic bullets would get through. If they switched to normal screening the heat ray would get through. It wasn't possible for the Antis to switch back and forth fast enough to avoid destruction in one form or another.
The task assignment had been clearly outlined for the two lieutenants. They were to work swiftly under cover of the general attack of the 10 ships led by the Administrator. As a result of their previous imprisonment on Saos, Nolinov and Alkher were most familiar with the terrain. Their objective was to capture the acting high priest of the Anti stronghold. By means of interrogating this important man, Bell and Mercant hoped to obtain vital data concerning the mystery-shrouded planet Trakarat which was supposed to be the homeworld of the Baalol sect.
Bell and Mercant doubted that Cardif's 10-ship attack against the base would be successful. This is why they had placed the Guppy at the disposal of the two lieutenants. Thirty determined men accompanied by two officers who had begun their main careers on board the linear-drive spaceship Fantasy. There were no mutants in this group since it would have been useless to use them against the paranormal capabilities of the Antis.
Stant Nolinov flew the small craft in wide circles as he spiraled down into the planet's atmosphere. The guppy was not going to land. All hands wore the Arkonide combat suits which would enable them to make a high-altitude jump. Also the suits' deflectors could provide them with almost complete invisibility. In other words the complex screening kept the commandos from reflecting any light. Everywhere in the universe normal optical vision depended upon light reflections, which the brain reassembled into the corresponding objects out of a confused pattern of impressions.
The ship's autopilot would guide it back to the hangar of the Ironduke and at any time it was needed it could be resummoned by means of radio.
Brazo Alkher was watching the tracking indicator. "The Antis don't seem to be thinking of any capitulation," he said.
"Maybe they're still hoping that Atlan will come to their aid," commented Nolinov. His crewcut hair took on a golden sheen in the reflection of the indicator lights.
Alkher scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "It would be best to make our jump in the area of the spaceport," he suggested. "The main heat of the battle should be around the pyramid and the power stations."
"Don't you think, sir, that those transport ships will be guarded?" This question came from Jeremy Mitchum, a young man with amazingly long arms.
"That's more than possible," admitted Alkher, "but we have the advantage of surprise. Don't forget that the Antis are only going to know we're there when our 2-way shooters are under their noses." Their special double-barreled weapons had already received this nickname from Bell although he personally preferred 'double persuaders'.
Mitchum pretended to aim an imaginary 'persuader'. Not finding a suitable opponent he stretched his arms out toward a companion, who drew back in mock horror. It was something to see whenever Mitchum really extended his arms. In his homeland in South America it was said of him that he could shake hands with somebody clear across the Amazon.
"Alright, Mitchum, hold it down," Alkher told him, grinning. "You'll have plenty of chance to be an eager beaver when we get there."
Nolinov still held the Guppy in its spiral descent pattern but Alkher was keeping a close eye on the indicators and he finally raised a hand.
"That's low enough, Stant."
Nolinov switched over to automatic and allowed the ship to hover on its antigravs.
Alkher spoke to Bell over the microphone. "We're bailing out, sir!"
Bell's voice returned over the audio: "OK, Lieutenant-we'll be hauling in the F-32 on the guidance beam."
Brazo hooked his double-barreled weapon to the utility belt on his combat suit. "We'll jump at intervals of three seconds each," he ordered. "Don't forget to switch on your deflectors. As soon as we land we'll make ourselves visible and start the attack. If the spaceport is unguarded we'll fly immediately to the central base. By that time the landing units from the ships will have shown up there."
The 32 men lined up facing the airlock. Alkher was in the lead, suddenly silhouetted against the dreary-looking sky as the outer hatch opened. He turned on his antigrav, nodded once to Nolinov and disappeared.
"After him!" shouted Nolinov hoarsely over his helmet phone.
When he made his jump he saw a distant lightning bolt which was caused by a tremendous explosion. It was followed by a delayed roll of thunder.
"That was Power Station #2, Stant!" called Alkher.
Nolinov spread out his arms although it was not necessary. The antigrav system sustained him easily as he floated downward. When he turned his head to look back he saw only the receding F-32 because the commando troops were invisible. The sounds of battle increased. The sustained thunder overriding the hissing and roaring of energy weapons came from the impulse engines of the invading cruisers.
Nolinov shook his head involuntarily. He could not understand why Rhodan was actually attempting a landing here. Why didn't he hold them above the base and have his men descend as he and the special commandos were doing? As it turned out later only two of the cruisers made a landing and that was only because the ground fire had put them out of commission.
Alkher, still in the lead, saw the flat area of the spaceport app
ear beyond the shoulders of the mountains. The ships of the Antis seemed to be so many toys lying there below on the field, being forced to await their fate while the Antis continued to put up a stubborn resistance.
Alkher was first to land and he shut off his deflector. He had set himself down between two of the transport-ships, where no Antis were in evidence. One after another the other men appeared in quick succession around him. Nolinov was the last to appear but his short and stocky figure continued in motion. He ran across the plastic steel landing pad to the bow of the nearest Baalol ship and then rose up on his antigrav to survey the entire area.
"It's a ghost town here," he reported to Alkher. "They've concentrated their total defense at the center of the base."
Alkher smiled grimly. "Let's give Mitchum a chance to let off some of that steam! Deflectors on again-we fly to the pyramid!"
They lifted up invisibly from the smooth surface of the spaceport and floated away toward the center of the conflict.
• • •
The shockwave of the second explosion was so powerful that Kutlos thought his lungs would collapse. He gasped for air and threw himself onto the ground on his back. There was an audible sound like heavy hail as the particles of debris rained down from the sky. He finally raised up on his elbows and tried to see through the swirling clouds of dust.
Hepna-Kaloot's spy monitor lay shattered near Tasnor's body. The Lagoo rope was nowhere to be seen. The high priest was seized by a violent fit of coughing.
The Terrans were attacking in spite of the hovering presence of the Arkonide fleet, from which Kutlos had expected assistance. He began to realize his error in having permitted Hepna-Kaloot to draw him into this game of death. In spite of the threat of an alien invasion he had been distracted by this private matter and had answered the other priest's impudent challenge. He was more horrified by his dereliction of duty than he was by the attack of the Terrans. He knew he had to return immediately to the temple's control room in order to lead the defense.
