by Perry Rhodan
"It was nevertheless a remarkable accomplishment, Rhodan!"
Rhodan shrugged. "Lets come to the point. It's quite serious, Mercant."
"All right! Shoot!"
Rhodan reported what had happened on the moon recently. He concluded, "I want to make this quite clear we must expect the arrival of a number of robot ships in the near future. They will not ask if we were justified in destroying the Arkonide cruiser. They will simply attack and we will be defenseless."
Mercant did not indicate whether he was impressed by the report. He asked quietly, "Your auxiliary spaceship-didn't you say that it was well equipped?
Can't You ward off the imminent attack with it?"
"Well equipped compared with what we humans have at our disposal, Mercant! But any means of defense we have will be no match for the approaching robot ships. We will do whatever is in our power, but the world, too, must get ready for the attack."
"How do I know that you aren't simply trying to bluff me in order to take unfair advantage of us?" countered Mercant.
"You don't know, and nobody can tell you," Rhodan said coldly "You either believe me or not. You will find out in time that I am not bluffing you."
Mercant looked unimpressed; he seemed to reflect over what he just had heard. In reality he was trying to probe Rhodan's brain. Mercant was well aware that he had the beginnings of telepathic abilities. He was capable of perceiving thoughts if the person was concentrating on them and if that person was not too far away from him. In most cases, though, he could perceive only the total concept and furtively whether the gestalt of certain ideas. And he knew intuitively whether that thought was the truth.
Rhodan's brain was different. Mercant bad been able to locate Rhodan by sensing the presence of his brain. This is how he had pinpointed Rhodan's position from outside in the hall and then inside the office. But Mercant could not penetrate into Rhodan's brain at all. It was as if he had put a solid barrier around his thoughts. Although Mercant could not grasp any of his visitor's thoughts directly, he nevertheless sensed that his intentions were honest. He stood up. "Let's forget the thing about the bluff, Rhodan," he said finally.
"What would you suggest we do?"
Make sure that the right people are informed about what we will have to expect soon. Describe it to them as vividly as you can and then explain that a proper defense system can be created only if everyone will cooperate with each other."
Rhodan's voice grew more intense. "In addition to that, will you see to it that this ridiculous embargo against our supply line with raw materials or any other products we need to buy is lifted. Even if we succeed in fighting off the first attack, others will certainly follow. In order to be in a good defensive position, we must make sure of having at least one effective spaceship at our disposal. Even if the industries should get permission to supply us with whatever we need, it will take us several months to construct the ship from the raw materials and the half-finished parts. But in case we have to procure all these things underground, we could do it only within a year or two!"
Mercant kept his eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. "I'll to do my best, Rhodan. Do you realize what you are asking me to do? I'll fly to Washington and tell the people there, 'Listen, Rhodan has found a hypersender on the moon, a hypersender that is emitting automatic emergency signals. two weeks it the most a fleet of robot ships will arrive and bombard our planet. Rhodan wants you to lift the embargo against his lines of supply.' What do you think the people will answer me?"
Rhodan mobilized all his reserve powers. "You are capable of exerting a tremendous influence on people, Mercant," he said softly but intensely, while locking his eyes with those of Mercant. "You will use this influence and persuade the people of the absolute necessity of avoiding any delay in the defensive measures that you will initiate against the ending attack from outer. space. Is that clear, Mercant? Go directly to the President of the United States!
Talk with those persons who believe you personally, not just because you are the chief of the IIA. Is that clear, Mercant?"
Mercant nodded obediently. It did not occur to him that never before had anyone dared talk to him in such a manner. It could not occur to him for the simple reason that Rhodan's command had been given in form of a hypnotic message. Mercant was compelled to carry it out exactly the way he had been ordered to.
Rhodan relaxed his grip on Mercant's mind. "I would appreciate if you would escort me safely back to the surface."
Mercant opened the door. "As long as you are with me no one will dare stop you."
While they were walking along the corridor Mercant remarked, "I will have to remain in touch with you, Rhodan. Inform Lieutenant Klein that he will receive any news for you by ANP code. Will you remember that?"
Rhodan stopped. Mercant was amused to notice his surprise.
"Who did you say should I inform about the ANP code?' replied Rhodan.
"Klein? Lieutenant Klein?"
"That's right."
"How did you know that he was working with us?"
"I did not know it for sure," said Mercant. "I simply presumed he did. Didn't I tell you that my sense of intuition is developed to an extraordinary degree? I can 'smell' certain things."
Rhodan recovered from his surprise. "Klein will be most pleased to learn about this. He was in constant fear of being found out by someone who would not approve of what, he was doing."
Mercant began to chuckle. "Never mind that. I still consider him one of my best agents!"
They reached the elevators, where the amazed guards gave a smart salute to their superior Mercant and his strange looking companion.
"How would you explain your attitude toward. Klein, Mercant Rhodan asked.
Mercant hesitated before be replied straightforwardly, "It is my belief that mankind should collaborate with you. I am convinced that you intend no evil for the human race and that it would be to our advantage to make our peace with you."
Rhodan looked up at Mercant, his eyes filled with astonishment. He stretched out his hand to Mercant.
"Thank you, my friend."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Allan D. Mercant was one of the few people the President would receive at any time.
Both men wielded power and influence in a comparable manner, the only difference being that the President was officially authorized to do what Mercant accomplished under the mantle of secrecy. But in this particular case Mercant depended on the Presidents assistance-only he was empowered to give the signal for an atomic alarm.
President Nyson had invited a special adviser to be present at the interview. Next to Mercant, Mr. Wildinger was considered one of the most lucid minds in the world.
Mercant had not been able to persuade the President. President Nyson protested, "No one could possibly demand that I should act on a mere rumor and release the atomic alarm and start spending money wildly. Do you realize, Mercant, that such an alarm would cost about a billion dollars?"
Mercant remained unruffled. "I can't imagine why this should matter to us in such an emergency."
President Nyson reacted impatiently. "Wildinger! What are You waiting for!
Let's hear your opinion!"
Wildinger had been listening to the discussion, comfortably settled in his big armchair. Now he leaned forward. "This is a rather ticklish affair," he began.
"We might decide to economize and not spend the billion dollars but, lose our lives a few days later because of it. On the other hand, it might turn out all right if we don't proceed with the atomic alarm. After all, we have heard nothing but suspicions from Mr. Mercant, no concrete facts. Unless Mercant can supply us with all the information he is basing his report on, nothing can be assumed as certainty."
Wildinger lit a cigarette and continued "I am in favor of a compromise. Let's prepare for the eventuality of an impending alarm, so that we will be able to act immediately if necessary. That will cost only one-tenth of what a real alarm would come to."
Mercant brea
thed a secret sigh of relief. This was exactly what be had hoped to accomplish. He had insisted on calling a state of emergency, with full atomic alarm, but he knew he would have to settle for a state of alert. Nyson gave his consent to Wildinger's proposal, and Mercant did so with apparent reluctance. He rose from the conference table, concluding with a soft voice, "I'll inform the other parties about that. I Wouldn't want them to believe that we are secretly preparing for a hostile confrontation with them."
The other parties Mercant referred to were the two power blocs centered in Moscow and Peking. Nyson had no objections to Mercant's suggestion. In Moscow and Peking, Mercant's report of the impending attack from outer space was received with the same attitude of disbelief as it bad been in Washington. But disbelief soon gave way to amazement and fear. According to the reports from the secret agents that Moscow and Peking had stationed in Washington, the Western world was indeed preparing for the possibility of an atomic alarm.
To maintain the delicate balance of power, the two big powers were forced to initiate the same state of atomic preparedness. They did so without really knowing the score.
The population of the three power blocs remained ignorant of what was going on behind the scenes. As a result an atmosphere of calm and peace reigned over the world.
The Arkonide vessel returned to the base in the Gobi Desert. The robots were busy completing their task.
Tako had come back the previous day and brought along the news of the hypersender that was just about to bring havoc to Earth. Manoli and Haggard, the two physicians who had remained behind on the Third Power territory, had been cut off from direct communication with Rhodan and group during their recent expedition to the moon. The doctors had almost reached their mental breaking point by the time the spacecraft with Rhodan landed near the Stardust I.
Rhodan called his friends Manoli and Haggard and told them in detail about everything that had happened in the meantime. Both physicians, who did not possess the remarkable knowledge of Rhodan and Bell, reacted to the news of the threatening danger with great shock.
A briefing session followed for all the members of the Third Power. Manoli and the Australian participated in it but they were depressed and silent. Thora was just as silent but not at all depressed. Her face still showed an expression of triumph. Rhodan could understand her feelings. She saw the day approaching when she would no longer have to depend on these Earthlings she so despised. She planned to ascend in her Arkonide to evade the attacking robot spacecraft. They would identify her auxiliary vessel as the last useful remainder of the destroyed Arkonide cruiser and would take it aboard their own robot ship. Then they would transport her and Khrest back to their home planet, Arkon.
Rhodan opened the meeting with the words "There is no doubt in our minds that we can neither Change nor influence the plans of the approaching robot spaceships. That means that we cannot prevent them from attacking Earth. Once these robots start out, in response to an emergency Signal that was sent as a result of an enemy attack the enemy can do nothing to escape the robots punitive measures."
"Therefore, it is no use even to think about finding a way to escape from the robots mission of vengeance. The only other solution would be to work out a plan to attack and destroy the robots before they even get near our world, which they intend to change into a rubble heap."
The question had been thrown out. The only ones even capable of making effective considerations of the problem were Thora, Khrest, Bell and Rhodan. Tako, Manoli and Haggard did not possess the necessary intellectual prerequisites. But of the four who did, Thora preferred to remain silent. Khrest was so overwhelmed by the apparent hopelessness of the situation that he could not judge rationally. His superior mental faculties were rendered inefficient by his emotional attitude of defeat. The only two capable of remaining lucid in face of the seemingly insurmountable odds were Bell and Rhodan.
"Let's look at this matter from a tactical point of view," suggested Bell.
"According to the emergency signal code we must count on being attacked by five robot ships. The only question is, what will the reactions of these ships be?"
"In case we simply do nothing and wait here until they arrive in our solar system, they will first go to the moon. There they will approach the destroyed cruiser to find out who or what caused the destruction. As soon as they have determined that the attackers originated on Earth, they will proceed to attack us here. But since robot ships of a galactic empire would be programmed to think in terms of entire planets, we cannot expect them to try to determine which of the inhabitants of this planet actually sent the H bombs to the moon. They will annihilate the whole planet.,
"But what will happen if we interfere with the approaching robot ships?
What will their reaction be if they determine that the enemy is still somewhere in the vicinity of the destroyed object? They will proceed to attack him of course! We know that the robots are skilful tacticians. They won't pursue our small auxiliary vessel, all five of them at the same time. One of their number will be entirely sufficient for this purpose, namely, to seek us out and turn us into dust."
"This is where our only hope lies! We have no chance whatever to overcome the robot ships when all five are together. But if we succeed in separating them and then engage each singly, the odds will no longer be stacked against us."
Rhodan fully agreed with his friend Reg. Bell's reasoning even tore Khrest out of his lethargic state and seemed to instill a trace of hope in him. Thora on the other hand, remained silent as before. But she looked a trifle less self-possessed than she had a short time previously. They continued discussing Bell's plans. Rhodan added more details. Thus they created a program that could be fed into one of their computers for evaluation and detection of possible errors, for which the machines would also supply the corrections.
This very evening Rhodan became involved in a strange conversation. During the afternoon, Lieutenant Klein had reported that all the three big power blocs were preparing for a state of readiness in case of an atomic attack from outer space. They made reparations so that large populations could be evacuated. from endangered areas within a few hours, if the necessity should arise. Rhodan was filled with satisfaction at bearing this news. From the time the robot ships were sighted there would elapse at least several hours until they would have determined what had happened on the moon and who the culprit was. Then, of course, they would fly toward Earth to destroy it. This same evening Thora visited Rhodan. For the first time since they bad been living aboard the same ship, she came into his cabin. Rhodan was startled to such a degree that Thora could not fail to notice it.
"It's amazing, isn't it, Rhodan?" she inquired with slight sarcasm.
"You're right, Thora. It is amazing!" Rhodan replied. "Why have you come here?"
"I have something to propose to you."
Rhodan motioned toward a chair. "Sit down, please. You have no idea how pleased I am to listen to you."
Thora seemed startled, but she could not detect any of sarcasm in his voice. She sat down in the chair and leaned back. "In another five or six days, Rhodan, your dream of a United world and of becoming heir to a galactic empire will come to a sad end."
Rhodan did not interrupt her, although he did not agree with what she said.
"In a few days." she went on, "our robot cruisers will appear and discover what caused the destruction of our, exploratory cruiser on the moon, and then they will turn the planet Earth into a highly radioactive rubble heap, destroying all the inhabitants. at the same time. There. are only a few people that are worth saving from this holocaust. And you, Rhodan, are one of those!"
Rhodan, who had been listening attentively, leaned forward as if he could run after her words, capture them in order to hold them once more close to his ear and listen to them again.
"Who? Me?"
Thora looked very serious as she resumed speaking. "Yes, you, Perry Rhodan! And perhaps also your friend Reginald Bell, since he has had the advantage of o
ur hypno-schooling. Maybe Haggard, too, because of his medical knowledge that enables him to cure leukemia. And finally Tako Kakuta, who has such remarkable faculties. I am herewith offering to save all of you. As the commanding officer of an Arkonide exploratory ship I am authorized to do so. You will be brought back to Arkon with us. We will find some use for you there."
Rhodan began to guess what was really at the bottom of all this talk. "What makes you assume that we are worthy to be saved?"
"Your special talents," replied Thora without hesitating. "They would mean a valuable addition for our Empire. You could be employed wherever vitality was desirable. You have this quality, as well as the special knowledge of our superior Arkonide technology. And, the others, those like Tako Kakuta, could undergo the same hypno-training that you and Bill have received."
Rhodan remained expressionless. "Did you also consider our usefulness for possible breeding purposes to create a new racial strain?"
She did not seem to notice his biting irony. "I can't imagine," she resumed, cooler than before, "that any female Arkonide citizen would even remotely consider any intimate relationship with a member of the human race."
Rhodan looked at her and uttered one comment: "Ahem!"
Then he waited. Thora had a tremendous capacity for patience. It was almost fifteen minutes before she made as laconically a comment as he: "Well?"
Rhodan got up and walked over to the video screen that was set in the wall of the cabin instead of a window. He gazed at the limitless expanse of the desert sand in front of him. The stars in the sky were shining, illuminating the landscape with a dim light. This light created a diffuse shadow that made the furrows and depressions in the appear deeper than they were.
"Listen to me, Thora!" said Rhodan with determination. "One handful of this dry desert sand is worth more to me than all your decaying Empire. I am not at all interested in obtaining some more or less important position in your realm. I am solely concerned with this world here. And can you guess why?"
