by Hans Kneifel
"Perhaps we will have to change our opinions, Ma-Techten."
"Nothing is proven yet," Echkal replied curtly. He felt strained and abandoned. Jere von Baloy had not yet returned to his position as commander.
"We should inform the Maphan," Oe ta Acenusk said. The slender Therso leaned on the encircling edge of the U-shaped weapons control console and was just as much at a loss as the rest of the crew. Echkal cer Lethir just gave her a single surprised glance. Oe was known as a Terran-hater and critical of the commander. Such a suggestion from her mouth ...
"We have power!"
Communications operator Netkim Okaw leaped up and fell heavily back into his seat. "We have ... my equipment back. And there's a hypercom message. The Seventh Fleet is calling!"
"Just what we need!" Echkal muttered. He had played with the thought himself of calling the Seventh Fleet, but at a time of his choosing. "Who's calling us? Who wishes to speak to me?"
He had just begun to carry out a causal analysis in his mind. The probability that the shining beings had something to do with the draining energy finally became obvious to him. They disappeared and the energy came back. He took a deep breath. "Very well. Put the call through."
The com operator switched a holo to the First Officer's console. The Syntrons at the individual stations had activated. Suddenly all the displays, holos, and touchscreens in the control center shone, blinked, and flashed as though there had never been an interruption. From the depths of the ship came the sounds of running secondary systems. In the holo in front of Echkal appeared Mechtan von Taklir, the feared admiral ...
Echkal straightened up, made a proper greeting, and looked into the admiral's angry face.
Mechtan von Taklir suddenly burst out. "You incompetent civilians! Your signal was due forty-eight hours ago! Have you all fallen into some kind of coma?"
"We were in a hopeless situation ... " Echkal began.
From beneath his short, militarily cut hair, the admiral's eyes seemed to want to bore into him. "That seems to be constantly the case with you. Why haven't there been any signals? I've put a fleet squadron on standby alert. It's ready to go."
"Admiral," Echkal said, "the planets that we've found in the Ochent Nebula are problematic worlds. Until a few seconds ago, we were suffering from a complete loss of energy. The planet is apparently inhabited by a collective intelligence ... "
"Intelligence is something that I don't seem to find among the distinguished Maphan's crew. Where is your commander, anyway?"
"Off-duty, Admiral von Taklir. I am standing in for him."
"Typical of you scientists." The control center crew listened to the dialogue in silence. Echkal cer Lethir knew that the admiral did not forgive the slightest mistake and, in that regard, had an infallible memory. Echkal made an effort to stand firm in the glare of everyone's gaze and waited for the end of the unpleasant rebuke.
"I have neither relaxed nor cancelled the order for the LAS-TOOR to provide the Seventh Fleet with a detailed status report at regular intervals."
Echkal shook his head and wondered what his contrary argument might cost him. "Neither our hyperdetection nor our communications systems—none of them!—were functioning, Admiral. We were completely helpless until just moments ago. Only the life-support systems were operating. It has not yet been scientifically explained who or what was responsible for the energy blockade, but ... "
The admiral's brawny upper body seemed to bulge threateningly under the uniform. His glance flicked across the control center. It was not clear whether Echkal's attempts at an explanation convinced him. "I expect a comprehensive report in one hour. Otherwise I will be forced to come to your aid with support from the fleet."
"We will provide you with a report," the Ma-Techten began, "but ... "
"No buts! I want Maphan Jere von Baloy to explain to me what has been happening. We will examine your report very closely. If there is the slightest irregularity, I will react as if threatened directly."
The admiral's face and upper body disappeared. Echkal cer Lethir felt droplets of sweat running through his brows and into his eyes. His thoughts raced. The admiral was a man who stuck to his word. The fleet squadron would be sent. And then ... whatever happened, Echkal cer Lethir suspected that the results would not bode well for him. And even less so for the Terrans, who although undoubtedly up to no good, had not been behind the loss of power ...
"I've picked up our Shift on hyperdetection," Actim Octon announced. "It's on a course to the Terran ship."
"Understood." Echkal switched the holo to his own console. "Weapons control?" The First Officer had given his orders for a situation like this long before. They did not dare run any risks.
"Ready, Ma-Techten," Oe ta Acenusk replied. "Impulse cannon target acquired."
The holo, shot through with measurement grid lines and distance indicators, showed the PALENQUE and the line of its trajectory, along with the Shift's course and image. New readings showed that the Shift's pilot had registered the scanning impulse as well as the cannon's target lock.
"Arsis Tachim calling!" exclaimed an excited voice through the tense atmosphere of the control center. "Everything is fine here! We don't have an energy blockade any more than you do. Explanations to follow! We have made some astonishing discoveries. I am putting Rhodan, Denetree, and Isaias Shimon off on the PALENQUE and then immediately heading for the LAS-TOOR!"
"Weapons control," Echkal said, "there is no authorization to fire. But remain at the ready." An officer had to stand firm and be ready to change his plans instantly when the situation required.
"Acknowledged," Oe confirmed. "Remaining at fire readiness."
The First Officer's thoughts spun through his mind one after another. He did not doubt the truthfulness of the report that Arsis had made at the last second. Nor did he doubt that the Shift had also been affected by the energy blockade. So it really had not been a new Terran trick? He turned halfway around so he could see all of the crew at their consoles. "Very well," he said. "The LAS-TOOR is definitely not here to provoke a war. We will wait to see what Arsis has to report. But I won't take sole responsibility." He tapped on a touchscreen field. "Two Neehlaks to the control center, please." He pointed to the hyperdetection hologram. "The Shift is docking with the Terran ship. Now we'll move in closer and try to clear up the situation. But for that we need the Maphan. Pilot!"
"Sir!"
"Prepare to leave orbit and overtake the PALENQUE. Half-power, no abrupt maneuvers."
"Understood."
Two crew members, dressed just as casually as the commander, entered the lowest level of the control center. Echkal's courteous gesture surprised them. They were even more surprised by his orders.
"Go get the Maphan and the Terran hostage. The commander's presence is urgently needed and we need van Kuespert to ensure that our communication with the commander in the other ship proceeds smoothly."
"At once, Ma-Techten."
Recent events and evidence that on a remote planet a force existed that could paralyze an ultra-advanced starship were enough to shake Echkal's mental image of the universe. He decided to wait and see. If necessary, he could open fire at any time.
The crew waited until Jere von Baloy and Hartich van Kuespert had taken their places once more. The LAS-TOOR had changed course to a lower orbit and was approaching the PALENQUE.
"I haven't been sleeping or exercising the entire time," Jere von Baloy explained lightly, "nor was I completely unaware of developments. You have conducted yourself flawlessly, Ma-Techten—so let's see about reassuring the admiral and his action-hungry fleet." He waved to Hartich van Kuespert. "Put the PALENQUE control center on the holo. Rhodan and his team are quite likely reporting what they have experienced and discovered."
"I think," van Kuespert replied, visibly relieved by the turn things had taken, "that is a reasonable suggestion."
At the same moment, the hyperdetection officer reported that the Shift had left the PALENQUE and was headed
towards its own ship.
To his surprise, Echkal cer Lethir realized how relieved he was that Jere von Baloy had assumed responsibility once more.
Having showered and put on a fresh casual uniform, Perry Rhodan did not wait for Denetree and Isaias Shimon. They were still freshening up and getting a quick bite to eat in the mess. A few minutes before, he had said farewell to Arsis Tachim and watched the Shift launch into space from the PALENQUE's hangar. Now he entered the control center and held up the precious little box. "This is the memory storage unit for the crashed ark LEMCHA OVIR. It came from the ship's command section and was given to me by the Naahk's lady companion. That means we have some work ahead of us. The data storage seems to be in better shape than Denetree's chip. This is the second most important part of our mission. The most important part is ... "
Rhodan gave a brief account of the Halutian's appearance and of its flight—thanks to the doctor, Hyman Mahal, the crew already knew about that part of the story. He expressed his certainty that the Menttia were responsible for the strange and disturbing manipulation of the ship's energy. "With a little optimism, we can assume that the planet's indigenous inhabitants will not undertake any hostile action against a settlement of about five hundred surviving Lemurians. It would be only too easy to drive the Lemurians out."
Briefly, he told of his attempts at pictorial communication and the reaction to them, of Chibis-Nydele and of the Akonians who had remained behind on Mentack Nutai. "Where the Halutian has flown with the PALENQUE's Space-Jet can probably not be determined," he said. He jotted down some com code numbers on a sheet of paper. "Of course, the League of Free Terrans will replace the loss as quickly as possible." He turned to Alemaheyu Kossa. "Could you put a hypercom connection through to Halute? Via relay stations if necessary, but I must speak urgently with an old friend." He looked questioningly at the commander.
She nodded to the communications officer. "Go ahead and try, Alemaheyu. If anyone can manage it, you can."
Rhodan handed the com officer the sheet of paper. Alemaheyu glanced at it and nodded. "That's more than 25,000 light-years. It'll take a moment or two ... "
"We've learned from the surviving Lemurians that some fragments of their ark are drifting among the rocks in the asteroid belt," Rhodan continued. "Perhaps many Lemurians are fighting for their lives there."
Sharita Coho reacted immediately. "We'll man our crawlers and send them out. That'll be our mission, Perry."
He told of Chibis-Nydele, the grave of the Naahk and the crash-landed command section. Of Nydele's surprising discovery and the image of the Halutian in Atubur Nutai's personal cabin.
"The mystery surrounding the arks is growing deeper the more we learn," the commander added. "The past and the present—they'll keep us in suspense for a while yet."
Omer Driscol transferred a hyperdetection holo to the commander's console. "The LAS-TOOR has approached us and a Shift has just launched from it."
Rhodan nodded and watched events in the holo. "So our Akonian companions' will soon know everything."
Eniva ta Drorar, the Akonian hostage, had followed Rhodan's report in silence and kept looking at the small box that stood on Rhodan's console. For her, he thought, the Lemurian data storage unit was the symbol of a Terran victory that would be hard to challenge.
"You have all the basic facts," Rhodan said and leaned back. "Everything else can be analyzed with the information processing systems on board, including the Akonian installation in the polar ice and the planet's raw materials. We should also investigate the possibility of devising a usable system to communicate with the Menttia. That's important if the Lemurians are to found a small colony here. If we try to exploit their planet's mineral resources, for example, the Menttia might misunderstand it as aggressive behavior."
"Yes," Sharita answered thoughtfully, "I think you're right. We shouldn't rush into anything. Some problems seem to me too big to solve by ourselves."
Alemaheyu manipulated his controls and murmured into his headset. During the time that the ships had been paralyzed, the crew on board had continued to process and analyze all their hyperdetection data and observations. The surface scans of the planet and of the optically accessible areas of the Ochent Nebula were now almost complete. There was great relief that power had been restored, despite the uncertainty about the future. How would the Menttia behave?
Alemaheyu spoke up. The glowing fields of the displays showed that what was going on in the control center was being broadcast to all cabins and compartments on board the prospecting ship. "Perry! We have a connection with your friend."
"Thank you." Rhodan looked into the glowing red eyes of the Halutian, Icho Tolot. He raised his hand in greeting. "Tolotos, old friend—I urgently need you here in the Ochent Nebula. Extremely important matters are at stake. Matters of cosmic significance. Drop everything and fly out at once—I'll explain it all to you when you get here. I'll send you a data set with the information you need to find me. Don't talk to anyone about this. Keep everything strictly confidential. Will you come?"
The voice of the Halutian rumbled in reply despite the noticeable acoustic filtering all the way across 25,000 light-years. "I will leave at once, Perry, if you so urgently need me. I have just received your location data—would you like to say anything else to me before I depart?"
"I'll tell you the whole story once you're here. No one must find out where you're going."
"I understand, little one. Trust me."
"Thanks," Rhodan said, relieved. He waved briefly, and cut the connection.
Two heartbeats later, Alemaheyu switched over to the large control center holo. Above the heads of the crew stood the image of the LAS-TOOR's bridge. Commander Jere von Baloy filled a third of the picture.
Sharita Coho looked suspiciously at the Maphan. Her severe uniform stood in conspicuous contrast to his loose, colorful shirt and baggy pants.
"We seem to have a difficult part of our mission behind us," the tall Akonian commander said with an ingratiating smile. "Some of my crew members were of the opinion that the loss of power was your doing." His gaze flitted through the PALENQUE's control center and seized on Eniva. He nodded to her, still smiling, then greeted Perry Rhodan.
The commander of the PALENQUE answered immediately; her voice sounded irritated. "Why so distrustful, Maphan? It's easy for you to put the blame on us, but we were just as affected as you were. But we Terrans got the Menttia to lift the blockade. I don't recall any such contributions from the LAS-TOOR's side."
Rhodan had no intention of getting involved. He was familiar with the hidden rivalry between Sharita and Jere von Baloy. They seemed determined to continue the conflict between them that had begun with the discovery of the NETHACK ACHTON.
"Even so, Solina Tormas and Ameda Fayard made important discoveries, and our Shift and its pilot played a significant part in events. You may have noticed that Arsis Tachim delivered your crew members safe and sound to the PALENQUE."
"We also noticed that you were ready to blast your own Shift out of orbit without even knowing who was on board," Sharita said cuttingly. "You must have been really bored over there, right? Especially your Ma-Techten."
"Ma-Techten cer Lethir conducted himself properly in the circumstances," the commander of the LAS-TOOR replied assertively. "Meanwhile, he has now been made to see reason as far as old rivalries are concerned. We have the leadership of the fleet on our backs. They want to see reports and results. You have witnessed how our space soldiers hijacked the first ark and confiscated it from us. Including firing an warning salvo at you as you departed." Maphan Jere von Baloy gestured dismissively. "We will head for the planet and pick up our people. Possibly we can assist the Lemurians in some way. That will depend on where and when we arrive. Meanwhile, we will evaluate the information we have gathered, which will take us some time."
"Take care that you don't provoke the Menttia or give them the impression that you are being aggressive. We know what that can lead to."
"This entire sequence of events has proven that," Rhodan said. His fleeting smile was sober and without warmth. "Cause and effect. Simple communication attempts were successful—all units have power again. Unfortunately, we Terrans are not able to switch parts of spaceship power on and off with such precision. It would be quite an effective way to bring peace to the entire Galaxy." He noticed that Echkal cer Lethir was regarding him thoughtfully, without any sign of distrust in his expression. "We will evaluate the data from the ark. Wouldn't it be an excellent demonstration of scientific cooperation if you Akonians could develop a method of communication between the Menttia and the Lemurian descendants?"
The Maphan nodded and then gestured downwards. "We will make the attempt. First we will land and pick our people up. Will you follow us?"
"For security reasons we will remain in space," Sharita replied, "but we will move to a lower orbit. If the Menttia drain your energy, we can still land and pull you out of there."
"Your friendliness seems without end," the Akonian said with unmistakable irony. "We will certainly remember it. Now ... for the time being, we won't be far away." He raised his hand and with his long, practiced fingers performed a gesture of farewell.
Sharita nodded curtly. The holo dissolved as Alemaheyu broke off the connection.
"A temporary end to the rivalry," Rhodan said and stood up. "There's no time to waste. We should begin deciphering the memory unit data. I think Denetree has enough experience and can help me, along with Eniva and perhaps Driscol."
"A signal!" Alemaheyu exclaimed, throwing his arm up. "It's absolutely clear! A hypercom signal!"
"Again?" Rhodan wondered aloud and shook his head in amazement. "Was it sent just now?"
"No," Alemaheyu said hesitantly. "I just found it in my archive. The checking process only started when we had power again. My Syntron's running hot and heavy just now ... here's the data." Holograms formed. Time indications were blended into the image. A view of the planet's surface took shape, and the Syntron provided a series of enlargements: the crew recognized the command section of the wreck between the dunes of the northern equatorial region.
