by Perry Rhodan
Perry Rhodan
The Third Power #40
Red Eye of Betelgeuse
The Terra and Centurion and 10 mutants defend the Earth against the might of the Springer and Mounder Clans. The Centurion is captured, Tiff and McClears head out in a Gazelle but they are also captured. Is this the end for the Earth and Perry Rhodan? All will be revealed in the stirring story of–
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THE RED EYE OF BETELGEUSE
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1/ BLASTOFF FOR BETELGEUSE
TWO ALIEN ENTITIES in the entire Universe—one semi-human, the other completely inhuman—believed they knew the location of the planet Earth, besides the Arkonides Khrest and Thora and the mouse-beaver from the world called Vagabond.
Khrest, Thora and Pucky, of course, really knew; the other two— Well, one was a Galactic Trader of the Mounder clan. Green of skin and measuring a good 6 feet in height and almost the same in width, he was the undisputed lord and master of a considerable spaceship fleet. Topthor.
The second entity traveled aboard Topthor's flagship, the same space vessel with which he had attempted to attack Earth when it had been accidentally discovered many months previously. However, neither Topthor nor 'the other' knew that Perry Rhodan's mutants had long since altered the position coordinates data in the memory banks. 'The other' was the positronic brain aboard the Mounder's ship.
Occupying the supposed position of the Earth now was the third planet of the giant star Betelgeuse, 272-light-years distant from the terrestrial solar system. This fact was to lead to a world-shattering mistake—a carefully engineered error for 2 great stellar races, although their greatest adversary, a certain Terranian named Perry Rhodan was, as a result, to disappear forever from the scene along with his home planet.
Exactly as plotted by Rhodan.
• • •
Humanity had finally come of age. Man had made of his planet a near Utopia only dreamed of a few generations earlier by visionaries like Wells, Bellamy, Gernsback, Ernst von Loig.
World government had long since ceased to be a social fantasy, the impossible dream of science fiction prophets and global-minded statesmen. Border lines and customs barriers had fallen. Homer G. Adams, the Finance Minister of Terra, had introduced a common unit of currency: the Solar. The former great powers and the small nations had their representative seats in the Great Council of the World Government, which met at regular intervals in Terrania, the world capital.
The danger of war was now as dead as the dinosaur. Money which had previously been squandered insanely and incessantly on the senseless competition for national military 'security' now served to construct a gigantic spacefleet for the protection of mankind as a planetary unit.
• • •
Located in the heart of the Gobi Desert, Terrania was the scene of great activity. As the central core of United Earth, the city of a million inhabitants awaited the report of its first citizen, finally home from space after an absence of half a year. No one knew what had transpired during those 6 months but everyone suspected that only events of critical importance could have kept Perry Rhodan so long away from Earth.
Chief Engineer Kowalski and electronic technician Harper had their evening free and were seated expectantly before the TV screen in the common living quarters which they shared with 2 other colleagues who were on the night shift. The station identification picture showed interstellar space with the Milky Way in the background; in the foreground, the shadow outline of a torpedo-shaped ship. Only the single word Terrania identified the source of transmission.
Every Earthman, Earthwoman and Earthchild was aware that an event of major importance was impending. Virtually no one would miss this broadcast for World Government was to speak to the population of the entire planet.
Perhaps the most important man on Earth or off it—the Administrator himself—would address the united natives of his home world personally.
"He just got back today," said Kowalski and Harper knew who he meant. They had both seen the mighty spherical spaceship land, such a ship as the Earth had never before beheld. The giant vessel had an approximate diameter of one mile. The name Titan stood out on its hull of Arkonide steel. "I'm anxious to hear the news he's going to give us."
He referred to Perry Rhodan, the man who had united the Earth and brought it to the status of a great galactic power. Perhaps he was the only living human who had no enemies, at least not on the Earth or among humankind. Beyond, in the far reaches of interstellar space, however...
"We'll soon find out," Harper rejoined, as he lounged in his chair. "At least one thing hasn't changed: the delays for station identification are still a part of television!—Ah! Now it begins!"
The glittering Milky Way faded from the screen to be replaced by the face of a man who was known to everyone. This was Col. Albrecht Klein, Rhodan's second-in-command. During the absence of the Administrator he acted in the interest of the New Power and conducted the affairs of the World Government, energetically supported by Allan D. Mercant.
"Friends! Terranians!" Col. Klein made an effective pause and looked into the camera with a friendly smile—thereby looking into the eyes of more than 2 billion humans. "Perry Rhodan has returned from his expedition into outer space and will briefly inform you concerning the more important events that were involved. A fuller report will be forthcoming in the next few days. And so I ask your indulgence if the Administrator is brief. I now turn you over to Perry Rhodan." Col. Klein smiled and moved to one side, disappearing momentarily from the TV screen's field of vision.
"Well, so far, that was fairly short and painless," observed Harper, looking on with interest as the receding camera picked up Klein again and then revealed the assembly hall in which the delegates of the World Government Council were seated around a horseshoe-shaped table. "There—that's him!"
Kowalski nodded. He had known Rhodan for a long time. The smartly tailored uniform of the spacefleet accentuated his lean figure as he arose with a slight smile and walked to the speaker's podium. He shook hands with Col. Klein, then stood before the camera, which brought his image to all parts of the world, even into smallest villages of the farthest continents. Simultaneously, his words were translated by interpreters into the language of each country in which the sound and image were being received. By this means, each person could understand his words, even though he spoke in English.
"Terranians!" Although he continued to smile, Rhodan's voice sounded slightly strained. In his grey eyes gleamed the timelessness of infinite space, which had become his second home. However, this quality did not radiate from him as before, but seemed rather to be suppressed by an overriding expression of anxiety. "During the past 6 months, very much has come to pass, both here on Earth and in the far reaches of space. You will all recall that we launched an expedition in search of the Arkonide Empire, which exists at a distance of 34,000 light-years in the star cluster M-13. Well, we found Arkon, the chief stellar system, but we experienced a sharp disappointment: 6 years prior to our arrival, the Arkonides had been superseded by an inconceivably tremendous positronic brain, which now rules a stellar empire larger than anything that has ever existed in the known part of the galaxy." Rhodan made a slight pause to let the effect of his words sink in. The camera swung away from him slightly and revealed a close-up of the two Arkonides, Khrest and Thora.
Harper let out a low whistle. "That Thora is really way out. She's thin and she's tall and her white hair and red eyes don't send me very much. You know, she isn't actually beautiful—but there's a certain fascination about her that's hard to resist..."
Rhodan appeared on the screen again. "We succeeded in app
ropriating from the Empire its largest battleship, the Titan. Owing to attacks by outside enemies, the robot brain perceived that it was being menaced and so it allied itself with us. We gave assistance to the Regent of the Arkonide Empire and won its trust—insofar as the word may be used with reference to a machine. In the course of our operations, the fact became increasingly clear that Earth and the Empire possessed a very considerable enemy—namely, the Springers. You have already heard of this humanoid race which is an offshoot of the Arkonides. They are also known as the Galactic Traders. They were the ones who at one time attacked the Earth and were repulsed. The Mounder, Topthor, still knows the position of Earth—at least, he believes he knows it, he and the positronic brain on board his ship.
"But there is still someone else who wishes very much to know where the Earth may be found: the gigantic robot brain of Arkon. Fellow Terranians, our world knows no more dangerous enemy than this robot brain, which will permit no other major power to exist in its vicinity. And Terra is in the process of becoming a major galactic power!"
Rhodan was interrupted by applause from the delegates. He thanked them with a nod of his head and continued. "The robot brain of Arkon consists mainly of ice-cold logic and a complete lack of compromise. It sees in us only a welcome assistance which it may employ at will in order to be of service to its own interests. However, the Earth is not interested in being a colony of Arkon."
There was a new burst of applause. Harper and Kowalski also clapped enthusiastically. Khrest and Thora again became visible on the viewing screen. They sat motionlessly in their places, apparently suppressing any outward expression of emotion. In Khrest's eyes there was a momentary gleam but no one would have ventured to say whether this were a sign of vexation or not. Thora did not take her eyes from Rhodan for a single second. Her gaze was fixed on his lips as though expecting a revelation from them.
Rhodan waited until the applause subsided. "I emphasize the ice-cold logic of the robot brain. If it were to learn of our intention not to continue as its servants, it would strike without pity and destroy us—if it knew where the Earth is located. But it does not know where in the infinity of space our solar system is located. It still does not know that."
"And Topthor can't give it away because we have changed the registers of his small positronic computer on board his ship and given it a false memory. If today Topthor were to ask his robot navigator for the position of the Earth, he would receive the answer that Earth is the third planet of the giant sun Betelgeuse in Orion, 272 light-years distant from here.
"It is my plan that the Galactic Traders—perhaps even the robot brain of Arkon—should annihilate this third planet and thus believe firmly that they have destroyed the Earth. According to the Arkonide catalogues, this third planet is uninhabited. But we will arrange that it appears otherwise. In this manner, Earth will officially cease to exist. Only then will we have time to build our space fleet uninterruptedly, so we may one day contact Arkon and place before it our conditions—and certainly not as mere subsidiary allies but at the very least as partners with equal rights."
There was more applause, even from the two Arkonides, who were also not in favor of a robot as the ruler of their Empire.
Harper mumbled, "Rhodan has his plans, alright—and are they ever wild! But I can understand that there isn't any other possibility. We just disappear from the scene until we've become stronger."
"Well, it sounds simple enough," replied Kowalski and looked at his watch. "He made it short and painless and confronted us practically with established facts. I'm anxious to see that full report they said would be coming through later. That will be a real adventure to read. Half a year in outer space is a long time."
He didn't suspect how close he had come to the truth. Harper was about to answer but Rhodan continued speaking.
"Terranians! I have confided my plan to you so that you may understand our activities later. Even this week, two of our heavy cruisers will take off in the direction of Orion in order to give an uninhabited planet the appearance of being inhabited. It is a fair certainty that the Mounder, Topthor, will then not wait long in destroying the hated 'Earth'. He shall have his wish!" Rhodan raised his hand in greeting and signaled to the camera. The picture faded and the Terrania symbol returned.
Kowalski got up and turned off the television. He looked at Harper. "Well, what do you think about it? Don't you think he's been pretty thorough in the way he's figured this thing out?"
"I don't know if it's been as thorough as all that," muttered Harper doubtfully. "No matter how sophisticated or infallible a calculation may be, there can always be one small error—and then you've had it!"
"Nonsense!" Kowalski was actually indignant. "Perry Rhodan doesn't make mistakes!"
It was a rash overstatement, since no infallible an had yet been born. Rhodan had already made errors in the past. Of course, he had always been able to either repair the damage or to turn them somehow to his advantage.
Harper nodded and rose to his feet. "It's possible, Kowalski, but this time I just happen to have a feeling that he's making one. Maybe I'm wrong, and I certainly hope so, but I'll tell you this, old friend! If there's a mistake in the calculations this time, then God help us!"
Kowalski didn't answer. He watched his friend silently as he disappeared into the next room.
The chief engineer from Poland shrugged his shoulders. What could go wrong if these Traders came with their fleet and destroyed an uninhabited world that they took for the Earth and which was almost 300 light-years away? Yes, what possibly could go wrong...?
• • •
"This injustice cries out to high Heaven and I'm putting in a complaint!"
The voice was very high-pitched and shrill, its tone not only peevish but also full of reproach and anger. But it appeared to make very little impression on Rhodan, who smiled softly and appeasingly stroked the reddish brown fur at the nape of the speaker's neck.
"But Pucky—why so furious? Haven't you honestly earned a leave of absence? I'm going to stay here too."
But Pucky chose to be vehement. He sat beside Rhodan on one of the chairs, drawn up to his full height, which only amounted, however, to about 3 feet. The large ears gave evidence of a sensitive hearing, the sharp snout an outstanding sense of smell and the broad hind portions with their spoon-shaped thick tail advertised very little enthusiasm for long walks. But walking wasn't very necessary for Pucky, because he was a teleporter, and he could transport himself at any time to any chosen location. In addition, he possessed the gift of thought-reading and was accordingly a telepath. With his mental powers, he could move matter without touching it, a faculty which was known as telekinesis. Pucky was so universally gifted that upon first meeting him no one could believe it.
"Alright!" he pouted, and grinned indignantly with his single incisor tooth, which he would rather have occupied with raw carrots. "But 10 mutants are going along. I'm the only one left out."
"My decision is final," said Rhodan. He thus swept every one of Pucky's objections away and turned to the assembled crewmen, who had watched the byplay with varying degrees of enthusiasm. "Maj. Deringhouse will take over command of the Centurion; Maj. McClears, the Terra. Both cruisers have a standard crew complement of 400 men and are equipped with hyper-compensators. This will prevent anyone from tracking your hytrans jumps. In addition, 10 members of the Mutant Corps are taking part in the expedition. John Marshall is the chief mutant. He has received from me an unlimited operational authority and is only subordinate to Deringhouse."
Next to Rhodan stood a stocky, square-built man with a red brush of hair and a broad fare. As he shook his head almost imperceptibly, Rhodan noticed an unexpressed question in his water-blue eyes.
"What is it, Bell? Any more objections?"
Reginald Bell was Rhodan's best friend and closest confidant, having also been the former Defense Minister of the New Power. He seemed surprised at such a direct question but quickly overcame his embarrassment. "No,
everything's quite
clear—I'd just like to back up what Pucky was saying..."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't think it's fair that just we two have been singled out to remain behind. What are we doing here if the existence or non-existence of the human race is to be decided almost 300 light-years from here? Pucky is the best parapsychic sensitive and I—I—"
"Yes?" queried Rhodan and grinned his amusement. "And you...?"
"Well, after all, I'm Pucky's friend," was all that Bell was able to claim by way of justification.
In his seat, the mouse-beaver pricked up his ears. In his bright eyes was a gleam of pleasure. "Well, old battle buddy, thanks very much!" he chirped happily. "Ill file that away for future reference. But I think we're beating our heads against the wall. The battle plan is set in cement. We're just not going to be needed."
Rhodan smiled at him. "You've grasped the situation quite well, Pucky. Both ships are ready for takeoff and they will start their flight to Betelgeuse tonight. Col. Deringhouse, you know the plan. Together with McClears you will make a pretense of defending the third planet. Then, after the Galactic Traders have attacked it several times, you are to retreat and disappear, just as soon as the enemy has completely destroyed the third planet and not left a trace of it behind them. We're forced to make a sacrifice of this world but it does not have any intelligent life. The Traders won't hesitate to consider the destruction of the mysterious planet Terra as an accomplished fact. And even the robot brain on Arkon will be grateful to them—considered from a purely logical point of view. Actually, it's too bad, because I'm quite fond of that old 'dome head'." There was a note of deliberate irony in this latter remark.
The two battle cruisers were spherical ships having diameters in excess of 600 feet. Their range of action was practically unlimited. By means of transitions through hyperspace, they could cover inconceivable distances in a matter of seconds. A considerable amount of time was taken up by the positronic calculations of the pertinent coordinates but this was not to be compared with the short duration of the trip itself. The armament consisted of pulse-stream projectors and other engines of annihilation, which were of Arkonide origin. Powerful energy screens protected the spherical vessels from any attack. Antigravity fields neutralized all inertial impacts, from deceleration manoeuvres, or during landing
