The Radiant Dome

by Perry Rhodan

  Rhodan's hand jerked upward. This signaled, "Get up," to the men on the other side of the energy wall.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  "ARMAGEDDON!" Bell received Rhodan's command over their two way radio and quickly carried out the manipulations to alter the structure of the energy wall according to Rhodan's instructions. Three bodies started to move with lightning speed.

  Captain Albrecht Klein had never before run so fast. A few giant leaps brought him through the gap within the weakly glowing energy dome. Against the background of the fiery thunderstorm of the incessant missile barrage Rhodan's tall figure had appeared so incredibly threatening, enigmatic and radiating an almost mystical influence, that Peter Kosnow instinctively grasped his hand weapon.

  The silvery rod's bright glimmer had instantaneously rendered Kosnow incapable of action. He could still hear ringing in his ears the command that he had to obey unconditionally, even against his will.

  "Stay where you are; don't move, don't act."

  That had been all. Perry Rhodan had changed considerably. He was not the same man as a few short weeks ago when he had landed on Earth. Deep lines of worry and pain furrowed his face. His twitching lips indicated clearly that he seemed to have come to the end of the rope. His nervous resistance was giving out.

  Klein looked around, stunned by the inferno of noise and vibration. He could never have imagined what the effect of the furious torrent of gunfire would be. The Chinese defense officer, Li Tschai-tung, too, had been robbed of his willpower. The Arkonide psychoradiator had lost none of its effectiveness. Albrecht Klein alone remained unaffected. He was in full possession of his conscious will and reasoning faculties. Instead he saw himself confronted by the threatening barrel Of an automatic weapon, one of the new type Rak guns. Cautiously Klein had raised his arms above his head, an unreal gesture inside the raging hell around him. Seconds later he realized that any discussion he had planned to have with Rhodan would have to wait until later. It was out of the question even to hear oneself think under these circumstances. Klein then drove the car. Once inside the tent, he received from Rhodan a helmet connected to the intercommunication system. Then he could begin giving out some news.

  Outside the energy dome the missiles kept up the steady rain of fire. Inside Lieutenant General Li Tai-tiang's commando bunker, many eyes attempted in vain to follow the events in the radiant dome.

  Three high ranking secret service officers were calculating the odds that their agents would successfully complete their mission. If they managed to spray the contents of even one of the pressurized bottles, the downfall of the Third Power would be guaranteed.

  Within the tent Captain Klein absorbed everything attentively. He missed neither the dangerously glowing reactor nor the fleeting shadows of the two physicians scurrying behind the dividing curtain.

  Then he became aware of Rhodan's gaze on him, which he returned uneasily. He swallowed hard and audibly before he managed to say, "Many thanks, sir. Before we go any further, will you be so kind and examine the contents of the inside pockets of our overalls. You will find there on every one of us a steel bottle the size of a hand and as thick as a salami. We have been officially ordered to release their liquid contents once we got inside your compound."

  Bell whirled around, his broad face contorted, his index finger playing with his Rak gun's trigger.

  Rhodan remained in his rigid posture. Only his eyes had changed. They seemed to dissect Klein.

  "Inside our breast pockets," urged Klein. "Won't you check, please? We have no time to lose. If our chiefs should have the slightest inkling we are standing here so peacefully in front of you, we need not even bother to return."

  Rhodan remained silent, but Bell began to act. Neither Kosnow nor Li put up any resistance as the dangerous containers changed hands. Klein stared quietly at the small cylinders. He was startled by Rhodan's deep voice.

  "Okay, Klein. That was that. What is inside these bottles?"

  "A radio bacteriological weapon that would have finished all of you off within a few hours. This was my idea."

  Klein was amazed at Rhodan's continued calm. Perry was now lowering his automatic gun.

  "Your idea?" Bell asked coldly. "And now you want to play the big hero! What are you really up to? By the way, Klein, I would not have admitted you to our dome."

  "That's a matter of opinion," interjected Rhodan dryly. "Captain, did you develop this plan with the bacteriological warfare because this would enable you to get in touch with me without suspicion? I might possibly have hatched out a similar strategy myself, in your position."

  Klein's respect grew tremendously. The strangeness of the situation seemed to become even more unreal, as he took in the alien instruments and gadgets inside the tent. Klein was glad that Kosnow's rather impulsive mind had temporarily been put out of action.

  "You guessed right, sir. We even received orders to come up with some fictitious data to make you believe in some nonexistent resistance group. But more about that later. In any case you must realize with absolute certainty that it would have been child's play for me to release some of the bottle's contents. Nobody could have heard the material escape during the noise of the bombardment. What do you think of that?"

  Rhodan's mask-like face relaxed. From beneath the thick rimmed helmet a furrowed brow became partially visible. Slowly came the rejoinder, "Klein, if you had made one careless movement, you'd no longer be alive. I have a portable radioscope detector, which revealed at once the bottles under your overalls. You can rest assured that you would never have managed even to reach the opening valve with your little finger. Do you get me?"

  Klein grinned in embarrassment. "Good," he snorted. "You knew about it all along. But I did not. Will you believe me that we did not intend for a single moment to blow that infernal stuff into your dome? I came here only to discuss things with you undisturbed."

  "It is after 4 A.M. now. When you return they will ask you what you were doing here such a long time. Is that logical?"

  "Absolutely. I can invent some plausible excuse. About the fictitious underground movement that supposedly wants to give you support in reaching your goals."

  "And what do you really want?" asked Rhodan slowly. His eyes were burning. Klein felt his calmness return. He could appreciate the human greatness of this man who was standing practically single-handed against the massed forces of the world. "I am impressed by the integrity of your goals," he declared shortly. "We have already discussed this point once before. I see no justification for wanting to remove you as the Third Power. The outbreak, of the atomic war, which you foiled just in the nick of time, convinced me 100 percent of your honesty. You effected the unity of mankind. You made a dream come true that so far had seemed unattainable. I personally have always been convinced that only a threat coming from outside our planet would bring about an amalgamation of all nations. Ideological differences among the world's governments have become unimportant now. You are instead the focal point of the threat. Even religious differences have been removed overnight. People have started to think rationally, but they will stop doing so the moment you cease to exist. Can you believe me that I have experienced so much more as an officer of the IIA than an ordinary human being? Working for the secret service was a dirty job. We—that means Kosnow, Li and I—have arrived at the conclusion that you must continue to survive as the Third Power. These are our motivations in a nutshell."

  Rhodan did not stop to think for long. Klein's intentions appeared to be quite clear; yet he overlooked one significant fact: The end of the Third Power he admired and found desirable was rapidly approaching.

  Rhodan looked worriedly toward the sickbay. In a few short hours his daily report to Thora was due—and Khrest was still in his inexplicable cataleptic state.

  "You must do something," urged Klein. "I have learned from a reliable source that three spaceships blasted off from Earth several hours ago. I don't know the exact time and place, but I do know their destination. These rocket
ships were launched to the moon in order to attack your lunar base with a new kind of 'cold' atom bomb. You simply must do something."

  Reginald Bell's fists were closed tightly around the narrow back of his chair. Rhodan's mouth was twisted in a wry smile, his eyes full of-doubt. "Three moonrockets?" Rhodan's voice sounded sceptical. "Do you realize what you are saying? No atomic engine is able to start now on Earth—you can take my word for it."

  "That's right, not from Earth. But beyond the outer limit of the anti-neutron belt. Secret experiments and measurements in the upper atmosphere were conducted, which show that the Arkonides' strange anti-neutron field extends only to a height of about seventy miles."

  With a deep groan Klein sat down on a stool. His knees were trembling. ›So you had no idea about that planned lunar attack? The Western Bloc, the East and the Asiatic Federation have each launched one spaceship. The first and second stages are powered with chemical fuel. As soon as they reached an altitude of seventy miles the nuclear chemical aggregates began to take over. You made a serious mistake, Major Rhodan! This is why I have come here. Forget all the questioning to find out the why and wherefore of my actions. The only thing that matters now is to safeguard the existence of your moon base!"

  Bell moistened his lips. His face had turned ashen. Even Rhodan grasped the back of a chair in front of him, as if searching for some kind of support.

  "Tell us everything, please," he urged roughly. "What has happened? But report everything in detail, will you!"

  Indeed, Klein did not spare them any of the details. He started with the conference in Greenland, then proceeded to a description of the Catalyst H bomb and its workings, which were easily comprehended by Rhodan. Thus had come about the very thing he had always feared. Klein finished his report by relating the tremendous job that had been accomplished by the mightiest electronic brain on Earth. As he fell silent, they became aware again of the dull pounding of the nonstop barrage. The Arkonide reactor was shining brightly in a light blue hue. It looked frightening. Rhodan racked his brain in desperation, trying to picture what malfunctions might be taking place inside the machine. Only Khrest Could supply the answer, provided it was not too late for even that. What good would it do to know the why and how if the point of no return had already been reached! Rhodan was convinced of the imminent breakdown of the reactor.

  Before Rhodan began to reply to Klein's account, he directed the psychoradiator toward the two other visitors. Kosnow and Li awoke instantly. A few brief explanations sufficed to bring them up to date.

  "Abstain from any questions and complaints," they heard him say in their helmets' loudspeaker system. "Captain Klein has supplied me with all the necessary information. Okay, let's be quick about it."

  He pointed toward the reactor. "Look at this! This bluish glow is not normal. I'm afraid that we have reached the end of our tether."

  Klein shook his head in protest. His eyes, full of disbelief, were firmly fixed on the tall man near him. Rhodan continued with a bitter smile, "The Arkonides'

  transmitter is out of order, quite likely because of the strong ground tremors. Thus it has become impossible for us to reestablish the disrupted radio communication with the moon. Unless Khrest is awake by 8 tomorrow morning, I'll be forced to ask for an armistice. You can't begin to imagine what horrible fate lies in store for mankind if any evil should befall our sick visitor. Please hold back all your questions. Things are too complicated to be explained thoroughly in a few moments."

  "But what about the three nuclear bombers of the power blocs!" groaned Kosnow. "Can they still be rendered harmless? And what will happen to their crews if your people on the moon base should answer this threat to their survival by a counterattack?"

  "Let's hope that things will be handled as humanely as possible," declared Rhodan. "The woman commander of the moon base, though, is the one who will have to decide how to deal with the potential aggressors from earth."

  "And if they should drop their bombs?" inquired Li Tschai-tung excitedly.

  "What chances will your garrison on the moon base have? Will they be able to defend themselves properly?"

  Rhodan tried hard not to give any indication of the storm raging in him. He had an overwhelming desire to be left alone as soon as possible. These three men must not find too much about the situation. He particularly wanted to spare them the devastating effect that truth would now have on their belief in their own mission.

  "Your assumption is right, that a cold nuclear fusion can not be stopped by an anti-neutron field. But they certainly have other means on the moon to render ineffective these three rockets with their deadly cargo. Don't worry about that. But before you leave, Klein, I have a request to make."

  Captain Klein stood up. His face seemed gray and worn. He was aware that something was amiss. Bell could not hide his excitement. Rhodan glanced at his watch. "Will you listen for my radio call at 8 A.M. sharp? I'll try to do my best to repair the sender by then. If I don't succeed, I see no alternative but to give up in order to prevent a catastrophe. If it is within your power, try to arrange for a cease fire. Send negotiators for a truce, gain time. But most urgently, see to it that this constant bombardment is stopped at once. Do you think you can manage that?"

  Rhodan's eyes seemed to burn in their sockets. the Chinese interjected in too casual a manner, "Sir, you don't know my people! Before General Tai-tiang will stop the shooting you will have to remove the energy barrier around your encampment. If you simply request a truce, he will not go along with you. His suspicions will be aroused, and he will assume that this is nothing but a manoeuvre to win time to carry out some necessary repairs. There are some excellent psychologists in our command bunkers. Don't underestimate them. We can proceed only step by step, as you surely must know."

  Klein nodded in agreement.

  Rhodan lowered his head. "Okay, then wait for my radio call. If it doesn't arrive by 8 at your base, that will mean that we could manage things successfully. But if I should call you, will you then act as quickly as possible?"

  "This reactor will keep on working for months on end," stammered Klein with hopeful zest. "Why do you want to throw in the towel so fast? This barrage is bound to cease sometime soon. They are already experiencing a lot of difficulties with fresh supplies from the rear. Six thousand guns need an incredible amount of ammunition. Try to hold out another day!"

  "You don't fully understand what is going on here," Rhodan informed him. "If it were up to us, we would Simply carry on until the machine failed. But there is another potential danger that I must avoid at all costs. If the commander of the moon base calls for the daily report without getting a reply from us, and if in addition to that she notices we are under constant fire, she will lose her temper. Then God have mercy on us down here on Earth! Do you understand now why I can't risk this?"

  They understood. Rhodan accompanied the three men back to the protective screen perimeter. Before taking leave and having the protective earpad helmets returned to him, Rhodan said warmly, "Thank you, Klein. You meant well. I'm sorry to have to disappoint you in your high expectations. But some miracle might still happen. In that case, please act instantly and call Nevada Fields for an immediate cease fire. Have General Pounder affirm this by a broadcast. But to be on the safe side, will you also inform Allan D. Mercant that no finger must be laid on the alien Khrest. Otherwise, the debacle will be unavoidable. He must not be detained by anyone, do you understand?"

  The circuits of the screen's structure were switched, and within an interval of three seconds the men had left the energy dome. As soon as they had reached the outside, Rhodan raced back to the tent.

  "Those guys will get into trouble," he was informed by Reginald Bell. "They forgot their cylinders with the bacterial cultures."

  We have taken that into consideration. They will declare that they have discharged their poisonous cargo into our atmosphere within the dome. If we stay healthy despite that, they will be free of blame. After all, we might have me
ans to fend off such bacteriological warfare. The Third Power is capable of everything. Let them believe that!"

  The sarcastic grin with which Rhodan concluded his words caused Reginald Bell to break out in loud curses. He looked up at his commander in anguish. Come along now," Perry said.

  Once Rhodan and Bell had arrived inside the temporary sickbay, both medics were tuned in to their intercom system. Dr. Manoli and Dr. Haggard looked exhausted. Both had reached the limit of nervous endurance.

  "It is 4:55 now," stated Rhodan. He glanced slowly around the room. Khrest was resting motionless on his cot.

  "Klein did not know exactly when the three moon rockets started. But it is safe to assume that there will be atomic fireworks on the moon today and without the slightest risk for the people down here on Earth. The moon is too far away for that.

  "What is your opinion about the whole deal? You seem to have some idea,"

  Reginald Bell's hands were tense as they grasped Rhodan's arms. "Spill it!

  What's going to happen?"

  "Thora will ignore the threat from the three moon rockets in her morbid arrogance. She will assume she is able to counteract any nuclear reaction with the help of a normal protective screen and the anti-neutron field. Even if I could restore communication with her immediately and warn her, she would choose to disregard it. That means that the destruction of the space sphere is only a matter of time now."

  You are imagining the impossible," stammered Bell. "That's out of the question! That giant ship is indestructible."

  "Only under the proper circumstances is it invulnerable. If they had a terrestrial crew on board instead of their apathetic Arkonides, I would not be worried at all. But they will neglect to take the most elementary precautions. I am very pessimistic. A catalyst H bomb will develop an energy output of 10 megatons of TNT. I would not care to be at the center of the ball of gas resulting from such a nuclear reaction. A terrible sun will rise over the space sphere unless something is done by its crew in time. Dr. Haggard … !"