Return from The Void
Page 9
Exactly four minutes after the warning call, the two giants neutralized their titanic weight with antigrav fields and shot upward from their respective landing fields. The massive vessels caused air pressure disturbances which blew a storm wind over the southwestern suburbs of Fillinan. But the storm was nothing compared to what burst upon the city a few moments later.
The two ships were still clearly visible in the blue sky when the two attack fronts rolled in upon the city, now no longer hindered by defense screens. In a matter of a few seconds almost one and a half million Mirsalese disappeared—or to be more specific: one and a half million minus 100,000.
Among those who disappeared was a certain police commissioner named Flaring. The felt nothing when the catastrophe struck. He saw a brief, grey-white shimmering, then he entered into a world he had never seen before...
8/ RHODAN TRIUMPHANT
The two spaceships left Mirsal 2 without opposition and made a thrust outward as far as the orbit of Mirsal
4. During this flight the Drusus picked up signals from the Gazelle that Rous and his companions had landed in on Mirsal 2. They became weaker and within half an hour faded out entirely.
Rhodan's plan had miscarried. The enemy had stolen the Gazelle as planned but no further radio signals emerged from the particular continuum in which it was now located. The scoutship was last, just like the guppy on Mirsal 3.
• • •
Rhodan had made his decision even before the landing on Mirsal 2. At the end of that undertaking he would fly to Arkon and have a conference with the robot Regent of the Arkonide Empire and it would be a meeting to decide all remaining questions.
The ship's positronic brain confirmed to Rhodan that this would not be taking a risk. The robot Regent saw itself confronted by a menace that it could not control through its own forces—namely, the menace represented by the invisible enemy who could, with apparent ease, depopulate an entire planet, causing all inhabitants to disappear within but a few hours. The robot needed an ally. The positronicon was of the opinion that it saw this ally in Rhodan, since it had little or no information concerning the Earth itself.
The robot was incorruptible and impartial. It was no burden of the soul for it to admit that under the circumstances Rhodan might have a few trump cards to play, which just might be sufficient to end the enemy's game.
With the cold, calculating diplomacy of a machine, the robot Regent would try to win Rhodan to its side for purposes of waging the battle against the enemy, and then, when the battle was ended, it would, so to speak, put a gun to his head and demand that the Earth be subjected to the rule of the Arkonide Empire.
Rhodan expected as much. But he intended to use the present situation to the Earth's advantage. The robot Brain would be ready to make certain concessions and compromises for the sake of the alliance. So Rhodan proposed to so arrange and construct those compromises in such a manner that they would also protect the Earth for the duration of the war against the Unseen.
While the two ships were leaving the Mirsal System, Rhodan explained to Talamon, the Commander of the Arc-Koor that he intended to fly to Arkon. Since his outbreaks of fear on Mirsal 2 the Mounder had been somewhat embarrassed and he offered no comment now. But his face revealed surprise, as well as the apparent conviction that the robot Brain would never accede to Rhodan's request to be admitted into the Inner Sanctum of the Arkonide Empire.
But of course Talamon deceived himself in this respect because he didn't understand the situation.
Rhodan's hypercom message to the robot Regent was short and to the point: "Valuable information obtained concerning unknown enemy. A mutual conference regarding further measures and evaluation of data is mandatory. Request landing permission and agreement on deadlines."
With the uncanny swiftness characteristic of a positronic machine, the Regent considered the advantages and disadvantages of the proposition. Its answer was ready in two-thousandths of a second. It read:
"Agreed. Land both ships. Am at your disposal upon arrival."
Even to Perry Rhodan such a quick assent was unexpected. He was perplexed. The swift reply could have two meanings: either that Arkon's robot Regent actually saw itself in deep trouble in the face of attacks by the invisible enemy—or that it was playing games in the hope of trapping or overpowering its most powerful rival.
Before the Drusus went into transition some 100 astronomical units from Mirsal, all hands were placed on alert. On the other hand, Rhodan informed the Arc-Koor that the landing permission had been obtained from the Regent and that Arkon was now the next goal of the journey.
• • •
For thousands of years a number of space fortresses had encircled the Arkon System for the purpose of barring entrance to uninvited guests. The two approaching ships terminated their final transition far outside the outer defense ring of these forts.
Rhodan made his approach to the outer perimeter in the two ship formation, flying the Drusus within 500 yards of the Arc-Koor. He figured that if the robot Regent had any treacherous ideas it might change its mind when it saw that the price of a kill now would be losing its mightiest ship. Rhodan was using the Arc-Koor as a security hostage.
In this manner the outer defense ring was penetrated without molestation. Traveling in the closest possible formation, the two ships flew swiftly into the Inner System.
Arkon, situated at the center of star cluster M-13, consisted of three planets which revolved in a synchronous orbit around their central sun. This arrangement had been achieved artificially. Originally there had only been one planet in this particular orbit—Arkon 1. In the course of development this one home world had not been sufficient for the Arkonides. Their technology made it possible for them to alter planetary positions and bring two extra orbs into the orbit of Arkon 1.
Each of these three worlds fulfilled a separate function: Arkon 1 had remained the dwelling world of the Arkonides—a fabulous synthetic garden. Arkon 2, which was considerably smaller, had been reserved for commerce and private industries. On the other hand, Arkon 3 was the home of the spacefleet and of the robot Regent.
With their super-technological capability, the Arkonides had insured the most precise stability for the tri-planetary system. Arkonide mathematics demonstrated just as well as Earth mathematics that such a balance could not be maintained without a very special relationship between the three planets. The three worlds together with their center star formed two equilateral triangles, of which the Arkon Sun was the common apex. So here by artificial means the same kind of synchronous grouping had been achieved as had been formed since millennia in the Earthly solar system between Jupiter and its so-called Trojan asteroid group.
The two ships hurtled toward this tri-system. Their goal was Arkon 3, the 'War Planet' where the robot Regent held forth.
Rhodan had not failed to utilize the intervening time. Some hours had been devoted to a sort of dialog with the ship's positronicon in an attempt to determine how the robot Regent would probably act in the forthcoming negotiations. The inputs that Rhodan was able to give the positronicon were of course not exhaustive enough for an exact answer or even one with a reassuring degree of probability. But the machine was able to point out a number of ways that the Regent might try to go, under given circumstances, in order to achieve its purpose, and Rhodan took care to commit all answers to memory. It amused him to thus play off one machine against another.
Upon query and recognition by the Arkonide Ground Control, Rhodan gave orders to land. Still in close formation, the two ships glided down through the clear, cloudless atmosphere of the war planet and landed within less than a mile from the shimmering wall of the giant energy dome which towered into the blue-white sky above them.
Perry Rhodan still maintained a full alert status on board his ship. He knew that it was one of the customs of the robot Regent to keep its guests waiting for awhile. During such time, all battle stations would be manned and Com Central was ordered to radio silence.
After an hour and a half the Drusus was hailed by radio. The telecom videoscreen over Rhodan's console came to life and as he switched on the visual reception he saw the face of an Arkonide officer.
"Welcome to Arkon," he said in a somewhat disinterested tone of voice. "My name is Drenn. The Regent requests that you visit it personally."
Rhodan nodded. "It will be an honor," he answered. "But how do I gain entrance?"
I will accompany you," said Drenn.
"Good—then pick me up!"
Drenn agreed to this and then cut off the connection.
Rhodan issued his final instructions.
• • •
Drenn seemed to be a liaison officer between the Regent and the outside world. When his ground glider approached a certain area of the shimmering energy wall, it became transparent and permitted passage of the vehicle without harm. On the other side of the energy barrier a broad area stretched out, covered with a smooth layer of synthetic material. Far in the background, Rhodan saw a cubical, windowless building.
"What is that there?" he asked Drenn.
"The reception building," answered the Arkonide. "Whoever has the honor of being permitted to speak personally to the Regent is sent there."
At close range the cubical structure with its gleaming black walls made an impression that was at once powerful and ominous. Rhodan could not detect the slightest unevenness in the walls, much less detect a door. But Drenn sped onward toward the building without any lessening of velocity and at the precise moment an opening appeared in the wall just large enough to admit the passage of the vehicle into the brilliantly illuminated interior of the building.
Drenn set the glider down and turned off the motor. "You may get out and continue onward," he said.
Rhodan complied and in so doing he had a look around. The inside of the great cube consisted only of this one single room and it was empty—except for the glittering, blinding brightness that seemed to issue from every cubic inch of the clear pure air.
There was not a trace to be seen of the Regent. Rhodan knew that the gigantic installation and equipment of the positronic brain was underneath the ground. Everything within the energy dome that was to be seen above ground served solely for appearances—and Rhodan was forced to admit that its simplicity and size could make a powerful impression upon the impartial observer.
When he had taken about 20 steps, he looked behind him. It did not surprise him that Drenn had disappeared in the meantime.
Rhodan walked farther and when he reached the approximate center of the cubical room a mighty voice resounded from on high: "Stay where you are, Rhodan!"
Rhodan complied without looking about. If the robot Regent possessed any ability at all to receive optical impressions, and if in addition it were capable of comprehending human mimicry and nuance of expression, then at this moment it should itself be frightened. Frightened by the impression it made on Rhodan with this kind of a greeting.
Rhodan grinned. He believed he understood what the designers of this installation had in mind when they gave the positronic brain the ability to speak to its visitors in this manner. Did it not sound like the voice of an angry god coming from the clouds? Wouldn't anyone with less self-confidence than Rhodan have fallen on his knees?
These shrewd Arkonides! They had considered all the mentalities of the galaxy when they erected this place—with the exception of Terranians. "Okay, I'm staying," answered Rhodan. He was sure there was a microphone somewhere that had picked up his answer, spoken in Arkonide and transmitted it to the Regent.
"I am the Lord of the Galaxy!" thundered the voice anew. "For awhile you have been able to detain me from that which by right belongs to me. I will forgive you if you will confess that you have acted wrongly." Rhodan listened closely to the voice. It sounded different than usual, less mechanical and more personal in tone than one might expect from a machine. Apparently the Arkonides understood how to give a note of individuality to inanimate equipment.
As for the rest, he gave an impression as though he didn't know what the Regent was talking about. "I don't understand what you mean," he answered. "I speak of your native world, Rhodan," declared the Regent. "All worlds are under my rule and authority and your world also should be under me. Until now you have resisted me. Have you come here to tell me now that you will subjugate yourself to me?"
"No," answered Rhodan. "That is not why I have come here."
"If it is not voluntarily given, I shall exert my right by force!"
"It is not your right to be the ruler of my native world."
"What is right? I am the stronger. What I consider to be good is right."
"You won't consider it good if you resort to force."
"Why not? Your world is no more than dust by comparison to the Great Empire."
Rhodan laughed. "That's what you think! But you'd be fooled if you ever made such an attempt. My home world is more powerful than ancient Arkon!"
"That's impossible!"
"No. Remember that you don't know my race and that almost 60 years have passed since we heard from each other the last time. In 60 years my race accomplishes more than others do in three centuries!"
"What's 60 years? What is time for a being like me? I am immortal. For me one time span is as long as another, quite irrespective of what names you mortals apply to it."
"Be that as it may," said Rhodan indifferently, "but for us 60 years were a good long time."
"Therefore are you refusing to subjugate yourself?"
Rhodan evaded the question. From one breath to the next an idea had come to him. It was so obvious and compelling he almost forgot to breathe for the moment.
"I'd like to propose," he answered, "that we discuss our common enemy first. After that we can talk about my world. The most important things should be taken care of first."
The Regent did not seem to take offense at the reprimand. After a short hesitation it answered: "Agreed. Report what you have found out!"
Rhodan made his report—actually what he'd been able to put together only hours before on board the Drusus. He described the general impressions his three agents had gotten from Mirsal 2 and he limited himself to a general account of what happened—with the exception of Rous' fortunate attempt to penetrate the enemy's world plus all the relationships he found that were involved in the different time ratios.
It wasn't much for the Regent to go on. "Is that all?" it asked. "That isn't enough to enable us to move against the enemy."
"Even if it were all there is," said Rhodan sarcastically, it would still be ourselves who would have found it out, not particularly your own people who in the meantime hide behind the walls of their ships." Rhodan knew that he couldn't insult the Regent but perhaps it was well to leave the thought in its memory cores that the Earthly race was more enterprising and active than the Arkonides, the Springers included.
"Then that is not all?" asked the Regent.
"No. We have mountains of material that we've gathered together and would like to ask you to evaluate it. We don't have the means at our disposal."
"I am in agreement," answered the Regent. "I shall instruct Drenn to pick up the available information and submit it to me."
"I'll turn it over to Drenn," confirmed Rhodan. "Does this terminate our discussion for the present?"
"Yes. You may go. Drenn will take you back."
Rhodan turned about and left. When he was ¾'s of the way back through the huge room, Drenn appeared with the ground glider. Rhodan climbed in, Drenn put the vehicle in motion and it went out through the same opening that it had entered.
The trip back to the Drusus only lasted a few minutes but it was long enough for Rhodan to analyze his impressions.
He was disappointed. At the seat of power over a mighty empire he had expected something impressive and mighty, even though it was only a machine. But what had he found instead? A thing that concentrated on outward appearances and which sought to make an
impression with clumsy, impossible demands while treating a visitor with presumptuous arrogance.
Was this the heart of the great Arkonide Empire?
• • •
Drenn had been informed concerning his assignment. He had to pick up all the assembled information. For this purpose it had been agreed previously that he should undergo a psycho-test prior to receiving the data. This was done and Rhodan submitted the material to him in the Control Central.
Drenn accepted the bulky bundle of notes and magnetic and punched tapes, left the ship and drove a second time in his land glider to the Regent's energy dome. Rhodan saw him disappear behind the shimmering wall of force.
After only one hour, Drenn put in a new appearance. The mere fact that he asked to be admitted and came up to the Command Central proved to Rhodan that his guess was correct: Drenn had come to pick him up.
"The Regent requests a further conversation," Drenn notified him.
Rhodan declined with a wave of his hand. "The Regent overestimates my stamina," he replied calmly. "I haven't seen a bed for over 30 hours. I think it will be sufficient for us to set tip a telecom conference. I can do without the exertion of another glider trip."
Drenn's face had turned white as a cadaver. "I... can't tell it that...!" he stammered.
Rhodan nodded reassuringly. "Why of course you can. You aren't telling him, from yourself, you're merely transmitting my message: that I'm too tired to leave the ship again just now. Either it may contact me over telecom or it can wait until I've rested."
Drenn stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed and it took him a moment before he could stammer: "I... I will deliver your message. But it's on your own responsibility!"
"Yes, naturally," Rhodan replied. "Now go!"
Drenn stumbled out. After a considerable time he was seen to climb into his glider below and set off a third time in the direction of the energy dome.
Not long afterwards the telecom videoscreen flared to life. After Rhodan cut in the video reception, Drenn's face appeared, still as amazed and incredulous as before. "Well...?" asked Rhodan.