Duel Under the Double Sun Read online

  CROSSROADS OF EMPIRE: CHIEF of the Mutant Corps to ATLAN: "Rhodan was captured by his son. The Antis paramechanically brainwashed him, unlawfully altered his personality. Now he wants to find Trakarat and attack it."

  "The survival of the Solar Empire is threatened. War is imminent. We must have the full cooperation of the Baalol scientists."

  "For Perry Rhodan is the Earth!"

  This crisis leads to a--

  Perry Rhodan

  Posbis #108

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  DUEL UNDER THE DOUBLE SUN

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  PROLOG

  THE ENTIRE GALAXY is in a tense situation. Thomas Cardif's behavior has added to Atlan's distress and induced him to deliver 1000 modern spaceships to the Akons.

  Cardif the usurper has brought the Milky Way into a state of upheaval. Smaller races of people cower before the might of the Solar Fleet, whereas the more powerful races are mobilizing every force at their command.

  On Earth, Cardif has invoked the security law and proclaimed a state of emergency. This gives him the dictatorial powers which enable him to order the arrest Of rebellious members of the Solar Government. His orders are still obeyed but there are already signs of a hidden officers' revolt in the Solar Fleet.

  Reginald Bell, Solar Marshal Freyt, Intelligence Chief Mercant, the Mutant Corps and all of Rhodan's many close friends are striving somehow to correct this untenable state of affairs. Thus they have decided to ask Atlan for a conference-unknown to Cardif, whose false identity is still unsuspected.

  The Arkonide Imperator has agreed. The rendezvous point is the planet Saos. And thus the stage is prepared for something that neither Atlan nor Rhodan's friends can disregard: the DUEL UNDER THE DOUBLE SUN...

  1/ CROSSROAD OF EMPIRES

  HEAT!

  In my helmet phones I heard the metallic voice of a robot: "It is getting warm, Your Highness."

  I turned my gaze toward the rugged horizon where the yellow sun of the Saos System was just topping the horizon. Yes, it was going to get pretty hot. My spacesuit's automatic filter system shoved the ultraviolet shield across my faceplate. Against the hard contours of the land the nearby heaps of debris and ruination suddenly took on a less desolate aspect. Here and there I thought I detected a movement but of course it was merely an illusion.

  On Saos, the second planet of a catalog star without a name, there was nothing left alive-not since Terran ships and Arkonide squadrons had penetrated the atmospheric envelope. We had captured a stronghold of the Antis and had obtained some information that hadn't been immediately usable. The surviving members of the Baalol cult who had been taken prisoner could not enlighten us because they did not know where the legendary planet of Trakarat was located.

  The most important details had been picked up from two Galactic Traders. At the present time they were on Earth where an attempt was being made to check out their information. But apparently they had spoken the truth. Trakarat was no doubt the home world of the Antis.

  "Your Eminence should not remain outside too long."

  I murmured a confirmation into my helmet mike. The ship's automatic analyzers had recognized the dangers of my planetary environment. I was wearing a light spacesuit that was not equipped with a heavy-duty air-conditioning unit.

  "I'll be there in a few minutes," I said. "Do we have any positive tracking coordinates yet?"

  "Not yet, Your Excellence."

  My chronometer indicated 10 a.m., standard galactic time. The Terrans were not being very punctual. I fell to brooding again. Ever since the illness of my friend Perry Rhodan relatively insignificant things had a way of getting on my nerves. Even this slight delay of our rendezvous time made me uneasy. A few months previously I would not have been concerned about such trivialities but now I was already in a panic just because the time agreed upon had been exceeded by merely 10 minutes.

  I shook my head in my perplexity and bumped against the earphones.

  From my extra-brain my logic sector chided me: an insignificant factor, considering the distance of 33,000 light-years.

  I became impatient with myself. Of course 10 minutes were insignificant. Even if the Terran delegation arrived 10 hours late it would still not be a matter for argument.

  The catalog sun, known only as 41-B-1847-ArqH, was high enough now to bathe the nearby mountaintops with a dark-red tint. It seemed as if blood had been spilled down their sides. Blood! I shivered although my air-conditioning meter indicated an outside temperature of more than 70° Fahrenheit. Saos was a desert world without a breathable atmosphere. The planet belonged to the Arkonide Imperium and was thus under my jurisdiction.

  On my home world, Arkon 1, no one knew where I had gone in the fast robot cruiser. My sole object was to be able to confer with the leading men of Earth and to express myself directly concerning the current situation.

  The reports concerning the state of Rhodan's health were very alarming. It had been determined that his cell activator had grown into his body and caused an unknown phenomenon of 'explosive cell division'. It was not possible to remove the dangerous device by means of surgery. Inasmuch as my own cell activator had kept me healthy and youthful for 10,000 years, by Earthly reckoning. I could not understand how Rhodan's activator had produced such an effect.

  Had some mistake been made in the activator's programming? Was it possible that the individual synchronization adjustments were not properly aligned with Rhodan's biological frequencies? Unknown to Terran intelligence agents I had flown to the synthetic planet Wanderer in an attempt to answer these questions. I had hoped to be able to discuss the problem with the composite entity who lived there. However, the disembodied intelligence called It was not available for such a contact. In other words, It preferred to maintain silence. So I had been forced to make the long return journey without bringing any new help for Rhodan.

  The outside temperature continued to increase. The sun rose above the mountain chain and flooded the rugged terrain with its brilliant light. The dreary desolation of the ruined Anti base was suddenly accentuated by the stark illumination. Here the god-priests of the Baalol cult had tried to lure the Terrans onto a false trail. But two young officers of the Solar Fleet had been able to see through the deception in time.

  Saos was not the home world of the Antis, after all. Meanwhile I had refrained from taking action against the Terran landing manoeuvres because I had not considered it to be a serious threat to my position as Imperator of the stellar empire. In fact I had just recently learned that the Antis had been trying to provoke a military conflict between Arkon and Terra.

  But none of these things could explain why my friend was gradually becoming a monstrosity. The Security Chief of the Solar Imperium, Allan D. Mercant, had informed me that the explosive cell division was causing uncontrolled growth. He said that Rhodan would increase in height about I cm per day. I did some calculating. Since our last contact, which even then had only been via spacecom videophone, 51 days had passed. At present the date by earth reckoning was Oct. 20, 2103.

  1 wondered what he would probably look like now that wiry Terran who had united humanity and brought it peace. 51 days-that meant an equal number of centimeters of growth, in height as well as girth! Perry must have become a colossus by now.

  I lifted a hand to shade my eyes which were dazzled by the light in spite of the automatic filters. The broad kettle basin containing the ruins of the Anti stronghold was hardly inspiring enough to make me want to linger here any longer. Also in my present state of mind it was not good for me to brood intensively over insoluble problems. I was not able to use the one advantage I had gained from all of thes
e strange events. I still needed the final evaluations of the robot Regent of Arkon.

  Slowly I made my way down the steep slope of the basin, taking great care not to stumble and fall. Saos had a gravity reading of 1.3 and was in general a very unpleasant world. This is why it had never been settled by Arkonide colonists.

  My cruiser lay 100 meters away on the canyon floor. I was the only living passenger. However, the robot crew was just as reliable as Arkonide personnel-in fact perhaps better, I had to confess. The mental and physical decadence among the Arkonides of the realm could no longer be denied. I was already toying with certain considerations of which the humans knew nothing as yet. Had it not been for Rhodan's illness I might have introduced certain steps of negotiation weeks before this. In my position as the absolute ruler I led a phantom existence. At my disposal were a giant fleet, thousands of colonial worlds and several hundred million fighting machines of every description but I lacked both true friends and capable crewmen to man my spaceships.

  Within the stellar empire chaotic conditions were developing. It was difficult to counteract uprisings and revolutions with the robot fleet alone because I could never monitor and supervise the measures taken by the robot central control, at least not to the extent that it was necessary and desirable to do so. So this had led to harsh treatment and misunderstandings which had only served to increase colonial anger and resentment. For some weeks now I had known that my position was untenable. I needed help from the Terrans under Rhodan's leadership. If he were to use his excellently well trained men, who were in every respect more alert and active than Arkonides, there was a chance of still saving the weakened Imperium. If I had been backed up by such personnel it would never have occurred to me to entertain thoughts of surrendering or even voluntary annexation. But in the best interests of the Empire I had come to consider this as the best solution.

  Khrest, the long-dead Arkonide scientist, had always maintained that by physical necessity the Terrans would inherit the Imperium. And finally it had come to this-or it might have if Perry Rhodan hadn't changed over night. I had known the human race for thousands of years. In laughter and sorrow, in victory and defeat, I had shared their destinies with them. But I also knew how quickly these intelligent inhabitants of the third Sol planet could fall into despair and resignation, which happened especially in cases of serious illness. I had always considered Rhodan to be strong-willed and disciplined but even he had now gone from one extreme to the other.

  Prior to the catastrophe with the cell activator he had been a clear-thinking man of tolerance and forbearance but shortly after the abnormal cell division had started he had become a carping and hot-tempered person with very unpleasant characteristics. He irritated his oldest and closest friends, even deceiving them, and he had taken every opportunity to insult and provoke me. Whereas his political operations had formerly been worked out with ingenuity and tactfully handled his policy had now degenerated into a crude demonstration of his military power.

  This was not the Perry Rhodan into whose hands I could entrust the destiny of the Arkonide Imperium. In the course of recent events he had made such massive threats that I had been forced with a heavy heart to arrive at a critical decision. I hardly dared to think of it and yet my commitment was now irretrievable.

  I knew that indirectly I was stabbing Earth's humanity in the back. Since I could see no other way of blocking Rhodan's military intervention, I had promised the Akons 1,000 modern spaceships. By special order all troops and officials had been recalled to Earth. From a strategic standpoint this had undermined my laboriously built-up plans for recovery and dealt a staggering blow to my whole administrative structure. The representatives of my venerable race were not reliable enough. There were very few Arkonides I could depend upon in terms of spaceship crews and personnel. I was lacking in effective manpower everywhere. So it was that I had been forced to fall back on help from the Akons, who were the direct descendants of our mother race.

  Since the Akons had no reason to be fond of Rhodan or the Earth they had immediately agreed to assist but had demanded the 1,000 ships because they had very few of their own. I had acquiesced in this but the ships were still on Arkon 2 since the Akon crews had not yet completed their hypno-training. I had deliberately held back on supplying the hypno-training equipment because I had still hoped for a change of mind on the part of Rhodan. However, judging by the latest reports his condition had worsened.

  Such was the situation on that 20th day of October of the year 2103. Reginald Bell, who was Rhodan's closest friend and second-in-command, had requested a secret conference with me. I had agreed at once and suggested the planet Saos as a meeting point. So now I was waiting for the Terrans to arrive.

  I had just reached the first landing strut of the cruiser when the Control Central made an announcement over my helmet radio.

  "We have a tracking indication, Your Eminence. The sensors have registered a clear transition warp-shock. Object entering system at speol (speed of light) commencing retropulsion manoeuvres. Energy trace being received at magnitude 17. It is a Terran cruiser, Your Highness."

  I stopped involuntarily and looked up. They were here! They were only 30 minutes off schedule which in cosmonautical terms was an expert performance. I did not feel enthusiasm, however, because this demonstration of their usual efficiency only served to emphasize my own problem. I knew if I had 100 million men like these I would be able to resurrect the crumbling Imperium of my ancestors within a year. With inner resignation I entered the groundlock. The landing would not take place for another half-hour or so.

  I returned to my quarters, where I put in another call to the robot Regent. The calculations were nearing completion. I would have the results by the time the Terrans arrived. So I sat there and waited while I contemplated two main problems.

  The first, of course, was to help Rhodan, this had to be taken care of, no matter how. But I also had to make it clear to Reginald Bell why I had turned to the Akons for help. The Terrans should be made to understand that it was no light matter to keep on challenging the Arkonide Imperium.

  They did not make threats, you fool! retorted my logic sector. It was only the sick one!

  I struggled for my self-composure. It was with mixed feelings that I looked forward to the imminent conference.

  2/ THE TWISTED TYRANT

  The little man with the golden crown of hair could hardly conceal his consternation. Allan D. Mercant, Solar Marshal and Chief of Intelligence, pressed his fingers together so tightly that his knuckles crackled audibly.

  We were in the command wardroom adjacent to the Control Central of the light cruiser Atlantis. Reginald Bell remained silent. After my announcement he had quickly exchanged glances with John Marshall, who was Chief of the Mutant Corps. Professor Eric Manoli pushed the film cassette to one side indecisively. In his capacity as physician he had given me a report on Perry Rhodan's condition.

  Mercant cleared his throat. In his close-fitting uniform he appeared to be more unpretentious than usual but the impression was deceptive. Mercant was unquestionably one of the most dangerous men in the Solar Imperium.

  "Have I understood you correctly, sir? You have promised the Akons 1000 ships?-1,000 modern spaceships?" His blue eyes turned to me questioningly.

  "I had no other alternative. Perry's threats were the same as an indirect declaration of war. There's not a Terran left in the Imperium and you know my difficulties. It's not only a matter of counteracting Rhodan's actions. Beyond that I've been forced to keep a lot of turmoil under control within the realm itself. That is only possible with an effective fleet."

  "Sir, I believe you have approximately 100,000 robot units at your disposal."

  I waved a hand impatiently. Mercant knew his argument was not applicable. "Robot units-that's just the point! My opponents have long since learned how to handle ships that are positronically controlled. I need elite organic crews."

  Bell came into the discussion. His broad face was expres
sionless. "Let's drop that part of the subject," he said decisively. His gaze seemed very pensive as he turned to me. "Atlan, under certain conditions would you be willing to break off your alliance with the Akons?"

  "What conditions?"

  John Marshall finally sat down. He had avoided any attempts to probe the contents of my mind. Nor would he have succeeded because after the Terran cruiser landed I had built up my paramental monoscreen.

  Bell walked over to Manoli and picked up the film cassette. "We've shown you what's happened to Rhodan. No one could blame you if you thought of him as a monster. I'll confess that I've had that impression more than once, myself."

  "What conditions?" I asked, deliberately interrupting him.

  "You are very adamant, sir," interjected Marshall.

  "Not at all. As long as I'm still asking questions, as long as I'm still here negotiating with you-Rome is not lost."

  Mercant smiled. He was probably thinking of my past. But aside from that it must have seemed strange to hear an Arkonide Imperator speak of an ancient Earthly city. However, the colloquialism appeared to relieve some of the tension.

  Bell put the film cassette to one side. "OK, then we'll lay our cards on the table. Perry is in the process of ruining everything we've built up since the 20th century. Of course his actions and attitudes can be excused on a personal basis but in a larger sense they can't be tolerated any longer. He no longer accepts the advice of old friends. You wouldn't believe what kinds of underhanded chicanery we've had to put up with in the past few weeks. It all started with the unexpected activity of the cell activator, which we didn't even know he had-and now the thing's practically buried in his chest. He's irritable, impatient and both unfair and unjust in everything he does or says."

  "He's completely changed from the old Rhodan," confirmed Manoli. He spoke with authority because he had also been a member of the unique astronaut team over 100 years ago which had landed on Earth's moon. There the four men had found the representatives of my own race and from that point onward everything had begun which had led to the creation of the Solar Imperium.