Project Earthsave Page 2

  2/ RHODAN'S RUSE

  The green-skinned, massive face of Talamon grinned at Perry Rhodan through the view screen. A few minutes before, Rhodan had announced himself over the Mounders' hyperspace frequency. Now the mighty space battleship poked itself out of the cosmic darkness and slowly locked its velocity to that of the Titan.

  "I'm coming over, Perry Rhodan!" Talamon announced after a brief greeting. Then his image faded from the screen. On board the TAL VI, the connection had been shut off.

  Rhodan called the Ganymede over ship's radio com. "Hold preparations for transition in abeyance," he ordered. "But keep all calculations available."

  Then he looked at Bell. "Tell John Marshall and Pucky to get in here."

  In the same moment the air in front of Rhodan flickered and out of it emerged the mouse-beaver. He grinned happily with his single incisor tooth and prepared to make himself comfortable in Perry's lap.

  "Pucky," said Perry with slight reproach, "we are receiving an official visitor."

  Pucky floated in a sailing glide to the farthest corner of the Control Central. No one laughed. A very serious reason had to be attached to the sudden appearance of the Mounder, just when the Titan and the Ganymede were ready to set a transition course for Earth. It was not until the Aralon engagement that Talamon had become Perry Rhodan's friend but that friendship still remained to be proven.

  Did he come now as a friend?

  Rhodan understood Khrest's worried glance. They both had the same idea. For this reason, Pucky and John Marshall had to be present during this discussion. By means of their telepathic faculties they had to evaluate the honesty of Talamon's thoughts.

  "A beautiful ship!" This was his first word of praise for the Titan after he had taken a look around in the Control Central. And he added, "Soon it will not be a beautiful ship any more." Thereby he let the cat out of the bag.

  Perry Rhodan received John Marshall's signal. Talamon was not concealing anything. He had come here for the sole purpose of warning him.

  "One moment, Talamon!" Bell had placed a hand on his shoulder but with the other he opened the intercom channel both on board and to the Ganymede. He called into the microphone: "Top security space surveillance! Use all countermeasures against tracking!" He turned again to the Mounder, who responded to the instructions with a pleased grin. "Direct your ship to come between our two vessels. It would be well to avoid certain curious questions from other sources by giving them the least possible excuse Will you give the order to your ship?"

  The Mounder's grin widened. "If you humans from the Earth are all such cold, cautious calculators on top of being daredevils, then I'm sorry for the Springers already!... Of course I'll direct my ship between you!"

  The manoeuvre could be followed on the great gallery screens of the Titan as Talamon's heavily armed TAL VI executed a long, silent curve and elegantly locked its course within the tracking shelter thus provided.

  Speaking casually yet barely concealing his concern as he surveyed Perry Rhodan, Talamon said, "Yes, the Aras on Aralon are mad at you. From a commercial standpoint, I can understand them, but ever since I have learned that these medical bandits inflict us with all sorts of diseases in order to follow up with exorbitant prices for their cures, I don't like to even talk about them. To make a long story short:

  "The Ara clans, who are scattered everywhere in the Galaxy, have been alerted by Aralon. Sickness and disease have been suddenly on the increase all over. The Springers have been threatened with a boycott on selling them any medications, so the Galactic Traders are faced with a price tag: they are being blackmailed into flying an attack on Terra in order to turn it into a sun."

  "Has the attack flight started yet?" Rhodan's counter question was so casually and pleasantly delivered that it brought the 1300-pound Talamon up staring out of his special seat.

  Perry glossed over the subject almost indifferently; Bell sweated. Once more a typical Rhodan bluff had been demonstrated. Without saying so, Perry had more or less asserted: "We will repulse any attack!" He had taken a lot of wind out of the Mounder's sails.

  Rhodan repeated the question. "Well, Talamon, are the Springers already en route with their attack?"

  "No. Even the Springers are not so easily humbled. And without a gathering of the clans' patriarchs, an action of this nature cannot be started. But the Aras have brought the Traders this far: within a short time there will be a patriarchal summit meeting. Where? Nobody knows that yet. Even the courier who came to probe my own sentiments in the matter did not know."

  "3 approach flights!" announced the officer from the tracking station. "One ship with strong scanning sweep. Distance, 0.325 lims. Velocity, 0.21 under speol. Transmitting coded signal to a second vessel. Code signal deciphered! It is a part of the Mounder Talamon's fleet!"

  A broad laugh spread over his face and he showed Rhodan and Bell his undisguised admiration. "Now you've got me to wondering if my 3 ships can find me!"

  Perry almost carelessly extended him his hand. "I'm betting my Titan against your flagship, Talamon, that they won't find us."

  The Mounder shook his head ponderously. He hid his massive hands behind his back, emitted a crafty chuckle and countered: "Rhodan, it's already gotten around how you came by the Titan. No—I'm not betting. I still have use for my ship!" In the next moment he sobered. "Aren't you concerned over the Aras' plan? I'm not playing the prophet when I assure you that the Medical Masters will force the Springers to destroy the Earth. Nor am I just an old bearer of tales, Rhodan. I have come in order to help you and your home planet!"

  Perry Rhodan saw John Marshall's fingers make the sign of counting money. Rhodan laughed softly and asked, "And what will your friendship cost me, Talamon?"

  "Glorious Milky Way!" enthused the Mounder. "Both of us make perfect partners! Even with the Arkonides I have yet to come so quickly to the core of the matter!"

  "They're all asleep on one foot," observed Bell, referring to the Arkonides.

  Suddenly Talamon's eyes took on a ferret-like swiftness of movement as they probed shrewdly into these two men of such divergent character and appearance. Perry and Bell presented him with poker faces. This common accord between them gave the crafty, 1300 pound fox certain food for thought.

  Pensively he said, "I am gradually beginning to understand why it is that any of us who have something to do with the Arkon Empire usually draw the short end, against you. But let's discuss prices. You know, once in awhile I have to give my clan a bit to eat here and there, and to keep 200 ships in attack readiness—that costs something! The risk I take personally is not calculated in the cost, not in the least..."

  Perry Rhodan coldly upset the other's strategy. "When I issued the command to the robot battleships of the Arkon fleet not to convert the ships of the Mounder Talamon into gas clouds, I ran a risk that is beyond the most astronautical evaluation!... Talamon, did I demand a price for that?"

  "Perry," responded Talamon reproachfully, "is this any way to talk to an old man?"

  "Why not?" asked Rhodan, retaining the sharp tone in his voice. "We humans are fond of speaking the truth, even though at times it is painful! Name us your price, Talamon!"

  John Marshall got up and approached the 3 men in the midst of their bargaining. Rhodan looked at his best telepath and questioned him curtly. "What is it, Marshall?"

  He understood his chief's signal. "Sir, I was to remind you that you wanted to speak to the robot brain on Arkon..."

  This was code; deciphered, it meant: "Until now I have not discovered any deceitful or insidious thought in Talamon's mind."

  Rhodan motioned Marshall away. "There is time for that. Thank you."

  Talamon had heard every word and put things together with lightning swiftness. "Do you want to insure the aid of the Empire, Rhodan Then don't forget that the Springers are also Arkonides!"

  Bell cut in angrily. "One bunch is asleep at the switch," he said, "and the others are robber barons! Talamon, what kind of a race do you
call yourselves, with such wide extremes? You know, we're really concerned about you!"

  The Mounder had no other recourse but to take Bell's protest seriously. From his performance it could be deduced that the Earth was one big spaceport and that Perry Rhodan's power was of gigantic proportions.

  "Name your price, Talamon!" demanded Rhodan and congratulated himself that Bell was taking part in the dealings. It was Bell who'd been able to soften up the Mounder and to bring him down from the idea of holding out unconditionally for a big profit.

  "Considering temporarily an unlimited defense at full battle strength—that is exactly 218 ships, Rhodan—I'd say 10 million!"

  "What is the cost of a ton of Arkon T-steel?" came Perry's question.

  "Arkon T-steel? T-steel, the kind that is used to build spaceships?" Talamon sharpened his ears.

  "Yes. I have 3 or 400 million tons of it to sell."

  "How much?"

  Perry Rhodan got up. For the moment he regarded the business discussion as having ended. "Take this matter up with your clan and see if you think it would be an interesting piece of business for you. If so, then I'm sure we can work out an arrangement 'among friends' whereby I will receive from you some quantity of extra millions, Talamon—above and beyond your hiring out price for the defense of Terra... When will we be meeting again?"

  • • •

  Chief Inspector Gegul stood before the Council of Physicians on Aralon and delivered his report.

  In recent days the Ara had aged years. A colossal responsibility lay upon his shoulders. He had been commissioned to apply pressure to all Springer clans and—if required—to extort the patriarchs with the suggestion that under certain circumstances there might not be any further deliveries of medical supplies and services.

  Gegul had been forced to fall back on the intergalactic information services. His own organization did not possess sufficient means and power to be able to 'process' the entirety of the Trader clans within just a few days.

  In spite of the exertions and pressures which had not permitted him any sleep in days, he stood proudly before the Council of Physicians, who listened to his accomplishments with ever-increasing pleasure. Gegul only reported his successes. Now and then he would sneer or snicker cynically when he portrayed how this or that patriarch was swayed to the Aras' point of view by the suggestion that it was possible to inflict the entire clan with a fatal sickness within a matter of days, and that then the Aras would have to decline his plea for a cure because such treatments and services could only be available in the future to friends and allies of the Aras.

  "When will the meeting of the patriarchs take place and where?" asked Dumeh, who was chairman of the Physicians' Council today.

  "In 8 days," replied Gegul. "In 8 days on Laros..."

  "Laros?" interjected Santek, surprised. He looked at Gegul sharply. "On Laros, where we carry on our biological experiments? Gegul, have you been forsaken by all the star gods, that you should recommend the 18th moon of the Gonom System as a meeting place?"

  Gegul lost much of his proud bearing. "With your permission, I should like to set forth the reasons that influenced me to select Laros as the rendezvous point for the Springer patriarchs. I have acted upon the consideration that some months ago the clan elders of the Galactic Traders gathered together in a summit meeting on Goszul's Planet in System 221-Tatlira in order to come to a decision regarding Perry Rhodan. The great assembly ended in the explosion of an atom bomb.

  "The Springers' desperate attempt to set foot again on Goszul's Planet led them to be afflicted with a mysterious disease which we Aras at first considered harmless. In spite of this, Goszul's Planet has been classified until today a 'forbidden world'. These occurrences, which have never been explained, could be attributed to Perry Rhodan by insinuation but there are no proofs of it. On Laros, however, we have the means to impede, block off or destroy unauthorized intrusions or influences of any kind which would seek to disturb the progress of the patriarchal gathering.

  "These considerations have caused me to choose the 18th moon of the Planet Gom, in the Gonom System, as the point of rendezvous for the patriarchs and the Mounders."

  Gegul felt considerably relieved when he observed Santek's diabolical grin. Even Dumeh revealed a favorable attitude.

  "Has chief biologist Keklos been informed, Gegul?" asked Dumeh affably.

  The Chief Inspector made a light bow. "Chief Biologist Keklos has been instructed and is in agreement with my provisions."

  In Gegul's eyes was a light of triumph...

  • • •

  Topthor, Talamon's friend and Perry Rhodan's bitterest foe, was torn out of his sleep. Tattol stood beside his bed.

  "Sir, the Mounders' Headquarters demands to speak with you!" he said excitedly and still shook the clan chieftain's arm.

  "Yes, so?" grumbled Topthor. "Whoever wants to talk to me must also be able to wait! Tell Headquarters I'll be there in good time."

  He was not especially in a hurry to come to the hyperspace communicator. The massive man dressed leisurely. He pondered on what the central exchange might want to know from him. It was clear to him that this would be no attack assignment, capable of bringing in several millions. Battle assignments usually came to him on top priority level.

  He moved slowly to the Control Central. The last bulkhead door sprang open automatically. From a distance he saw the pale flickering of the viewscreen. It was the typical pattern of a hyperspace transmission.

  Puffing slightly, he slumped down into the pilot's seat. "Topthor here!" he bellowed into the microphone.

  "Headquarters!" The single word rang from the micro-speaker. On the screen appeared the familiar face of Sirger, the second eldest of the Darfnur Clan.

  "Alright, let's have it," growled the green-skinned giant, disgruntled.

  "Our message is coming over scramble-code, Topthor."

  Topthor perked up. Whenever scramble-code and a hyperspace transmission were combined, something important was always in the wind. A trace of interest animated his face, which for this old one was significant. Then, however, his facial muscles relaxed very swiftly as Headquarters instructed him as to the date and place of the patriarchs' gathering.

  "And for this I was awakened?" the oldster growled.

  In the Mounders' Headquarters, Sirger casually asked, "Sir, are you no longer interested in Perry Rhodan

  If there was one opponent's name that Topthor could never forget, it was the name of this enemy, Perry Rhodan! "What about Rhodan?!" He roared into the microphone so loudly that Sirger, several thousand light-years away, instantly turned down his receiver volume.

  "Sir, do you not know then, what has happened on Aralon?" asked Sirger, astonished. "The whole Milky Way is talking about it!"

  This was a slight exaggeration, since Topthor knew nothing of the subject. "Why should I know everything, Sirger? I was with my ships, 28000 light-years away in the Galaxy, taking care of a minor detail. A minor detail that cost me 6 ships!"

  He did not say what the minor detail was that he had to dispose of but Sirger could put the picture together in his own mind. He reported in concise sentences how badly Perry Rhodan had beaten the Aras in their game. In the course of it, Talamon's name was mentioned.

  "What?" roared Topthor once more, "Talamon backed out? You're lying!"

  Sirger did not choose to be bawled out and told he was a liar so he formulated his answer in such a manner that Topthor began to swallow hard. He asked him in a friendly tone what he might have done in Talamon's place if he had seen himself suddenly surrounded by Arkon's robot fleet.

  "Arkon got mixed up in this? The Robot Regent?" It was too much for Topthor to grasp. "This is all too twisted up, Sirger. End of transmission!"

  Topthor cut off but he did not disconnect the hyper-transmitter. "Put me in touch with Talamon—and I mean now!"

  But Talamon's flagship,TAL VI, did not reply. Only a ship of his fleet answered but no one seemed to know the present whereabo
uts of the clan chief.

  Finally, Topthor cut off the space channels entirely. "Strange," he told himself. "Talamon leaves no instructions behind and does not answer on his own frequency. Something doesn't seem right. But it couldn't be—"

  Then his receiver puffed in the next hyperspace message. Again it was Headquarters and once more Sirger's face appeared on the screen. "Sir, can you tell us where we might find your friend Talamon?"

  Topthor stared in stupefaction at the screen. They didn't know how to find Talamon either? He became more disturbed. He could not escape the constant thought of Talamon and Perry Rhodan!

  He was very anxious for his friend Talamon and worried because of Perry Rhodan...

  • • •

  Talamon returned from his third conference with Perry Rhodan. His admiration for this man had increased to almost boundless proportions and he did not seek to conceal this fact from his own clan members and followers. But he did not meet with agreement in all sectors; especially Ocxal was against any connection with Perry Rhodan.

  "If Cekztel sees through your game, Talamon," he warned, "there will be no Talamon Clan any more."

  Talamon had an amused smile for this. "For that reason, Cekztel must not be informed," he said. Then he quickly dropped the subject. "But you don't have to take part in this big deal, Ocxal. I have settled with Rhodan. It's set."

  But Ocxal wanted to take part in the 'big deal'. It had to do with this almost unimaginable quantity of Arkon T-steel scrap metal and when the business was consummated each clan member had a considerable sum in prospect.

  "So where may this material be had?" By his question Ocxal displayed his interest in the business.

  Talamon grinned at all of them in succession. He anticipated their startled reactions. He had stared incredulously as Perry Rhodan had answered the same question for him: "On Honur!"

  "Where? On Honur?" A note of horror crept into Gresja's voice.

  Talamon grinned and nodded.

  "And are we to suppose that exposing ourselves to the Honur Plague is part of the deal? This disease of euphoric madness?" asked Ocxal sharply.