Savior Of The Empire Page 8

  I came to a stop before the hover glider where I struck my hand flat against the left side of my chest and bowed my head. In rank and seniority the officer was doubtlessly my superior. All Arkonide officers were able to note such fine distinctions. It also went without saying that an appropriate form of address was necessary in such cases.

  Thus I said respectfully: "Captain Tresta greets you, Excellency. I am reporting back in accordance with my signal dispatches."

  He raised a hand. I shook inwardly. My right hand hovered over the butt of my service weapon. I thought I could deduce from his searching look that he had never seen the real Tresta. And so it turned out.

  "My greetings to you, Captain Tresta. Welcome to Arkon 3. I am instructed to transmit the request of the commanding admiral for your immediate presence."

  The polite formality of course meant nothing. But thus it had always been in the old fleet. Whenever a superior commander "requested" something it was the same as a binding order.

  I bowed my head again and waited until a combat robot opened the vehicle's door. Then I climbed in. I remained silent until the higher-ranked captain had taken his seat again. Above us glared the bright sun of my home system. I felt comfortable under its burning heat, which the Terrans had never seemed to appreciate.

  The car started up with a lurch. with shrill alarm whistles going we raced across the spaceport, the borders of which blended hazily with the horizon. I thought I was being unobtrusive when I stole another glance at the major construction site but my companion noticed it. He smiled benevolently.

  "The work goes forward without interruption," he told me. "I believe you were 3 years on active duty, were you not?"

  "That is correct, Excellency."

  "Within a few days the giant robot will be surrounded by a new type of defense screen. Excuse me-I neglected to introduce myself. I am Captain Usaph, 1st Adjutant of the Commanding Admiral. A year ago His Eminence, Admiral Kreto, was relieved. The acting chief now is Admiral Aichot."

  I thanked him for the information, which was something I must not forget under any circumstances. Eminent Arkonides expected everyone to know who they were. According to custom I inquired about Admiral Aichot's family although I already had the data from the Regent's memory banks. But such trivialities were a part of the mentality of my people. I didn't dare overlook them if I didn't want to be exposed.

  I finally ventured to indulge in the usual jokes about the bureaucratic attitude of the port officials, which was a welcome diversion to any officer in active duty. The tacit animosity between front-line officers and the "tinplates", as the civil service type troops of the administration were called, was always a sure source of amusement.

  After we had traveled a considerable distance the high buildings of Fleet Command Headquarters loomed into the sky before us. Our conversation kept being interrupted by the thunder of spaceships which were constantly either taking off or landing. In those days Arkon 3 was the center of the universe. There was no other galactic race which could have dared to stand against us. Now and again a formation of warships would take off into space and the roaring was so unbearable that we had to press our hands against our ears.

  The car halted and once more I was faced with an honor guard, this time composed of veteran Arkonides. Someone among them could have known Tresta. I kept my head down and strode rapidly to the wide steps of the building.

  An antigrav lift took us upstairs. The press of service people in the wide corridors and the general hustle and bustle was fairly breathtaking. I had to wait 2 hours until the commanding officer was ready to receive me.

  The interview proceeded fairly well. Acting- Admiral Aichot was a younger man who probably held his present position chiefly on the basis of his distinguished heredity. He commanded the Home Fleet, was a military expert in the Supreme Council and was also a member of the Admiralty Staff of the Commander-in-Chief. I had to stand stiffly for an hour before this "Top Brass" representative, who nevertheless treated me with a sort of friendly condescension.

  I gave him a complete report on the effects of the new weapon. This was a vibration beam which produced certain biological effects and-as I already knew-was soon to be abandoned. The device hadn't held up to its expectations, which I pointed out. I also pointed out that I had destroyed the enemy cruisers with conventional impulse and disintegrator weapons.

  I finally ventured to request permission to contact the chief scientist of the Supreme Council, hyper-physicist Epetran. Admiral Aichot expressed his surprise openly. For a commander of my rank it was unusual to wish to speak to such an important personage.

  "Epetran? What do you want with him?"

  "I'd like to make certain suggestions concerning a simplified technique for making hypertransitions."

  Aichot stared at me almost pityingly. "Do I understand you correctly? You wish to make suggestions... ? You actually mean-technical recommendations?"

  "Yes, Your Eminence. My years of research along this line have led to some important observations during actual battle conditions, especially with the last 4 Nebula cruisers. I believe I can offer some interesting recommendations."

  Aichot may have been an average commander type but he was also an active Fleet officer. Such men were noted for their swift powers of decision. Within 3 hours I received written permission. Only with that could I dare to enter the palace of the Supreme Council.

  With that the interview came to an end. Of course I was ordered to submit the customary task-action report. Aichot couldn't know that meanwhile the report had been prepared by Terran experts.

  I then withdrew. A hover glider brought me back to the Sotala, where a team from the shipyards was already looking into the engine damage. My First Officer, meaning Rhodan, had received orders to inform me that the overhaul of the cruiser could not be completed in less than 5 or 6 days. During this period I was free to determine the disposition of the crew.

  This meant crew leave on Arkon 3 but it was also a big advantage for our operation. The deliberately planned engine damage had been Quinto's idea so when I arrived he was basking in the favor of the men because they hadn't counted on such a break.

  I had to throw cold water on their enthusiasm. "Your hypno-training seems to be less effective than we expected. Ground leave in this past era is out of the question. At best you would only be able to spend your free time in the subterranean cities of the planet. You will remain on board. I don't relish the idea of your meeting with Arkonides who might actually know the real members of the crew. In our fleet there were thousands of cross-contacts among the fighting men on active duty. Also, relieving and changing of crews was an everyday occurrence, so they all knew each other. It would be surprising if there were no man among the other crews who wouldn't want to try to contact a buddy from the Sotala. So you have to control yourselves."

  "That's an order," announced Rhodan over the P.A. "You will govern yourselves accordingly. Major Heintz, post the men at their battle stations."

  The Chief of Intelligence gazed reproachfully at the ceiling. "Sir, for many hours now the cruiser has been on standby for action."

  Rhodan swallowed, then laughed. "Excuse me, then. I haven't said a word." I looked wonderingly at this tall Terran. He was the chief of the Solar Imperium, he commanded thousands of ships and was practically idolized by 50 billion Terrans and colonists. He was far above Admiral Aichot-yet he could laugh about a mistake in his reasoning without any fear of damaging his prestige or reputation.

  Perry Rhodan was a wonderful human being and friend. There had been very few like him on Arkon. I had known a few like Rhodan but they were now long dead and gone. Then it occurred to me that the Arkonides here in this relativistic conversion time were actually my descendants. 4000 years earlier I had been born and in my early manhood I had been sent off into action. Perry noted my momentary state of confusion and wanted to be helpful. I felt his hand on my shoulder.

  "Don't think about it, Atlan. It's a thing of the past. Never forget
that we are creatures of the year 2106, by Terra reckoning. What we are experiencing here is an illusion-a deception under the almighty laws of Nature."

  When he walked toward the exit hatch my gaze followed him pensively.

  6/ THE MASTER MIND OF ARKON

  3 hours previously the sun had gone behind the horizon but night had not come to the war planet. The great spaceport was brilliantly illuminated by countless field lights, revolving search beams and hovering nuclear "suns". Also the jet flames from departing spaceships gave an impression of a continuing fireworks display. There was no end to the thundering and roaring.

  The sky had taken on a blood-red hue above the main shipyards, which were the most modern on the planet. There the bellows of the thermonuclear smelters pushed a continuous river of vaporized metal into the cooling slag troughs. Arkon 3 never slept. The robot-operated assembly line of spaceships of every class and description was the nerve-center of the Imperium.

  The Terrans and myself were the only ones on this world who knew what it would look like 6000 years later. At this time the throng of Arkonide spacemen was seemingly endless. The cities swarmed with troops from every branch of the service. Although the prime of the Empire had passed, they could still send 100,000 manned ships into the void. Subordinate races were not permitted on the war planet. They were best employed on the colonial worlds.

  Pucky and Ras Tschubai had just returned after reconnoitering the area. The third teleporter was still busy with our suggestor. Kitai Ishibashi had the mission of probing the scientist Epetran.

  I had not been able to make my presentation. Epetran did not live in one of the great conical palaces but had quartered himself instead in an officer billet, which would also have been my own way of doing things. My request was politely but firmly rejected by his subordinates. I was informed that at present Epetran had no time for recommendations from an officer back from the fighting front. I was asked to present my suggestions in writing.

  When I returned, Mercant had only nodded and said that it was what he had expected. Logically the Arkonides' greatest scientist would have other things to do than to get into a discussion with a second-class fleet captain.

  According to our conversion table the date back on Earth was the 13th of February, 2106. We couldn't wait much longer.

  Pucky had rolled himself up into a ball on a contour couch, exhausted from his labors. Even Ras Tschubai had come back breathing heavily. We guessed that their excursion hadn't been easy. So we had to wait until these two had recovered from their exertions. In the meantime I paid the 4 Akon scientists a visit.

  Artol of Penoral was monitoring the machine as usual. Two telepaths of the Corps were keeping him under surveillance. Auris was also in the cargo hold. For 2 days now she had avoided the Control Central. I inquired after her health.

  "Alright, considering the circumstances. When will you take action?"

  I couldn't answer her. We exchanged a few more words, which enabled me to see that she was uneasy.

  When I returned to the Control Central very much was going on there. Tako had returned with Ishibashi. Pucky reported that the robot Brain already had the appearance of the Regent we knew in our own present day. This meant that it had practically been completed.

  "How is the Regent guarded?" asked Quinto.

  "The security is very tight, sir," answered Tschubai. "We had to keep on making jumps continuously in order not to be discovered. Twice we tripped off alarm systems and once I was shot at."

  "What with?"

  "A disintegrator, sir."

  "With a deadly weapon?"

  "Yes sir. They're playing for keeps. We saw the scientific team. About a hundred men are busy checking out the final circuits. There's no normal way to get in without showing special passes. They are key card devices containing each person's frequency pattern and they are regularly monitored by the guard stations. Any unauthorized entrance seems to be impossible. Even though the energy screen isn't up yet, the Arkonides have gone to every extreme to tighten the security around the Robot."

  I looked around. The men's faces were grim. Mercant tapped with his fingers on a computer console.

  "So there's no other choice," declared Rhodan. "We have to go in with the teleporters. What do you have to report, Kitai?"

  His imitation bio-hair, which simulated that of an Arkonide, was glistening with dampness. "Nothing, sir-or almost nothing. We located Epetran in the math section. His quarters are close to it. He appeared to be putting special instructions on program tape."

  "He's the one who designed and built Security Circuit A-1," put in Quinto.

  "It could be that he's working on it now," said the mutant. "I tried to work on him and influence his mind but I don't know if I had any luck. epetran has an extremely strong voluntary block. Besides-Tako claims that he may have seen us in spite of our deflector screens."

  A cold chill ran through me. When no one else could see through our disguise, this old scientist was able to. He had an activated brain with special faculties. Rhodan guessed my fears but sought to dismiss them.

  "Don't be a pessimist, my friend! Even Epetran isn't omniscient. If he had gotten suspicious we'd know it by now."

  I couldn't contradict his argument, yet from moment to moment I became more apprehensive. I deeply regretted that I had asked Admiral Aichot for a permit to visit Epetran. According to the circumstances Kitai had described, it would be better not to meet him.

  Mercant looked at his watch. "Soon after sunrise you'll be getting involved with receptions, sir."

  I nodded, I already had the invitations. My "colleagues" wanted to see Captain Tresta. The situation was becoming intolerable. Quinto was about to say something when the tracking center put through a call.

  "To the Commander: a strange vehicle has stopped in front of the cruiser."

  Rhodan stiffened. Heintz hit the alarm button automatically. The men who were off duty were awakened from their sleep.

  Tracking switched circuits so that we could see what they were looking at. On our viewscreens appeared an unwieldy-looking contraption. It had wide caterpillar chains instead of wheels and was equipped with numerous antennas. Before we could really get a good look at it, the heavy vehicle rolled away. It disappeared behind a battleship, became invisible once more beyond it, then entered an armored surface lock that led underground.

  We looked at each other, nonplussed, until Mercant chuckled heartily. "Could our scientific associates kindly explain what that was supposed to be?" he asked.

  Kalup still stared at the viewscreen. His eyes had narrowed so much that they seemed to be lost in the fatty folds of his face. "That was a sensor vehicle," he declared. "No doubt about it. Who guided it to the Sotala? Who wanted to find out what?"

  "Find out?" asked Quinto hastily. "What do you mean?"

  Kalup didn't answer. He stomped swiftly toward the exit but as he went out he was heard to mutter something that sounded like "sensor surveillance".

  After he had gone I felt that my activator was louder than usual. Even 6023 years before the present time I was already a very old man. Rhodan was still standing in front of the screens.

  "It's useless to try to figure it out," I said, "It seems an impossibility to influence Epetran by any paranormal means. So there's no point in making his acquaintance. From what Kitai has to say, it could be dangerous. We move into action. We'll get into the Brain with the help of the mutants, we'll install the bomb and then get out of here."

  "How?" asked Rhodan, now very alert to what I was saying.

  "It should be considerably easier to return to the present time-plane of Arkon 3 than it was to enter the era of Tutmor VI. Everyone on board has seen how tight the defenses are here. I vote for alternate 2 of our escape plan. We turn off the time converter. When we get back we may have to face a robot attack but the Fleet under Bell's command can cover our retreat."

  "That's also my opinion," declared Mercant. "But before that there's a lot to be done. Of course if
I had my preferences I would have felt better if we could have handled this thing with Epetran's help."

  "What should I tell the man?" I asked sarcastically. "That I've come from the future to save my people?"

  He regarded me soberly. "Sir, perhaps that still might not be as crazy as you think."

  "Mercant, you're dreaming!" exclaimed Rhodan.

  "No sir, I don't quite see it that way. This scientist was the first Arkonide to detect the beginnings of the degeneration and to perceive its outcome. Moreover, he's expert enough to be able to conceive of such a device as the time-phaser. I'm playing with the idea of informing Epetran."

  Rhodan bluntly rejected this. When my extra-brain singled me I was astonished that it seconded Mercant's plan. Nevertheless I was also in favor of dropping the idea of getting any cooperation from Epetran.

  Rhodan got up and went over to the main computer, where he began to press the input keys.

  I interrupted him. "It would be useless to try to get a logic evaluation. Mr. Mercant, I must also reject your proposition. The bomb can be relied upon to explode as planned. We have no way of knowing what Epetran's reaction would be and we can't take the risk of being arrested or maybe even shot in case he sounds an alarm. We move as planned. I'll install the bomb."

  The chief of Intelligence bowed resignedly. The decision was made. Possibly we could be mistaken-no one could say.

  The computer made a clicking sound. While I was still waiting for its output a message came through from the duty officer at the ground lock. His face appeared on the intercom screen.

  "Lt. Pinch here, sir. A letter has been delivered to you."

  "What... ?"

  "An oblong envelope, sir. It was brought over by a robot."

  Rhodan stopped his computer work. We looked at each other tensely.