Recruits for Arkon Page 9

  "Good." The Zalite who had been spoken to now regarded Calus with a somewhat indefinable expression on his face. "You can see what's taken place here, Calus," he explained. "We have put a double in your place. You are in our hands now and you will only be set free when we have achieved our goal. Just when that will be is going to depend a lot on you. Do you want to give us the information we need, of your own free will, or are we going to have to use some gentle persuasion?"

  Calus was thoroughly convinced that he had fallen into the hands of the rebels. Perhaps they were getting support from beings who came from another world and who possessed paraphysical characteristics. For the present, however, he had not yet entertained the idea of being involved with the much feared Perry Rhodan and his Terranians.

  "Ask what you will," he answered calmly. "What I am permitted to say, you will find out. As for the rest..."

  "As for the rest, you need not concern yourself," the Zalite assured him. He was, of course, none other than Perry Rhodan himself. "Our methods of hypnotic examination are not injurious to the health. Now for the first question: what is the purpose of the forced conscriptions, the human recruitment activity? Who is the enemy Arkon is fighting?"

  Calus' eyes narrowed to slits. "I refuse to answer that question. And in addition may I remind you that you have kidnapped an admiral of Arkon, which makes you liable to the gravest form of punishment? But if you will set me free I'll be glad to exert every influence I can..."

  Rhodan shook his head and looked across toward the men in the corner but now his smile was gone. "Manoli! As much as I'm against it, there's no other way. He gets the hypno treatment."

  While the struggling Calus was being placed under electrical shock fields, a man walked through the streets of Tagnor who was assigned the task of putting the false Calus' first orders to the test.

  This was the Japanese mutant, Tako Kakuta, a teleporter. No one might have associated his small figure with that of a Terranian or even a Japanese because a special processing had changed Tako into a genuine-looking Zalite. In the place of his formerly stiff, black hair, a full coppery mane now decorating his head. The greenish oxidation effect was deceptively perfect. Tako only had to hold his head at an angle and the rays of the giant sun Voga would shine through the added micro-crystals of his synthetic hair in a rare burst of splendor.

  Tako sauntered through the streets like a person who had nothing to do. He saw only a few Zalites of his own age. Either they were already on their way to Arkon or they had gone into hiding. He succeeded more than once in eluding various search parties. These details were most frequently under command of Arkonide officers and made up of robots or Zalite soldiers.

  These search patrols weren't having much luck lately. Any Zalite in the vulnerable age group would have to be crazy to venture openly into the streets like this. There were still plenty of older men in evidence but so far these latter had nothing to fear. On the contrary, the Arkonides treated them very politely, in the hope, of course, that they might find a few informants among them. It was a hope that had not been filled to date.

  As the public address systems announced the daily speech by the Admiral, Tako went into a restaurant. He sat down at a table and ordered a glass of the local specialty, produced from fruits that flourished well under the giant sun. Shortly thereafter, the well-known face of Calus looked down at him from the telescreen.

  He was aware of a few half-suppressed curses among the patrons but then the Arkonide's voice drowned out all whispered comments.

  Tako watched Calus carefully and had to concede that few deceptions had ever come off as well as this one. Calus was Calus, there was no changing that. Even the voice was the same as well as his forms of expression and intonations. Osega had also practiced the hand movements that were used to emphasize important parts of the speeches, thus making the illusion complete.

  "...am herewith issuing the order that all men—I repeat: all men of Zalit—must report for recruitment processing. We will decide there who is fit for service in the Fleet and who is not. Within one week, every Zalite must be properly registered. Whoever is found after that without a stamped certificate can expect to be arrested."

  Tako was amused to think of how peculiar the situation really was. The certificates mentioned by Calus were even now being prepared in the rocky chamber beneath the arena and were to be submitted to the military draft commission. So Rhodan's thrust into the Arkon Empire had come this far.

  "...that there are still Zalites who have thus far refused to complete their voluntary service for the Imperium. As of now these age groups are subject to martial law. If any member of a draftable age group is found today without proper credentials, he can be sentenced to death."

  Tako noted that some of the older Zalites were looking at him. Evidently he fell into the category that was being mentioned.

  Calus continued, emphasizing that the Regent's patience was definitely exhausted. He said that the Imperium was being threatened by an alien power but in spite of this the robot Brain was being magnanimous enough to offer Arkonides and Zalites important and even vital positions in the Fleet. Therefore, it was bordering on ingratitude for a man to refuse... et cetera, et cetera...

  When Calus finished speaking, there was a momentary silence in the restaurant. Then an older Zalite got up, tossed the proprietor a coin and went to the door. There he stopped to face everyone.

  "Whoever goes over to the Arkonides is a traitor and a servant of the Robot!" he exclaimed, after which he disappeared.

  Those remaining appeared to suddenly break out of a trance. They all started at once to argue excitedly and urge one another to one form of action or another. Tako utilized the ensuing confusion to leave the premises. He had to confess that Osega had done his part well... almost better than the real Calus. He was convinced that even the Regent of Arkon would have been deceived if he had been able to hear the speech.

  Tako didn't run into any of the usual patrols so he became a bit more venturesome. Almost inadvertently he wandered closer to the spaceport area, until he was suddenly confronted by a cordon of sentries. They were all robots without exception. Their cold, expressionless eyes focused on him as though he were some wild quarry they had long been waiting for. One of them set itself in action and approached him. It would have been useless to simply attempt to run away because the robots were capable of unbelievable speed.

  "Identification!" grated the machine ominously.

  Naturally Tako had his credentials. They had only been freshly produced yesterday down under the arena. Toffner had furnished the necessary details. But now the papers were of little use because Tako was in the targeted age group.

  When he handed his I.D. to the robot he didn't flicker an eyelid as he stated: "I was about to go to the recruiting station. Could you direct me?"

  The robot read through the credentials. At the first encounter its program gated its logic circuits for a 'capture' but now there was a switching action. The man standing before it was voluntarily reporting in. This was covered by another set of commands.

  "Through the gate by the administration building. There is an officer waiting there."

  Without having intended it, Tako had become a sort of guinea pig. While moving onward he attempted to make contact with John Marshall or another mutant by means of his micro-transmitter. It was only when he was close to the designated building that somebody answered.

  "You have to act as though you were ready to enlist. If they ask why you waited until today, tell them you were sick. We are watching over you. Harno has you right on his screen. Don't sweat it—we'll be following you soon!"

  Tako walked onward. He felt reassured. Nothing could happen to him as long as Rhodan and his mutant colleagues were nearby.

  He had come here just in time to witness the arrival of the Arkonide Admiral, who was conducting a surprise inspection of the headquarters.

  6/ THE ARENA HAS ITS "GAMES"

  On the following day 10 more of Rhodan's
men reported for induction into the Arkon Fleet. They were equipped with the pertinent documentation and could present sufficient reasons for their delay in responding to the conscription order. Without further formalities they were inducted into the training program and were processed by the examining board. They all came under a single category: suitable for Fleet duty.

  Within another two days these 10 men—among whom was André Noir the hypno-telepath—began to 'work' the officers of the assembled troop units. It was not too difficult to lure them individually into the billet assigned to the Terranians. There they were subjected to a special post-hypnotic treatment which altered their memories, after which they returned to their units with an unusual set of instructions.

  So it was that the 10 Terranians, and finally Tako also, were all very swiftly promoted. Soon they were junior officers answering directly to the Arkon official staff. Even the robots had to obey them—specially in view of the fact that they had been secretly reprogrammed.

  Meanwhile Osega continued to play his role as Calus. After his report to the Regent that a new transport-load of recruits had been gathered, a giant spherical ship arrived, and shortly afterward it took off again, taking many of the inducted Zalites with it.

  Rhodan's men were not included. Even Calus didn't have the authority to make arbitrary decisions affecting the transshipment. Besides, things had not quite come to this point yet.

  Underneath the arena Rhodan and his men were having a strategy meeting in the vaulted rocky chamber. Harno glowed at only half his usual intensity because he had not rested in days. There was always somebody beside him observing what he projected onto his curved surface. Pucky slumped dejectedly in a corner and nibbled rather indifferently on a native-grown vegetable which Bell had offered him as a carrot substitute. But this was not the reason for his vexation; it was, in fact, the least of his worries. The main problem was that Rhodan had announced the names of the 50 people who would not be going on to Arkon. And he, Pucky, was definitely on that list. There was just no way to change him into a Zalite.

  "Today we will go up to the surface and report to the induction and troop evacuation center. Altogether that will make up 150 men, which should be sufficient." Rhodan looked around the room. "Toffner will remain here. Major Rosberg will take over command for me here and head the action on Zalit. Should anything unforeseen occur, Maj. Rosberg will use Toffner's hypercom to alert the Drusus so that all remaining men can be picked up. I trust I've made that clear."

  "That's the only point that tempts me to disobey an order," remarked Rosberg. "Do you really think, sir, that we can leave you sitting in a trap just because things get a little rough? We'll just stick around and haul you guys out..."

  "Get off it, Rosberg!" Rhodan's voice was unusually sharp. "We'll take care of ourselves! Besides, your sacrifice would be completely assinine. If any trap closes on us, you'd not be able to do a thing about it. So you will stick to my instructions. Any other questions?"

  Rosberg again: "The transmitter-receiver in the cave... when do we man it?"

  "Glad you reminded me, Rosberg. It would be best to post three men who will stay there after you've signaled the California. We'll need a backup of weapons and material. Here on Zalit a first class support base has to take shape—one that could even handle attacks from Arkon.

  I don't know if it will come to that but we have to be armed. Anyway, hold up on the cave action until we're on our way to Arkon."

  Further details were completely discussed until everything seemed to be clear. There was no point that failed to be taken into consideration. Contact between the two groups would have to be interrupted even though Harno would always be able to transmit a picture of the Zalit team to Rhodan.

  The latter two left the headquarters under the arena in order to be located at the spaceport. The danger there was no longer significant since the 11 who had enlisted earlier had prepared the way. Most of the officers had been provided with a hypnoblock and almost all robots had been reprogrammed. The two telepaths, Betty Toufry and Ishy Matsu, being part of the Zalit team, maintained contact between Calus and Maj. Rosberg, along with Pucky.

  Two days later the last 'volunteers' moved out. Aside from Rhodan and Bell, their number included Atlan, Capt. Gorlat and Fron Wroma. Like all the others they carried false documents with them which identified them by Zalite names. There could be no slip-ups now.

  They passed the first inspection point and arrived at the main gate, where they were received by a very haughty Arkonide. Combat robots with fire-ready weapon rings patrolled the area beyond the temporary fence. Inside the camp it was fairly swarming with Zalites who had completed their rookie training and now awaited transshipment to Arkon. There the final phases of their full induction into the Imperial Fleet would be completed.

  The Arkonide officer regarded the newcomers with a mixture of pleasant surprise and unbearable arrogance. However, he strove to find an acceptable compromise between the two attitudes. "So you have decided to serve in the glorious fleet of the Imperium, have you?" he said by way of greeting, and he made a sign to the robot guards which caused them to become motionless. "You will be processed through and transshipped as quickly as possible. There is a great demand for capable men and technical personnel are also sought." He stretched out his hand. "Your papers, please."

  Finally he returned the documents. "Over there in the first building you will find the registry desk. You will report to the duty sergeant, who will guide you from there. I wish you a victorious future."

  Rhodan thanked him and pocketed his credentials again. He passed the robot guards, not knowing whether this contingent had been reprogrammed or not. But of course that didn't matter too much at present. They were recruits and were not free to operate without arousing suspicion. For the time being they had to strictly toe the line and comply with all the rules.

  Fortunately the duty sergeant at registration had already been conditioned by the hypno André Noir. One of Rhodan's men who had been in the camp for a number of days turned out to be the sergeant's assistant and he now helped to process the new enlistees. Everybody presented their pass papers and took care not to speak one suspicious-sounding word. Hearing devices could be concealed anywhere and certainly the Arkonides listening at the other end would not have been hypno-treated.

  As if to confirm this, the sergeant looked up and winked at them inconspicuously. "Ah, so I see you have already served in the Zalite fleet... uh... Major Sesete...?" It was Rhodan's cover name. "Excellent! We need men with experience. I think we can keep your old service rank for you." He looked at the other credentials. "Captain Ighur, Merchant Fleet." He referred to Atlan, who confirmed with a nod. "You were all officers? Maj. Roake..." He glanced swiftly at Bell. "Capt. Norvt, Lt. Likro... excellent!" He shoved the papers over to his assistant. "Assign them to the proper billet. It isn't every day that an entire group of former officers reports in to us. You've probably held off a little while before deciding to enlist, I take it? Well, we'll skip all that. The main thing is, you responded to the draft proclamation. Medical examinations will take place tomorrow but you all look pretty healthy to me."

  The assistant handed back all papers to the newcomers. In addition they were given a sheet showing a map of the camp. Individual numbers were in a related sequence, showing each man his assigned location. As it turned out, some rather respectable quarters had been provided for them, as was suitable for former officers who would no doubt continue to be officers in the future. By some strange coincidence, all the members of the Terranian commando group had been housed in close proximity to each other.

  • • •

  Toffner took his assignment very seriously. He knew how much depended upon its execution. Major Rosberg had warned him that if for any reason he should be apprehended by the Arkonides or soldiers of the Zarlt he should not count on getting any help. Also there could be no hint or clue that would lead anybody to the catacombs.

  In effect Toffner was once more alone an
d left to his own resources. His only consolation was a paper he carried with him that had been signed by the new Calus. It was a confirmation by the induction board that his medical had classified him as unfit for Fleet service. It was not without specific purpose that Admiral Calus had issued such releases since they were a basis for other exceptions and facilitated other related permits.

  The forthcoming Fall season of fighting games in the arena had to be prepared for. It was imperative for Toffner-Garak to obtain gladiators. But where was he to get them from when there were hardly any men left on Tagnor who were capable of bearing arms? There was no alternative but to start traveling and making a search.

  He rented a glider, this time a larger model. He might have to take care of some heavy transportation. Twice he was stopped by search patrols and interrogated but his release permit worked wonders. He was allowed to continue without obstruction of any kind.

  The glider was waiting for him in the civilian flight terminal. The solid cordon of guards surrounding it only elicited a secret smile from Toffner. What could possibly happen to him now? The checkout went along as expected, as quickly and smoothly as before. After he announced his destination, Larg, he was permitted to take off.

  As he flew the usual exit pattern low over Tagnor he was able to determine that normal traffic had practically died out. Once in awhile he encountered a military glider but none of them paid any attention to him. He quickly reached the city outskirts and glided eastward into the desert.

  He resisted. a temptation to land by the cave. As far as was known, no one had visited it in the meantime. That would only be in the days to come. The transmitter would have to be turned on again and the incoming supplies would have to be unloaded from it.

  The mountains came and passed beneath him, after which he landed safely in Larg. He parked the glider and set the positronic safety lock to his own identification coding. No one other than he would be able to open the cabin unless he had the same brain-wave patterns and that of course was out of the question.