by Perry Rhodan
Their building had seven levels and 150 Zalites were assigned to each of them. On each level there were smaller quarters, each of which could house a 25-man crew. Only the bottom level was smaller, being restricted to just 100 men. They constituted the guard detail, which was to be rotated every three days.
The robot assigned crews to quarters and then announced the mess schedules and KP routines. From each level a detail of ten Zalites was assigned to take over these duties.
Rhodan took a look around the unadorned billet room he was in. Along the wall were simple cots and narrow chests of drawers. The windows facing the outside were not barred because more sophisticated obstacles to escape were utilized elsewhere. They were on the third level and had a wide-range view of the spaceport installations. Nearby were the low academy and training buildings.
In spite of their relative security here, Rhodan remained cautious whenever he had to talk with any of his men. It could be assumed that not a single Arkonide stationed on Naator had ever heard an English word in his life; however, there were no doubt excellent deciphering apparatuses available. Nevertheless Rhodan considered it best to use English for strategic matters rather than Zalite.
"Lt. Wroma, you take nine men and pretend you're in the commissary crew. Listen in on conversations among the Zalites. We have to know what their attitude is."
The African saluted and turned to his task.
Bell was sitting on one of the beds. "Reminds me of my boot camp days!" he sighed, slapping the mattress. "Do I have to go through all that again? And of all things—with a robot for a topkick!"
Atlan went over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "What have you got to complain about, my portly friend? I'm an Admiral and I have to act like a buck private. To be truthful, I find it rather amusing."
Bell grumbled something unintelligible and stared up at the ceiling resignedly. It was not cold in the room and they wouldn't freeze in here but for the moment that seemed to be the only comfort they were going to be favored with.
"Well, you know we're not going to be here forever," said Gorlat consolingly. "Let's consider Naator as a rest station."
Bell let out a mock whimper. "Rest, he calls it! The only time for relaxation will be when we've defused that robot Brain—but that takes getting to the main planet first!"
Rhodan motioned him to be quiet. "We have to be more careful. Only say what absolutely has to be said and then keep your voice down. I'm afraid we have a strenuous day ahead of us. And don't forget our one goal: Arkon! There lies our main task. This here..." He indicated the beds, the wardrobe chests, the windows "This is just an episode that will pass, sooner or later."
Suddenly Marshall spoke into the ensuing silence. "I've finally made contact, sir! As they looked at him expectantly, he added: "Telepathicontact with Admiral Semekho. We'll soon know what were in for."
The Japanese mutant who was a signal tracer whispered to them. "And I'm going to probe around a bit in their radio transmissions."
"Do that, Tanaka Seiko. We can use every scrap of information." Rhodan sat down on his bed. "For the moment my only concern is what we're going to have for supper. An army runs on its stomach, you know."
"I'm not going to be much good around here, even when I'm full," grumbled Bell from the background. Boot camp held no more charms for him.
But Rhodan was satisfied. They had made a beginning. Now all that was needed was the final step—the 7-leagued boot stride to Arkon...
3/ THE MEDIC-MASTER MENACE
The first day on Naator was without event. Of course Rhodan was able to look out the windows and observe several columns of Zalites as they were conducted to the administration buildings and later brought back but he estimated that today not more than about 3000 recruits had been processed through.
Toward evening they were visited by robot 574 who announced that their particular contingent would be expedited through registration on the following day.
For a number of hours John Marshall the telepath had done nothing but sit on his bed with his back against the wall and his eyes closed. No one disturbed him because everybody knew that the Australian mutant was trying to pick up a contact with the top echelon people at Naator in order to gather information.
But now he opened his eyes, which focused on Rhodan. His mute signal of readiness was unmistakable. Even Gorlat and Bell came over to his bed. At the moment, Atlan was somewhere in another troop billet.
"What is it, Marshall? Did you pick up something?"
The telepath nodded slowly. "The first 3000 Zalites were given a medical examination today. No—I can see what you're thinking. This wasn't like the exams on Zalit. There it was just a farce. If the men were warm and had a pulse they were given a fit-for-duty classification. Here on Naator we get the full treatment, an examination right down to the bones. I traced down their leading physicians and was able to read their thoughts."
"Down to the bones?! " whispered Bell, suddenly aghast. He saw his fears reflected in Rhodan's eyes. Even the skill of their plastic surgeons and camouflage experts would not shield them now from discovery.
Marshall continued: "But that's not all. I was able to learn that these examinations are not based alone on medical grounds. In fact their sole secret purpose is to neutralize any penetration of disguised espionage agents into Arkon. They are alert to the possibility that Earth agents have been able to change themselves into members of other races by plastic surgery and other means. They are thinking that there may be such agents among the enlisted Zalites."
Rhodan had momentarily forgotten to breathe but now he let out a big sigh. "So they have suspected exactly what's happened... amazing! And now what?"
"Unfortunately that's still not the end of it," said Marshall and he continued with his discouraging report. "The examining physicians are exclusively Aras!"
This time everybody was struck dumb for the moment.
Of all times it would have to be the Aras who were getting their fingers into the action again. They not only knew Earthmen, they hated them like the plague. It had been Rhodan who once ruined their profitable monopoly in the galactic medical business. They were fully familiar with the skeletal structure of Terrans. The first X-ray would blow the whole masquerade.
Finally, Rhodan found his voice. "Well, what now, friends? Does anybody see any way out? I don't believe that we can avoid the examinations—that would immediately raise suspicions. So we have to face up to the Aras and we have to get through it somehow. To be frank with you, at the moment I'm at a loss."
Gorlat made a suggestion: "Best thing we can do is to run through all the angles and possibilities. If everybody will express his ideas we can work out a common plan. So the objective here is to deceive these Ara medicos. What can we do besides putting Noir onto the job?"
Bell shook his head. "Noir is an excellent hypno but he doesn't have enough time, by tomorrow, to work on a dozen or more Aras and put them under a mind-block. I'd say maybe Ras Tschubai should jump into their midst and put them out of action."
"Rhodan objected. "We couldn't make a greater mistake than trying something like that. But anyway, Bell, you've given me an idea. Ras and Noir together might make a team who could accelerate things. Under such a situation the hypno-block operation might be pulled off in time."
Gorlat beamed. "See now what I mean about pooling our ideas? Out of two separate ideas that were unusable by themselves we've put a new one together that is entirely applicable. Just a few details and we've got ourselves a war plan. For example, how would it be if we were to divert this Admiral Semekho's attention from his main task so that he wouldn't have time to worry about the Zalites—including us?"
"And how do you figure you're going to do that?" asked Rhodan.
Gorlat smiled. "Son Okura is able to see as well at night as he can in the daytime. If he works with Ras Tschubai the two of them will be like shadows—fast, invisible and dangerous. They could pull off some kind of sabotage that would make it look like the wor
k of the Naats."
"Just a minute now!" exclaimed "Rhodan shaking his head. "I think that would be overshooting the target. It isn't our purpose to agitate things here on Naator we're trying to get to Arkon. Of course I will admit that a straight line isn't always the shortest route to a goal Our most immediate and urgent task is to put the squeeze on the Aras—and in such a manner that they themselves will not be aware of it. Not to mention the others, naturally."
Marshall was forced to upset the apple cart. "In just one night it's not possible for a complete hypnoblock because I can't trace all of them down all at once. So maybe it would be good if we could gain time. Gorlat might not be so far off the track with his idea about keeping Semekho busy with other distractions."
By the time Atlan returned two hours later the plan had been studied through coordinated and finally completed. All they had to do was brief him on what they had decided.
• • •
Son Okura had a delicate build and a slight limp. When he was changed into a Zalite this had to be taken into consideration but the alteration had succeeded so well that no one could tell him from a genuine inhabitant of Tagnor. Capable of a so-called wide-band vision, he could recognize any object in absolute darkness. Even the infrared range was completely within his scope of vision. He could detect the heat imprint of objects removed from a place hours before.
From a physical standpoint teleporter Ras Tschubai was the exact opposite of Okura. His mighty frame was like that of the Naats, except that the African naturally had only two eyes instead of three.
These two mutants comprised the first commando team that was to go into action as night fell.
Ras knew that it was very risky to make a jump into unknown territory. If he had been by himself he would have worried less about it but he also had the Japanese mutant with him. Of course, even with this extra load it would only take him a few seconds to dematerialize again in case he should have to escape quickly from some threatening danger. But Rhodan had drilled it into him that he was not to arouse the slightest suspicion. Nobody must get the idea that there were teleporters loose on the satellite.
"Ready!" said Son Okura as he grasped the African's hand.
Ras Tschubai concentrated on making a short jump that was to take him in the direction of the administration buildings and supply depot. He did not know his immediate target area but that didn't stop him. He simply 'envisioned' it.
When they materialized, at first Ras Tschubai could not see a thing. The stars shone as brightly as ever but in contrast to the light from the troop buildings they were dark.
"Good shot!" murmured Okura, whose eyes had made an immediate adjustment. "We're fairly close to the first of the buildings. There's a guard on patrol over to the right—a Zalite. They've already assigned recruits to sentinel duty.
"You going to go around him?"
"We'll make a direct jump into the area in front of us. You know what we're looking for?"
In the darkness Ras could not see Okura nodding in response. He jumped again.
This time it was totally dark and the stars were absent.
"Where are we?" asked the teleporter.
"We're inside a warehouse that contains military supplies. Uniforms, as far as I can make out. Over there behind them are lightweight space suits, all stacked away neatly on shelves."
"That's good to know in case we get too cold but just now we're looking for something else, Okura. Let's go."
The Japanese led Ras through the darkness, progressing with such confidence and certainty that it was short of uncanny. But the African trusted the mutant's special vision. He knew he didn't have to fear stumbling over some object or bumping his head against the wall.
"Here's a door—ah, it isn't locked." They went farther. "This is a corridor with doors everywhere. Which one should we try?"
Ras did not answer him. He had heard a noise farther up ahead. Footsteps! Someone was approaching them. But the sound of the steps indicated that the unknown person ahead was tired. His feet fairly shuffled along the floor.
"A guards!" whispered Ras. "Can't be a robot, maybe a Zalite. Quick, through the next door!"
It was sheer coincidence but whenever they tried to explain it that way later their assurances were taken for modesty. When they came into the room beyond the door and Okura let out a gasp of astonishment, Ras knew they had entered something more than a clothing storeroom.
"Weapons!" whispered Okura. "Hand grenades, rayguns, small time bombs—a rebel's Paradise!"
"And that's what we'll make out of Naator Ras whispered back, happily. "How come they didn't have this door locked?"
"The main entrance is impassable, Ras. Energy field. Nobody can leave this building. Even the guard is locked in."
Which of course explained it all.
Outside they could hear the watchman's footsteps but they were soon gone.
"Dam it all!" complained Ras. "Why can't I see anything in here?"
"Because it's dark," was Okura's not overly profound explanation. Then he laughed softly. "But it would sure warm the cockles of your heart, Ras, if you could see what I see. Exactly what the doctor ordered. We're so lucky it's shameful!"
"Great! So let's get a move on. We can bring a good supply of this stuff into our quarters so we can operate from there. Three or four jumps should do it."
• • •
One hour later Ras teleported into the base hospital with Okura and the hypno-mutant André Noir and promised to pick them up again in exactly two hours. Although laden with a beautiful assortment of mini-time bombs, some hand grenades and an energy beamer, he vanished before their eyes. Now they were able to build up their reserve supplies of all the weapons and sabotage gear that could be fitted inconspicuously into their uniforms or small field kits, in preparation for their mission on Arkon itself.
Noir was not very tall and had a pleasant appearance as a Terranian. As a Zalite he seemed more sinister and was not very trustworthy looking. However, his disguise had in no way impaired his special faculty of being able to subject alien intelligences to his will.
"The Aras are farther up ahead," he whispered and pointed into the dim darkness of the corridor. "I can sense their thought emanations. They're asleep."
"Do you think you could pick out the head doctor among them, André?"
"I doubt it, Okura. They are sleeping—and in dreams every man is chief."
The Japanese grinned and started forward. "Then we'll take them one at a time. Here's the first door already."
Since the hospital—if such it could be designated—was also sealed off from the outside world by a curtain of energy, the inside doors were unlocked. When the two men stepped into the first room, only the Japanese could see what was in it.
Under the window in a corner was a bed, in which a man lay sleeping. To one side was a chest of drawers. Over the chair by the desk hung a few articles of clothing topped by a white smock, which was the typical professional mark of the active Ara physician.
Noir's eyes gradually became accustomed to the soft darkness. The window did not have curtains or drapes so that the starlight could come in unhindered. The man in the bed was unusually tall and shockingly thin. His face appeared sunken and ill but Noir knew that here the appearances were deceiving. The Ara before him was completely healthy.
Noir put his powers to work. Guardedly he probed into the Ara's slumbering consciousness and took possession of it. Since no resistance was encountered, his success was quick and easy. Then he awakened the man...
"What is your name?" The hypno asked the question softly but forcefully. The doctor's wide-open eyes stared at him at first almost in challenge but then they became dull and almost listless.
"Renol."
"Do you belong to the medical group that examines the recruits? Where is the head physician?"
"We examine the recruits. Chief Physician is Koris. He is a few rooms away from mine."
Noir was exultant. This was going better than he
had expected. "You will get up now and come along with us. If we meet anybody on the way you will find an excuse for our being with you. You will obey all of my commands. You will receive further instructions according to the need and the situation. Show us the examination rooms.
The Ara got up mechanically and dressed himself. His movements were slow but regular and normal. He suspected nothing of the danger he was involved in. In the morning he would have forgotten everything.
They left the room and permitted Renol to lead the way. They passed through a normal-looking operation room and finally arrived in a wide hall which had been divided into a series of booths by thin partitions. In these booths were strange apparatuses, the purpose of which was not clear to Noir at first. However, when he gave a command to the Ara the latter began to explain.
Noir experienced a shock of fright when he saw the kind of trap they might have fallen into. Confronted by the instruments and machines located here, no Earthman would get through the inspections without discovery. In fact any individual who was not a Zalite would be unmasked.
The hypno was especially interested in the IQ tester. In outward appearance the apparatus consisted of a chair and a hood for the head, a few conductor cables and a positronic analyzer. All the person being tested had to do was to merely sit down and the rest was taken care of by computer automation. The results of the test were then stored in a memory bank for data retrieval when required.
Noir knew that all Terrans—certainly those in Rhodan's combat commando team—had a higher IQ than that of the Zalites. Even if all other facets of the recruit examination were to have been innocuous, just this one operation would prove fatal for the specialized Earthman group. Their higher level responses would betray them.