by Perry Rhodan
Alkher called out to him. "We have to get out of here, Ras! If these things get reinforcements we'll be blocked in!" Of course the captain had a point but between Tschubai and the five men were no less than 15 robots who were watching every movement of their opponents.
"When we open fire on them, start running," yelled Alkher.
The barrel of his weapon emerged like a snake from behind the generator.
Leggert's unhandsome face appeared above the blowers, and Pearson was lurking in readiness at the open hatchway.
"Fire!" shouted Alkher.
Tschubai started his sprint without waiting for the others to start shooting.
He heard the hissing of ray guns and felt the rising heat. Running in a crouch he started across a narrow catwalk that bridged over a giant engine casing. The far end was blocked by two robots but at the moment their attention was riveted on Pearson and they kept firing at the bulkhead doorway. Tschubai thought quickly as one of the machines turned and stared at him out of its expressionless lenses. In a single movement the mutant went over the railing and suspended himself by his hands from the edge of the catwalk. He heard the robot coming along the metallic plates of the runway. He grasped one of the railing supports and pulled himself up high enough to scan the engine room. One of Alkher's men hit the contraption that was approaching him. As it exploded, one of its tentacles shot toward the African. With a yell he let go of the catwalk and fell into the depths. He struck the engine casing heavily and started to slide down the side. A robot leaned over from the catwalk and fired at him but missed.
"Ras!" yelled Alkher from above. "Where are you?" Tschubai tried desperately to hold on to the smooth surface but he slid down to the deeper rim of the engine housing. Although it flooded him with the pain of his exertions he managed to reach one of the catwalk supports. He shoved his weapon into his belt and began to climb up the metal beam. Above him the battle was raging with unabated fury. Suddenly the upper half of a robot toppled off the catwalk and came shooting downward where it smashed against the engine cowling. Tschubai kept climbing.
He was hoping soon to reach his goal when somebody unseen began to fire at the upper end of the support beam. The slender girder became glowing hot and began to sag. Stubbornly, the African hung on to his section. Then the rod-like support melted away from its upper anchorage and Tschubai was left swinging on it like a pole vaulter at the peak of his arc. The now elastic upright swayed out from the catwalk, causing the teleporter to swing in another direction.
Desperately he sought a way of rescuing himself. The metal pole bent farther until it almost touched the wall of the engine well. Ras was like a bug waving on the upper end of a straw in the wind. He shoved away from the wall with both legs and the support rod swung back toward the catwalk.
He thought he wouldn't reach a high enough arc but suddenly the slim girder tipped to the other side and Ras hurtled with increased speed toward the narrow bridge. He stretched out both arms and managed to grasp the catwalk's edge.
Simultaneously he let loose of the rod with his legs and without his weight it sprang back like a spring. Tschubai breathed a sigh of relief but then the rod whipped back and gave him a blow that almost knocked him out—yet it also seemed to give him the impetus he needed to scramble up blindly onto the catwalk.
"Over here, Ras!" somebody shouted.
Tschubai got up and staggered somehow in the direction of the voice. He crashed against an incapacitated robot and then he felt somebody pulling him to the deck. When his vision began to focus again he saw Leggert's bulldog face staring down at him.
"I really thought you wouldn't make it!" said Leggert hoarsely. Tschubai grinned weakly at the spaceman. "I'm half dead." Each movement he made shot a pain through his back that almost made him pass out.
Pearson stuck his head in through the bulkhead opening. "I think our friends are getting reinforcements," he said drily.
Alkher signaled to them from the generator area. "We have to pull back," he ordered. "Leggert, look after the teleporter." Almost effortlessly, Leggert brought the African to his feet and supported him. Ras clapped his teeth together and limped along after the others, with his left arm over Leggert's shoulder. Tannert and Mesenhohl covered their retreat while firing back at seven of the robots who were still operative.
When they had all exited the great machine room, Alkher called a halt. "We have to try to get in touch with the others," he said. "Maybe they've found Pucky and Kakuta." Tschubai was about to say something but suddenly a rising rumble caused him to stop. A slight tremor ran through the Hat-Lete, but quickly it subsided.
"That was a strange sound," said Pearson uncertainly. "It's the ship," said Alkher. "They're getting it under way!"
• • •
It was clear to Pucky that he couldn't hide from the robots. They seemed to have some kind of mental tracing equipment that betrayed the presence of any organic life. Thus after his jump to the Hat-Lete the mouse-beaver had been kept in continuous flight. Thanks to his telepathy he had been able to track down the location of Tako and Ras. It had been a relief to him to detect the arrival of Alkher's small detachment, and now he was in the process of fighting his way through to the men. Without his teleporting ability, Pucky was a bit awkward in his movements and couldn't move as swiftly as humans. He had to use the same trick that Tschubai had hit upon in the machine room. Whenever he was next to any valuable equipment he noted that the robots were hesitant about firing at him. Between these momentary points of safety and his goal was an open stretch he had to traverse and he knew that here he'd have to rely on his luck and craftiness.
Pucky's native optimism began to waver, however, when the Hat-Lete's engines began to operate and the Arkonide ship that had been a derelict for six years started to accelerate.
7/ POSITRONIC HARI-KARI
John Marshall lay back in the comfortable form chair and listened with his fullest concentration to the telepathic message that Pucky was sending him.
Perry Rhodan waited patiently for the end of the paranormal conversation, a part of which he could understand. The Theodorich had once more withdrawn from the range of the fragment ship's fire in order to wait out the results of Alkher's commando mission.
Finally Marshall straightened up and looked at Rhodan. "The teleporters are still too weak to jump back to the Theodorich," he reported. "Pucky claims the fragment ship is completely manned by robots. There is no organic life on board, and their main peculiarity is that. they seem determined to attack anything that isn't a mechanical form of existence. The positronic crew of the alien ship is determined to repair the Hat-lete's equipment. One could almost assume that these contraptions have a sort of abstract emotional capability because they show such concern for their own kind." Rhodan and Thomas glanced at each other doubtfully when Marshall told them this.
"So that's the root of our problem," said Rhodan.
"And one more," announced Jefe Claudrin from the flight controls. "The Hat-Lete and the fragment ship are both getting under way!"
"The Hat-Lete?" asked Rhodan in surprise. In two steps he was at the screens of the space scanners. "How is that possible?"
"Apparently the robots from the fragment ship have put the Arkonide cruiser back in operation," said Dr. Riebsam. "They must have known how to activate the ship's central brain in a hurry." Rhodan's face was grim. "Our men are still on board the Hat-Lete and the teleporters can't jump. If we don't do something they'll simply disappear into hyperspace."
"What are we going to do, sir?" asked Claudrin.
"We have to attack again and try to stop them," Rhodan answered, but it was in the tone of a command.
All present knew that if the two robot ships reached half the speed of light there would be no further chance of rescuing the others. At such velocities it was very unfeasible to carry on a space battle.
• • •
The Theodorich picked up speed and raced after the fragment ship as Rhodan again made contact with Fire Con
trol.
"We're making another try," he said. "Open up with everything we've got!" Space seemed to explode as the Theodorich once again opened fire on the monster cube ship. The ravenous bursts of energy created iridescent force fields in the void. Claudrin flew through a breakneck manoeuvre and navigated close to the fleeing enemy. It almost seemed as if the fragment ship's defense screens were ready to collapse, but when the robots' answering fire came the Epsalian had to change course abruptly and the attack was broken off.
"The robot ships are continuing to accelerate," announced Slide Nacro.
Rhodan glared desperately at the panob screen. Was there nothing they could do against this weird Behemoth? He couldn't permit three teleporters and ten of his best commandos to be simply kidnapped.
"What now, sir?" inquired Claudrin resignedly. "We can't stop them, Jefe," Rhodan confessed.
"The scanners, sir!" shouted Nacro excitedly.
There they were! Rhodan almost let out a cry of relief when he saw the 22 heavy warships of the Solar Fleet emerge from semispace and take up waiting positions. It was the squadron Rhodan had alerted and which he had been waiting for so anxiously.
"Make contact immediately, Major!" Rhodan ordered crisply. Now only a lightning operation would save the situation. Rhodan's orders came in a flood yet all were in well-ordered sequence and carefully thought out.
"All ships in close formation!" he concluded. "We'll attack the fragment ship in a solid phalanx!" 22 Terran fighting ships closed ranks and raced toward the fleeing enemy. On the panob screen Rhodan could observe the precise manoeuvres of his commanders as they tightened their positions.
"This time we'll surprise them," said Rhodan confidently.
• • •
Double-O realized that he had committed an unforgivable error. The three organic creatures had transferred themselves to the alien robot ship where they were putting up a stubborn resistance, and their method of transfer was unknown to him. Immediately after this was known the upper level commander had ordered Double-O out of the command center and indicated to him that he would soon be placed under ship's restriction—which meant that he would be prevented from being recharged again. In other words, for Double-O this was the same as a death sentence. When it came from an upper level commander, a ship restriction order was followed, in nine cases out of ten. Since in the entire ship everybody regarded him with suspicion because of his incredible age, the judgment against him could be considered as final already.
Double-O stood dejectedly in the information center. He was thankful that the phase watchers weren't around since they had to monitor the pending phase transition. Being alone, he could watch events on the screen without being disturbed. He had witnessed the repeated attack of the organics' warship and had noted with pride how they had been effortlessly repulsed. The mechanics had repaired the alien robot ship so that it could accompany them when they left this scene of action. As for the repulsive organic creatures on board the other ship, sooner or later they would be destroyed. Now Double-O realized that they should have attacked without mercy from the beginning, as the lower level commander had ordered. The gunners had even been on their way to handle the situation but now through his intervention the organics had been able to gain a respite, during which time they would no doubt destroy many true life units. As seen objectively the adviser had earned the penalty of an energy cutoff because with his erroneous consultation he had become an accessory to the enemy's crimes. Due to such unfavorable circumstances he had come to this end.
Suddenly the viewscreen changed and Double-O could see 23 spaceships pursuing their own ship. At once the voice of the announcer was heard: "The crews of the new ships consist of organic life. They seem to be trying to rescue our prisoners. The defense screens are on. All gun positions are manned and ready." The image of the upper level commander appeared. He had connected his eccentric body to all communication lines and the load had caused him to lean slightly backwards. Double-O didn't dare now to offer his advice. He heard a messenger rush into the station but paid little attention to him. The messenger tapped into the information bank and went away again. The screen changed and Double-O could see that the alien warships were swiftly approaching.
The mechanics didn't seem to be quite finished with their work. Otherwise the mother ship might have been able to accelerate faster. The commander was showing consideration for the allied robot ship. Double-O had heard the wildest rumors about the crew of the strange robot vessel.
One of the controllers had commented that these robots were completely helpless. They were dependent upon another control center which in turn was subordinate to a still greater center, but no one knew anything about its whereabouts. One of the commander's joints appeared on the screen as a change was made. Shortly thereafter, Double-O saw the enemy ships again. His roller foot moved about uneasily.
In less than 30 seconds the enemy would open fire.
• • •
Compared to the dimensions of the galaxy the energy blast resulting from the Terra fleet's concerted fire was no more than the flickering of a match in a forest fire but in the relatively constricted space where the titanic forces were expended, the barrage from the gun turrets of the Terra ships had the effect of a bursting inferno. The area surrounding the fragment ship made it look like a minor nova in its, glaring halo of flames. The cube ship's screens performed the incredible because they even stood up against this stupendous impact.
Rhodan felt his back muscles tense. "We mustn't let up," he said emphatically.
The Terra ships encircled the fragment ship like a flock of hawks and kept it under heavy fire. And then, just as Rhodan was beginning to give up hope of any success, the enemy's defense screens began to flicker. Wide structural fissures appeared in the energy envelope.
"Now we've got him, sir!" shouted Thomas triumphantly.
"Stay with it," Rhodan ordered. "Don't let up. We can't give the robots any time!" The fragment ship did not bother any longer about the Hat-Lete, and it shot away at full power.
"They're running, Chief!" boomed Claudrin, also in triumph.
Rhodan's commands snapped out at once. "Take up pursuit!" he told the squadron commanders. "The Theodorich will take care of the Hat-Lete." The 22 ships raced after the fragment ship without being able to overtake it.
Before another combined salvo could be fired at the enemy he escaped his pursuers by disappearing into hyperspace. No warp shock was measurable in this case, and thus any further pursuit was out of the question.
"He got away from us!" exclaimed Thomas angrily.
Rhodan recalled the squadron. The fragment ship had slipped away from them and that couldn't be changed. At any rate the vessel had proved itself to be vulnerable. The concentrated fire of the squadron had given it serious trouble.
It was a great relief to Rhodan to know that his opponent was not invincible.
"Now we won't have much chance of learning about these robots," commented Dr.
Riebsam.
This was the disappointment of a scientist who had seen what he thought to be a certain success disappear in the last moment.
Rhodan merely smiled. "You forget the Hat-Lete, Doc," he said.
"The fragment ship has left a part of its crew there for us. All we have to do now is capture them and look them over." Dr. Riebsam's face lit up. "You're right," he agreed.
The Hat-Lete was drifting again in free fall. After the fragment ship disappeared, evidently the robots had given up their plan to take the Arkonide ship with them. The Terran fleet formation now surrounded the former Regent's heavy cruiser.
Rhodan placed a hand on the mathematician's shoulder. "I'm sure you'd like to come along with me, Doc," he said pleasantly.
The scientist's eyes flashed with new interest. "I certainly would, Chief.
I'm champing at the bit to have a look at those robots."
"I can well imagine." Rhodan turned to Marshall. "John, I'd like to see you join us, too."
"Of course, Chief." Marshall rose to his feet.
"We'll take over a full brigade of several hundred men in the shuttle boats," Rhodan explained. "We'll need them because the robots left behind in the Hat-Lete are bound to put up some heavy resistance. John, try to get in touch with Pucky. You can tell him we'll soon be moving in.
"The Administrator made contact with the hangar and gave orders for preparation of the necessary personnel carriers.
• • •
It wasn't difficult for Chick Gallik to figure out the meaning of the sounds he heard on the other side of the closed hatch door. A gang of robots were trying to break through into the cargo room to carry on with their attack.
Kakuta pressed an ear against the metal and listened. He spoke in low tones to Gallik so that the wounded men couldn't hear him. "We have to get out of here." The corporal agreed with him but the question was how they were going to transport Heffner and Owesian who were badly wounded. It wouldn't be possible for Gunnarson to lug both men with him.
Heffner coughed restrainedly. He spoke with an effort. "I've got an idea." Gallik supported him so that he could breathe better. "Owesian and I can stay here while you go look for the others. When the robots break in we can hold them off for a while."
"Be quiet, Stumpy," Gallik snapped angrily. Suddenly a dark red spot appeared in the middle of the hatch door. It widened swiftly.
Gunnarson yelled. "They're burning a hole through the metal!" Other hot spots appeared and it became obvious to the Terrans that in a few minutes the steel plate wouldn't be holding the robots back. Gallik looked around. Projecting from the wall were several vacuum disposal stations which had been used for getting rid of trash and packing refuse. They offered the only cover.