by Perry Rhodan
"Coordinator, why did you tell Atlan and myself that there were no ray weapons in security section A-1?"
"The false information was given because the programming demanded it. The Terrans are hereby instructed to leave the Great Coordinator at once. Your presence is no longer required. Rule 18 is effective immediately!"
"And if the Akons have planted a bomb in A-1, Coordinator?" suggested Rhodan although he himself did not believe it. He was hoping to get the remaining Akon equipment out of there so that his specialists could examine it.
The giant Brain answered at once: "The Terrans will be given two hours to inspect A-1 for the presence of a bomb and to clear out the alien equipment there. Transport medium: teleportation! At the end of that period, Rule 18 will be activated. That is all!"
• • •
Shortly before the expiration of the two-hour time allowance, Pucky and Ras Tschubai teleported Rhodan and Marshall back to the Ironduke. Rhodan’s five scientists immediately began to examine the devices which had escaped destruction but they determined very quickly that the equipment could give them no clue as to the activity of the Akon commandoes.
When Rhodan received this news, Atlan cursed and repeated his earlier statement: "The Brain is insane!"
"Atlan, that shows you that the Akons have done plenty to A-1. Reprogramming maybe—but the Brain can’t be insane ... "
The Arkonide snorted angrily. "A-1 is isn’t just any circuit, Barbarian! It wasn’t designed to be fooled with! Whoever tries to manipulate it can destroy it, yes—but there can be no readjustments! Of that I am positive!"
Rhodan answered sceptically. "Let’s hope you’re right about that, Admiral. Let’s just hope so! But let’s also hope that you haven’t underestimated the Akons. Don’t forget that you Arkonides came from their mother race. And..."
The special communicator for contacting the giant Brain signaled to them and the viewscreen stabilized. The voice of the mammoth positronicon came through in stentorian tones. It thundered in the Control Central of the Ironduke as the Great Coordinator of Arkon 3 issued a command: "All ships of the Terran fleet shall vacate the zone of influence of the Greater Imperium within 8 hours; otherwise, in the name of the Imperium, the Great Coordinator will take expedient measures against the Sol System!"
Imperator Gonozal VIII was in front of the camera in a single jump and he roared into the microphone: "As the rightful Imperator of the Greater Imperium ... "
But he stopped abruptly. The Brain cut the connection, thereby completely ignoring the imperial challenge.
The Arkonide was close to utter despair. After going to Rhodan’s cabin with him he finally expressed his greatest fears. "This is the end! Now even the giant Brain is against me! It’s not enough that I have to fight against two resistance groups as well as the Akon usurpers—the positronicon has joined the dogpile! So what do I fight with, Perry? Do I use these empty hands against 100,000 robot battleships?"
Rhodan didn’t go into details. His reply was almost prophetic. "Atlan, the main weapon of humanity is time. I firmly believe that time will be on our side."
"You mean if there’s anything left to believe in, Perry Rhodan!" said the Arkonide resignedly.
Rhodan was silent. He knew from experience what it felt like to be depressed. But he knew this Arkonide, Atlan, and he did believe that their weapon would be—
Time.
SABOTEURS IN A-1
Copyright © 1977
Ace Books
by arrangement with Arthur Moewig Verlag
All Rights Reserved.