by Perry Rhodan
Atlan took one big jump to the side and the second car veered toward him but the Admiral ran in the face of it, ducking out of the way at the last instant.
"Now!" he yelled.
The crash of the 2 robo-cars was like an explosion. Atlan had made a giant broad-jump to save himself and now lay on the ground. One of the vehicles was smoking and both were so badly damaged that neither one was able to continue the pursuit. With a shudder Atlan realized that the combat robots would soon be taking up the chase. He would have to hurry. Still panting from his exertions he sprinted up the passageway—but then suddenly the lights went out and he was enveloped by total darkness. He immediately found the wall and ran onward, letting his fingers glide along the smooth surface to guide him. The darkness was a further advantage to the enemy because while he could see nothing he was no doubt a clearly recognizable target in the Regent’s sensor equipment. Here he was fleeing from his own empire which he had sought to save. The misguided great positronicon that had advised him through the years was now having him chased down like a criminal and was seeking to capture him if not to kill him. If the old Arkonides who were the builders of the Regent had made any errors it was this one, in having given their creation too much independence and power. In spite of its complex immensity the Regent was only a machine with all the shortcomings thereof.
Behind him the sounds of pursuit became audible and tore him from his musings. He expected that he might be shot at any moment. Carba knew no scruples and his sick mind was capable of anything. There was nothing for Atlan to do but to keep fleeing through the darkness with his pursuers at his heels.
• • •
About 700 meters from the Ironduke a stream of combat robots came out of a subterranean shaft and formed a cordon. Rhodan watched the event silently while Krefenbac magnified the picture on the viewscreen until the robots stood out in individual detail.
"Fighter machines!" chirped Pucky. "What are they doing there?" Rhodan told him. "That’s the reception committee for Atlan in case he makes it up to the surface. Now we have an excuse to send out a small force of troops to keep the Regent occupied. I don’t think that Sansaro will mix into it."
Decisively the Administrator picked up the microphone. "Rhodan calling Lt. Hotchkins!" A rough voice answered: "At your orders, sir!"
Rhodan smiled over the mike at Jefe Claudrin, the commander of the Ironduke. "Can you see those robots, Hotchkins? They’ve just now appeared on the field."
"I can make them out, sir," replied the lieutenant.
"Good. I want you to pick out a detail of men you can depend on to keep their heads about them. And I want you to engage those robots in a fight in such a way that from the start it will look like a losing battle for our side." Rhodan seemed to laugh soundlessly. "Don’t make it a rout—just an orderly retreat will do."
Hotchkins took a few seconds to answer. "Excuse me, sir," he said cautiously, "but I guarantee you we can take those robot troops with no sweat."
"I understand," Rhodan agreed. "But you are not to gain the upper hand, regardless. Just carry out my order and leave everything else to us."
"Very good, sir," was the lieutenant’s curt response.
"He probably thinks he’s joined a benevolent society for robots," commented Marshall after Rhodan turned off the mike.
Rhodan turned to the 3 teleporters. "I hope that we all understand what’s going to happen. Hotchkins will run a sham battle against the robots which will keep Sansaro off our necks, as long as he sees our attack is failing. The minute Atlan appears, you three will make your jumps. Pucky will keep the robots busy who are out there waiting for Atlan, and they’ll also be diverted by Hotchkins and his men. Ras, you are to concern yourself immediately with Atlan and try to bring him back here to the Ironduke in a teleport jump. Tako Kakuta will be the backup reserve because it’s quite possible that Atlan will be pursued and when he appears he may have some rather nasty opponents on his tail. As soon as Ras has succeeded in disappearing with Atlan, Pucky and Tako will also return. If everything works out, at that time Hotchkins and his detail will be in full retreat. We’ll pick them up and take off under the protection of our libration field."
It sounded very simple but Rhodan knew only too well that everything could go wrong unless luck played a part in it. Too many events were dependent upon each other and there wasn’t much hope that it would all go according to plan and desire. However, Rhodan’s main concern was for Atlan because for his own part it was impossible to penetrate the subterranean sections of the Brain. In that area the Regent was at a superior advantage in every respect.
Rhodan looked at the ship’s chronometer. It was 3 Dec. of the year 2105, 08:07 hours Earth time, when the Administrator of the Solar Imperium grasped the microphone, contacted Hotchkins and ordered him to open fire on the robot troops of the all-powerful Regent.
• • •
Julien Hotchkins, a lieutenant in the Solar Fleet, was as hard and massive as an oak tree. He stamped rather than walked at the head of his 37-man commando detail as they moved across the vast spaceport on Arkon 3. He wore a combat suit complete with defence screen and deflectors and over his shoulder hung an energy rifle.
Formerly while he was still a sergeant he had known many nicknames but somehow after reaching lieutenant grade he had shaken them off—all except one. The men who grimly followed behind him always associated the name "Hothead" with him. It was a name that Hotchkins had never been able to get rid of. The big Terran was no longer as explosive as he had been in his earlier years but the legend of his youth had remained alive and served to retain the nickname. Hotchkins the "Hothead" who had landed alone with 3 natives in the inferno of Darkun 4 and had returned victorious in spite of the gloomiest predictions.
Hotchkins stopped and raised his arm. "Break ranks—deploy!" he shouted. He was aware of the group spreading out in a shallow half-circle as they moved forward. By now they had covered half the distance and were at the center point of a dangerous triangle, the angles of which were formed by the robots, the Akon ship and the Ironduke.
Hotchkins kept a wary eye on the Akon ship. So far everything was quiet over there. They didn’t seem to attach much importance to his small detail of fighters. The lieutenant fretted secretly over Rhodan’s instructions. He would have been only too happy to demonstrate to these arrogant aliens what his boys could really do.
The Ironduke hailed him and he heard Rhodan’s voice in his headphones. "Have your men open up with an unconcentrated fire, Lieutenant," he ordered.
Hotchkins swung his energy rifle from his shoulder and raised it for action. "‘Ten-shun!" he shouted. A few seconds later he gave the firing order and a pattern of raybeams hissed over the ovoid metal heads of the robots. The fighter machines immediately returned the fire; in fact some of them separated from the main guard and came across the field toward the small Terran contingent. The lieutenant aimed carefully at the leading robot but the thing’s defence screen rendered his shot ineffective. It was only when some of his men also attacked the same target that the robot’s field collapsed and it exploded in a jet of flames.
In the ensuing bedlam Hotchkins’ voice was heard like a distant thunder. "Alright—fall back slowly now!"
• • •
Atlan stopped and listened. Another sound was impinging upon the noise of his pursuers and it gave him new hope. Apparently a fight was in progress on the surface and the fact he could hear it was a sign that he couldn’t be very far from the subterranean exit.
The lights suddenly flashed on again, revealing a sharp curve in the passage ahead. Atlan headed for it and before he made the turn he looked back. A group of robots was after him. However, ahead of him was the end of the corridor, clearly outlined by the light of day. Some instinct gave a new spurt of speed to his tired legs. He had no plan as to how he was going to traverse the large open area between the exit and the Ironduke. He’d have to expose himself to his enemies like a bug on a plank. But his hopes were tied to
the obviously heavy conflict that was going on outside. It was just possible that Rhodan had found a way to work his forces close to the shaft entrance. When he reached the point where he could obtain his first view of the spaceport’s synthetic surface, however, he was jolted by an unpleasant surprise. Around the exit area was a contingent of combat chapeks who were firing with all available weapons at some Terrans. The Earthmen were obviously in retreat.
Desperately, Atlan looked behind him. What should he do?
Ahead of him the true servants of the Regent were waiting to capture him immediately if he should dare to come out. Behind him, more robots were streaming toward him. Panting and wiping the sweat from his brow, he wondered if he had come this far only to give up. "No," he said grimly to himself, "never!"
• • •
Rhodan concentrated all of his attention on the viewscreen. Lt. Hotchkins and his men were putting on a tremendous show but their action was bringing the resistance troops ever closer to the Ironduke. Rhodan hoped that if Atlan were going to show up at all he would do it in proper time.
"Sir!" called Maj. Hunt Krefenbac. "We’re picking up a broadcast from the Regent!" Rhodan left his place in front of the screen and went over to Krefenbac. The tall, lean major added: "Our radio surveillance paid off, sir The Regent is beaming out news bulletins to all parts of the galaxy!"
"Let’s hear what he’s saying," said Rhodan.
Krefenbac activated the proper receiver switch. "... this new situation has arisen," sounded the emotionless voice.
Rhodan leaned closer to listen and silence pervaded the Control Central of the Ironduke, except for the Regent’s incoming broadcast. "In the interests of Empire security, a number of fundamental changes have been made, which are hereby made public to all colonial races and associated worlds of the Greater Imperium. Imperator Gonozal VIII has been removed from his office because of his treasonous attempts to make the Terrans the ruling race not only within our own stellar empire but throughout the entire galaxy. The capture and arrest of Gonozal VIII is now imminent. In order to maintain peace and security, after thorough investigation and testing, the Regent of Arkon has established a new Imperator whose loyalty is above all suspicion. His name is Minterol I. His Eminence has begun immediately with the work of reestablishing the old order inside the empire. All colonies are instructed to immediately deport back to Earth any and all Terrans present in your area for political reasons. All government positions are to be occupied by Arkonides. Terrans are to be denied any help of either a military or economic nature. The first command of the new Imperator is this: All for Arkon—all for our Imperium!" Krefenbac explained: "It’s a repeat broadcast, continuous, with the indication that new bulletins will follow."
"We seem to be playing no small role in the deliberations of the new Imperator," remarked Rhodan sarcastically. "Carba and his backers know only too well that we would do everything possible to return Atlan to his rightful place if we had even the ghost of a chance. They’ll only feel safe when they’ve got us shoved back into our own system..
Rhodan did not deceive himself. Without the backing of Atlan and the total military might of the Greater Imperium, Terra would be forced to make a precautionary withdrawal and to continue the slow buildup of its own power. The current development threw the Solar Imperium years behind in its planning. Rhodan shuddered at the prospect of an Arkonide attack against the young Terran empire, led by Carba. The Regent had always been suspicious of the Terrans and now he had a good reason to move against them.
Jefe Claudrin’s thundering voice broke into his thoughts. "Atlan! There he is!" Rhodan whirled about and looked at the viewscreen. The former Imperator had come out of the shaft and was running straight across the field with more than 60 robots chasing him. The distance between him and the machines was closing fast.
Rhodan only nodded. Everything had been planned out; no further words were necessary. Almost in the same instant the 3 teleporters dematerialized.
• • •
Mular, the commander of the Akon ship, looked sullenly at Sansaro. "Why don’t we move in on them?" he asked angrily. "Do you really believe in that fairytale about the fusion bomb?" The scientist pointed calmly to the viewscreen. "Why should we expose ourselves to unnecessary risk, Commander? You can see for yourself that this handful of Terrans isn’t getting anywhere. The Regent’s robots can take them without even trying."
"I can imagine that Rhodan is also aware of that," said Mular. "Why doesn’t he send in reinforcements when he sees that his troops are not reaching their objective?"
Sansaro smiled, apparently bored. "You’re a good commandant, Mular," he said patronizingly, "but once in awhile you should get acquainted with something other than your ship controls." Mular didn’t seem to be offended by the veiled criticism. "So maybe you have your own theory about that undermanned commando unit?"
"Of course," confirmed Sansaro. "I’m presuming that Rhodan is using this manoeuvre to test the limits of our reserve; he wants to see at what point we’ll become involved. But it will get him nowhere. We’ll just calmly sit here and watch his men get driven back to their ship—and he’ll be just as informed as he was before. In other words, he’ll know absolutely nothing."
"It sounds a little fuzzy to me," commented Mular drily.
Sansaro remained composed. He was an experienced old man who always regarded his assistants as though he were their teacher. "You always have to place yourself in the position of the enemy," he said.
"Then you’ll have no trouble in seeing his intentions."
Mular laughed ironically and nodded toward the viewscreen where Atlan’s sprinting figure had just become visible. "Then put yourself in that one’s shoes!" he suggested.
• • •
Pucky materialized in the midst of the robots who were pursuing Atlan. The machines reacted swiftly but they were too slow for the mouse-beaver. Before they could fire, his telekinetic forces were already at work. The first 4 robots rose from the ground and sailed back to crash with full force against the others. Pucky flashed in a short jump to another spot just as the attackers’ fire caught his previous location in a searing focal point of destruction. At the same time he saw Tako Kakuta materialize at the shaft entrance. He also took time to look around for Tschubai. At that moment the latter appeared within 10 meters of Atlan and simultaneously disabled a robot with a careful shot. Pucky concentrated on the robots which were closest to Atlan and raised them into the air. From a height of 20 meters he let them drop again and they shattered in fragments against the super-hardened surface of the field. An energy beam singed his fur and he had to save himself with another jump. Kakuta produced confusion among the automatons as he teleported swiftly here and there and refused to give them a fixed target. Tschubai stumbled over the remains of a chapek and fell. Atlan paused as he finally became aware of his rescuers. Pucky waved his hands and shouted but he was too far from Atlan for him to hear him above the noise of the fighting.
3 more robots were put out of action by the mouse-beaver but there was such an unbelievable number of them that they almost got in each other’s way. One of them charged Tschubai’s prone figure but Kakuta had seen it and materialized in time to bring the robot under fire.
Tschubai finally regained his feet. "Over here!" he shouted to Atlan. The Arkonide responded at once. Hotchkins and his men opened fire like a whole army and their enthusiastic cries almost drowned out the noise the robots were making.
"Make it fast now!" yelled Tschubai, and he grasped Atlan’s hand. But the automatons were closing in on them. Ignoring the diversionary action of the diminutive Japanese, they charged at Tschubai and Atlan. Pucky was the rescuer at the last moment. With a mighty expenditure of paranormal forces he brought the leading robots to a stop and gave the African a chance to make his jump.
By now the field was aswarm with automatons which were streaming out of the shafts and openings in countless numbers. They were no longer concentrating on the mutants but on the
Ironduke itself.
"Merk out of here, Tako!" cried Pucky in his high-pitched voice, and he dematerialized. The Japanese mutant took one last look at the gleaming confusion of metallic shapes around him. Wondering how he could still be alive, he teleported.
• • •
Mular’s face reddened in anger. "I don’t know how you’re still able to smile in a situation like this," he flared up at Sansaro. "It’s obvious that Rhodan out-smarted us and is calmly bringing his old friend to safety. No matter what, you should have brought the Antis into the action." The Akon waved a hand negligently. "Alright, so I made a miscalculation. Instead of trying to test our patience with his little troop he was doing the opposite: he was hoping we would remain quiet. And that he accomplished. But think it over, Mular. What does the Terran gain actually if he can rescue Atlan from here? So he gets a man without power, a friend without influence, stripped of all military strength. Practically all that’s involved is the live body of a deposed Imperator who can harm us in no way anymore. Rhodan will have to hide his friend because he will still have to fear attempts against him by agents." Sansaro stretched out comfortably in his chair. "My task has been well carried out: Carba has taken over the role of Imperator—all else is of relative unimportance just now. Why should I have risked the lives of the 2 Antis by sending them out to interfere with Rhodan’s mutants?" Mular shook his head sceptically. "I don’t see it that way," he contradicted. "I’d feel better if we had this dangerous Arkonide in our hands. Some day he’ll still be able to make trouble for us. His Terran friends are more pestiferous than insects. They’ll always keep trying to regain their lost territory."