"(novel) (ebook) - Perry Rhodan 0041 - (33) The Giant's Partner" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

"But there hasn't been any attack so far. I've been trying to establish radio communication with the commanding officer-who or whatever might be the commander of this fleet. Perhaps he or it has not yet received the Regent's new orders. It's quite possible in the present confusion."
"But in case they attack..." Thora began and Khrest quickly interrupted her.
"Then we'll defend ourselves, of course. Tiff, what is it?"
The young lieutenant seemed to have awaited this question.
"They've fallen in with us, moving along at the same pace. They remain passive. There can be no question of attack. It's... well, it's rather like a surveillance. What do you make of it?"
"I don't know yet," Khrest answered and established video contact with Col. Freyt on the Ganymede.
"Red alert, Colonel! At the first sign of aggression, open fire with all you have. Erect protective energy shields. In case of emergency don't hesitate to make fullest use of the teleнtransmitter."
"Will do, Khrest."
Two impregnable fortresses were waiting to go into action.
Thora inquired suddenly, "When are we returning to Zalit? We can't go on waiting here indefinitely. There's no way that Rhodan can get in touch with us."
"He has the Mutant Corps and the resistance groups fighting on his side. I'm not worried about him. But I don't like the notion of destroying the Regent's ships. And it does appear..."
"Why don't we ask the Brain?"
Khrest looked at Thora with amazement. Then he slowly nodded his head.
"That's a possibility. Of course!why didn't that occur to me? Tiff, establish communication with the robot brain via hypersender. Thora will help you with it."
This time it took almost 20 minutes till the metal hemisphere became visible on the big screen of the hypercom installation.
The mechanical voice was just as cold and impersonal as during their first conversation. "Contact! Identify yourself!"
"Thora of the Zoltral clan," the Arkonide woman replied testily. "Why are you not abiding by the agreements you made, Regent? Haven't you accorded full freedom of action to Perry Rhodan?"
"Specify your complaint!"
"What complaint?" Thora flashed furiously. "Your fleet has encircled us. Do you insist on getting a taste of our weapon arsenal?"
"You are not under attack. You are merely under surveillance. You are free at any time to change location-which I would suggest you do, by the way. Return to Zalit. Rhodan's mission is completed. The Zarlt is dead."
Thora remained speechless for a few moments, then took a deep breath. "The Zarlt is dead? The rebels have won?"
"The traitors and enemies of the Empire have been punished. The new Zarlt will be proclaimed today; his name is Adm. Zernif, if my data are correct. Rhodan expects your immediate return, Thora of the Zoltral clan. Do not make him wait. I expect a detailed report."
The big screen went dark.
Thora hesitated for a short while before she addressed Khrest: "Victory for Rhodan, Khrest! I'm so happy...!"
Khrest smiled. "Did you expect anything else?" Then he turned to Tiff. "Tiff, calculate the co-ordinates and energy impulses for a transition to Zalit. I'll inform Col. Freyt that the Ganymede is to follow us shortly afterwards."
Tiff set to work.
Khrest's glance rested for a fraction of a moment on Thora's radiant face, then his hand resolutely grasped the controls.








7/ MOMENTOUS MOMENTS
WITH KHREST, PUCKY, REGGIE AND...
PERRY & THORA


The rebels had stormed the palace. The officers of the guard had been taken prisoner. Admiral Zernif had issued orders to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. He had learned from Rhodan what role the Mooffs had played. He hoped to see these officers once again become loyal subjects of the Empire after they had been freed from the hypnotic spell of the alien jellyfish.
The news of the Zarlt's death spread like wildfire. Soon all the troops laid down their arms. The fleet units rushed back to Zalit from all over and placed themselves unconditionally under the command of Adm. Zernif who had been proclaimed the new Zarlt of Zalit by the resistance forces.
Within a few hours peace and order had been restored on Zalit. Zernif had assumed the reign on a provisional basis until he could be officially installed as ruler of Zalit. His first official function was to inform the robot brain on Arkon of the recent events. He did not forget to emphasize the decisive role Rhodan had played during the liberation of Zalit.
Then Zernif received Rhodan and his closest friends.
The Mutant Corps was led into a hall where a feast awaited them. Most of the mutants had not been able to participate during this latest mission, which did not prevent them however from enjoying the fabulous delicacies spread out on the dining tables.
Only Rhodan, Bell, Marshall and Pucky were taken to the Zarlt Zernif.
The old Zalite rose when the friends entered and walked toward them, hands outstretched in greeting. "I don't know how to express my heartfelt thanks, Perry Rhodan. You hail from an unknown section of the Milky Way but you have saved the Arkonide Empire. Though I'm not powerful enough ever to pay our debt to you, I'm sure that the Regent will...
"He's already paid in advance," grinned Bell and pointed over to a window through which a part of the landing field could be seen. A tremendous shadow was just descending softly out of the radiant sky and touched down as lightly as a feather. "The Titan-she is the Empire's gift to Perry Rhodan. A truly princely present."
Rhodan also looked out of the window. He asked Zernif: "Will you send a message of reassurance to the ship? And could you perhaps send for Thora and Khrest and have them brought here?"
Zernif complied with his guest's wishes and had one of his adjutants take care of the matter at once. Then he turned again to his guests. "We still haven't seen the end of our problems. The real instigators of this abortive insurrection against Arkon are the Mooffs. There are enough of them left on our world to cause new trouble."