"002 The Third Power" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Rhodan)

Federation considers the intended establishment of a Western base in our
territory to be in blatant defiance of all previous agreements. There can be
no doubt that this was not the crash landing of an alleged moon rocket. The
crew has rejected a rescue unit and deployed a new device which renders human
beings weightless. Unless your government issues a command for this military
base to surrender itself, undamaged, at once, it will be destroyed by the
division of our army that has surrounded it. We will give you two hours.Т

"Well, these are the two communiquщs. What do you have to say to that, General
Pounder?"
The whole face of the Director of the Space Explorations Centre lit up with
radiant excitement. "Thank heaven the Stardust managed to land undamaged! Damn
good luck! Rhodan and his men are alive. And weТve reached the moon. We were the
first to land on the moon. Magnificent!"
"Very gratifying," commented the Press Secretary, "but at the moment IТm far
more interested in your opinion with regard to the Asiatic communiquщ. What does
it mean, a weapon that nullifies gravity? Was there equipment on board the
Stardust of which we have not been informed?"
"Nonsense. Nullification of gravity! We have conducted experiments in that area,
but they remain unsuccessful. The Asiatics are trying to bluff you. They only
want to let the Stardust vanish, thatТs all."
Mercant interrupted. "Do you have any confirmation that the moonship landed
without damage?"
"None," replied the Press Secretary. "If we did, it would probably have been
through your office, Mercant. WeТve informed Peking that we are unfortunately
not in communication with the Stardust and that we therefore cannot intervene.
The ridiculous assertion that the lunar rocket is an American military base has
been sharply denied. So far we have received no reply. Wait a moment! Peking
is calling right now. Hold on, please. IТll arrange for you to listen in."
The face of the Press Secretary disappeared from sight, and although the screen
remained blank, Pounder and Mercant could understand every word spoken in the
room some 2,500 miles away. Unintentionally, they became witnesses to the
beginning of a development that could very well mean the end of the world,
unless some miracle happened.
"Washington speaking. We are waiting, Peking. Over."
"Peking speaking. You have not complied with our request. Your base in the Gobi
Desert has likewise refused to permit an inspection, whereupon a division under
the direct command of Marshal Roon was given the order to destroy it. Although
you are undoubtedly very well informed about what happened, we still wish to
describe briefly the events that followed.
"Our tanks advanced and about one and a half miles from the landing site
encountered an invisible obstacle. Following the perimeter of this transparent
wall, we found that it extended in a circle around the Stardust, enclosing an
area a bit in excess of seven square miles. A certain Rhodan refers to this
circle as the Сterritorial boundaries of a new and neutral powerТ Our tanks
withdrew and opened fire on the base. Our shells detonated far from their goal,
as if the invisible wall also extended upward, enclosing the grounded rocket
like a protective bell. Our scientific advisors are of the opinion that the base
is surrounded by a force field. Thus, the base may be unconquerable. We wish to
point out, first of all, that we consider the presence of the Stardust a threat