Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

edge of meaning, as though Daniel might achieve some important insight if he just studied it long enough. Steel Furies moved silently around the craft, applying unfamiliar instruments to the glistening surface of the ship. “An interesting vessel,” said Jacob. “It appears to have been grown as much as been constructed. Its nature continues to baffle the AIs, despite their best efforts. In particular, the Furies have to be replaced at regular intervals, or unusual forces emanating from the ship destroys them. Sensor readings make no sense. The human scientists abducted along with the alien ship were killed on arrival, and their knowledge of the ship’s secrets distilled from their minds, but they knew
    surprisingly little for certain, for all their efforts. It’s possible the ship was alive at some point, but the Furies have been unable to locate anything resembling a brain. The one thing the AIs are fairly sure of is that the Empire is taking a great risk in using the stardrive without first understanding its operating principles.” Jacob frowned. “The ship and its drive puzzle the AIs. They were sure they’d be able to deduce the basis of the alien tech through sheer logic, but they couldn’t. It’s just too… alien.” “So you do have something in common with Humanity after all,” said Daniel lightly.
    Jacob glared at him and moved on. Daniel shrugged and went after him. Some people just couldn’t take criticism. Their next stop was before a massive steel door set into the side of a huge crystal vault. It was bigger than a starship, and its sides soared up farther than Daniel’s eyes could comfortably follow. Jacob gestured at the door, and a section at eye level turned transparent. He gestured for Daniel to take a look.
    Daniel did so reluctantly, already half sure of what he was going to see. Inside a great crystal chamber, sleeping quietly in individual cradles, were hundreds of thousands of Grendel aliens. The bloodred killing machines the AIs had looted from the ancient Vaults of the Sleepers. Just one of these creatures had been enough to wipe out an entire human exploration team.
    “They’re held in stasis,” said Jacob. “Just waiting to be awakened and unleashed on Humanity. The perfect shock troops. Just turn them loose, point them in the right direction, and then let them get on with it. Released simultaneously on all the colonized worlds, they’ll make a charnel house of the Empire in a matter of days. Then the Furies and the Ghost Warriors will move in on the main population centers, and that will be the end of Humanity.” Daniel tried hard to keep his voice calm as he turned away from the door. “And how do you propose to deal with the Grendels after you’ve won?” “They’ll shut themselves down once they’ve run out of things to kill. They’re only a superior form of weapon, when all is said and done. Traces were found in the original Vaults that led the AIs to believe that the Grendels were originally created by an alien race to be used against some other unknown species. Just another reason why Shub has to be strong, in case either of these alien species turn up again. Another reason to dispose of Humanity. The AIs can’t afford to be distracted.”
    “And the Grendels will make such marvelous warriors,” said a cheerful, booming voice. Daniel looked around sharply, surprised by the first new human voice he’d heard since he came to Shub. And there striding toward him was one of the heroes of the great rebellion, Young Jack Random. He stopped before Daniel, smiled widely, and offered Daniel his hand. He shook it automatically. “Superb killing machines the Grendels,” said Young Jack Random. He was tall and strongly built, wearing golden battle armor chased with silver, and looked every inch the hero. “Can’t help admiring the awful things. All the power of a Ghost Warrior or a Fury, with none of their limitations or frailties. I’ll be leading them into battle. Should undermine human morale no end.”
    “Pardon me if I’m being too personal,” said Daniel. “But didn’t you die during the rebellion?”
    “Ah,” said Young Jack Random, smiling easily. “My body was destroyed, but I live on. The lack of a protective suit here should have been a major clue. I’m a Fury, you see. One of the AIs’ most successful agents. For a time I was right at the heart of rebel planning. Afterward, I would have been right at the heart of the new government. But