Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

Oz?”
    “Not a damned thing. There are shields everywhere. I can’t even pick up something as basic as life signs. Whatever’s going on down there, they don’t want anyone to know about it.”
    “He says no,” said Owen. “Which means we have to go down there in person if we’re to get any new information.”
    “All right,” said Hazel, scowling. “But we go in undercover, stick to the shadows, and keep our heads well down.”
    “I’ve been trying to explain that principle to you for what seems like years,” said Owen. “I’m delighted to see some of my teachings have finally taken root.” “Don’t get smug again,” said Hazel. “I do have a few brain cells of my own. Look, we have one advantage that the Hadenmen don’t. I learned a few things about Brahmin II’s main city while I was working there. Unless these things have changed drastically in the years I’ve been gone, I should be able to sneak us into the main city unnoticed, so we can do a little clandestine spying. Sound good to you?”
    “Sounds like a plan to me,” said Owen. “I’m impressed. Really. Oz, put us into low orbit around Brahmin II, maintaining full power for all our shields.” “Damn right I will,” said the AI. “Get comfortable.
    This could take a while. I’m going to have to very cautiously ease us through the Hadenmen ships surrounding the planet, and hope like hell our shields will hold up at close range. If they don’t, I doubt very much that we’ll get a chance to ask for our money back. Feel free to pray to any gods who might owe you a few favors.” The golden ships filled the viewscreen as the Sunstrider II edged slowly forward, slipping through the cordon like a minnow swimming among whales. The golden ships were vast and
    forbidding, bigger than cities and more dangerous, with enough firepower to back down an Imperial starcruiser, but one by one they slid slowly past, silent and unconcerned, knowing nothing of the slender silver needle slowly threading through the defenses. Finally the last Hadenmen ship fell behind them, and the Sunstrider II moved into a secure low orbit over Brahmin II. Hazel let out a triumphant whoop, and Owen stopped crushing the armrests of his chair with his hands.
    “Well done, Oz,” he said aloud. “Theoretically, I was pretty sure the shields would hold, but obviously I had no way of testing it in advance.” “Wait a minute,” said Hazel. “What exactly made you so sure? Do you know something about this ship that I don’t?”
    Owen smiled just a little condescendingly. “You seem to have forgotten this ship was rebuilt by the Hadenmen. Since we know they incorporated their advanced tech into other parts of the ship, it seemed only logical that they would also have rebuilt the ship’s shields to their own exacting standards. Seems I was right.” “Well, yes and no,” said Oz in his ear. “The shields were powerful enough to hide us from the golden vessels, but the Hadenmen have much more powerful devices dirtside. Their sensors punched right through our shields the moment we emerged inside the protective blockade. Luckily, I was able to back up our shields with a little creative thinking. When you had me take over control of this ship from the original—and I might add, highly inferior—AI that the Hadenmen installed to run things, I was able to access all kinds of interesting information in its memory banks. Using the old Al personality as a mask, I was able to slip unobtrusively into the computer nets down on the planet, and instruct them not to register our presence. The program I’ve set running won’t last forever, but it should last more than long enough for you and Miss Death-on-two-legs to make your investigation below. Feel free to applaud and throw roses.”
    “Well done, Oz,” said Owen. “I didn’t know you could do things like that.” “There’s lots you don’t know about me,” said Oz airily. “I am large. I am magnificent. I can work miracles.”
    “Don’t you start getting cocky too,” said Owen. “Keep monitoring our shields and your program, and let me know the instant there’s any sign they’ve been detected. Now, what’s the situation on our sensors?
    Can you use your computer link to sneak us some information on the planet’s surface?” “Don’t see why not,” said Oz. “Of course, it does increase the probability that someone’s going to notice my program sooner rather than later.” “Tough. I need