"Chalker, Jack L - Rings 3 - Warriors Of The Storm" - читать интересную книгу автора (Chalker Jack L)

Jack L. Chalker - WARRIORS OF THE STORMWARRIORS OF THE STORM

Copyright © 1987 by Jack L. Chalker
e-book ver. 1.0

For Edward Elmer Smith, Ph.D.,
who first took as Out There...
Thanks, Doc!


PROLOGUE: THE PRICE OF SUCCESS


GENERAL WHARFEN HAD JUST COMPLETED HIS MORNING PRAYERS and was in his
prebreakfast meditative state when an aide presumptuously entered the room,
stood, and bowed slightly at attention.
The general sat there in the lotus position, then suddenly raised his head, and
those large, black eyes opened in slow and dramatic fashion. The aide was
quaking with fear and exuding respect and apology, but he stood his ground.
The general did not immediately speak; he thought first, which was why he was
the general. Clearly the aide knew what intruding would mean, and he was
extremely uncomfortable in doing so. Therefore, he was here because something
terrified him more than the general's wrath. The general was the highest ranking
officer in the entire System Peacekeeping Forces, Chief of Staff and above even
the fleet admirals. So, the general did not ask why he had been disturbed.
"Who?" he asked softly.
"A thousand pardons, sir. I would not -- "
"Enough! Snivel later on your own time if you have any left! Answer my
question!"
"A Val, sir. With the highest possible code."
The general sighed, untangled himself, and slowly rose. "Very well. Ten minutes
in my office. I assume I am allowed time to properly dress."
"Y-yes, sir. I will inform it. Permission to leave, sir!"
"Go." He got up and was at his dresser before the aide had managed to back out
and close the door. The general was entitled to a valet, but he never used one
within his personal quarters. Clean, press, and prepare, fine -- but there was a
certain level of privacy he would not surrender.
The general was a perfect specimen of humanity. He was, in fact, more than
human, and he knew it. He, and all the forces under his command, had been
genetically engineered and bred to be superior. Even the lowliest soldier, male
or female, was a fighting machine who could not only accomplish great physical
feats but was also of the highest intellect. They were born, bred, raised, and
trained to be soldiers, absolutely dedicated, absolutely committed, and
absolutely obedient -- even he.
But, the fact was, he still didn't like the damned machines and Vals in
particular. They were, for all their massive design and inhuman appearance, far
too human inside, and yet they were faster, stronger and possibly smarter than
any human could ever be, which was why he disliked them. When one is as perfect
as humanity could be, one does not like to look at someone, or something, that
is even slightly better.