by C. R. Daems
* * *
Over the next five weeks, Sheva and I, along with an available Riss, interviewed over six hundred ex-Raiders and hundreds of young Freelanders looking for adventure. We accepted three hundred, looking to create two sixty-person fighter and fifty-five-person scorpion units: approximately two hundred thirty individuals, allowing for seventy dropouts. The process had just been completed when Admirals Plimson and Zhu arrived, accompanied by two SAS squadrons.
* * *
"Good afternoon, Leader Reese. Admiral Zhu and I would like to meet with you this evening for a formal signing of the MSA treaties."
"Welcome to Freeland, Admiral Plimson. I'm available at your convenience."
"Say twenty hundred hours tonight, on the Bateleur."
"Twenty hundred hours tonight," I said.
* * *
"Excited?" Terril asked as we walked toward the shuttle bay. She was again on my security detail and all decked out in her dress uniform: all black except for a red strip running down the leg and a chest full of battle ribbons and medals—including the Distinguished Service Medal—seven red stripes of a Master Gunnery Sergeant on the sleeves, and a red shoulder patch with a Black Scorpion.
"Yes and no. I've been conducting business as if the treaty had already been approved, so in a sense this is somewhat anticlimactic. But, yes, having the signed treaty in hand will be the realization of a dream come true. The Riss will be recognized as a space-going nation with their own planet."
"I don't know about the Riss, but you're moving a bit too fast for the rest of us to keep up. Every day you have something new. We now know firsthand what Admiral Plimson has had to put up with over the years with you. The man is a saint." Terril laughed. I agreed. We were quiet for the rest of the ride. When I exited the shuttle, a female commander stood waiting.
"Welcome aboard the Bateleur, Leader Reese. I'm Commander Simons. If you will follow me, I'll take you and your escort to the Admirals," she said. "I'm surprised no Riss are here to witness the occasion."
"There's one, and she will be recording in streaming vid," I said, pointing to my head. When we arrived, the room had been cleared except for a desk and one chair. Plimson waved me over to a small group where he and Zhu stood.
"Good evening, Admiral Plimson, Admiral Zhu," I said, nodding to each.
"Good evening, Leader Reese," Plimson said, turning toward a short stocky man with thinning red hair. His round face, with its slightly pink complexion, looked friendly. "I'd like to introduce you to Vice Admiral O'Malley. He will be the SAS station commander in charge of coordinating with you for the updates and modifications to our cruisers and maintaining order," Plimson said.
"Nice to meet you, Admiral O'Malley," I said, unconsciously examining his medals.
"No, I've never been a line officer, Leader Reese. My career has been confined to building and repairing ships, so I'm looking forward to this assignment and working with you and the Riss. Don't worry about discipline. I'm used to handling pampered captains."
"As soon as you're settled, I'll give you a tour of Freeland and its facilities, and we can discuss your priorities."
"I'd like that."
"Ladies and gentlemen," Plimson said loudly. "For those who may not know her, this is Leader Reese, who speaks for the Riss Nation. Her words are literally the words of every Riss. A bewildering and unbelievable concept, yet true. Today we recognize their contribution toward fighting the aliens through two Mutual Support Agreements: one between the SAS and the Riss, declaring Freeland as a sovereign planet belonging to the Riss Nation, and one between the UFN and the Riss, establishing a Riss enclave on the planet Dunn." He picked up a beautifully engraved document and laid it on the desk. "It has already been signed by the President of the SAS Council and witnessed. It only requires your signature and witnessing."
I sat and signed the documents, having read a copy earlier in the day. Afterward, Plimson and several others signed as witnesses. Next, Zhu stepped forward with an equally elaborate document, which I signed and which was witnessed. After being introduced to the assembled officers, we adjourned to a large conference room, where dinner was served, and I spent a couple of hours answering questions about the Riss and Freeland. Afterward, Plimson directed Zhu, O'Malley, and me to his office, where wine, kaffa, and tea were available.
"According to the rumors, you have some interesting and controversial projects in the works," Plimson began, but smiled. "I think I've become immune to your surprises, Nadya. I just keep telling my staff and others like O'Malley that I trust you."
"I too trust her. Leader Reese has a tendency to see the future while we all struggle with the present," Zhu said, nodding.
"I'm impressed, Leader Reese," O'Malley said, raising his glass to me. "It reinforces the problem with rumors. They usually contain a small amount of truth and a large amount of bias. The rumors about you run from one extreme to another—mostly on the negative side. Yet, the two most powerful men in the two empires have worked with you and trust you. This should definitely be interesting."
"I'm hoping I've solved the problem of detached units on Riss cruisers. I've always been concerned about replacements, since personnel are not only authorized but also need planet-side leave to maintain readiness. The crews on the Mnemosyne and Eirene have been assigned for going on two years. With your permission, I'd like to form a couple of replacement units for the Ghosts and Scorpions so that we can rotate units every eighteen months, giving their personnel a six month leave."
"That should solve one problem—leave—but create another," Plimson laughed. "Judging by the comments I get from Riss detached units, you're creating a new elite service. I'll bet you could get a couple of thousand volunteers, officers and enlisted, if you were planning on adding more cruisers."
"I think the Riss have reached their capacity for now. I'm planning on dedicating six to SAS, one to UPN, and one to Freeland."
"To ex-Raiders?" O'Malley asked in a surprisingly neutral tone.
"Be assured, Admiral O'Malley, only the Riss can operate a Riss cruiser, and no Riss would help a non-Riss. Like you, I understand human frailties and don't want to see a Riss cruiser used against any nation except in true self-defense or per our mutual support agreements."
"True self-defense?" O'Malley asked.
"Yes. Many believe revenge and preemptive strikes constitute self-defense. The Riss do not."
"You have my permission to recruit for your replacement crews," Plimson said, then looked to Terril. "No offense, Admiral Zhu, but I hope you intend to use SAS detached units and Scorpion security on the Mnemosyne...and what about the two non-SAS cruisers?"
"Admiral Plimson, a Riss-human is part Riss, so even if he or she became unstable, attempted to go rogue, or agreed to cooperate with a mutiny, the Riss would take full control. It has happened before."
"That's a good example, O'Malley. Leader Reese's actions often seem unreasonable until you hear her reasoning and understand the logic behind it," Plimson said.
"You don't have to worry about security on a Riss cruiser with UFN detachments, Admiral Plimson. Whoever has a UFN detached unit will have a Red Dragon detail for security," Zhu said. "What about the...Freeland detachment?"
I laughed. "I'm afraid I haven't seen that far into the future."
* * *
"Who would like to start?" I asked when everyone was seated. It had been a couple of months since the treaty had been approved, and I had begun holding a regular weekly staff meeting which included the Riss-humans.
Commander Byer nodded to me. "Colonel Seng and I have been working on a replacement plan. If we down-size the fighters from fifteen to ten and the Scorpions to sixty, we can form another Ghost and Scorpion unit. And Admiral O'Malley has been very cooperative in helping identify volunteers for a second unit. They are ready for you to interview. Once you approved the second gro
up, we could begin the rotations. The feedback has been good, and the troops are excited over the rotation scheme."
"I think our only concern, which is personal," Seng said looking to Byer, who nodded, "is that the rotations mean that you would wind up on a different ship each time. I know Commander Byer and I would prefer being on the Mnemosyne."
"I too would prefer you on the Mnemosyne," I said, glancing in Terril's direction. "If you can think of a solution, I'd like to hear it. Commander Iglis?"
"First, thank you for allowing me to interview the merchants. I know they are now under Riss control, and you didn't have to. As you requested, I no longer check their logs, but I think they are being every bit as cooperative as before. They know the information goes to you. That being said, nothing much is happening. Now that the war is over, I tend to spend most of my time on rumors—about what you are doing." Iglis laughed. But between Admiral Plimson, Admiral O'Malley, and even Admiral Butler, because you continued to allow me access to the merchants, the rumors are pretty well under control. You have to admit, you make us all nervous." Iglis's face flushed slightly, while receiving nods and snorts of agreement from around the table. "There is something going on in the JPU. The merchants feel it but can't put a finger on it, a general tension that might mean a political shakeup is in progress."
"Commander Byer, if you and Colonel Seng will arrange for the candidates to meet on Freeland, we can complete the certification process. Thank you," I said, letting everyone know the general meeting was over. Everyone left except for the Riss-humans. "Damaass, how is the fighter design coming along?"
"Very well. In fact, we have begun building a prototype. We are using multiple small engines again, as it improves the stealth capability, and that seemed more important than the additional speed." When no one argued, he continued. "We decided on a two-man fighter, pilot and gunner, because the fighter is complex. We created a globe, still unnamed, that gives the fighters much improved visibility, and having a gunner frees the pilot to maneuver and allows the gunner to have more complex weapons and should improve overall accuracy. Hopefully, it will be ready for a demo within a month."
"Elissa, how is the Artio?"
"It's fully operational. The last of the minor problems have been resolved, and the crew are comfortable with their positions."
"And the safeguards?"
"We're in the process of checking them out. My companion Tasmetu and I have reviewed the code and found the safeguards very difficult to spot. Even to someone who knows Symath, the code appears to belong where it is and to have a real function. But to activate the code, you have to understand Symath. The code safeguards allow you to control the system in which they reside, to communicate with other Riss systems, and even to control the cruiser's main system. In a sense, the software in the Riss systems forms a network similar to a web. Tasmetu has been referring to the safeguard codes as Spiders. When someone touches the web, the Spider is activated and performs its function. And depending on how the Spider is activated, it can actually use the network to activate other Spiders. Similar code will be in the Riss fighters."
"I think we need an excuse to ensure all cruisers equipped with Riss technology are scheduled for regular updates, and the Spider triggers need to be things that only a Riss can do. I know I'm being paranoid, but better safe than sorry. Because eventually, humans will learn Symath and be able to read the code."
CHAPTER THREE
Freeland: Invasion
"Nadya, you're not nearly the monster the rumors make out," O'Malley said, relaxing back with a half glass of whiskey I had managed to acquire on Freeland. "Nor are the people of Freeland. One tends to think of them all as Raiders, whereas most are just ordinary citizens. It has been very helpful on many levels, meeting the people and touring the factories."
"Circumstances isolated them, and rumors of them being thieves and murderers fed into their subsequent behavior. If I already think you are a thief, what do you have to lose by being one? I've found the vast majority of Freelanders are happy they are no longer isolated and having to support their planet through raiding."
"But they are isolated now."
"Like most citizens of any given planet. They will live and die on their planet of birth. Not everyone wants to travel to other planets or live on a ship."
"When you look at it that way, I see your point. I would think most of us in the military would find that hard to believe." He laughed. "What about the Riss?"
"A nagging question, Liam," I said, using his first name. Over the past few months, we had developed a good working relationship and begun using first names when in private. "In an effort to get them recognized as a sovereign species, I've dragged them into our human obsession with killing and wars. I believe they would be quite satisfied to be on a planet like Freeland, free to be Riss."
"Thalia, I presume?" Liam asked, smiling.
"Yes. She has pointed out that intelligent species cannot limit their quest for knowledge. So while they would be content at first to live on a planet, eventually they would have to explore space."
My System Interface Device (SID) lit with an emergency override, and r-Galene's face appeared. I clicked on hologram, and a 3D image of him blossomed to life.
**Leader. Multiple ships exiting wave. JPU signatures.** His voice box spoke, translating his signing.
"Number?"
**Groups of ten. Third group exiting now.**
"What do you think, Nadya?"
**Fourth group exiting.**
"Human madness, Liam. We are being invaded. R-Galene, connect to the Silver Harpy on channel one."
**Connected.**
Captain Keegan's face appeared, and I handed my SID to Liam as I stood and headed for the door with Liam following.
"Captain, as station commander, I'm declaring Priority Red One."
"Yes, sir. Priority Red One." Keegan turned and began shouting orders, and I could hear the klaxons in the background as the Harpy prepared for Battle Stations.
"Captains, we have multiple JPU cruisers entering Freeland space. Declare Battle Stations, but remain in stealth mode. You should each position your cruiser close to one of the SAS cruisers and await orders." O'Malley and I sat watching the new Visual Tracking Hologram (VTH) in the center of the Bridge as tags continued to appear. At present, the tags totaled over a hundred, and the count continued to mount.
"What do you think, Nadya?"
"Human madness."
"Madness?"
"Power. Freeland could help the JPU create the dominant navy in the three empires," I said almost to myself as the last tags JL141, Lights, and JH16, Heavies, appeared. The tags slowly spread out into three long lines, began decelerating, and continued blinking, indicating their weapon systems were on-line.
"Quiet," O'Malley shouted, jarring me back to the monitors which now had Sheva, Jaelle and Elissa on one, Captain Keegan another, and nineteen faces on a third monitor, each in a separate box. "Captain Keegan, I leave it to you to pull our ships into a battle line around you while we await their demands." Slowly, the nineteen faces disappeared from the monitor. "Any suggestions, Leader Reese? This is more Captain Keegan's and your area of expertise."
"I'm maneuvering the Mnemosyne closer to the Harpy. Nothing else to do but wait.
But I think they will let you leave."
"Why?"
"Destroying the SAS ships would be an act of war, and I doubt they are ready today. They are here to acquire the advantages the Riss technology will provide them. Besides, they don't know the upgrade status of the ships currently in Freeland space, and that could result in disproportional losses to their current fleet.
A dark-skinned, narrow-faced man appeared. He smiled. "I'm Fleet Admiral Neifeh. The SAS and the UFN admit Freeland is not in their empire's space, rightfully so. Freeland has always been in JPU space, and by order of the Jahaba Supreme Council, I am here to officially claim Freeland as part of the JPU Empire. I would hope the SAS ships in Freeland space would recognize our legitimate claim and leave, since you are here without our permission. I will give you twenty-four hours to collect your people and equipment. Any ships remaining after that time will be confiscated or destroyed if they choose to resist. The Riss and their ships must remain, since they are citizens of Freeland."
"Well, Leader Reese, what do you want to do?" O'Malley asked. I had a feeling he was thinking of the MSA with the Riss.
"You have no option but to leave." I held up my hand to stop his response. "The Riss are not suicidal, nor do we wish you to be. No matter how bravely you fight or the amount of casualties you inflict on the JPU fleet, you will lose—ten thousand men and women's lives. And that will necessitate the SAS going to war before they are ready. Not only ten thousand here, but tens of thousands more than necessary, because the SAS isn't ready for a war with the JPU after its losses against the aliens."
"What about the MSA?"
"Tell Admirals Plimson and Zhu I am not invoking the MSA for now, nor do I wish for the SAS or UFN to do so unilaterally. "
"But if they gain control of the Riss technology, it could be worse for us a year or two later."