by C. R. Daems
“Good. While I’m deciding, Commander Wang would like to speak with you. Commander Panella, my XO, will contact you when I’ve decided. Dismissed.” He returned my salute and I left.
I had studied the ship’s specifications prior to coming aboard and found most of the changes had been to accommodate new and upgraded equipment. Wang’s unit resided in the same area as on the Tiger. I had an itchy feeling as I walked down the familiar corridor to the security checkpoint, half expecting the ghosts of Blackwell and Owin to appear with their stun sticks. When I reached the end of the corridor, two black berets stood guard. I didn’t recognize either.
“ID, Ma’am.” He took my ID, scanned it with his SID, and returned it after reviewing the results. Giving me a strange look, he stepped aside. “Ma’am.”
The first person I met was a tall, average-looking lieutenant. His brown hair was combed straight back, straight nose, brown eyes, and light brown complexion. He was an ideal spook, since he wouldn’t stand out or be remembered.
“Can I help you, Ma’am,” he asked hesitantly. He’d seen the young waif-like woman before he noticed my rank. I didn’t blame him. I’m too young to be a ma’am or a lieutenant commander, and my size didn’t help the image.
“Lieutenant?”
“Lieutenant Gaffey, Ma’am.”
“I’m Lieutenant Commander Reese here to see Commander Wang, at her request. I would appreciate it if you would let her know I’m here.” This lieutenant commander business was going to take some getting used to. I had to admit my new quarters were easy to get used to. Large enough for two, a small pull-down desk with a padded leather-like chair, large monitor to plug my SID into, enough wall space for a few pictures, and a small recessed area to make kaffa.
“Follow me, Commander,” he said as he led me to her office, which was located in the same area as on the Tiger. He knocked, waited for “enter” before he opened the door part way.
“Commander Wang, there is a Lieutenant Commander Reese here to see you.”
“Have her come in, Gaffey.”
After Gaffey closed the door, I braced to attention, and saluted. Although looking straight ahead, I did notice the large scar on her face and a patch over one eye. My heart bled for her. I’d heard that those who escaped in the life pods hadn’t been recovered for twenty days. They had only minor medical supplies in the shuttle and little food, which had run out after twelve days.
“Oh, sit down, Reese. You’re a lieutenant commander now. We can dispense with the formalities, and I’m fine—better than hundreds of others.” She looked away for what seemed an eternity. When she turned back, her eye was misty. “Still haven’t gotten used to being a lieutenant commander, have you?”
“Thalia has but I haven’t. I’m too small, too young, and look even younger.”
“A change of responsibility always requires some time to adjust. I’ve no doubt you’ll do well, if you can keep your nose out of the equipment.” I noticed a slight twinge of pain when she laughed. “I tried to get you assigned to Intelligence permanently but Vice Admiral Zann rejected the idea. She said you would be more useful as a Captain. I can’t say I disagree. I have, however, convinced the Captain to give me some of your time. Told him you work sixteen hours a day and would be bored otherwise.”
I sat in shock as she took a few sips of her kaffa.
Captain?
A laugh rippled through me. She was right. Unless the ship blew up, I could live for another two hundred years or more.
“Well, Reese, now that you’re a lieutenant commander, I expect you to find us the raiders quickly. We have a debt to collect for our friends.” She called Gaffey and explained that I would be consulting on finding the raiders, and he and his people were to provide me with whatever help I requested. That got me a strange look but no questions.
* * * *
Back in my quarters, I sat pondering the problem of finding the raiders. Based on the summary Wang had given me, the raiders had eventually deduced we’d uncovered their connection to the merchant ship, Compton. Once they’d determined that, they could predict where the Tiger would be based on where the Compton had stopped. Using that knowledge, they’d ambushed the Tiger and the Compton had subsequently disappeared.
Wang assumed the Compton had been renamed and diverted to the United Free Nations (UFN) or the Johaba Peoples Union (JPU) space. Some new merchant ship might or might not have replaced it. I wondered if the same beautiful, golden-haired woman still collected information for the raiders. If we could figure out the method they were currently using to collect their information, we could find them. Until then, all we could do was wait for them to strike again—helpless to prevent the destruction of thousands of lives—and hope that provided the answer. I sat deep in thought when my SID lit up and the XO’s face appeared. Since I was dressed, I switched on the vid.
“Reese, I’m Commander Panella, the XO. I’d like to see you in the Captain’s conference when it’s convenient.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll be up immediately.” The XO sat at the right hand of God and at your convenience meant immediately unless you were in a Rejuv unit—then you could delay long enough to get dressed. I straightened my clothes and hustled to the conference room. With a new ship and new people, I wanted to make the best impression I could. As Thalia frequently reminded me, one person, one day at a time. The XO arrived as I was about to knock. After a long look, she waved me into the conference room.
“Reese, the Commander passed the buck to me, which presents me with several problems. None of which are your doing,” she said while continuing to stare at me. I got the impression she felt it was my fault and I should apologize.
“Most officers join a ship with one or two specialties. It’s easy to pick one to put him in, or in special cases, to transition him into another. It’s not ideal but can’t always be avoided. I’m told you’re qualified in the majority of specialties. If you were a lieutenant, I could use you as one of the department’s second in command. I can’t put you in charge of one of the departments because the current officers outrank you. A similar situation exists on the Bridge. The positions are filled by senior officers and their assistants outrank you; however, my Navigation and Weapons officers have read your personal file and are extremely interested in talking to you about those formulae. Uchida and Kollar gave you credit for the work and said they had loaded the formulae into the Tiger’s system. I understand that they had been effectively used in the battles in Lords Landing and Tamerland. They were, however, lost with the Tiger. We hoped you may be able to recreate them.
“And Commander Wang wants some of your time, or a lot, depending on which day I speak to her. In summary, lots of people want some of your time, but there is no convenient position where I can assign you. Complicating matters, Captain Wuffraat’s staff, including me, aren’t sure who or what you are. Do you see my problem?” She leaned forward, waiting for me to say something. It was clear everyone was nervous. The question was whether the Riss-human project made them nervous or something else caused the problem. If Wuffraat told the staff of his meeting with Admiral Plimson, they may think I expected special privileges. If that were the case, I needed to make sure everyone knew I was just a junior lieutenant commander, who would do whatever my superiors wanted. If it was the Riss-human concept, I should address it as I did at Hephaestus.
“Ma’am, I don’t want to give the impression that I expect or want special consideration. I’m a junior lieutenant commander and willing to do whatever you and the Captain want.”
; “I understand,” she said but her eyes didn’t agree.
“I know from previous experience that I’ll be a distraction because I’m alien to everyone here. At Hephaestus, I found that talking about it helped to reduce the ambiguity. With the Captain’s approval, I would like to conduct an hour or two seminar about Riss, Riss-humans, and me. I’m not dangerous.” I paused, waiting her reaction.
“You might not be, but everyone seems to think so. I’ll check with the Captain. I doubt he’ll have a problem. Colonel Weller thought your classes had very positive results. What else?”
“I usually work twelve hours or more a day; therefore, unless someone objects, I should be able to satisfy Commander Wang’s requirements when I’m not on duty. And as for the Navigational and Weapon’s formulae, that isn’t a problem. Thalia has a perfect memory. I hope this helps, Ma’am.”
“Thalia is your…Riss?”
“Yes, Ma’am. It’s a new and strange concept. I’ve found that once a person understands it, they are better able to deal with it. They may still think the concept is disgusting or hate me, but they’ll understand why.”
“An interesting observation, Reese. I’ll talk with the Captain and others involved and let you know as soon as a decision is reached. Until then you are off duty.”
Chapter 3
The Clan Baptiste’s rendezvous location, T4c28b31, was a Red Dwarf star system with five solar planets. None of the five were inhabitable although one, T3c, third planet from the sun, named Camelia, had the potential to support life. Currently, six starships orbited Camelia: three merchant ships—the Compton, Vancil, and the Horace—and five ships of war—the Heavy cruisers Puff Adder and Sand Viper, and the Light cruisers Mamba, Fer-De-Lance, and Taipan. Clan Baptiste elders considered the situation in the SAS empire serious. They were bringing in less money than the cost of doing business. The bulk of their revenue had always come from raiding. Recently, however, their spies, acting as merchants, were bringing in more credits than the clan’s raiders. And the combined total from the two activities was inadequate to support the building of warships they felt necessary for the clan’s protection—in the event of an accidental discovery and subsequent attack from one of the three empires. Although the chances of discovery were remote, the threat existed.
Eight captains and three women spies sat around the conference room table in the Puff Adder. The onyx-like top was filled with platters of leftover food, dirty plates, and glasses filled with an assortment of wines and liqueurs. If one didn’t know better, the tabletop, fawn-colored imitation-leather chairs, and light-tan wood paneling would have suggested a planetside office. Toma Ka’Baako, the Vancil’s Captain, interrupted the conversations going on around the table when he tapped his knife on the crystal decanter in front of him and stood. When everyone turned in his direction, he looked towards Rares, the Captain of the merchant ship Compton.
“Rares, the Elders have decided that you and your granddaughter, Angela, are no longer viable in the SAS. As you are aware, they managed to discover the Compton’s connection to the raids on Corona, Saipha, and Lingwood, and consequently set a successful trap on Lords Landing—an expensive one. Although we heavily damaged one of their new Hunter-class cruisers, it cost us two Light cruisers we can ill afford to lose. As a result, they have decided to move you to the UPN system.” Ka’Baako displayed no discernable emotion while talking. “Neither you nor Angela are being blamed for the events.”
Angela Ja’Oyrat turned toward the two other women sitting on the other side of the table. The contrast between Angela and the other two women was dramatic. Where Angela was young and beautiful, Raina ba’Tasuo and Dione Ka’Baako were rough-looking women in their thirties. Raina was a tall muscular woman with reddish hair, a long narrow face with thin lips, and brown eyes of steel. Dione was a half a head shorter, stocky, straight dark-brown hair, a square tanned face, and blue eyes. But where their physical contrast was dramatic, they were identical triplets when it came to their ideology and willingness to die to protect Clan Baptiste.
“That damn Nadya Reese is to blame. I think she’s been lucky, but she’s no fool. She’s somehow avoided three attempts on her life and helped ascertain the Compton’s connection to the clan’s raiders.” Angela’s eyes burned with rage. “I leave you with one bit of advice—kill her. She’ll continue to be a threat, while she lives. If nothing else, kill her for the trouble she’s caused the clan.”
Raina and Dione nodded in acknowledgement.
“Yes, Angela, the Elders agree with you. We’ve been directed to ensure that Lieutenant Commander Reese is rewarded for her interest in the clan. They have placed a reward of a hundred and twenty-five thousand credits for her dead and two hundred and fifty thousand alive,” Dione said with a thin-lipped grin. “We are well motivated. You say three attempts failed; why?”
“Reese is like the proverbial cat. She has nine lives. When I finally determined Reese might be part of our bad luck, I contacted our agent on the Tiger. He successfully gained access to her quarters and while she slept activated a canister of cyanogen chloride. The damn woman survived.”
“How?” Dione asked, frowning in disbelief. Raina stared at Angela with eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“He believes it had something to do with her Riss parasite. Although she remained in the room with the gas for several hours, she was alive when she arrived at the medical facility. From what he could ascertain from the medical staff, she received no medical treatment. Apparently, her Riss did something to prevent her inhaling the gas and subsequently repaired what little damage she initially sustained.
“Our agent then informed me that the Tiger’s next stop would be Sparrow’s Nest. I contacted one of our planet-side agents and arranged for an ambush. He put together a team of eight men, who went armed with military grade weapons. They managed to separate Reese from her two bodyguards, but that proved to be a mistake. Although they wounded her, they couldn’t kill her before one of her bodyguards got back to the ship. They sent three shuttles full of Red Beret, Wasps, to rescue her.”
“She does have nine lives.” Raina shook her head in disbelief.
“Or our agents are incompetent,” Dione added.
“Our agent also paid two Black Beret, Scorpions who hated Reese to kill her. They caught her in an empty corridor with Buzz sticks. She killed both.”
“Maybe her Riss is a dybbuk.” Raina shuddered. “A demon, controlling her body.”
“I don’t envy you the task, but she and her demon must be killed if she can’t be captured. Personally, I’d prefer dead.” In a rare fit of anger, Angela banged the table with her fist. Her face twisted in rage, teeth clenched, and eyes filled with hate. Before Angela could say anything else, Toma Ka’Baako rose, gaining everyone’s attention.
“The Vancil and the Horace will conduct business in different sectors of the SAS sphere of influence. Raina and Dione will collect target information. Because of the possible discovery of Angela’s connection to the raiders, the Elders felt that women who appeared to be members of the crew would be less conspicuous and better able to collect information without raising suspicion. At least one of the nest’s cruisers will rendezvous with the Vancil in five months from today at 71B271C in the Darkov system, and the Horace in nine months at AN54Y93 in the Oracle system. Future contact will be determined based on circumstances at that time. In between meetings, the nest is free to hunt as you see fit.
“The elders have decided the Puff Adder will return to Freeland and that Captain Sa’Velte will lead the nest.”
“Why? Lord’s Landing—” Anton ja’Tuva began, but stopped when Ka’Baako raised his hand.
“The elders are not blaming you for the losses at Lord’s Landing or Tamerland. And they’re pleased you were able to turn the Compton’s discovery into an effective counter trap. The destruction of the Tiger was satisfying, if not profitable. However, they feel you and your crew are due for a rest, and you have valuable information that potentially affec
ts the design of our new cruisers and tactics in future engagements with the SAS.” Ka’Baako locked eyes with Anton. “The decision isn’t open for discussion. The Elders have decided.” He turned toward Sa’Velte.
“Now that the nest includes a Heavy and three Light cruisers, you should be able to overwhelm any stray SAS cruisers you encounter. Although the elders have heard an abbreviated action report of the encounters at Lords Landing and Ruchild, I’m sure everyone here would be interested.”
Anton nodded. “The raid on Lords Landing succeeded. The Tamerland cruiser, the Ocelot, escorting the merchant ship Laughing Lady, had departed the area by the time we arrived, just as Angela had predicted. However, after the Ocelot departed, the Bedwyr hijacked the merchant’s ship during the transfer of weapons to the planet. We sent a boarding team, but the fanatics not only fought to the last man, they blew up the engine room, killing the entire team. When we landed, we were in a bad mood and destroyed the city and captured a bunch of women and young men, who we intended to sell in the UPN. The slaves and what was left of the weapons shipment were transferred to the Puff Adder.
“We departed before the Cobra and the SeaSnake, which stayed behind, looking for additional loot.” Anton paused, his eyes downcast in thought. Before continuing, he took another sip of wine. “The Tiger arrived shortly afterward and intercepted the Cobra and SeaSnake as they were leaving Lords Landing. I listened as the fight raged on. The Tiger had more throw weight than our Light cruisers, but it had to be divided between two, whereas our cruisers could focus their missiles against the one target. The Tiger’s ECM proved better than ours, and they scored slightly more total hits. But they were divided between two ships.