by C. R. Daems
"That could be very confusing in a battle," Captain Yumas of the Gyrfalcon said. "Someone has to be in charge or—"
"I'm in charge, Captain. We will soon be fighting for the survival of the SAS. If anyone's ego or prejudice is more important than the security of the SAS, then resign. We will be better off without you." He scanned the room, locking eyes with each captain, then took several sips of kaffa. "Let us get back to the real problem—what is our short term strategy? I say short because without more information it's impossible to develop a long term one."
The room remained quiet as everyone scanned the others as if looking for someone to speak.
"Admiral Wattson, I believe we have to continue to engage the Aliens … " Pavao summarized our exchange. It was clear that was what Wattson had already decided, judging from his looks and timely questions. The discussions lasted for several hours. I thought it obvious from the who's in charge comments that my involvement would complicate the discussions, so I remained quiet giving Pavao my input via Thalia and Cethlion.
In the end, it was decided to ignore any planets in the JPU until Plimson could form an alliance. Wattson directed Iglis to analyze each of the quarantined planets to determine the probable size of the Aliens force to quarantine it. That would determine the size of the force we would send to liberate it. The meeting was adjourned for two days. As everyone was leaving, Plimson spoke.
"Reese, Pavao, please stay. I'd like to know the status of the Minerva and the upgrade projects." He remained quiet until Bradshaw closed the door. "That was wise, Nadya, and sneaky. I think your direct involvement would have been disruptive. Getting Pavao to speak for the both of you worked nicely. She isn't the lightening rod you've become."
"I wondered why Reese was so quiet during the discussions," Stenberg said.
"It's very frustrating. I wish I could select the ten officers on active duty who passed the War College With Comment and a few like Reese and Pavao with substantial battle experience, and put them in charge. Of course, that would destroy the seniority system men like Captain Gardner are desperately trying to save at any costs. I can't do that, but I will not allow the SAS to fail because of it."
"I agree, but if you decide it's necessary, I'd suggest you reassign their cruiser back to Eden rather than direct punitive action, which may cause a backlash. I will reassign them to a desk when they arrive and appoint a new captain to return the cruiser back into action."
"Sir, since the Riss are an independent nation, I'm free to make the necessary adjustments on the Riss cruisers?"
"I feel another headache coming on, Reese. As a free nation, of course you're free to take any action you deem appropriate; however, I would hope those actions would not disrupt our MSA."
"Sir, the Riss will support the SAS in anyway Admiral Wattson feels appropriate. My concern is that the Riss cruisers fight to their maximum potential. Pavao commanding the Eirene ensures it will be. I must ensure that the Minerva and the Mayat also do."
"You're not planning on making another Riss-human?" Plimson asked, cautiously.
"Who?" Wattson was quick to ask.
"No. It's not that easy. The Riss were fortunate to have found Pavao. It might take years to find another like her." I smiled at Nance. I'd become fond of her over the years. She felt more like an equal, who I could share my doubts and concerns.
"I'd appreciate you keeping me in the loop. Many in the SAS have not come to terms with Riss-humans or the Riss, and I would not want to do anything to make it worse. But conversely, I want those ugly beasts, you call cruisers, at their best."
* * *
Admiral Wattson scheduled another meeting the next day, with the same captains. I arrived early, fetched a cup of kaffa, and found a seat toward the back. I didn't expect today's meeting to be any friendlier than yesterday and wished I were invisible.
"Attention!" Bradshaw announced, as Wattson, Stenberg, and Zann entered the room.
"At ease," Wattson said and everyone found a seat.
"The goal today is to settle on our next move, since it is unacceptable to do nothing. Does anyone have a suggestion?" An uncomfortable silence followed for several minutes. I wondered if asking his students—in this case captains—to analyze the problem and come up with a solution was a carryover from the War College or his standard approach. Now that I considered it, I saw the logic. If he told us what he thought, it would stop everyone thinking, and he could lose a better solution or an ideal that led to one. It also gave him an insight into each individual, which would be important when deciding on assignments. Eventually, Captain Gardner spoke.
"I don't think there are any clever options. We pick a quarantined planet and send an overwhelming force to clean out anything there. Then we pick out the next… " He banged the table for emphasis. Captain Yumas was quick to agree. The discussion went on for what seemed like two days rather than the actual two hours.
"Sir, I would like to suggest restoring the Asp—"
"The Riss and the Raiders are bedmates. Neither of you can be trusted," Gardner banged the table so hard kaffa splashed from his cup.
"I agree. All of her directives have favored the Raiders, Riss, or the Army. I wouldn't trust her in a battle—" He stopped when I rose.
"Admiral Wattson, it's obvious that Captains Gardner and Yumas do not want to go into battle with the Riss. I'm sure both captains, based on their current positions and time in service, are excellent officers. But based on their attitudes, the Riss cannot trust them to provide us support if we were in trouble—"
"Damn right," Gardner shouted.
"Our presence has become disruptive and is hindering you reaching a solution. Therefore, I'm leaving. When you decide on the SAS's next move, the Riss will be ready, except the Riss will not accept an assignment with either captain Gardner or Yumas.” As I finished, everyone started talking, drowning out whatever Gardner and Yumas were saying.
"That was amazing. When you said we were leaving, I could feel�
�feel—it was the right thing for the Riss. That's not to say I didn't agree with you before you said it."
As we walked, I opened my SID.
"Garrach, get me a line to the Mnemosyne,"
"Yes, ma'am." A minute later. "Commander Jaelle is on channel four."
"Jaelle, send shuttles to the Gyrfalcon and Goshawk. I'm recalling all Riss from those ships." When I looked at the hand holding the SID, it was shaking.
"You don't mess around when you're mad," Nance said. “I'm going to go back to the Eirene and get some rest. I imagine Admiral Wattson will want to see us sooner rather than later."
I heard her laughing as she headed to her shuttle.
"I thought for a while, I would have to shoot Gardner." Terril didn't grin, but I knew it took all of her considerable control not to.
"What about Yumas?" I said, going along with the banter.
"He belonged to Martin. Right, Corporal?”
"Damn straight, Gunny. I was just waiting for him to show his gun."
"Good thing I left when I did."
"Yes, ma'am, There's a lot of paperwork when you shoot an officer," Terril smiled. I pointed to the seat next to me as I sat, and Terril dropped into it. "That was exciting. What do you have planned for tomorrow?"
"The question is what does Wattson have planned for tomorrow."
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Adjustments
The Riss from the Gyrfalcon and Goshawk arrived shortly after I did. Rather than send them to Freeland, I decided to wait until my sure-to-come meeting with Admiral Wattson. The summons came quicker than I had expected.
* * *
"Terril, don't you have duties on the Mnemosyne?" Terril seemed to be my constant companion lately, not that I minded.
"For now, you're the most exciting action on Freeland. Besides tales of your exploits are worth a lot of beers. Tonight should be entertaining. I hope I don't have to shoot the Admiral." Her lips twitched but her eyes held a look of concern.
"Me, too. We need his leadership if we're going to win against the Aliens. War is his element. He's been stagnating at the War College." Wattson seemed to have come alive since the Alien threat had come to light. He knew what needed to be accomplished, was open to alternatives, and encouraged his subordinates to use their creativity. Unlike others, he knew force was never the ideal solution. Bradshaw met us as we exited, dressed as immaculately as ever, but he had dark circles under his eyes and a knotted brow.
"Captain, you're causing the Admiral and me to miss our beauty sleep."
"Maybe I can talk him into another vacation." I grinned. He choked and then started coughing.
"Admirals can be cranky … when they work late." Now he looked concerned. Ironically, I didn't feel worried. I didn't think this was going to be a fun meeting, but the Riss weren't the problem.
"I hear you recalled the Riss from the Gyrfalcon and Goshawk. That will stop the Symath training and mean those two ships will be unable to use the Riss solution. I thought you agreed to mutual support," Plimson said.
"I would imagine if you asked Captain Gardner or Yumas, they would tell you the Riss solution wouldn't work in a real battle," I said, remembering Commanders Verdi and Belercor on the Leopard and their efforts to discredit me.
"That was more of less their comments," Wattson said, his face blank.
"The Riss will honor their commitment to the SAS with or without the MSA," I said looking directly at Plimson. He had earned our support. "For most of our careers, Riss-humans have been subjected to prejudices, which led to attempts to discredit us, mental abuse, and physical attacks. I know we cannot expect everyone on a ship to like, trust, or accept the Riss. But when a Captain is one of them, discipline breaks down and abuses are tolerated and even encouraged. Captains Gardner and Yumas are by their own admission two such captains. I will not leave Riss in such an environment."
"What about the MSA?" Stenberg asked.
"The Riss feel the SAS have broken that agreement, when two of your captains refused to support the Riss in battle. Even so, I have said the Riss are ready for any assignment Admiral Wattson assigns us. My only stipulation was I would not fight alongside captains who were unwilling to honor the MSA."
Stenberg nodded in what I thought was agreement or at least acceptance. Wattson brought my attention back to him.
"Why do you want to make the Asp operational? I assume that means ECM, lasers, and missiles."
"Sir, we are not going to go into a quarantined planet, find the Aliens' cruisers, and destroy them without major losses, if not a total disaster, no matter how big the force."
"Go on," Wattson said, confirming what I had said to Terril. He understood the problem if not the specifics I was referring to.
"The Aliens' spacecraft guarding the planet are not going to be running with their radars and weapons active so we can find them. They are going to be in passive mode and next to impossible to locate. They can wait, until the scout ship, which will certainly be in system leaves and returns with a force two, three or more times ours. Even without a scout, they could maneuver into position and attack when we are least prepared. We may win, but more will die than necessary." I stopped to take a sip of kaffa. "If we return the Asp to full operational capability, we can use it as a decoy. The Mnemosyne and the Eirene will accompany it in stealth mode. I believe the Aliens would attempt to engage it, especially if they felt it was preparing to leave before they could maneuver into position for a surprise attack."
"A decoy is a good idea. Why not a merchant?"
"A merchant would be perfect, but it would be a death sentence to those on board, whereas the Asp would have a fighting chance to survive, especially with Riss supporting it."
"Who would man the Asp?"
"I suggest the clan," I held up my hand before anyone could comment. "With a detail of Scorpions. They won't be necessary but it will make the skeptics feel secure like the Rh on my face."
"Why not navy personnel?" Stenberg asked.
"It will have to be one of your senior captains because it's going to require judgment, since we don't know the Aliens' reaction. And the navy personnel won't be as efficient as the clan, because they aren't familiar with a clan cruiser. So you would be risking a senior captain and crew when it's unnecessary."
"And the clan has a Captain of equal judgment?"
"Yes, Captain Da'Maass. I believe he would be one of those to receive a With Comment at the War College. He's a talented tactician."
"How can we trust him?"
"He's clan, and every clan member knows that any hostile action against the SAS would result in disastrous consequences. They've found cooperating has gotten them many benefits."
"And you think Da'Maass and the clans will be willing to be a decoy?"
"Yes. Da'Maass thrives on challenges. He's a raptor with a broken wing, who longs to fly again." I sat back, having said my piece. Plimson actually laughed.
"Wattson, you now know what a Reese headache feels like."
"I've invited Captain McKnight to listen and give me his opinion. He's a senior captain, who I respect, and will be representative of the majo
rity of senior captains," Wattson said, and nodded to McKnight. I'd bet Wattson's final decision wouldn't be predicated on McKnight's observation, but it would determine how much resistant he would encounter from the other captains.
"I have to agree my first reaction was close to Gardner's, although I'd have let her finish before coming to a conclusion. She's right about needing a distraction and a merchant might not only be a suicide mission, but the Aliens won't react the same to a merchant as a cruiser—especially one shooting back. I'd be a bit nervous about the clan in an operational cruiser, but she has a valid point about the consequences to the clan being a strong deterrent. And Da'Maass has been an excellent project manager. I'd say with a detail of Scorpions, the skeptics among us would be comfortable with the plan." He raised his cup to me and smiled.
"I'll give the captains a chance tomorrow to poke holes in the plan, but I believe it will stand except with minor modifications. Reese, you and Pavao should talk to Da'Maass and set things in motion.
"Captain McKnight would you coordinate with the fleet to ensure the dead, wounded, and necessary rotations are onboard the Goshawk. Captain Gardner will be ferrying them to Eden. Captain Yumas is being reassigned and will accompany Admiral Plimson back to Eden. Commander Vanclief has been promoted to Captain and will replace him as captain of the Gyrfalcon." He looked at me. "That's all for tonight. It has been a long day."
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Asp commissioned
Ni'Shay was there to greet me, when I exited the shuttle.
"Captain Reese, we are all wondering what surprises you have for us today. We no longer panic when you call a meeting without giving us a hint of the agenda. Including Da'Maass makes it even more interesting." He waved me towards the waiting aircar. "You have Da'Maass as nervous as a tree cat in the desert."