Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession (12 page)

 
"That’s an impressive list of
requirements. I understand the war experience, but I’m not sure I understand
the rest. "

 
"How would you like to share your
mind with someone else? " I asked.

Zhu was quiet for a long time.

Xun's eyes grew wide for a brief second.

 
"Yes, I understand now. Is it
difficult? "

 
"No. The Riss are a precious gift. I
would want to die if we were separated. "

 
"Interesting. How will my captains
qualify for a Riss to be assigned to them? " He smiled.
 
"I noticed your comment about
sharing Symath but not the Riss with the JPU. I would imagine therefore that
Symath is useless without the Riss. "

 
"It takes years to learn Symath;
therefore, a Riss tutor is necessary in the beginning and during engagements.
Eventually, their presence wouldn’t be necessary. "

 
"And all the Riss technology
requires Symath? "

 
"Most of it, " I said.

Zhu laughed.
 
"And the requirements for the UFN to
qualify? "

 
"I have insisted a cruiser be Riss
certified. That means the navigator, weapon’s officer, XO, and captain are Riss
certified. This requirement applies to the SAS as well as the UFN. "

 
"What is required to be… Riss
certified? "

 
"Successful completion of a class
where the candidates are exposed to the Riss and Symath. Many fear, dislike, or
are repulsed by the Riss, and an equal number are incapable of grasping the
mathematics involved. The classes are designed to
determine
those who
admire
the Riss and
are capable of learning the math. "

 
"That is reasonable. I think our
first order of business, even as we develop a joint strategy, is to
develop
a plan for sharing the Riss technology… and Riss. I’ll contact Admiral Wattson
for a meeting. "

* * *

Wattson contacted me several hours
later, wanting to see me.

I suggested my office.

After he retrieved a cup of kaffa, he
sat staring at me.
 
"We have a
problem, " he began.
 
"We
need to share our technology with the UFN, if they are to be an effective
partner. But how? I would prefer not to bring his ships to Freeland, and I
don’t want to establish a second Freeland on an SAS base because of the
possibility of the Aliens finding it. Besides, I want you on Freeland, not
elsewhere. "

 
"Are you going to direct the SAS
strategy from Freeland? " I asked, realizing Wattson wanted me to figure
out a solution.

A picture of
Wattson sitting on a platform with a jeweled crown on his head.

I laughed, which caused Wattson to
frown.

 
"What’s so funny, Reese? This isn’t
a laughing matter. "

 
"Thalia just called you
high-Commander
. Whenever I think a
problem is too difficult and whine about it being impossible or difficult, she
reminds me I’m high-Riss. Her way of saying, ‘Nothing is
impossible
or difficult
for a high-Riss.’ "

After a few seconds, Wattson laughed.
 
"She's right. I’m whining. Like when
you need reminding you’re high-Riss, I'm trying to avoid doing what I should.
" He nodded.
 
"Thank
Thalia. Zhu, you, and I need to get together and develop a solution. Let’s wait
until we drop off Salazan. "

* * *

stealth mode.>

The emergency override message went out
over SIDs, and red lights flashed in the corridors. I was being cautious since
no one could be sure where the Aliens would show up next and with what force.
We detected nothing when we exited the Wave.

Minerva
.>

Damaass's face appeared on the monitor.
He was smiling.
 
"Are you here
to join the party? "

 
"Aliens? "

 
"Yes. They have three cruisers in the
system and the standard scout. They already destroyed the Comstat and a
merchant that tried to leave, and they’ve given the residents four hours to
clear the space station. What do you want to do, Nadya? "

 
"Leave. The people I’m carrying are
too important to risk, playing hero. Let’s try Echo. Avoid the
scout
on the way
out. "

 
"Yes, Leader. I'd like to join the
party, but know you’re right. See you in Echo. "

Wave vector on monitor.>

Iglis.>

My SIDs screen split, and their faces
appeared.

 
"The
Minerva
has informed me
that three Alien cruisers are in the system. I do not want to risk the lives of
our guests, so we're leaving for Echo. Estimated time is two days. Status is
returned to Standby. Maintain Ship Alert. " When no one had a question, I
cut the connection.

 
"Terril, you hungry? "

 
"Yes, I’m losing weight following
you around. "

 
"Let’s go eat then, " I said,
exiting the Bridge and heading for the common dining bay.

The guards in front of sections and at the
intersections appeared extra alert seeing their Gunny, nodding or giving me a
quiet,
ma’am
. The dining
bay
was
relatively
full
when we
arrived. Wattson and Stenberg sat with Zhu and Xun. Salazan and Nelem
sat
together at
another table.

When Salazan saw me, he smiled.
 
"Well, Leader Reese. I understand
the
Medusa
killer is running from
three Alien cruisers. Proves you didn’t kill that
Medusa
, and that you're the liar and coward I said you were—
"

As the word
coward
left his mouth, personnel around the dining hall rose, and
the volume of noise increased.

I raised my hands quickly, which had the
desired effect.

Everyone froze,
and
the
conversations stopped.

 
"Admiral Salazan is our guest and
entitled to his opinion. But you know and I know, " I paused and tried to
make eye contact with everyone,
 
"that you, the men and women and
Riss on the
Mnemosyne
,
Eirene
, and
Minerva,
are the meanest, baddest fighting elite in the galaxy—
" I had to wait for the cheering to stop.
 
"We have nothing to prove to anyone.
" I continued walking up to the serving
line
as everyone began returning to their
tables, laughing and joking.

Salazan looked pale and Nelem nervous
for the first time.

Image of a
huge head on a tiny body.

 
"Nice speech,
Leader,
" Terril said, leaning
close as we filled our plates.
 
"Although it would have been
interesting to see what would have happened if you had said nothing. I think my
orders say we are authorized to
shoot
anyone who doesn’t like you. "

Halfway through my stew, Wattson and Zhu
approached. I waved them to sit.

 
"I understand we are heading for
Echo, " Wattson said.

 
"We can’t arrange for transportation
in All Flags. The Comstat is down, and Echo is the next closest system. "

Zhu smiled.
 
"Thank you, for your concern for
Admiral Wattson and my life. Our deaths would have disastrous consequences. Not
that I think we would be in danger on this ship. But… "

 
"That’s true. Plus, there was no
reason to engage the Aliens here and now. " Wattson looked to Zhu.
 
"We have two days to Echo. I think
you, Leader Reese, and I should see if we can work out how we are going to
transfer the Riss technology to you, and perhaps determine if you have
something we can use. " Wattson smiled.

Zhu nodded.

* * *

 
"Terril, what’ve Salazan and Nelem
been doing? "

 
"Mostly staying in Salazan’s cabin
since Nelem has discovered the Scorpions aren’t going to let him wander
wherever he wants. "

 
"I’ll be glad to get him off the
Mnemosyne
.
In a way, I’m glad he’s not joining the Alliance. I believe he would have been
disruptive and not cooperative in implementing any strategy he didn’t come up
with, but I feel sorry for his people. He still has to fight the Aliens since
they aren’t going to ignore the JPU, and without Riss technology, his losses
are going to be more severe. "

 
"Did you hear that Xun has offered
to have a match with me? "

 
"No. When? What are the rules?
"

 
"After your meeting with Zhu and
Wattson tonight. No rules and no referee, just an agreement to stop if the
other does. "

 
"I would imagine the entire ship
will be there to watch. I think it’s Zhu’s idea. "

 
"Why? "

 
"Xun is like you. You may have liked
to test Si’jin against Shuzen but would not have asked without checking with
me. I think it’s Zhu’s first step towards an Alliance—a friendly contest,
sharing her personal guard’s martial skills. Xun did not suggest it. "

 
"You’re right, of course, on both
accounts. I would have loved to test myself against one of the UFN's elite
guards. And she would never volunteer to demonstrate her skills. " Terril
stood quietly thinking.
 
"That
does change the contest a bit—a demonstration of skills. "

* * *

 
"My understanding of our Alliance is
the SAS and UFN will share technology and information, although it may not be a
fair trade, " Zhu said, sitting back with a cup of a hot liquid called
Khai. He had poured me a cup, which I rather liked.

 
"Yes, we must trust each other or
perhaps aid the Aliens in grounding humans forever. "

 
"Yes, that is why it is best Salazan
chose to go it alone. The question is how. I know you are reluctant to use your
current staging area. " He held up his hand.
 
"I don’t think it would be a good
idea either: too far from the UFN, mixing different cultures, and straining
your resources. "

 
"What are you suggesting, Admiral
Zhu? "

 
"Trust. "

 
"I wish Plimson were here, " Wattson
laughed.
 
"Our Secretary of
Defense is a very wise man. Would you make a personal agreement with another
nation on the leader of that nation's word alone? "

 
"That is courageous or foolish.
"

 
"Well, Admiral Plimson committed a
Mutual Support Agreement with the Riss on Leader Reese’s word—nothing is in
writing. "

 
"And you wouldn’t have. Yes, I
understand. They are very smart. "

 
"I don’t understand? "

 
"You think a written treaty, written
by a committee with its hundred conditions, is more binding than a person’s
word? "

 
"A valid point. " Wattson conceded.
 
"Well, Reese, Plimson isn’t
here. "

 
"I'll tell you what I think after
the fight. "

 
"Excellent idea, " Zhu said,
rising.

 
"What fight? "

 
"Terril and Xun. "

 
"What are you up to, Nadya? "
Terril whispered as we walked toward the workout area. "

 
"As everyone keeps telling me, it’s
exciting to watch masters dance. "

* * *

I forgot about what was to come when we
resumed the meeting when I saw Terril and Xun enter the room. Terril wore the
traditional Si’jin ankle-length pants, hip-length pullover shirt and
soft-leather boots but no sash and not the usual black. She was dressed in a white
silk
material
that seemed alive as she moved. On one arm, a tiger stretched along
half the sleeve. On the other, an Eagle with talons reaching downward, and on
one leg, a cobra coiled to strike.