Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession (20 page)

Sakaata was next to last to talk. Her session lasted for two hours
because of the questions.

My session was also long because the Riss cruisers had been so far from
the main battle.

When I finished, Zhu spoke. "Very interesting and well done
considering we had no prior plan on how to operate jointly. And an excellent
demonstration of the Riss technology in action. I'd like green-Admiral Erdogan,
Admiral Sakaata, and Leader Reese to work together with their senior personnel
to use what we've learned to formulate a plan for the next time our three
nations encounter the Aliens. And how our forces can utilize the Riss
technology."

* * *

For the next five days, I split my time between monitoring the
candidates' sessions with the Riss and meeting with Sakaata, Erdogan, and their
key staff, discussing the lessons learned from the invasion. The mornings were
spent with the Riss candidates.

Sato was excited. He loved the idea that his word would be obeyed
unconditionally, but forgot or ignored that the mechanic is equal to the
captain part.

Chung was obviously scared but reluctant to withdraw for fear of losing
face.

Zhang seemed more interested in the Riss than the position.

The afternoons with Sakaata and Erdogan were enjoyable. We were each
interested in reducing the loss of personnel when we engaged the Aliens, and no
one seemed interested in being "in charge." When we encountered the
enemy, the parties would decide on an initial strategy and then each nation
would implement its part. We did establish communication protocol and seniority
within each nation's task forces. I also agreed to certify one or more of
Erdogan's cruisers.

* * *

It was late when I returned from our strategy meeting, but I decided to
see how Iglis was doing and headed for the Intel section, punching in Iglis's
SID number while I walked.

"Yes, Captain?" she look tired.

"Are you available for a chat?"

"Yes. Do you want me to come to your office?"

"No, put the kaffa on. I'm on my way," I said and clicked off
after she nodded.

"Good evening, ma'am," the senior guard at the entrance to
the Intel unit said as we approached, and stepped aside for Terril and I to
pass. She had dismissed the other two guards to get something to eat and
planned to stay until their relief arrived.

"What's up, Captain?" Iglis stood as I entered.

"Sit, Iglis. I had nothing to do and thought I'd catch up on the
gossip," I quipped as I collected a cup of hot kaffa. "You look
tired."

"Admiral Zhu has given me relatively unrestricted access to his
intelligence group, and we have been setting up a proposed protocol for sending
messages via our Comstats and entry codes into the various inhabitable systems.
They will have to be approved by Admiral Butler and Admiral Wang, Zhu's
Intelligence director, but we finished today. It has meant long days and
nights." She filled her cup and took a drink. "Not much gossip. Zhu
arrived at Echo earlier today. The task forces have been conducting joint
exercises but no
Medusa
sighting
since Defiance."

"Have you heard of any instances on Dong?"

"No, which is surprising. I expected some problems. We have four
diverse cultures coming in close contact."

"Four?"

"Yes, UFN, SAS, Freeland, and the Riss." She smiled.

"Yes, Freeland is another culture. How is the Local Customs'
seminar coming along?"

"Master Chief Drock and Lieutenant Canfield finished it today. I
was just in the process of reviewing it when you called."

"Good. Have them try it out on the Ghosts and Scorpions on the
Riss cruisers, the folks from Freeland, and the Riss. Be sure to include those
who have already been planet-side. They may have a unique insight. After that,
contact Admiral Sakaata and inform her the seminar is ready. You may want to
train her Intel folks to give the seminar to her task force, but I leave that
to you and her."

"That would probably be best and free up Canfield and Drock."

"Oh, send a message to Leader Pavao of Freeland and ask when the
next Riss cruiser will be operational. I'd also like to know if she has
identified a Riss-human candidate for the
Maat
.
If not, I'd like it sent to Dong. I have one."

"Who? If it's not a secret."

"Admiral Zhang, who is Fleet Admiral Zhu's brother. And no, he got
no special consideration.

* * *

The next morning, I called the three Riss-human candidates into my
office. "As you know, there are three criteria to becoming a Riss-human.
You must want to be a host to a Riss. You must satisfy me that you have command
experience and good tactical judgment. And lastly, a Riss must be willing to
accept you as a host. All three requirements must be met. I would not ask the
Riss to give up their freedom if we did not need combat-ready captains to
command the Riss cruisers, and not just any human captain will do. Hosting
another intelligent mind is not something most humans can tolerate, which is
the reason you were exposed to the Riss and the Riss to you. When the SAS tried
the program, they started with three hundred candidates. In the end, only
twenty were selected by the SAS and introduced to the Riss. The Riss selected
six."

I paused to survey the group and let them think about what I had said.

"Commodore Sato, I believe you are a good UFN commander and will
do well leading a task force. But Riss ships tend to fight alone and require a
different tactical approach. If a few hundred sailors die in a battle, it's a terrible
thing, but the UFN navy has roughly three hundred thousand personnel. The Riss
nation has only three thousand, so the death of one Riss in a battle is
equivalent to three hundred sailors.

"Commodore Chung, you are also a good tactical commander leading a
task force; however, I don't believe you would do well hosting another
intelligent being. The vast majority of people wouldn't. I would ask both you
and Commodore Sato not to consider this a test you failed. Your willingness to
participate and your records identify you as above-average individuals and credits
to your service. That will be my evaluation to Admiral Zhu."

I paused, making eye contact.

"Admiral Zhang, if you remain committed to becoming a Riss-human, a
Riss is willing to have you as a host. Be assured, the Riss selected you on the
basis of your discussions with her, and her choice has nothing to do with my
evaluation of you or the fact that you are an Admiral or Zhu's brother. To her,
you are just an intelligent being she feels she will be compatible with."

"Who is she?" Zhang asked almost without emotions.

When I was told, I wanted to dance down the hallways singing. Of
course, I didn't.

"Her picture name would be something like,
A hawk floating high in a cloudless sky."

"Yes, the Riss that sees what is, where others see what they or
others want," he said with a smile, surprising me.

I almost believed he could have named every Riss at the interviews.

"Yes, I'm willing."

image of a Riss inspecting each
candidate with a huge magnifying glass.

"I thank each of you for applying. You are a credit to your
nation, which I'm sure Admiral Zhu recognizes. Zhang, if you are sure, report
to the medical section tomorrow at nine hundred hours for the transfer."

* * *

"That was quick, Leader Reese," Dayton said when I entered
her office.

"Actually, I'm as surprised as you are. Not so much that the UFN
had officers who met the initial criteria, but that some were able to overcome
the idea of a parasite attached to them considering the traditional nature of their
culture."

"Having combat experience and being willing doesn't seem very
restrictive." Dayton frowned.

"It's the
tactical judgment
and
willing Riss
that make it hard.
Because you were in combat doesn't mean you have good tactical judgment. The
Riss don't need heroes or glory seekers. There are ten billion humans but only
three thousand Riss. And no Riss is going to give up her freedom to reside with
someone she doesn't feel is compatible."

"I can see your point." She picked up her tablet and tapped
it. "Admiral Zhang is in excellent condition even for his age, which I
gather doesn't matter too much with a Riss companion."

"True," I said as Damaass entered the office with the Riss,
A hawk floating high in a cloudless sky
."

"Good morning, Leader Reese. I understand you want me to monitor
Zhang's Riss-human transition," he said with his ever-present smile
peeking through his bushy beard. "Do we have a Riss cruiser for when he
completes his training?"

"I've notified Captain Pavao that a successful Riss-human
candidate is available and requested either the
Maat
, which is operational, or the next Riss cruiser produced be
sent to Dong."

"I don't imagine this is going to make you any more popular,
dybbuk
."

"I doubt it. Too many in the SAS don't know what they want. They
don't want me in the SAS, but they want to treat me like I am. They want me to
trust the SAS, but they don't trust the Riss. They want allies but don't want
me to trust them. I can understand why someone would want to confine the human
race."

"Yes, we cannot stand a state of peace for long. It's against our
basic predatory nature," Zhang said as he entered the office. "That
is why I'm interested in hosting a Riss. I believe peace is inherent in their
nature."

"They are participating in the war," I said, although I
agreed with him. I idly wondered if I had found someone who wanted to be a
Riss-human because he appreciated the Riss and not just because he wanted to fly
those magical machines.

"Yes, but for different reasons. This program acknowledges the
Riss could not command a cruiser in war. It takes a human, even a kind-hearted
one."

"Doctor Dayton, I believe Zhang is ready."

Zhang was extraordinarily perceptive. He had no stars in his eyes, nor any
zeal for saving the UFN. He thought he had found what he had been searching
for—people who sought peace.

"Welcome
and congratulations, you were selected by the Riss-human project team as
candidates to host a Riss." Pavao stood in her conference room on the
Eirene,
surveying the four men and one
woman volunteers. They were a strange mixture, as neither age nor rank was a
specific requirement. Of course, one couldn't be too young or junior to meet
the combat experience and demonstrated tactical judgment criteria.

She knew Captain
Samantha Sheva, the only woman. She had fought with her at the battle of
Freeland. She was a superb captain, smart and respected by those she commanded.

She didn't know
any of the four men. Captain Aleksy was the oldest and had fought in a few skirmishes
with the JPU. Captain Hywel had attended Camalus and graduated
With Comment
. Commanders Perrin and
Ettore were the youngest, and both had been XOs.

"As of now,
you have no rank. You've met the initial conditions for selection as candidates
to host a Riss and become a Riss-human. Each of the current Riss-humans entered
the program for their own reasons, which if you qualify will not be the reason
you will be forever grateful you did." Pavao drained her cup of kaffa before
continuing. "I'm sure you have all heard plenty about the Riss and the
Riss-humans. Some of what you heard is possibly even true. For the next few
days, I am going to give you the facts so that you can make an informed
decision about whether or not it appears right for you. If you still want to
proceed, you will be interviewed by the Riss—"

"Don't you
mean we will interview—"

"No, I mean
the Riss will interview you. It will be your choice whether to participate, but
the Riss will make the final decision on a host. Our experience has shown they possess
an uncanny ability to know who will make a good match. The program has no quota.
You may all qualify and find matches, or just one, or none."

"I thought
you needed Captains for the Riss cruisers," Aleksy said, sounding
frustrated.

"We already
have Riss-humans who can command Riss cruisers." Pavao nodded toward
Alena. "Alena is by any standard a fully qualified captain in normal times.
But we are at war with a technologically advanced civilization and need captains
with not only battle experience but demonstrable excellent tactical judgment.
One day, Alena will command a Riss cruiser, but not today. Enough. The Riss are
classified as parasites..."

*
* *

"Well what
did you think of the candidates, Alena, Elissa?" Pavao asked, then laughed
at the blank stares. "Yes, you and your companions are part of the
evaluation. You are to help them understand what it will mean to be a
Riss-human, and you are also to be alert for any potential problems. We are
looking for uniquely qualified individuals. We already have excellent
captains—you. You both show promise and in time will command Riss cruisers.
But the need is today."

*
* *

Over the next
four days, Pavao, Alena, and Elissa conducted a series of lectures about the Riss.
By the fifth day, Perrin and Aleksy decided they weren't interested, and Pavao
decided Ettore didn't have the necessary tactical skills. The two remaining
candidates began their interviews with the Riss. That lasted five days. On the
fifth day, Pavao was notified that two Riss were willing to have Sheva as a
host if she were willing. Pavao then called the two candidates to her office.

"Hywel,
although you have the necessary tactical skill, none of the Riss felt they
would be compatible with you. No, I don't know the reason. It's much like a
marriage partner; you either feel an attraction or you don't. If you don't, you
wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life with that person." Pavao
looked to Sheva. "There are two Riss who would agree to be hosted by you,
but feel you are not ready to make that commitment."

"They are
very wise," Sheva said, her head in her hands. "I'm married. Military
life is hard enough on a marriage in peacetime. In wartime it is even harder,
but I suspect being a Riss-human would make it near impossible."

"They
suggested you be given time to think about it. I agree. Until you notify me
otherwise, you will remain a candidate."

"Thank you.
I'm interested, but I don't want to commit unless it's unconditional with no
reserves. In the beginning, I felt I could always give up the Riss and return
to normal, but I understand now it will be a lifelong commitment."

*
* *

"Captain,
you have a message packet from Leader Reese," Alena said, looking at her
SID.

"Sit,
Alena, I'll transfer it to my monitor, and we can both see it."

"But... it
could be personal."

"This is a
Riss ship, Alena. We are all equal. Besides, you're training to be a captain,"
Pavao said, and the packet appeared on the screen, split into three sections.
She opened the first one, titled Urgent. It went on to explain the encounter
with the
Medusa
, the use of the
Dummies and Dusters, the need to send as many Dummies to the forces at Echo as
possible, and to increase production. It ended with suggestions for improving the
Dummy’s effectiveness.

"The
Dummies and Dusters alone will increase the effectiveness of the modified
cruisers," Alena said.

"Yes, we
need to get this to Admiral Zann."

The second
folder, titled Riss candidates, said Reese had identified a Riss-human
candidate, explained a little about him, and wanted the
Maat
or the next Riss cruiser produced sent to Dong.

"I'm
impressed. An Admiral applied and was acceptable. In fact, it sounds like he is
more than just acceptable." Alena said. "He's lucky. I suspect his
age would normally disqualify him from most programs."

"True.
Alena, I want you to captain the
Maat
to Dong. You can take along a supply of Dummies to drop off at Echo and
whatever civilian and military replacements Reese wants in the third folder
titled replacements. I'll contact Admirals Stenberg and Zann."

*
* *

When Pavao
arrived at Stenberg's conference room aboard the
Horned Owl,
Zann was already there. It was late, as Stenberg had
insisted they meet immediately. She had barely closed the door when Stenberg spoke.

"The
Maat
is not authorized to leave
Freeland."

"By whose
authority?" Pavao asked as she fetched a glass of wine and sat opposite
Zann and Stenberg, who were in the middle of a table full of papers.

"Mine. The
SAS station commander."

"In case
you may have forgotten, I'm not in the SAS military. I guess as station
commander, you may be able to order the humans aboard the
Maat
to stay on Freeland, but that would actually be an illegal
order in that it would violate the MSA between the SAS and the Riss." She
sipped her wine, waiting.

"Damn it, Pavao.
That cruiser is supposed to be assigned to one of the SAS Riss-human candidates
you're evaluating. What does Reese want the
Maat
for?" Stenberg asked, his tone harsh.

"Admiral
Stenberg, you are assuming that one of the Riss-human candidates will qualify
as a Riss-human and that the captain of the
Maat
must be a SAS officer—"

"That Damn
Reese isn't considering making a UFN officer a Riss-human and giving him the
Maat
. A pirate, now an UFN
officer." He stood, glaring down at her.

"And
lastly, you assume that you have the authority to command the Riss Nation. I
thought we were allies and no one nation was in charge."

The room was
silent as Stenberg walked to the sideboard and filled his glass. He stood there
for a long time before returning to his seat.

"Pavao, You
are... were a senior officer in the SAS military, and although you are a
Riss-human now, you must have concerns about the security of the SAS empire. Do
you agree with Reese?"

"Yes. Reese
frequently makes decisions that would cause most men to doubt her loyalty to
the SAS and her judgment. I have often questioned her reasoning, but after
hearing it, I've always agreed. I often wondered if she were far more
intelligent than the rest of us. But I've come to the conclusion that she, like
Admiral Plimson, is just the right person for her current position. Believe me.
I'm one of the three thousand Riss who don't want her position of Leader. She
has never let Admiral Plimson down, and she will never let the SAS down. If she
believes the
Maat
needs to be in
Dong, it's in everyone's best interest it go to Dong."

"I would
concur with everything Captain Pavao has said, including not wanting her
position," Zann said.

"The good
news, Admiral Stenberg, is one of the SAS officers has qualified to be a
Riss-human. She's married and understands it's a life-changing decision and has
elected to take some time to think about it. I think it a wise decision."
Pavao laughed. "It took me a week just to agree to consider it. I believe
she will eventually say yes and will be the captain of the next Riss cruiser,
the
Elpis
—the goddess of hope."

"Thank you,
Pavao for your patience. You're right. We are lucky to have Plimson... and
Reese. If we're going to defeat the Aliens, we need bold leaders, and they are
going to need our trust.