Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession (23 page)

"What do
you think about the Alliance strategy?"

"Won't
work," I said, realizing it was true. If the Aliens were getting short of
Medusas
, they would just change
strategies. They could avoid the three empires for the next ten or fifty years
while they built up a force large enough to attack our military bases and
destroy our infrastructure. "Space
doss
!"

"That
doesn't sound good," Terril said, giving me a hard look.

"What if
they hide until they have hundreds of
Medusas
,
or link up with another cell in this galaxy, or... "

"Sorry I
asked."

* * *

When I landed
on Freeland, Pavao and Alena were standing with Ni'Shay.

"Welcome,
Leader Reese, " Ni’Shay said. "It's nice to have you back on
Freeland. The Elders are looking forward to seeing you.
Freeland has
never been so alive.
Everyone is employed with the factories working night and day, new
factories being built to meet the demand, and new businesses to provide
entertainment
and luxuries
full-employment is making possible." Ni'Shay pointed out the various new
constructions as we rode along, and the ride seemed shorter than normal.

Inside, I
talked with each elder, either alone or in a small group. Ni'Shay was right,
Freeland buzzed with excitement. I updated them on what I knew about the war,
Damaass, and
the progress
on Dong. Afterward, I was introduced to the
new Riss project manager.

"Rodica,
this is Leader Reese. Captain, Rodica
Ja'Shar
is the new project manager for the Riss
projects."

"It's a
pleasure to meet you, Leader Reese. Captain Pavao spoke of you often, particularly
when we whined about something being too difficult to do." She smiled,
and
her
eyes sparkled with energy. She was a tall, middle-aged woman with long black
hair, a shapely figure, and a cheerful-sounding voice.

and your high-Riss comment.>

works.>

"Well, Rodica,
how is everything going?"

"We are
on or ahead of schedule. The
Elpis
should be ready for trials within a month, and then the next Riss
cruiser
will begin
production. We anticipate it will take six months unless you have design
changes. Do you have a name for it?"

"No, not
yet. At the rate we're going, I'm going
to run
out of ancient goddesses who weren't
warriors."

"The
cruisers are ships of war, aren't they?"

"Yes, but
the people in them aren't." I sighed. "The Riss are being dragged
into the insanity. Since the Aliens aren't trying to kill us, the Riss would
prefer to submit to them."

"Yes,
like the people of Freeland were dragged into raiding." For a moment, she
lost her smile. "But our
dybbuk
has changed all that."

"What
about the Invincible project?"

"We work
towards your vision, but it's not an easy one."

vision?>

you have one they must find.>

anxious to see it.>

too.>

We spent that
day and the next touring the factories and talking with the workers. On the
following day, Pavao notified me that Sheva had arrived. I made arrangements
for Pavao to deliver her and the interested Riss to the
Mnemosyne
and made my way to the medical unit.
There
, I found
Dayton in her office.

"Come in,
Reese. I imagine Sheva has decided to become a Riss-human. I envy her. I could
just imagine hosting a Riss healer." She sighed.

"Yes, I
think you and such a Riss would love the experience, and I wouldn't doubt you
would achieve great things."

"But?"

"Maybe
someday. Ask Pavao, Cethlion is the
seer
. Today, the emphasis is on creating
captains and machines that can kill the Aliens' copies with the minimum loss of
lives. And yes, Sheva and her soon-to-be companion will be here in a couple of
hours.
If things go right, she will command the
Elpis
.

* * *

I met them in
the shuttle bay when they arrived.

Sheva was an
average-looking woman in her late thirties, but she carried herself with the assurance
that came with years in command. She smiled, showing self-confidence
,
as she and
Pavao approached me.

"Sheva,
this is Captain Reese, who will be your mentor during your transition and
currently holds the position of Leader."

"I'm
pleased to meet you Captain... Leader Reese?"

"Just
Reese. The concept is strange, but we are all equal. We just have different positions,
which depend upon the current need. After you host the Riss who has shown an
interest in joining with you, your position will be a captain in
training."

I sent via Thalia to the Riss accompanying Sheva and Pavao.

Leader.>

truly your choice?>

Riss and me.>

for the Riss but feels excited, like with you.> Thalia added.

I hated it
every time I had to ask for volunteers, knowing I was asking for a sister to
give up her freedom.

losing her freedom.>

punishment. Riss happy with present humans.> Images and sounds of a Gorillai
sitting on top of each of the Riss-human's shoulders blowing party horns,
drinking champagne, and throwing confetti.

Sheva brought
me back to the moment. "I'm sorry for the delay, but I had to make sure I
was ready to make a total commitment. Right or wrong, I decided a long time ago
to make the navy my career. It's been hard on my marriage. Cruiser duty doesn't
give you a lot of time to be with your family. Occasional planet-side
assignments and yearly vacations, but mostly long periods away on cruises. I
know it's possible to remove a Riss, but I believe becoming a Riss-human will
be a life-changing commitment. I love my son and my husband, but my son is a
grown man, and my husband will be better off with a wife who is with him all
the time. And I believe this is the life I want." She smiled at the Riss.

We were quiet
on the way to the medical unit. When we arrived, Dayton stood waiting. She
stared at Sheva for several minutes before shaking her head like she was trying
to clear it.

"Sorry, Sheva.
Are you ready?"

"Yes,
Doctor Dayton. More than ready." When Dayton had closed the door, Sheva
removed her shirt, walked with the Riss to the corner of the room, and
positioned herself against the Gorillai, wiggling herself to ensure a tight fit
and easy access.

"I don't
think I've ever seen anyone that unafraid," Pavao whispered.

I nodded
agreement. Most, me included, attempted to pull away when the insertion started.

"There is
nothing to be done until she recovers. Join me in my office for a farewell
drink," I said. As I opened the door to leave, Terril stood outside with
two Scorpions.

"Sheva's
security."

"But
we're on a Riss ship," I said. Except for captains, Riss-humans didn't
normally have security unless they left the ship.

"Freeland
makes me nervous, and
gunnies
don't like to be nervous," she said.

I tended to
agree with her, so I didn't argue. My security stopped at the office door, a
small concession since it was another Riss-human.

Inside, Pavao
poured a glass of red wine she liked that I keep handy. "Any instructions,
Leader?" she asked, taking a sip.

"Yes. We
are here to support the Alliance, but
the
Riss have nothing to prove." It
was unnecessary, but I had to say it for my benefit, if nothing else.

"It's
funny. Before becoming a Riss-human, I felt an obligation to prove my ship was
the best in the fleet. Not that I was reckless,
but
that need to
prove something can cause you to act too quickly. I don't feel the same way
today. I'm looking forward to
seeing
Damaass and meeting my new Riss-brother
Zhang."

"Spend some
time with Fleet Admiral Zhu. He is a very
interesting
man and is
one hundred percent supportive of the Riss. I like him. He's almost
Riss-like."

"Take
care, Nadya," Pavao said as she rose and gave me a hug.

"Fair
winds and calm seas, Nance."

"This
should be exciting," Terril said as the shuttle settled in the bay of the
Sea Eagle
.

"Is that
why you are along? And the extra security?" Usually, I had two guards
following me everywhere. Today, I had three and Terril.

"You must
admit Admiral
Kephalos
didn't seem to like you, and you are on his ship."

"
And
this is
Freeland," I said, feeling a bit paranoid myself. Too many new ships in
Freeland space. Wattson had managed to get control of the original group, but
they were now in Echo,
and
new cruisers were arriving every other day.

entering.>

I reluctantly admitted.

When I exited,
a tall, dark-skinned Lieutenant Commander stood waiting.

"Welcome
aboard the Sea Eagle, Leader Reese. I'm Commander Elliot. Admiral Kephalos has
asked me to escort you to his conference room where he and his task force
commanders are meeting. Your Scorpions can wait here or in the army area. The
Ghost will be directed to return to the
Mnemosyne
.
Our fighters can accompany you back to your ship if you feel it's
necessary." He smiled.

"Commander,
my Scorpion detail will accompany me anywhere I go. No exceptions," I said,
wondering whether this was his idea or Kephalos's.

Elliot got on
his SID, talked for a minute, hit a key, and a grey-haired man in a Wasp
uniform with brigadier general's insignia appeared.

"Who is
the ranking scorpion?" he asked.

"Master
Gunnery Sergeant Terril, sir," Terril said, moving so the SID could see
her.

"I'm
General
Alojzy
, the ranking army officer on Freeland. You and your detail will
report to me in the army area, immediately."

"Sir, I
have orders to provide Leader Reese with twenty-four hour protection everywhere
she goes. You have no authority to revoke that order. If you wish to bring a complaint
against me, my immediate superior is Colonel Seng on the
Mnemosyne
."

"Sergeant,
if you don't report here immediately, I will send a detail to fetch you, and a
court martial will follow."
Alojzy
's face flushed with anger.

"Sir, my
detail and I will respond with deadly force at any attempt to separate us from
our duty. The death of loyal soldiers will be on you and your illegal orders,"
Terril said as she and the others drew their weapons.

"I'll see
you spend the rest of your life in
Cyberus
,"
Alojzy
said and
broke the connection.

I knew I
should leave, but I was curious whether this harassment was directly from Kephalos,
resulted from his attitude, or more of the same out-of-control prejudice.

"Commander
Elliot, now that we've resolved my security, what about my Ghost escort? Are
you refusing to let them dock?"

"Captain
Singleton didn't think they were necessary," he said, appearing to have
recovered his confidence. He tapped on his SID, and a middle-aged captain
appeared on the screen. "We will provide you with an escort home, Captain
Reese." He smiled.

"On whose
authority are you refusing my escort to dock?" I asked.

A second
later, the screen split, and a thin rear admiral with a narrow face appeared. "By
my order," he said. "I'm Rear Admiral Franz, the senior fighter
commander on Freeland."

"Well,
Rear Admiral Franz, you may tell Admiral Kephalos that I am not allowed out
without a Ghost escort,
and
since you are sending them back to the
Mnemosyne
, I'm afraid I can't
stay." I turned and entered the shuttle, leaving Elliot on his SID looking
rather pale.

"I told
you it would be exciting," Terril said, closing the door behind me.

"Ma'am, they
are not giving me clearance to leave," Lieutenant Carson, the shuttle
pilot, said over the intercom.

"Keep all
entrances locked, Carson."

"Yes, ma'am."

"What do
you think, Captain?"

Frustrated, I
said, "I think the SAS isn't prepared for war. They have a peacetime navy
with peacetime officers. If I didn’t love Plimson, I'd take the Riss and any Riss-certified
people who agreed and join the Supreme Council of the Gods. I think they have a
worthwhile cause."

My escort
choked and Terril laughed.

"That
would be interesting and exciting," Terril said.

"Ma'am,
Admiral Kephalos is requesting to speak to you. I can patch it through to your
SID."

"Thank
you, Carson."

A moment
later, the admiral's face appeared,
but
before he could speak, I held up a
hand.

"Admiral Kephalos,
your officers are out of control, which gives me justifiable cause to fear for
my life and the lives of my escorts. And that could mean the collapse of the
alliance: Riss, Freeland, and the UFN. So before that happens I'd suggest you
allow me to leave before one of them does something the SAS will regret."

"You claim
to speak for Freeland and the UFN now?" His voice was angry and harsh.

"No. I
only speak for the Riss. However, if I'm attacked, not a single Riss will
support the SAS. In that event, Freeland will cease supporting the SAS, no
matter what devastation you cause them. They will find comfort in the realization
that without the Riss technology, you will eventually lose the war and be
confined to your planets as they are. And the UFN will choose to go it alone
because the Riss will agree to support them. Your choice, Admiral. I'm tired.
Kill me or let me return to my ship." I sat back, not caring.

Thalia.>

become human to live.>

be a greater tragedy than dying.>

"This is
a little more excitement than I anticipated, but if we live through it, I think
I witnessed an eleven-
knot
performance," Terril said.

Guns were
pulled free and safeties clicked off as they moved to guard possible access
points.

"Leader,
we are cleared to leave."

"Proceed,
and patch me through to Commander Katlin."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Be
careful, Commander. Everyone is in a bad mood. If the shuttle is attacked, you
will have to use your judgment. It may be best not to respond."

"Ma'am, I
don't report to you, and Commander Byer's orders are very specific," she
said. I could imagine her grinning.

"Be
careful, Katlin." I cut the connection. I sat back and closed my eyes,
actually feeling at peace.

* * *

"How are
you feeling,
Sheva
?" I asked as we sat in my office, drinking the oolong tea Zhu
had given me as a parting gift.

"I didn't
mind the banging into walls, falling down stairs, and spilling food when I ate.
I understood that Bendis, the goddess's name she and I decided on, had to learn
to do all those things I learned while in diapers. But it isn't possible to
rationalize away moods. When you are sad or angry or paranoid, you are those
things and can't think any other way." She laughed. "It's a good
thing Terril warned my security detail, or they might have thought Bendis had
taken control of me—against my will—and the space gods only know
what would have happened. I'm glad that's over. You were right when you said it
was a terrible experience, even knowing what to expect."

"I
begged, pleaded, and threatened when the moods started. Of course, Thalia
ignored me, and I was powerless to stop her. But she was right,
and
the benefits
have been enormous."

"I'll
bet. You... we can actually sense others’ emotions. If they knew... "

"That is
one aspect of having a Riss that is best kept a secret. It has saved my life
more than once and would make humans paranoid. That must remain a Riss
secret." I said.

"Yes, Leader,"
Sheva said, acknowledging I was speaking for all the Riss.

"I wanted
to begin exercises with the Freeland fleet as a way to get you qualified as
captain, but Kephalos has made that impossible."

"I've
been a captain in the SAS long enough to know something
big
is happening.
It's too quiet."

"True.
Well, there is nothing we can do until it's resolved. Go look over the specs
for the Riss cruisers and work on Symath."

"Reading
has been a real experience with Bendis, but I think we are getting the hang of
it. Thank you for explaining what happened on the
Sea Eagle
. It explains why no one wants the position of Leader."
She laughed as she rose to leave.