Riss Series 5: The Riss Challenge (2 page)
"Nance, these ideas just burst out of me. Subconsciously, I may have been thinking about it. In fact, I remember mentioning to Admiral Wattson and Admiral Zhu that I could see a detachment of UFN crew on a Riss ship. As I remember, Wattson wasn't too happy with the idea. Of course, Wattson wasn't too happy with Damaass or Zhang becoming Riss-humans. I'm hoping if we demonstrate we trust the empires, they in turn will trust us."
"Would you put a detachment of ex-Raiders on my ship?" Damaass asked, a smile partially hidden behind his unruly beard.
"Certainly. They'd have more to fear from you than the Riss. Except your Riss companion, Vesta, wouldn't let you. You'd space anyone who betrayed the Riss and Freeland."
"True, dybbuk. As usual, you're in our minds," He said and looked to Zhang.
"Yes. A detachment of UFN would demonstrate your trust in the UFN; therefore, if the crew mutinied, it would be a betrayal of the Riss and the UFN. Neither could be tolerated."
"Funny. I certainly agree when it comes to the SAS, yet I had to hear it from Damaass and Zhang to realize it's no different for them." Pavao laughed. "Well, Leader Reese, what now? The Riss are recognized as a nation, and they have their own navy and planet."
"I think that is a question for the Riss. They needed us as an interface to the humans to gain recognition...and for war...but now they are free. I believe they should appoint a new leader for the next phase of their quest for the stars," I said, feeling relaxed and content. It had been a long journey. The agonizing years as a junior officer, tattooed and considered an alien to be distrusted, abused, and eliminated. Then the war years, submitting the gentle Riss to death and destruction. I felt more than ready to let someone else lead, preferably a Riss. As I mused, I could see the Riss in an eight-way conversation. Even after all the years with Thalia, watching the Riss talk among themselves in streaming vid, I felt like a five-year-old listening to an adult conversation. Finally, Thalia spoke in an open broadcast for all to hear.
I sent an image of me with my arms crossed.
"Cethlion says that would change future," Pavao said, speaking for her Riss companion, who was named after the goddess of prophecy and had the Riss position of a seer.
"You have to admit, Nadya. You have said many times that the Riss have an uncanny way of picking the right person for each position," Alena said, smiling as she took a sip of her wine.
"But I don't have a clue," I whined.
"Vesta says it's the wrong time to change positions," Damaass said, speaking for his Riss companion, who was named after the goddess who sees what is—not what others want you to see.
"All right Nance, you are now the Leader on Dunn," I said, smiling at the look on Pavao's face. "Take Zhang, Alena and Jaelle with you. I want you to form a number of UFN units equivalent to the current compliment of SAS Ghosts and Scorpions. I will begin forming equivalent units with Freelanders. Initially, we can use the new Riss Cruiser..."
"Artio," Elissa whispered. "Celtic bear goddess of wildlife."
"Artio, which Elissa will captain, and the Druantia, which Jaelle has, to train them." I was greeted with stunned silence. "Sheva and Elissa, you will work with the Riss, developing software traps that only the Riss can trigger. As Nance has pointed out, we have opened Pandora's Box, and I want to make sure no one ever uses a Riss cruiser or Riss technology to violate Riss ethics."
"What about fighters? I doubt the SAS will want us using theirs," Damaass snorted.
"Even if they would, I would prefer something unique to the Riss. You can lead the effort of developing the first Riss fighter," I said. Damaass's open mouth closed and then formed a huge grin.
CHAPTER TWO
Freeland: Treaties
The next two months were a whirlwind of activity as design work started on prototypes for a Riss fighter and a Freeland sentry, and candidates for fighter pilots and commandos were recruited.
I stood with Damaass, Sheva, and Elissa in front of a large group of Freelanders who had come in response to my call for candidates.
"Good morning. I'm Captain Reese, a Riss-human, and with me today are Riss-humans Sheva, Elissa, and Da'Maass, who I'm sure you all know," I said using Freeland pronunciation, which generated lots of side conversations. Up to this point, they had been very quiet and nervous-looking. "This is an introductory seminar to acquaint you with what we are looking for, the process to qualify, and a chance to get your questions answered. First you will be interviewed by Riss-humans and Riss so that we can get to know you—previous experience, interests, and suitability. Da'Maass will tell you total honesty is more likely to get you a position than telling us what you think we want to hear. We know most of you were Raiders. The Riss don't care about your past. If you do, you don't belong here."
"Your announcement said you are looking for fighter pilots and commandos. What about crew?" A small middle-aged man asked.
"The Riss cruisers were designed for the Riss. Consequently, only the Riss can crew one. And before you ask, Riss-humans are Riss, with the same goals and ethics."
"How can you trust us?" a tall, dark haired woman asked. "We are ex-Raiders, or we wouldn't be here."
"Your countrymen have demonstrated over the past few years they would prefer an alternative to raiding and have prospered because of it. If that weren't enough, I know the Raiders I came in contact with would gladly die rather than betray their clan. Mutiny or acts against the Riss would not only be a betrayal of your clan but would threaten the security of Freeland. From my previous experience with Raiders, I believe you would be less likely to betray your clans and Freeland than a member of SAS would be to betray his homeland—"
That caused the room to erupt into chaos as many conversations began. I was content to wait for them to subside.
"Why do you want humans on a Riss cruiser? Why not train the Riss to fly the fighters and to be commandos?" a broad-shouldered man with a scarred face asked to nodding heads.
"Excellent question. The Riss are a gentle race I have dragged into the humans' conflicts in order to make them a free, space-going nation. Right now, the Riss are crew who are directed by Riss-humans in the madness of war. I do not want them to learn to kill—as a captain, or a fighter pilot, or a commando must. But at the same time, I realize that a Riss cruiser would be far less effective without fighters and commandos."
"What about becoming a Riss-human...like Da'Maass?" A middle-aged woman asked.
"I will not rule it out indefinitely; however, even with a reduced crew of two hundred twenty-five, the eight cruisers require eighteen hundred Riss. In addition, they have several hundred serving on SAS and UFN ships. And while the original population of three thousand grew by four hundred over the past two years, they lost two hundred in the war. That leaves only nine hundred to work the depots here at Freeland and at Dunn and provide relief crews. So for the foreseeable future, eight cruisers are all the current population can support."
* * *
Over the next five weeks, Sheva and I, along with an available Riss, interviewed over six hundred ex-Raiders and hundreds of young Freelanders looking for adventure. We accepted three hundred, looking to create two sixty-person fighter and fifty-five-person scorpion units: approximately two hundred thirty individuals, allowing for seventy dropouts. The process had just been completed when Admirals Plimson and Zhu arrived, accompanied by two SAS squadrons.
* * *
"Good afternoon, Leader Reese. Admiral Zhu and I would like to meet with you this evening for a formal signing of the MSA treaties."
"Welcome to Freeland, Admiral Plimson. I'm available at your convenience."
"Say twenty hundred hours tonight, on the Bateleur."
"Twenty hundred hours tonight," I said.
* * *
"Excited?" Terril asked as we walked toward the shuttle bay. She was again on my security detail and all decked out in her dress uniform: all black except for a red strip running down the leg and a chest full of battle ribbons and medals—including the Distinguished Service Medal—seven red stripes of a Master Gunnery Sergeant on the sleeves, and a red shoulder patch with a Black Scorpion.
"Yes and no. I've been conducting business as if the treaty had already been approved, so in a sense this is somewhat anticlimactic. But, yes, having the signed treaty in hand will be the realization of a dream come true. The Riss will be recognized as a space-going nation with their own planet."
"I don't know about the Riss, but you're moving a bit too fast for the rest of us to keep up. Every day you have something new. We now know firsthand what Admiral Plimson has had to put up with over the years with you. The man is a saint." Terril laughed. I agreed. We were quiet for the rest of the ride. When I exited the shuttle, a female commander stood waiting.
"Welcome aboard the Bateleur, Leader Reese. I'm Commander Simons. If you will follow me, I'll take you and your escort to the Admirals," she said. "I'm surprised no Riss are here to witness the occasion."
"There's one, and she will be recording in streaming vid," I said, pointing to my head. When we arrived, the room had been cleared except for a desk and one chair. Plimson waved me over to a small group where he and Zhu stood.
"Good evening, Admiral Plimson, Admiral Zhu," I said, nodding to each.
"Good evening, Leader Reese," Plimson said, turning toward a short stocky man with thinning red hair. His round face, with its slightly pink complexion, looked friendly. "I'd like to introduce you to Vice Admiral O'Malley. He will be the SAS station commander in charge of coordinating with you for the updates and modifications to our cruisers and maintaining order," Plimson said.
"Nice to meet you, Admiral O'Malley," I said, unconsciously examining his medals.
"No, I've never been a line officer, Leader Reese. My career has been confined to building and repairing ships, so I'm looking forward to this assignment and working with you and the Riss. Don't worry about discipline. I'm used to handling pampered captains."
"As soon as you're settled, I'll give you a tour of Freeland and its facilities, and we can discuss your priorities."
"I'd like that."
"Ladies and gentlemen," Plimson said loudly. "For those who may not know her, this is Leader Reese, who speaks for the Riss Nation. Her words are literally the words of every Riss. A bewildering and unbelievable concept, yet true. Today we recognize their contribution toward fighting the aliens through two Mutual Support Agreements: one between the SAS and the Riss, declaring Freeland as a sovereign planet belonging to the Riss Nation, and one between the UFN and the Riss, establishing a Riss enclave on the planet Dunn." He picked up a beautifully engraved document and laid it on the desk. "It has already been signed by the President of the SAS Council and witnessed. It only requires your signature and witnessing."
I sat and signed the documents, having read a copy earlier in the day. Afterward, Plimson and several others signed as witnesses. Next, Zhu stepped forward with an equally elaborate document, which I signed and which was witnessed. After being introduced to the assembled officers, we adjourned to a large conference room, where dinner was served, and I spent a couple of hours answering questions about the Riss and Freeland. Afterward, Plimson directed Zhu, O'Malley, and me to his office, where wine, kaffa, and tea were available.
"According to the rumors, you have some interesting and controversial projects in the works," Plimson began, but smiled. "I think I've become immune to your surprises, Nadya. I just keep telling my staff and others like O'Malley that I trust you."
"I too trust her. Leader Reese has a tendency to see the future while we all struggle with the present," Zhu said, nodding.
"I'm impressed, Leader Reese," O'Malley said, raising his glass to me. "It reinforces the problem with rumors. They usually contain a small amount of truth and a large amount of bias. The rumors about you run from one extreme to another—mostly on the negative side. Yet, the two most powerful men in the two empires have worked with you and trust you. This should definitely be interesting."
"I'm hoping I've solved the problem of detached units on Riss cruisers. I've always been concerned about replacements, since personnel are not only authorized but also need planet-side leave to maintain readiness. The crews on the Mnemosyne and Eirene have been assigned for going on two years. With your permission, I'd like to form a couple of replacement units for the Ghosts and Scorpions so that we can rotate units every eighteen months, giving their personnel a six month leave."
"That should solve one problem—leave—but create another," Plimson laughed. "Judging by the comments I get from Riss detached units, you're creating a new elite service. I'll bet you could get a couple of thousand volunteers, officers and enlisted, if you were planning on adding more cruisers."
"I think the Riss have reached their capacity for now. I'm planning on dedicating six to SAS, one to UPN, and one to Freeland."
"To ex-Raiders?" O'Malley asked in a surprisingly neutral tone.
"Be assured, Admiral O'Malley, only the Riss can operate a Riss cruiser, and no Riss would help a non-Riss. Like you, I understand human frailties and don't want to see a Riss cruiser used against any nation except in true self-defense or per our mutual support agreements."
