Riss Series 3: The Riss Survival (31 page)

"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.

Pavao smiled as she rose and followed me, Terril and another Scorpion out the door.

"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.

Jaelle felt nervous.

I could feel a growing sense of pride and relief.

* * *

"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.

Amusements tickled me.

When I entered the room, Plimson, Wattson, Stenberg, Zann, and Pavao were there, and Captain McKnight, who sat at the other end of the table. I nodded in the direction of the admirals and took a seat.

"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 majority 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."

"I apologize, but some issues are best handled with short notice and face-to-face. It avoids unnecessary speculation that takes on a life of its own."

Ni'Shay let the topic drop and the discussion turned to general news about Freeland, which was having unprecedented prosperity. With the exception of some of the ex-Raiders, the genral population was content with the current status,.

When we entered the conference room, food was on a side table and everyone looked relaxed, except Da'Maass.

"Welcome dybbuk, there is food and drink. It helps to take one's mind off the purpose of a meeting with no agenda. Myself, I was hoping you were going to propose." He gave me one of his rakish smiles.

"That's exactly why I'm here, Da'Maass," I smiled, and for a second, he stood with his mouth working but no sound emerged. Ni'Shay had a broad grin, and I heard several snorts and laughs. "We have a problem. By we, I mean the three empires, and by extension Freeland and the Riss. The Aliens are an advanced war-like civilization. For now they are quarantining planets and destroying their ability to fly or communicate with other planets." I stopped to take a sip of the clan's coco-kaffa.

"That's what the SAS has done to us," Elder Ja'Dalle said, leaving off the,
why should we care if it happens to them.

"So why should you care? You are already confined to Freeland, and it will serve the SAS right," I said. The resulting emotions in the room were priceless.

"Yes, you're isolated—today. What about in a hundred years, two? Today your merchants are trading in the three empires. You're prospering because you are building spacecraft. And your natural resources can support the population. A hundred years from now your population will quadruple and clans will be fighting clans for scarce resources. Is that the future you see?" I stood and walked over the table and surveyed the variety of food. I found a plate and chose small samples—a paprikash dish with some kind of meat, a potato salad, noodles, a green leaf stuffed with something, and a puffy bread roll—and strolled back to the table and began eating. I doubted anyone noticed. They were too busy huddled in small groups. I had finished when Ni'Shay sat and slowly the rest returned to their seats.