Riss Series 3: The Riss Survival (5 page)

"And when you get control of the Lynx, then what?" I asked, curious to know the extent of his lunacy and to get it on the record.

"What you should have done, destroy the space station, repair facilities, and wipe out their government center and the town with everyone in it. Then destroy their merchant ships when they return. They need to understand they can never leave their planet again."

"What about the Treaty the SAS council has approved."

"I relieved you of your command because you incited the clan to attack us. I was only responding to their aggressiveness." He laughed. "Henry, retrieve those Scorpion's weapons on the floor and cuff their hands behind them. I doubt they care about Reese, but they might feel obligated because of their lesbian gunny."

That did it. Both Scorpions tensed ever so subtly, preparing to act. Terril was both respected and well-liked by her troops. Regardless, she was the Scorpion's gunny and sat at the feet of the space gods. Insulting her, insulted the Scorpions. Meanwhile, Thalia prepared our vehicle to fight and the people around me seemed to go into slow motion.

Before the Lieutenant could move, a barrage of shots could be heard outside in the corridor, coming from military grade weapons. As Lavett's head jerked towards the door, I threw myself onto the table, turning as I slid across and slammed into Lavett feet first. His shard gun flew toward the ceiling as he ricocheted off the wall. His two companions turned towards me, their guns coming around in my direction as the two Scorpions exploded into them, ramming them into the wall. It wasn't necessary, but they were in a bad mood. A few elbows to the head and spine and the two were in serious need of Regen.

Seconds later, the door lock exploded and the door flew open, Terril leading the way. Her head swiveled from left to right taking in the entire room.

"One of you could have saved someone for me to kill." She didn't smile. "You all right, Na … Captain?"

"Fine, Gunny. Is the ship secure?

"Secure and squeaky clean. Want me to throw these two out the air lock?"

"First see if Doctor Echart can put them back together. Your Scorpions took exception to their remarks about you."

"You were very gentle with the Captain." Terril nodded in Lavett's direction. He lay doubled up on the floor gasping for breath. The broken ribs probably didn’t help.

"He didn't say anything about you or the Scorpions." I grinned as I passed her and headed for the Bridge with Varisko and my permanent Scorpion detail, who were trying unsuccessfully not to grin.

"Captain on the Bridge," Marken said, with a quick glance in my direction. "Skipper, the Saker still has its weapons online."

"Gelman, dismiss the Ship Alert, call Battle Stations, and establish contact with the Merlin." I took the Captain's chair as the ship sirens and SIDs wailed. A minute later Corbitt's face appeared on the monitor.

"Captain Reese, Commander Marken told me Captain Lavett had you captive and the Saker was part of the mutiny."

"Captain Lavett showed up with twenty Wasps and attempted to take control of the Lynx. He claims the Saker supports him, and he appears correct, since they have their weapons systems online. Continue your approach and declare Battle Stations. I hope Commander Waldel doesn't do anything stupid, but we need to be prepared for the worse. Don't fire unless the Saker does. It's a risk but I'm hoping Waldel will realize he can't win and trying will only result in hundreds of deaths."

"The Merlin will be in position within thirty minutes. Corbitt out."

"Gelman, open a line to the Saker."

"Captain Reese? Where is Captain Lavett? You will release him immediately, or your precious Riss-human along with the Riss will die." He raised a fist and his face flushed as he talked. I switched on my SID and opened a channel to Byer and Seng.

"Commander Byer release your Sharks and tell Corbitt to release his as soon as he is in position. Contact the Striker Commander on the Saker and order him to launch his Strikers. They are to leave the Saker with their weapons disabled." Waldel's face twisted in rage.

"I'll kill every one of your monsters if you don't produce Captain Lavett."

"You can kill the Riss, and you can attack the Lynx, killing hundreds of innocent people. And the Lynx and the Merlin will destroy the Saker killing hundreds more. Are you really that kind of a man? Is that how you want people to remember you?"

"You're a traitor! Consorting with the Raiders."

"You will have your chance to present your evidence at your hearing. If you're right, I will be relieved of command and no one will have to die. I'm sending Scorpions to the Saker to secure the ship. If you fire on them, the Saker will be destroyed. Captain Reese, out."

"Colonel Seng, send two shuttles of Scorpions to secure the Saker. Commander Byer you will support the crossing with force if necessary. Gelman, send to Corbitt, 'prepare to support Scorpion detail being sent to secure the Saker.'" I sat back and hoped Walden's twenty years of military service wouldn't permit him to waste the lives of comrades in arms. The tension on the Bridge felt like the discord of an orchestra tuning their instruments.

I wasn’t responsible for the future of the human race or SAS, but I was responsible for the future of the Riss.

A warm, safe feeling flowed through me. I wished I understood. Minutes later, reports began coming. At my nod, Gelman left the Bridge speakers on for everyone to hear.

"Captain Corbitt reports he's in position and has dispatched his Strikers.

"Colonel Seng reports two Scorpion combat shuttles launched.

"Commander Byer reports Strikers leaving Saker with weapons disabled."

The Bridge held its collective breath. The unthinkable could happen and SAS ships fire on each other—comrades killing comrades over a few madmen's hate. It was possible. It had happened to me. Each passing minute felt like a lifetime.

"Colonel Seng reports the Scorpions are on board and encountering no resistance."

* * *

The Saker's Bridge crew and the Wasp Commander were confined to quarters under guard while every individual on the Saker was interviewed. Commander Iglis conducted the investigation and concluded some fifty people had been actively involved in the mutiny, although many claimed to be just following orders. Iglis found that Lavett and Waldel had been planting seeds of distrust and spreading rumors for months. I didn't envy the SAS Inquiry having to sort out who was following orders and who was part of the mutiny.

The Saker's Wasp Commander and gunny were good examples. They had been told Captain Corbitt agreed I should be relieved of my command and that the Scorpion Commander on the Lynx would stand down during the takeover. The gunny leading the takeover did order his men to cease fighting when he saw the Scorpions. But by then, six Wasps had been wounded, three seriously. It would have been worse if small details hadn't elected to surrender when they encountered Scorpions while trying to secure their assigned area.

I had the fifty individuals restricted to one area of the Saker and under guard, awaiting the replacement ship.

* * *

I was surprised a month later when the Heavy cruiser, the Bateleur, a Hunter, the Bobcat, and a Light, the Osprey arrived. I was relieved to find Admiral Plimson aboard the Bateleur but couldn't help wondering if I were in trouble.

Thalia had a point. Plimson had always gone out of his way to be fair with me. But he may not have a choice if he got pressure from Eden. Too many didn't like the Treaty, as Lavett and Walden had proved.

"Skipper, the Admiral has invited you to join him on the Bateleur at sixteen hundred hours."

"Thank the Admiral and confirm I'll be there." Captains didn't turn down invitations from Admiral unless they were in Regen. Fortunately, I had a few hours to get ready.

"XO, you have the Watch. I'm off to get ready for my meeting." I returned to my room, stood in the Fresher until I turned pink, worrying. I dressed in formal whites and arrived at the shuttle reserved for my use thirty minutes early. Much better early then one minute late. I boarded and sat. I was shocked out of my musing when Terril and a corporal followed me in.

"Terril, you can't—" She had come prepared, tapped on her SID and a hologram appeared with the letter signed by Admiral Plimson and General Garret authorizing a detail of an unspecified number of Scorpion bodyguards. They were authorized to accompany me everywhere without exception—or my permission. The order resulted from the multiple attempts on my life.

"Sit, Gunny. Why are you going?"

"I've never met the Admiral. And I thought it would be interesting to watch you dance with an Admiral."

"You don't dance with Admirals. It's yes, sir. I'd be happy to, sir. Immediately, sir. It will be boring."

"Sounds like fun." Terril gave me an evil grin. When I looked out, we were entering the shuttle bay and minutes later the green light came on. As I exited, a young Lieutenant waited.

"Welcome aboard the Bateleur, ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Alderson, Admiral Plimson's aide-de-camp. If you'll follow me, I'll take you to the Admiral's conference room. He should be available shortly. To his credit, he didn't comment on the two Scorpions accompanying me. He led me through hallways familiar from the inquiry at Saipha. I smiled remembering my first time on the
Bateleur
. I had been accepted as a candidate for the Riss Program and to my amazement picked up and transported on the Bateleur.

"Captain Reese, can I get you a cup of kaffa or something else?" He tentatively looked to Terril who shook her head as she and the corporal backed up against the wall.

"Kaffa, would be nice," I said, wanting something to keep my hands busy and maybe relax me. As soon as I thought it, Thalia worked her magic and the tension left my neck and shoulders.

The Lieutenant had no sooner put the cup down next to me, than Admiral Plimson and two Vice Admirals entered the room. I bolted to my feet and stood at rigid attention before the Lieutenant could call Attention.

"At ease, Captain Reese. Let me introduce you to Vice Admirals Stenberg and Wattson. They will be part of the Inquiry Board."

"My pleasure, sirs," I said still at semi-attention."

"I see you brought protection," Stenberg said, smiling as he and the others found seats opposite me. Before I could respond, Plimson spoke.

"Our Captain seems to attract more than her share of killers. So, I've ordered a permanent detail to follow her. I doubt the gunny would let her go anywhere without guards even if I hadn't. The Army seems to have taken her under their wing." He pointed to Terril and smiled. "Well Reese, you seem to have attracted more trouble. The joint chiefs of staff, which Stenberg and Wattson are members, have decided it would be best to have the inquiry here rather than on Eden where it could become a circus, since a large number of individuals and organizations are vehemently against the Treaty. Why don't you give us an overview of the charges you've filed?"

"I knew Captain Lavett did not agree with the Treaty from the beginning, but I only learned …" I tried to give a brief overview, but bit-by-bit they pulled out every detail.

"I'm glad you were able to stop the mutiny. The truth would have been twisted around to blame you and the clans. And it wouldn't surprise me if you would have somehow been killed aiding the clans in a revolt." Plimson paused to take a sip of water. "The official inquiry will start tomorrow at nine hundred hours."

* * *

The inquiry took three weeks. Everyone who was directly or indirectly involved along with anyone who wanted to speak was interviewed. Lavett and Walden were sentenced to the Cerberus penal colony for life. In addition, twenty-one navy personnel were found guilty to some degree or another: four were given a year's confinement and dishonorable discharge, five were reduced in rank, including the Wasp Commander on the Saker, and the remaining twelve received letters of reprimand.

After the inquiry ended, Plimson asked to meet with me. When I entered his meeting room, Wattson and Stenberg were there along with the Admiral.

"Help yourself to kaffa or water and have a seat," Plimson said and waited as I poured a cup of kaffa and sat.

A ripple of laughter. I couldn't see what was so funny.

"Reese, we agree you did nothing to justify Lavett or Walden to mutiny. However, given their attitude towards the Treaty, some of your actions could have been interpreted as plotting with the clans." He held up his hand before I could respond. "In that case, he should have requested an inquiry into your actions, not taken it on himself to remove you. We believe part of the problem is that Lavett like almost all the SAS captains have more time-in-grade than you, yet you're the station commander. That will continue to be a problem."