"This is not my decision. You and Admiral Zhu must answer to your governments, and I would imagine many in both empires would gladly sacrifice a thousand Riss to avoid a war with the JPU." Probably the vast majority, I conceded, not even sure I blamed them.
"That is very true, Leader Reese, and understandable—a hundred thousand countrymen, friends, and family's lives versus a thousand aliens—if short sighted. But then most nations tend to worry more about today than tomorrow."
"I understand. I just need to know so I can evacuate the Riss and recall my cruisers to defend Freeland. Although the Freelanders aren't Riss, I don't feel like we can abandon them without a fight."
"What do you think of our chances of defeating Admiral Haddad's fleet here and now?" Wattson asked, but didn't say whether he meant for Zhu or me to answer.
Thinking Zhu probably wanted my assessment also, I answered.
"Unless one side surrendered, which I doubt, the winner would be lucky to survive with ten percent operational. Admiral Haddad has a large numerical advantage, while we have the Riss technology. I think it could go either way."
"That's my assessment," Zhu said. Wattson nodded.
"I agree. Do you think they will let us retreat without a treaty?"
"Yes. Haddad is arrogant enough to believe he will win, but smart enough to know he would lose his invasion force—or enough of it to make it impossible to carry out the Supreme Council's directive to wipe out the Riss."
"Do you think he will attack Freeland?" Wattson asked.
"Yes. It would please the Supreme Council, and I wouldn't doubt Haddad believes he could destroy Freeland with minimum losses. Then he can wait for more of his super-Heavies to come off the production line before trying Saipha or Dunn."
"What do you think, Leader Reese?" Zhu asked.
"If we had support, I believe he would lose. If the Riss have to stand alone, he will win, because I will have to abandon Freeland when it becomes obvious we can't win." Harsh, but it wouldn't make sense to permit the annihilation of the Riss Nation when the final result would be the same if we stayed.
"You have always supported the UFN, so I have a proposal, Leader Reese. I can remove my squadrons from Dunn, if you will permit me to transport the Freelanders and Riss on Dunn. That would permit me to send four additional squadrons to Daiyu and release Riss-captain Zhang and an additional eight squadrons to support Freeland."
"I accept with profound gratitude from the Riss, but leave Zhang in Daiyu as my commitment to the UFN." Zhu was taking a considerable risk, as I had done when I created a Riss technology center on Dunn.
"Plimson would want me to do the same, Leader Reese. Not that I don't agree, mind you. If we can crush Haddad's invasion force, it would give us a breather. What about the Riss on Saipha?" Wattson asked.
The question made me sick. Where could I move them? Not Eden, nor Dunn now, and would Freeland be putting the Riss at more risk, especially if I were wrong and somehow Haddad defeated us at Freeland?"
"Leave them at Saipha. I think Admiral Haddad is less impulsive than Salazar or Neifeh, and handpicked by the Supreme Council. Attacking Saipha first would be inconsistent with his orders. That would be declaring war on the SAS and could sidetrack him from his primary objective. I think Freeland will be first."
"Alright, we will meet at Freeland." Wattson cut the connect.
"Admiral Haddad, that is not a decision I can make for the United Council or that Admiral Zhu can make for the Emperor. We are withdrawing now and will give our governments your proposal."
"I await your decision." Shortly afterward, the JPU force began turning off their weapons systems.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Freeland: The Wait
Nowadays, I was unwilling to assume anything. Better to be considered paranoid than surprised. When we entered, the space seemed to be normal, but I was surprised when the VTH lit with nine tags, I1-9, obviously representing the current Iris platforms. It was interesting that Iris not only recognized us, but that it allowed us to recognize them.
"Welcome home, dybbuk. We are starved for news. The Comstats are particularly quiet. They did indicate there had been a reorganization in the chain of command. But that was confusing since it mentioned Plimson and Zhu, who were already in command."
"All will be made clear when everyone arrives. Alert the Riss-humans and the elders there will be an emergency meeting within the next eight hours. Imperial Fleet Admiral Zhu and Admiral Wattson will be arriving shortly. I hope Iris can recognize unmodified UFN and SAS cruisers."
"I'll make sure the stations are manned. It should be a good test," Damaass said, smiling. "Sounds exciting. It's been very boring here."
"Careful what you wish for," I said, and cut the connection.
* * *
Over the next two hours, the UFN and SAS squadrons began arriving. Zhu immediately used the UFN Comstat he had installed on Freeland to redeploy the Dunn forces: four of the squadrons to Daiyu, six to leave immediately for Freeland—which was an eight-day trip, and two to remain to evacuate the Riss and Freeland personnel. They were expected to arrive two-to-four days later. Not sure how much time we had before Admiral Haddad would invade Freeland, the meeting was scheduled for two hours after the Eurasian, Dynasty, and Mnemosyne made orbit. The first meeting was restricted to the elders, Riss-humans, Wattson, and Zhu.
"Let me begin by bringing you up to date on what has occurred since we left Freeland. No questions, please..." I spent an hour summarizing our movements and engagements, ending with our encounter with Admiral Haddad. "I know you must have a thousand questions, but first I'd like to know what has been happening on Freeland. We have to assume we don't have a lot of time to get organized."
"As you have probably noticed, we now have nine Iris platforms operational and another two in production," Damaass said. "Your arrival was a good test. Iris failed to recognize two of the cruisers, and we are updating the database as we speak. We have two functional fifteen-Wraith-fighter and fifty-Krait detachments."
"So, an Iris can recognize cruisers and..." Wattson asked.
"An Iris platform has fifty demons, two dragonflies, two dusters, five dummies, and twenty-five Ghost-fighter missiles—"
"Ghost-fighter missiles?" Wattson asked.
"Yes, Neifeh's Ghost fighters are equipped with chips that the Ghost-fighter missiles can identify and track. The Eirene, Maat, Elpis, and the Mnemosyne Ghosts are equipped with the new missiles," Damaass said.
"Impressive. How many do they fire at a time? How long to reload?"
"They fire four at a time, but have no reload time."
"Very impressive. That could be the equivalent of...three or four cruisers."
"True, would you like to buy some?" I said, enlisting smiles and laughs around the table.
"I imagine we will. Cheaper than cruisers and less manpower." Wattson laughed. "For now, we need a strategy in anticipation of Admiral Haddad's visit. I think we can assume the worst case, meaning he brings the entire one-hundred-fifty-seven-strong invasion-force with him."
"Or more," I said. "I would assume the worst case also in terms of the SAS and UFN being dumb enough to return to Freeland in support of the Riss."
Zhu nodded. "I tend to agree with Leader Reese. Admiral Haddad is more conservative than his late predecessors and was probably handpicked by the Supreme Council. His immediate priority is Freeland. After that, he can rest, if necessary, while he waits on those super-Heavies."
"And what better place to wait than Freeland, where he has a planet to entertain his fleet," I said, watching the faces of the elders turn white as the full significance of this invasion sunk in. The JPU was not the SAS. They had proven themselves not merely vengeful, but depraved. "Elders, we need the plants going twenty-four-seven, since we don't know when they will show. The priority should be Ghost-fighter missiles, replenishing SAS and UFN missiles, and helping to repair any damaged ships...and getting two Riss on every ship in Freeland space." I hated the idea with every fiber of my being, but it could make the difference.
"Thank you, Reese. You're right. That may make the difference, especially if Haddad shows before Admiral Zhu's cruisers arrive. I propose we station several squadrons close to the Wave, along with half the Irises, then a second line about a light-second away, and the remaining forces an additional six light seconds away. On command, the second line can move up and replace the first, and eventually, both groups pull back to the main force to regroup."
"I would agree. Kill or disable as many as possible as they enter Freeland space. Since they can only enter a squadron at a time, that will be the time when they are most vulnerable," Zhu said. "Then reevaluate our numbers and positions."
"I'll be with the first line. If we can tie their VTH with mine, I and the Riss on board their ships can help direct their fire, so we aren't all shooting at the same ship. Captain Damaass can direct the second line, and Captain Pavao the main force."
"Why you?" Zhu asked, like he sensed the Riss discussion taking place. "Neither Admiral Wattson nor I are going to be in the front line."
"The Riss VTH will identify cruisers the SAS and UFN won't. Pavao, Damaass, and I have the most tactical experience, so we need to be where it can be utilized. And everyone has convinced me I can get into the enemies' minds. So, logically the first line is the best position for me. I'm not suicidal, but if Admiral Haddad gets a good foothold on Freeland with his invasion force intact, we are all going to die."
"The old argument. If you are the right person to be Leader, then we have to assume your decisions are right." Zhu laughed softly.
"I'll call a meeting of all the Captains and XOs to work out the details. I suspect we'll only get one chance to get it right," Wattson said.
The next two days were hectic, as we rushed to get everything in place for an attack that could come at any minute. The Captains were briefed on the strategy, the first and second lines identified, Riss assigned to each cruiser, the cruisers sent to their assigned positions, and the Irises were moved into their new locations. While we waited, Damaass and I conducted mockup exercises with the VTHs. Six days had passed and still no JPU. I called a meeting of the elders and the Riss-humans. Not wanting to leave my position on the front line, I had Alena bring the elders to the Mnemosyne.
"We don't know what is going to happen when...if Admiral Haddad invades Freeland. He could have as many as two hundred cruisers with ten super-Heavies. If he arrives before the UFN detail from Dunn, he will outnumber us by sixty cruisers. That's taking into account the Irises are equivalent to three cruisers. And even if the Riss technology gives us a twenty-percent advantage, they still will outnumber us by twenty cruisers. If the UFN show before the JPU, we will have a slight advantage—maybe ten to fifteen percent." I paused for comments. When only silence greeted me, I continued. "I want you to understand the Riss will do everything we can to protect Freeland; however, if at any point I or whoever becomes Leader determines the invasion force will win, the Riss cruisers will desert Freeland."
"And the Riss on Freeland?" Elder Sa'Velte asked.
"Yes. I'll desert you and the hundreds of defenseless Riss to be hunted and skinned alive for Haddad's sick amusement or vengeance or whatever drives men like Salazar and Neifeh." I had to stop, as bile rose into my month, and I gagged on the images. "But as Leader of the Riss, I made the Riss responsible for confining the JPU to their systems. They cannot honor that commitment without ships and without Riss-humans."
"Since you left, we have been organizing for just such an event. The JPU will not find the Freelanders as much fun as they imagine," Ni'Shay said, to nods from the others. "Knowing the JPU's fate at the hands of the Riss will help ease the suffering."
* * *
The VTH began tagging them: JH1, JH2, JL1...which designated JPU Heavy or Light and a sequential number.
With Thalia's help, the process was almost immediate. As soon as Thalia thought it, r-Galene sent the message in the form: SS1aL1J1LI, which translated into SAS Squadron 1 Light 1 assigned target tagged J1L1.
I knew if I had to make the assignments, it would have slowed down the process by many seconds in the beginning and become increasingly slower as time went on. Worse yet, I would have begun missing assignments. The process was extremely complex. Heavies had twelve tubes, Hunters ten, and Lights eight, and their time to reload varied. So the Lights could fire eight Demons every sixty seconds, the Hunters could fire ten every thirty seconds, and the Heavies twelve every fifty seconds. And there were two SAS and one UFN squadron in the first line and four Irises. Only a Riss could maintain that in memory—like a chess master playing fifty games simultaneously.