* * *
We entered Eden space five days later. I hoped that this time, the home fleet was somewhat used to the Riss, and we wouldn't have the hassle we had last time. Just to be sure, I send Admiral Plimson a separate message, letting him know I had news for him.
Instantly, an elderly man with grey hair and a round, chubby, clean-shaven face appeared.
"Welcome to Eden, Captain Reese. The Home fleet is a bit jumpy with the JPU invasion of Freeland, so the Red Tailed Hawk will be your escort to Aidoneus, the Eden space station, where you have a berth assigned. Admiral Plimson sends his regards and will have a shuttle awaiting your arrival." He smiled. "Any news you can share with me about Freeland?"
"The Riss are back in command of Freeland, for now." I smiled.
"That's good news. I see the Red Tail is in position." He cut the connection.
A red-haired woman in her thirties appeared, smiling.
"Welcome to Eden, Captain Reese. I'm glad you have your lights on. Admiral Gleason thought it safer if you had an escort. We have a lot of new captains, and the rumors have everyone jumpy. In fact, one of those rumors has you killed during the JPU invasion of Freeland." She laughed. "Looks like we can discount that one, but I would sure like to know which ones are right."
"It will probably be far more exciting in the retelling than it was in reality," I said, reluctant to say much, as it would generate a bunch of new rumors. She was good and didn't press the issue. We must have had priority at Aidoneus, because I noticed several cruisers waiting to be parked as we docked. We had no sooner shut off the engines than I was notified a shuttle was waiting permission to enter the Mnemosyne.
"What now, Leader?" Terril asked as she and another Scorpion followed me on our way to the shuttle bay.
"I'd like to get Seng and Byer's attachments on board, if they are available. What about you? You are certainly due a long leave."
"Why, I've been on vacation for a year. I'm due back on duty." She smiled. "You've had entirely too much freedom over the past year."
I laughed. Being unable to guard me had been an itch Terril had been unable to scratch. Only the distraction of creating a Scorpion-like detachment had kept her sane.
"You would have killed Admiral Neifeh, and then what?"
"He wouldn't be invading the SAS."
"And there would be no Freeland."
"Can't have everything," she said, then sobered. "You were lucky, Nadya. I'd rather not count on luck where you're concerned. You need a full-time keeper, because you take too many risks. We need to keep you, Plimson, and Zhu around for as long as possible."
Terril and I lapsed into silence. When the shuttle reached planet-side, a limo waited, and we were driven to the Military Defense Headquarters, Apollo. I had obviously been expected, and it took only a few minutes for me and my Scorpions to clear security. When the elevator opened on Plimson's floor, a female Lieutenant Commander stood waiting.
"Leader Reese, if you will follow me, Admiral Plimson is anxious to see you. Your security can make themselves comfortable in the waiting room...although Gunny Terril can accompany you," she said with a snort. "She does have the Admiral's permission."
Terril gave me a so there nod. When I entered the office, the Commander followed behind Terril. Plimson rose from behind his desk, smiling.
"It's a relief to find you alive and safe, Nadya. Most thought it unlikely you had survived, or that if you had, that you could get free. Have a seat," he said, waving me to one of the padded chairs as he adjusted another to face me. "I see my trusty guard-dog is still by your side."
"I'm her favorite bone. She gets very agitated when I'm not in her sight," I said, and Plimson laughed.
"I know you are an independent nation, but if I had my way, I'd make a special security force with Gunny Terril in charge, to keep you safe. It's not that I wouldn't trust Pavao and the other Riss humans, but...it's like Admiral Zhu is fond of saying, Reese can see the future.'"
"In the beginning, I felt a constant security team was excessive, but it has proven necessary for me and the other Riss humans. Terril has saved my life more than once. I'm probably going to regret saying this, but I believe it might be a reasonable solution for all the Riss-humans," I said. I could feel Terril smiling—mentally even though it hadn't touched her lips.
"Good. I've asked Commander Knight to join us to help expedite whatever you've come here to accomplish."
"Yes, I'd like to get my original Mnemosyne detachment back on board, if they haven't been reassigned."
"I've had them assigned here at Eden in the meantime as advisors, because of their extensive combat experience. Commander Knight will see to getting them reassigned to the Mnemosyne. Won't surprise me if they are waiting for transportation to Aidoneus right now." He laughed. "Now, what happened on Freeland?"
"When Admiral Neifeh entered Freeland with his fleet of one hundred and fifty-seven cruisers..." I spent the next three hours relating the events of the past year, including our sabotage of the upgraded JPU fleet and the final battle with Admiral Huber.
"How did you know...no MSA, Damaass in a year...?"
"I don't know, Admiral Plimson—"
"Albert in private, Nadya."
"Albert. Although it sounds like I knew what would happen and what we would do in response, I didn't. Intuitively, I felt it would be resolved in a year, one way or the other. And I knew I needed to stay."
"I'm beginning to agree with Admiral Zhu. You and Thalia appear to see or sense the future better than most of us who tend to focus on today," he said.
Yes, I mused, thinking maybe it was Thalia who created the...intuition.
"You need to get that information to Admiral Wattson. He's using Echo as his headquarters. Are you planning on returning to Freeland, Nadya?"
"Initially. As soon as Commander Knight can get my detached units on board, I'm going to Dunn to collect the Riss Navy. We have some decisions to make," I said, not really sure what we could or should do. We had an MSA, but that worked both ways—where they going to help protect Freeland, or would we have to do it on our own?
"I don't think that is going to be much of a problem," Knight interrupted, grinning. "I've been in contact with Colonel Seng, Commander Byer, and Commander Iglis while you talked. They believe they can be ready in two days."
"Good, I'd like you to have dinner with me and some of my senior commanders tonight. They need to be updated, and you are the best person to answer any questions they will have. Commander Knight, invite Byer, Seng, and Iglis, and see to getting Leader Reese quarters on Eden." He rose, signaling the meeting was over. "Nadya, that will give you a few hours to refresh yourself before dinner and keep you available if the need arises."
* * *
"Well Terril, have you given Plimson's suggestion any thought?" I asked as we sat relaxing in my assigned officer's quarters. Judging by the number of rooms and their size, I would imagine I had been assigned senior admiral's quarters.
"Yes, he cares a great deal about you, as I do, and wants to keep you safe, but in the end, you are an independent nation and Admiral Plimson's wants and or suggestions aren't binding on you. I would imagine he'd like to stash you someplace out of harm's way, but knows he can't. It's not your style, which is the reason he worries about you."
"If you had your way?" I asked. This issue gave me a headache. Unfortunately, I agreed the Riss-humans needed protection, if somewhat less than in previous years. But they are critical to the Riss Navy, and we couldn't afford to lose even one, especially now that we were at war with the JPU.
"Your safety gives me a Medusa-sized headache, Nadya. And as you expand the Riss Navy, bringing on Freeland and UFN and yes, additional SAS crews, the risk increases. And mixing Scorpion guards with UFN or Freeland crews does not seem to be a recipe for promoting harmony." She shook her head like a snowcat after a swim and picked up her kaffa.
I saw her point and agreed with her, but that didn't help produce a solution.
"You and the others need a special security unit, but damned if I know what that would look like. If you figure it out, let me know," Terril said in obvious frustration as she rose and headed for the door. "Fortunately, we are saved by the bell because it's time to leave. I'm informed Commander Knight has arrived."
* * *
When I arrived, Knight led me to a private room, where Admiral Plimson, General Garret, another Admiral, two vice admirals, Commander Byer, Colonel Seng, and Commander Iglis were standing around talking.
"Nice to see you alive, Leader Reese. I see you haven't been able to ditch Gunny Terril," Garret said as I approached.
"I've stopped trying, and that's a good thing. You and Admiral Plimson were right to assign Terril to me and give her unconditional authority. I'm alive today because you did."
"Yes, gunnies are the backbone of the army, and Terril is one of our best," he said, looking to Terril. "But now that you are no longer part of the SAS, you can ignore Terril, since our order no longer carries any authority over you. Having UFN and Freeland detachments complicates matters, but I imagine you've considered that. Do you have a solution or proposal?" He asked.
I couldn't help a laugh. "I get a headache every time I think about it. As you recognize, the issues are many and complex." I was saved from further discussion when Plimson and the other four admirals headed in our direction.
"Leader Reese, I'd like you to formally meet Admiral Gleason, who is in charge of Home Fleet, which includes SAS Fleet two, commanded by Rear Admiral Yorke, and three, commanded by Rear Admiral Nicklaus," he said, nodding to each individual as he mentioned their name. "Fleet one is currently operating out of Echo, four out of Wahoo, and five out of Blue Canyon."
"We're very interested in hearing the details of the JPU occupation and your...escape," Yorke said. "There has been much discussion on why you chose not to fight. You did have a sizeable SAS force in Freeland space at the time.
"The Riss are not suicidal, Admiral Yorke. Nor do they wish to see others die needlessly. There is a difference between being willing to fight but choosing not to and being afraid to fight." I said. I saw Byer and Seng nodding agreement. "Although I didn't ask for assistance under our MSA, the SAS made no attempt free Freeland. Was that a choice or fear?" I asked. Yorke's face flushed in anger, but Gleason spoke before he could reply.
"Admiral Plimson was considering doing just that, but the SAS Council wouldn't allow it. They realized it would take at least three fleets, and that would leave the SAS vulnerable and would decimate the SAS navy."
"Why should we defend Freeland when you wouldn't? Besides, Freeland's a planet full of Raiders," Yorke said, his face a sneer.
"So you and the Council consider the current MSA a one-way arrangement?" I asked. Before anyone could reply, Plimson interrupted.
"Gentlemen, ladies, let's have dinner, and then over drinks Leader Reese can bring us up to date and answer any questions we have."
* * *
It was a long evening, and didn't break up until the early hours of the morning. When it did, Byer, Seng, and Iglis followed me back to my quarters.
"You're lucky you survived," Iglis said after we got settled with drinks and a hastily prepared breakfast from the dining room.
"I agree," Terril said to everyone's surprise, from across the room.
"It was a gamble, but there were only two options. One, reach an agreement with Admiral Neifeh where we appeared to cooperate and he delayed destroying Freeland, or two, let him destroy Freeland and the Riss."
"I'm glad you stopped in Eden to get us," Byer said. "My people are excited and should be ready to go within twenty-four hours or less.
"The Scorpions also," Seng said.
"Good, I'm asking Admiral Wattson to meet me in Dunn. That way I won't have to tell the story twice, and I'm anxious to get back to Freeland as fast as possible."
"Do you expect the JPU to return?" Iglis asked, alluding to the question everyone had on their minds—aren't we going to join the SAS to fight the JPU? Because if you are right, they are or will shortly be invading the SAS.
"No, but they could at some point, and Freeland needs to be protected. You heard Admiral Yorke, and I doubt he's alone in his feelings. The SAS isn't interested in protecting ex-Raiders or Riss, regardless of an MSA," I said. I wasn't surprised by his attitude or the Council's. It just reinforced my impression that an agreement between individuals was much better than treaties.
Just then, Terril opened the door and Admiral Plimson walked in.
"After Yorke's comments, I thought I needed to talk to you," he said, grabbing a cup of kaffa and sitting.
"Excellent timing, Admiral. I believe the SAS detached units might also have concerns. They rightly want to defend their homeland and might not agree with my choices."
"I trust you, Nadya. Your actions have always benefited the SAS, and I believe you will continue to support the SAS regardless of our less than full support of you. I continue to authorize SAS detached units on Riss cruisers, and you have my full and unconditional support. Byer, Seng, Iglis?" Plimson looked to each of them.