"Interesting, while we ignored the essence of our MSA with the Riss, they were busy sabotaging the JPU fleet. We owe you and the Riss much." Zhu said. "Again we, the empires, are focused on today, while you see tomorrow. I would appreciate any suggestions and whatever you may wish to share about your future actions."
"I will ensure your factories know the codes that will activate the stealth chips on the JPU fighters and the specifications for new missiles that will hone in on them. You should upgrade all your cruisers with the new software." And Spiders, I mused. Life was getting complicated.
"You said the JPU cruisers now have Riss to help them execute accurate skips. That is going to neutralize our current advantage," Wattson said, his voice thick with disgust.
"The Riss will not aid the JPU in war. If they are unable to disable the ship, they will shut themselves down. If they do manage to disable the ship, I'd ask you to board the ship within twelve hours if possible. A Riss can survive that long without a functioning life support system." I didn't feel I should explain how she would disable the ship, since the same software protection was being installed on all cruisers using the Riss technology, including the Riss cruisers.
"Are you returning to Freeland?" Wattson asked.
"Yes. They have no cruisers to defend themselves."
"I understand, but couldn't you spare a few Riss cruisers to help when we encounter the JPU?" Wattson asked.
"I'll provide you with one or more Riss cruisers if you will provide me with an equivalent number, as a percentage of our fleets, to protect Freeland." I smiled.
Zhu gave a short laugh. "Unless I'm wrong, Wattson, that would be thirty-seven for one. We deal in such large numbers, we tend to forget how important one ship and one life are to the Riss Nation," Zhu said. "I'm restrained by the Emperor and his Imperial Parliament, but I would be willing to send a small task force to Freeland with you."
"I appreciate that, Admiral Zhu. In turn, I will see that they are equipped with the new missiles and software. You could then rotate them with others you want upgraded."
"I'll do the same," Wattson added, somewhat reluctantly.
* * *
The ride to the Riss enclave on Dunn the next morning was made in silence. When we arrived, we were met by a Riss, Stars in the night sky, and led on a narrow trail through a thickly treed area to a small lake, where some twenty Riss sat waiting.
"Sit, Terril. They have brought voice boxes, so I won't have to translate. You can ask any questions you want," I said.
**Why consider hosting Riss?** A Riss's voice box said.
"I believe your Leader is important to the Riss future...and the Riss are important to the SAS and the UFN."
**You do it for the SAS?**
Terril hesitated for a long time before answering. "I want the SAS to survive, but...Nadya...Leader Reese is someone worth protecting..."
I wandered off because the conversation was about me, and I wanted Terril to be able to answer without concern as to what I would think. I returned several hours later and called a halt for the day.
"That was strange. I've been around the Riss for years but never engaged them in a conversation. They are very perceptive. I think I'm getting the hang of it. It's my responsibility to understand the Riss and for them to understand me before we can reach a conclusion—whether I can live with the Riss philosophy and whether one of them can live with me," Terril said as we made camp for the night.
It wouldn't do to rush the process. It was too important, but I didn't want to waste time traveling to and from the Mnemosyne. The interview took an additional two full days.
* * *
"Well Terril, have you made a decision?" I asked. We had just arrived back on the Mnemosyne, and I planned to depart for Freeland that evening. I had sent the other Riss cruisers ahead yesterday.
"I haven't been so afraid since...for many years, but I'm willing. But I thought..."
"Yes, you and a Riss need to agree to the hosting. And yes, Seeker of shadows has agreed to be hosted by you."
"She was kind of a scout during the period when humans were hunting the Riss for their fur, wasn't she?"
"Yes. I think you and she will get along. Neither of you trusts anyone." I laughed. "Take yourself off to Doctor Dayton, and tell her you need a full physical."
* * *
"What happened?" Terril said as she sat up in bed. "Where is she?"
"Inside you. You are now a Riss-human, although it will take you and your companion, Seeker of shadows, time to get adjusted, and it won't always be fun."
"Now you tell me," Terril said, looking around.
"Your companion thinks in streaming vid; you often think in words. You can share each other's thoughts now, so speaking to her in words out loud would be slow and unnecessary. Your first exercise, therefore, is to get her accustomed to words in thought. For example, you can point to a door and think door. She will hear and probably repeat the word. You can also think in sentences. For example, this is a door, or I'm opening the door. Do this for a few days, and you two should be communicating effortlessly and soundlessly. Check in with me at least twice a day."
Terril rose, dressed, and wandered out of the infirmary with a dazed look in her eyes. Two Scorpions followed her with smiles on their faces.
"Why, Captain?" Seng asked. I had invited him to sit with me while I waited for Terril to wake up after the insertion.
"I have always trusted you and the Scorpions. I still do; however, times are changing. The Riss are now a nation with their own planet, and I've tried to make friends with all three empires. The Riss don't want or need enemies. I've succeeded with the SAS and the UFN. The detached units were meant to be part of an MSA and an open door policy. But mixing the three cultures—SAS, UFN, and Freeland—won't work. So how do I provide the Riss-humans with security? I obviously can't use SAS security when a UFN attached unit is on board, etc. So the only solution I could come up with was a Riss security unit, and Terril agreed to head it."
"I see your point. Life was easier when it was all SAS and Riss. I don't envy you trying to be neutral." He laughed. "Kind of makes everyone your enemy, since no one will trust you."
* * *
"Alright, Ananke and I are ready for the next exercise," Terril said as she sat down next to me at lunch on the fifth day.
"Ananke?"
"Yes, the goddess of fate. We both liked the idea that it was our destiny."
"This exercise, Ananke will enjoy but you will hate. But it's necessary if you are going to utilize her power. Ananke needs to take control of your body, so she can understand exactly how it works."
"It's yours," Terril said—and staggered away, fell onto her knees, lurched back up and into a wall, and finally stumbled into the hallway. That wasn't as bad as I remembered it. But worse was coming. The mood swings were the nightmare of nightmares.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Freeland: Decisions
I didn't need to do anything to get everyone's attention; the room of almost fifty people was deathly quiet. On my arrival in Freeland, I had called for a meeting of the elders, Riss-humans, and senior staff on each of the Riss cruisers, and the senior captain in charge of the SAS and UFN squadrons.
"It's decision time." I began, looking around the room, which contained many faces that had been with me for years, through good times and bad. "The JPU has done what the aliens couldn't do. They have divided the empires. Not against each other but through isolationism. Although the Riss, UFN, and SAS have MSAs, the ruling bodies on both Daiyu and Eden have refused to honor the agreements. Instead, they have positioned their fleets to defend their capitals. The only reason the Riss still have detached units is because of leaders like Admiral Plimson and Admiral Zhu, who value our relationship. Since the empires won't honor the MSA, the Riss are forced to return to Freeland, which is now a Riss system, to provide them protection."
"How does that create a problem?" Colonel Seng asked.
"Many of you will rightly want to be with the SAS or UFN fleet if the JPU invades your system. If you stay with the Riss, I cannot guarantee you will see action here on Freeland or elsewhere. It's not that I wish to avoid fighting them. Trust me, I want them stopped more than anyone. The JPU see the Riss as animals to be killed for their hides, and the Freelanders as raiders and pests to be exterminated. If they capture Freeland, I believe it would become a JPU hunting playground for the rich and privileged."
"And if people want to leave?" Byer asked.
"Admirals Zhu and Wattson have each sent a squadron under Commanders Wai and Glover as a show of their support for the Riss. In turn, I've agreed to upgrade those cruisers with new software and missiles and conduct training exercises. When the upgrades are completed, they will return to their assigned fleet and another squadron will be sent to replace them. So, anyone who wants to return could return with them."
"Commander Wai, Commander Glover, if it isn't classified, what are your orders?" Byer asked.
"Fleet Admiral Zhu instructed me to support Leader Reese while I was on Freeland," Wai said, giving a small bow in my direction.
"Pretty much the same from Admiral Wattson," Glover said, then smiled. "I am not under her command; however, I had better have counter orders from on high if I don't follow hers." That elicited laughs, side conversations, and a nod from Commander Wai.
"We'll discuss it, but it sounds like the people who...we report to and take orders from, value the MSA and don't want to abandon it. That's enough for me," Byer said to what I thought sounded like general agreement.
* * *
"That was worse than commando boot-camp," Terril said. "But you were right. Ananke gave me a demonstration yesterday. It's like being superwoman. And being able to feel people's emotions? Wow. I can understand why that is a well-kept secret." She gave the room full of Riss-humans a conspiratorial look. "Knowing that would make most people really nervous. Especially those of us who have learned to control our expressions. It explains the interviews you conduct to certify crews. You're using their emotions to sense the truth of what they say. Not perfect, but a huge advantage."
"You're right, Terril. It is something that would cause a lot of unnecessary tension between us and the humans. And we tend to be careful about divulging the number of years we can potentially live. It would create unhealthy working conditions," Pavao said.
"You can understand now why the head of Riss security had best be a Riss-human," I said.
"I thought the initial reasons you gave me a bit weak, but I see now you couldn't explain without giving away things best kept secret. I wasn't sure about having another intelligent being inside me...but I'm actually enjoying...Ananke. She is an interesting person with good insights."
"Good. I leave the creation of the Riss-human security unit to you and Ananke. Any thoughts?"
"Not yet. Ananke and I are still getting adjusted, but we have discussed a couple of options. When I have something solid, I'll run it by you."
"What now, Leader?" Damaass asked the question on everyone's mind. "Knowing you, I doubt you are going to sit amount and wait for your boyfriend, Neifeh, to return for a date."
"No. He was a little too macho for me. The first priority is the Riss-human security unit. The next priority is creating a string of guardians to provide some protection against another invasion. Then additional Blue Kraits and Wraiths detached units. Of course, upgrading and training the UFN and SAS squadrons—"
"Enough, Nadya! Damaass, take back the question. She has my head spinning." Pavao shook her head.
"Good, we need many more new Riss fighters and pilots. You can work with Damaass on acquiring the fighters and pilots and maybe some kind of optical device for detecting stealth fighters."
"Sorry I opened my mouth. Cethlion did warn me," Pavao said in amused frustration.
Everyone in the room gave a knowing smile. Obviously, Cethlion gave Pavao some comment about nothing too difficult for a High Riss.
"To answer the question you really want answered, I don't know. I've been pondering the question for weeks. There are many good scenarios; however, it's Admiral Neifeh's response that's the problem. He's erratic, and that makes him unpredictable. Salazar's response was far more predictable—when he got really mad he took out his hammer. Neifeh has the same reaction, although he is capable of using restraint, to delay the hammer if he can achieve his goal by pretending to give in. Freeland was a good example. I need to know his approximate response. A surprise response could result in the destruction of the Riss and Freeland."
* * *
"Iglis, what do you hear from the SAS and UFN?" I asked, opening my weekly meeting. Three months had come and gone in a whirlwind of non-stop activity, night-and-day, and Freeland now had SAS and UFN Comstats.
"It appears Lycus, Fool's Hope, and now Fool's Landing have become black-holes, like when the aliens began quarantining systems. I don't know how that helps the JPU. None of those systems are strategic or have military bases or repair facilities."
"My guess is that, like the aliens, they are probing: will the SAS send a force to free those planets? How large? Will it include the UFN? Or maybe it's a trap. I'm a little surprised, since I believe Neifeh is a hammer-type of commander. He believes in overwhelming force."
"Byer, what about people wanting to be returned to the SAS?"
"I have eighteen from the eight ships, but I doubt any of them think they won't see action with you. Most requests stem from family or personal reasons," Byer said, smiling.
"Twelve, with roughly the same reasons. The betting is heavy on where, when, and how many—you have always been their totem." He laughed. "I think they would replace the Scorpions on their patches with your face, if they could."