by C. R. Daems
By now, the space station was an inferno, as forty-eight Demons from the Eirene and the Mnemosyne scored hits against the platform and the docked cruisers. The Mnemosyne shuddered again.
As I watched, the two platforms were consumed with multiple explosions and eventually disappeared from the VTH. I closed my eyes and tried not to think of the lives lost. I tried to blame Admiral Neifeh and those in the Supreme Council who authorized his actions, but it wasn't his missiles that caused the destruction. Maybe when this conflict was resolved, we should build enough ships to hold all the Riss and leave. My head felt like it had a space battle going on inside.
* * *
The taskforce spent the next three days repairing the damage to equipment and personnel. The SAS had lost four cruisers, and ten needed repairs. The UFN had lost one cruiser, and four needed repairs. The number of deaths wasn't discussed. It was much easier to discuss cruisers and equipment like no humans were there.
"I suggest Afyon, then Sarosh next," Wattson said. It was just Zhu and me on the connection.
Those seemed like logical choices, as they were the closest to our present position. We knew Neifeh would have to set a trap for us or let us destroy all the systems in the JPU. But it was impossible to know where, so in the meantime we had to keep up the pressure.
"Fine with me," I said.
"I agree," Zhu said.
"Same order of attack?" Wattson asked.
"Yes," both Zhu and I said together.
"We leave in eight hours. See you in Afyon." He cut the connection.
"Any concerns, Pavao?" I'd had her connected during Wattson's conference call.
"I'm just glad Admiral Neifeh decided to stop in and get his invasion force upgraded by the Riss. Even so, one hundred fifty-seven cruisers is a lot of cruisers. Any preferences?"
"No. We can decide when we see how they are configured. Our priority is to distract or take out the most dangerous threat to the taskforce."
* * *
The entry into Afyon was uneventful. No one was watching the wave. Only two squadrons were present, and they were in orbit around Afyon or docked at its space station. We were still five hours out when the taskforce began entering. Soon afterward, both squadrons—minus the five ships docked at the station—began moving to meet them.
Five hours later, we were within a half light-second of the station, and activity to and from the station looked frantic. Only one of the cruisers appeared to be ready to depart.
Watching the VTH, the JPU cruisers had met the taskforce with predictable results.
Based on the VTH, the Eirene and Mnemosyne's launch arrived within seconds of each other—like a fireworks display.
Pavao and I fired a third round, but it was hardly necessary—explosions were igniting a chain reaction which nothing could escape. We rendezvoused with the taskforce six hours later. Wattson and Zhu decided to stay two full days to take care of repairs and rest the crews. Afyon had been easy, but no one expected this to continue. Eventually, Neifeh would show with his invasion force. Wattson and Zhu felt we had the tactical advantage because of the sabotage at Freeland, but if Neifeh had his invasion force intact, then he had the numerical advantage by close to fifty cruisers. There was little doubt we could destroy the JPU invasion fleet, but the cost could be the destruction of the taskforce.
CHAPTER TWENTY
JPU - Sarosh: Game change.
Seconds later, red lights flashed throughout the ship and SIDs announced the status change. As usual, the Eirene and the Mnemosyne would be entering first. This time I had asked for a two-hour window, since Sarosh was a major JPU repair-and-manufacturing facility. The extra hour would give Pavao and me time to position ourselves for a major distraction if necessary.
Within seconds, the VTH sprang to life and the immediate area appeared clear. I shook my head like a dog after a swim. The three empires were at war, and the JPU systems appeared uninterested.
Pavao's face appeared, looking concerned. "Nadya, something is wrong. I feel it in my bones."
"I agree, Nance. Wait."
"Do you see what I do?" I asked as the VTH filled with over a hundred tags.
"I think we found the JPU invasion fleet. Now what?"
"I'm going to leave this decision to Wattson and Zhu," I snorted. "Hopefully, the JPU will expect us to continue toward Sarosh, planning a surprise ambush when we get inside that crescent. If they decide to stay and engage Neifeh, maybe you and I can destroy Neifeh's flagship."
"Sounds reasonable." Pavao laughed. "Does his ship have a chip?"
"No, but his Riss technology software has Spiders we can activate. Besides, the Riss on board will help." I felt sick the minute I said it, knowing those sisters would be killed as soon as it was discovered they weren't cooperating.
Two hours later, the first squadron left the Wave, followed by another every thirty-five seconds. I waited until the fifth squadron entered, which would include the Eurasian.
"What's up, Reese?"
"We found Neifeh's invasion force. They have been waiting for us at minimum power. Well over a hundred, positioned about four light seconds from the Wave." As I said it, the JPU cruisers began initiating Battle Stations.
"Welcome to Sarosh. I am Fleet Admiral Haddad with a bit of news and an offer. First, Admiral Neifeh has been executed for his incompetence. Not only did he leave our capital unprotected, but he allowed Freeland to sabotage his fleet. We heard about the Riss causing several UFN cruisers to skip into each other rather that attack other Riss cruisers. The event was too spectacular not to leak out. I can just imagine what other problems they inserted into the technology. So I had all of the Riss technology removed from the modified ships, the Riss skinned alive, and have one skin in my office and one in my conference room as a reminder. As a consequence, the Supreme Council has commissioned me to eradicate the Riss, beginning with Freeland."
His words echoed in my mind, as my blood pounded through my veins like a flood-ravaged river. I had sentenced sisters to death by putting them on JPU ships.
I sent, feeling the shame of my action.
"We have replaced the animals' technology with our newest JPU mini-Medusas." He laughed. "Each of our squadrons now has a super-Heavy, and twenty-five more are in production. So, if the SAS will give up their Riss on Saipha and the UFN the Riss on Dunn, the JPU will sign a non-aggression treaty with you. Take as long as you wish to decide. I'm not going anywhere."
"Admiral Haddad, this is Leader Reese. My words are the words o
f the Riss, and I say the JPU is a disease that the Riss are now committed to confining to its planets. It may take ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, but we will eventually succeed."
* * *
Wattson's face was frowning.
Zhu stood stroking his chin in thought.
"Gentlemen," I said, my mind incapable of focusing as it raced through a thousand possible scenarios: stay and fight, evacuate the Riss, run where...
"Any suggestions?" Wattson asked.
"I kind of like Leader Reese's suggestion to confine the JPU to their planets, but the enemy certainly isn't cooperating with our planned strategy. With the Riss technology, we have an advantage, but with their new super cruisers, not enough to overcome their fifty-cruiser advantage."
"Agreed," Wattson said. "And what would a non-aggression treaty mean to the JPU, other than time to build a fleet of super cruisers. Reese?"
"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 cr
uisers 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."
