by C. R. Daems
"That's going to take some adjustment for a lot of us."
"Ananke will help."
I hoped I was right about Haddad and his options as the ship prepared for war.
I watched as the VTH came alive. Nothing.
Immediately, the Riss ships appeared, tagged: R-1 through R-6. Then one tagged JS-1 and then JH-1, JL-1...twenty ships, all lying with only minimal power. I thanked Admiral Neifeh for letting Freeland upgrade his ships. I suspected these twenty ships had been part of his original invasion force. The question was how many unmodified cruisers were part of this reception committee?
"That bitch Ioana will live forever in the JPU gallery of infamy," Pavao said, grinning. "They might as well have their weapon systems hot."
"Let's ignore them for now and see what kind of entertainment Usak provides closer to the planet."
"That cruiser next the Wave exit is probably there to get help," Zhang said.
"I agree, Zhang. I wonder if it's to let Sarosh know it's next, or to get reserves. It seems that sudden Comstat silence would be faster in either case. We will talk again at two light-seconds from Usak." I cut the connection.
* * *
As we approached the two-light-second mark, the picture at Usak became clear: a space station, three manufacturing platforms, two super-Heavies, and two more standard squadrons.
"Another squadron and two super-Heavies protecting a space station and three manufacturing platforms. Any suggestions?"
"Take out the supers, station, platforms, and the two squadrons and leave," Jaelle said, to my surprise. Generally, she was laid back, observing.
"Yes, we are here to cripple their capacity first, then their existing force, all with the minimum losses possible. Damaass and Alena, get in position to take out the super-heavies. Afterward, you are to destroy the platforms while we entertain the closest squadron. You can use two red-Wraiths on each super-Heavy and one on each platform, because I want you to join us heading for the Wave two minutes after the super-Heavies are destroyed. I don't plan on engaging the other two squadrons or totally destroying this squadron, just to keep them busy for you. Destroy Usak's ability to build more cruisers and leave, is today's mission. Jaelle will engage JH-1, and I'll take JH-2, while Zhang and Pavao split the Lights. We'll skip toward the Wave on Damaass's done-signal and proceed in stealth mode to rendezvous at the Wave exit." Hearing no questions, I cut the connection.
I sat back and watched the VTH. Our signal would be the first attack on the super-Heavies. As the minutes passed, the Mnemosyne and other Riss cruisers crept closer to the unsuspecting JPU squadron. JSH-1 turned yellow and JSH-2 red as we reached a half-light-second distance from the squadron.
As I watched, JSH-2 blinked out and JSH-1 turned red. Twenty-three seconds later, JH-2 went yellow.
Twenty seconds later.
As I watched, explosions were occurring on all three platforms and JH-2 turned red. I looked for another target. JH-1 was also red.
Those were the only two Lights without damage at the moment. Since the Heavies had sustained heavy damage before they could target us, we had no missiles heading in our direction.
Before I could decide on another target, Damaass signaled done.
The Bridge faded to a ghostly mist and then back again. We appeared to be several light-seconds from the unknown number of JPU squadrons patrolling the other space.
According to the VTH, the taskforce was spread within a half light-second of each other and heading toward the Wave.
Four hours later, we had passed the stealth squadrons, which had ironically moved toward Usak.
Smiling faces appeared.
"Any major damage?" I asked, hoping luck was still with us. Only Zhang and Pavao had damage, and it was minor. "Enter the Wave in thirty minutes, destination Sarosh."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
JPU: New opponent
I watched as tags began to appear. Thanks to Admiral Neifeh, I could see twenty or so modified JPU ships that had been part of his original invasion force. That meant another thirty or more could be lying at minimal power—a similar situation as in Usak.
"It appears we have the same situation here in Sarosh as in Usak." I said.
"Same solution?" Damaass asked, raising a glass of wine. But before I could respond…
"Attention Riss cruisers. Our sentry has detected Wave exit, so we know you are in system. Before you attack, you may want to consider a proposal from the Jahaba Supreme Council. I am Jahaba Fleet Admiral Bishara. Admiral Haddad has been executed for his unauthorized aggression against the SAS and the Riss. I guarantee you will not be attacked it you leave stealth mode."
I couldn't help a laugh. "Shows you what happens to Admirals who fail."
"You don't trust him to keep his word, do you?" Pavao asked.
"So long as it suits him," I said, then reached a decision. "Jaelle, transfer your two Red fighters to Damaass. Afterward, Pavao, you are to proceed with Alena and Jaelle back to Freeland."
"You aren't going to do anything stupid?" Pavao asked, looking worried.
"Define stupid... No. Damaass, you and Zhang are going to get in position to destroy the manufacturing platforms. Afterward, skip away from the Wave and hang around to see what Bishara does. Return to Freeland when you feel it's safe."
"What about you?" Zhang asked.
"I'll be leaving before you are in place, but I want to see what kind of a mood Admiral Bishara and the Jahaba Supreme Council are in."
* * *
I remained in stealth mode while I waited for Pavao and the others to reach the Wave entrance and Damaass to be well on his way into the system, before responding. Admiral Bishara's message had repeated several times.
A tall man with a narrow face with a mustache and goatee
stood smiling into the monitor.
"Welcome, Leader Reese. It's an honor to meet you. Admirals Neifeh and Haddad, and I guess we should include Salazar, were fools to have antagonized you. But they have been punished, and that is the past." He paused to take a sip of something he was drinking, and maybe to wait on my response. When I failed to say anything, he continued.
"We will concede that Freeland is not in JPU space and will sign a non-aggression treaty with the Riss," he said in a condescending voice, with a smile.
"I'd like a non-aggression treaty. You agree to park all your spacecraft—military and civilian—at your space stations and evacuate all personnel planet-side, and we will agree not to kill anyone when we destroy your ships, space stations, and space platforms." I smiled, not to be nice, but at the expression on his face.
To his credit, he recovered nicely.
"What if we return the Riss...skins and reimburse you for their deaths at Admiral Haddad's hands? The Jahaba Supreme Council did not authorize his actions."
"If you could return the Riss that were inside the skins, I would sign your treaty. But the Riss skins are worthless. You may keep them. They will forever be a reminder of the evil that confines you to your planets. You will remain confined until you and those skins have made peace." I cut the connection.
The Bridge faded as if we stood in space. Several seconds later, it folded around us again.
* * *
"So what happened?" Pavao asked as we settled down around the table in the elders' conference room. I now included Byer, Seng, and Iglis at these meetings, as they were responsible for the Wraith and Krait units—and usually Admiral Kishi.
"After you left, Admiral Bishara and I had a lovely talk," I said innocently.
Byer and Seng choked on their drinks—they had heard the tapes.
"He said he agreed Freeland was not in JPU space, not to bother us, and to return the Riss skins."
"And you said?" Sheva said, grinning.
"I told him I would appreciate him returning the skins... if the Riss were in them. If not, the skins were his to make peace with."
"So you left on good terms," Pavao said, which elicited grins and laughs around the table.
"What do you expect him to do now?" Ni'Shay asked.
"Attack Freeland. He has little choice. Damaass and Zhang are going to destroy the last of the JPU manufacturing capability. It will be a year before they will have any new capability. He can't just sit there and hope we don't attack. He will assemble every spacecraft the JPU has and invade Freeland—the all-or-nothing option that Admirals love. Even if he didn't, I doubt the Supreme Council would allow him to do nothing. They will want revenge."
"How many cruisers?" Jaelle asked.
"Somewhere between one hundred twenty and one hundred forty."
"What do want us to do?" Ni'Shay asked. "How long?"
"I think we have a few weeks, maybe longer. Admiral Bishara will have to coordinate with the Supreme Council if he is going to strip all of the JPU including Ormazd. Then he has to organize the units into an effective force. While we wait, our priority has got to be red-Wraiths and Irises."
"What about the SAS?" Alena asked.
"I doubt they can resolve their issues in time to help us, if ever. How is the mini-Riss cruiser project going, just in case we win?"
Silence greeted me.
"We need those new mini-Riss cruisers even if they don't attack. Actually, more urgently if they don't. We can't have them building cruisers, and we need to continue the war of attrition until the JPU has no spacecraft."
"We have a prototype being assembled," Elissa said, just above a whisper.
"Excellent, Elissa. That's your priority."
"Thank you, Leader."
"Iglis, what's new?"
"You are the most talked-about person in the SAS, and not only in the military. The majority seem to think the SAS saved Freeland and that you should be grateful. The good news is no one is talking about invading Freeland."
"That's good, I'd hate to have to quarantine the SAS."
* * *
"You don't seem to care about the SAS," Terril said as we sat in my office looking over the Wraiths, Kraits, and Cobra status: recruits, training, and qualified members, units, and fighter production.
"I made a decision to let the SAS units go, because I thought it in the best interest of the Riss. Consequently, our future decisions have to assume the SAS will not support us. Although Admiral Plimson may wish to honor our MSA, there is little he can do to resolve the fundamental problem—the independence of the SAS captains in peace time. Over the years, they have begun to think they are part of a democracy and have a right to vote."
"Do you think we can win?"
"There is no other option. Terril, you and your Cobras must guarantee that at least one Riss-human survives. If one survives, I believe the Riss will win."
"Then it's damn well going to be you."
* * *
Yes, I could imagine a high demand for Irises, if for no other reason than as early identification systems and relay communication devices.
Damaass appeared, looking his usual happy self.
"Captain Damaass and Captain Zhang reporting for duty." He raised his wine glass and smiled.
"How did it go?" I quelled the urge to cross my fingers.
"When you disappeared, we waited for several hours before we destroyed the three platforms. Admiral Bishara immediately moved most of the fleet near the Wave entrance and had his fighters combing the area. I guess he thought to stop us from leaving. Your advice to skip away from the Wave was right on. They searched for a full day before they gave up. He left the next day and took the entire fleet."
* * *
The VTH sprang to life, a reply from several Irises, and tags began appearing. SC-1, SH-1, SH-2, SL-1 through SL-6.
The Monitor command would have the Iris platforms tracking the ships, but on passive sensors. I had no reason to expect trouble, but tension was high in all three empires, and better prepared...
Several seconds later, a tall good-looking captain appeared.
"Good morning, Leader Reese. I'm Captain Bradshaw, in command of the Bateleur. Admiral Plimson would like to set up a meeting with you at your convenience. We should be in orbit within five hours thirty minutes," he said, looking glorious.
I stood there in shock as my brain tried to come to grips with my lover here in Freeland and in command of a Heavy with Plimson. My brain shook loose its paralysis, and Thalia had to stop me from screaming, "GO BACK! The JPU could be coming at any minute, and this is no place for Plimson or my beloved." I finally calmed myself, with help from Thalia.
"The Admiral certainly knows how to give an invitation a girl can't refuse." I swear I saw Sean blush. "I'll send a shuttle for him at eighteen hundred hours. And when are you off duty?" That was cruel, but I couldn't resist.
"For you, anytime," he said, surprising me. "Eighteen hundred hours."
* * *
Bradshaw sent a list of Plimson's party: Admiral Gebauer, a rear admiral I didn't recognize, and Bradshaw, so I decided to include red Admiral Kishi and Pavao. We met them in the shuttle bay when they arrived.
"Welcome aboard the Mnemosyne, Admiral Plimson. This is red Admiral Kishi in charge of the UFN taskforce here on Freeland, and of course, you know Captain Pavao," I said.
"Thank you, Leader Reese. You know Vice Admiral Gebauer. This is Rear Admiral Vitkus, in command of the taskforce B
eta-3."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Leader Reese," the broad-shouldered man said. His craggy face had a friendly smile under his bushy brown mustache.
"And I think you might know Captain Bradshaw, commanding the Bateleur." Plimson managed to maintain a straight face.
"If you will follow me, I'll lead you to my conference room. Afterward, I'd be glad to give Admiral Vitkus, and anyone else, a tour of the Mnemosyne." I led them directly to the conference room and let everyone get themselves something to drink.
"Nadya, I sat down with the senior officers of the taskforce you sent packing and was glad you did. You were right. Based on what I heard, sooner or later one or more of those fools would have created a major incident. You would have had to respond in self-defense, but back on Eden you would have received all of the blame. Then, only the space gods know what the SAS Council would have done. The worst of the bunch, I've sent to Eden, where they will be grounded and ineligible to reenlist when their tour is up. But that doesn't solve the problem." Plimson took a few sips of his wine. "Given the spin these fools put on the incident, I feel I have to move carefully. But I and the SAS owe the Riss, whether they understand it or not. So, I talked with Admiral Gebauer, who agrees with me. He has agreed to take on the problem and my commitment to you." He looked to Admiral Gebauer.
"I've talked with six taskforce leaders and their senior staff and selected two that I feel understand we are at war, the contribution the Riss have made, and admire the Riss and what you have accomplished: Admiral Vitkus commanding Beta-3 and Admiral Dobler commanding Alpha-5. He will be arriving tomorrow." Gebauer nodded toward Vitkus.
"I served on Echo when we were chasing Medusas, and was on assignment with Captains Pavao and Damaass. I admire them both. Even knowing Damaass was a Raider, I couldn't help but like him. He claims we would still be looking for Freeland except you're a dybbuk. He explained your engagement at Yamhill. Took me all day and half the night using the system computer to understand what you did. You are either a genius or a dybbuk." He laughed. "I'm looking forward to this assignment."
"I know two squadrons aren't enough, but..." Plimson began.
"Sir, I understand and appreciate that you're doing your best to support the Riss. To a Riss, that is all they expect. Admiral Gebauer, thank you. Your support has been all I could ask. And taking a post like this..."
