Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession (19 page)

"Surprise, I think," Iglis said.
 
"The party I sent over after the Scorpions
informed me it was clear that they were preparing to launch them. It will take
time to understand the exact reasons. Maybe repairs, or fuel, or... "

"Was anything active when the Scorpions arrived?"

"No, there seems to be a domino effect. Once they determine they
have lost the fight, everything begins shutting down. I would guess it's an
effort to destroy any useful information before the enemy can get to it," Seng
said.

I sat back content. I was on a Riss ship, operated by Riss, and even
the humans seemed to be somewhat Riss-like.

Rh
tattoo.>

We had only been in orbit around Dong for a few minutes when the
Dynasty
sent a message reminding me of
my dinner invitation with Zhu. Sakaata called shortly afterward, also wanting
to meet for dinner. She sounded aggravated when I told her I couldn't because
of Zhu's invitation. Instead, we arranged a morning meeting prior to the joint
debriefing Zhu had scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

Images of my past superiors flashed before me.

I spent the rest of the morning with Sato, Chung, and Zhang at their
first meeting with the twenty Riss volunteers. It went about how I would have
guessed.

Sato's questions were concerned with how the Riss companion would help
him and ensuring he would be in charge. He loved the idea every Riss would
agree with his decisions.

Chung appeared concerned with losing control to the Riss.

Zhang appeared interested in the Riss as a people.

I knew I didn't want heroes, like Sato. The Riss didn't need to prove
themselves or to die for someone's idea of glory. I didn't blame Sato. He was raised
in a culture which tended to see one as a hero or a coward, with nothing in
between. Chung wouldn't survive. He saw the Riss as
parasites
rather than intelligent beings. Like Egon, one of the
original ten Riss-humans, he would go insane, and the Riss would have to be removed
for his own safety. Unfortunately, he wouldn't resign from the program because
that would mean he would lose face. Zhang met all of the qualifications—a
tactical thinker who saw the Riss as people and good allies. But he kept his thoughts
to himself, so it was impossible to know his motivation. I would have to leave
that to the Riss to determine. I called a stop around lunch time. Better to
keep the sessions short. The candidates and the Riss needed time to consider
what had been said and organize their thoughts for the next meeting.

* * *

"What do you think Zhu wants?" Terril asked during our
shuttle ride to the
Dynasty.

"I have no idea, although I suspect Fleet Admirals don't invite
anyone to dinner to chat about their day."

"Should be interesting then."

"For you." I said as the shuttle touched down. I rose and
exited the shuttle to another formal welcoming.

Afterward, Zhu stepped forward. "Welcome, Leader Reese. I'm afraid
your performance yesterday requires a very formal reception," he said,
indicating for me to walk with him. "I hope you don't mind meeting with me
alone. I have no secrets from the SAS, but I would like an opportunity for us
to get better acquainted."

"I'd like that," I replied. I doubted I would ever truly know
Zhu. He was not one to wear his emotions on his sleeve or to say anything
without giving it careful thought, which made it difficult to know exactly what
he was thinking, unlike people like Admiral Salazan. He led me to a small room
with a table set for two. Only Terril and Xun entered the room.

When we sat, a woman entered in a military uniform I thought the
equivalent of a sergeant. "Leader Reese, what would you like to drink with
your dinner? We have a variety of wines, liquors, kaffas, and teas."

I looked to Zhu. "Admiral Zhu, being a Riss-human has limited my
socializing. The concept has been very controversial in the SAS, and I've found
it best to limit my civilian exposure."

"Yes, I can understand that. People like things they understand.
That is why tradition is so comfortable. It makes it easy to understand the
rules. The Riss-human concept would not be easy to comprehend and would brand you
an outsider. Do you drink wine?" He asked.

"On occasion. Mostly I drink kaffa, but I did like your tea."

"Lee, bring Leader Reese several wines and teas to taste," he
said to the woman and continued before I could reply. "Leaders must
socialize, so maybe I can help you to know your choices."

"Thank you, Admiral Zhu."

"Zhu, please."

"Zhu."

"We owe the Aliens for yesterday's invasion. It was an excellent
demonstration on many levels. It provided real experience against the Aliens'
Light cruisers and fighters, practical application of the Riss technology, and
the ability of the Riss. I'm afraid Admiral Salazan would not have been happy
to witness the Riss destroying a
Medusa
."
A small smile touched his lips. He looked up and nodded.

When he did, Lee placed three small glasses of wine and three cups of tea
on the table in front of me, bowed and stepped back.

"They are for you to sample. If you find something you like, I can
put a name to it. Take your time."

When he nodded, Lee placed a glass of wine in front of him.

"Yesterday also emphasized the need to disseminate the Riss
technology as quickly as possible. We will not have Riss cruisers at every
battle, and it would be unfair for the Riss to have sole responsibility for
disabling
Medusas
."

"I agree. I also think we need to disseminate the tactics we are
developing." I said, thinking about Sato's and Chung's proposed approaches
and what I had learned in our two encounters with a
Medusa
.

"What do you mean?"

"We are developing new technology in response to our encounters as
well as learning what works and what doesn't. On our first encounter with a
Medusa
at Fools Landing..." I went
on to explain the encounter and the damage, the development of the Dummies, and
our encounter yesterday. "Perhaps a tactical school at Echo," I said,
thinking out loud, "where encounters with
Medusas
are incorporated into live exercises."

Zhu sat quiet for a while.

I took a small sip of each wine in front of me. One tasted very tart, another
acetic, and one sweet and smooth with a pleasant smell. I pulled the latter one
closer to me, not wanting to interrupt Zhu. Then I tasted each tea. One tasted
burnt, one earthy. The third had a mild pleasant flavor, and I pulled it closer
to me.

"Plum wine and Oolong tea," he said.

I thought he had disregarded my earlier remarks, until he continued.

"An ongoing war college. Admiral Wattson will like that idea. If
you will give me a detailed report, I will deliver it to him. That brings me to
the reason for this dinner." He paused to take a drink of his wine, while
Lee placed a full glass of Plum wine next to me and cleared away the other
glasses and cups.

"What if you had been killed in the engagement with the
Medusa
?"

"People die in war. The Riss would pick another person to take the
position of leader."

"Yes, our positions can all be filled, but would the future be the
same? Would Stenberg have agreed to your proposal to put a Riss technology
center on Dong as Wattson did? Would another Riss Leader have made Damaass a
Riss-human? Would Admiral Erdogan have listened to your advice and waited to
attack the
Medusa
?" His gaze
seemed far away as he talked.

"I understand your concerns, but..." I shrugged, not knowing
what to say.

"Too bad we can't make copies like the Aliens." He laughed
softly.

* * *

I left Jaelle to monitor the Riss-human candidates’ session with the
Riss and went off to my meeting with Sakaata.

When I exited the shuttle, a young lieutenant met me. "Welcome
aboard the
Condor
, ma'am. Admiral
Sakaata has asked me to escort you to her conference room. If you'll follow
me," he said after saluting.

I nodded, and we exited the shuttle bay with Terril and two scorpions
following.

At the conference room, he knocked once, then opened the door.

"Leader Reese and security," he announced. Sakaata stood as I
entered and held out her hand.

Your uniforms are tricky." She smiled. "One never knows
whether you are dressed formally or down for the occasion."

"It's formal if they're clean," I quipped, although that may be
too close to the truth.

"There is kaffa on the sideboard," she said, nodded to the
back of the room. "I would prefer if you didn't walk out of a meeting when
someone says something controversial. It doesn't help to solve the problem. I'm
not saying Morley was justified in saying what he said, but walking out just
throws fuel on the fire."

I said nothing as I retrieved a cup of kaffa and returned to sit
opposite her. When I didn't respond, she continued.

"Captain Newmon was killed during the battle of Dong when the
Seahawk
was destroyed. Morley feels strongly
that had Riss been on board, he could have saved his longtime friend. He blames
you and your anti-human attitude, and I'm afraid there are those who agree with
him." She took a sip of her kaffa while glaring at me. "You have a
commitment to Plimson to make this alliance work."

Before I could respond, Sakaata continued, her voice harsh.
"Having secret meetings with the UFN is causing concerns among my
officers. Pretty soon, someone is going to make an attempt on your life."

"Rear Admiral Sakaata, if someone is failing Admiral Plimson it's
you, with your failure to control your people. It's not my responsibility to
help you do your job. The Riss are not shooting at humans. The Riss are not
calling humans cowards. The Riss are following Admiral Wattson's commitment to
the UFN to share technology. I'm not a member of the SAS military and have no
obligation to discuss my actions with you," I said without emotion, took a
sip of kaffa, and continued. "When I was your XO, you treated me fairly.
You treated the Riss-humans and Riss on your ship fairly. But you are resorting
to the same narrow-minded behavior that affects so many in the SAS: you have a
problem, so it's the Riss' fault."

Sakaata sat open mouthed, her face flushed with anger. She glared at me
for a long time. I waited to hear her response, which would determine our
future relationship.

Sakaata sat with her eyes closed for a long time. When she opened them,
she looked to Terril and gave a small smile.

"I think your security team is debating whether to shoot me or
not."

"Their orders are rather vague as to what constitutes a
threat."

"You're right. The Riss aren't shooting at humans or calling them
names and never take offense. And yes, an alliance with the UFN does make me
and everyone else nervous and suspicious. And I guess, if I had Thalia inside
me, she would remind me I'm a Rear Admiral and it's my responsibility like she
reminds you you're high-Riss."

"Every time I whine."

"Are we still friends?"

"I may not always agree with you, but I'll always consider you a
friend."

* * *

"That was exciting, although I imagine the paperwork for shooting
a rear admiral would take days to fill out," Terril said as we sat in my
shuttle on the way to the
Dynasty
. "I
will give her credit. I doubt many senior officers could recover from that
ten-knot attack."

"Sakaata is a good officer and deserves the rank. She's frustrated
at not being able to diffuse the rabid prejudice and uncomfortable at giving
what she considers secrets to a previously hostile nation."

"Aren't you? What happens after the Aliens are destroyed?"

"If I'm right and the Aliens have multiple bases, we may have to
be friends for many lifetimes."

"Cheery thought," Terril said as the shuttle settled into one
of the
Dynasty's
shuttle bays.

I exited to the normal bugle call to attention and two rows of
soldiers. Doubly embarrassing since Sakaata was greeted in a more traditional
welcome when her shuttle arrived minutes later.

Zhu did wait for Sakaata to join us before proceeding to his conference
room. The conference room appeared filled with the same officers as before.

Image of a Riss in a straitjacket.

"What would you like, ma'am?" a young sergeant asked.

"Oolong tea," I replied, thankful to Zhu for yesterday's
tasting session.

"The invasion of Dong by the Aliens provided us an excellent
prototype of the strengths and weaknesses of three nations fighting a common
enemy. I'd like each commander to share his or her experience and thoughts.
This was our first combined battle, but it will not be our last. We must get
smarter each time if we are to prevail against our Alien invader," Zhu
said and sat.

There seemed to be some predefined order which everyone understood as
each took his turn speaking and asking questions.