Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession (33 page)

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Authors: C. R. Daems

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Science Fiction, #Adventure, #Military, #Space Opera, #alien invasion

BOOK: Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession
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"I think not. I doubt the Supreme Council
of the Gods will negotiate with the evil humans they came to quarantine."

As I watched, one platform after another blew
up. A few minutes later, the ground facilities followed in billowing clouds of
debris.

The activity began to decrease as we waited
on the fleet's arrival.

acceleration.>



vector on board.>

executed.>

Minerva
. Find and destroy ship moving away from
tower
.>



heading for Wave. Must be captured or destroyed. Urgent.>



We chased the ship for eight hours,
but
it became obvious we were not going
to catch it, as it had exceeded six hundred gravities and was still
accelerating.

Minerva
. Follow. Verify where it goes.>



four
.>


half speed. Execute vector.>

speed. Vector executed.>


Lights flashed blue on and off for a minute, then
remained blue.

I left the bridge with Terril following.

"What do you think, Leader?" Terril
asked as she walked up beside me.

"I think the fighting is over."

"Why? They have
Medusas
and a bunch of cruisers on Red-planet
four
."

"They are not killers in the normal
sense. They always gave everyone in the system a chance to retire to the planet
unharmed. And they never intended to make us slaves or rule over us. They just
wanted us to stay put. We won, so what would be the purpose of fighting?"

"I'll bet we could get good odds on that
wager." She smirked.

I toured the ships, stopping to give Byer,
Seng, and Iglis my observations, and suggested they eat and get some sleep.

When we arrived back at Red-planet
four
, the fleet had just arrived,
and
explosions were occurring throughout the
platforms, the tower, and planet-side.



Zhu's face appeared on the monitor. He
nodded. "What do you think, Leader Reese?"

"Housecleaning. They aren’t killers in
the sense that we humans are. They were not seeking power or revenge. They lost,
so
they are destroying any useful
technology or information."

"What about the ship that got away? The
original intelligence escaping? A call for help? What do you think?"

"At very least, a report on
humans
in this galaxy."

* * *

Three days later, Wattson, Zhu, and Serhat
called a meeting of all task force commanders. We met on the
Dynasty
.

Zhu began the meeting. "You have all had
teams conducting preliminary evaluations of what the Aliens left behind. I'm
merely going to summarize the findings to date. A thorough evaluation will take
years. The Aliens destroyed all the system computers and technology they
believed more advanced than ours. All robots were deactivated. It's apparent
from our initial examination that the three
planets
designated Red-planets three, four, and five
were
mined
for the minerals
necessary to manufacture their platforms, robots, systems, and cruisers. It
appears they arrived here centuries ago with only enough equipment to set up
basic mining and manufacturing facilities. We, the representatives of the UFN,
JPU, and the SAS, have agreed to form a joint task force to examine the remains
and share our findings.
Over the next week
, individual task forces will be released to return to their home
empires."

"What about the ship that escaped?"
an UFN admiral asked.

"We are guessing that it contained
information about their findings in this galaxy. It may also carry the original
intelligence that powered the robots. We may never know. That ship may take
centuries to reach its destination. If it went to the home of the Supreme
Council of the Gods, hundreds

or more likely thousands of years from now

our ancestors may face them again. In any
event, we will be better prepared."

"Why?" a JPU admiral asked.

"Because technology advances to meet
some need. The Riss technology is a
good
example. It was a significant leap ahead of past improvements. The
Aliens are copies of copies and have no need to advance their technology so
long as they are winning. And it appears by their previous effort here that
they were successful in the past. If they view their defeat here as having lost
to overwhelming force, they will have little need to look for new technology
but rather to build more and bigger."

* * *

Admiral Serhat returned to the JPU; however,
Zhu returned with Wattson to Echo and requested a meeting with Plimson and the
Riss.

Terril sat in my chair relaxing as I dressed
for the upcoming meeting on the
Dynasty
.
Plimson had arrived early that morning, and the meeting was listed as a dinner.

"Is this going to be exciting?"
Terril asked, grinning.

"No, it's going to be boring. Thalia is
going to prevent me from saying anything other than,
Yes, sir
."



An image of a Riss with six arms
and pairs of hands covering eyes, ears, and mouth.



"So you are planning something?"
Terril pointed an accusing finger at me.

"Terril, I don't plan the things I come
up with. They just surface... unexpectedly."

"Well, I'm going to go change clothes. I
wouldn't want to miss one of those... unexpected moments," she said, and
strode out of the room.

On the shuttle ride to the
Dynasty
, I felt relaxed, although
meeting with two Fleet Admirals and the Head of Military Operations should be
stressful. I was...

<
High-high-Riss
.>



Yes
, I think I was finally beginning to feel
the
calm
and contentment that came with
being high-Riss.

When I exited the shuttle, the captain of the
Dynasty
met me with a salute, bugle
call, and ten formally dressed marines.

"Welcome aboard the
Dynasty
, Leader Reese. It's my pleasure to escort you to Imperial
Fleet Admiral Zhu. Your Riss are astounding. The
Dynasty
is proud to have a Riss-certified crew."

"They must be an excellent crew. Few are
good enough to understand the new mathematics and forward thinking to embrace
new concepts."

When we reached the room, the door was open,
and Plimson, Wattson, and Zhu were standing inside talking.

"Good evening, Leader Reese," Zhu
said, breaking away from the group. "If you have time after our dinner
meeting, I'd love to show you around the
Dynasty
.
Not as unique as the
Mnemosyne,
but I
love her."

"Good evening, Leader Reese," Plimson
said as he and Wattson approached.

"Good evening, Admiral Plimson,
Wattson," I said, wondering about the purpose of this meeting. Dinner was
an elaborate affair with three appetizers, a choice of five different main
courses, and multiple desserts. No talk of war. Each man had one or more
personal stories of his life in the military. I remained quiet, content to
listen and get to know them better.

"Well Reese, waiting for the bomb to go
off?" Plimson smiled.

"I'm not used to dining with men who
command navies and more."

"You command a navy, small but with the
most advanced cruisers in the three empires. And we are willing to pay for that
technology and wish to continue our mutual support agreement. Admiral Zhu would
also like to enter into a mutual support agreement with the SAS and the
Riss."

"Yes. I haven’t known you as long as
Admiral Plimson, but in the time I have, I've come to understand why he trusts
your word. The question is whether you can trust mine?" Zhu said.

"I think I can. The problem is what
happens when you or Admiral Plimson
retire
?" I said, leaving off "Replaced" as they served at the consent
of their governments.

"Yes, that is why countries like written
treaties, although they really depend upon individuals to enforce them."

"What would make it more
permanent?" Plimson asked.

I smiled mentally. I could almost feel him
holding his breath.

"Freeland is not currently in the SAS,
JPU, or UFN space. I will enter into an MSA with the SAS and UFN if you will sign
a Treaty with the Riss designating the current land on Saipha, Freeland, and designate
land on Dong as Riss enclaves," I said.

Such an agreement would free the Riss and the
clans—a free nation and a step closer to realizing their dream of
exploring the stars.

Novels by C.R. Daems & J.R. Tomlin

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The
Riss Gamble

Science
Fiction/Fantasy

 

A young girl dreams of seeing the stars and meeting Aliens. Her chance
comes in the form of a project offering a college education, commissioning in
the SAS Fleet, and a partnership with an Alien. She successfully qualifies and
wins one of the coveted ten positions. Of course everything comes with a
price—the Alien is a parasite that inhabits the body and mind, and is
there for life. Is it a dream or nightmare come true—or maybe both?

Link
:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Riss-Gamble-ebook/dp/B0068XKZQM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332997239&sr=1-1

 

The
Riss Proposal

Book
II in the Riss Series

Science
Fiction/Fantasy

 

Nadya, hosting an intelligent parasite, is now an experienced naval
officer with two battles against the Raider's cruiser packs. But she continues
to be seen as an Alien, generating disgust, fear, raw hate, and attempts on her
life.

To add to her problems, the Raiders have identified her as contributing
directly to their bad luck and have designated her a
dybbuk—demon—and have set a price on her dead or alive.

With the Raiders a continuing threat to the SAS, life has become a
little too interesting.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Riss-Proposal-Book-Series-ebook/dp/B00A80DLJE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1353306845&sr=8-10&keywords=c+r+daems

 

The
Riss Survival

Book
III in the Riss Series

Science
Fiction/Fantasy

 

The Raider clans have been defeated and their planet under the
supervision of the Riss, with Captain Reese the station commander. But while
Reese sees the Raider clans as on probation, many in the SAS task force she
commands, perceive them as prisoners and hope to break the Treaty and get
revenge.

As Nadya attempts to maintain the fragile peace, the three empires are
being invaded. They know the invading force is far more technology advanced
than the SAS. But who are they, where did they come from, and what do they
want?

One thing appears certain. The SAS cannot defeat the aliens alone. But
can they overcome their prejudices against the Riss, hatred of the clans, and
long years of distrust of the other empires, to combine forces and technology
to meet the challenge. The fate of the three empires, Riss, and the Raider
clans may depend on it.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Riss-Survival-Series-ebook/dp/B00ALQHA5Q/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3

 
 

The
Shadow Ryana

Book
I of the Shadow Sisters

Fantasy/Epic/Romance

 

Ryana, a worthless girl-child, is sold to a mysterious woman who takes
her to the home of the Shadow Sisters who are prized for their abilities as
spies and assassins. She survives years of training in spite of being
unconventional: adopting poisonous bats as familiars--something no one else
would dare to do; choosing the blow dart as her weapon of choice--a weapon the
Sisters don't teach; and relying on intuition rather than logic.

As she completes her training, the Shadow Sisters are under attack. The
senior Sister selects Ryana to find out who is killing Sisters and why--because
her intuitive approach has proved effective, even though her youth and
inexperience makes it unlikely she will survive.

As she travels through the kingdom as a member of a gypsy clan, she
finds the only way she can protect the Sisters and hope to discover the
underlying plot is through ever more violence and killing. As she proceeds
through the provinces, her secret enemies come to call her the Sister of Death
and become desperate to find and kill her. But in her desperate fight to
protect the Sisterhood and the kingdom, Ryana fears that she has destroyed
herself and the only life she ever wanted.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Riss-Proposal-Book-Series-ebook/dp/B00A80DLJE/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1353378186&sr=8-10&keywords=c+r+daems

 

The
Shadow Gypsy

Book
II of the Shadow Sisters

Fantasy/Epic/Romance

 
 

The Shadow
Sister Ryana, the very Shadow of Death, is marrying her beloved and joining his
gypsy clan. War took her innocence, and now she's determined to rebuild her
life. But religious cults are springing up, and the gypsies come under attack.
Ryana's best friend in the Sisters, Jelena, has fled to join one of the cults,
and the senior Sister asks Ryana to find out why.

Too late, Ryana
discovers their enemies have a sweet and seductive weapon, one that has turned
Jelena into her enemy. Ryana is betrayed, kidnapped and her will stolen. She
must regain it if she is to defend her clan and the Shadow Sisters. If she
fails, it means the end of both her families--her new gypsy clan and the
Sisters she swore to defend.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Shadow-Gypsy-Sister-ebook/dp/B00DK8VYYK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1377326288&sr=1-1&keywords=c+r+daems

 

Talon
of the Unnamed Goddess

Fantasy/Adventure

 

Alisha is the newest Talon of the Raptor
Clan, mercenaries prized by rulers, nobles, and the wealthy as elite
bodyguards. Like all Talons, she survived the five Ordeals and ten years of
grueling training.

Alisha is not the strongest mercenary in the
Raptor Clan, but she is the craftiest. Only tricking her opponents into
underestimating her got her through the long years of Clan training. Those
years honed her weapon skills, but not as much as her sharp wits. Even the
ability she gets from the rune she was given by the Unknown Goddess depends on
her guile.

Her first assignment for the Clan, to guard a
young princess, requires all Alisha's skill, wit, and her newly acquired rune
to keep the young heir to the kingdom alive.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Talon-Unnamed-Goddess-C-Daems/dp/1463662394/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1313079283&sr=8-1

 

Kazak
Guardians

Lynn’s
Rules

Urban
Fantasy/Adventure/Romance

 

If the Kazak Guardians had a recruiting
poster, it would have read: WANTED: A select few insane men to fight
professional Assassins with super-human abilities. Good medical plan provided.

Because surviving the training program to
graduation was dangerous, even the first challenge to gain entrance could get
you killed. But training was the easy part. Staying alive afterward was the
hard part. Kazaks guarded individuals whose lives were deemed critical to the
security of the United States. These individuals attracted fanatics and the
best professional Assassins money could buy—Liars who could tell lies you
believed, Ghosts who could become nearly invisible, and Illusionists who could
appear to be anyone, among others.

But Lynn wanted no other life--the Kazak
Guardians gave her life purpose. She had grown up in the foster care system,
neglected and abused, at the mercy of people who didn't care. Even when she
finally ran away, her freedom wasn't the renewal she had hoped. So when a
friend told her about a unique organization that trained individuals to protect
VIPs, she knew it was the life for her.

She survives years of training and five
deadly challenges to become a Kazak Guardian, and entered a world of extremists
and assassins, where each assignment became a deadly contest between Kazak and
assassin, with the prize the life of the VIP.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Kazak-Guardians-ebook/dp/B007O2TTRM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332996848&sr=1-1

 

Kazak
Guardians: The Unthinkable

Book
II of the Kazak Series

Urban
Fantasy/Adventure/Romance

 

Lynn the Fox has been a Kazak for several
years and thought she had seen it all; after all, she's a Master Kazak having
killed more than five Assassins—professional killers with wizard-like
talents. But life is unpredictable

There is a new kind of Assassin—a Mind
Bender—who has caused two Kazaks kill their clients.

The unthinkable happens—and a client
turns on her.

An unknown member of the secret and powerful
Committee who funds and directs the Kazaks is a traitor.

And what should have been a simple
misunderstanding at a State Department security checkpoint results in a life
and death encounter with a SWAT team.

But there are fun moments, if you don't mind
people trying to kill you and your client. Lynn gets to play the part of Afghan
Warlord's daughter, a college student, and a homeless woman—an eagle
covered with dove's feathers.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Unthinkable-ebook/dp/B009T90O9K/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1351111450&sr=8-8&keywords=the+unthinkable

 

Women
of Power

Fantasy/Adventure

 

Nisha has trained all her life to develop
Qi--her internal energy--exceeding the raw power of any Qi'advisor in several
generations. But before she is ready to take her place, the unthinkable
happens. Rhybac's king is dead; the kingdom is in chaos. War breaks out and their
enemies out of the Sands are circling for the kill. She chooses to become a
Qi'advisor, although still untried.

As Qi'advisor to a duke, she must risk her
life to negotiate with the greed, the treachery one of the dukes, and the
desperation that fuels the war in order to reveal what others cannot or refuse
to see. The fate of Rhybac, its people, and even its enemies are in her young
hands.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Women-of-Power-ebook/dp/B009V0GQRQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353043281&sr=8-1&keywords=c+r+daems

 

Scales
of Justice

Fantasy/Epic

 

A hundred years ago, a treaty jointed the
seven provinces under a king and created a system of equal justice for nobles
and commoners. The Sisters of Astraea were proclaimed the judicators of the
land because they had gold vipers that could tell truth from lie. A gift
bestowed on each judicator by the god Naga.

Now many nobles want to go back to being
above the law. Duke Chaney is using this discontent to raise an army against
the king and the judicators. Jola, a newly promoted judicator starts out with
her mentor, Tenzen, to investigate the growing unrest. They encounter revenge,
greed, and the desire for power, and become targets of the growing hostility as
they attempt to discover who is behind the rebellion.

Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Scales-Of-Justice-ebook/dp/B0042JTAJ2/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1313036753&sr=1-3

 

Blood
Duty

Fantasy/Epic

 

Ixich, huge demons summoned through a savage
blood ritual, lead an army through a mountain pass, slaughtering all who would
stand in their way. Tamra, Captain of the Guard of Wayfare Keep, and an
allied army from the city of Madrian mount a desperate defense against the
onrushing enemy. When their army is defeated and her lover is lost in the
battle, Tamra is devastated but must somehow struggle on.

Even worse lies ahead as the secrets of her
past come to light and her loyalty is tested. Yet, she must protect all
those who trust her against the ixich horde. In her darkest hour, haunted
by loss and with defeat imminent, can Tamra fulfill that trust and do her
blood duty?

Link
:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G7ZHG4

 

Laughing
Hounds

Urban
Fantasy/Horror

 

After what were thought to be dogs kill her
mother and attack her, Annette discovers she has become the last female
descendant of a line of women who, for over a century, fought and died fighting
Countess Lenuta, her sons, and their packs of Werehyenas. Annette learns she
has inherited her ancestors unique ability to make Tone-wood sing—the
only weapon that can kill the Werehyenas. As such, she represents the last
threat to their existence.

With only Annette remaining, Countess Lenuta
and her sons see an opportunity to kill the last of their century-old
adversaries. Their first attempt fails, and Annette must choose to hide for the
rest of her life or accept the legacy of her ancestors to stop the Werehyenas.
She chooses to fight.

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