The Riss Enemies: Book VI (The Riss Series 6) Read online

  The Riss Enemies: Book VI

  By

  C. R. Daems

  The Riss Enemies

  Copyright © 2016 by C. R. Daems

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from C. R. Daems.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-10: 0-9863514-4-X

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9863514-4-0

  Check out all my novels at:

  crdaems.com & talonnovels.com

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  DECISION TIME

  CHAPTER TWO

  CONFRONTATION AT HAYJAR

  THE RED INSTITUTE OF DISCOVERY

  CHAPTER THREE

  AN UNEXPECTED VISIT

  CHAPTER FOUR

  SURPRISE DEVELOPMENTS

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CANDIDATE BRADSHAW

  CHAPTER SIX

  PREPARATIONS FOR WAR

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CANDIDATE KATLIN

  TACTICAL TESTING.

  RISS-HUMAN TESTING

  A RISS COMPANION

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CANDIDATE JA'SAI

  RISS-HUMAN TESTING.

  A RISS COMPANION

  CHAPTER NINE

  A WAR OF WITS

  CHAPTER TEN

  A MEETING OF FRIENDS

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  OSSICWATER – NADYA & PAVAO

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  PORT LOST - BRADSHAW

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  SPARROW’S NEST – JA'SAI

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  EARTHOL – KATLIN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  HAYJAR - THE GRIM RESULTS

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  HAYJAR - AGREEING ON A STRATEGY

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  PORT LOST - FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE ECITONI

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  HAYJAR - REEVALUATION

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  FREELAND - DÉJÀ VU

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  MILITARY FREE ZONES

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  HAYJAR - REEVALUATING THE STRATEGY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  LORD’S LANDING

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  EARTHOL - THE BELLY OF THE BEAST

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  EARTHOL – TOURING A MINI-MOTHER SHIP

  FREELAND - SIX MONTHS LATER

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  DECISION TIME

  THREE MONTHS LATER.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  SECTOR HS78 - SOJOURN TO THE UNKNOWN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  OSTRICHES OR EAGLES

  Author’s Note

  This is the sixth novel in the Riss Series, and although it can be read as a standalone adventure, it is best read with the understanding that comes from reading books I through V.

  Book V, The Riss Challenge, which can also be read as a standalone, explains the war with the JPU and the reason for the quarantine.

  Best read together, Books III and IV cover the invasion of an advanced race of aliens using robots as hosts.

  Books I and II introduce the Riss: Gorilla-looking but peaceful aliens, and Nadya Reese's rise to spokesperson and leader of the Riss Nation.

  If you choose to read Riss Enemies as a standalone novel, the following explanation will be helpful.

  * The Riss speak telepathically in streaming video.

  * The Riss-humans are humans who have agreed to host a Riss, who once they enter a human have a symbiotic relationship with that human. Riss-humans have a facial tattoo, an Rh, which identifies them as hosting a Riss.

  * The use of the greater and less than symbols, < text >, indicates telepathic or mind to mind communications.

  * The use of double asterisks, ** text **, indicates Riss communications using a voice box to speak, since they aren't capable of human speech.

  * Riss names, except for the Riss hosted by a human, start with r-. For example: r-Galene.

  PROLOGUE

  The Johaba People's Union (JPU)’s invasion of Freeland and planned invasion of the Sadr Alliance of Stars (SAS) has been thwarted thanks to the Riss. Because of the atrocities committed by the JPU during their invasion, Nadya committed the Riss to confine them to their systems. However, the new Cerberus cruisers designed to monitor the eleven systems are behind schedule and will not be available for two years. As a stop-gap measure, monitoring satellites dubbed Eirises—the Greek word for messenger—have been installed. The Eirises not only announce that the system is under quarantine, but also log each ship entering and leaving the system.

  Although the Riss were instrumental in identifying the threat to the SAS and in sabotaging the main JPU armada with help from the Freelanders, many in the SAS despise the people of Freeland and the Riss-humans. To make matters worse, they have been led to believe that the SAS saved Freeland. While that is in fact true, what they fail to understand is that without the Riss and the Freelanders, the SAS would have lost the war.

  A year has passed since the defeat of the JPU, and an uneasy peace exits.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Decision time

  When I entered the Mnemosyne's conference room, everyone stood.

  "At ease and sit." I had thought a conference room table for fourteen far too large when I designed the first Riss cruiser, but I hadn't imagined the Riss fleet would have eight cruisers along with the accompanying Freeland fighters, commandos, and Intel groups. So today, only three of the beige padded chairs were empty. "Jaelle, you said you had urgent information."

  "We have a problem," she said, looking around the room at the assembled personnel. She had just returned from a three-month routine inspection of the JPU systems in the first of the new Cerberus cruisers—a smaller version of the current Riss cruisers. "The Eiris on Hayjar recorded three entries, the one on Sarosh two, and the one on Ormazd two."

  I had assembled my current staff to hear Jaelle's report: the eight Riss-human captains; Commander Byer, who commanded the fighter squadrons (Wraiths); Colonel Seng, who commanded the commandos (Blue Kraits); and Commander Iglis, in charge of the Intelligence groups. We had known each other through good times and bad. They were all dear friends I considered family and who I would trust with my life.

  Although we were all citizens of Freeland and the Riss-humans were members of the elders' council, the Riss Navy was autonomous. As the Leader of the Riss, I would have liked to do away with rank—since all Riss positions were equal—but humans would have had a problem with the concept. So to maintain order, I kept the military system of rank but eliminated the senior officer classifications: admirals and generals. Instead, we used five-point silver stars to designate a senior person's current position, which was not the same as rank since a person's position could change depending on the needs of the Riss.

  For the Riss-humans: three five-point stars for the position of leader, two stars for Captain, and one star for a person in training to be a captain.

  For the non-Riss-humans: one star for the senior Wraith or Blue Krait group leader on a cruiser and two stars for a commander of the Wraiths or Blue Kraits or the Intelligence groups.

  I sighed in resignation. "I had hoped the Eirises would discourage merchants from entering the systems and give us time to produce sufficient Cerberuses to enfo
rce the quarantine. But I suppose one of them decided to wait at the Wave to see what would happen, and when nothing did, they proceeded to the planet. When he returned, he boasted to his friends, which encouraged them to try."

  Jaelle looked to her System Interface Device, SID, and nodded. "That appears to be the case. The merchant ship Mayflower was the first to visit the three systems and has been to each twice. The Lost Trader just recently visited Hayjar."

  "And if we let them continue, the number will escalate, as their activity in the quarantined systems has the potential to be very lucrative: ferrying people to and from planets, supplying scarce parts, and acting as a messenger. Right now the violations are of little consequence; however, if we allow the merchants to continue trading in JPU space, it could lead to the JPU breaking the quarantine."

  "How?" Byer and Seng asked simultaneously. Both men were frowning.

  "In a way similar to how we freed Freeland from the JPU occupation."

  "But you had two Riss cruisers," Byer said looking to Seng, who nodded agreement. "We have destroyed all the JPU's cruisers and merchant ships."

  "All that we know about. Nevertheless, eventually someone will sell them space - worthy ships. That will enable them to set up a manufacturing facility in an uninhabited system, and eventually to produce a fleet, as the raiders did on Freeland."

  "That would take fifty years or more," Iglis said, eyes wide in disbelief.

  I nodded agreement. "The JPU breaking the quarantine does appear unlikely, but they would certainly be motivated to try, and giving them unrestricted access to merchants is opening Pandora's box. Better we plug the leak now before hundreds of merchants are involved and it's a flood we can't stop," I said to slowly nodding heads. "Elissa, what's the status of the Cerberus production?"

  "The factory began work on Cerberus-3 over a month ago when Eiris production finished and every JPU system had one installed. They expect Cerberus-3 will be finished in a little over a month. After that, the project manager anticipates one every three months."

  I shook my head. "I had hoped it would take the merchants longer to test the quarantine, giving us time to produce enough Cerberus cruisers. But at the current rate, we won't have enough to station one at each system for two years or sufficient numbers to provide replacements for routine maintenance for three years. In the interim, we need to set up a schedule and take turns patrolling the systems that are having the most violations. At the present time, it's only a few merchants testing us."

  "And if we encounter a merchant?" Alena asked, the question everyone was wrestling with. The Riss were against killing except in self defense, which did not include preemptive strikes or retaliation and was the reason humans were the captains of the Riss cruisers. The Cerberus cruisers where designed to monitor the eleven JPU systems and to deter anyone from entering. Although the Cerberuses were smaller than the standard cruiser, they had nasty teeth. I had originally thought the Riss would command the Cerberuses, but I may have been foolish. I doubt the Riss would fire on a merchant unless they were being attacked, and maybe not even then considering how defenseless a merchant ship was against a cruiser. And did I want them to? Maybe the Cerberus project needed revising.

  "I suggest we adopt the Aliens' approach. We send out a warning that the system is under quarantine. If the ship does not depart immediately and does not fire on the Cerberus, we let it proceed to the planet. When it's in orbit, we notify them they have six hours to abandon their ship. If they try to leave or when six hours are up, we destroy the ship."

  "That isn't self defense," Zhang said, shaking his head and looking defiant. He was the most sensitive Riss-human when it came to killing, and the one closest to whole-heartedly embracing the Riss philosophy.

  "From the Riss perspective that would not be self defense; however, enforcing the quarantine by any means is in my opinion self defense, when applied to a nation that would commit genocide on the Riss. When I made that oath, I had the position of Leader of the Riss Nation and spoke for every Riss. If the Riss believe I'm wrong or that they do not want to enforce the quarantine under those conditions, then they should select a new leader, because I believe it's in their best interest and will do whatever is necessary to enforce the quarantine." I had barely finished talking when I could hear an eight-way conversation between the Riss-humans' companions. Even after all the years hosting a Riss, the telepathic conversation—which was not only in streaming vid but also carried emotional content—was too complex and fast to follow. Thalia, the Riss I hosted, broadcasted the result of their conference telepathically for the benefit of the Riss-humans.

  Thalia sent with a strong feeling of agreement. I was somewhat surprised, knowing how the Riss felt about killing. Most societies would consider the Riss cowards. In fact, many in the SAS do.

  "I think each of you must also consult your conscience and decide whether you will support the quarantine. I may speak for the Riss, but not for each of you." The Riss concept that each individual has a position and that all positions are equal is strange enough, but the idea that the position of Leader speaks for every Riss and that every Riss will agree is beyond most humans’ ability to comprehend, much less believe. The eight Riss-humans were human and would not, unlike the Riss, necessarily agree with me. I sat back awaiting their response.

  Pavao was first to speak. "Good try at giving up the position of Leader. I don't blame you for wanting someone else to take the responsibility. I for one don't want it. Besides, if ever a nation of humans needed to be quarantined, it's the JPU."

  Da'maass spoke next. "Freeland was a colony of raiders and we did some nasty things: killed, kidnapped, raped, and robbed. We justified our raiding and other actions based on the way we had been treated by the SAS, but we knew it was wrong. However, we didn't torture people for the fun of it, skin people alive, commit mass murder, or think ourselves the superior race. We deserved what we got, and so does the JPU." He raised his ubiquitous glass of wine to me.

  Sheva, Alena, Jaelle, and Elissa each said, "I agree" as I looked at each one.

  Zhang nodded. "I felt the Riss would hate the idea. Actually, they do, but I hadn't taken their long view into account. Human lives are short, and we think in terms of our lifespan. The Riss tend to think in terms of generations. So while I still don't like the idea of killing someone who isn't actively trying to kill me, I'll do whatever is necessary to protect the Riss' continued existence."

  "Well Leader, what's next?" Pavao asked. I sighed in resignation. The trouble with Riss positions was you couldn't resign, or give it someone else, or refuse without returning the Riss you were hosting, which I won't do. It would be like giving up a part of me, and I would no longer be whole.

  Thalia sent along with an image of thousands of Riss standing with their backs to me, and me with outstretched hands full of money.

  I sent.

  A reminder that I volunteered for the Riss program and hosting a Riss.

 

 

  Resigned to my position as Leader, I had no choice but to continue. "Damaass, how is the Riss Institute of Technology doing?"

  "It's fantastic. They currently have ten projects under investigation. For exa
mple, they are expanding Symath into quantum physics and evolving the existing software Spiders. The new Spiders are so completely integrated within the software that they are next to impossible to find. Only the Riss can activate them, although the Spiders are self-aware and capable of activating themselves under the right conditions. The institute and its projects are amazing. I can't begin to imagine what advancements will come out of the institute over the next fifty years."

  "Pavao, how is the Red Institute of Discovery going?" I asked.

  "When I left the Red Dwarf system several months ago, the Riss had repaired over half of the structure the Aliens left behind when they departed. And they believe they are close to deciphering the Aliens' symbol language. If they do, we may have valuable insight into the Alien civilization through the mass of data they left behind."

  I could no longer keep track. There were still Riss on Saipha, their original home in the SAS; Dunn in the UFN; Freeland; the Red Dwarf system bordering the JPU; and on ships of war. I felt Thalia querying the other Riss in the room as I considered their potential vulnerability.

 

  My eyes flew open in shock. The Riss had added over eight hundred Riss in the past year. After the deaths caused by the wars with the Aliens and the JPU, the Riss needed to expand, so I had asked the Riss to begin growing their population—the Riss were capable of asexual reproduction—but I hadn't anticipated a twenty-five percent increase in a little over a year.