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

 

 

 

  R-Saga's question didn't feel like why should we but rather the reason will help me decide where.

 

 

  * * *

  "What are you planning, Nadya?" Terril asked that night when we had returned to the Mnemosyne and were sitting in my office relaxing.

  "I'm preparing for a worst-case scenario while hoping for a reasonable compromise." I expected the SAS to overreact, but hoped Plimson could contain it. "I would be willing to permit trading if the ships were inspected, similar to what we did with the Freeland merchants when it was under quarantine."

  "Clever. And that has the added advantage of allowing the Freeland merchants to trade in the JPU. If it weren't for Plimson, I would doubt the SAS would compromise with Freeland or the Riss on anything."

  CHAPTER THREE

  An Unexpected Visit

  Feeling a sense of urgency, I decided to return to Freeland directly. The system appeared quiet as we entered, much to my relief.

  r-Galene sent.

 

  Sheva appeared, smiling. "Welcome back, Leader. We hear you enforced the quarantine and are relieved it was you and not one of us."

  "We should be in orbit within six hours. Let everyone know there will be a staff meeting on the Mnemosyne in seven hours." If Sheva had heard about the incident with the Mayflower, I suspected Freeland needed to prepare for some knee-jerk reaction. The Elpis’s presence this close to the Wave indicated Pavao was also concerned.

  * * *

  "Sorry for the late-hour meeting, but I'm afraid the quarantine is going to be an issue and that we should initiate contingency plans in case the situation escalates. As you know by now, I encountered a merchant on Hayjar and destroyed his ship." I saw sober faces as I looked around the table. "Commander Iglis, what have you heard?"

  "I'm not surprised that their response defies logic. They knew you planned to quarantine the JPU, and everyone warned what would happen to merchants that ignored the warning, yet you would think this was the first they had heard about it. In general, they feel the Riss have no authority to quarantine anyone, and the SAS has a right to fly in JPU space because they defeated them, not the Riss. Specific response suggestions vary, from SAS ships patrolling the JPU to war with the Riss." Iglis had dark circles under her eyes and looked like she hadn't slept for days.

  "In my position as Leader, I stand committed to protecting the Riss Nation. If I were Riss, I might acquiesce to the SAS's demands rather than fight. But as a human, I'll go to war with any nation that threatens their existence. If that is unacceptable, then someone else should be appointed Leader. In addition, each of you must decide where your loyalty lies. It will be too late when the dross hits the fan. I would like a decision today, as contingency plans need to be made in the event the SAS decides to take preemptive action." I sat back and closed my eyes while multiple discussions took place among the Riss, their companions, Riss-humans, and the non-Riss. For the first time in days, I felt at peace.

  Thalia sent an image of me chained to a chair and a wood sign engraved Leader in bright red letters hanging over my head.

  I sent.

 

  Pavao was the first to break the silence. "I won't like fighting the SAS, but my allegiance is to the Riss. They have supported the SAS again and again, yet the SAS continues to treat them as pariahs. The Riss have earned my respect and loyalty."

  "I knew when I agreed to host a Riss that it was a lifetime commitment, and I don't regret it for a second. I stand ready to defend the Riss," Sheva said.

  "The Riss gave Freeland a second chance when no one else would. They have my loyalty," Da'Maass said, raising his ubiquitous glass of wine.

  "I would prefer the Riss run from human space," Zhang said, "But I realize the issues are complex, and it's not possible at this time. So if the Riss are satisfied with their leader, so am I."

  "Like Captain Pavao, I won't like fighting the SAS, but neither the Riss nor the Freelanders have done anything to justify a military response. Besides, I made my bed with the Riss and I'm comfortable with that decision." Byer smiled and turned to Seng.

  "I agree," Seng and Iglis said almost simultaneously.

  I opened my eyes and looked around the room to see Alena, Jaelle, and Elissa nodding agreement. "Thank you, friends. I hate war. But if one comes, there is no one I'd rather have at my back," I said, rising. "Terril, would you like a workout?" I asked, wanting a distraction. At her nod, we headed for the workout area. On the way, I reminisced about my early days in the SAS, when the marines' workout area and the study of Si'jin—which is a blend of several internal and external martial arts from across Asia—had become my haven from the harassment I received from the navy personnel. Si'jin became my alternate world, where the past and the future didn't exist—just a wonderful feeling of freedom from worry and stress.

  During those years, I had hoped someday there would no longer be separate areas for navy and army personnel. My dream came true when I got to design the Riss cruiser, which had only one dining, workout, and recreation area. I hadn't eliminated rank or military protocol—for the humans' sake—but we were no longer segregated by the function we performed. We were equal, and each job was recognized as important for the success and survival of the ship.

  Feeling relaxed after an hour-long workout, Terril and I returned to my office. We had just sat with our drinks when my SID buzzed and r-Maia appeared on the screen.

  **Leader, the Artio is requesting a connection to you,** her voice box said as she signed.

  "Connect," I said, wondering if this was the confrontation I was expecting.

  Elissa appeared. "Leader, seven SAS cruisers have exited the Wave. The lead cruiser is the Red-tail. Admiral Gebauer is on board and requesting a meeting with you as soon as you are available."

  "Tell him I'm available at his convenience." I liked Gebauer, even though he thought the Riss-human program an abomination and had done everything he could on my first tour to get me discredited and kicked out of the navy. Despite his prejudice, he was a good officer whom I admired. Although he hadn't changed his mind about the Riss-human project, he had come to respect me as an individual and to recognize the Riss Navy as a critical ally.

  "He says they will be in orbit by sixteen hundred hours and asks if you can meet with him on the Red-tail."

  I looked to Terril, who was frowning. "I don't like it."

  "They wouldn't have sent Gebauer to set a trap. He's too good of an officer to be a party to something like that."

  "What about Admiral Zhu? They used him to try and take over the Mnemosyne. If they could capture you…" Terril left the consequences to my imagination.

  While I trusted Pavao to replace me in the long run, my capture could create s
hort-term chaos with unpredictable long-term consequences. "Elissa, suggest the Mnemosyne or Freeland." Several minutes passed before she answered.

  "Freeland?" Elissa said, looking puzzled. I couldn't blame her—my refusal to meet on the Red-tail and his to meet on the Mnemosyne raised troubling questions. I nodded and closed my SID.

  "Something isn't right. I don't think Gebauer's here to deliver a message from the SAS. Time will tell." I clicked on r-Maia's SID. She was currently the senior person on the Bridge.

  **Leader,** she acknowledged.

  "Contact Elder Ni'Shay. Ask him if he can find me and several guests a quiet place to talk—along with snacks and drinks, if it isn't too much trouble." As I talked, I noticed Terril on her SID.

  "Anake agrees with me," Terril said without saying what they agreed about.

  "Then I'm sure there is no sense arguing." Or bothering to find out what, I mused. "Come get me when it's time to leave. I think I'll freshen up and catch a few hours’ sleep. It might be a long night." I left Terril to attend to my security arrangements.

 

  Just before she drifted me off to sleep, she sent a video of hundreds of cars each with inscriptions painted on their sides and roofs—War with SAS, Relocate Riss, Quarantine JPU, Defend Freeland, Red Dwarf space—crashing into each other and ricocheting off the walls of my head.

  I woke feeling rested, had a leisurely shower, and put on a fresh uniform: dark grey shirt and pants, soft leather boots, and light grey beret. The right sleeve had a patch depicting an image of the Mnemosyne with two scrolls, Riss Nation over a Riss-cruiser image and Navy underneath, and three stars designating my position. Ironically, our dress uniform and our work uniform were identical. I had just finished when there was a knock at the door. Terril and two Cobras stood in the hallway, their uniforms identical except in darker grey with a different patch—a cobra with a flared hood—and typical marine stripes for rank.

  I gave a snort. "I expected double security."

  "Four more await us in your shuttle, and twenty Blue Kraits are already on Freeland." She didn't smile, reinforcing that the numbers weren't negotiable—obviously what she and Anake had agreed on earlier.

  I nodded. "You're in charge of my security, Colonel." She had been right far too often and had saved my life on a number of occasions. I quietly conceded better too many than too few.

  A vid of me sitting in a saddle on top of the Mnemosyne with a weapon in each hand as the ship raced toward twenty JPU cruisers. I laughed, which caused Terril to scowl until I sent her Thalia's vid.

  "Appears about right," she said, and had to grin. As Terril had indicated, four Cobras were waiting in the shuttle bay when we arrived. When I entered, I waved Terril to join me.

  "Expecting trouble?"

  "No."

  "Then why so much security?"

  "Because that is when we would be the most vulnerable."

  We were quiet for the rest of the ride to Freeland. Ni'Shay's frail figure stood waiting next to a black ground limo when we exited. Although he was the senior elder on the council, he tended to be my primary interface when I wanted something on Freeland.

  "Good evening, Captain Reese. The Red-tail's shuttle arrived ten minutes ago, and a Blue Krait detail escorted them to the Raider House. The owner closed the restaurant for the night. His facility has an excellent private room large enough for twenty, and he’s keeping the kitchen open in case you want anything," Ni'Shay said, giving me a small bow.

  "Thank you, Ni'Shay," I said, returning his bow.

  "Colonel Ja'Shar recommends this place and assures me it's private and safe," Terril said as we entered the limo. Ni'Shay stood off to the side and didn't join us.

  I was surprised when the car stopped and the door opened. I had been lost in my own thoughts and couldn't remember anything of the ride. The building looked like a modern log cabin, except it was a hundred meters long and two stories high. Inside, the spacious lobby with its leather chairs, couches, and tables opened into the dining room, which had a two-story high ceiling, forty or more dining tables with tablecloths and padded chairs, a semi-circular bar that could seat thirty with a three-meter high fish tank which ran the length of the bar, and a full-sized stage. We didn't enter the dining room, instead turned left down a wide hallway lined with pictures of the clans raiding and merchant ships along with pictures of their captains and a short history of each. Toward the end of the hallway, we reached a room with double doors which stood ajar. Inside stood Admiral Gebauer and two men in civilian clothes. I almost didn't recognize Plimson until he stepped forward with his hand extended.

  "I apologize for the secrecy, Nadya, but the situation on Eden is…turbulent, and my presence here on Freeland might make matters worse. Nevertheless, I felt I owed you a warning."

  "Thank you, Albert. Before you start, why don't we grab something to eat and drink. That table looks loaded with interesting snacks." I turned to look at the other man in civilian clothes. "Sean!" I shouted. "What are you doing here?" My mind spun with conflicting thoughts. He shouldn't be here, it’s too dangerous. He looks gorgeous, I want to run to him. Why is he in civilian clothes?

  "I've come to see the love of my life, to make sure she hasn't changed her mind." He smiled and my knees went weak. He leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I shamelessly melted into the kiss, ignoring everyone. "I guess that means you haven't."

  "Of course not, you clown, but—"

  "Later. We should join the others," he said, and I noticed Gebauer and Plimson sitting in wooden captain chairs at a round ebony table that would comfortably hold six, their plates filled with snacks and drinks on the table. My cheeks were still red when Sean and I finally joined them.

  "Sorry, Nadya. We did blindside you, but it couldn't be avoided. I wanted you to have advance notice of the situation on Eden. The Riss project has never been popular there, and as the Riss continue to demonstrate their superior intellect, the opposition grows. There are those among us who feel threatened by the Riss and their achievements. The war with the Aliens quieted them; however, the war with the JPU gave them a voice, because few understood the Riss' contribution. This anti-Riss group have made it sound like I used the SAS navy to protect the Riss and a planet of murdering raiders from the JPU. When you destroyed that registered SAS merchant's ship, they claimed the SAS had defeated the JPU, not the Riss; therefore, the SAS should have exclusive rights to trade in the JPU. The message has resonated enough for the SAS Council to force Zann and my retirement—"

  "Why didn't Zann come with you?" I asked, concerned for her safety.

  "I'm sorry, Nadya. Someone must have leaked Zann's location, because she was found shot to death in her residence. The house looked like a war zone, so military grade weapons were involved—on the pretext of arresting her for treason."

  I stood there with tears in my eyes. Zann had given her life to serving the SAS, and they had rewarded her by killing her.

 

  I felt outrage.

  Thalia sent an image of a large statue of Zann and a long line of Riss waiting to touch it. Plimson's voice jerked me back to the present.

  "The two main contenders for the position are Admirals Yorke and Gleason. Yorke shouldn't be in the running, but he hates you and the Riss. He's therefore the favorite with the anti-Riss group. Gleason's more reasonable and would seek a compromise. Yorke won't. Because I'm afraid Yorke will win, I convinced Admiral Gebauer to give me a ride to Freeland, as he was scheduled to pick up our next load of Irises."

  "What do you think Yorke will do if he gets the position?" I asked as the demolition derby started back up in my mind.

  "I don't think he can justify a war, but I think he would like to humiliate you and the other Riss-humans, maybe qu
arantine Freeland. He's already started his purge of the navy. He forced Sean to resign…well, to choose between you and the navy."

  My emotions erupted like an exploding volcano: raw hate, anger, and fear for Sean's safety. Adrenalin surged through me like hot lava. I was bursting to lash out at something—anything. Not a moment too soon, Thalia brought me back under control.

  A vid of me in a room alone with two guns blazing as I shot holes in the walls, floors, and ceiling.

  She was right. I felt stupid mad. I looked to Sean, and two old monsters rose out of the ashes: the Love Monster, the one that loved Sean with every fiber of my body and wanted marriage and children, and the Duty Monster, the one that knew I couldn't be my best with Sean close.

  Thalia sent, along with an image of me curled up in bed with the covers pulled over my head.

 

  Image of me closing the door on my friends and standing alone in a bare room. A tear leaked out of one eye and slid down my cheek. I loved Thalia, but she didn't stop me from doing my best. I loved my Riss-human companions and they didn't stop me from doing my best. I loved Iglis, Byer, and Seng, and they didn't stop me. In fact, they helped in many ways.

  "Sean, marry me and stay on Freeland. I don't promise our life together will be easy," I said, knowing it was the right decision and it wouldn't be easy.

  "Yes," he said, and a huge smile split his beautiful face. Then I heard clapping and my face heated as I realized where I was and whom I was with.

  Terril sent.

  "Congratulations, Nadya," Plimson said. "I wish I could stay for the wedding, but I'll be of more use to you on Eden."

  "Admiral Gebauer, I'm afraid we’ve had an accident at the Iris plant and your order won't be available until it's repaired," I said, trying to think ahead in case Yorke intended to act like JPU Admirals Neifeh or Haddad or Bishara.