Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession (27 page)

"That was a
real bombshell," Terril said on the shuttle back to the
Mnemosyne
. "I don't know how I
manage to beat you at Si'jin. You're in everyone's mind like a...
dybbuk
. The clans named you well."

"I decided
you and I needed a vacation. Would you rather go someplace else?" I tilted
my head, trying to look interested in the answer.

"What are
you up to, Nadya? Bradshaw isn't on Eden, is he? No, that wouldn't be like you.
Are you going to ask Plimson to... something?"

"I'm hurt
you think I have some devious reason for going to Eden."

"Even Pavao
was stunned into silence. And why the staff meeting?"

"To
announce we are leaving for Eden, today."

"I can't
wait to hear this."

idea.>

oh wise one.>

*
* *

Deathly silence met
me when I entered the room. I didn't often call unscheduled staff meetings, and
the Riss-human presence made it even more unusual.

"Sorry for
the unannounced staff meeting, but I've decided to leave today. I'd like all crews
on Freeland recalled immediately. We are leaving for Eden as soon as you report
your crews accounted for."

"Eden?"
Seng and Byer said simultaneously.

"Alright,
Leader Reese, why?" Pavao asked in amused frustration.

"I decided
I needed a vacation."

"You don't
take vacations and certainly not on Eden," Pavao again.

"True. I've
been concerned about the problem of rotating crews on the Riss cruisers. They
need to be replaced with certified crews, which means they will lose their
places. It seems to me consistency produces the most efficient crews. I'm being
selfish, but I'm planning on rotating the Riss cruisers to Eden as they intend
to do with the task forces. That way, our detached units can get planet-side
leave in Eden and remain with the ship if they choose." I sat back waiting
on everyone's response.

"I know the
Scorpions will love it. Right now, I think the vast majority would give up
leave to stay on the
Mnemosyne
."

"I agree
with Colonel Seng. I think the pilots are of the same opinion."

"Butler
won't let me leave whether I get leave or not," Iglis managed to say with
a straight face, but then laughed. "My people too."

"That's a
great idea, but what about Damaass and Zheng?" Pavao asked.

"All Riss
ships will rotate through Echo, Eden, Freeland, and Dong," I said, feeling
Riss.

Riss need recognition for their contribution.>

"Commander
Byer, Colonel Seng, and Commander Iglis, I’d like you to create a patch or Fourrageres
that those serving on a Riss cruiser can wear planet-side since we are a
foreign nation. I think the citizens of the SAS need to recognize the Riss as
allies and not strange animals."

*
* *

The human crews
weren't dancing in the hallways, but it was obvious that everyone was excited
about visiting Eden and loved the idea of a gray and black intertwined shoulder
cord for active duty on the
Mnemosyne—
or
any Riss cruiser.

"Is exiting
the wave into Eden going to be exciting?" Terril asked as we approached
the Bridge with less than fifteen minutes remaining.

"We have
the entry codes from Stenberg, and as a precaution, I had Iglis send Admiral Butler
advance notice of our arrival—day and hour. Of course, we still have to
contend with peacetime captains in a wartime environment." I smiled and
took my seat.

wave.>

authorization codes.>

sent.>

The minutes
passed slowly as we awaited some kind of acknowledgement.

Admiral Newman.>

"Hold at
position '
22.045, 3h 2m 5s, 3.12 au'
until a docking port can be assigned."

Six hours passed as we decelerated towards
our assigned holding position, where four cruisers waited with weapon systems
hot. Another four hours passed while we awaited further instructions.

Newman looked to be in his late forties or
early fifties, judging more by his sagging jowls than the full head of brown
hair. His neutral face turned to a frown when he saw me.

"Who's the captain of the...
Mnemosyne
?" he asked.

"I'm Captain Nadya Reese. How may I help
you, Admiral Newman?"

"I have no authorization for your
cruiser to be in the area. I'm—"

"That's not a problem at all. Wait while
I contact Admiral Plimson."

Permission to dock the
Mnemosyne
at
the Eden space center.>

"You're a foreign ship in SAS space. You
will prepare to be boarded." His voice was harsh, and his eyes narrowed.

"For the record, Admiral Newman. Any
attempt to board the
Mnemosyne
will
be considered an act of war. And firing on the
Mnemosyne
will result in the death of Sharks, Scorpions, and Intelligence
personnel assigned as detached units," I said, wondering for the
thousandth time
why the hate
.

feel
superior.>

plan.>

"Leader Reese, you are cleared to dock
at F15. Admiral Plimson sends his regards and requests you dine with him
tonight. His aide, Lieutenant
Ostein,
will arrange the details with you."

It took an additional five hours to reach the
space station and dock. By then,
Ostein
had made
arrangements
for a private shuttle to pick me up and transportation on the ground to the SAS
Military Headquarters, Apollo, to meet with Plimson before the evening dinner.
At
Apollo,
it took an extra half-hour to
authorize armed Scorpions to accompany me into the building. I was shocked to
see Plimson come striding down the hall when I exited the elevator.

"Leader Reese, I apologize for the
delays. Admiral Butler told me you were arriving today, so I thought there
would be no problems. I had hoped that was all behind us. I guess I was
wrong."

"In the war theater, I believe it's
under control. I think Eden is still enjoying peacetime," I said.

He laughed. "There is a lot of truth to
that. Gunny, I see you and your men are taking good care of Leader Reese. Relax
in the waiting room while we talk. The petty officer will get you whatever you
want," he said, waving me towards his office. He looked concerned as he
chose a comfortable chair and waved to one next to it. "This is an
unexpected visit, Nadya. I hope there aren't any problems."

"No, sir. I believe any ship operates
more efficiently when the crew has worked together and knows what to expect
from each other. This is even more important on a Riss ship where replacements
need to be certified. If one leaves a ship, he or she
might never
be reassigned to the same ship or even
another Riss cruiser. So..." I went on to explain my idea to rotate Riss
ships through the systems. "And I think it may help get the citizens
and... peacetime officers used to the Riss being allies."

"That's a good idea. Exposure to the
Riss will help, especially when they understand you are allies in your own
ships and have SAS units attached."

"Can I get you to authorize the wearing of
Fourrageres for
the men
and
women serving on Riss cruisers? I think that will help reinforce the allied
relationship, and the troops like the idea."

"I like it too. I assume those are the
ones your security is wearing."

"Yes, sir."

We spent the next two hours talking about activities
at Dong, Echo and Freeland.

"I'm surprised you get along with
Admiral Gebauer after the way he treated you."

"The Riss, who are
very
much a part of me, judge people
on
their current actions
, not their past.
I've always thought he was an excellent officer, except for his out-of-control
prejudice against Riss-humans. Gebauer is still uncomfortable with the
Riss-human concept, but he understands now how it affects performance and has
used that to address potential problems. He's been very effective at Freeland."

"Good, are you ready for dinner?"

"Yes, sir."

"I've invited Commanders Byer and Iglis,
and Colonel Seng along. I want to hear what a genius I was by authorizing
detached units on Riss cruisers."

* * *

The Admiral's vehicle dropped us at the
entrance to the senior officers’ dining facility. As we entered, we were met by
a young woman neatly dressed in a dark-blue suit and white blouse.

"Good evening, Admiral Plimson, your
guests
are
already seated. If
you will follow me," she said and led us into a smaller room with only a
few tables that were empty. Byer, Seng, and Iglis stood as we approached.

"Please sit and relax. I'm tired of
reading reports prepared by people whose entire lives have been spent behind
desks, telling me about a war they've never seen. Sorry." He took a sip of
wine the
waiter
had just poured.
"Two hundred twenty died, seventy six wounded, two cruisers destroyed.
Numbers meaningful only to other desk pilots who need to provide replacements.
Yes, we need them, but for just an hour I want to hear about the war from
people who have been there. So I've kidnapped you for the evening."

"You've kidnapped the right group, Admiral.
The
Mnemosyne
has probably seen more
action than any other ship," Byer said. "Our captain isn't above kidnapping,
either..."
With
Plimson’s
encouragement
, he
went
on to talk about Hayjar, Dong, and finally Salazan.

Plimson insisted Terril
sit
since she had been at my side most of the
time. The dinner was like a personalized history seen through their eyes and like
a private roast.

"I see you are all wearing the Fourragere
of a foreign nation," he said and smiled, "which I authorized for
wear earlier today. Tell me about duty on a Riss cruiser. It sounds
interesting."

"Actually, sir, it's a problem,"
Byer said.

Seng and even Iglis nodded.

I sat stunned, with my mouth open and my fork
with lemon-cream cake hanging suspended in air. Why hadn't I been told?

"On a standard cruiser, there tend to be
cliques that make each group feel superior in one way or another.
On a
Riss ship
, you often see friendships
between Ghosts and Scorpions. We eat, work out, and relax in the same areas. We
are all tied into the VTM and know what is happening at all times. And the
accommodations on level three are luxurious," Byer said.

Seng laughed. "The hardest part to get
used to is the calm atmosphere before and during a battle. Half the time, we're
at Standby—stations manned by one-third of the unit's personnel. The Riss
never seem to get rattled. By now, we are all used to it."

"Why, Reese?"

"A person at Battle Stations who attempts
to stay ready to act for hours is less likely to be ready to act when the time
comes because he or she is stressed and tired. The Ghosts and Scorpions are
never required immediately. So when they are called, they are alert and clear
thinking."

"After you've been on a Riss cruiser,
you never again want to serve on a regular one," Seng said.

"It's not just Reese, then?"
Plimson asked.

"Based upon my talks with those on other
Riss cruisers, all the Riss captains are different, yet all the same. They all
wander the ship visiting like friends, all give open access to what is going
on, all have that Riss-like calmness, and all are
dybbuks
in battle."

"Thank you, for a very pleasant evening.
I needed to talk to people in the field fighting the war. Leader Reese, how
long do you plan to stay?"

"I thought three weeks. Long enough for
my detached units to give their personnel seven to ten days leave, and to
certify replacements for those who may need to leave or want
reassignment."

* * *

"Well, Terril, where are you going for
your leave?" I asked as the shuttle lifted for the space station.

"I'm taking this woman named Nadya into
Eden City.
From a young girl
, she
has always wanted to see it, but circumstances weren't right. They are right
now. Six of us from the Si'jin class think it would be fun. There
is
lots to see," she said, handing me a
list. "Pick what you think you would be interested in, and we'll start
tomorrow."

I sat staring at the list. My first reaction
was no, but as I began to think up excuses, I realized it was fear that kept me
from seeing Eden.