Riss Series 3: The Riss Survival (13 page)

"I thought I could get you to do the work," Pavao said, smiling. "Okay, but I'll want you to review it before we present it to Plimson.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Security chief arrives

"Captain, the Merlin is reporting a Heavy cruiser has entered the system. It's the Nicobar, an Intel ship, with Vice Admiral Munoz, Assistant Director of SAS Intelligence, aboard. He is requesting Commander Iglis and you join him for dinner at seventeen hundred hours," Gelman said, looking at me over his shoulder.

"Get me Commander Iglis on the Comm."

"Ma'am, Commander Iglis is on the Comm," Gelman said after a few minutes.

"Commander Iglis, Vice Admiral Munoz is requesting your presence at dinner tonight at seventeen hundred hours," I said. Silence followed.

"... You’re joking, aren't you?"

"No, wear your best uniform. I'll meet you at my shuttle at sixteen hundred. I wouldn't be late. Admirals don't like to be kept waiting." I cut the connection and smiled. The Admiral would have come because of the information she had collected on the JPU and UFN, and that would be a feather in her cap. If she weren't so focused on meeting with an Admiral, she'd realize that. I knew what my first and second and ... meetings felt like and there was nothing I could say that would make her feel better.

"Varisko, you have the Watch. I suspect I should also dress in my best uniform."

"Captain, I have the Watch."

* * *

Iglis stood by the shuttle when I arrived. I imagined she had been there for some time.

"Commander, are you ready for your audition?"

"No! What could he want with me? I can't think of anything I did so terrible that he'd come personally. I requested a Comstat like you suggested—"

"Stop. You haven't done anything wrong, otherwise you'd be on a ship back to Eden. He’s here because of the excellent work you've done." I grabbed her by the shoulders, turned her towards the shuttle door, and gave her a slight push. She stopped short of the steps to let me board first and followed. After I pointed to the seat next to me, she sat.

"You think so?"

"Yes, Iglis. I know a meeting with an Admiral is stressful, but try and relax. The Admiral isn't going to bite." The ride to the Nicobar was short, and we arrived fifteen minutes early. A Lt. Commander met us as we departed.

"Captain Reese, Commander Iglis, I'm Lt. Commander Hensen. Admiral Munoz sends his regards and asked me to escort you to his office." Hensen looked young for his rank, in his early thirties. He had wavy dark-brown hair, a slightly round face, an athletic build, and blue eyes that shined with enthusiasm. Judging by his age, he was on a fast track for promotions. Before taking us to the Admiral, he gave us a brief tour of the
Nicobar
. Iglis looked like a kid in a candy store when he showed us the intelligence suite, which looked to be three times the size of the Bridge on the Lynx. When we arrived at the Admiral's office, one of the two security guards knocked and then opened the door, and Hensen stepped to the side for us. I entered with Iglis slowly following. We braced to attention and saluted as Hensen closed the door. Munoz returned the saluted while surveying me.

"Relax, and have a seat. Hensen, get the Captain and Commander something to drink."

"Kaffa," I said.

"Water," Iglis said after a slight hesitation.

"Reese, you and Iglis don't think much of our rules about the separation of the Intel group and ship command," Munoz's eyes went from me to Iglis and back to me. Iglis's face turned pale. "Normally, I'd recall the officer, put her career on hold, and send a letter of complaint to Admiral Plimson. But you two keep doing the impossible. You've found Freeland and you've established a spy network in the UFN and JPU of our dreams. I can't condone your behavior without allowing others to break the rules, which we don't want. The rule is good and necessary. So, consider yourselves chastised. Please stand," he said as he rose. Iglis's face looked like white granite. Munoz came around the table and handed Iglis a small, velvet box and put out his hand. Iglis took the box and shook his hand, looking shocked. "Congratulations, Commander. Your temporary promotion is now permanent, and you're the station's intelligence officer. That's the good news. The bad news you will probably be assigned to Captain Reese's ship for the rest of your career."

"Admiral Munoz, you'll need to cut her new orders as I'm taking command of a new ship," I said as Munoz returned to his desk and waved us to sit.

"What ship is that, Reese? They aren't relieving you of command, are they?"

"No, sir. I'll be taking command of the RNN Mnemosyne, and I'd welcome Iglis and her staff on board."

"That's the new cruiser Admiral Plimson authorized you to build. Why do I think you're trying to circumvent Intelligence department regulations ... again?"

"Sir, if you would allow me, I'd like to take you on a tour of the
Mnemosyne
, tomorrow."

"I'd like that. Commander Iglis, the day after, you will give my staff and me an up-to-date briefing on what you have on the UFN and JPU."

The dinner was a quiet affair with a few of his senior officers. Most of the talk revolved around Freeland and the clans. The discussions went on for hours, and it was late when we arrived at the shuttle.

After the shuttle was airborne, Iglis turned to me with an ear-to-ear grin and sparkling eyes. "You were right. I never dreamed I'd make Lt. Commander this early in my career, and I'm a full Commander. But I thought the Mnemosyne was going to be exclusively a Riss cruiser."

"It is. But I would like a few SAS groups on board, as detached units: Intelligence, Sharks, and Scorpions. Part of the reason is that I don't believe the Riss would do well in those positions, but it will also establish the Riss as allies of the SAS with nothing to hide."

"Do you really think, the Admiral is going to allow an Intelligence group on the Mnemosyne?"

"Oh, yes. Spooks like their noses in everything." I laughed, and after a slight pause, so did Iglis.

* * *

I gave Munoz a small fight in the Mnemosyne, mostly to show him Riss operating the ship. He agreed to an Intelligence group on the ship immediately when I explained I would be requesting SAS fighter and commando groups be attached along with Iglis. Over the next few days, Munoz had a Comstat unit installed. I imagined after Iglis's briefing, he wanted to ensure he could communicate with her with minimum delay. After the Nicobar had departed, I stopped in to talk to Iglis and met Master Chief Drock on his way out.

"Captain, I hope you've come to help. I've tried everything I know, but I can't get her to stop smiling."

"I don't know, Master Chief. Maybe you could enlist the help of some of the other chiefs." I shrugged. He laughed, knocked on the door to her office and wandered off.

“Enter,” she called out in a routine voice. When she saw it was me, she bolted to attention. "Captain!"

"Quit that, Iglis. Remember we're not supposed to fraternize."

"Do you want some kaffa?" Before I could answer she had a cup filled and in my hand. "Thank you for letting me see the Mnemosyne. I love it! I know we aren't supposed to fraternize but I dreaded you leaving. You've been my mentor over the years and even Admiral Munoz seemed to think our association has benefited the SAS."

"Funny thing about breaking rules. If good comes of it, then you're a hero. If not, you're in a world of hurt. We've done our jobs as best we can, and the SAS has benefited. All we can do now is to continue to do our jobs to the best of our abilities and hope the SAS continues to benefit."

"Yes, ma'am. And I'll sure this smile will be gone in a couple of months."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Plimson inspects Mnemosyne

The work on the Mnemosyne continued at a feverish pace. I had managed to delay Plimson an extra month. He was eager to see the Mnemosyne after talking with Zann and reluctantly agreed to a one-month delay. Pavao, Corbitt, and I met a couple of times each week to review progress and the plan to incorporate some of the Mnemosyne technology into the SAS cruisers. We decided the potential modifications fell into three categories: those features that could be accommodated relatively quickly, those that would require extensive work and time, and those that couldn't or shouldn't be implemented.

On the short list were the missiles. We decided the missile tubes could be left as they were so that they could continue to support the existing SAS missiles. The new missiles could be resized to fit the SAS tubes without affecting the internal systems; however, the software had to be changed and an additional panel added to accommodate the different types of missiles. And of course, a good deal of training.

On the long list were the outer skin and the power system. We considered adding one or two small engines to provide silent running.

On the forget-it-list was the bridge design and redundant features, the
outdoors
level, and the heighten ceilings.

Two weeks before Plimson was scheduled to arrive, we met in my office and signed off on the Mnemosyne and the upgrade proposal.

"Nance, Bill, I want to personally thank you on behalf of the Riss for your help and support in the design, construction, and participation in the trials of the Mnemosyne. I could not have done it without you."

"You’re welcome, although I would have paid to participate. It's not only been exciting, but it's been an education. And Bill and I will have bragging rights until long after we're retired. My only regret is that I'll never command one. It makes me wish I could be a Riss-human." Pavao's eyes looked sad, although she was smiling.

"I agree. I've become fond of the Riss. They are an amazing race: gentle, intelligent, and never take offense. I agree with Pavao. I'm going to hate to see this tour end, but I'll enjoy the bragging rights." He laughed and took a sip of his wine.

"When I volunteered, I thought of the clan as Raiders. I agreed with your actions, after I heard your explanation, but I was still nervous over your approach. What I didn't understand at that time was how the clans see you and how you see the clans. They really believe you are a dybbuk and that you can see into their minds. And you have me believing it. It's that insight, that's enabled you to pull this off. The rest of us saw them as prisoners or evil. I believe they saw us as jailors, oppressors, and equally evil. You saw both sides as capable of doing evil things, but not as evil people. I think you converted a lot of us—me for one." Pavao said.

"Me, too." Corbitt said.

The Bateleur arrived one day early.

* * *

"Skipper, the Admiral has invited you to have dinner with him at eighteen hundred hours. Should I tell him you’re available?" Gelman's lips twitched as he tried to hold back a grin. I heard a couple of coughs.

"What do you think, XO?"

"I think you should go. I'm not ready to be Captain." She grinned.

"Okay, Gelman, since Commander Varisko insists, tell the Admiral I'm available." I nodded in her direction. "XO, you have the Watch."

"Aye Captain, I have the Watch."

On my way to my cabin, I realized I was nervous about my meeting with Plimson. He’d always been more than fair with me and had on several occasions taken huge risks on the Riss and my behalf. I hoped the Mnemosyne would justify his faith in me and make him look good. I took my time in the Fresher and dressed slowly. I had plenty of time. When I reached the shuttle Terril stood with there, smiling.

"What are you so happy about, Gunny?"

"I love to watch masters dance."

"Hopefully, this will be boring and not worth the effort."

"You're never boring, Captain." She looked to my escort, who shook their heads and tried not to grin. I gave up and entered the shuttle, waving Terril to the seat next to me.

"It had better be boring, or I'll hold you personally responsible."

"Yes, Captain Reese. However, I think you owe the Scorpions some excitement. It’s been in short supply lately."

We were both quiet for the rest of the ride. When I departed, Lieutenant Alderson was waiting to escort me to the Admiral's conference room. I'd been sitting a few minutes when Plimson, accompanied by Wattson and Stenberg entered the room. I braced to attention.

"At ease, Reese. You already know Admirals Stenberg and Wattson. They came along to see if I'm a fool or a genius. I hope you haven't disappointed me. You know how I feel about that."

"Sir, Captains don't disappoint Admirals," I said. Stenberg snorted and Wattson smiled. "I would like to invite you and Vice Admirals Stenberg and Wattson to visit the Mnemosyne and afterward to conduct an exercise with the Bateleur."

"You're going to take on the Bateleur with a cruiser?" Wattson asked.

"Yes, sir. With real missiles—without warheads," I added. "With your permission, I like to invite Captains Pavao and Corbitt, my project manager, Da'Maass, the design engineer, Sa'Arkadi, and the clans' elders.

"Isn't that potentially dangerous?" Stenberg asked.