Riss Series 3: The Riss Survival (23 page)

"Easy for you to say, Nadya," Pavao whispered. When she had her shirt off, I led her over to the Riss.

"Sit," I said. Pavao knelt facing the Gorillai. Sitting on top of White Capped Mountain gently took her by the shoulders and turned her around so Pavao's back faced her chest and pulled Pavao into her. Pavao squirmed a few times like she was trying to break the contact but soon closed her eyes and relaxed.

"What now?" Dayton asked.

"The Riss is making an opening in Pavao's back. She'll use the opening to enter her body. Over the next eight to twelve hours, she will attach herself to Pavao's neurological system. When she's finished, Pavao will wake and you should check her vital signs to verify there are no problems, and then she will need to sleep. The Gorillai will be dead.

* * *

After Dayton had verified Pavao's vital signs were all normal, a nurse helped her to one of the beds. I returned eight hours later and stayed, waiting for her to wake. Several hours later, she opened her eyes.

"Is it over?" she asked, rising up on one elbow.

"Yes. You're now a Riss-human. Come, I'll help you dress, and we'll go get something to eat." As Pavao dressed, Dayton joined us.

"How's the patient?"

"Groggy. We're going to get something to eat. Want to join us?"

"Yes, I'd like that."

The dining area on the Mnemosyne was open to everyone—Riss, navy, and army—a spectacle you wouldn't see on any human ship. Here the tables often had mixed groups with no rank discrimination. We arrived between normal meal times and used the Fugenie to produce lunch and found an empty table.

"Pavao, you need to teach your companion words, since you won't be able to think in streaming vid for some time. She already knows what most things are, but she will need to mentally hear you talk, so you two will be able to converse. So, point to something and think the word or do something while thinking what you are doing. For example, think,
I'm using a fork to put food into my mouth
," I said, watching Pavao eat. "Your companion will probably never talk in complete sentences, but she'll make herself understood as soon as she digests the language. And that won't take long. Riss have total recall. I'd also suggest you use the system to review the old goddesses of history. Your companion will need a human name, and you both need to learn to read. You will find it a unique experience. Eventually your thoughts and hers will mingle as you read, and you will come to a mutual understanding of the material."

Pavao nodded as she gobbled down her meal. "We will meet every evening to discuss your progress and resolve any questions you have."

"I'd also appreciate seeing you each day. It will help me understand the Riss and Riss-humans, which may be important if … when there are injuries," Dayton added.

* * *

The next several weeks were interesting, watching Pavao become a functioning Riss-human. She had named Sitting on top of White Capped Mountain, Cethlion—the Celtic goddess of Prophecy—because of her Riss position of far-seeing. The third week was the worst for Pavao.

"What next?" Pavao asked as we sat in my office reviewing her day's activities.

"The worse days of your life," I said, remembering the time Thalia took control of my body.

Image of Thalia, in Gorillai form, and me as a puppet dancing on strings.

"You need to let Cethlion take complete control of your body. It won't be pleasant but necessary, if she's going to be able to assist you in the coming years."

"I thought the Riss didn't take control of us, although they can."

"Only when you need their assistance or in an emergency. In a fight she can accelerate your reflexes to a point where your opponents will appear in slow motion, enable you to blank out pain, increase your strength, and many other functions."

"All right, let’s get it over with. I want to get to the good part—flying a Riss cruiser." Pavao grinned. I couldn't help but smile as the transformation began and Pavao staggered out my office door into the corridor wall, fell, and crawled down the hallway.

"That was rather dramatic," Terril said watching Pavao, or rather, Cethlion, attempting to rise onto her feet.

"Yes, Cethlion is like a new baby learning to walk and pickup things. The worse part will be when she experiments with Pavao’s emotions. She'll go from happy to sad to angry and every other emotion a human feels. I thought I'd have a nervous breakdown before Thalia finally stopped."

"Like a certain Lieutenant beginning Si'jin."

"Worse!"

* * *

Wattson assigned Lichter, XO from the
Golden Eagle
, to be Captain of the
Bobcat
and excused Pavao from his weekly meetings, although he did accompany us on our visits to Freeland to review projects and meet with the elders. The elders found the concept fascinating, and I think a few would have liked to become a Riss-human. With Pavao becoming a Riss-human, the assignments were changed. Pavao would eventually command the Eirene with Alena as XO, and I would command the Mnemosyne with Jaelle as XO. And Elissa would command the Minerva when it was assembled. Alena and Jaelle were chosen as XOs to accompany Pavao and me into battle in the hope the experience would gain them the wartime expertise to Command the Minerva and the next Riss cruiser built. Elissa was merely expected to get things organized until a Captain was assigned. I felt no resentment towards Pavao by either Alena or Jaelle. They realized they weren't ready to be Captain much less prepared to go to war.

* * *

"You were right, that was the worst three days of my life. Cethlion found it interesting and understood the need. I found it a nightmare and questioned my sanity in hosting a Riss. Knowing you and the other Riss-humans quelled my fears of being controlled by Cethlion. But since then, she has demonstrated some of the things she can assist me in doing. The most interesting enhancement is the ability to sense others emotions. If humans knew we could, it would make them very nervous."

"It's saved my life and helped me manage Freeland. I knew right from the start that Lavett hated the Treaty and would be trouble. Without that pre-warning, things may have turned out differently. It doesn't tell you what people are thinking, but it helps warn you when emotions are running hot." I smiled. "It's time. Today you are going to experience your first taste of what it will be like to command the Eirene," I said, motioning for Pavao to follow me. As we entered the bridge, Alena rose.

Although unnecessary, it was part of the experience Alena needed to prepare for her own command.

"All units, prepare for departure in thirty minutes," r-Galene voice-box said into the Comm. I hadn’t notified anyone of the upcoming flight, so it would be a good training exercise. Twenty minutes later.

After r-Galene's brief exchange with the docking crew.

…

We spent the next two hours performing silent approach, to other cruisers in the area, simulated missile firings, equipment malfunctions, and engine configurations. Pavao sat with a grin the entire exercise. When I turned back towards her, she nodded.

"Thank you, Nadya. You have just justified every pain of the last four weeks. Ni'Shay was right, when he said it was like entering the world of the gods. Commands flow effortlessly and instantaneously."

"Yes, the Riss cruisers were made uniquely for Riss, and although ugly, for war."

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The buildup to war

Pavao attended Wattson's next weekly meeting. It was the first time anyone other than the people on the Mnemosyne had seen her since the insertion. The emotions in the room ran the gambit from shock to humor.

"Welcome, Captain Pavao. We've missed you at our meetings. Any words of wisdom now that you are officially on loan to the Riss nation?"

"I had my first ride on a Riss cruiser. It was an incredible experience."

"But you’d been on the Mnemosyne several times. We all have," Corbitt said.

"Being on the Mnemosyne as a human, is like a deaf man watching the frequencies of an orchestra being displayed on a monitor, or a person explaining a painting to a blind man."

"So you're recommending it for everyone?" Wattson asked, his face expressionless, but his eyes alive. Knowing Wattson he had a point but darn if I knew what.

"No. Not everyone could tolerate another intelligent mind in their head, or that a Riss in the environmental section is your equal, or that your position may change based on the Riss' need, or that Reese's words are your words. No, I don't regret my decision, but it wouldn't be right for most."

"Nor would the Riss accept most people. In the end, it's their choice," I added.

"You could order them," Gabisi said, with a grin.

"I won't. I'm not a dictator. I speak for them because I have the same dream they do."

"Enough. The Riss had a need, and Captain Pavao was the right person to meet that need. And that need supports the needs of the SAS." He scanned the room, ending the conversation. "I've heard back from Admiral Plimson. Based on Commander Iglis's recommendations, he is sending a squadron composed of two Light cruisers and a Hunter to All Flags, because of their substantial defenses and a large number of mercenaries call it home, and Lycus because of the military presence. And a Light cruiser each to Savage, Blue Canyon, and Zigzag. If an Aliens' scout is detected at All Flags or Lycus, it will be destroyed or captured if possible. If one appears at Savage, Blue Canyon, or Zigzag, the cruiser will notify us via the Comstat and return here as soon as possible." He paused for a sip of wine.

"What will the task force sent to intercept the Aliens' response look like?" Byer asked.

"That is what we must determine. In no event must any of the Aliens' ships escape, as that would provide them with information about us. Admiral Plimson will be detaching ten Lights, three Heavies, and three Hunter to Freeland to support us and to begin upgrades."

"I'll bet Eden's in turmoil. War with Aliens and Freeland as a major depot," Corbitt said, smiling at the thought.

"Right now, the rumor on Eden is that there is potential trouble with the UFN. And all Captains leave Eden with sealed orders, which they are ordered not to open until they were underway. Until the situation has been resolved, we're in a state of war and all rotations are canceled."

The room became alive with conversations, which Wattson let run their course. The next two hours were spent discussing the force needed to confront the Aliens, when they returned to quarantine the planet. In the end, it was decided to send one Heavy, one Hunter, four Lights, and the two Riss cruisers. The theory was that it was better to have too much fighter power than too little. Wattson also wanted a sampling of each type cruiser to test the strengths and weaknesses of each. Leadership was a more complex issue. Wattson would command the SAS forces from the Golden Eagle. Since the Riss were now recognized as a separate nation, I would command the Riss forces under Wattson's direction. Admirals Stenberg and Zann would be arriving on the Goshawk and Bateleur. Stenberg would become the station commander and Zann the Riss commander responsible for the Treaty with Freeland.

* * *

Two Light cruisers and a Hunter were always on duty when one of the Clan merchants was due to return to Freeland. Wattson decided to design competitive exercises to keep the growing SAS forces occupied and to assess the strength and weakness of the assembled forces. He was like a kid in a candy store. He had created a real War College using actual cruisers rather than simulated ones.

The exercises were conducted every other day and each Captain was involved in at least one exercise a week. The seventh day of each week was devoted to a critique of the week's exercises. The fact that each Captain was given points made the exercises a competition with bragging rights.

For the first month, the Mnemosyne was included twice each week. I commanded with Pavao, Alena, Jaelle, and Elissa on the Bridge. The second month, I commanded the Mnemosyne once each week with the Riss-humans on board, and Pavao commanded the Eirene once each week with all of us present. At least once a week, Alena, Jaelle, or Elissa had an opportunity to conduct independent exercises on the Minerva, which permitted the Sharks and Scorpions a chance to work out.

 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Nadya’s shuttle attacked

"Nance, Thalia tells me you and Cethlion appear to be a good match," I said. Pavao and I were sitting in the Captain's office on the Eirene. Pavao had destroyed the three Light cruisers in a Wattson exercise. The Captains were getting rabid, attempting to kill the Mnemosyne and Eirene, so Wattson had insisted we couldn't use the stealth capabilities. It helped that the SAS cruisers could locate the Riss cruisers, but unpredictable skips, the new missiles, and the Riss' ability with Symath continued to frustrate the opposition.