Riss Series 5: The Riss Challenge (23 page)

"If we quarantine systems, he might not know immediately and could be expected to continue with his original plans—invading Eden," Zhu said, then smiled. "On the other hand, an invasion force would require he stay home and set a trap. One hundred forty Riss-modified cruisers against his one hundred fifty-seven sabotaged cruisers makes it an attractive alternative, and it would please the Emperor and the United Council."

Plimson surveyed the room then nodded. "That appears to be the consensus. Admiral Wattson, I leave it to you to work out the details with Admiral Zhu and Leader Reese. I will redeploy the remaining squadrons to home fleet. Good hunting."

"Leader Reese?" Wattson asked.

"Captain Sheva will deploy to Eden to support the home fleet; Captain Pavao and I will accompany the invasion force."

"Fleet Admiral Zhu?"

"My four squadrons and I will accompany you."

"Excellent. If there are no objections, we will depart for Hayjar the day after tomorrow. Since we have no idea where Admiral Neifeh is, or his invasion force, one system is as good as another, and the Riss have already destroyed Mihr and Sivas," Wattson said, looking around the room for questions or comments.

The discussion went on for another two hours. In the end, it was decided that the two Riss cruisers would enter first to assess the situation. Thirty minutes later, the invasion force would follow with one squadron every thirty seconds—the maximum most Wave exits would tolerate without extreme turbulence that could destroy ships. The first five SAS, the next four UFN, and finally the last five SAS.

Consequently, the invasion force wasn't going to be much of a surprise. Wattson and Zhu would decide on an overall strategy, with the Riss operating independently to support the plan.

* * *

I sat back as red lights flashed throughout the ship and SIDs notified everyone of the change in status.

Terril sent.

I sent with a mental snort, since I frequently doubted Leader fitted me best.

Terril sent with a laugh.

I smiled, thinking of my many similar discussions with Thalia.

I watched as the VTH sprang to life. Nothing seemed to have changed. One squadron was positioned about four light-seconds from the Wave. I'd need to get closer, but I assumed the other three squadrons were in orbit around Hayjar or docked at one of the new stations currently under construction.

Pavao's face stared back at me.

"What do you think, Nance?"

"This squadron is too far away to be an immediate threat to the SAS/UFN taskforce. I'd suggest proceeding on to Hayjar. Maybe we can be helpful there."

"I agree." I said, and cut the connection.

An hour later, the taskforce began appearing, and the JPU squadron moved to intercept. By the time the JPU squadron realized they were overmatched, it was too late to retreat. Activity around Hayjar intensified as the outcome of the battle became apparent. Two squadrons passed us on the way to meet the invading force. The third squadron was docked at the space station and probably had most of their crew on planet-side leave.

Pavao sat smiling. "Are you thinking what I am?" she asked.

"If you're thinking those stations are ugly and should be destroyed, I guess we are. In thirty minutes."

"Thirty minutes." Pavao cut the connection.

R-Arawn sent with amusement.

I smiled at the ironies of war. We kill in the name of self-defense, but was this self-defense? Well at least it wasn't about revenge, or hate, or power—but people died.

Thalia sent, sensing my doubts, fears.

I sent, acknowledging I had the same weaknesses other humans have.

Thalia sent a picture of her standing over me watching me working.

I sent back the same picture except I had Thalia holding a large club.

I felt the Mnemosyne shudder twice as I watched the countdown clock showing thirty-five seconds to impact.

I sat back, watching the taskforce's confrontation with the three JPU squadrons. It wasn't much of a battle, as the odds were four-to-one and the Riss technology made it more like eight-to-one.

Shortly afterward, the Mnemosyne shuddered twice and another twelve Demons raced toward the heavily damaged space station.

By now, the space station was an inferno, as forty-eight Demons from the Eirene and the Mnemosyne scored hits against the platform and the docked cruisers. The Mnemosyne shuddered again.

As I watched, the two platforms were consumed with multiple explosions and eventually disappeared from the VTH. I closed my eyes and tried not to think of the lives lost. I tried to blame Admiral Neifeh and those in the Supreme Council who authorized his actions, but it wasn't his missiles that caused the destruction. Maybe when this conflict was resolved, we should build enough ships to hold all the Riss and leave. My head felt like it had a space battle going on inside.

* * *

The taskforce spent the next three days repairing the damage to equipment and personnel. The SAS had lost four cruisers, and ten needed repairs. The UFN had lost one cruiser, and four needed repairs. The number of deaths wasn't discussed. It was much easier to discuss cruisers and equipment like no humans were there.

"I suggest Afyon, then Sarosh next," Wattson said. It was just Zhu and me on the connection.

Those seemed like logical choices, as they were the closest to our present position. We knew Neifeh would have to set a trap for us or let us destroy all the systems in the JPU. But it was impossible to know where, so in the meantime we had to keep up the pressure.

"Fine with me," I said.

"I agree," Zhu said.

"Same order of attack?" Wattson asked.

"Yes," both Zhu and I said together.

"We leave in eight hours. See you in Afyon." He cut the connection.

"Any concerns, Pavao?" I'd had her connected during Wattson's conference call.

"I'm just glad Admiral Neifeh decided to stop in and get his invasion force upgraded by the Riss. Even so, one hundred fifty-seven cruisers is a lot of cruisers. Any preferences?"

"No. We can decide when we see how they are configured. Our priority is to distract or take out the most dangerous threat to the taskforce."

* * *

The entry into Afyon was uneventful. No one was watching the wave. Only two squadrons were present, and they were in orbit around Afyon or docked at its space station. We were still five hours out when the taskforce began entering. Soon afterward, both squadrons—minus the five ships docked at the station—began moving to meet them.

Five hours later, we were within a half light-second of the station, and activity to and from the station looked frantic. Only one of the cruisers appeared to be ready to depart.

Watching the VTH, the JPU cruisers had met the taskforce with predictable results.

Based on the VTH, the Eirene and Mnemosyne's launch arrived within seconds of each other—like a fireworks display.

Pavao and I fired a third round, but it was hardly necessary—explosions were igniting a chain reaction which nothing could escape. We rendezvoused with the taskforce six hours later. Wattson and Zhu decided to stay two full days to take care of repairs and rest the crews. Afyon had been easy, but no one expected this to continue. Eventually, Neifeh would show with his invasion force. Wattson and Zhu felt we had the tactical advantage because of the sabotage at Freeland, but if Neifeh had his invasion force intact, then he had the numerical advantage by close to fifty cruisers. There was little doubt we could destroy the JPU invasion fleet, but the cost could be the destruction of the taskforce.

CHAPTER TWENTY

JPU - Sarosh: Game change.

Seconds later, red lights flashed throughout the ship and SIDs announced the status change. As usual, the Eirene and the Mnemosyne would be entering first. This time I had asked for a two-hour window, since Sarosh was a major JPU repair-and-manufacturing facility. The extra hour would give Pavao and me time to position ourselves for a major distraction if necessary.

Within seconds, the VTH sprang to life and the immediate area appeared clear. I shook my head like a dog after a swim. The three empires were at war, and the JPU systems appeared uninterested.

Pavao's face appeared, looking concerned. "Nadya, something is wrong. I feel it in my bones."

"I agree, Nance. Wait."

I had barely said it when the VTH began displaying tags. They were about four light-seconds away but laid out in a crescent pattern. They were at minimum power and using passive radar.

"Do you see what I do?" I asked as the VTH filled with over a hundred tags.

"I think we found the JPU invasion fleet. Now what?"

"I'm going to leave this decision to Wattson and Zhu," I snorted. "Hopefully, the JPU will expect us to continue toward Sarosh, planning a surprise ambush when we get inside that crescent. If they decide to stay and engage Neifeh, maybe you and I can destroy Neifeh's flagship."

"Sounds reasonable." Pavao laughed. "Does his ship have a chip?"

"No, but his Riss technology software has Spiders we can activate. Besides, the Riss on board will help." I felt sick the minute I said it, knowing those sisters would be killed as soon as it was discovered they weren't cooperating.

Two hours later, the first squadron left the Wave, followed by another every thirty-five seconds. I waited until the fifth squadron entered, which would include the Eurasian.

Wattson's face appeared.

"What's up, Reese?"

"We found Neifeh's invasion force. They have been waiting for us at minimum power. Well over a hundred, positioned about four light seconds from the Wave." As I said it, the JPU cruisers began initiating Battle Stations.

"Welcome to Sarosh. I am Fleet Admiral Haddad with a bit of news and an offer. First, Admiral Neifeh has been executed for his incompetence. Not only did he leave our capital unprotected, but he allowed Freeland to sabotage his fleet. We heard about the Riss causing several UFN cruisers to skip into each other rather that attack other Riss cruisers. The event was too spectacular not to leak out. I can just imagine what other problems they inserted into the technology. So I had all of the Riss technology removed from the modified ships, the Riss skinned alive, and have one skin in my office and one in my conference room as a reminder. As a consequence, the Supreme Council has commissioned me to eradicate the Riss, beginning with Freeland."

His words echoed in my mind, as my blood pounded through my veins like a flood-ravaged river. I had sentenced sisters to death by putting them on JPU ships.

Thalia sent along with a deep sense of loss.

I sent, feeling the shame of my action.

"We have replaced the animals' technology with our newest JPU mini-Medusas." He laughed. "Each of our squadrons now has a super-Heavy, and twenty-five more are in production. So, if the SAS will give up their Riss on Saipha and the UFN the Riss on Dunn, the JPU will sign a non-aggression treaty with you. Take as long as you wish to decide. I'm not going anywhere."

"Admiral Haddad, this is Leader Reese. My words are the words of the Riss, and I say the JPU is a disease that the Riss are now committed to confining to its planets. It may take ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, but we will eventually succeed."

* * *

Wattson's face was frowning.

Zhu stood stroking his chin in thought.

"Gentlemen," I said, my mind incapable of focusing as it raced through a thousand possible scenarios: stay and fight, evacuate the Riss, run where...

"Any suggestions?" Wattson asked.

"I kind of like Leader Reese's suggestion to confine the JPU to their planets, but the enemy certainly isn't cooperating with our planned strategy. With the Riss technology, we have an advantage, but with their new super cruisers, not enough to overcome their fifty-cruiser advantage."

"Agreed," Wattson said. "And what would a non-aggression treaty mean to the JPU, other than time to build a fleet of super cruisers. Reese?"