Riss Series 4: The Riss Accession by C. R. Daems

and an equal
number of fifty and ninety centimeter lasers."
    "How do you know this?" Zhu
asked.
    "Judging from your accou nt of your
poor showing at Zigzag, either the Riss are guessing or making excuses for
running if there are Aliens at all. Probably, it's a small group from a system
we are unaware," Salazan said with a snort.
    I decided to say nothing since I
couldn't disprove his contention without physical proof.
    "Well then, Admiral Salazan , what
happened to the task force you sent to Baraz ?" Wattson asked. "Have they
returned?"
    Salazan’s face flashed
anger, almost too fast to notice, before turning hard. "If a couple of
those Light cruisers have inflicted the same damage on his task
force as on yours, then my senior Captain is too embarrassed to return
until he has repaired his ships. When he does, he will no longer be a senior
Captain. We do not tolerate incompetence." He sneered in my direction.
    
    < Thinks with ego.> Image of him standing in
front of a mirror flexing his biceps.
    "I would be interested in hearing Leader Reese's account of her
encounter with the Aliens at Fools Landing," Zhu said after Xun whispered
something to him.
    "Our decoy brought a warning from
the Aliens to continue on to Fools Landing or be destroyed. Instead, our decoy
fired missiles at the Medusa and turned back towards the Wave. The
Aliens released three cruisers to intercept it. When the Mnemosyne interceded, the Medusa sent three more. At that point, the Eirene interceded, and the Medusa responded by sending two after it. We destroyed them and afterward the Medusa with
a hit-and-run skips," I said, directing my comments to Zhu.
    Salazan pointed a
finger at me. "You're a liar. A coward who ran from a few Light cruisers!"
    His advisor's face never changed, but he
had been evaluating me as I talked.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Salazan shouted, "The
Riss are just dumb animals! Their only value is their fur hides. And the
infected humans are pretending for their benefit that the Riss are
intelligent."
    Stenberg looked to be about to say
something when I put up my hand. A confrontation would solve nothing.
    Wattson merely sat studying
me—still the tactician evaluating his students, which in this case
included everyone at the table.
    Zhu said with a slight smile, "Sounds
unbelievable and contradictory, Leader Reese. The SAS could barely handle three of the Aliens’ Light cruisers
with three Lights, a Hunter, and a Heavy. Yet, with two cruisers you claim to
have defeated eight and a… Medusa ."
    "As unbelievable as a robot being a
host for an intelligent mind, Fleet Admiral?" I asked.
    "Nonsense!" Salazan shouted.
    Zhu sat quietly, eyes closed and expressionless
like an ancient Buddhist monk. Strangely, no one seemed interested in
disturbing him.
    
    
    It was a long time before Wattson spoke.
"An intriguing thought, Leader Reese. Something only one with an intelligent parasite would deduce. If true,
it would explain much, including the reason for a Medusa , and the reason
you seek an alliance." He stroked his goatee. "I believe you. Captain
Huang, commanding the Imperial , has been searching for your Riss
cruisers ever since the SAS exited the Wave. If he doesn't find them soon, his
hair will be as thin and gray as mine. Of course, Xun and perhaps others would
like proof." He smiled.
    "The Riss have ships here!" Salazan glared at me
and turned to Nelem . "Find them!"
    Nelem activated the
SID he had been given and spoke into it for several minutes, then shook his
head at Salazan .
    Wattson interrupted before Salazan could
respond. "You're right, Imperial Fleet Admiral Zhu. The story is hard to
believe, but the proof, a destroyed Medusa, rests in the Fools Landing
system."
    Stenberg jumped to his feet before anyone
could respond. "I suggest an hour's break before dinner is served. We