you say?"
"Of course, Gelman. They know it and I know it. Reminding them will only cause hostility we don't need. They will respond quickly so as to avoid antagonizing me. Therefore, the meeting will occur as quickly as if I set the time, and no one will feel defensive."
"You’re probably the only person in the fleet who would have asked for a meeting with the clan elders, at their convenience."
Suddenly, I could see the two snow-capped mountains with a gentle river running between them. The picture-name the Riss gave me years ago. For the first time, I saw the tributaries feeding the river and really felt the name belonged to me—like my human name, Nadya Reese. I wasn't losing my humanity, but slowly beginning to understand and embrace the Riss philosophy and to feel at one with them.
* * *
That evening, I sat looking around the table at old friends. Commander Varisko had been my XO on the Mongoose, which captured the raider's merchant ship that led to locating Freeland and on the Lynx for the invasion. Colonel Seng had saved my life on the Leopard when navy discipline had collapsed and my life in danger. Commander Byer and Commander Iglis, my Intelligence Officer, had also been on the Mongoose. I trusted these people.
"This Treaty will survive only with your support. Although the senior officers were screened prior to their assignment on Freeland, there are many under their command who will overreact with little or no provocation. Colonel Seng, I'm relying on the army to maintain order. I know it's not fair, but the army has always been my safe haven through the years. I trust them to be the least biased."
"We won’t let you down, Captain. Gunny and I will make sure the lead Scorpion or Wasp understands what you want, and he or she has your full support."
"Commander Byer, I want the pilots to understand they report to you directly and except to protect their lives, orders to attack clan ships come only from you or your designate. They must understand the clans have no reason to attack us. It would not only be suicide but could result in the destruction of their clan if not Freeland. I know for a fact that any clan member would rather die than betray his clan. The elders would be ruthless if anyone violated the Treaty. Therefore, they must curb their natural instinct to shoot first."
"I'll make sure everyone understands the reason behind your decision."
"Commander Iglis, I want you to find some way to track the clans' merchant ships in the Sadr Alliance of Stars (SAS), United Free Nations (UFN), and Johaba People's Union (JPU)."
"You're going to allow them to trade in all three empires?" Iglis asked, her forehead wrinkled in concern.
"Yes. We must allow them to make a living if we are going to integrate them back into society. We need to be careful but helpful. I leave it to each of you to decide how to make this happen, but know you have my full support." As I looked around the table, I felt no hostility or resentment, only concern. I had placed a heavy responsibility on them.
"What about me, Skipper," Varisko asked in a whisper. She had been a new Lt. Commander when I picked her to be my XO on the Mongoose, and like me, still trying to grow into her new position.
"Commander Varisko, when I'm not here, I expect you to maintain sanity—to be the voice of reason." I smiled at each of them, feeling a bit guilty. If they resented it, they didn't show it. "If you still have an appetite, Petty Officer Pillon will serve dinner.
CHAPTER TWO
Unrest in the Freeland Task
"Well Lavett, what do you think of our station commander?" Waldel asked on their way back to the Saker. Lavett sat glaring out the small window towards the Lynx.
"I wonder what genius put an inexperienced captain in charge of a task force. I'm the senior captain on station with at least five years seniority and by all the rules should be in charge." His fist clenched in his lap. "And she seems to
"Of course, Gelman. They know it and I know it. Reminding them will only cause hostility we don't need. They will respond quickly so as to avoid antagonizing me. Therefore, the meeting will occur as quickly as if I set the time, and no one will feel defensive."
"You’re probably the only person in the fleet who would have asked for a meeting with the clan elders, at their convenience."
* * *
That evening, I sat looking around the table at old friends. Commander Varisko had been my XO on the Mongoose, which captured the raider's merchant ship that led to locating Freeland and on the Lynx for the invasion. Colonel Seng had saved my life on the Leopard when navy discipline had collapsed and my life in danger. Commander Byer and Commander Iglis, my Intelligence Officer, had also been on the Mongoose. I trusted these people.
"This Treaty will survive only with your support. Although the senior officers were screened prior to their assignment on Freeland, there are many under their command who will overreact with little or no provocation. Colonel Seng, I'm relying on the army to maintain order. I know it's not fair, but the army has always been my safe haven through the years. I trust them to be the least biased."
"We won’t let you down, Captain. Gunny and I will make sure the lead Scorpion or Wasp understands what you want, and he or she has your full support."
"Commander Byer, I want the pilots to understand they report to you directly and except to protect their lives, orders to attack clan ships come only from you or your designate. They must understand the clans have no reason to attack us. It would not only be suicide but could result in the destruction of their clan if not Freeland. I know for a fact that any clan member would rather die than betray his clan. The elders would be ruthless if anyone violated the Treaty. Therefore, they must curb their natural instinct to shoot first."
"I'll make sure everyone understands the reason behind your decision."
"Commander Iglis, I want you to find some way to track the clans' merchant ships in the Sadr Alliance of Stars (SAS), United Free Nations (UFN), and Johaba People's Union (JPU)."
"You're going to allow them to trade in all three empires?" Iglis asked, her forehead wrinkled in concern.
"Yes. We must allow them to make a living if we are going to integrate them back into society. We need to be careful but helpful. I leave it to each of you to decide how to make this happen, but know you have my full support." As I looked around the table, I felt no hostility or resentment, only concern. I had placed a heavy responsibility on them.
"What about me, Skipper," Varisko asked in a whisper. She had been a new Lt. Commander when I picked her to be my XO on the Mongoose, and like me, still trying to grow into her new position.
"Commander Varisko, when I'm not here, I expect you to maintain sanity—to be the voice of reason." I smiled at each of them, feeling a bit guilty. If they resented it, they didn't show it. "If you still have an appetite, Petty Officer Pillon will serve dinner.
CHAPTER TWO
Unrest in the Freeland Task
"Well Lavett, what do you think of our station commander?" Waldel asked on their way back to the Saker. Lavett sat glaring out the small window towards the Lynx.
"I wonder what genius put an inexperienced captain in charge of a task force. I'm the senior captain on station with at least five years seniority and by all the rules should be in charge." His fist clenched in his lap. "And she seems to
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