fighter units are considered navy, although in a sense we are much like the army units in that we don’t have anything to do with the running of the cruiser. If the SAS allowed a unit to be deployed on an allied ship, that group would be like a deployed army group. There to support but not in the chain of command."
"Can I impose on you to develop a proposal that would explore what such an arrangement would look like: responsibilities, rotations, training … I can't imagine all the things that would need to be considered. And if you would like to participate, I'd appreciate your input in the design of the Riss cruiser—just in case one or both of your units would be assigned." The building of the Riss cruiser would require input from many sources. The ship needed to satisfy the Riss but also be an efficient fighting machine. If I could have attachments of pilots and combat troops, I would have to incorporate them into the design.
"I'd love to," Seng said. "I and the Scorpions would be very comfortable under your command. You're their totem, and they rely on you for action to relieve the normal boredom. Would you mind if I share this information and got input from others?"
"Absolutely not. We're starting from scratch and can use all the input we can solicit."
"I agree with Seng. It sounds like an interesting problem," Byer said, while writing notes on his SID. I left the two with their heads together.
"Well, Captain Reese, you appear to have everyone's attention. You know everyone wants to be on your security detail. They not only get to watch you shake up everyone's nice comfortable world, but they get the details first hand." Terril grinned. "Life with you certainly isn't boring.
* * *
Two weeks later, the elders informed me they were ready with a tentative plan. I arranged for a meeting the next day and invited Captains Pavao and Corbitt to come along. Because of the distances between ships, we each used our own shuttles and met on Freeland at our designated landing area. As usual, Ni'Shay met us. After introductions, we were escorted to the conference room where the elders were seated around the table.
"Captain Pavao, Captain Corbitt, welcome. We are the elders that make policy for the clans. They may not all agree with our decisions, but they will comply, as the consequences of not doing so are harsh. I'd like to introduce you to Radu Sa'Velte… " Each elder stood when his or her turn came." And our recommendation for project manager, Da'Maass. We'll understand if you don't find him acceptable—"
"Captain Reese and I are well acquainted. We met at Yamhill and had a little squabble over the Vancil. Someday you will have to tell me how you were able to duplicate my skip. That single move led to the defeat of Freeland." He bowed. "I would look forward to working with a dybbuk." He laughed. He was a big man in height and girth. His full, unruly beard and mustache gave his broad face the look of a North American grizzly.
"Captain, Da'Maass lacks manners but he is a brilliant man and would serve you well."
"Yes, I can believe that. He realized I had identified the Vancil as one of your spies, anticipated my plan to capture it, and almost succeeded in killing this dybbuk. I believe he will make an excellent project manager. I'm glad to meet you, Captain Da'Maass. This project will require many keen minds."
"I'd be interested in hearing that story, Captain Da'Maass. It sounds interesting," Pavao said, glancing between him and me. "And why you call her dybbuk."
"Yes, an interesting story if the outcome hadn't been so disastrous for us. Your captain is in our mind, like a demon. She knows what we are thinking before we do. She is our demon—sometimes evil, sometimes good." Da'Maass stared at me long and hard. "Maybe she has saved us from ourselves. Time will tell."
Afterward, Da'Maass took us by shuttle to the planet-side manufacturing complex outside Bacau, the capital of Freeland. It was a hundred hectare square
"Can I impose on you to develop a proposal that would explore what such an arrangement would look like: responsibilities, rotations, training … I can't imagine all the things that would need to be considered. And if you would like to participate, I'd appreciate your input in the design of the Riss cruiser—just in case one or both of your units would be assigned." The building of the Riss cruiser would require input from many sources. The ship needed to satisfy the Riss but also be an efficient fighting machine. If I could have attachments of pilots and combat troops, I would have to incorporate them into the design.
"I'd love to," Seng said. "I and the Scorpions would be very comfortable under your command. You're their totem, and they rely on you for action to relieve the normal boredom. Would you mind if I share this information and got input from others?"
"Absolutely not. We're starting from scratch and can use all the input we can solicit."
"I agree with Seng. It sounds like an interesting problem," Byer said, while writing notes on his SID. I left the two with their heads together.
"Well, Captain Reese, you appear to have everyone's attention. You know everyone wants to be on your security detail. They not only get to watch you shake up everyone's nice comfortable world, but they get the details first hand." Terril grinned. "Life with you certainly isn't boring.
* * *
Two weeks later, the elders informed me they were ready with a tentative plan. I arranged for a meeting the next day and invited Captains Pavao and Corbitt to come along. Because of the distances between ships, we each used our own shuttles and met on Freeland at our designated landing area. As usual, Ni'Shay met us. After introductions, we were escorted to the conference room where the elders were seated around the table.
"Captain Pavao, Captain Corbitt, welcome. We are the elders that make policy for the clans. They may not all agree with our decisions, but they will comply, as the consequences of not doing so are harsh. I'd like to introduce you to Radu Sa'Velte… " Each elder stood when his or her turn came." And our recommendation for project manager, Da'Maass. We'll understand if you don't find him acceptable—"
"Captain Reese and I are well acquainted. We met at Yamhill and had a little squabble over the Vancil. Someday you will have to tell me how you were able to duplicate my skip. That single move led to the defeat of Freeland." He bowed. "I would look forward to working with a dybbuk." He laughed. He was a big man in height and girth. His full, unruly beard and mustache gave his broad face the look of a North American grizzly.
"Captain, Da'Maass lacks manners but he is a brilliant man and would serve you well."
"Yes, I can believe that. He realized I had identified the Vancil as one of your spies, anticipated my plan to capture it, and almost succeeded in killing this dybbuk. I believe he will make an excellent project manager. I'm glad to meet you, Captain Da'Maass. This project will require many keen minds."
"I'd be interested in hearing that story, Captain Da'Maass. It sounds interesting," Pavao said, glancing between him and me. "And why you call her dybbuk."
"Yes, an interesting story if the outcome hadn't been so disastrous for us. Your captain is in our mind, like a demon. She knows what we are thinking before we do. She is our demon—sometimes evil, sometimes good." Da'Maass stared at me long and hard. "Maybe she has saved us from ourselves. Time will tell."
Afterward, Da'Maass took us by shuttle to the planet-side manufacturing complex outside Bacau, the capital of Freeland. It was a hundred hectare square
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