Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion

by T S Paul

  “Me? Why in the name of Spaghetti do I need to be there?”

  “He said that he needs at least one member of the family to be present. I have to stay up here. There is way too much hardware in the system for me to ignore. Han… well, you know. So, that leaves you sister dear. Go down to uniform and get them to make you a dress uniform, again. Good news though.”

  “What’s good about political dinners and social functions? You know I hate that crap.”

  “I was about to say that you’re allowed an escort. I know of a cute Marine that could be available as both your escort and bodyguard.”

  “We better be thinking of the same cute Marine or I am going to ‘pop’ you one! OK, fine. Tell father that Dar and I will be on the first shuttle down, after I get a new uniform. OK?”

  “Get moving Lieutenant!”

  I broke military decorum and gave her the one finger salute as I got on the lift.

  ___

  Dar was happy to be my escort and bodyguard. She intended to as she said, ‘keep a close watch on your body’ anyway. My girl was just goofy sometimes. She really was happy to leave the station for a while. Guarding and interrogating prisoners was getting old for her. The uniform shop was happy to make me a new dress uniform. My sister had already given them instructions, all they needed was my measurements.

  “Athena, If you get a minute, I need to tell you a few things.” Wilson, bringer of both good and bad news.

  “How about now? What’s up buddy?”

  “I have been scanning the Imperial ships that the Admiral brought with her. Some of the communications are a bit strange.”

  “Strange how?”

  “It’s almost like there are two different communication nets on board one of them. I might be an echo or some kind of interference. I will check with the intelligence division. I just thought you might like to know. I found out something else, too.”

  “What? Did you get caught playing disco again?”

  “No, but that’s an excellent idea for later this week.” I just shook my head. It’s not good to give the little maniac ideas.

  “I overheard some ‘conversations’ in Militia headquarters that your brother has reconciled with your father.”

  “What! Father has forgiven the asshole? Will that man never learn? Han is a walking disaster. Father just can’t see past the bullshit. Did he let him back into the Militia too?”

  “I only know what I heard. Do you want me to hack the Militia database?” He sounds a bit too eager.

  “No! How about we let my father just tell me himself this time, OK?”

  “Fine. I’ll catch up with you later Athena. I have a disco to go set up!”

  I pulled out my communicator and called Min. Her aide passed the message for me. She called me back on my tablet.

  “Athena, what’s wrong? It must be personal for you to call me on the civilian net. Is it father?”

  “Well, sort of. Wilson intercepted a conversation that suggests Han is back in our lives. It appears that Father reconciled and he may be back in the Militia. Did you know?”

  “No, not at all. Damn that man! Han is a walking disaster! Why, why, why would he let him back into our lives?”

  “He likes the idea of a male heir, maybe it is that?” Min was one of the smartest women I know, but when it came to family she was clueless.

  “Maybe. Do you have any idea what that idiot has been doing for the past couple of months?” Like I would know that!

  “Do you want me to have Wilson find out?”

  “No, Father will tell me if I ask him. It should be an interesting story though. Thanks for calling sis.”

  ___

  As I found out much later it really was an very interesting story. Hannibal, being the brilliant strategist that he was, had just dug himself deeper and deeper into trouble.

  Through the new connections that he had made helping out those casino owners Han was back on top! He had been welcomed back to the casinos and given credit chips for free by the owners for future favors. As long as he got to keep his bar, Han was a happy man. He had even won some big credit jackpots in his new friends’ casinos. He used what little influence he had to help his new friends to fight the taxes and threats of zoning laws. By getting involved with local business and politics he was becoming known as a businessman in the community. His new friends were right: those with Power needed to rule over those without.

  Han checked his suit over one more time, this meeting was important to his future and he needed to look good for it. Once ready, Han took the stairs down to his club. He had closed it tonight for this special meeting. His friends had told him that some special members of the group he had joined were in town tonight and they wanted to meet him! These few months alone without family influence had taught him plenty of things. Above all, that connections were the way to the top, in life and in business.

  The main conference room was all set up. He would run the bar, as he usually did. These meetings were private.

  A chime sounded in the room. Han stepped over to the back wall and opened up the private entrance. He had this built when the group had told him they wanted privacy. So far it had paid for itself.

  His friends came in first followed by two men and two women that he had never seen before. The four looked around at everything. They even pulled out some sort of scanning devices and scanned him! Han looked at his two business friends and they smiled and motioned to the seats at the table. The two strange men took up positions at the front and rear of the room, like guards. The two very strikingly beautiful women, sat down at the head of the table.

  “Good evening Mr Hannibal Lee. You can call me Agent Black, my sister is Agent Orange. We are called Wardens. Our job is to police and protect the organization that your friends here represent. You have shown interest in joining our little group. Your friends here have lent you vast sums of credits to bring you into the fold. But nothing is free in this life Mr Lee.” At Han’s look of shock ‘Agent Black’ started laughing.

  “Did you really think that you won that money? That you were just that lucky? That all of those women, that work at the casinos, just threw themselves at you based on your ‘good looks’ or skills in bed? And as for the free credits that these gentlemen here just gave you for future, ‘favors?’ As I said before, Hannibal, nothing is free.”

  “As the Wardens of the Cabal, and yes, that’s the name of the organization that you have joined. Our primary job is to eliminate the enemies of our organization. Currently, there are two primary targets. The former Governor Norton and his aide Cole, your brother-in-law, I believe. I see the panic on your face. You needn’t worry, we’ll take care of them, not you. No, we need you to do us a rather large favor. Call it your price for joining the Cabal. You ‘do’ have a choice. You can say no. If you choose that route, you merely need to pay these gentlemen back all the credits that you owe them. Even the jackpot credits. Oh, and Han? We know about the safety deposit boxes you have scattered around. We know everything about you!” Agent Black chuckled. “Think about it for a few minutes. We can wait. Remember to choose wisely!”

  What had he done? He’d done it again! He’d let his impulses screw him over again. He wasn’t totally sure who these people were, but they obviously had lots of power and influence. Han had no wish to be poor again. He decided he had nothing to lose by joining these people. If he got too deep he could always run to his father and tell all. He looked over at Agent Black and said, “OK I agree I want in.”

  “Excellent choice Han! You will find that the Cabal looks after its members. We have lots of plans for the galaxy. Now you too are a part of them. But, there is a small price to pay first. A task that we have for you. The Inner Circle of our organization has many plans for this sector of space. The little revolution that you yourself participated in, -naughty boy,- messed up those plans. We intend to fix that. We need for you to reconcile with your family. We will provide you with documents and finance information that will prove to y
our father that you have changed and grown up.”

  Han considered this. Having access to the family bank accounts would be good. It would make things easier. “OK, I think I can do that.”

  “Excellent! We’ll coach you on what to say.Trust us, we will fix things up for you. After you get back in we will require one further favor and that will be it. You will be a member of the Cabal. OK, Han?”

  All Han could see was the power, credits, and influence that they were waving in front of him. “OK, sure. I will do it.”

  Chapter 18

  The shuttle fight was rather quick this time. All of our pilots were still in training and any military flight was a teaching tool. Dar and I were dropped off a the family farm after a hair raising, simulated combat drop. Dar laughed the whole way down. She even stuck her head in the cockpit and gave the newbie pilots some combat pointers. Always the teacher, my Dar… I had some anxiety: I really did not wish to bump into my brother here. There is no way that a few months apart from the family had changed him that much. Grabbing our bags we walked over to the main house.

  Father was in the main room to greet us, and unfortunately so was Han. He was back in uniform too!

  “Athena, glad you could make it. This is a very important conference and many people wish to meet you. Lieutenant Dar, nice to see you again. I’m sure you both surprised to see Hannibal here. He has proved that he has grown up and has become quite the local businessman in his time away. I have returned his commission to him on a temporary basis, until the conference is over. Then he’s going to return to the Academy, to brush up on his training. Isn’t that great? It will be nice to have his strong hands around the farm helping out.”

  My Father looked so happy to have his son back, that I reluctantly bit back the comment I had ready. I forced myself to smile at Han and welcomed him back. I needed to call Min, right frakking now! “Father, we’re going to go to our room and freshen up, OK?

  “Great! Dinner’s at seven, tonight it’s in celebration of the return of your brother!” Han had a huge smile on his face.

  I grabbed Dar’s arm and pulled her over to the lift and went upstairs to our room. I dropped my bags and immediately sent a communication to Min. “Min, it’s true. Han is back in the Militia and into father’s heart. He had the biggest smile on his face. We need to keep an eye on him. There is no way he changed. I’ll keep you informed.”

  Dar was looking at me skeptically. “Is he really that bad?”

  “He’s worse. Since you’re guarding me, keep an eagle eye on him. He’s the biggest backstabber that I know.” I stood on my tippy toes and gave her a kiss. “Let’s take a ‘nap’ and then get ready for dinner. It should be really interesting.”

  After our ‘nap’ we dressed for dinner. Formal dinners here at the family estate were always dress affairs. As we exited the lift we could hear the murmur of voices. The ‘living room’ was filled with people! In attendance were several Militia officers, member of the business elite, and what looked like city council members. Han even had a date! A striking blonde was hanging off of his arm. This was going to be an interesting dinner after all.

  “Athena, let me introduce you to my date. This is Angela Blackwood. She is related to one of my business contacts.” My brother was being polite, to me. He even introduced me to his date. Am I dreaming all of this?

  Dar drifted to the back of the room, where she could watch me.Meanwhile I chatted with Han’s ‘date.’ This Angela was an interesting woman. She claimed to be a paralegal. She said that she was related to one of Han’s friends. That was not what was interesting. One of my hobbies is that I like to watch people. Their mannerisms, how they walk, speak, and behave. As a child I learned how to ‘read’ people by their actions. This woman was Not what she appeared to be. Capital N Not. Her eyes followed everyone in the room. She seemed to be following the position of every person in the room. Only one person that I knew could do that. Dar could do that. I excused myself and drifted back to the embrace of my girlfriend.

  “What do you think of Han’s date?”

  “Why do you ask?” Her eyes were doing the tracking thing and now focused on ‘Angela’ roaming around the room.

  “She’s like you, she tracks everyone. Only she’s much more creepy about it than you.”

  Dar made a face. “Sounds like she might be a spook. I need to call someone.” Her eyes continuing to track she called someone on her communicator. She spoke a few words and the name Angela Blackwood into the communicator.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Someone will check her out.” The dinner bell chimed. Dar took my arm and led me into the dining room.

  ___

  After dinner Han took his leave and left with his date. Han told his father that they were going out to a show, but they went back to his club instead. Agent Black and her team had been using his club as their base. He had closed the club, for the good of the planet, when he returned to service. Agent Black immediately stripped off her finery and put on a jumpsuit, giving Han a show in the process. So far Han had gotten everything that they had promised. His return to both the Militia and his father’s good graces had already raised his credit. Fellow business owners were coming to him for advice. Being the Golden boy again was exactly what he’d wanted.

  “Han, the conference begins tomorrow. Your father is scheduled to give an opening speech. We need for you to be the one to give that speech, in your father’s place.”

  “How am I supposed to that?” Han was confused now. How was he to take his father’s place? As head of the Military his father was the key speaker.

  “I am afraid it is time for that favor that we discussed. Han, you’ll need to prevent your father from entering the conference room. You need to kill him. With him gone, as his second- in- command, you can gain access to the prison and we can then finish our primary mission.” She was smiling at him.

  “Kill my Father! You’re insane, why would I do something like that?” He started shaking his head. “No, I won’t do it! You can’t make me.”

  “Foolish child! We have you by the balls, Han! You’ll do as we say! Do this one task and we’ll grant almost any wish that you can conceive of. Think about it. Without your father, you’re the heir. You’ll inherit everything! The farm, the credits, and command of the military will be yours.” Han did think or it. It all sounded to good to be true. But his motto was: when in doubt, go all in.

  “What’s the plan?”

  Agent Black smiled. So easy. She would have to commend the local contacts for finding one such as this. It was a real shame that he had to die too.

  The next morning brought news that three more systems had sent representatives. Colonel Lee was ecstatic, this conference might actually work! The Imperial negotiators were scared to death in fear of retaliation, they would be easy to manipulate. His son was back, that alone made the old man smile. Han had called this morning and had offered to escort him to the conference. Having his son there to show off, would be wonderful. One day, Han was going to do something great that would make the whole planet proud of him. He just needed a bit more discipline.

  On the ride to the conference Han talked to his father about his business and all the connections that he had made. Han kept fiddling with a shiny new ring on his hand, the entire trip. When they arrived at the office, Han poured his father a drink of his favorite Saki. Alexander never noticed the extra ingredient that his son added to his drink from the ring on his hand.

  ___

  Han had just proposed a toast to the success of the conference, when the office door opened and Dar and I entered.

  Alexander set his drink down and gave his daughter a hug. “We were about to toast the conference. Here take mine, I’ll get another one!”

  Han watched in horror as his father gave his sister the poisoned drink. No, no, no this was not the plan! Shouting “NO” Han swatted the drink from his sisters hand. He reached behind him and pulled out a high-end laser pistol. He aimed the gun at Father and told
us all to stand over in the corner.

  “You just had to interfere Athena. Just like when we were kids, always underfoot, always in the way. Too bad you never took a damn hint! Even when I beat the crap out of you. You kept getting in the way! Now you’ve messed up my plan again! Now things will have to get messy!”

  “Han, son, what’s the meaning of this! Put the gun down, son. We can work this out. Whatever trouble you are in we can fix it.”

  “That’s your solution to everything! Throw credits at it and it will just go away. Not this time Father! I have to do this thing. It is part of the plan.

  “Han what plan is that? Who are you doing this for?” I tried to find out more information.

  “The plan to stop the conference or course! The people that I work for, the Cabal, they need me to get into the prison unit so they can talk to governor Norton.”