Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion (11 page)

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.”

At the word ‘Cabal’, I could see my father tense up. Dar, who I knew was armed, grew more alert. “Han,” I said. “What were you trying to do to Father?” out of the corner of my eye I saw Dar slowly moving out from behind me.

“I need to kill him of course! The poison in the Saki would have done that. The way would be clear.”

“I will take over everything of course. The farm, the military, everything that matters. You and Min are just girls. You can’t command Men! I’m the one who should rule. Not you, never you!” I was still in shock that my own brother was going to try and kill his own father.

Father was finally hearing the real Hannibal. For the first time he could see what Min and I had put up with our entire childhood. “Han, son, give me the gun. Don’t do this. I raised you better than this!”

I felt movement and barely noticed when Dar drew her own gun and was now pointing it at Han. “Han, put it down now!”

Who was this woman to threaten me? “How dare you!” Han brought the gun up and he and Dar fired almost simultaneously. The guns went off and there was a scream of pain and a splash of crimson across the wall.

Han shot first. He hit father in the shoulder, knocking him down.Then Dar’s shot killed my brother. Her military handgun blew his head right off.

“Wilson, lock down the conference hall! Make sure no one gets in or out.”

“Already done, Athena.”

There was a muffled blast and then screams. “Wilson what is going on?”

“The Cabal assassins were inside the conference already, they set off a poison gas bomb!”

“Hack the building, reverse the airflow on the air units, quickly.”

“Already done, security units are inbound thirty seconds. Don’t let Dar shoot them.”

True to his word, security units burst into the room with guns drawn. Dar had already put hers away and was holding a compress to father’s shoulder. I ordered a medical unit to help my father. The capture of three assassins with Imperial credentials inside the conference room armed with poison gas bombs shocked the delegates speechless. Outraged that the Empire would try and kill all of them just to stop them from talking about breaking away, the delegates had their own conference right there in the courtyard outside the building. Before any of the delegates could even get back into the room, a new treaty had been written, signed, and sealed by all of those who attended, save the Imperials. If it could happen here, it could happen anywhere. The Empire had just proved that they could not be trusted.

___

Admiral Kane returned to the Capitol in disgrace. With here, were three freighters containing all the interned Imperial forces from the Hong Kong system. The new treaty ratified the return of the Pan Pacific League. Promises of mutual defense were made and information was exchanged.

Han was buried in a small private ceremony in a section of the family cemetery know as Traitors Gate. Father did not attend.

Author’s Notes

I would like to thank everyone who has taken time to read the Athena Lee Chronicles. For me it has been both a learning experience and an adventure. Don’t worry. Athena will return! I have books planned up to book 9 and a bit beyond. The next novel up, however is a standalone. Sam 0256 from Book 3 “Ghost ships of Terra” is getting his own book. It will take place 100 years in the past. So no Athena. But the events in Sam’s book will resonate into the future and set the story for books 7, 8 , and 9.