by T S Paul
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.
Here is a hint about book 7, Athena will be back and she travels to Earth’s solar system and visits Mars colony!
I will still put out the awesome Wilson Wednesday stories on my blog every week. I already have the artwork for the next few books so look forward to that too. I publish on a 2 -3 week schedule so expect my books a little bit faster than many of the ‘big boys’ of Science Fiction. Check out my Blog for news, pictures of the Giant cat that lives in our house, artwork and of course the Wilson stories. I will answer questions on both the blog and on Facebook so check it out sometime. As a guy named ‘Bob’ discovered recently, I may make you a character in the book.
1. The Forgotten Engineer
2. Engineering Murder
3. Ghost ships of Terra
4. Revolutionary
5. Insurrection
6. Imperial Subversion
6.5 (Sam’s book)
Just a few reviews.
4.0 out of 5 stars Paul has gotten so much better with his writing and this is just his first …
ByAmazon Customer on May 5, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Paul has gotten so much better with his writing and this is just his first series. The Athena Chronicles are a great serial type space opera yarn. Don’t expect hard science or political commentary. Just expect a great story, a writer settling into his stride and some great action.
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome read
ByTD Webbon May 2, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I just spent the entire night reading all five books ,can’t wait for the next. I just couldn’t put them down wanted to know that came next. The characters are great, Wilson is so eighties lol awesome. Yeah there are some typos oh nobody is perfect and they didn’t take anything away from the story.
5.0 out of 5 stars This series gets better every time a book is added.
ByN. Kingon April 30, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
The author has done a fantastic job. Once you start reading it is impossible to stop until the end. I’ am looking forward to the next book .
4.0 out of 5 stars Would make a great Televison show
ByJames Mockon April 28, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I love the idea of the main hero being an Engineer. The books are short but they come out very quickly. I really must say that the description of Athena wading into a crippled ship and saving it (earlier book so not much of a spoiler) was really well done, at least for me. Bravo.
I look forward to the next installment. Same Athena time, same Athena channel.
Copyright information
This book is a work of fiction, All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
Copyright (c) 2016 T S Paul
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Original Artwork designed by Scott Richard
Check out his Website here
Cover designed by Michael T. Anderle
Editing by Diane Velasquez. Dorene Johnson, and David Brims
Special thanks to Michael and to my wife Heather who keeps me grounded and to Merlin the Cat, we are his minions.
Table of Contents
Contents
Chapter1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18