Tridas

by Alan, Mark

  In a short time, the word had spread in the capital of reasons for Antipater's absence. Rumors included him uniting with the enemy, lost at sea, preparing a coup d’etat to overthrow Alexander, even banishment for attempting to seduce the Queen Mother Olympias. Those in Antipater's close counsel and his personal mighty men dispatched their fastest vessel to Rhodes to warn their Regent.

  Negotiations with Memnon could have been going better, but few in the known world were looking to attack the duo of Alexander and Antipater. Their campaigns proved to be a suicide for their enemies, as their resources continued to grow and more of the world fell to their leadership. Pushing past the chamber guard, Antipater stood startled, as a familiar face entered the room. Relaxing, Antipater extended his arm.

  "Allatore, what brings you to Rhodes and with such tense expression?"

  "I have news from the capital and fear for your safety my Lord." Allatore was perhaps the empire's greatest warrior, astute and worthy of trust. Antipater knew if he had not tempered his words in Memnon's presence, the threat was serious.

  "Please excuse the interruption Sire the capital matters require my immediate attention. I will see you this evening at feast and jubilation. We will resume our discussion tomorrow." Antipater said to Memnon as he exited the chamber with Allatore.

  Memnon reclined on his sofa with a devious smile across his face.

  In a private cell, Allatore elaborated on the rumors and more importantly the emissary sent to Alexander by Olympias.

  "Could Alexander actually believe this report?" Antipater weighed as he continued to listen. "Better to examine the worst scenario, than to be ill prepared”. This was his conclusion.

  Olympias requested the Captain of the guard be her escort, as a measure of protection, as riots and chaos (of her own making) became a norm in the courtyards. In a short time, she noticed Allatore's absence. Learning he had been sent to retrieve Antipater, she sent her own soldier strike to stop their return, whatever means necessary.

  Laying on the beach under the star canopy, Kavani and Antipater were reciting the ancient love stories and tragedies told in the constellations.

  "You are my Andromeda Kava, your beauty does exceed that of the Gods and Poseidon's sea nymphs." Antipater mused between kisses.

  "Does that make you Perseus?"

  "Alas, I do know the secret resting place of Hermes sandals and Medusa's head..."

  Kavani was unsure if he was speaking in jest, but much of her believed there was truth in his statement. He handed her a strange instrument. As she peered through it the stars became closer.

  "Magic!" She exclaimed, leaping to her feet. "Where is Aphrodite?"

  She searched the skies until the glass rested upon our sister planet Venus. "She is beautiful! A golden orb sparkling in our sky. At the celebration ritual, Olympias told me I was selected by the divine and linked to Aphrodite for the ages."

  "The tribute Goddess of sex, love, beauty, enticement, seduction, and female charm... I must agree!" Antipater exclaimed, rising to his feet in grand gesture.

  Their moment was broken by a flaming arrow landing near his feet. Antipater covered Kava as they ran towards the cliff caves, scooping up his shield in one fluid motion.

  From his look out position, Allatore spotted the sudden flame on the beach. He scanned the horizon to locate the shooter. A burst of flame ignited 200 yards away. From his hidden position, Allatore quickly released his own arrow, extinguishing any further threat.

  Safe in a cave, Antipater knew the shelter gave them the protected advantage as any threat would have to approach from a completely open position. He could easily defend an attack from either flank of the extremely narrow entrance. Alert to even the slightest rustle or movement, the attack came quickly. Antipater mortally wounded all four offenders. They would stay in the cleft of the rock until morning. He knew Allatore was also on watch. What he couldn't believe was the badge on his attackers' armor, Alexander's crest. It was true, his time as Regent was being challenged.

  There is no great genius without

  a mixture of madness.

  ~ Aristotle ~

  The super computers were churning away and had found the first match, by substituting one of the ancient characters with SERPENT. The decrypted element of the code read: SS-18. This first clue had been disseminated to all agencies, but no connection had been identified. Aven had proven his value, once again, and was asked to return to the analyst station to see if he could expedite the process by giving his best guesses for the match game. A few hours in, Aven tried replacing one of the ancient water symbols with Xiang Yao, one of the eastern mythic water Gods responsible for the great floods. The code descrambled revealing: HYDROXIDE IONS. Two leads now and this one definitely had a science connection. Every database containing even the most recent journals and theories would need to be scoured for relevant intel.

  Within the hour a journal, that had been published this very morning, by a handful of scientists out of New Mexico, was found using the term hydroxide ions – theorizing it as a 4th phase water can take, in addition to liquid, ice or vapor. The coincidental publishing that very morning, along with the location, had the room buzzing with "Alien" jokes – on top of those details, today's date was Friday the 13th. It wasn't Dreamland, but it might as well be. Aven knew better than to joke about aliens or other dimensions. In this situation, what the collective knowledge in the room didn't know could actually kill them.

  "What else does the journal theorize?" Aven prompted, realizing the strange timing could be critical.

  Reading her screen, one of the analysts spoke up, "It appears this form of water has been found in minerals from meteorites. The mineral does not exist on earth, because the temperatures and pressures to create the stone would be too intense. Scientists disagree if the mineral, now coined Ringwoodite, could exist at the earth's core. This journal is claiming proof, by reading seismic waves, that this mineral is in fact a large part of the earth's mantle, the separation layer between the core and crust of our planet".

  "Does that mean what I think it means?" Aven proffered.

  "Yes, in the transition zone of the earth's mantle lies the OCEANS' worth of water". She confirmed.

  Few of Langley's finest had actually believed Aven's assessment, during his cursory explanation upon his return from the ancient pyramid, but now details were linking up. Perhaps this code was linked to an ancient prophesy predicting a global flood.

  The Director of National Intelligence motioned Aven into his office. "I just received a call from the Secretary of Defense that NATO has a link to SS-18, He has assembled a meeting with the joint chiefs and the combatant commanders. POTUS is in route and your presence has been requested as well. We need to leave immediately".

  Aven had a high level of clearance from previous projects, but whatever NATO had uncovered, had sparked attention at the highest level. They entered the briefing room and joined the others seated at the table. All 15 individuals stood, as the President entered and was introduced to Aven, already being briefed on his expertise and necessary involvement. The Secretary of Defense began, "The DoD intercepted an encrypted code out of Thailand. With their current state of martial law, the data was run up the chain of command to confirm the risk threshold. Experts were recruited once the encryption was classified "unbreakable". In the last few hours, we have a reason to believe the situation has escalated to a global threat. An element of the encryption was broken and the resulting code transmission includes SS-18. This is a NATO classification name involving the Russian R-36, a family of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs.) The original weapon 8K67, classified as SS-9 Scarp by NATO, was developed during the Cold War to rival our Peace keeper missile project. The project was reinitiated last year, classified by NATO as SS-18 Satan. It carries 10 warheads and up to 40 penetration aids. It is the heaviest ICBM ever built. The throw weight of the missile is 9,100 Kgs”.

  The reference to the number 91 wasn't missed by Aven. Pieces were start
ing to compose a picture of what the entire code could reveal.

  The Secretary continued, "MacDill has been put on alert, Mr. President and is awaiting for your direction Sir".

  The President dismissed the room. As they were exiting, Aven asked the Director, "When the special command reconnaissance team is dispatched from MacDill Air Force Base will we be notified?"

  "It will be 'need to know,' so the more of the encryption we can unravel the better".

  Aven countered with another question, "Why is there no briefing on the Ringwoodite discovery?"

  "It is important, but still seems more theory than concrete data. We need more clues like SS-18."

  Aven believed the "coincidently-timed" journal study proving the ocean amount of water captured in ions within the earth's mantle, was more than a theory and was equally certain that SS-18 directed at the right spot could have a melting effect on the Ringwoodite, triggering a global flood.

  "Langley then and let's pray for progress".

  336 B.C.

  Virtually putting himself under house arrest, Antipater had confined himself to a secure place deep within the city walls; for all intents and purposes underground. He had done it as much for Kavani, as for his own safety.

  "I feel quite monastic tucked away". Antipater bemoaned.

  "A monk? I can certainly squelch that feeling." Kava seductively whispered in his ear, pressing her chest into his back.

  Antipater spun around and grabbed her, "What did you have in mind?"

  "Grape stomping! It will clear your mind. It can be relaxing as well as enjoyable".

  "Really?" Antipater burst out in laughter.

  "What? It can be sexy too. After all, the by product is wine". She simply stated as she caressed the side of her leg through the slit in her dress, momentarily looking up to ensure Antipater was admiring her act. They were both laughing as she left the chamber to gather grapes.

  Kavani returned momentarily with a very large barrel of grapes. She placed the barrel next to a stone cistern, "The vineyards are ripe and the pickers are hard at work. I would have requested workers bring more barrels, but your presence is secret and none can be trusted".

  "This is a perfect and private selection made for two”. Antipater replied, as he reached around the barrel to empty the grapes into the cistern for smashing. "By Zeus, this is heavy! How did you manage so effortlessly?" He questioned as he awkwardly hoisted the barrel, his biceps rippling, spilling a few grapes onto the floor.

  Kavani spoke an incantation and the iris in her eyes flashed a golden glow. The barrel became weightless in Antipater's arms. "Magic". She replied with sexy confidence. "Nice arms. Your strength is impressive".

  Antipater knew he had the favor of the Gods, but Kavani's connection was a different kind of blessing.

  "Olympias revealed to me my eternal link to the Goddess Aphrodite. I had always felt a connection with her 'Morning Star' but after the rituals were performed and ancient words spoken, there has been new knowledge, a new power inside me”.

  "It is beautiful”. Antipater acknowledged her inner confession.

  "It completes me”. She smiled”. As well as prepared me for our encounter”.

  "In what way?"

  "We were designed for each other Antipater. Our love has a noble purpose. We need each other to fulfill our destinies”.

  "Ours is a great love for the ages. I feel it too Kavani. I did the moment I first saw you in the moonlight. Our connection will never die. Our love will follow us into the next world”. He embraced her, a bit intimidated, but completely in love... both new feelings for Antipater.

  After a long while, she broke the embrace”. Cover your feet in olive oil. It repels the grape stain. Purple may be a sign of royalty, but purple feet under your greaves sounds quite laughable." She said, giggling at the thought.

  "Your feet would be beautiful in any color”. Came, his quick reply.

  She smiled and they both stepped into the cistern and began jumping away.

  A second set of soldiers bearing Alexander's crest were apprehended off the coast of Rhodes, long before they could endanger Antipater. The handful of men willingly surrendered their weapons and offered their message direct from Alexander himself.

  To Antipater, son of Cassander, Regent of the Empire

  My great and beloved friend, dear Antipater!

  It is a very, very long time since I wrote to you; but as you know I have been over-occupied with military matters, and while we were marching through Hyrcania, Drangiana, and Gedrosia, and advancing beyond the Indus, I had neither the time nor the inclination to take up my pen. Now, I am in Susa for some months; but I have been so overwhelmed with administrative business, appointing officials, and mopping up all kinds of intrigues and revolts, that I have not had a moment till today to write to you about myself. Of course, you know roughly from the official reports what I have been doing; but both my devotion to you and my confidence in your influence on cultivated Hellenic circles urge me once more to open my heart to you.

  Many rumors have come to me regarding your intentions at the capital, not only political, but involving my dear mother. Exploits like those of Achilles himself. Tales you have given yourself up to heroism and greatness, claiming my victories and advancing against my enemies in your name. I can say that I did not fall short of my ideal of you. I seek the sober truth. I hold a very different view and chose to ignore these unfavorable statements in favor of your laurels worthy of my praise. It is sheer political necessity, my dear Antipater, that I understand this situation thoroughly and request a meeting in Macedonia. I will break away shortly. It is absolutely paramount to subdue these rumors. I leave it to you to consider whether you wish to undertake this task as a reasonable and patriotic work and one which is politically necessary.

  Greetings, my dear Antipater,

  From your Alexander

  The letter settled in Antipater's mind that the threat lied solely with Olympias and he would not return to the capital until Alexander's arrival was announced.

  Olympias received the word that Alexander was returning from his Indus campaign to have a face to face meeting with Antipater. She knew her death squad had obviously failed, but she would not be thwarted; she would destroy Antipater.

  It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

  ~ Aristotle ~

  After being at Langley late into the evening, Aven requested a thumb drive of the encryption and returned to his hotel. A hot shower had been refreshing, but the code was constantly on his mind. He could sense the immanent nature of the event. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was not too late back in Seattle. Grabbing his stealth cell, he dialed Kavani.

  "Sorry to interrupt your evening, but I wanted to catch you up on what we have learned and review with you the details of our time in Chichen Itza, I feel like I am forgetting something".

  Aven listed the terms they had tried that were effective in deciphering the encryption and what the code revealed.

  "You mentioned feeling a tremor or quake when your 91 steps reached the cataclysmic depiction inside the pyramid", Kava offered.

  Before she could continue, Aven had submitted tremor, quake, and earthquake. Keying in EARTHQUAKE the symbol descrambled to reveal CHIKYU.

  "You are amazing Kava, I just googled Chikyu. It is a Japanese deep-sea drilling vessel which set a world-record for the deepest hole in the scientific ocean drilling history, reaching 2.2 km into the seafloor. I need you".

  "For my brains or for other exceptional body parts?" came her playful response.

  "I need ALL of you".

  Aven reported the newly discovered info immediately and tried to grab some sleep before returning to the project early the next morning. Upon arriving at the DoD, Aven was brought up to speed. The classified report from the Director had the following updates:

  CLASSIFIED

  USS Princeton carrier team has been deployed to flank the Chikyu drilling in
the Bay of Bengal, testing a theory that oceanic plates would be weakest in this area, due to collision fissures in creating the Himalayas.

  The unified command of Special Operations reconnaissance mission regarding SS-18 Satan, reports a Russian company grade captain (NATO equivalent OF-2) is on leave from the 38th rocket division at Derzhavinsk, Kazakhstan. He is the only junior officer with knowledge of sequential codes to activate the warhead remotely or from the onboard digital computer contained in the missile.

  VENUS descrambled the encryption to reveal KAVANI – meaning yet unknown.

  Aven couldn't believe his eyes. "Kavani's name was in the code?" He thought, still stunned from the letters on the page of the report.

  It had been centuries since he had feared for her life and in one quick read all that emotion returned in a wave. He stumbled a bit.

  "Everything OK Mr. Antipater?" asked the Director, likely able to answer his own question.

  "Sure, I just need a private place to think. I wasn't expecting any further progress... the VENUS decryption surprised me".

  Aven wasn't ready to reveal any details surrounding Kavani quite yet, maybe not ever. She was off every radar right now, and he intended to keep it that way.

  336 B.C.

  Antipater returned from Rhodes, just one day before Alexander's arrival to the capital. He knew it would be unacceptable to not greet the Emperor on his parade from his vessel to the palace, and the last thing he needed was to irritate Alexander before their scheduled encounter.

  Knowing only a handful of loyal souls, Antipater arranged a secret rendezvous with Aristotle to garner a true pulse of the city in his recent absence.