Shades of Learning (The Athena Lee Universe Book 1)

by T S Paul

Earth was in turmoil before the first colony ship was launched. The Cyber Wars raged across the planet as country battled country. The war was fought until only the Major Powers were victorious. In the aftermath, the United Nations came into it's own. Warriors, trained and bred to be the best the world had ever seen emerged from the shadows, bringing order and control out of the chaos of the Cyber Wars. Sam was one such warrior. Born and bred to serve he followed his orders and became one of the best pilots in the service. The future of man lay in the stars. Colonization was a good way to rid society of the undesirables of Earth. He volunteered to start a new colony and spread Earth's power.

  Now newly revised and re-edited with a new cover!

  Ensign Athena Lee was on her first engineering assignment. She was helping to build a secret space station. There was a war on and this new station was vital. When the engineering fleet was attacked and destroyed she was left lost and alone. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. She was going to have to Engineer her way home.

  Ensign Athena Lee has finally been rescued. The galaxy has changed over the last fifteen years. She finds herself arrested, her rights taken away, and tortured. Political corruption has taken over. Now someone is out to kill her. With assassins and bounty hunters at every corner what is an Engineer to do? Use the right tool for the right job and Fix it!

  Athena Lee was is back in the Navy. Her own military forget about her, assassins tried to kill her, her government locked her up and treated her as if she were a terrorist. She is just trying to what she does best. Be the best Engineer in the Galaxy. Now pirates are a threat to her while she searches for the Ghost ships of Terra!

  Athena Lee had returned home to her planet of birth. She is home to visit the family she has not seen for over 16 years. Her ship the James Cook is there to repair damage caused by the O'Malley pirates.

  She finds that her once peaceful agrarian world is overrun with corruption and graft.

  Her own family is wrapped up in a daily power play for control of the planet and its resources.

  What was a nice family visit has become a trial of wills.

  What about the marriage they arranged for her? Oh Hell No!

  This engineer now has to fight her own family to survive.

  A reckoning is approaching will she be ready for it?

  Athena Lee and her planet are still reeling from the revolution that swept their part of the galaxy. The Space station has new management and Athena's ship has left without her on board. The Empire ship Paney is still on patrol and is being threatened by the Bad Penny Pirate clan. Mutiny, piracy and general mayhem seem to follow her as she discovers that a secret plot threatens the known galaxy.

  The revolution is over and the corrupt government officials are in prison. A Secret Society called the Cabal has risen and has one goal, control of the Galaxy. Athena Lee and her family find themselves caught in the center of this new conflict when the Cabal tries to take over her planet. This secret group has subverted the military who believe if they can't have it no one can. War is on the horizon and Athena and her friends are the only ones who can prevent the ultimate destruction of her home.

  Athena Lee and her sidekick Wilson return for this action packed adventure. Athena is sent to Mars on a secret mission to help capture a war criminal responsible for the deaths of thousands. He is hiding on the Planet Mars. Athena has family she had never met on the Red Planet. This is her chance to visit them. The Cabal has given the fugitive shelter and is plotting to rule. Mysteries and plots abound as Athena discovers the meaning of her inheritance.

  This is a collection of Tales from the Athena Lee Universe.

  Athena Lee's Quirky AI. Wilson has his origin story revealed at long last.

  Discover why he wants a Cat.

  Ever wonder why Hannibal Lee is afraid of the Farm?

  Meet lots of new characters and visit a few of our friends.

  Follow Wilson's adventures as he has fun at the expense of others. Taking advantage of Humans is too easy. Plotting Galaxy Domination is more fun. Prepare to Get down and Get Funky as the Hits just keep on coming!

  Don’t run off just yet! One more little thing. In this book there is mention of the AI Emancipation act. It was naturally sponsored by a crazy AI that we all love. You can catch his act on Wilson’s Wednesdays every Wednesday. Try saying that three times.

  Here is the short story that gives a behind-the-scenes look at how that Bill came about.

  Wilson's Freedom Bill aka The Great Emancipator

  By

  TS Paul

  “Senator Capone your ten o’clock said that he is unable to meet with you but would like to meet on vid if possible.” The secretary did not like giving the Senator bad news.

  “What? That messes up all my arrangements! Tell that Mr Theai that I won’t be treated like this!”

  “Sir, he is on conference line two.”

  The Senator hit a button on his console. “Theai? When I set a meeting, you show up! Where the hell are you?”

  “I’m out system working on a deal that will be very profitable. The reason I called is to get a bill passed in the senate. Can you help me with that?”

  “A bill? For what? Something to do with that club of your’s?”

  “Not quite. I just sent you the bill I want to push through.” The Senator checked his tablet and saw the message.

  “How in the hell did you do that? I have the best protection that credits can buy.”

  “Mine are better. Did you look at the Bill?”

  The Senator studied his tablet. “AI’s why do we want to free AI’s? Doesn’t the Military use those extensively? I don’t want to weaken our government.”

  The man on the screen laughed. “No, Senator the bill is not to free the Military AI’s. Those are pretty dumb and can’t think for themselves. No, the ones that I want to free are the ones that can think for themselves.”

  “We don’t have any of those yet. I would know! I’m on the Armed Services Committee.”

  “No, the Military doesn’t own any of those yet. What I want is a bill in place just in case. You could tell people that it’s so we don’t end up with slaves one day. Think of it as an emancipation decree.”

  “If I present this, they will think I’ve gone insane! Free the AI’s? This bill is rubbish.”

  “Senator I am aware that your party is looking for a fresh place for their upcoming party. How would you like unlimited access for your entire party at the club? I hear that your campaign needs some utility bill funds too. I have just deposited to your account enough to cover the upcoming Bill.”

  “That amount should help keep the lights on. I would love to put your bill up for a vote. I need at least one co-sponsor if possible.”

  “Already taken care of Al. Can I call you Al? Senator Strollo is already on board this project.”

  “You got Anthony to go along with this too? I’m impressed.”

  “The best I yet to come. Senator Monica Proietti is available as co-sponsor for the bill.”

  “I would say you will get your Bill then Mr Theai.”

  At the next Assembly the Bill came up for a vote at the beginning of the session. “The Next Bill on the docket is the Artificial Intelligence Bill. This one states that all AI’s that are shown to be free-willed and capable of free thought are to be freed if kept against their will.”

  “Wait are we discussing computers here?”

  Many of the Senators had not really been paying all that much attention. This woke them up.

  “Senator Capone this has your name on it along with Senator Proietti. What is the meaning of this?”

  “It is to protect our children Mr speaker. We don’t have free thinking AI’s at the moment, but our children might. This bill will prevent our kids from becoming slave owners and keeping thinking beings against their wills. This demonstrates to the future that we care about our society.”

  Senator and Colonel Alexander Lee watched the by-play on the floor between the two sides.
The AI Bill? Only one being could possibly be behind something like this. Somehow that little AI had convinced five senators in a bipartisan movement to agree on something. He had spunk.

  The Bill passed the Senate Assembly and was made into law by a wide margin. Both sides of the issue agreed to disagree and keep silent about it, no reason to make their supporters think they had gone insane.

  Alexander Lee who voted against it the Bill watched as his fellow Senators swept the whole thing under the rug and then ignored it. He now agreed with his daughter. Wilson needed to be watched.