January the 10th, Year 2682 A.D.:
It was an unusually cold day for this time of the year, and it was very early for Jane to be awake in her chambers. Jane was seated on her bed, livid and worried. Jane was a 62-year old military veteran. She has a 14-year old boy and had lost her husband to the war. She held her post for more than 7 years and was one of the candidates who competed for the colonel position along with Balthazar.
The plan was made many days ago, but she received an encrypted message informing her that it would be held by mid-day today. "Tomorrow early morning would have been the best time to attack. As I informed, there was a large-scale drill and games involving both the battalions on the moon tonight. As such, many personnel would be a bit tardy and tired after such an event and would be considered the best time for an attack," she sent in reply
The response time would have not been that quick and she could have easily had some men to delay the targeting and attack systems in that chaos. She also intended to have her son sent somewhere safe today night. She couldn't understand their reason for the sudden change of plans. But the reply stunned her.
"Colonel Balthazar may leave to asklepian today evening and we need him to not provide any further hindrances to our agenda."
"Was Balthazar really that important?" she thought. She only considered his assassination attempt to be something that was optional during the chaos of the attack. Little did she or Balthazar know that a couple of their previous plans were delayed by Balthazar unintentionally.
"Is his death necessary to the mission?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed. She always considered him a bit of trouble but never enough to change their plans. She only decided to help them as she thought their influence in the military would be of help to her.
Ever since her husband died a year ago, she just wanted to get away from the front lines. She just wanted to avoid a scenario where her son would become an orphan. She was a classic case where ambition and fear resulted in loss of rational thinking. She had never thought that knights would take such a risk to kill Balthazar.
"Balthazar was a rising figure and was considered a very intelligent personality. The knights wouldn't prefer him in the opposition," replied Max. Max needed both Balthazar and his twin sister dead to inherit his family and Jane also considered him an obstacle to her promotion. Max just wanted to get rid of him and make it appear as a war casualty.
So, once Max came to know from his father that Balthazar intended to meet him, he was very afraid that Balthazar would come back to the family and all his work to divert Balthazar from family business would be in vain. Since, Balthazar became famous in the military, his father considered Balthazar to be a very capable leader and he feared that his father would insist that Balthazar would return to the family and lead it. So, he couldn't have Balthazar talk to his father and was the main reason to prepone the attack.
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A few miles away in a hotel room in a neighbouring city, two men were discussing the same issue. "I agree with Jane. Even though she is the latest addition, she speaks more sense than Max. It is just ridiculous to even consider this. She has been of more use in this last year than he has ever been," explained Dave to Rowley.
"I agree. I hardly like him. But the family heads insist on helping him. For some reason, they consider the Blyth family to be very important. They don't even consider the failure of the mission. I can't see what is so important about that family."
"There is a high chance of failure of the mission in this case. If we fail this time, then the chances of taking over another time would be very hard. It is a waste of resources. If we want to have him killed, we could just send an assassin rather than all this deception," said Dave confused.
"When I suggested the same to them, Elder John told that he would rather kill me than have him assassinated in a way that would appear it to be a targeted assassination. The want it to appear as part of a larger scheme and his death just to be a causality. The elders seem to be quite concerned about the Blyths. Ever since John Blyth died, we have no clue where Walt and his old man are? Under no circumstances, they would like to have the public think that another Blyth was assassinated."
"Even Max doesn't know where Walt is? He is Walt's son!"
"No, he doesn't. The elders don't want us in the Blyths' purview."
"Fine. We will do as they want," said Dave reluctantly.
"You just make sure your man is successful in killing Balthazar. I will go and help to convince Jane," said Raymond as he went out the room to meet Max in the adjoining suite.
Just as he opened the door, he saw Max ending the call with Jane.
"Is she convinced?" asked Raymond.
"Yes. She was a bit uncertain and wanted to use the best possible time like Dave. But I managed to make her agree."
"Even I was against the change. But I am just following orders."
"You don't need to worry much. We made sure that an entire quadrant is invisible. The surprise is enough to take care of the base. The main concern was always my nephew," said Max as he checked a message he just received.
"I just got the confirmation from Jane that Bel did apply for leave from tomorrow. It is best we handle him as soon as possible. Any more delay would be detrimental to the plan. Contact you brother and tell him to depart. Lie to the apes that the glitch would most probably be patched after tomorrow's drills. It is best that we don't delay any more."
"He knows what to do. He is already on the way," replied Rowley.
"Keep in mind, if under any circumstance, your brother, Jane or any of our men there come under doubt. They are to be killed. Can't have any loose ends."
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600000km away from PK-170-B:
There was a merchant ship, the cargo hold ripped off, full of scorch marks and holes. There were a lot of bodies in the passenger cabins, men, women and children all died of asphyxiation. There were four men in the cockpit, two arguing with one another and the rest watching the show.
"You told us that we would be driving into the base after the event. Now, you just want to have it done during the event. There would be a high risk of falling in the sight of unwanted eyes. We might even be fired upon if we go into the base during the event. I am not willing to risk my crew and myself any more than necessary," shouted a man. He was black with a crew cut, 7 feet tall and had a sturdy build.
The merchant he was speaking to was livid with fury. "Damn these greedy thugs to hell!" he thought.
"I am paying them more than 10 million credits and supplied the ship, weapons and consumables. Now, they are arguing and threatening to delay just because we preponed the flight. It is not like there will be much difference in the plan. They are just trying squeeze more credits off me."
"Captain Ode!" he said raising his voice. "Delaying the flight could cause the entire plan to be scrubbed. If the target gets away, there would hardly be any point in the entire mission. Then neither of us would be paid. And we would also be hunted down by my employer in that case."
"I don't care. I am more concerned about the military being on our backs than your employer. We are putting ourselves at a high risk and what you are paying us isn't worth the risk," he replied.
"How much is it worth then?" asked the merchant.
"At least double the present amount."
"That is ridiculous. I am paying you an amount north of 10 million credits. You want to double it?"
"Yes, at least 20 million."
"I will give you 15 million. Don't be so shameless. You don't want to be on the bad side of my employer."
Ode signalled to the remaining to come to him. After a few minutes. "Ok, we agree for 15 mil, but need to transfer 5 mil now and the remaining you can do it afterwards."
"I already paid you 5 million. Another 5 million before hand is giving you the entire sum, we initially discussed without you doing anything. How can I be sure you wouldn't just take off after I pay you?"
"It is your call. This is the minimum. We can't go below this. Take the offer and hire someone else."
He didn't have the authority or the permission to transfer such an amount to them. Frustrated and helpless, he informed Raymond of it.
"Just pay them, Rick. I will provide you the amount. We will take care of them after the mission. Just get them moving," came a reply followed by the details for the credit transfer. He immediately transferred the amount.
"It is done, get moving."
"We are ready to move. Just give me the co-ordinates of the ape forces. I hope they are also ready."
"Start on the way to the moon now. The location will be sent to you in a few minutes. I will be leaving the ship in my shuttle now. Just don't be late and you need to convince the military that you are being pursued by the apes."
A few moments later, a small shuttle left the ship and it soon it docked into another ship. This ship was headed directly to the planet PK-170. As Rick got out of his seat, he saw a hooded and masked petite figure waiting in his shuttle near the door. Shocked by the sudden appearance of an unknown person in his shuttle, he asked in a stutter.
"Who are you?"
"Not to worry, I am just additional security for your trip. Come on, the captain is waiting." Came a soft voice
Rick was directed to a small cabin near the cockpit. A red-eyed lanky man with a small moustache wearing a tight fitted black suit was waiting for him.
"So, how did it go?" asked the captain nonchalantly.
"It could have gone better" began Rick in a hurry. "Keep you men ready. We need to …"
"Wasn't asking you."
"Everything as told. The explosives are in place and the Ode and his crew have no clue," replied the masked figure.
"Don't worry. The team is moving to the base now. The papers are ready. They will be there well before time. We plan to handle both Balthazar and Ode together. Let's get to PK-170 and meet up with Rowley."
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PK-170, Military Base:
It has been more than a few hours since Ode started on his way to the moon and the games are scheduled to start in two hours. The moon base is lively and active. The streets are filled with people and many new stalls have been opened for the day. Various powers of the alliance set up stalls to advertise their new products and inventions and training centres offered several programs as their stalls.
The PK-170 base was lively and active. The personnel were all busy. Today, the games on moon base required various personnel to help the men on the moon base to continue the general operations and functions on the moon base. It was a busy time and several men were deployed temporarily onto the moon base for the event.
Balthazar was in his cabin on the base. He had Captain Jones take a leave for the day but secretly patrol the sector near the moon in stealth. He was talking to tall blond man with dark brown eyes, while waiting for Jane and Sophia in his office.
"As I have just told you, I might need to stay at the moon base for a few more hours after the inauguration and meet with a few delegates, especially from Rodrigo's group regarding some training programs. So, I would like to you hold the fort in my absence," requested Balthazar.
"Sure, it is no problem. You have applied for leave and I am going to be doing it anyway for a few days starting tonight. What is a few more hours."
"That's good. Sophia will be assisting you with anything you require today. I am taking Jane to the base to assist me. She is better acquainted with few of these men than me and would be helpful."
As Balthazar was discussing with Jacques, Jane and Sophia entered the cabin together. The four of them discussed the various organizations that would attend the games and the new tools and weapons that were being displayed in the base. In a few minutes, they made a shortlist of few prototype weapons and war frames from the exhibition in the base.
"I will be leaving to the moon base in a few minutes. I have a shuttle waiting for departure. I will be leaving Lt. Col. Jacques in charge of the happenings here. Jane could you please prepare for the meeting in the moon base. We will be leaving in 15 minutes. I will be waiting for you in the hangar. Meeting adjourned."
After the Jane, Jacques and Sophia left his cabin, Balthazar immediately called Jones to find out, if he noticed any ships heading towards the moon base. Confirming that there are no unexpected visitors, he asked Jones to continue monitoring in stealth and inform him on any external forces presence without engaging them.
Being done with all the preparation he could do for the attack, he left for the hangar. As he was waiting in the hangar, Jane was extremely frightened. Balthazar suddenly decided to have Jane accompany him to the moon base which was extremely coincidental. This sudden change had her wondering if Balthazar had already known about the attack.