Free Enterprise - After The Fall #128

Ares sat back as he listened to the latest update from Cassius. The news was bittersweet. Ares was very close to and dearly loved his older brother. he had no clue the man had been planning a coup. According to Cassius, Agamemnon also had designs on seceding The Nietzschean Empire from the Federation.

“What was left of it after civil war, and war with the Katay. . . . .” Ares thought.

“The rest of his dissident followers are being tracked down as we speak. I suspect many have gone into hiding and some have fled Pinnacle, but we will find them.” Cassius reported confidently.

“What about that ship Agamemnon sent to Deep Space Ten?” Ares asked.

“The Abakan? It suddenly and mysteriously exploded on it's return trip to Pinnacle.” Cassius replied, as casually as if he was discussing a solar storm. Ares simply stared at the man.

“It was a simple task one of my small ordinance specialists took care of.” Cassius said, in reply to Ares unasked question. Ares had heard that The Enforcers where a whole different breed of Nietzschean, but he had no idea how much so until now. . .

“I suppose one would have to be in order to hunt down and kill one or more of your own race. I just hope it is not all for naught.” Ares thought as he pictured his mother's face.

It had been three days since Victoria had left Pinnacle and went into exile, and he had not heard from her. She had forewarned him it may take some time to find a new and untraceable way of communicating that she was safe.

“Excellent job, Cassius. To quote Drago: When the head is crushed, the snake will die.” Ares said. “I want twice daily updates on your progress until this threat is fully eliminated.” Ares ordered.

“Yes, My Lord.” Cassius replied, then cut the link.

Ares then faced the men and women who were standing in his office.

“I want every member of Agamemnon's clan rounded up and brought here, immediately.” he ordered.

“Yes, My Lord.” The group leader said. Then they all turned and marched out of his office.

“I also want . . . . . . “ Ares then rattled off three names “. . . . . . present.” he said to his assistant.

“Yes, Sire. Right away.” the assistant replied and hurried away.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


What happened was a Spanish Inquisition like hearing for every adult member of Agamemnon's family. It was held in the throne room and in the presence of hundreds of faithful officers. Each family member was escorted in and questioned about their loyalties to Tyr Anasazi as their Viceroy.

The three people Ares requested to be present were one female and two male. They were members of Pride Secreto and naturally all telepathic. So, even if someone lied to save their miserable hide, there were not going to get away with it. Since they were mixed in with the rest of the Nietzscheans present, no one but Ares' officials and he himself knew who they were.

They had also prearranged signals that they would give for yay or nay.

The first one to step up and give account of herself was Agamemnon's First Wife, Hera. Proud and arrogant, she was as she proclaimed her fidelity to Tyr. A sympathetic person would have fallen for her impassioned speech but not Ares. There was too much at stake to just take a person's word for it. When it came to the safety and future of his people Ares didn't trust anyone, not even his own flesh and blood.

“As Ambassador Spock once said: “The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.” Ares thought.

He glanced at the crowd and the representatives of Pride Secreto. Their faces all said: “The witch was lying through her teeth.”

“Escort her out, please.” Ares ordered, and watched as four officers led Hera out of the room, to her certain death.

So it went for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Out of the 79 members of Agamemnon's family, he had only told his head wife and his two oldest sons.

The rest had not a clue what their father was up to. All they could recallwas the fact that he was always traveling on account of his business. With those threats eliminated, Ares was now free to move on. First to check out Agamemnon's former business associates, no telling how many would have to “taken out”. Then Ares had to make provisions for the the family to survive without their First Lady and her consort.

“All in a days work. When Tyr returns I would gladly return the helm controls to him. Ruling is definitely not my cup of Raktigino.” Ares sighed.


* * * * * * * * * * * *

“And so, the dominoes are starting to fall.” Janeway said sagely from her multi-verse box seat.