Airwolf Legacy

Chapter Nine

Archangel walked into Kristien’s Lodge with Marella at his side. Alfred poured fresh coffee’s to the newly arrived guests. Dominic, Carsten and Hawke had just had a brief meeting over the situation of the Estates security. Kristien had started the meeting but had gone back into the Lodge, probably to have a small bout of morning sickness.

“How come you are not up at the main house?” Marella asked looking at the smaller lodge boasting only twelve bedrooms.

“Got squatters.” Kristien announced as she walked over to join everyone.

“And I believe there is a pest problem, maybe rodents.” Alfred replied. “I believe that if we put enough rat poison down that will eradicate the problem.”

“Oh.” Marella replied not sure of what was going on.

Hawke put his arm around Kristien and whispered in her ear. “You ok?” Kristien nodded and kissed him lightly on his cheek and sat down right net to him. Hawke kept his arm around her.

“Well you know about the USS Andromeda going down in the Indian Ocean. Preliminary indicators show that it was one nuclear warhead that was launched by a submarine taking all hands down.” Archangel informed them reading from a classified file that he had taken from his briefcase. “Not that you would want to live after a nuclear attack.” He added. “Anyway evidence shows that the warhead was from a stolen shipment from a munitions factory in the States around two years ago.”

“Don’t you have codes for the nukes then to disarm them?” Dominic asked.

“These warheads were stolen without the firing mechanisms in place. They have used their own.” Marella informed them.

“We have had an arms dealer under surveillance for some time, he is known as the Minotaur, he deals with Heads of State, Presidents, Kings and Queens, strictly top level stuff, no middle men.” Archangel explained. “We believe he sold the warhead that destroyed the Aircraft Carrier.”

“So who did he sell it to then?” Hawke asked.

Archangel rubbed his moustache and moved his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, he appeared very uncomfortable.

“Well?” Hawke prompted again.

“We’re not sure.” Marella replied.

“What do you mean you are not sure? You are in the Intelligence Community you keep an eye on everything.” Dominic stated.

“They didn’t keep an eye on Moffet now did you!” Kristien added.

Archangel allowed Kristien to send a rebuke his way. Hawke and Dominic smirked at each other, only Kristien could get away with saying that.

“Well this is the problem as the Minotaur only deals with heads of state it’s a bit difficult tracing who he has seen and sold to lately.” Archangel replied.

“You mean he doesn’t file his tax returns?” Dominic pretended to look shocked. “You do surprise us.”

Archangel ignored the cheeky banter that was going on and tapped his walking cane on the floor. “Well I was hoping that Kristien would be able to help.”

Kristien looked up at her name being mentioned. So did Hawke and Carsten.

“Doing what?” Hawke demanded to know.

“To meet with the Minotaur and try to draw him out with information. As Kristien is a Princess and with the recent activity from Saudi I am sure that’s a plausible excuse to go shopping for some weapons.” Archangel told them of the scenario that they would use.

“You have got to be kidding me Michael.” Hawke spat. “Not with the security as it is here.”

“What do you mean?” Marella asked.

“The President recalled the Secret Service.” Dominic informed them.

It was Archangel’s turn to be shocked. “What?” Archangel looked around still seeing the black suited secret service walking around the estate. Why would the President cave in to the demands of one Saudi Prince. This needed further investigation and he nodded to Marella who got up and left to go back to the FIRM’s limousine to check up a few details. “Well they are still here.”

“We resigned en masse.” Carsten informed Archangel. “We are on vacation now, extended vacation.” Carsten looked at the other agents walking about, no one wanted to leave, everyone had set up home within the Estate, some had got families here and everything was here what they needed, swimming pools, tennis courts, football fields, horses, their own school and a massive Satellite Dish that brought them all the NFL and Baseball games they could need. What more could a Secret Service Agent want?

“I thought you always were on vacation.” Archangel pretended to cough. “Why don’t you work for the FIRM? We would employ you.” Archangel offered.

Carsten looked at him. “We’re not wearing white!”

“We can discuss your wardrobe later, but certainly to have fifty Secret Service Trained personnel on our books, would be a great tactical advantage in missions.” Archangel started to think ahead for all the possibilities for deployment.

“We stay here, we’re a team Archangel, no missions.” Carsten interjected.

“They are not leaving and I employ them now.” Kristien calmly replied having thought about Carsten’s proposal earlier in the day to her. “You may train them and keep them up to date with world developments and threats but that’s it.” Kristien replied. “Besides its taken me nearly seven years to get them house trained and I am not training anymore Hounds.”

Archangel knew Kristien’s mind was made up so decided against trying to entice a few Agents over to his department, no matter what he tried he guessed that all of them had never left Kristien’s Estate apart from Carsten visiting the White House for briefings, they all had a cushy life style here, none of them needed ever to step foot off the estate.

“Agreed.” Archangel concluded his part of the deal. “And what about the Arms Dealer?” Archangel threw the mission back into the conversation.

Kristien looked directly at Archangel. “Liaise with String and Carsten and I will think about it.”

“If Kristien goes then so do I and the Lady.” Hawke put his demands over so no one was second guessing him.

“That’s fine Hawke.” Archangel sipped his coffee. “I wouldn’t expect you to do anything less.”

Kristien stood up. “Right I am off for a ride.”

“Got a horse for me?” Archangel asked.

“Sure have.” Kristien replied.