King of All I Survey
Chapter 49: The Queen’s Gambit

Chapter 49: The Queen’s Gambit

Joe had prepared a number of plans and scenarios based on the updated information overnight. We modified some, rejected some outright, added some options of our own, and then finally selected what we thought would get us further on the path to our goal with the least amount of chaos and destruction.

Mom went to the simulation room to have her brain ’meddled with’ again, transforming her into her alter-ego Maribel. She was prepped for her role in the new plan which she would think was her own idea. She would still know nothing about us and the presence of invisible alien tech laser drones, whizzing all around Guatemala. She would have more information about her father’s extensive network and ability to influence events far away from his native Peru. According to the newly implanted memories, her father was one of the leadership council of a secret society whose goal was to bring about a single world government in order to realize world peace and end global hunger. The group was shrouded in mystery, but had some highly influential members, who could not be identified, of course. Together, they had extensive resources and reach across the globe.

An hour later, she was ready to be sent back to Guatemala. She would enter the living room of her house from the bathroom, remembering the drive back from her dinner adventure with Rafael, going to bed, getting up and getting ready for the day.

Dad and I would spend the day in the status room, monitoring events as curated by Joe, but with a constant eye on Mom’s activities.

I would take two 45-minute breaks during the day to have grade school and high school subjects stuffed into my memory as per my deal with Mom.

Maribel stepped into her living room, carefully closing the bathroom door behind her. Joe called the LITV booth back as soon as she did so. Leaving the real bathroom door open, as Maribel would remember she left it. She went over to her computer and sent a text to Luis, asking him to meet her for a review of the next steps. Luis, of course, had also been briefed via memory implant. He was one of our highly trained paramilitary operatives. We had used the memory implant tech to give him the best combat training that could be devised with all manner of weapons, unarmed combat, and espionage skills. We had also enhanced his ability to notice things in his environment. He was a highly proficient tracker, could read lips in several languages, and was skilled in reading body language and facial cues that helped him identify potential threats as part of his bodyguard duties. This had been accomplished in a day with the alien tech. We now had twenty men with similar skills on the ground in Guatemala. None of them knew about the origin of our advanced technology. They thought it was from some secret government agency or corporate lab in the United States. All of them had undergone extensive personality screenings to ensure they could be trusted to become part of our group. They were given very good base salaries and mission bonuses based on the level of danger and their efficiency in conducting the mission as measured by Joe Torres.

Maribel set a pot of coffee brewing as she waited for Luis. He was there within three minutes. She opened the door to let him in.

"Good morning, Luis. I think we’re going to have a busy day ahead of us. Coffee will be ready in a minute, if you’d like to have a seat." She gestured toward the dining table where her laptop was set up.

"Good morning, Miss Flores. Thank you." He nodded and took a seat across from her computer.

She filled a plate with bread, cheese and grabbed a small jar of jam. She placed both in the middle of the table then added small plates and a spoon for herself and Luis. "A little breakfast to go with the coffee as we work." She said, smiling. By the time that was done, the coffee was ready, and she poured two cups, adding a bit of milk to each before bringing them to the table and sitting down across from Luis.

"I spoke with my father early this morning," she began, "He gave me an update on his intelligence from Guatemala. It seems we have stirred up a real hornet’s nest with our little notes."

"Yes, I have read all the briefing materials as well and briefed my team in country with necessary summaries. They are standing by for further orders should any actions be necessary. Rafael’s location is being monitored, and we have sufficient presence there to keep him safe, should he be attacked... If you order such intervention, of course."

She considered for a moment. Rafael’s future would be determined by whether he would agree to give up his criminal activity. She knew that such a promise from him would be worthless, but it would be a first step, then she’d get him some help to get over his traumatic past and seek to redirect his anger and aggression into positive channels. For now, she wanted him alive. He would be useful whatever his choice. A part of her deeply hoped he could be redeemed, she pictured him standing at the front of the Presidential Palace waving to a mob of cheering people, with her standing by his side, his rough hand holding hers... She shook her head to clear the unbidden image. "Yes, keep him alive, until further notice. I’m told at least he did not order anyone’s death overnight."

"Yes, he did receive and place calls to several high-level cartel leaders, however." Luis replied, using his spoon to spread some jam on a piece of bread.

"As expected, they want to know what the messages are about, is he still loyal, and who is responsible. He told them he’s working on finding all the answers and handling any complications as they arise. Non-committal but expressed his profound desire to continue all business relations without any issues."

"Yes," Luis agreed taking a bite of the bread.

"Things are going to change any minute now when the news reports come out and they start showing his face all over the country. Even internationally, I expect, with the Attorney General’s departure. Let me know as soon as he knows about the news we’ve arranged."

Luis unclipped his radio from his belt and spoke a few sentences into it. "Our man will let me know as soon as he is informed of the news," Luis told her, a small grin on his face, "I would love to see the expression on his face when he sees the video."

"Me, too," Mirabel smiled. "How did you get cameras all around there to get that footage?"

Prepared with an answer for that, Luis responded "In the dark, black camera drones are very hard to spot and we have surveillance cameras in key offices. That’s not really my area, though." He shrugged his shoulders as if to say that it was somebody else’s problem to worry about all that.

Maribel sipped her coffee. "Once the news hits, how do you think the cartels will take it? I mean Rafael’s face will be all over the media for weeks at least. I can’t imagine they will be pleased with that. The loss of the Attorney General’s protection won’t exactly fill them with confidence either, I think."

"Honestly, I think they’ll try to kill him, especially if there are others who could step in to replace him. Group 17 isn’t the only narco-gang in Guatemala. They could bypass his whole organization and raise up one of the other groups. I think they’ll come after you, too." Luis replied, looking at her to see her reaction

"Me?"

"You were by his side for the whole thing. If they can’t reach him, they could use you as leverage."

"Can we handle that, if they come for me?" Maribel asked.

"Yes, but it could get messy, bodies in the streets kind of thing, lots of police questions."

"Can you block Rafael’s phone lines? I don’t want him answering any questions about the news to anyone until I talk to him." Maribel asked.

Luis took his and radio from his belt, "I don’t know, let me see what the tech people can do."

He thumbed a button on the radio, told whoever was on the other end of the connection what Maribel wanted and listened to his earpiece for a moment. He nodded and looked up at Maribel. "Yes, it’s done. His phone will only see calls from your number."

"Excellent," she smiled.

The two discussed plans for the day and how they would respond to various possible reactions to the news until Luis received a message to his earpiece that the bodies and etching on the Palace of Justice steps. The military was moving to seal off the area by Presidential order. Security was being put on high alert around the country, protecting government officials and important buildings. Checkpoints on popular border crossings were being beefed up with extra personnel. Luis relayed all this to Maribel, then looked up.

"A group of soldiers is being sent to pick up Rafael for questioning. They sent teams to several of his known residences and one is on the way to La Ciela. ETA 4 minutes." Luis said.

Maribel sighed, "I guess it’s time to make the call and see if he’s willing to play nice."

Just as she reached for her phone, it rang. She glanced at the phone then at Luis. It was Rafael. She hit the accept button putting it on speaker mode, "Hello, Rafael."

"What the hell are you doing?" Rafael demanded. His voice was loud with a decidedly aggressive tone.

"I’m forcing you to make a decision," Maribel answered calmly.

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