Colonel Oakhurst replaced the handset of his phone carefully in its cradle. He gazed across his neat desk at the two men seated in the visitor’s chairs.

“It would appear that it’s up to us, except we are not expected to pass anyone through the gate back to the States. Then if anyone useful should turn up – we should pass them and advise State.”

“So, damned if you do, damned if you don’t?” observed captain Arnold.

Oakhurst shot him a sour look, “What do we have, how many more refugees from Tyrant Nalvius’ purges have we received so far? And how many more are on their way?”

“Thirty-five have staggered in so far, all male bar two. None of them are what you might call important and I suspect some of them were involved in the prior – unpleasantness – under the three pretenders.”

Oakhurst rubbed his chin, “if you confirm that chuck them out, I’m not granting asylum to rapists and murderers.”

“Maybe you should arrest them and put them on trial sir. The news services could crucify you if you just expelled them to face their enemies,” suggested the neatly dressed civilian.

Oakhurst shook his head, “I’d have to give them a military trial as I’m not allowed to pass them trough Mr Chambers. The press would crucify me for that too.”

Captain Arnold leaned forward, “About that, one of our patrols has met up with a large group of refugees and are leading them in.” He paused for a couple of seconds before resuming. “About a hundred all told with many women and children. Senator Kraterios and his son, magister Aksanteri seem to be in charge of them. They have members of two other Senatorial families. A couple of children and a woman.”

“Well I hope we can accommodate them in reasonable comfort. Mr Chambers, I believe the Senator and his party will concern you. Do you know anything about Kraterios?”

Chambers produced his laptop out of his storage device and instituted a search on the files that had been accumulated on the Empire’s government.

“Krateros, head of the Shrike clan, and has been so for over a hundred years. He has four sons and three daughters. Strateros, his eldest and heir has been taking his father’s seat in the Senate recently. Akanteri in his late thirties is the youngest and is not noted as a mage. Looks like trying to be neutral doesn’t work. Sorry Colonel, we don’t have much on the families that have been keeping their heads down.”

“Fine. I’ll advise the general and you, Mr Chambers please advise your superiors about our VIP refugees. Anything further?” Colonel Oakhurst looked round, “then dismissed. Lets prepare for our guests.”

* * *

Betty Oakhurst was sharing lunch with her bf Ashes. “Papa asked me to find out if you know anything about the Shrike Tribe, more specifically of Senator Krateros and his son Akanteri?”

Ashes finished chewing a mouthful of her sandwich before replying. “Not much, never moved in their circle,” she grinned. “Krateros is kinda the epitome of old geezer in the Senate. He doesn’t do much, he just is. Never heard of Akenteri but steer clear of Bractorvis.”

“Why, are you saying this Bracwhatever did move in your circle?”

“Bractovis, he came slumming often and he frequents some unsavoury dives. He’s... Well he wsa a devotee of Garatina, you know, the goddess of lust and he was one of Bishop Yount’s circle.”

Betty looked at Ashes with wide eyes, “there was a goddess of lust? Why is this bishop important?”

Ashes blinked, surprised, then she took a sip of her lemonade. “Bishop Yount was always recruiting kids for Garatina’s – um – temples. All of us kids in the slums knew to keep clear of him. He might well be dead, Garatina’s – um – acolytes mostly killed the priests when the Russians killed Garatina and they were freed of the goddess’ compulsion.”

Betty blushed and clenched her fists. “I’ll be sure to tell daddy that,” she growled. “I’m surprised that you haven’t heard of magister Akenteri.”

“Magister!” Ashes closed her eyes and racked her brains. “No, and if one of Krateros’ sons was a magister everyone would have known. Only two reasons I can see he might have been hiding it, most likely he knew a powerful mage belonging to a senatorial family would be feared, and the ambitious would try to get rid of him. Or he might be a dark mage. Or both.”

“Or you don’t know,” suggested Betty with a grin.

Ashes nodded and took another bite of her sandwich.

= = O = =

Detective Alders nodded as lieutenant Fellows dropped a cup of coffee on his desk. “Thanks Henry, the results on those fingerprints is in. Some belonged to Zeke Fellows as was to be expected as it was his rifle in the first place. The rest belong to a Edward Benevento of New York City.

“He’s on parole for assault and possession. He’s somewhat unbalanced and seeing a shrink as part of his parole. He owns an old ford taurus. He’s our killer, it would seem he’s flipped.”

“Just makes him more dangerous Jim. Get things moving and don’t forget to liaise with the guys in New Hampshire.”

* * *

Edward Benevento was grinning madly, he had been able to recruit a few guys through the Truth Revealed website who knew that the government was covering up a massive conspiracy. Now they had scans and pictures of his book the Cultes des Goules. Damn Washington for covering up something a foul as the Cthulhu Mythos.

Frenchie his new friend from Quebec had been able to read part of the Cultes des Goules. Sarge said he would fetch a couple of LAWs whatever they were. They would meet at the campsite on Saturday and plan their campaign. Then they would wipe that festering hellhole off the face of the Earth.