2025-12-16 18:59:04“Then convince him. Or replace him. This is your chance for a peaceful transition. Take it or keep fighting until there's nothing left to rule.” Achilles softened his tone: “You all have families. People you care about. Don't you want them to live in peace?”
The negotiations lasted six hours. Arguments. Threats. Walkouts. But Achilles kept bringing them back to the table. Kept reminding them what was at stake.Finally, as the sun set, they reached an agreement. A ceasefire starting at midnight. Transitional government framework. Elections in eighteen months. Both sides signed, shook hands reluctantly. Left promising to honor the agreement.Colonel Davies approached after they'd gone: “Do you think they'll actually follow through?”“Some will. Some won't. But we gave them a framework. A path forward. That's more than they had yesterday.”.Achilles looked at the signed documents: “Peace is never guaranteed. But it's always worth fighting for.”
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
341: JUNE 15TH
“Gabrielle, breathe,” Margaret interrupted: “You don't have to plan the entire wedding tonight.”“But I want to! This is important!” She looked between them: “Don't you want it to be perfect?”“It will be perfect because we'll be there,” Achilles said: “The details matter less than the people.”“But details make things special.” Gabrielle pulled up photos: “Look. I found the perfect flower girl dress. It's purple with white ribbons. Very elegant.”Margaret leaned over to look: “That is beautiful. You'd look amazing in that.”“I know. Can we order it?”*Not yet. We haven't even set a date officially.”“June 15th. I did the analysis. It's a Saturday. The weather is usually good. Not too close to any holidays. Perfect.” Gabrielle had clearly thought this through.Achilles and Margaret exchanged glances. Their daughter was running this operation with military precision.“June 15th works,” Achilles said: “Si
340: DUTY
[Two Days After the Engagement – London]Achilles stood in the briefing room at Thames House, surrounded by intelligence analysts and counter-terrorism officers. The "emergency" that had interrupted his proposal turned out to be significant after all, not the initial threat they'd scrambled for, but something uncovered during the investigation."We intercepted communications between former Juma Archelords sympathizers,” Colonel Manning explained, pulling up encrypted messages on the screen: “They're planning something. We don't know what yet, but the chatter suggests a coordinated action within the next month."“How credible is this?” Achilles asked.“Credible enough. The sources have been reliable in the past. We're tracking six individuals of concern. Three in London. Two in Manchester. One in Liverpool.” Manning highlighted locations on a map: “We need surveillance on all of them. Round-the-clock. That's where you come in.”“You want m
339: A Wedding To Plan
[The Next Morning – Achilles' Apartment]Achilles returned at 6 AM. The terror threat had been contained; a false alarm, thank God. No attack. Just paranoid intelligence that needed investigation.He was exhausted, hadn't slept. But he couldn't wait to see Margaret properly. To celebrate their engagement without helicopters interrupting.He opened the apartment door quietly. Gabrielle would still be asleep. Margaret had stayed over to watch her; they did that now, trading off when one of them was working late.But Gabrielle wasn't asleep. She sat at the kitchen table in her pajamas, wide awake, with what appeared to be a new binder.“Daddy!” She jumped up: “You're back! Tell me everything! How did you propose? What did you say? Did you use my note card? Did she cry?”“Pumpkin, it's six in the morning. Why are you awake?”“I couldn't sleep! This is too exciting!” She pulled him to the table: “Sit. Tell me.”Marga
338: Worst Timing In History
[Four Months Later – Liverpool@Rooftop]Achilles had been planning this for weeks. The ring sat in his pocket, distracting him from his thoughts. Tonight was the night.He'd chosen the hospital rooftop. The place where Margaret had saved his life. Where everything had begun. It felt right to propose there.Gabrielle knew, of course. She'd been excited about it, checking his plans, offering suggestions, making sure he had “the right romantic words.”“Remember, Daddy,” she'd said that morning: “You have to tell her she's beautiful. And that you love her. And that you want her forever. Those are the rules.”“Who made these rules?”“Me. I'm the expert. I've been planning this since Phase One.” She'd handed him a note card with talking points: “Don't mess it up.”Now he stood on the rooftop, waiting. He'd texted Margaret to meet him here at seven. She'd responded with a simple: [Okay. See you then.]The sun was setting over Liverpool, painting the sky orange and pink. Perfect timing. Roman
337: FAMILY
“Then convince him. Or replace him. This is your chance for a peaceful transition. Take it or keep fighting until there's nothing left to rule.” Achilles softened his tone: “You all have families. People you care about. Don't you want them to live in peace?”The negotiations lasted six hours. Arguments. Threats. Walkouts. But Achilles kept bringing them back to the table. Kept reminding them what was at stake.Finally, as the sun set, they reached an agreement. A ceasefire starting at midnight. Transitional government framework. Elections in eighteen months. Both sides signed, shook hands reluctantly. Left promising to honor the agreement.Colonel Davies approached after they'd gone: “Do you think they'll actually follow through?”“Some will. Some won't. But we gave them a framework. A path forward. That's more than they had yesterday.”.Achilles looked at the signed documents: “Peace is never guaranteed. But it's always worth fighting for.”
336: Peacekeeping Mission
[West Africa – Republic of Zambara – Eight Months Later]The heat was oppressive. Achilles stood in the command tent, reviewing maps with his officers. His new role as Major General meant leading operations like this; peacekeeping missions in unstable regions.Zambara had been torn apart by civil war for three years. Two factions are fighting for control. Civilians caught in the middle. Britain was part of an international coalition trying to broker peace.“The rebel faction is requesting a meeting,” Colonel Davies reported: “They want guarantees before they'll agree to the ceasefire.”“What kind of guarantees?” Achilles asked.“Safe passage for their leadership. Amnesty for fighters who lay down arms. Participation in the transitional government.” Davies pulled up profiles on his tablet: “Their leader is General Kwame. Former military officer. Turned rebel when the government became corrupt.”Achilles studied Kwame's file. Decor
You may also like
Unknowingly The Billionaire's Heir
Winner Girl78.0K viewsUnderrated Son-In-Law
Estherace107.0K viewsThe Almighty Landon
Princez74.6K viewsThe Secretly Rich Man
Two Ears is Bodhi7.4M viewsThe Heir in Disguise
Sam-crowned1.1K viewsRISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE
Azeez Dada2.0K viewsThe Trillionaire Driver.
Freezy-Grip508 viewsAbandoned In Prison, Now They Regret!
LADY E11.5K views