First of all, I'd like to start with wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, although I'm a bit late. This chapter was partly inspired by the popularity of spy movies in the 1960s, hope you enjoy it.
Chapter VII: Agent Orange
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5th of January – 26th of May 1962
Helicopters flew over Michael’s head, probably heading towards the German stronghold in Lak Sao. It was rather strange, 20 years ago Michael’s father was fighting against the Germans in Germany, now Michael was stepping into his footsteps and was fighting Germans in Indochina. Michael was a special agent of the CIA, tasked with figuring out where the big targets were. Most importantly he had to determine who was worth hunting and who wasn’t. His fiery temper and bright orange hair gave him the nickname ‘Agent Orange’. Coincidentally, it was also the chemical agent the Germans were planning to use against the American and Vietnamese soldiers after they’ve successfully dealt with the syndicalists in the north. Agent Orange’s latest target was Ernest von Gibbenstein, who came onto their radar after a visit to China. At least Ernest
was his target until today, when Agent Orange received new orders from the White House itself. Someone high up in the echelons of power was more than eager to use Agent Orange’s talents of finding war criminals. Ernest would have to wait. When Michael saw the name in the report, his interest had reached a height it had never reached before. Huey Long, that was his new target, or as he liked to call himself now: Hu Wei Long. The President of Cuba of all people was a wanted war criminal, an enemy of the American people. Michael was amazed at how Long could have remained hidden for so long. Agent Orange knew something more was going on. After he read the report of Randolph Churchill, who just a few days ago met Huey in person, Agent Orange knew this would be a difficult task. The orders specifically said “abduct not kill”. Michael would have to use everything in his capabilities to achieve this mission.
The Indochinese conflict was the first major war which saw the use of helicopters in such a large scale.
On the 10th of January, 5 days after Michael received his new orders, he took the plane back to the US, to meet with Randolph Churchill and discuss his report. By the time the plane landed, the news of German victory in Hanoi had already reached Michael’s ears. Agent Orange had always thought that this war would be the end of the US’ credibility towards its allies, but now that trouble was stirring in the Caribbean, Michael thought that Cuba might be even worse. The meeting between Randolph Churchill and Agent Orange was a short one, not many new things were said. Michael was particularly interested in Churchill’s mention of “a Prussian looking gentleman standing by Long at all times during negotiations, but never saying anything”. Churchill found the chap oddly interesting and especially out of place. Amongst all the Hispanic and American advisors which were helping Long making decisions, there was this weird German guy who only talked to Churchill once, in order to offer him some cigars. After this meeting, Michael presumed that Huey still had some followers in the US, possibly holding some kind of public function. After some digging, Agent Orange found it oddly suspicious that Rep. Hiestand’s proposals in the Commission for Peace in the Caribbean were so similar to Huey Long’s demands. After some more digging, Michael found several things linking Hiestand to obscure organizations, often born out of the collapse of Huey Long’s American Union State. Michael decided it was time to talk to Rep. Hiestand himself.
Edgar W. Hiestand was the first breadcrumb leading to Huey Long in Cuba.
It took a week for Hiestand’s schedule to clear up for a meeting with Agent Orange, who had arranged to be listed as a journalist. Finally, on the 18th of January, Michael was walking through the hallways of the Capitol Building in DC, heading towards Hiestand’s office. Suddenly a young man came around the corner, running, and bumped into Agent Orange. Hastily apologizing, the young fellow disappeared as quickly as he had come around the corner. Michael thought nothing of it at that moment, but when he arrived at Hiestand’s office, this changed. The door stood wide open and everyone passing by could see Hiestand’s lifeless body laying on the floor. Michael alerted security, after he had a good look at the crime scene. He definitely ran into the killer mere minutes ago. Agent Orange went back to the spot where he bumped into the young man. Looking around the area, he easily found a clue: a metal seal which probably fell out of the young man’s coat when they bumped into each other. Michael had never seen something like this before. An inscription on the coinlike object said: “Great Seal of the K’s of the G.C. 1858”. Michael had no idea what this thing was, but maybe an expert would know.
The metal seal which fell out of the young man’s pockets.
And so Agent Orange took the weird coin to a history professor he knew. When he came out of the office after an hour or so, Michael had a working theory. The professor had recognized the coin as the seal of the Knight of the Golden Circle, a secret organization dating back to the First American Civil War. This new information shed a whole new light on the Second American Civil War. According to Michael, it were these Knights who gave rise to Huey Long and the American Union State and now they were doing the same in Cuba. But to what end? What was their eventual goal? Overthrow the US government? Or something even more obscure? Agent Orange did not know. The only way to find out was to go and capture Huey Long in Havana. It was time for the next stage in Michael’s mission.
Flag used by the Knights of the Golden Circle.
It took a while for Michael to get forged documents which would get him into Cuba. But finally, on the 20th of February, her arrived in Havana, the Cuban capital. Wandering through the streets, Agent Orange could feel the centuries of history. From a Spanish colonial town to the capital of an independent nation, the city had always kept its characteristics. Michael came prepared. Thanks to Randolph Churchill’s intel, he knew where and when to look for Huey Long. Once he got an eye on target, all he had to do was tranquilize him, take him to the US embassy and his job was done. The CIA would then take care of the rest and within the month, Huey Long would be all over the American news as he was being trialed. Agent Orange made his way to the presidential palace, hiding his gun underneath his long coat. It took little effort to find one of the many entrances. Two soldiers were guarding the door. Agent Orange would need to create a diversion and so he gave some money to a boy passing by to kick one of the guards in the knee. The guards started chasing the boy, leaving their post behind. Now Agent Orange could enter without any trouble.
Huey Long was somewhere inside of the big Presidential Palace.
With Churchill’s directions, Agent Orange could easily find Huey’s office. The guards along the way proved no challenge, there were enough corners to hide behind. But closer to Huey’s alleged location, the type of guards changed. Michael could only assume that these were Minute Men, members of Huey Long’s private army. These guards stayed on their positions and did not follow a certain route. Agent Orange would have to distract them, but this time there were no boys he could pay to kick the guards in the knee. Agent Orange had no other choice, he took out his gun, put the silencer on it and shot the guards hindering his way. He could not leave them just like that on the floor and so he dragged them into a closet further down the hallway. Now the door to Huey Long was there for Michael to open.
Huey Long, seemingly expecting Agent Orange to enter the room.
“Ah, Michael I presume. I have been expecting you”, Huey Long said. Agent Orange was surprised, how did Long know he was coming after him and how did he know his name? “I see you’re quite surprised that I know who you are. You must know, Michael, that the Golden Circle has connections far into the White House. There’s no stopping us, even if you kill me, our work will be continued. Cut off one head and two more will appear. You’re just a puppet in a bigger game, but you can be so much more. Join us and you will become much more than you’ll ever be as an agent in the CIA”, Long continued. “I’ll never join you and your goons. Whatever you’re trying to do, it won’t work. You are hereby under arrest. I’ll take you to a US court. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll have to put you down”, Agent Orange replied. “O poor soldier, always following orders. You do not see what is ahead of us. The Golden Circle is the future, I have seen it and you will see it too”, Long said. At that moment, three guards entered the office. Michael had his back to them, it was already too late. In a matter of seconds, the guards had pushed Agent Orange onto his knees. “You are hereby under arrest for trespassing and attempt at murder of the Cuban president. You will face trial in Cuba and you will spend the rest of your life in prison in Cuba, that is if you don’t change your mind”, Huey Long continued.
This could be Agent Orange’s life from now on.
Several months had passed since Michael’s trial and the following imprisonment. He had spent a lot of time thinking about Huey Long’s words. Not about his proposal to join him, but about his connections to the White House. There was a mole inside the highest echelons of US politics. Agent Orange would have to find a way to break out of this cell and somehow get information about everyone who had ties to the Knights of the Golden Circle. That first part was easy, he had been observing the guard’s routine for the last couple of months and knew every detail about the lay-out of the prison. Maybe if Long had spent more funding on Cuba’s prisons, Agent Orange wouldn’t have had the opportunity to escape. But by the 26th of May, Michael had successfully made his way back to Washington, where he would continue his work in secret for the next few years.
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This is the chapter where the true villain has revealed itself, although their plans are still unknown. The next chapter will mark the beginning of the endgame for the Golden Circle.
