Wilson's War: Tales From the Athena Lee Universe by T S Paul Page A

paperwork. Stealing from the Cabal is never a good, idea but he was only stealing from Governor Norton. Sometimes his father has really good ideas.
     
     
     
    These politicians think they are so smart. Does anyone on this planet know what a firewall is? Nice little cash cow these people have going for themselves. Whoever programmed that skim program is a master it's a really nice piece of code. That's a programmer I'd like to have a chat with. He might be useful for my own plans. Too bad I have to subvert his program. Never hack a master hacker. Let's see where this money ends up going… Tricky, tricky, Mr Whittier. Athena said that she thought you were a slime-ball. Now I have proof. Too bad I can't give it to her. OK, new plan. Screw the politicians and really screw Cole. The sister of my sister is my friend sort of thing. Outright thievery will get me caught, I need a distraction and a patsy. Lets see, casino, casino… Ah ha! There is the distraction that I need. Now for the patsy. The planetary building and gaming commissioners look like good victims. They take bribes, extorts money, and hey they are elected officials. They just won an election too. Nice.
     
    Athena is really distracted right now. Those FLEA scientists have her really busy working on the 'droids' and all those plants. Her family troubles are really weighing her down. Time to play! Tonight is the Pan-Pacific Veterans Association convention. This year they're holding it at Hot Shot's, the biggest casino on the planet. All those veterans need to have something good happen to them. Especially after Governor Norton cut the payments to former military families, claiming Imperial budget cuts. Time to set the stage and cue the actors for my little play!
     
     
     
    Several thousand retired servicemen and women were descending on the Capital for their yearly convention. The PPVA did many good things for the Vets of the planet. Each of these conventions provided a chance for the vets to connect with comrades, find out about issues that affected them, and raise credits that would help both vets and military families. Each of the casinos had generously donated several thousand credits to the cause to bring the vets here to their businesses. They would easily recoup that donation and more. Many of the owners or operators rubbed their hands in glee. This was going to be an excellent business day. Party on, dudes!
     
     
     
    Cole checked his timepiece for the fifth time tonight. At midnight the skim program was going to take 20% off the top, just as the numbers collated in the casino's computers. With any luck no one would catch the program in action. He had been very careful. The Martian programmer had cost a fortune to hire! With the big convention going on the payoff was going to be huge. The governor and his father will be very happy. Anything to get the old man off his back!
     
    On the gaming floor happy vets were socializing with many of their comrades from the last war. Many of these old warriors were on fixed incomes. The only reason that most were gambling at all was they had received special invitations to do so by the casino. They had each found a message of their tablets welcoming them to the casino and providing them with a hundred credits each to play with. PPVA organizers encouraged their member to use the credits. They'd not expected the generous bonus, but they didn't want the casino to suddenly take it away either. The fractional credit machines were standing room only. Slot machines jingled and jangled as retirees pulled the handles of the classic looking machines. Even the table games were jumping. The air was alive with cries of delight and noise. The casinos were having the best night in years. Jumping from camera to camera Wilson was looking for the best view of everything. Why go to all the trouble of setting up something if you couldn't watch what happens? Finally, he found the perfect spot. Surveillance central.
     
    The surveillance