Beyond the Shield

by Nachman Kataczinsky

  “You shouldn’t worry,” the Science and Development Minister said. “The engine is only one part of a jet. There are other parts, like the fuselage, avionics and weapons. In avionics and weapons we were leaders even in the time we came from. How long do you think it will take the rest of the world to catch up, especially if we continue development? They may be able to learn which alloys work best in a jet turbine, but book learning is also a handicap – it’s never as deep as what you learn through research or trial and error.

  “I also need to point out that microprocessors are at the heart of almost everything we make. Without them a lot of things are extremely difficult, if not impossible. As an example, a couple of days ago I examined a new car, the Sabra, that is using a Stirling cycle engine. The engine was invented and patented by a Scotsman in 1816. It was never used in automobiles until now. Consolidated developed a smart chip with some nifty programming that made it practical to use this engine in a car. Detroit couldn’t duplicate this for all the money in the world.

  “Microprocessors are a technology that is virtually impossible to duplicate without developing the underlying infrastructure. Again, in our old timeline Israel manufactured 80% of the equipment used around the world to test microprocessors. In the absence of such equipment, a manufacturer is likely to produce garbage that will fail quickly. We also manufacture, or know how to manufacture, the equipment necessary for a microchip fab. We just need to expand in this area, which is being done already. You think that here and now someone else can do better?”

  Nitzan Liebler shook his head. “I’m still against allowing foreign embassies here, but I will not insist. If the majority of the government wants to allow foreigners into our country, I can’t stop it.”

  The Foreign Minister shrugged. “Before we pass the resolution let me add something that’s bothering me. The Soviets are not taking us seriously. It’s partly because of our attempt to undermine Beria and feed him misleading information but it’s also because we’re small and Jewish. They treated us the same way in the old timeline until we defeated their surrogates and, in some places, their own troops during the 1967 war.

  “We now have an opportunity to change this. An embassy here will make them recognize that we can be a powerful ally but an even more dangerous opponent. It may change the whole fabric of future relations with them. The Americans are not as bad due to FDR’s contacts with Churchill, but its second-hand experience. Exposing U.S. State Department employees to our country might enable them to understand viscerally the advantages of being friends with us and the dangers of opposing us. Hopefully they’ll change their approach to the Arabs and think twice before interfering with us.

  “Of course people see what they want to see so there is a chance we won’t be successful with the ingrained anti-Semites. I have to admit that the chances for the optimistic scenario happening are small. Many of the State Department employees are extremely prejudiced, as is a great part of the general U.S. population. On the other hand, I can’t see refusing to open a U.S. embassy as a feasible option.”

  The Defense Minister nodded. “It makes sense. I still think we’re making a mistake but I won’t vote against it.”

  The Prime Minister smiled. “This is settled then.”

  ***

  Ze’ev Hirshson was in a cheerful mood. His plan for a quiet afternoon in the office reviewing company activities was satisfying so far. The first castings for the big Dead Sea hydroelectric project were done and accepted by government inspectors. This was the first product cast at the new foundry in Refidim and clear proof that the company was capable of building its own melting and heat treating equipment – not a small achievement. The first transmission assemblies for the Merkava engines were shipped and the Sabra car was being produced in small quantities. Ze’ev was somewhat surprised that the smaller Sabra-B based on a Lancia model was the more popular. For some reason he thought that the luxury model would sell better. The main customer for the Sabra-A luxury car was, of all things, the government. Almost all of the cars they bought went overseas. The embassies in Britain, U.S., Italy and now Russia were using them.

  Ze’ev paused as an idea came to him: why not develop a Stirling engine for the Merkava? It could always be used, with less power, for trucks and other heavy equipment. He made a note to discuss this idea with his V.P. for Research and Development and with the V.P. for marketing. The company was sailing into unknown waters with the automobile and engine business. Hiring a marketing specialist or a consulting company with expertise in cars might be a good idea, especially one with knowledge of marketing in the 1940s.

  There was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Ze’ev yelled, somewhat annoyed by the interruption.

  His secretary opened the door. “Ze’ev, your cousin David Rothstein is here. He called earlier and you promised to meet with him.”

  David looked different from the last time they had met almost six months ago. It took Ze’ev a minute to figure out what it was: David looked Israeli. He was dressed casually and moved with self-assurance. When the Rothstein family got stuck in Israel due to the time travel incident Ze’ev helped his cousin settle in and set up his own consulting business. They used to meet almost every week at Ze’ev house for the family Sabbath dinner but David was too busy these days with his business, a son in the army, and moving to a new house.

  “Good to see you, David! It’s been too long. How are things going?”

  “Very good. The car you sold me is really great. I appreciate you letting me buy it without waiting in line.”

  Ze’ev smiled. “That’s what family’s for. So what brings you here?”

  “We were notified that Rachel’s maternal grandparents are immigrating from the U.S. Her mother, who is all of six years old, and two uncles who are toddlers are coming with them. I figured you might have some ideas on how to cope.”

  Ze’ev nodded. “Aha, now you’ll understand what confusion is. Having relatives who died coming back to life or a parent who is suddenly a kid is a challenge.”

  “True. Rachel is worried already. I’m mentally bracing for my parents moving here. It will happen sooner or later. Rachel was born in 1955, when her mother was nineteen. I clearly remember my mother-in-law when she was in her forties and I remember her maternal grandparents. Nice people but I have no idea how to even address them.”

  Ze’ev shrugged. “That depends. I found it easiest to address everyone by their first name.

  “What was Rachel’s grandfather doing for a living? Maybe I can help.”

  “Ben had a furniture business in Delaware, a store employing five people and a facility where they rebuilt and restored old furniture and made new. That would be a good business here as well. With millions of newcomers, furniture is very difficult to come by. I bought items imported from Italy. He might need some capital to start with but I can lend him that.

  “I really stopped by to ask you to have Shabbat dinner with us this week, but, of course, Rachel and Linda will have to formalize it.”

  “I accept. Do you have space for the whole family?”

  David smiled, “I bought the house with foresight. We have space. I didn’t count on resurrected relatives but figured my sons would expand the family sooner or later.”

  ***

  Stalin lit his pipe and enveloped himself in a cloud of aromatic Georgian tobacco smoke. “Lavrentiy, what can you tell me about these Palestinians? We are going to meet them in Teheran and I need to know as much as possible.”

  The other members of the State Defense Committee - Voroshilov, Malenkov and Molotov - all waited for Beria, who was seated, as usual, to the side of Stalin’s desk so that he could see both the boss and the others without turning his head too much.

  “Our information is somewhat limited. As you know, in 1941 we lost most of our intelligence assets in Britain and America; they were arrested within a period of several days. This makes it very difficult to obtain verified information.”

  Stalin waved his p
ipe. “Beria, stop with the excuses already. What do you know?”

  “I’m not trying to excuse anything. We need to understand that the information we have comes from two sources: the First Secretary of the Palestinian legation and a couple of agents we infiltrated with the Jews going to Palestine.

  “The First Secretary, Avram Zaretzky, is an old member of the Party. We verified his identity with Leopold Trepper of the Red Orchestra. The two infiltrators are giving us information that is essentially identical to Zaretzky’s.”

  All present nodded. They all knew the name of Leopold Trepper, the man who ran the “Red Orchestra”.

  “Zaretzky told us that the Jews in Palestine invented something, or some things, that allow them to obtain images of the front lines and to gather German communications and decrypt them very quickly. They also tricked the Fascists into exiling all European Jews to Palestine, so now they have a substantial population. This is the essence of what we know. Regrettably, Zaretzky isn’t an engineer and is not privy to technical secrets. We are now looking into additional sources.

  “They were of such serious help to the British that they were granted independence. Of course, they had to threaten the British imperialists with an uprising first.

  “Most of the information we’re getting from the two agents we infiltrated with the emigrants is contained in letters they send to their ‘relatives’ here. These agents report a quickly developing country with millions of Jews, mostly recent arrivals. Conditions are tough but they’re building housing, roads and factories. Regrettably we only infiltrated two agents since most our Jewish employees are known as such and would have been exposed very quickly.”

  Stalin smoked in silence for a while. “So what are your recommendations for dealing with the Palestinians?”

  Before Beria could respond Molotov stirred in his seat. “Our ambassador in London was approached by the Palestinian ambassador there. They suggest establishment of full diplomatic relations and an embassy in Jerusalem.”

  “When did that happen?”

  “I got the note on my way here.”

  Stalin smiled. “Good, this is an opportunity. An embassy there will get reliable information useful in Teheran. Molotov, arrange this as fast as you can. Beria, I want your best people to be ready. We will need all the best equipment to eavesdrop on these yokels. Or maybe they’re not yokels at all. We’ll see.”

  “Our ambassador to London thinks very highly of them,” Molotov added. “He had several meetings with their ambassador - they call the country ‘Israel’ - and was impressed. I heard from sources at the British Foreign Office that Churchill has a high opinion of them as well. Apparently their help to the British army in North Africa was substantial and contributed in a major way to their defeat of the German army.”

  “They also consider themselves an equal member of the alliance against the Hitlerites,” Beria interjected.

  Stalin nodded. “They have some justification for that.”

  ***

  “You have several choices,” the regiment liaison officer said. “The doctors certified your medical profile as temporary 80% and the report says that it should be 97% within another couple of months. You can go to NCO school or join the armor school and help train new soldiers.” She looked at a paper in front of her. “Your company commander strongly recommends the NCO school. By the rules you can’t be promoted unless you graduate from the Non-Commissioned Officers School.”

  Wolf Frumin nodded. “I understand that. How long is the NCO course?”

  “It’s a short course - six weeks for sergeant training.” The lieutenant smiled. “After that you’ll be fit for a Company First Sergeant or to go on to officer training.”

  Wolf ignored the bit about officer training. “This means I won’t be able to return to my unit for months.”

  “You may not be able to return to your unit anyway. If you go as an instructor to the armor school you’ll need to be trained for four weeks and the instructor stint is at least four months long. If you really want to go back to your unit I would advise you to go to the NCO school. Your company needs a first sergeant; the position has been open for a while and they will probably wait for you. I’ll have to notify them as soon as you decide. If you wash out all bets are off.”

  “What are the chances of me failing to course?”

  “Judging by your commanding officer’s recommendations and your latest evaluations, you’ll graduate.”

  “I would like to think about this. When do I have to give you an answer?”

  “Two weeks would be nice if you want to go to the NCO school. I have to reserve a place for you. Don’t ignore the officer school option either. You will likely make a good armor officer and it would be a waste of your abilities not to become an officer. The country needs you.”

  ***

  “Vladimir, my promise to you and your staff stands. We will shield you from the Soviet government.” The Israeli Foreign Minister nodded for emphasis. “You will have to vacate the embassy building. I know that some of your staff are living there.”

  The former Russian ambassador to Israel smiled. “I’m glad I made that deal with you last year. Can I bother you for one more favor?”

  The Foreign Minister nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”

  “I would like to have permanent residence and work permits for myself and my staff. As soon as Stalin establishes his embassy here we can’t be diplomats anymore and I don’t want to be caught up in the immigration bureaucracy,” the Russian said.

  “Vladimir, as long as you are a citizen of the Russian Federation you are a target and vulnerable to the Soviets. You will also be able to leave Israel only as stateless person. Why not take Israeli citizenship?”

  “You would give it to us?” Vladimir sounded surprised.

  “We will on one condition: you promise never to have any contact with the Soviets. If you do you’ll be considered a spy with all the ensuing consequences.”

  Vladimir extended his hand. “I will shake on this. Thank you.

  “Can you tell me where the Soviet embassy will be?”

  The Foreign Minister smiled. “Where the rest of them will be: in our capital, Jerusalem.”

  ***

  Dan McKenzie, the former United States ambassador to Israel, felt uneasy. He was waiting for the Israeli Foreign Minister. It was strange not to be the representative of a superpower or, for that matter, not to be an official diplomat.

  The Foreign Minister came into the conference room. “Hi, Dan. How are you doing?”

  “Good. I assume that there’s something you wanted to discuss with me.” Dan McKenzie smiled.

  “Yes, we’re establishing full bilateral relations with the U.S. This has implications for you and your staff.”

  “The U.S. is going to establish an embassy here?”

  “Yes,” the Foreign Minister responded. “They will choose from a selection of sites in Jerusalem.”

  “But we already have an embassy here, in Tel Aviv,” McKenzie said.

  “The building in Tel Aviv is owned by the State of Israel and was leased to the U.S. in 1966.”

  “I don’t understand,” McKenzie responded.

  “It’s simple. In this timeline the U.S. is not going to build an embassy compound in Tel Aviv that will open in 1966 on land leased from Israel. All embassies will be located in Jerusalem.”

  “This is impossible. The United States doesn’t recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.”

  The Foreign Minister smiled. “Dan, you mean that the United States that you represented didn’t recognize Jerusalem as our capital. I can assure you that the current U.S. will make no such mistake. Neither will any other country. But this is not a matter you need to concern yourself with. I invited you here because you and a significant number of your staff are American citizens holding diplomatic passports. Those passports are null and void unless re-issued by the Roosevelt administration. We accept our responsibility for bringing you to this time, though it w
asn’t intentional, and issued you work permits. Now you will have to make a choice: either apply for American or Israeli citizenship or become stateless persons. If you or any of your staff choose to remain American citizens you will lose your work permits and have to leave.”

  Dan McKenzie looked surprised. “Are you saying that we have to decide whether to accept Israeli citizenship or leave? Does this decision apply only to diplomats or to all Americans in Israel?”

  “It applies to all the Americans. To have a permanent work permit you have to be a citizen of Israel. As a stateless person you will also be allowed to work here.

  “The current U.S. administration doesn’t know you from Adam. We can help by certifying to the U.S. authorities that you are a U.S. citizen. We will allow you to stay here until the process is finished, at which point you will have to leave for the U.S. if you’re granted citizenship.

  “We are offering the same deal to all the foreigners transported during the time travel event, whether diplomats or not. If you need clarifications, contact my office.”

  ***

  The atmosphere in the room was tense as the Fuehrer stood looking at a map of Austria.

  “General Halder, what are you doing to destroy the enemy infesting Innsbruck and Klagenfurt?”

  Halder hesitated. He was prepared for this moment. The troops were on high alert and ready to take over the capital, but he still felt uncomfortable saying something that might precipitate the need for action.

  There was a knock on the door. It opened a crack and a Wehrmacht captain poked his head in. “A message for the Fuehrer.” Hitler nodded, the door opened wider and an SS sergeant entered, saluted and handed an envelope to Hitler. Hitler read the message. His face turned white and then red.

  “So, General Halder, speak up,” he yelled.

  “My Fuehrer, there is nothing we can do against this enemy. I would like to remind you that they destroyed an Army Group within a couple of days and we could do nothing.”

  Hitler spluttered, “Are you proposing to do nothing? This amounts to surrender and treason! Are you one of the traitors that did this?” He waved the message in Halder’s face and threw it on top of the map.