Flames And Arrows

by Jaidev Jamwal

The three stories inconspicuous Udyog Bhawan in Kolkata was completely unimportant to everybody except for the RAW and ARC people who worked there. GP, Deputy Director NTRO was going over the latest satellite images and intelligence reports gathered over the day when the red phone on his table rang. He felt an irrational fear creeping up his gut as he looked at the instrument. The news of the nuke attack had come via this phone minutes after it happened. It was going to be quite some time before he could go back to answering the calls on this secure line normally again. Nevertheless he let go of the pictures and lifted the phone. “GP here.”

  “How're you doing GP?”

  The subdued voice of Meir, Director of Mossad's Research Department felt a lot different from its usually cheerful tone. “What do you think old friend? This hasn't been exactly a good day.”

  GP heard Meir sigh on other end of the line, “I'm really sorry for what happened today GP. I wish that whoever did this rot in hell for all eternity. “

  Was Meir trying to pry some information out? Although India and Israel were allies and the two intelligence officers good friends, but intelligence business is unlike all others. Countries spy on enemies as well as their allies alike. GP let out a bitter chuckle, “Only if wishes were horses.”

  Meir replied in a mysterious voice, “But I do have something for you to ride upon.”

  GP's ears perked up a little. “Do I need to pay rent for the ride?”

  Meir chuckled, “Well, if you insist. How about a bottle of scotch and a fried fish from your kitchen next time we meet? “

  GP was mystified, “That’ll be my pleasure. You, of all the people should know that.”

  “That I know very well my friend. The thing is that you guys have already done us a favour. We are just returning it.”

  “Suits me.”

  Meir turned serious, “You remember the small payload that your ISRO launched for us in April? “

  A bulb just clicked on in GP's mind. PSLV launch that month had carried a satellite designed and made by Israelis in complete secrecy. Its capabilities and applications were a well guarded secret. Apart from a select group of people that included the satellite's designers and some in intelligence circles, nobody had any idea. GP replied in a slightly reproachful tone, “Yes I do. You guys have been awfully shy with that one. “

  “It’s time that we get this complaint sorted out. Can you check the mail? There is a surprise for you. Please let me know if you like it.”

  GP was suddenly inpatient, “What is it? “

  “What else it could be GP? We deal in information and information it is. I hope you keep your end of bargain when we meet again. Till then, take care and Namaskar.”

  “Shalom friend.”

  GP replaced the phone on its cradle and opened his secure mailbox. A mail with blank message body and an encrypted attachment had just arrived... He put in the decryption key and extracted the files. There was a small text file and a bunch of high resolution satellite images. He opened the text file first and read it through. With mounting excitement he clicked on the images and started browsing through them. It was with a shaking hand that he picked up the intercom and called for his best analysts to come in to his cabin.

  2310 Hours

  1 November 2012

  Udyog Bhavan

  Kolkata

  “Are you fucking kidding me GP? “ Angad never swore and bit his tongue as soon as he realised that he just did. “Sorry for that. But are you really sure about this? “

  “There is no doubt sir. Take a look at the pictures that I've sent you. I've marked everything of interest.” GP was unnaturally calm about the whole issue

  “I'm looking at them right now. But have you confirmed it from our side too?” Angad asked with ever increasing excitement.

  “Checked, double checked and checked again sir. Do you want me to explain? “

  “Wait for a moment. Let me get some military people on the line. ” Angad replied hurriedly and went offline to arrange a video conference. He was done within five minutes slightly out of breath. “You still there GP? I've called for General Vaidya, Air Marshal Nirmal Jeet and Rear Admiral Kailash Nath They have those pictures too. Now start explaining.”

  GP was ready, “The pictures marked 1 to 21 were taken by Israeli satellites over the span of last 3 weeks. The rest are ours. I'll begin with Israeli ones. Picture one is of a Chinese missile manufacturing plant in ShirChu, Jhiangsu province taken on 11th October. It's one of the main production centers of M9 and M11 missiles. On the second picture, take a close look on the area circled in red. You can see a small group of vehicles that look like container trucks except for their size and design of the cab. Next picture is a blow up of these vehicles. Here you can estimate the length of these trucks which comes out to be nearly 14 m, much longer than any container truck in use anywhere. Next picture in the series of is of coastal docks in Tiajin, a naval base around 20 KM from Shirchu taken three days later. Here you can see these trucks lined on the upper right corner of the photograph. Satellite pictures, taken the same day, show that these trucks had vanished from Shirchu. So these are the same four trucks that we saw there. Next three photographs are of the ships which were docked there that day.”

  GP paused and looked at his screen, “Are you following me?”

  “I see that you've marked one of the ships. Anything special?” General Vaidya asked without taking his eyes off the printouts of the images.

  “That's the most interesting part sir. But I'll come to that later. As you can see in next picture, the trucks are not there. The parking area is empty. Either they drove them off somewhere or placed them on one of the ships. Two of the ships docked there are destroyers, one is a refueling tanker and the rest small tugs. The ship that you noticed is the only civilian ship big enough to carry all these trucks. That ship left the base on 17th October. It docked once in Malaysia for refueling a week later where it identified itself as Xajing, owned by a shipping company based in Hong Kong. It was on its way to unload some toys in Pakistan. We did background checks of the company. It's just a shell company for CGBC group, a conglomerate of businesses owned mostly by senior members China's politico bureau.”

  Seeing the expressions on their faces, GP realised that his audience was slowly catching on. He paused for breath and began, “Every thing's clear till now?

  “Yes. Please continue.” Angad replied somewhat impatiently.

  “Next picture is of Gwadar port in Pakistan where the ship docked on 28th October. It's again marked in a red circle on the left. In the same picture on its upper left corner, you can see two of the trucks that we saw earlier in ShirChu and Tiajin, again marked in red.”

  “What's you point GP? These trucks could carry anything. They could really be transporting toys for all we know.” Angad said cautiously.

  “I can bet my year's salary that it was certainly not toys. First thing, if you are shipping something, only containers are used, not the whole truck. Second, size of shipping containers is a standard all over the world and these containers do not match anything. Third, cab part of these trucks too much like the trucks Chinese transport their missile upon. Fourth, dimensions of the containers are just right to contain one M-11 missile each. Fifth, trucks originating from a Chinese missile plant are unlikely to carry toys. At least not the kind my kids play with.”

  He paused then added, "Not to mention, I sincerely doubt Pakis having the money to buy toys, even Chinese."

  Air Chief Nirmaljeet looked frantic, “Motherfucker! By hell, you are right GP! But there was only one missile strike. There are only 2 trucks in this picture and there are no trucks in the rest. Where the hell are they? The ship has not left the port yet. Has it? “

  GP shook his head, “No sir. According to our sources, it's still docked. Even if two of the original four trucks are on the ship, one is still missing. We are still looking for that one.”

  General Vaidya looked really grave “Shit. That's not good at all.”

&n
bsp; GP paused for a while before beginning again, “Actually that's not all. Take a look at the other set of pictures.” He waited while the others looked over them.

  “Damn! This train looks like it's transporting at least two missiles. But where the hell is it?” Nirmaljeet asked with visible alarm.

  General Vaidya looked like somebody had punched him in the gut. Without waiting for GP he answered the question himself, “That's on the railway line Chinese have constructed through PoK.”

  “Correct General. We saw this train vanish in to one of the tunnels on that line this morning. It's still in that tunnel inside PoK.”

  A shiver went down GP's spine as he said that. It had taken all of will power to control the trembling in his body ever since he first understood the meaning of the pictures. Now he felt his self control weakening he went through the pictures again. “We're in real deep shit.” He muttered under his breath.

  Booming voice of General Vaidya broke his reverie. “GP, where are these missiles now?”

  “Train mounted ones are being stored in a tunnel in south of Gilgit about 110 KM from LOC. We believe that particular tunnel is being used as a storage site for more weapons and barracks for at least 240 soldiers at any given time.”

  “A train tunnel being used like that?” Nirmal Jeet asked with some incredulity.

  “Yes. They've been digging that particular mountain for four years. We have reports from our agents on grounds to confirm this fact. The last three photos of second batch are of this particular tunnel including one taken from the ground of one of its exits. Chinese have long terms plans for this region.”

  “What about the other three missiles in Gwadar? “

  “It's entirely possible that all three have been unloaded and hidden somewhere safe. We are searching for them with everything we've got. In fact one of our satellites is scheduled to make a pass over the region in twenty minutes. We've alerted our men on ground too. I hope something will come up soon.”

  Angad was twirling a pen his hands nervously, “It's not good enough GP. Not good at all. Lives of crores are at stake. We need to find those missiles and neutralize them yesterday.”

  General Singh intervened, “Let him do his job Angad. This situation is much more dangerous than we previously imagined. Let's call up the ministers and get the permission to take these missiles out. ”

  “But we don't have information about all the missiles yet.”

  “That's why we start right now. There is no time to waste.” Nirmal Jeet replied for General Vaidya, then addressed GP, “GP, you have to contact us as soon as anything comes up. There can't be any slip ups now. Use everything you've got. Do you understand?”

  GP nodded as other participants of video conferencing broke the link. He stared at his screen for a few seconds apparently lost in deep thought. Then he looked at the watch and started waiting for the satellite feed about to start in fifteen minutes.