by Mark Donovan
“Well at least the two of you should enjoy each other’s company then this evening. I really didn’t know him very well at Stanford. Only tangentially through you.”
“Yes, I am curious to find out more about what he is working on and specifically what agency in the U.S. government he is consulting for. He was an incredibly sharp guy at Stanford. He graduated top of his class in Materials Science. Hopefully he will open up a little bit more over dinner. He seemed intentionally vague and almost defensive when I pressed him for more details on what he was working on. Nanomaterials is a pretty broad field of science.”
“He probably won’t be able to tell you very much,” replied Dana. “Most likely it’s top secret work if it involves the government, and specifically if it has anything to do with the Department of Defense or Pentagon.”
“Yes, probably so,” said Dave in resigned agreement. “The field of nanoscience is one of the hottest areas of interest in the Department of Defense, and most assuredly, highly classified. There are many military applications for it. Everything from sensor technology, to chemical and biological disbursement, to even protective nanomaterial based clothing for troops on the battlefield. But that said, I expect I can pump out of him at least a hint of what he is working on. I am sure he knows that I am a technical advisor to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. It’s public knowledge.”
“Well if anything else, at least the two of you can catch up on your personal life stories over the past fifteen years,” laughed Dana, as she looked over at Dave who was looking tired but determined.
Dave smiled at Dana before glancing again at the clock on the nightstand. He stood up from the chair and walked over to the bed. He bent down and gave Dana another brief kiss. “If I don’t get in the shower now, I just may fall on this bed with you and we may never learn anything more about Spencer Williams tonight,” he said with a laugh. “Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be ready to go.”
“Okay, I already laid out a dinner jacket, shirt and pants for you in the en suite.”
Three hours later Dana and Dave were sitting across from Spencer Williams at a dining room table. They were having dinner at the renowned Tantris. The Tantris was an opulent restaurant in downtown Munich which catered mostly to business executives, elite entertainers, and wealthy couples. It was the type of restaurant that insisted male patrons wear dinner jackets. So much so that it even provided loaner jackets to gentlemen who arrived without one. Though somewhat pretentious it had good reason. The cuisine, service and overall dining experience was impeccable.
The three longtime friends had already completed their entrees, and Dave and Spencer were each savoring a slice of Plum-Topped Chocolate Kuchen, while Dana sipped on a cup of coffee.
Spencer Williams was a man of thin build with honey colored skin. He stood no more than five feet nine inches in height and had the lithe frame and physique of a long distance runner. He had inherited his skin tone from his mother who had immigrated to the United States from Turkey when she was just a college student herself. His father’s ancestry was rooted in Wales. During his college days Spencer had been a track star at Stanford, specializing in cross country running. He also had a gifted mind. He graduated summa cum laude from Stanford with a PHD in Materials Science.
Spencer was impeccably dressed for dinner. He had worn a European cut suit and a pair of brown Alden dress shoes. Between his dress and demeanor he exhibited a cool air of confidence. He was also sporting a full, but well-trimmed beard. Spencer looked and acted like a man who was in complete control of himself and his surroundings. Which he was. For all of his overt and classy appearance, however, he was a very personal and quiet man. Dave had been one of only a handful of friends of his while they were at Stanford. And even their relationship had not been that close. It had been one built more on a competitive respect for one another than on a close and personal friendship.
As they dined, the three reminisced about their days at Stanford, and had caught each other up on their significant life events in the ensuing years. Spencer had sadly revealed to them that he had lost his wife in a terrible accident while they were visiting her extended family in Turkey seven years earlier. They had no children and Spencer had not remarried or dated since his wife’s death. Instead, he had decided to focus on his work to help him heal, or more accurately, mask the wound of the loss of his wife.
Spencer had already been aware of their exploits with the previous President of the United States and his administration. Both had received quite a bit of attention in the news media after the ex-president stepped down and then was subsequently impeached by Congress. He also knew that Dave was on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Spencer was, however, surprised to learn that they had only recently married.
“So Dana are you still working in the journalism industry,” asked Spencer, “now that you’re married to this workaholic?”
“Yes, but I’ve limited myself to a few special assignments a year, now that I am living permanently out in McCall, Idaho with this guy,” she responded as she nudged Dave affectionately with her shoulder. “I fly back to New York once a month on average. I’m fortunate enough to be able to avoid the commercial airlines though. Dave has one of his local pilot buddies fly me out in NSurv’s company business jet when I need to go there. It makes the long distance commute much more bearable.”
“And how about yourself Spencer?” prodded Dave as he took another bite of his cake. “What specific area in the field of nanomaterials are you consulting to the U.S. government on?”
Spencer focused back on Dave. He hesitated for a second before speaking. “As I am sure you can understand, that since my consulting company’s area of expertise is in the field of advanced materials, and that the majority of our contracts are with the federal government, I am not really at liberty to say much about what I do.”
“I understand,” responded Dave somewhat apologetically and with a nervous laugh. “I would certainly not want to jeopardize your company’s contracts nor compromise our country’s defense.”
“Thank you for understanding,” replied Spencer seriously. “If you know anything about Sand Industries, and the fact that I attended this conference, I am sure you can come to your own reasonable conclusions on the nature of my work.”
“Yes, you are right,” acquiesced Dave. “Suffice it to say, I guess I was more interested in understanding what your specific expertise was in the field of nanotechnology. As the CEO of NSurv, I’m always looking for top notch talent.”
Spencer shifted awkwardly in his chair and laughed with a slight irritation noticeable in his voice. “I appreciate your intentions Dave, but I don’t think I could handle all of that remoteness in Idaho. And those winters. My blood is simply too thin for single digit temperatures.”
Noticing the tension in Spencer’s voice Dave knew to drop the topic and move on to a lighter subject. Spencer was always good in subtlety telegraphing his displeasures.
The three were chatting and laughing amicably when the waiter came up to their table. “Is there anything else that I can get for you this evening?” asked the waiter.
Spencer glanced briefly at Dave and Dana before looking up at the waiter. Seeing their eyes acknowledgment that they were done with their dessert and coffee, Spencer said to the waiter, “Thank you, but no, I think we’re all set. We are ready for the check.”
The waiter pulled from his side coat pocket a leather folder containing the bill, presented it to Spencer, and then quickly turned and walked away from the table.
Spencer placed his credit card in the leather folder and laid the folder on the edge of the table for the waiter to pick up.
“Well it has been great seeing the two of you again and I am very pleased to see that you are happily married. We need to stay in better touch going forward.”
“Most definitely,” responded Dana. “As a matter of fact you should come out and pay us a visit sometime soon. Maybe la
ter this spring or summer. We would love to have you out to McCall and stay with us for a while.”
“Yes, I could show you around NSurv to maybe pique your interests in my offer. I could also take you out for some back country flying around Idaho.”
The waiter came up and picked up the leather bill folder from the table. “I’ll be right back sir,” said the waiter to Spencer. Spencer nodded to the waiter in acknowledgement.
Looking back at Dave and Dana he said with a reserved smile, “That sounds great. I’m going to be traveling quite a bit over the next month or so, but when I get back, I’ll give you a call Dave to set up a date to come out and visit the two of you.”
The waiter returned with Spencer’s credit card and receipt. Spencer signed the receipt and then the three made their way to the restaurant lobby area. Due to the late time, the three decided that they would take separate taxis to their respective hotels. Dave and Dana in theirs, and Spencer in his.
After saying their final goodbyes to Spencer, Dana and Dave got into their taxi. “Hotel Munich Palace, bitte,” said Dave to the taxi driver.
On their way back to the hotel, Dana commented to Dave that Spencer seemed more reserved than she had remembered him at Stanford.
“He was always a man of few words,” replied Dave. “But he’s the same old Spencer I remember.”
“I don’t know. It just seemed he was a little more distant than I remember.”
Dave shrugged. “Maybe the loss of his wife has made him a bit quieter. But again, he didn’t seem much different to me.”
They remained silent for the rest of their ride back to the hotel, both comfortable to just look quietly out their respective windows and think to themselves. Dana continued to contemplate about Spencer’s odd demeanor during their dinner, while Dave was anticipating their drive to the Austrian Alps in the morning. He was looking forward to a week of spring skiing and a little rest and relaxation.
Chapter 5 (April 7, Friday 2:00pm, Iran)
A dozen men gathered at the palatial residence of Aref Zarin and were assembled in the basement. The residence was located in the northwest quadrant of Tehran city, Iran. At Aref’s request the men had come to meet with him. Aref was a rising star in the extremist Muslim terrorist organization known ubiquitously around the world as Al Qaeda. He was a tall and physically powerful looking man. Though he was only forty-two years old his face was already heavily weathered from years of living in the arid Iranian desert climate. His rugged face looked as if it had been carved from stone, and a prodigious hooked shaped nose drew the focus of attention for all that gazed upon him. A nose that Aref was very proud of, as it evoked a silent fierceness and authority.
Aref was highly educated, courtesy of the United States. He had double majored at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Bio-Engineering. He then went on to attend the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering.
After graduating from MIT Aref worked in Boston for a couple of years at a biotech startup company. As a follower of Islam, he faithfully attended a local mosque while going to university and working in Boston. It was at this mosque that Aref was eventually recruited into the Al Qaeda organization. Shortly after pledging his allegiance to the terrorist group he returned to Iran to receive terrorist warfare training and to become further indoctrinated into the organization. Because of his intellect, physical stature, and wealthy family background he rose quickly in the organization. After only a few years of frontline terrorist duties he was elevated in responsibilities and authority. In subsequent years, working as a deep cell leader, he had quickly made a reputation for himself as an effective and ruthless terrorist. He had been the mastermind and coordinator of several highly public and successful terrorist operations in Europe and the United States. One operation that he led in Europe had involved the bombing of a busy train station that killed over two hundred infidels. It was, however, the operation in the United States two years earlier that he was most proud of. He had detonated a bomb that was attached to a truck carrying propane gas. He triggered the detonation right next to an elementary school that had just released its students for the day. Nearly a hundred of the Great Satan’s seed were wiped out by the blast. It was the day the United States received initial payback for the destruction and oppression that it had inflicted for so many decades on his own country and people.
The attack also held very special and personal meaning to him. It was conducted on the anniversary of the death of his parents and older brother and sister who were killed by the Americans, their deaths leaving him an orphan and without any immediate family. They had been on the commercial flight, Flight-655, an Iranian Airbus A300B2 that was flying over the Strait of Hormuz when the United States’ guided missile cruiser, the USS Vincennes, shot it down. Two hundred and ninety people were killed on the flight, sixty six of which were children.
After receiving high praise from his commanders in the successful United States attack, Aref leveraged his elevated status and requested from the senior Al Qaeda leadership the resources for a much grander and more deadly plan. A proposal that would cost millions of dollars to develop and execute, but if successful would enable Al Qaeda to wipe out large populations in major cities in the western world. With little persuasion he was able to convince his senior officers of his plan. A plan that if successful would enable him to someday become the supreme leader of Al Qaeda.
It was in regards to this plan that Aref had called his top lieutenants to meet with him today. An unfortunate situation had occurred recently that put a wrinkle in his plans. It was not an unsurmountable situation. However, it called for some changes and quick actions to be taken if the mission was to stay on schedule and scope. One of his lieutenants had failed him and he needed to be punished to set an example to the rest of his team. As was Aref’s modus operandi, he always dealt swiftly with issues when they arose. It was this personal trait that had partly made him so successful and respected by his commanders. So today would be no different, regardless of his friendship with the lieutenant that had failed him.
Aref called the men to order. The men, who had been conversing amongst themselves in several small groups, quickly stopped their conversations and took their seats. They sat on ornately designed seat cushions that had been placed in a circle on the floor of the basement. The basement floor was covered with a large Persian rug. After leading the men in a short prayer to Allah, Aref began the formal part of the meeting with a report on the successful test that was recently conducted in Yemen.
“As I explained to you during our last meeting in early February, we were nearly ready to conduct a test trial of a new weapon; a uniquely different weapon,” said Aref slowly as he looked around the circle of men. “A weapon that has never been produced before, that would provide us with the capability to strike down all infidels.”
Aref hesitated before continuing to speak. Several of the men took advantage of the pause to respond with loud support. When his men quieted back down, he resumed.
“Well, I am here to report to you today that we completed our field test of the new weapon and that it was a complete success.”
Again Aref hesitated before continuing to allow his men to react to the news. As if on cue, the men erupted in loud elation. Some of the younger men were unaware of what the weapon specifically did and what the field trial was even about, however, they still loudly vocalized their support of Aref’s announcement.
“We tested the new weapon on a small village near the city of Mocha, Yemen. The results were positively devastating to say the least,” said Aref with a grin that formed on his craggy face. “Ninety percent of the village’s residents were affected by the deployment of the weapon, and nearly eighty percent of those died from it. Children and the elderly constituted the majority of the casualties.”
“Can you tell us Aref the nature of the weapon,” asked one of the you
nger men seated directly across from him.
Aref looked intensely at the man before responding. “Yes, with the successful test trial complete, I can now share with you a little more about the nature of the weapon and our plans for it. However, I also have to share with you some unfortunate news. It is this regrettable news that caused me to summon all of you here today on such short notice. But before I go over this unfortunate news, I will first explain to the group a little more about the nature of this new weapon.”
Complete silence filled the basement as the men intently focused their attention on what Aref was about to tell them, his younger lieutenants anxiously waiting to learn what they were ultimately involved in.
“Over the past two years I have been personally working with a team of engineers and scientists in our organization developing a new type of bio-chemical weapon. It is unlike any other type of bio-chemical weapon that has ever been produced before for a couple of key reasons.”
“First, it is based around the common disease cholera. For those of you who are unfamiliar with cholera, it is a disease that causes massive and rapid dehydration due to acute diarrhea and vomiting. Each year the natural cholera disease infects several million people and kills hundreds of thousands. Treatment of the disease is through the rapid replenishment of water and the consumption of rehydration salts. Often treatment arrives too late, and thus the high death rate. The disease is commonly found in contaminated water or food. The disease can also reside for up to a couple of weeks in the feces of humans who contracted it. As a result it is highly contagious. Cholera outbreaks typically occur in highly populated areas where there is poor hygiene, lack of clean potable water, and effectively non-existent sewer systems.”
“Second, this advanced weapon is unlike any other bio-chemical weapon ever developed. We have engineered a new form of the cholera disease with very unique properties, properties that make it virtually immune to chemicals such as Chlorine and Ammonia, and also much more infectious and lethal. By employing a technology called nanomaterials we have been able to make it highly resistant to standard municipal water treatment processes, and concurrently speed up the cholera disease’s absorption rate into the human body, hence making it indefensible and highly infectious. Consequently, it can be deployed in any water supply, and any person that comes in contact with the water will begin to experience cholera like symptoms within two hours. As a result of its virile nature, this engineered strain of cholera is ten times more potent and lethal than the naturally occurring disease. With the rapid onset of dehydration brought on by this enhanced cholera strain, the window for hydration treatment is shortened, and thus the kill rate is dramatically increased.”
