by B. Michaels
Rahmati reminded Javan to compartmentalize everything. The more people knew of Suleiman, the greater the risks of spies and leaks. Javan concurred.
“I have more good news,” said Hamid. “Now that we know how to make Suleiman, we have spare parts to assemble another rapidly. Egor wants to call her, ‘Rodina.’”
“Rodina?” replied Rahmati, in disgust. “What’s that mean?”
“It’s Russian for, ‘Motherland.’ I’d let him name it. He’s already upset we didn’t call Suleiman, ‘Hammer.’ He wanted to call the second computer, ‘Sickle.’”
“Hammer and Sickle? Argh. Russians have no imagination,” said Rahmati. He was still bitter about the lack of air support in Tal Azan.
Hamid sighed in relief. “Rodina it is. We need our Russians motivated. I think we’ll still be able to hide the increased power consumption, especially if we can use Group 24 to conceal the upsurge in electricity.”
Javan nodded his head. “That won’t be a problem. Group 24 has hidden trapdoors in every major electric grid in the world, including ours.”
“So,” continued Hamid, “we’ll use Suleiman to crack all the encryption. We’ll use Rodina to make sense of the data. Orlov is in the process of creating a quantum neural network to process the information. Nucleus would die for this. That’s the whole reason they’ve been trying to develop quantum computers—to make their AI better.
“Orlov is also anxious to try Grover’s algorithm on the data. It’s a quantum search algorithm. Using a typical search algorithm, if you search 10,000 items, it will take 5000 searches. With Grover’s algorithm working on Rodina, he’s pretty sure you would only need to perform 100 searches.”
“Excellent,” replied Javan. “That will free up a lot of manpower. I’ll assign a handful of Group 24 to industrial espionage. We can sell what we want to the Russians and Chinese. Muhammad, if I’m going to get this information to you in Iraq, we’re going to have to lay new fiber. ''''''' ''''' '''''''''''' ''''''''' ''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''' ''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' ''''''''''''''''''' '''' '''''''' ''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''
“Right,” said Rahmati. “We need to be able to communicate securely at the speed of light. I’ll get the Russians and Chinese to finance the new fiber. “You know, it’s amazing. The cowboys thought we could never build a system like this. They fixated their attention on us copying their designs for nuclear weapons.
“They forgot that Muslims created the first Renaissance in the sciences and arts. Their scientific revolution would never have been possible without us. We should get a royalty every time they write a number. They’re called Arabic numerals for a reason.
“The cowboys and their allies have spent trillions. They’ve created the greatest spy apparatus and defense communication systems in the world. Now, we’re going to see everything they see. Then, we’re going to use it against them. Long live the Crescent Revolution!”
Chapter 29 – The Prime Minister
10:00 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2020 - Baghdad, Iraq
Liberation Square, Baghdad
With his back facing the eastern bank of the Tigris River, Muhammad Rahmati took the oath of office. He became the Prime Minister of Iraq, the most powerful man in the Iraqi government. Rahmati wore a dark blue suit, with a red tie. It was the first time the world had seen him dressed in anything other than military garb.
The new Prime Minister stood on an elevated platform, overlooking a crowd of over two million jubilant Iraqis. Pictures of Rahmati were everywhere. Revelers waved Iraqi flags in the morning sun.
“In the name of God, the compassionate and merciful. Brothers and sisters, may peace be upon you. Today, I stand overlooking our monument, created in 1958. We built it to celebrate the founding of the Republic of Iraq, a republic that ended the monarchy.
“Since that day, Iraq has had its share of good days and bad days; good nights and terrible nights. My family and I have shared in this history, just like you.
“My grandfather died at the cruel hands of the dictator, Saddam Hussein. My father spent more than half his life living in exile. At the age of two, I was forced to leave Baghdad. I’ve spent a lifetime living in a foreign land, away from my home. Saddam’s bombs stole the breath from my mother. No doubt your tragedies are just as real as mine, if not even more numerous. Many of you were born orphans or orphaned at an early age, just like our Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him.
“But, from this moment on, a shining crescent moon will illuminate all the dark places in Iraq. Brothers and sisters, you are the light of the Crescent Revolution. The crowd erupted in wild cheers.
“Light is shining on the dark places of sectarian violence.
“Light is shining to eradicate the blackness of hate between the Sunni, Shiite, Kurd, and innumerable tribes.
“Light is shining on bribery, corruption, and political incompetence.
“Light is…”—the crowd began to repeat the mantra with Rahmati—“shining on an education system that fails to prepare our children.
“Light is shining on gender inequalities that make men more valuable than women, and daughters more highly prized than sons.
“Light is shining on inadequate healthcare and infant mortality.
“Light is shining on an economy that derives 93% of its income from oil.
“Light is shining on our poor record of economic development for these last 20 years.
“And, I say with every fiber of my being…
“Light is shining on all terrorists, tyrants, dictators, and colonial powers.
Rahmati’s bones shook from the thunderous applause of the mass of humanity.
“Light is shining on the destroyers that seek to steal, enslave, and murder.
“Finally, light is shining on Daesh.
“You will not just be bombed. We’ll root you out and annihilate you, just like the Americans did to your predecessor, Al Qaeda in Iraq. Only, we’ll never let you be resurrected. We’ll wipe your hateful, bigoted ideology from the face of the earth. You believe it’s your Islamic duty to kill anyone who practices shirk.
“That’s why you murder and enslave the Yazidis. You even kill Shia’s, a brother in the House of Islam. You’re the real Infidels! We all know that the Koran states in Sura 2:256, ‘There shall be no compulsion in religion.’ I call upon Sunni’s and Baathist’s in northern and western Iraq, to work with us to destroy Daesh. I’ve come home. Now you come home.”
Shirk was Arabic for idolatry. The most fundamental tenet of Islam was that God was one. Therefore, idolatry was an abomination to the religion. The next highest precept was that Muhammad was God’s prophet.
“Just like the Prophet offered the Quraysh amnesty after his victory over Mecca, I will process requests for amnesty after this speech. Our friends, the Americans, were a bit short-sighted in their de-Bathification process. I should know; my father is a Baathist.
“I call upon Iraqis everywhere, living under Daesh, to rise. Turn on Daesh. Provide information to our security forces. My government—your government—will protect you. Your services and quality of life will be restored. No longer will you need to hide your children’s’ eyes to survive the day.
“Brothers and sisters, everyone has a seat at the table in my government. Sunnis, Kurds, Shias—everyone. We will not discriminate based a person’s religious confession; or lack thereof.
“My fellow Iraqi’s, with your help, we can fulfill God’s original intention for Iraq. God breathed life into Adam and Eve in this very land. And now, we can rightly claim our place in the world. I believe that God will grant a re-birth to Iraq. I believe that are destined to once again be a great nation, an empire of ideas, inshallah.
“The children of Ishmael shall thrive once more. Iraq will be the birthplace of novel engi
neering advances. We will invent new ways of technologically interacting with our brothers and sisters, even those with differing opinions and religious affiliation.
“We will once again shine brightly in the Middle East, and on the world stage. Our economy will be balanced and prosperous for everyone. Our private sector will be invigorated and provide the country with wealth and stability—beyond oil.
“We will reach out to our neighbors and re-establish our historical trade relations. And, we’ll seek new business partners. I will establish a Middle Eastern Trade Union that binds our markets together, for the prosperity of its constituent nations.
“Today, I also announce a massive new infrastructure project that will provide needed jobs and improvements for Iraq. And, based initially upon funds coming from our neighbors, I announce that ground will be broken to build a new Babylon.
“This new Babylon will be constructed near the site of ancient Babylon. Over time, I will move the capital of Iraq from Baghdad to Babylon. Our metropolis will surround our ancient ancestor’s city.
“Iraq needs a symbol, a new beacon of hope. A place built by Iraqis, for Iraqis. We need a symbol that says, ‘This time, is different.’ Babylon will be everyone’s city. A city that all Iraqi’s—indeed all Muslims—can call their own. We will fashion Babylon into a world-class capital, with buildings that disappear into the heavens.
“Brothers and sisters, there are those who advocate breaking up Iraq. They say we are fools. They say we’ll never live peaceably. They say we’ll never grow beyond our petty tribalism and sectarian rivalries.
“I say to them…just watch. We don’t need a Sunnistan. We don’t need a Shiastan. We don’t need a Kurdistan. We need one Iraq, for one united people.
“The crescent moon’s bright light will shine on sectarian and confessional division. Light overcomes darkness. As it has in days past, Iraq will be the crown jewel of an Islamic empire that discovers, innovates, and prospers. The Iraqi crowd noise surpassed anything ever heard in the 72 years of the Republic of Iraq.
What Rahmati did not tell the masses was that Iran, Russia, and China had committed substantial funds to rebuilding Babylon.
China was leading the way. They were to lay a next-generation, fiber optic backbone, and communications infrastructure to securely connect Tehran and Babylon. In time, new fiber could be positioned across all of Iraq, to enable the country to have high-speed Internet access. While Rahmati’s rhetoric about Babylon was real, there were more practical reasons for the rebuilding of the ancient city.
After destroying much of Baghdad, the Americans rebuilt the city, especially hardening the infrastructure of the '''''''''''''' '''''''''''''. But every government building was bugged. Every phone and data line was tapped. Also, Rahmati knew that the Caliphate had on numerous occasions, stopped on the outskirts of Baghdad. They came close to capturing the city. He had no illusions about tackling the Caliphate. The battles would be hard fought.
Babylon would be built on the Euphrates River, a river described in the book of Genesis as existing in the Garden of Eden. Babylon was 50 miles south of Baghdad. The reconstituted city would be closer to the heart of the Shia population, and easier for Iran to reinforce. Saddam Hussein tried to rebuild Babylon next to the ruins of the ancient city. But the project stopped when the Americans invaded in 2003.
*
Prime Minister Muhammad Rahmati’s speech was carried live to people all over the world, not just the Middle East. For the first time in 14 days, Iranian demonstrators were not in the streets. They were parked in front of their TVs. Time Magazine announced that Rahmati would be the ‘Time Person of the Year,’ for 2020.
Rahmati’s speech to Iran, earlier in the week, did little to dampen the protestor’s enthusiasm. He deftly walked the tightrope of sounding pro-status quo in Iran, while still giving the demonstrators hope. Most importantly, the Republican Guards ordered none of the Iranian security forces to disperse the crowds.
Immediately after Rahmati’s Iraq speech, an even larger group of protestors took to the streets of Iran. They filled gathering places all over the country, including its five biggest cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Karaj, and Tabriz.
Protestors took to the streets wearing black armbands and headbands emblazoned with the Crescent Moon. Others wore Immortals’ bandanas covering the lower portion of their faces. Even more ominously for the Iranian clerics were the chants of, “Death to tyrants, death to mullahs.”
*
Jared Adler rushed into the server room of Adler Capital yelling, “I got it. I got it!”
“That’s terrific, Dad,” replied Josh. “Which one is it?”
“It’s the three-story house, about 300 yards from the geo-marker. The occupants have already vacated. We can close in 10 days.”
“That’s fantastic news, Mr. Adler. It fits perfectly within our timeline,” said Becca.
Jared continued, “The Mexicans say that they dig through the clay soils of the Mexico-US border at a rate of 300 feet-per-month, if there are no surprises. Now, it will be slower digging through the limestone bedrock of Jerusalem by hand, but we’re using robots with specially designed cutting heads. Let’s just say that 300 feet-per-month is our metric.”
Josh followed his dad’s train of thought. “If the Ark is precisely where the AI predicts, and we tunneled right to it, it would take about three months. I’d imagine that’s with optimum conditions. So basically, we should plan on the excavation running anywhere from three to six months.”
“Ugh! I don’t think I can stay underground for even a week!” gasped Becca.
Josh laughed. “Becca, you’re welcome to stay home. I’ve told you many times that I wish you would.”
Becca made a face. “Nice try. But I’m going. Maybe I should bury myself in your garden, Mr. Adler. I can test how long I can stand it.”
“I’m sure General Shields’ satellites would do a little dance if they saw you buried in the ground,” Josh said.
“Ha, ha.”
“How does three to six months fit with Professor McMillan’s schedule?” asked Jared.
Becca replied, “With is spring semester sabbatical, it should work. I don’t know if he’s teaching summer school or not. I’ll get in a secure chatroom with him, and review these latest details.”
“Remember,” said Josh, “our goal is to hit the older tunnels dug before the Babylonian destruction of the Temple. If we can intercept them, our work may be easier.”
“How long is El Jefe’s crew committed to staying?” asked Becca.
Jared replied, “They’re available until the Ark is found, or you guys quit. We’re paying them a daily wage, plus a hefty completion bonus. The faster they finish, the higher the windfall.”
“My greatest concern is this mission’s operational security, once we start digging,” said Josh. “Now that we know we’ve got to hide underground in Jerusalem—for up to six months—how are we going to do it?”
Jared answered, “For a small fortune, I’ve hired a Jerusalem-based remodeling and construction firm that came highly recommended. They do a lot of undercover work for the Israeli government. The Israeli government is always building things and digging in places that need concealment. I’ve told them that they are a cover for an ongoing operation in the house.
“Don’t worry Becca. I did this all by secure telephone. I asked for their best crew. From the outside, it’s going to look like the home is being remodeled. They’ll be scaffolds and bulldozers, things like that.
“Every day, they’ll show up and act like they’re upgrading the property. They’ll bring you food, water, and clothing. They’ll remove the dirt and dump it. It’ll be tricky, but they assure me they can handle this job. They’ve also got some of the Jerusalem police on the payroll. I got the owner of the construction firm and El Jefe together on a conference call, and we hashed out some more details. Make no mistake
. This is a big operation. When it’s all said and done, it’s going to cost about $15-20M. But, it’s being funded entirely by your trading platform—and my eating of El Jefe’s fees.
“As far as hiding underground, I think you guys may be able to sleep in the house, after a certain point. The most dangerous phase is the beginning. The staging area needs to be completed as soon as possible. Then, you can avoid detection while you’re subterranean. And the construction crew knows they have to look like Arabs.”
Chapter 30 – Persia
9:00 a.m., Thursday, November 26, 2020 – Tehran, Iran
General Javan’s Revolutionary Guards’ Office
“Mr. Prime Minister.”
“Good morning, General Javan.”
The two old friends embraced, as Rahmati kissed Javan on both cheeks. Rahmati had made the one-hour flight from Baghdad to Tehran to see how Suleiman was progressing for himself. It would be months before the underground fiber optic cable ran from Tehran to Babylon, although work was well under way.
“Muhammad, I want to discuss Suleiman. But first, I have news. I have enough support among the Revolutionary Guards to depose the Supreme Leader and his council of mullahs. As you know, three days ago he implemented martial law and told the protestors to go home. He said he heard their voices. And, he stated that he’d announce a significant change to the structure of Iran. The mullahs have tried to turn some Guards against me, but they’ve failed.
“After 41 years, I’m going to remove the Ayatollah from power. I’ll change the constitution and abolish the theocracy. After a time of stabilizing rule by the Revolutionary Guards, I’ll announce elections. If I poll well, I may run for President.”
Rahmati smiled at Javan. “We’ve done it. Congratulations, General Javan! What are you going to do with the mullahs?”
“Without the Revolutionary Guards, they’re nothing more than donkey riders and onion eaters. I think Evin Prison is the best place for them. They can get a taste of their own medicine.” Evin Prison was among the most brutal prisons in the world. The Shah built Evin to imprison, torture, and execute political dissidents.
