The Imam was not impressed by this emotional outburst. He said "Dr. Fathi, you know that if this device is ever deployed and fulfills the expectations of the Supreme Leader and the Iranian people you will be a national hero. Of course, the scientific and technological success will be usurped by many others from the Supreme Leader, through General Aslawi and many others. If it fails you alone will be held responsible and I needn't elaborate on the fate that you and your family and your team and their families will suffer. So make sure that when you declare that the mission was accomplished and the nuclear device is ready that it will perform according to our high expectations."
Dr. Fathi had expected gratitude and appreciation for his accomplishments not a sermon. He just stood there speechless while some of his senior associates who were within earshot turned pale. Finally he recovered and said "Honorable Imam Mourtashef, please follow me to the small conference room and allow me to explain in more detail what we had accomplished in such a short time with such a small group". Fathi was thinking of Churchill's accolade "Never was so much owed by so many to so few" attributed to the fighter pilots that fought and won "The Battle of Britain" against the Nazi Luftwaffe in 1940. This is what he had expected to hear from the Imam not the reprimand he had just received. Once everyone was seated around the conference table Fathi presented the almost insurmountable problems his team had overcome in less than three years. He kept glancing at the Imam's expression trying to decipher what was going on in his mind. By the time he was through with his presentation, sweat was pouring down the collar of his lab coat and his face was flushed.
The Imam still looked unimpressed and asked "Dr. Fathi, I think I have gained a better understanding of the problems you faced and solved. What I now need to know, assuming that the device is indeed reliable, is the size and weight of the complete device. I would also like to know if it safe to transport it and if there are any problems involved that may affect its performance. How rugged is it? Is it sensitive to changes of air pressure? Is it sensitive to humidity? Can you assure me that it will work after being shaken? Is it affected by external radiation, radio signals, radar? What about temperature variations?"
Dr. Fathi knew that these questions were really crucial and he had no way of answering them with certainty. He had no shred of science based evidence but he was aware that any hesitation on his part now could be his death sentence. So with all the self-confidence he could muster he said "Our design was approved by experts, as I have mentioned. The physical and chemical parameters of the device have been meticulously tested by our people. The triggering mechanism was copied from blueprints that were supplied to us by our experienced allies from Pakistan and North Korea. The chemical explosives that produce the implosion that is necessary for initiating the nuclear detonation were manufactured under strict secrecy by our own military industry. They also provided test certificates that show that they worked according to specifications. In short, I am confident that it will work."
The Imam realized that Fathi's long answer evaded his questions. He gave the scientist one of the stares that could turn a full grown man into a rag doll and motioned for Fathi to continue, but get to the point. Dr. Fathi was visibly shaken and stuttered "We have worked out that the device could fit into a large suitcase or trunk and would weigh a few hundred kilograms. You must remember that the atomic bombs that were used in World War II were much larger and heavier. I can assure you that the device will not be sensitive to changes in air pressure or to exposure to humidity for several days. It will withstand quite vigorous shaking but there can be no guarantee that very severe vibrations would not affect its performance. It will be shielded from external radio signals and electromagnetic radiation – this will add a little to its weight but is a precaution that we have undertaken." He glanced at the Imam and for the first time since he entered the laboratory felt that he was getting through to him.
The Imam rose, nodded briefly and left the laboratory and made his way up from the basement to the street level. He exited Evin Prison and instructed his driver to take him directly to the office of the Senior Assistant to the Supreme Leader.
***
The Senior Assistant was expecting the Imam in order to get an update on the state of affairs in Dr. Fathi's secret laboratory. The Imam said "I am reasonably satisfied that the nuclear device is almost ready but I must also express my reservations about its reliability after being transported to the intended target. It would have to be handled with kid gloves and we have to devise a way of minimizing its exposure to electromagnetic radiation, vibrations or extreme temperature variations during transportation".
The Senior Assistant agreed and said "This means that we have to refine the plan that you have proposed".
The Imam thought about this for a moment and then commented "I'll have to meet again with the representative of Mossad and "consent" to arrange some kind of hostage exchange".
The Senior Assistant said "We'd better inform General Aslawi about these new developments. I am sure that the general will not be happy about the terms of the hostage release. He would have preferred that we make a tough stance and force the Israelis to meet all the demands we had drawn when we started this hostage taking campaign". He continued to remind the Imam, not that he needed the reminder, that they had several demands regarding the Israeli nuclear research centers and its nuclear policy.
The Imam who was a shrewd dealer said "The important thing now is to appear to be flexible, just as we did when the nuclear deal was negotiated with the Six Powers. We would start with a long list of negotiation points but slowly relent and agree to terms the Israelis can willingly accept. They are so conceited and sure of their own brilliance that we can easily convince them that they had outsmarted us. Then, we have to get the hostages on a plane bound to Tel-Aviv, and of course have our nuclear device on it as well. When the Prime Minister of Israel, his cabinet ministers, members of the ruling elite of the Zionist state and the senior officers of the Israeli army, Mossad and ISA come to meet the released hostages the device will go off. Not only will the head of the hateful entity be chopped off but the outskirts of Tel-Aviv will go up in smoke and the area contaminated for generations will make life there unbearable. This will be coordinated with our fond friends of Hamas in Gaza and our Hezbollah lackeys in Lebanon who will launch rocket attacks on the south and north of Israel, respectively. We also expect our Palestinian supporters in the Occupied West Bank to start an armed rebellion against the colonialists that live among them and return control over Jerusalem to Islamic rule. Of course, we won't tell them exactly what to expect as this would surely leak to the Israeli Security Agency. We'll just tell them to wait for a signal that will appear to look like an act of Allah."
The Senior Assistant was overjoyed by this detailed plan. He said "Imam Mourtashef, you'll go down in the history of our nation as the savior of our civilization, perhaps even as the Mahdi. Thanks to you our New Caliphate would be established in which we, the Shiite followers of the true Islam, will rule the infidels. The Christian crusaders will be once again conquered, the Jews will either pay homage or be eliminated and the misguided Sunnis will either see the true way on earth or see it on their speedy way to hell. This will be nothing like the New Caliphate the terrible ISIS people want."
The Imam just said "Inshalla, with the will of Allah, we shall succeed. Let us now call General Aslawi and tell him what we have agreed to do and put him in charge of making the necessary arrangements with Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinians. You may wish to update the Supreme Leader and receive his blessing. Let's meet again in three days."
Chapter 15
October 20th, Mossad Headquarters, Tel-Aviv
David informed Shimony on the progress in tracking Segan and the English gentleman. "Haim, with Julia's help I managed to find Segan after he returned to Berlin. He was cooperative and told me about the English gentleman, Alan Ross, and the contract that he had accepted. He kept repeating that what he had done was for the bene
fit of Israel and that he acted like a true patriot and expected recognition by the government and redemption of his position as a candidate to head Mossad after your term ends".
Shimony interrupted "Doesn't he realize that his actions could get Mossad and the government in trouble. That the days of this type of operation are over and that even during the "cold war" both sides attempted to avoid harming non-combatants. By tacit agreement scientists were kept out of the conflict and were allowed to continue their work".
David replied "He didn't acknowledge that there were consequences to the elimination of the Iranian scientists and that several Israelis were now held as hostages in Evin Prison in Tehran".
Shimony asked "Did he mention Ruby and Sam?"
David continued "He confirmed what we already knew – that Sam and Ruby carried out all the jobs, except the elimination of Mustafa Fahami in London's Chinatown that he did himself. He said that the detailed information needed for the operations was supplied by Ross. I asked him about Ross but he said that the name was obviously not his real name and despite his efforts he hadn't managed to find anything about Ross. I suspect that Ross may have tried to pull a 'double bluff' and actually use his real name that is so common that it is almost impossible to trace. This is like Segan himself did when he sent Sam to Boston with the name of John Smith".
"What about the double murder of his agents?"
"He denied any connection with the murder of Sam and Ruby and provided me with a rock solid alibi. At the time of the murder he was in South America on a cruise to Antarctica and has many witnesses with whom he played bridge during the cruise. He even showed me the receipt for the tickets and several photos of him and his attractive companion on glaciers and with seals. I felt that there was no point in asking him for details of the witnesses but he volunteered some information about his companion. Apparently she is his third wife and still works for him as his secretary."
"Did you meet her?"
"Haim, our conversation was not a social get-together. It was more like an interrogation and I was careful not to turn him against us. I tried to learn more about the role Ruby and Sam played in his organization and he said that they had been his most trusted employees and he considered them as friends. He said that he felt responsible for bringing about their downfall and dismissal from Mossad, but kept repeating that he was a true patriot and whatever he did was for Israel. At some stage I got tired of this imprudent repetition but had to hold myself and continue to listen to his diatribe about his patriotism and the ingratitude of his former country".
"David, did he say he would make a public statement that he was responsible for the elimination of the Iranian scientists and emphasize that he was acting on his own, without approval or knowledge of Israel?"
"He adamantly refused to do that. He said that this type of exposure would ruin his business and put him at a personal risk that was unacceptable to him. I offered him the opportunity to record a video clip with such a statement but he said it was just as bad."
"Did he show any signs of remorse about the fate of Sam and Ruby or the innocent Israelis that were kidnapped?"
"None whatsoever. He only perceived the elimination of the Iranian nuclear scientists as a great service to Israel. He couldn't care less about the consequences. Haim, this means that we have to make a special effort to keep him alive and out of the hands of other intelligence services."
"David, on the contrary, if we hand Segan over to the Russians they will make him confess all and sing like a canary. This may be cruel but Segan deserves to be punished for his irresponsible actions."
"This is very cynical and fraught with problems. The Russians won't stop at probing just these latest actions of Segan and his organization. They will make him spill everything he knows about Mossad's operations in the last two or three decades, ever since he joined Mossad. This could endanger our agents everywhere, could get the present and several past governments into trouble, this could lead to further deterioration of our relationship with many of our allies. No, Haim, I have to disagree with you".
"Then we'll need to guarantee his silence in the old fashioned way…"
David was not surprised by this statement but didn't like it. "Suppose we manage to get this gentleman Ross. Find out who sent him and who he is working for."
Shimony considered this for a long moment and said "OK, David. Go after this Ross or whatever his real name is and get him to spill everything. Who sent him? Where did he get his funding from? How did he get the operational information he provided to Segan and his firm? And we need a public statement from him that will remove the blame from the Israel. Use whatever means you need to track him and persuade him to come clean and confess all. This is now our top priority."
David said "Segan is our only link to Ross. As far as we know he is the only contact we have who has spoken to him, and after Sam and Ruby's death, he is also the only one who has seen him. I doubt if anyone in the wine bar will remember him after all this time."
Shimony said "I think that once you tell Segan about the alternative you'll find him to be very cooperative.
October 22nd, Berlin
David and Julia were on their way to meet a reluctant Segan. At first he refused to meet David again but after a short description of the alternatives he reluctantly agreed. When he proposed that they meet at the offices of his firm David said he suspected that it was under surveillance by the Russians and the Iranians. This shook Segan and they agreed to meet in the privacy of Julia's apartment.
Segan arrived fashionably late, just as David had anticipated, and grumbled "Well, here I am. I already told you everything about the contract and its execution by Sam and Ruby. I had expected that I would be invited to Mossad headquarters to receive some appreciation for my patriotic activities and instead you have come to Berlin with implied threats. This is no way to treat someone who has done so much for Israel..."
David cut him short "Segan, you are a very clever man and were always an excellent field operative. You must realize that things have got out of hand. You are wanted by the Iranians who want to exact their vengeance on you for eliminating their scientists. The Russians want to "help" us but will make sure to extract every tiny piece of information on Mossad that you may not even remember that you know. The Head of Mossad himself is on the verge of bringing you in alive or taking whatever necessary measures to ensure your silence, including the permanent treatment. I don't think that I can be any clearer than that."
Julia intervened "Segan, I know that you were treated as a pariah by all the Israeli officials in Berlin. You were regarded as persona non grata at the embassy and all personnel were instructed to stay away from you. Now is the last opportunity to redeem yourself and clear your name. Take it!"
Segan just said "What do you want me to do?"
David answered "Help us find Ross. We'll go on from there. Tell us all you know about him, starting with a detailed description, or better yet try to reconstruct his face with the help of our new facial construction and recognition software".
Segan laughed "Do you think you are dealing with a rooky? An amateur? I have arranged to take several photos of him during our meetings. These were sent to me from Ruby's cell phone. However, I doubt if this will suffice to find him."
David said "You'd be surprised what a large database we have gained access to since you left Mossad. Why didn't you provide me with the photos during our last meeting?"
Segan shrugged "You didn't ask me."
David audibly groaned and said "What else can you tell us about him? Describe in detail his accent, his vocabulary, his mysterious telephone answering service in London. Divulge everything and anything that will help us to locate him."
Segan replied "I'll write down the London phone number but I doubt that it will still be in service. With regard to his accent – I always had a feeling that it was put on. A few times he slipped and his very British upper-class pronunciation reverted to something with a trace of Middle Eastern a
ccent. I would guess that he was originally from some part of the Middle East, most likely Iran. Undoubtedly he had attended the best schools in the UK and adopted the right accent, but deep down there were traces of the original Alan Ross beneath the smooth veneer."
David said "This isn't much to go on, but I'll try to gain assistance from British intelligence and perhaps also from our friends in the CIA. In view of the contract that he offered you and the operational intelligence he provided he probably still has strong ties in Iran. The hint he gave you about Saudi funding is also helpful. If we combine every piece of information we have on him we stand a good chance of tracking him down."
Segan rose "David, I am still a true patriot and glad to help" and then left the apartment quietly closing the door behind him. David wanted to call him back and ask him to sign a testimony in which everything he said would be documented but Segan was gone. David shrugged and thought that he himself could just print out the conversation and use it even without Segan's real formal signature. In any case, he surmised, whoever wanted to doubt it would say that Segan's signature was a forgery and whoever wanted to believe it would not need the signature.
Julia looked at David "This Segan is a wolf in sheep's clothing if ever I've seen one."
David nodded "He did give us some useful leads. Let's have a nightcap and go to bed. Tomorrow I'll fly to London to see what I can learn there."
October 23rd, Office of the Senior Assistant, Tehran
The Senior Assistant welcomed General Aslawi and Imam Mourtashef and waited for them to take their seats before stating "The Supreme Leader has approved the plan in principle, but before its implementation we will have to get his final approval. In other words, get everything prepared but do not execute until he says so."
General Aslawi said "Honorable Imam, I want to congratulate you. You will strike terror into the hearts of the infidels. We have to create the impression that we have many more nuclear devices ready to go off in all capitals of the Western World, in Moscow and in Bejing, or else their retribution will destroy our country. Our analysts don't think that any of them really care about the fate of Israel and would not move against us but we need to be perceived as a real nuclear power with a large arsenal of nuclear weapons to make sure none of them act. Has this been taken into consideration?"
The Dreadful Patriot: A Thrilling Conspiracy Novel (Techno thriller, Mystery & Suspense Book 3) Page 17
