by Uzi Eilam
“We have details on the perpetrators, including photos of them that will help the deployed forces identify them. In fact, we’ve already relayed this information to the counter terrorism units, and we’ll keep feeding them information as it emerges,” Dan said.
“Thanks to the smart surveillance on all car rental agencies, we know that four vehicles left the rental company before we could stop them. Their details have been relayed to the commander of the operational unit,” Deutsch said.
“We have decent sensor deployment at the port in the locations we decided on. We can track the terrorists in their rented cars and instruct our forces by listening in on the terrorists and with the help of the swarm of ‘wasps,’ already defined as operational.”
“That’s great! So what’s the problem?”
“We don’t have enough fixed sensors at the port. I also wanted to scatter some sensors around the defense arrays in the subway and the airport’s air-traffic control center. We only have a small swarm of ‘wasps’ that might be needed at several centers, and it doesn’t make sense to split it up. At the moment, the swarm of ‘wasps’ has been allocated to thwart the car bomb attack, which is already in progress.”
“The solution we need should be at our disposal now,” Deutsch emphasized, “rather than in days or weeks. What do you think, Gideon?”
“In nature, wasps and bees fly in swarms, right?” Gideon replied, evoking looks of surprise from his companions “There are subgroups in the swarm specializing in different tasks.”
“It’s possible,” Dan said. “I’m sure you know better than us. But how is this related to our current situation?”
“I think we can base the entire ‘wasp’ array on one swarm only. It has to include a large number of items and incorporate the variety of sensors needed for different assignments.” The room was silent as everyone waited for Gideon to continue. “The very structure of the ‘wasp’ swarm will enable continuous communication with the swarm, which can be diverted, within seconds, to handle a newly revealed assignment. If we focus on equipping the ‘wasp’ swarm with a variety of flying sensors, we’ll be less dependent on the number of fixed sensors and the timeline of their installation. That doesn’t mean we’ll stop installing fixed sensors in places where it’s certain we’ll need them,” Gideon quickly added.
“Brilliant,” Deutsch said. “And it’s also applicable right here and now. We only need to enhance this roaming swarm daily with more ‘wasps’ and equip them with the appropriate sensors. I remember that the optical sensors the ‘wasps’ are equipped with can identify a suspect and track him even when he’s moving within a crowd.”
“Say, Gideon,” Dan asked, “how is all this related to the swarms of bees you mentioned earlier?”
“Oh, that’s an old story, and we don’t have time for nostalgia now,” Gideon replied. “I’ll only say that when I was a boy at the kibbutz, I worked in the beekeeping branch during the summer. Our task here reminded me of the miraculous organization of swarms of bees. For them, Dan, just like for you, there are various tasks for various bees in the hive: building the honeycombs, tending to the hatching larvae, gathering honey, protecting the hive, and clearing out the dead. Just like the sensors in your IOT array, Dan, the swarm of bees maintains continuous communication with each other… And as the famous fable about the ant and the grasshopper implies, ants can teach us a lot, and so can bees. But that’s enough of a walk down memory lane, fellows. Deutsch and I are going to attend Tan’s meeting, while you continue to update the forces on the ground with new data over here.”
***
General Tan’s office was filling up with people, and Tan seemed focused and sharp as he answered questions about the situation and called out instructions. As the meeting began, the head of the Counter Intelligence Division surveyed the information being received from Dan’s defense systems, reporting three simultaneous attempted attacks: car bombs next to the American and Israeli embassies and a cyber attack on the system controlling container conveyance. The head of the Security Branch had been sent to the port in order to ensure that the security forces there were prepared for any eventuality. Tan instructed him to make sure that the terminal had switched to routing the containers manually until the validity of the threat of a cyber attack became clearer.
Chang Mei was conducting a whispered consultation with Gideon, who was updating her on the urgent need to increase the rate of “wasp” manufacture. Quan Lin had yet to arrive at the meeting. He remained at Changi Airport’s control tower in order to spur them into preparing for possible disruption of the tower’s ability to communicate with aircraft.
The voice of the commander of the Counter Terrorism Unit’s A-Force emerged from the loudspeaker. “Two vehicles approaching the Israeli embassy have been sighted.” Gunshots echoed faintly through the speaker. “Our sharpshooters have hit the driver and the passengers next to him. We’re storming them to prevent an activation of the explosives… We’ve taken over the cars and everything’s quiet again.” A collective sigh of relief filled the room.
The voice of the commander of B-Force echoed through the loudspeaker. “One vehicle approaching the American embassy building. The driver has been directly hit by a sharpshooter. We’re closing in on the vehicle.” An explosion was distinctly heard. “The second terrorist has activated a belt of explosives,” B-Force’s commander declared after a tense interval in the room. “We’ve taken control of the car… It’s been torn apart by the suicide belt, but the main explosive charge wasn’t activated… All’s well with my team.”
The massive applause expressed the collective tension more than any words said. Tan raised his hand to request silence. Dan was on the line.
“General Tan,” his excited voice rang out. “Our firewall defense system worked wonderfully, and all attempts by the terrorists to hack the container routing control system were thwarted.”
“Bless you,” General Tan said.
“We’ll keep the firewall active for a while longer to prevent any possible additional attacks,” Dan added.
“It’s a good thing Dan didn’t consider transferring the ‘wasp’ swarm to the port area. This resulted in significant enhancement of the port’s firewall,” Gideon whispered to Deutsch.
“That option should indeed remain confined solely to a selected few,” Deutsch concurred. “Your tips from the beehive were a success,” he added with a smile.
Damia was still busy writing a summary of these events when she was startled by the ping of an arriving WhatsApp message.
“Call me urgently,” Osman’s message appeared on her phone screen.
“Soon,” Damia wrote back.
Chapter 39
The restaurant at the Marina Bay Sands resort was bustling with people during the afternoon hours. Many tourists and businesspeople from offices in the area converged at this time upon the “Sky Park” linking the three towers, designed by well-known architect Moshe Safdie. The head waiter was familiar with the young couple and led them to a table next to a window looking out on the breathtaking view of Singapore’s skyscrapers.
Damia had not relinquished her youthful love for the handsome, talented Malaysian boy. She had been happy to see him remain single, and she secretly hoped they would be married one day. Osman had told her about the pretty, accomplished Israeli named Ronit who worked with him at the bank, and Damia had concealed the jealousy gnawing at her.
“I’m really glad you could see me so soon, Damia. What’s happening at the National Security Institute these days? Anything new?”
“Uhm… No… Actually, yes. In addition to the routine work, which can also be very intense, there’s the international task force headed by my manager, General Tan, and it never rests, even for a second. I have to take part in all the meetings and compose the summaries. It’s a madhouse, believe me.”
“Tell me something, Damia: what role do the Israel
is actually fill on your task force?”
As in previous meetings, Osman chose to imbue the conversation with a light tone of curiosity. He didn’t want to do anything that might cause Damia to hesitate to provide him information from the task force’s discussions.
“Tan looks to me like he’s charmed by Dr. Gideon Ben Ari’s defense experience and by Dan Avni’s genius when it comes to computers,” Damia replied. “He supports almost anything they say.”
“I understand, then, that these Israelis are the axis around which your entire task force’s activity revolves?” Osman couldn’t hold back.
“Why are you asking, Osman?” Damia was beginning to feel uncomfortable. “Does it have something to do with the activity of the Workers’ Party you’re so keen on advancing?”
“Oh…to some extent, Damia. First of all, I’m interested because it pertains to you.” Osman stroked her hand before adding, “And also, it’s an important defense issue for Singapore that should interest every one of us.”
“Thanks, Osman. But first of all, tell me what’s going on with you. You’ve disappeared on me over the last few days. Were you visiting Kuala Lumpur again?”
“I was. It was a short visit. My aunt has cancer, and the doctors say she doesn’t have much longer. I felt like it was a goodbye visit.”
Damia didn’t say a thing, merely holding on tightly to both of Osman’s hands.
“While I was visiting my aunt in the hospital, I met a cousin who works for one of the defense agencies. I was surprised to hear some details about your task force from him. He mentioned the Israelis by name, including the one working for their defense industry. What’s his name?”
“Oh, that’s General David Rogel. A talented, impressive man.”
“My cousin says they’re concerned by Israel’s and the United States’ cyber capabilities, and the damage that might be caused to Malaysia. I have to add,” Osman said, “that the government’s cyber capabilities might also pose a risk to the Workers’ Party’s political activity here in Singapore. The ruling party might gain access to all our information.”
“I don’t believe that Rogel is connected to any activity that is not strictly related to defense. I don’t believe he has any connection to internal political struggles within Singapore.”
“You can get him to talk, Damia, I’m sure.”
Damia was already getting up, after parting from Osman with a light kiss, when two strangers entered the restaurant and approached their table. One of them was tall, muscular, and scarred, while the other was short and agile. They shook Osman’s hand, and he introduced them to Damia as visitors from Malaysia who had arrived to shop and tour the local sites.
“I have to go,” Damia said. “They’re waiting for me at the office. Have a nice stay here,” she told Osman’s guests.
“Who’s that?” the tall one asked, tracking Damia with his eyes as she departed.
“That’s my childhood friend. Don’t worry, she’s one of us, and is working at a good job that’s important to us, at the National Security Institute.”
“And is she pitching in?” the tall man continued.
“She is. She doesn’t know just how important she is to us. I’ve started to recruit her to our cause through membership in Singapore’s opposition party.”
“Okay, enough of that. Did you get us the cars?”
“Yes. Here are the keys and an unlimited parking pass for the building’s parking garage. The cars are parked at the end of the floor, and you’ll have no problems loading them up with whatever you need. I understand you want to drive around and get to know the area. Is one car for each of you enough in case I have difficulties getting more? There are detailed maps in each of the cars, and you can use the Waze navigation app, of course.”
“Thank you, Osman, both for the cars and for the apartment, which is just fine. We’ll go for a tour of the city, and in the evening we’ll go back to the apartment and do what we need to do.”
“Great. If there’s nothing else I can do to help, good luck to you and to all of us.”
Chapter 40
Suleimani waited eagerly in the Supreme Leader’s understated office for the personal meeting he had requested. He was holding a folder full of documents, prepared by his assistants, chronicling all activity conducted in Singapore in recent months. Suleimani believed this summary of events would provide a good basis for neutralizing the threat that his rival, General Ja’afari, posed to his current leadership position.
During their last meeting in the Leader’s office, attended by the president of the republic, Suleimani, and Ja’afari, the latter had surprised him with some impressive ideas for sophisticated attacks to be carried out in Singapore. The Supreme Leader had sided with the ambassador to Malaysia, supporting the initiative of using attacks in Singapore as a road map for massive future cyber attacks against the United States and Israel. Suleimani was afraid that the Supreme Leader’s support of Ja’afari would overshadow criticism of his recent failures.
The hour set for the meeting had come and gone, and Suleimani thought with concern that this might be an indication of the Leader’s support of Ja’afari, or perhaps a deliberate attempt to put Suleimani in his place.
“Good morning to you, General Suleimani,” the Supreme Leader said when the commander of the Revolutionary Guard followed his personal secretary into the room. He did not rise from his chair but merely extended a limp hand to Suleimani. “What brings you to request an urgent meeting? Is there anything in particular going on?”
“Yes, Honorary Leader, and I’m grateful that you agreed to see me,” Suleimani replied humbly. “I wanted to update you about a troubling development in Southeast Asia. I waited a few days in order to sum up all the information in this file I’ve brought.” He held up the red folder bearing the heading “Top Secret—Sensitive.”
“Please go on,” the Leader instructed, and General Suleimani looked down to avoid the Supreme Leader’s piercing gaze.
“Our activity in Singapore has been characterized by a series of failures, sir,” Suleimani began, “which included exposure of our involvement in these failed operations. This fact is known to Singapore’s intelligence agencies, and to Israel’s as well. We’re sure the Americans are also aware of the part we played in these attempted attacks. This, sir, violates your instruction to avoid exposing our terrorist activity in order not to initiate the sanction cycle once more.” Suleimani paused to examine the Supreme Leader with concern. He waited for a question or for an indication to continue.
“And what brought on this series of failures, General?” the Leader asked.
Suleimani felt that the Leader was expressing interest in the details of the missions. “We brought experienced fighters to the actions in Singapore, both Hezbollah activists and seasoned Quds Force commanders. Our people here believe that the reason for the failures is sloppy planning, based on unreliable intelligence. Perhaps it was a mistake to choose Malaysia as the point of origin for these actions.”
“And now, General Suleimani, what do you think we should do?” The Supreme Leader continued to display interest, seeming more engaged. Suleimani found this encouraging.
“We should instruct General Ja’afari to halt all activity in Singapore in order to prevent further damage,” Suleimani stated with increasing confidence. “I suggest we summon Ja’afari here and look into what caused the failure of the attacks. I believe, based on the information the Revolutionary Guard has collected so far,” Suleimani continued, “that it would be wise to terminate Ambassador Ja’afari’s appointment in Kuala Lumpur and replace him with someone appropriate, who can also repair the damage caused to our republic, in Southeast Asia, as much as possible.”
The Supreme Leader maintained his silence for a long time while Suleimani sat coiled in his chair, waiting.
The Leader finally addressed his personal secretary. “Tell the
minister of foreign affairs to instruct General Ja’afari to return here as soon as possible. We’ll conduct the inquiry with Ja’afari here, immediately after he arrives in Tehran. You, General Suleimani, please leave that file with me, and be prepared to take part in the meeting with Ja’afari.”
Suleimani handed the folder over to the Leader’s personal secretary and parted from the Supreme Leader with a handshake, bowing his head. Only when he was sitting in his limousine, instructing his driver to head for his office, did he allow himself to smile with satisfaction.
***
General Ja’afari was sitting in his office at the embassy, contemplative and concerned. He had just concluded a brief, troubling conversation with Tehran. The minister of foreign affairs had spoken to him personally and conveyed the Supreme Leader’s instructions summoning him urgently to Tehran. The minister couldn’t tell him what was going on, stating once again that the Supreme Leader had instructed him to invite Ja’afari to a meeting in his bureau. The minister of foreign affairs belonged to a small cadre of officers who had taken part in the war in Iraq. Over the years, in which they had ascended in rank and seniority, the two of them had shared a sense of mutual appreciation and friendship. The minister merely noted that the ministry’s car would be waiting for Ja’afari at the airport in order to drive him directly to the Supreme Leader’s bureau. Ja’afari realized that the fact the minister of foreign affairs was not permitted to tell him why he was being summoned did not bode well.
Dr. Fakari entered the room after knocking lightly on Ja’afari’s door.
“I’m leaving for some urgent meetings in Tehran. You have to instruct our administrative officer to book me a flight to Tehran immediately.”
“What’s the urgency? Has something happened that we don’t know about?” Fakari asked, looking surprised.
In fact, Fakari knew a lot more than he was willing to reveal to the ambassador about the circumstances of his urgent summons. Dr. Fakari had willingly agreed to supply the commander of the Revolutionary Guard with information about what was going on in Kuala Lumpur. He had bet on Suleimani, hoping the man would ensure his promotion. Fakari, who in the past had assisted Ja’afari during the generals’ war over supremacy in Tehran, had no problem betraying his boss in the embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The reports that Fakari was secretly sending Suleimani included criticism of the planning and execution of the attacks, which Fakari found to be deficient. Failure was emphasized over any success.
