by David Hunter
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All agents in the field not absolutely required to remain where they were stationed were recalled. Preparations were underway to call up the reserve army. All diplomatic missions and embassies around the world were put on high alert. Administrators of hospitals and health clinics throughout Israel were also alerted and asked to confirm all of their medical and support staff could be sent a single text message as one large group rather than individually. Additionally they were told to expect the delivery of inoculations within the hour but to speak of this to nobody.
Knesset members who could be trusted - two ethnic Arab Knesset ministers were openly hostile to the state they supposedly represented - were notified to stay in their homes, not speaking a word of this to anybody lest a panic ensue. Other preparatory steps and procedures were put into place as quietly as possible. The Prime Minister and President were evacuated to an underground bunker along with top, key aides. The Knesset building itself, already nearly empty as the bulk of the Ministers were in recess, was evacuated after sunset with the exception of a minimal compliment of guards, then put into lock-down. The same procedure was reenacted in government buildings throughout the country.
University directors were advised of a possible attack within days and asked to have an evacuation plan if needed, otherwise to insure that their bomb shelters and infirmaries were sufficiently stocked with medicine, water, and basic food supplies. As with all other people contacted throughout the day, they were told to not share this information with anybody on their staff beyond those who were necessary to avoid the damage and casualties that typify public alarm and unrest.
Meir and Isser remained at their posts to coordinate the efforts of their two agencies and agents remaining in foreign countries. Both also maintained an open channel of communication with Rav-ulaf Aharonson as she coordinated the response of all branches of the military.
Lt. General Aharonson immediately went to her offices in the facility headed by Dr. Itzhach Mendlesøn. Upon arrival she found the heads of the various branches of the military already on the large conference video screens in her Situation Room. Each professional, all having seen their share of wars and terror attacks, their visual cues of calm belied the tension they felt. Gen. Aharonson confirmed with the head of the Kheil HaAvir, Israel's Air and Space arm, that additional fighter jets were equipped with nuclear bombs and airborne. Confirmation that they were deployed was followed by additional questions for others attending the video conference.
Assured that all was in order the time had arrived for Gen. Aharonson to inform them of the existence of The Project and their duties to avenge the fallen State of Israel and Jewish people should it fail in its mission.
Mobilizing the might of their forces now would sound a premature alarm to their enemies, as well as have the potential to draw in neighboring countries already skittish with their own internal wars and uprisings.
At the same time this proud and great Jewish nation would not be unprepared to fight to her dying breath, visiting Armageddon-styled reprisals on her enemies before allowing her sprawling vineyards and orchards to be returned to the barren desert sands they were before the Jews began to return to their homeland, tilling barren ground for the first time in centuries.
The unthinkable happened. Reports of the bio agents being released in the United States began to filter in at first, followed by a deluge of reports. China and Russia activated their nuclear launch codes. Radar picked-up the launching of hundreds of rockets from within southern Lebanon, an offensive bluff to keep the Iron Dome defense system busy as Iran simultaneously launched nuclear weapons aimed at Tel Aviv, Haifa, the Negev, and Jerusalem.