The ISIS Gambit

by Brad Carlson

  “That’s quite an increase. What are they thinking? Especially about ISIS?”

  “They’re nervous. Not for any threat to themselves but they are nervous about what’s going on in Turkey. If the unimaginable happens in Turkey, they’d have the caliphate on their border in Thrace and a foothold in Cyprus.”

  “There’s no thought about Turkey falling is there?” Dani asked.

  “No, but like I said, they are nervous. This was an excellent lunch, Stonewall. We need to do this more often. I apologize but I cannot stay. The Greeks are not the only nervous ones in the region. My CO fully understands your concerns. Since it’s a rather short flight, breaking away for a quick lunch was okay with him but I need to get back.”

  “Not a problem, Lion. I appreciate all of your help. Plus, now that I’m stationed in Tel Aviv for the foreseeable future, I think we can make that happen.”

  XXII

  Abu Dhabi, UAE

  3:00 PM Local Time

  “Dr. Bagheri, thank you for taking the time to fly over here to meet with us,” Secretary Johnson said as she greeted the new Iranian president. “I apologize for the short notice but we are making a quick trip to the region and wanted to bring you up to speed on our strategic initiative based the Russian’s involvement in the attack on our east coast.”

  “I must say, I was extremely surprised by President Barre’s announcement,” Dr. Bagheri stated. “Russia’s involvement in this is quite disturbing.”

  “Yes, it is and it’s all quite specific and provable, as the President indicated. As such, we are looking to make sure this doesn’t happen again. That is why we are launching this strategic initiative to reinforce what we’ve just done militarily. We want a united front, both militarily as well as diplomatically. We want to demonstrate to the Russians that their behavior will not be tolerated—not by us, not by anybody. Quite obviously, I know you are aware of our military response. We are now looking for a united diplomatic response.”

  “It would seem that you are looking for more of a united economic response since I believe you indicated you are looking to discuss this with the entire Gulf Cooperation Council.”

  “Yes, that is correct. We would like your help to drive the price of oil under $40 a barrel,” Secretary Johnson replied. “Once we are through, we look forward to discussing this with the rest of the council later this afternoon or early evening.”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with what you are doing. Personally, I agree with it. I think the Russians are barbarians and cannot be trusted with anything. Fortunately, we no longer have a common border with them though we used to border the old Soviet Union. Nothing has changed, though, except for the borders—Russia—the Soviet Union—they are the same brutes. However, I cannot but wonder the impact this will have on our efforts to rebuild my country. Cutting oil prices this dramatically will seriously cut into our ability to rebuild our infrastructure, which is sorely needed, and to rebuild our military.”

  “We fully understand the impact this will have on your country, Dr. Bagheri. That is why we are willing to offer you a generous aid package. We know Iran desperately needs to improve, and rebuild, its infrastructure and we are prepared to help you with this, whether directly or indirectly funneling our support through another country. Of course, we’d rather do it directly but we are prepared to do whatever you would think best as we do not want to undermine your position.”

  “I think we would be willing to have your direct involvement at this point in time. I know America has not been received very well since the revolution but, given the present circumstances, it might provide a nice foil to see the United States helping us rebuild our country when the Russians—who are so close to home—would be viewed as the brutes they really are.”

  “As to your military, we did our best to leave the army unscathed while taking out the Republican Guards,” Secretary Axelsson added. “However, I know you could use some help with your air force and navy. Again, we are prepared to assist you here as well.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, and this is crucial given your assistance to both the Qataris and the Saudis. With the military aid packages you have provided both of them in the last couple of years, and I assume you’re sweetening the pot for the Saudis once again, you’ve kind of created a regional super power that is a real threat to us. I know you are aware of this, but Iran is predominantly Shia—and Persian—while the rest of the Gulf is primarily Sunni—and Arab. We are a proud people and we need the ability to counter the Saudis. After all, we are talking about the Persian Gulf region, correct?”

  “That has not been our intention,” Axelsson replied. “Though we are prepared to correct that mistake. However, we do not want to repeat the errors of the Shah, either.”

  “Nor do I, Mr. Secretary, but when you consider the improvements, and the technological innovations, both Qatar and the Saudis have made—with your help, I might add—I need some type of corresponding aid package. I cannot be seen as ‘caving’ into this request from you without a similar package. If I do, my tenure as the Iranian president will be a very short one—especially given our recent history.”

  “We understand,” Secretary Johnson added, “and we are prepared to offer you a very generous domestic aid package and one similar to the Saudis on the military side that you can take back to your government that will demonstrate our resolve to the Iranian people. We fully realize that a balance of power is needed in the Gulf and you are key to that balance.”

  “That is much appreciated, Mr. Secretary.”

  “Back to our strategic initiative, Dr. Bagheri,” Secretary Johnson added, “with the entire Gulf Cooperation Council joining in on this, we hope to make a strong statement to the Russians. The ‘brutish’ behavior that you, yourself, have alluded to cannot, and will not, be tolerated and the consequences of this behavior will be enforced on a global scale, not just unilaterally by us. With the support of the entire Council, we can demonstrate our united resolve with this.”

  “Madam Secretary, with your support, you can definitely count on us. And, with the present state of the Russian economy, which as you know is not the healthiest, it shouldn’t take very long to make the kind of point you want.”

  “Excellent, Dr. Bagheri, we appreciate your support in this endeavor of ours. As mentioned, we are planning on meeting with the rest of the council later this afternoon. However, with both your support and the Kingdom’s, I would like to think that the rest of the Council will close ranks.”

  Incirlik Air Force Base

  2:45 PM Local Time

  “Abdul, it’s Major Aksoy,” he said to the ISIS chief of staff. “The American C-130 has landed. The turnaround time for the first plane, the C-17, was only a couple hours. I don’t think they bothered to refuel that one. However, the C-130 won’t take as long to load and refuel. I’d say we have one hour.”

  “Very good, Major, kickoff in one hour.”

  Adana, Turkey

  3:00 PM Local Time

  “You’ve never met either Yosef or Noa?” Stonewall asked Dani as they walked towards the Ozsut Café Tamir had indicated where they could meet up.

  “I have not but it sounds like they’ve been here for quite a while and I’ve never had the chance, or the need, to get to Turkey.”

  “I think I see them, there at the table by the tree that’s growing through the patio roof.”

  “Yeah, that’s them,” Dani said, grabbing Stonewall’s hand and walking up to them.

  “Yosef? Stonewall Jackson, this is Arielle. Nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise, this is Noa. Welcome to Adana.”

  “Thanks, we’ve never been here before,” Arielle replied. “Tamir mentioned you’ve been here a little while.”

  “That’s right. We’ve both been here for something like five or six years now. It’s been a nice posting.”

  “Can you tell us anything about what’s going on? Not sure how much Tamir mentioned but we’re trying to get a feel for
the area in the wake of the attack at Incirlik yesterday afternoon.”

  “Can’t tell you much about what goes on at the base but here in the city, ISIS’s doing everything they can to incite the local populace,” Yosef replied.

  “You sure it’s ISIS?” Jackson asked.

  “We’re pretty sure,” Noa replied. “They don’t advertise what they’re doing up here but there is definitely a fundamentalist sect up here stirring things up. I think you might have heard about the demonstration they had up here last week. A big part of it took place at the end of this street here. This part of the city completely shut down. They had literally thousands of people protesting in the streets. It’s amazing there wasn’t any more damage than what actually happened. However, the tone of the crowd was unmistakable—definitely pro ISIS. The Turks are doing their best to cover this up but it’s pretty clear that ISIS is behind this.”

  “From the intersection right down the street here,” Yosef continued, “the crowd marched to the large mosque over by the river. It’s a relatively new mosque but one of the largest in Turkey. We’ve never been in there but a lot of those that attend have sure been radicalized in there. It’s a big problem for the current administration, though the media in the West never reports this.”

  “Just how big of a problem?” Jackson asked.

  “I don’t think they’ll topple the government as President Demirel has a lot of support in western Turkey, but in eastern Turkey, and now more and more in the south central region of the country, the radical Islamic movement is gaining a lot of steam.”

  “Tamir, is that you?” Dani asked as she answered her satellite phone, recognizing the number.

  “Yes, it is. Is Stonewall with you?” Tamir asked.

  “Yes, he is. We’re at the Ozsut café with Yosef and Noa right now. What’s up?”

  “Tell Stonewall to contact the base immediately!” The sense of urgency in Tamir’s voice surprised her. “It seems word has leaked out that the Americans are moving their nukes.”

  “Good Lord! Stonewall, it’s Tamir. There’s been a leak.”

  “Tamir, I’ll let you speak with Stonewall, he’s right here,” Dani continued, handing her phone to him.

  “Tamir, what’s up? Dani said something about a leak.”

  “We intercepted a phone call from someone on General Van’s staff. He was calling someone in Raqqa with word that the nukes were being moved. He had very specific information.”

  “Have you let Jim know?”

  “No, I haven’t. Since you are up there, I called you first.”

  “Very well. We’ll head back to the base right away. I’ll let Jim know we’re heading back to the base. Thanks, Tamir.” Handing the phone back to Dani, Jackson simply said, “We gotta go.”

  “Noa, Yosef, thanks for the information but we need to run.”

  “Not a problem. Take care.”

  “Dani, try and raise either Cadonau or Todd. I gotta call Jim.”

  “On it.” Dani replied as Stonewall was dialing Carmichael.

  Incirlik Air Force Base

  3:45 PM Local Time

  “How are they coming Major?” General Van asked his aide.

  “From the looks of it, they must have most of them loaded up. Most of the trucks have already left the plane,” Major Aksoy replied.

  “Very good, it’s time to move. Cut power and comms to the base and close the gate. I don’t want anyone in or out and I don’t want anyone calling in or out. Lock ‘er down. Let’s go.”

  “Understood, General. Doing that now.”

  “Very good. Let’s move out. We can’t afford to miss this,” General Van told his aide as the two of them climbed in their Humvee and joined five other Humvees racing towards the parked C-130.

  Adana, Turkey

  3:45 PM Local Time

  “Jim, Stonewall. We’ve got a problem. We just received a call from General Pardo. The Israelis intercepted a phone call from someone on General Ahmet Van’s staff—he’s the Turk commander at Incirlik. It seems whoever made this call had very specific information on when, and how, we were removing the nukes from the base.”

  “Was anything specific relayed as to any plan to block or obstruct their removal?” Jim asked.

  “Nothing in that regard, but why would information this detailed be passed on if something wasn’t in the works? Dani and I are heading back to the base right now, we’re almost there actually.”

  “Stonewall, I can’t raise either Todd or Cadonau,” Dani interrupted. “It almost sounds as if the comms have been cut.”

  “Jim, Dani hasn’t . . . .”

  “I heard. Get on that base and let me know what’s going on! Axelsson’s in Abu Dhabi with Secretary Johnson. Let me get ahold General Kaufman and our Ambassador in Ankara. If the Turks are closing the base down, we’re going to be pissed! Let me know what you find out when you can. Thanks.”

  Incirlik Air Force Base

  4:00 PM Local Time

  “Looks like everything’s ready to go, Colonel,” Todd said to her boss.

  “I think so, and I’m not sad to see those things go,” Cadonau replied. “There’s simply no reason for us to store close to a hundred nukes here. I know it’ll probably mean a reduction in your forces and probably a transfer for you as we won’t need half the personnel that you have now.”

  “That’s okay. I could do with a little less excitement when it comes to guarding those B-61s. Hey . . . what the hell?” Todd said almost rhetorically as she saw several Humvees speeding down the runway towards the C-130.

  “What’s that?” Cadonau asked, having his back to the window in his office.

  “There’s half a dozen Humvees surrounding the ‘Herc’.”

  “Colonel, the front gate just called,” Sergeant Gomez announced, bursting into his boss’s office. “It sounds like the Turks have closed the main entrance and Colonel Jackson and his friend just crashed through it!”

  “What!?!” Cadonau barked out, completely surprised at both the news that the Turks had closed the base and then by the news that Jackson had crashed through the main entrance.

  “You going to stop at the base ops or head straight to the apron?” Dani asked as they approached the base ops building.

  “You carrying your H&K?”

  “Always,” came the quick reply. “And a couple spare mags.”

  “Okay, the plane’s straight across and it looks like something’s already going down over there,” Jackson replied as he sped right past the base operations building. “Someone has the plane surrounded,” he continued, noticing half a dozen Humvees parked around the C-130.

  “Who’s that?” Cadonau asked, as a car went speeding past their window.

  “I think that was Colonel Jackson. What the hell’s going on?!?” Todd added, running out the door to her own Humvee. “Hop in, Colonel! I’m going to find out!” she hollered at Cadonau as she backed away from the building.

  “I’m trying to raise Van now,” Cadonau replied. “There is no way the Turks are going to stop this transfer.”

  “Lieutenant, tell your men to put their weapons down,” the Turkish captain ordered. “Nobody needs to get hurt here. General Van will be taking this plane.”

  “I can’t let you do that,” the lieutenant replied while his first sergeant radioed for Colonel Todd.

  “Lieutenant, we have you outnumbered and we have the plane,” Major Aksoy announced from the ramp of the C-130 over the roar of the engines. “Your pilots are coming out now so, as you can see, there’s no reason for anyone to get hurt.”

  “Major, I cannot allow you to leave with that plane. Get out of that plane, NOW, sir!” the lieutenant ordered, not giving an inch, as his men backed up seeking any cover they could find.

  “Looks like they’re in a standoff,” Jackson commented as he parked their car in the middle of the apron, effectively blocking the plane from taxiing out the apron to the runway.

  “Uh-oh, I don’t like the looks of this,” Dani a
dded as she ran around the back of their car.

  “Me neither,” Jackson added as they both walked behind the trucks and carts used to move the bombs from storage to the waiting aircraft.

  “Stop where you are!” Major Aksoy yelled out to Jackson as he suddenly noticed both Jackson and Arielle moving into better firing positions.

  “Major, the lieutenant’s right. You’re not leaving with the plane,” Jackson replied.

  “I don’t know who . . .” Aksoy began just as the C-130 lurched forward and he fell off the back ramp of the plane.

  “Stonewall, we’re too late!” Arielle hollered over the hail of gunfire that erupted once everyone realized the pilots were making for an immediate takeoff straight from the taxiway.

  The departure of the plane and several of the Humvees left Major Aksoy and his compatriots relatively isolated. Arielle circled around to the front of their car looking to outflank three of the Turks hiding behind their Humvees while Jackson continued to keep them occupied from the bomb truck where Aksoy initially noticed him.

  “Drop ‘em!” Arielle commanded the three Turks not ten yards in front of her.

  Two of the guards immediately turned towards Arielle, shocked by the sudden command coming for their rear. Three rounds from her H&K put both of them down while the third Turk complied seeing his friends collapse to the ground.

  “What the hell’s going on here, Major!” Cadonau called out, seeing the major laying on the apron, bleeding from a leg wound.

  “We have your weapons, Colonel. And we’ve completely locked down the base. All power and communications have been cut.”

  “We’ll see about that. For now, you’re in my custody!” Colonel Todd asserted.