Death Ship

by Joseph Badal

  Bob rattled off a series of facts and a lot of conjecture that Campbell conveyed as fact to Ahmed. He went through a disjointed list of events to confuse the man and leave the impression that he knew more than he really did. He talked about the insurance agency in Athens and the policies the agency had placed on property owned by Farouki Holdings, the securities trades through Gerhardt Anlageberatungs, the NSA’s interception of Ahmed’s phone calls, the capture of the men who had hijacked the boats in the Ionian Sea, the deactivation of the nuclear weapon on the Kerkira, and the capture of the tanker’s captain and the Iranian engineer. By the time Bob had finished, Ahmed had dissolved into a puddle of defeat.

  “Al Du’a will kill me,” Ahmed said.

  “Who the hell is that?”

  “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.”

  Now Bob knew the answer to the first of his questions. The Islamic State was behind the murder of the original yacht crews and the intended murder and mayhem that had narrowly been avoided. “Where did IS get the nuke?”

  Ahmed swallowed and shook his head. “I can’t tell you that.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” Bob asked.

  Again Ahmed didn’t answer.

  “Ask him again,” Bob told Campbell. “If he doesn’t answer, tell him I am the CIA agent who interrogated Khalid Sheik Mohammed and that I will torture him if he doesn’t answer my questions.”

  Campbell’s translation elicited a torrent of words from Ahmed.

  Campbell turned to Bob and said, “You want the short answer or the long one?”

  “Let’s go with the short one for now.”

  “He says the fissile material came from Pakistan. The explosives came from captured Iranian artillery shells.”

  “Okay, one more question. Is he aware of any other planned attacks?”

  The answer to that question was no.

  They had just finished interrogating Ahmed when the helicopter landed on the road. Campbell and a few of his men loaded the terrorist on board. When the rest of the team was aboard, Bob climbed through the side door. He gave a thumbs up to the men, sat in a seat, and closed his eyes. He tried to sleep, but the noise and movement of the chopper prevented it. But he kept his eyes closed. He forced himself to not smile when he heard one of the DELTA troops say, “Did you see what that crazy old man did?”

  “Yeah,” another man answered, “no wonder the general is the way he is.”

  CHAPTER 86

  Despite Andrew Garvin’s belief, contrary to world events, that he could talk his way into the hearts and minds of even his enemies, the events over the last several days in and around Greece had gotten his attention and caused him to call for a TOP SECRET briefing in the White House Situation Room, a 5,525-square-foot conference room and intelligence management center in the basement of the West Wing.

  Garvin noted that the National Security Council staff assigned to the room had doubled from the usual three persons on duty there. Also present were Stanley Webb, Vice President of the United States; Emma James, Garvin’s National Security Advisor; Derek Hoffman, the head of the Department of Homeland Security; DCI Jack Cole; Seth Kurtz, Secretary of Defense; and Cecily Mansfield, the new White House Chief of Staff. He nodded at Emma James and said, “Let’s get this show on the road.”

  James said, “We’ve set up a videoconference with links to the conference room on the U.S.S. Andrew Jackson and to the Special Operations Centers at both the Central Intelligence and National Security Agencies. Before we connect the conference call, I want to make clear that there are people on board the Andrew Jackson who do not have security clearances but who played integral parts in providing information that will be shared with all of you today.”

  “Who else is on this conference call?” Garvin asked.

  James said, “Tanya Serkovic, Raymond Gallegos, and Frank Reynolds at CIA and Conrad Demetruk at NSA. On the Andrew Jackson, we have its captain, Admiral Silas Wyncourt, and General Michael Danforth of DELTA Command.”

  “Who are the people without security clearances?” Cecily Mansfield asked.

  “I was just about to mention that,” James said, a hint of impatience in her voice. “A former member of CIA, Bob Danforth, and a Greek tour company owner, Nicolaos Vangelos. Bob Danforth is the father of General Danforth. The reason he is involved is that the yacht he and his family were on in the Ionian was hijacked by terrorists we now know were associated with the same group that attempted to destroy the Andrew Jackson. Mister Danforth has been quite helpful in this matter.”

  Emma James paused to field any other questions. When there were none, she said, “An out briefing has already been conducted aboard the aircraft carrier by General Danforth with the assistance of Mister Gallegos who participated via satellite link. They separately interviewed a number of individuals and then prepared an intelligence report that each of you has in the binder in front of you. Please turn to page two of the briefing to see the names of the people interviewed.”

  Garvin turned to page two and read the names there:

  Feramarz Alizadeh

  Ahmed Boukali

  Lieutenant Lewis Campbell

  Bob Danforth

  Jalil Fouad

  Demetrius Stellides

  Nicolaos Vangelos

  There was a short description of each person on the list.

  “In addition to the interviews conducted by General Danforth and Mister Gallegos, an intelligence briefing is included that begins on page five and summarizes interviews conducted by German authorities and CIA personnel in Berlin after a raid on an investment company’s offices there. Suffice to say, that investment firm, Gerhardt Anlageberatungs, was a willing ally of terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State and Al Qaida.” She made the sign of air quotes and added, “It executed tactical investments for terrorist groups as well as for foreign governments and individuals, some of whom we have long suspected of supporting those groups. They traded in the billions of dollars and other currencies in anticipation of terrorist events.”

  James then said, “I suggest we hold questions until we hear from those who are standing by to brief us.”

  Garvin waved a hand as though to say, “Get on with it.”

  James ordered one of the National Security Council staffers to bring the others live onto the videoconference. After introductions were made, James said, “Mister Gallegos, since you have been intimately involved with events since the original hijackings occurred in the Ionian, why don’t you brief the group.”

  Ray’s briefing lasted fifteen minutes, then he deferred to Michael who took another ten minutes.

  “I’d like to hear from Bob Danforth at this time,” Garvin said. “Let’s bring him in.” He knew Danforth had the reputation of being somewhat of a loose cannon. He hoped he would say something stupid that might diffuse the hawkish atmosphere in the Situation Room. The last thing he wanted was another war in the Middle East.

  After a few seconds, Bob Danforth entered the aircraft carrier conference room.

  “Thank you for joining us, Mister Danforth,” Garvin said. “I understand it’s been a trying few days for you and your family.” Garvin could see the frown on Danforth’s face and decided that warming up the guy hadn’t worked. “Why don’t you tell us what you think about this supposed planned attack on Athens and our aircraft carrier?”

  “Mister President, did I just hear you correctly? Did you call what was planned here a supposed planned attack?”

  “Well, we don’t know for certain—”

  “Actually, Mister President, we are certain about a number of things. We know terrorists tried to kill my wife, daughter-in-law, grandson, and myself, as well as the owner of the boat we were on. We also know they and their comrades murdered nine contract sailors on three different yachts. We know they were about to attack our ships and personnel at Sigonella. We know they had explosives to do just that. We know they planted a nuclear device on an oil tanker and planned to detonate that weapon as close as possible to the U.S.S. Andr
ew Jackson while it was still at anchor in Piraeus Harbor, which would have killed and injured many American Navy personnel and perhaps millions of people on shore. We know a CIA undercover agent was tortured by agents of the Islamic State in Berlin after she discovered what her investment firm employer was up to. We also know—”

  “There’s some conjecture in there, Mister Danforth. I—”

  “Perhaps we should allow Mister Danforth to continue,” Jack Cole said. “We can discuss what is or is not conjecture after he’s excused.”

  Garvin felt his face go hot. He opened his mouth to object, but Emma James said, “That’s probably a good idea, Mister President. Please proceed, Mister Danforth.”

  Bob picked up where he’d left off. “We also know that agent is now in a coma at Landstuhl Army Hospital as a result of the abuse she suffered at the hands of three members of the Islamic State. We know that all of the men captured so far are Muslims and all, at a minimum, express support for IS and for the defeat of the United States. We know the nuclear weapon aboard the tanker was acquired from Pakistan, and we know the Pakistani president and minister of defense were aware of the weapons transfer.” Bob took a breath.

  “How do we know that?” Garvin asked.

  “The Islamic State’s operative who was on the tanker told us.”

  Emma James asked, “Are you finished, Mister Danforth?”

  “Almost. There’s something else I know for certain, based on four plus decades of service in the military and the CIA. If we don’t annihilate these maniacs, they will keep coming after us.”

  “Thank you, Mister Danforth. You’re excused,” James said.

  The conference terminated ninety minutes later. As Garvin got up to leave the room and the others stood, Emma James said, “Mister President, the Vice President, DCI Cole, and I, would like a word with you.”

  Garvin looked suspicious as he glanced toward Emma James and the VEEP, but felt reassured when they smiled at him.

  “Of course,” he said, and went back to his seat. Vice President Webb sat next to Garvin while James and Cole were positioned in chairs across the table.

  “What can I do for you?” Garvin asked.

  James said, “I want you to bomb the shit out of IS and then mount a ground invasion of their territory until every last one of those assholes is terminated. I want you to cut off all funding to Pakistan for their involvement in this matter. I want you to ensure that the German government puts every effort into the investigation of the Berlin investment firm, and that the name of every person or organization unearthed in that investigation is provided to DCI Cole.”

  Garvin laughed. “Provided to Cole? For what purpose?” He laughed again. “What will the CIA do, send assassins to murder them all?” Garvin leaned back in his chair and rocked.

  “Actually, that’s exactly what I plan to do,” Cole said. “And you’ll sign a TOP SECRET Directive authorizing me to do just that. That directive will never see the light of day unless some U.S. Senator should happen to open an investigation into any of the deaths.”

  “You’re nuts, Cole. Absolutely crazy. Is there anything else you want? How about the keys to Fort Knox?” He laughed again, but it ended abruptly when Stanley Webb looked at him. His smile was gone and replaced with a steely-eyed gaze that momentarily frightened Garvin.

  “I think Director Cole has stated his desires adequately,” Webb said. “He and I have already consulted on these demands and we are in complete agreement.”

  Garvin half-stood, placed his weight on his hands on the table, and glared at Webb. “I want your resignation on my desk in an hour.” He straightened and turned to leave the room.

  “Stop!” James said. “You just don’t seem to get it. Your policies have aided and abetted the rise of terrorism and encouraged groups like the Islamic State. I don’t believe you are capable of changing your course or your behavior. Therefore, we have one more demand. We want your resignation submitted to Congress by no later than the end of today.”

  “Or what?”

  “Or everything the CIA has in a file on you will be disclosed to the press. Your crooked investment deals, your affair with the head of your security detail, your involvement in the assassination attempt against Director Cole, and your part in the deaths of your Chief of Staff and his wife.”

  “You can’t prove— This is a coup d’état.”

  “Actually, I can prove all of what I just said and more. Director Cole has audio and visual proof.”

  The air seemed to go out of Garvin. He collapsed on his chair; his arms hung askew as though he were lifeless. Webb, Cole, and James watched him for a minute and then stood. They were almost out of the room when Garvin said, “What about your demands?”

  “We’ll take our chances with the Vice President,” Cole said. Then they all exited the room.

  After Vice President Webb went off with his security detail, Cole stopped James and turned her so he could look squarely into her eyes. “Nice touch about my having audio and visual proof. I wish I did.”

  “He believes it. That’s all that matters.”

  “Thanks for your support.”

  “I’m sorry it came to that. I’ve watched Garvin go from a solid Commander-in-Chief to one of the weakest men who every held the office. Do you feel as dirty as I do?”

  “Yes, I do,” Cole said. “But there is nothing I won’t do to protect the people of this country or our Constitution. Nothing. But I’ll have to do that in some other capacity after Garvin leaves office. I can’t, in good conscience, stay on as DCI after having helped depose a President of the United States.”

  James wagged her head a couple times and said, “I will, as well. Let’s talk about forming a company together.”

  “To do what?”

  She shrugged. “Take down terrorists?”

  “A worthy cause if I’ve ever heard one.”

  FRIDAY

  JULY 4

  CHAPTER 87

  “How about briefing me on what’s happened since all the excitement ended?” Bob said to Michael from his lounge chair in the saloon behind the helm station of a Vangelos yacht off the eastern coast of Samos. “The others will be up here soon.”

  “Quite a lot, Dad. But, first, what do you think is the real story behind President Garvin’s resignation?”

  Bob looked off and pointed toward the sun-sparkled Turkish city of Kushadasu. “You should take the ferry over there and visit the ancient city of Ephesus, which is a short bus ride from Kushadasu. There’s a large amphitheater there where Greek tragedies were performed. I suspect that Garvin’s resignation was one more story in a long line of political dramas that go back to the beginning of man.”

  “That’s a circuitous answer to a simple question.”

  Bob laughed. “Garvin claimed he resigned because we had to go to war and that violated his principles. Just remember, when it comes to politics, nothing is as it appears.” He watched Michael nod and then said, “Now it’s your turn.”

  Bob knew Michael shouldn’t tell him anything, but his career in intelligence and his role in events of the past few days had earned him some amount of clarification.

  “The NSA has for months tracked the cell phone of the Islamic State’s senior military guy, General Qasem Kashkari. That phone went dead a couple days ago. Then photos turned up of Kashkari crucified. Shortly after that, an American drone took out the number two man in the IS hierarchy.”

  “That’s a start,” Bob said.

  “Yeah. You’ve already heard about the hard line we’ve taken with Pakistan and the mobilization of the 82nd Airborne for deployment to Iraq to combat IS. President Webb will announce early next week that we’ll increase the size of the military in order to wipe out terrorist groups. This will be a huge commitment. He will also make it clear that we are at war with Islamist extremists. No more work place violence; no more trials of terrorists in criminal courts; and no more talk about closing GITMO. And some of the best news is that Webb has put togethe
r a coalition of Arab countries that will join us in the effort. Now that they know we’re serious, they’ve decided to get on board.”

  “It’s too bad all of this was necessary. If Garvin had done his job, we might have already neutralized groups like IS. By the way, how’s the female undercover agent?”

  “Recovering. She’s got a long recuperation ahead of her.” Michael shook his head and said, “What a gal! She already wants to know what her next assignment will be. Ray Gallegos told me she will receive the CIA’s Distinguished Intelligence Cross.”

  “Wonderful. Did you hear that President Webb prevailed on Jack Cole to stay at the Company for at least another year? He also kept Emma James on as National Security Advisor. Both good moves.”

  “That’s great news,” Michael said.

  “What about Ahmed Boukali and Jalil Fouad?”

  “Fouad is so ill that he’ll spend the rest of his life in a prison hospital ward. Boukali and the terrorists who hijacked the yachts have been sent to GITMO where they’ll spend most of their days in interrogation sessions.”

  Nick Vangelos’s voice carried to the saloon from somewhere below. Bob smiled and said, “Nick’s on cloud nine ever since the Greek government awarded Demetrius Stellides and him Commemorative Medals of the Order of George I.”

  “I imagine not too many civilians receive that medal,” Michael said.

  “Speaking of medals, congratulations. I hear you and two of your men will receive Purple Hearts for some action in Afghanistan, which you’ve never mentioned to me, and all of you will receive Silver Stars for the action against the terrorists.” Bob didn’t mention to Michael that Jack Cole had informed him that President Webb had recommended Ensign Emil Salazar and the helicopter crew that waited for Michael and Morrell to deactivate the nuclear weapon receive Navy Distinguished Service Medals. Also, Webb had recommended that Michael and Sergeant Kent Morrell receive Distinguished Service Crosses for their parts in deactivating the nuclear weapon.