The Caliphate

by André Le Gallo

  Habib switched the aim of the space mirrors to Tehran and fired.

  15:45

  Hussein rolled over on his back. He had joined his men on the roof knowing that the entire operation now depended on keeping the roof open so that Habib could fire the laser.

  He reached for his walkie-talkie. As his eyes registered the blue sky, still clouded by the smoke rising from the UAV attack, it occurred to him that his life was probably about to end. What had the years brought him? He felt angry and resentful and ashamed that he had not lived up to his commitment. He had bet on the wrong horse. Al Khalil had always had his own agenda and never intended to include Hussein’s.

  He looked down from the sky and focused on his tactical situation. He reached for his short-range radio.

  “Tariq, we can’t hold out for your twenty-four-hour ultimatum. I could have told you if I had known what you were planning. I expect the Issies to send another helicopter up. One or two missiles and we are finished. We were lucky to shoot down one of their ’copters. He made a mistake and got too close. This time they will stay out of our range. Ask Salim to correct the time. Make it an hour, two hours at most. Any longer and this operation is over and so are we. Send me more men up to the roof. This is the key point now.”

  ***

  In Tehran, Gholam Hussein Ejei, the head of intelligence, called Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi from his home in Niavaran, a residential district of choice for the wealthy during the Shah’s time.

  About a third of its inhabitants had left the country since the 1978-79 revolution, but a new class that thrived in the theocracy of the ayatollahs had replaced them. Ejei shooed away a servant who was offering tea on a silver platter.

  Safavi acted as though he was taking over the government following the deaths of both the chairman of the ruling council and of the president. Ejei knew he had to act quickly to support the new power center to survive the inevitable “night of the long knives,” a cleaning out of officials with uncertain loyalties.

  “General, you must order immediate retaliation against Israel. We have the rockets. We have the aircraft. This is the time. Our population will applaud your courage. You will become the father of the entire Muslim world. They will follow your example and erase Israel from the face of the earth. Everyone will admire you. Now is the time to act.”

  “I have called for a meeting of our top military and al Quds commanders. I want you to be there—in two hours at my house in Niavaran.”

  ***

  In Algiers, fighting broke out. The AQIM, led by Ibrahim al Maghrebi, which had never dared attack the government in Algiers proper, took the radio station and broadcast appeals for the army to join the new Islamic Republic of Algeria in response to al Khalil’s message from Cairo.

  ***

  Al Khalil was in front of a TV in what had become his headquarters, the office with the large window overlooking the computer room with the wall map of the Middle East. The TV was reporting on the reactions to his ultimatum.

  The CNN reader said, “Arab governments are speaking out against the Jihadist who allegedly captured the Israeli space laser weapon that caused casualties in both Algiers and Tehran. Tariq al Khalil, through his spokesman in Cairo, has threatened non-compliant countries with devastation from the laser unless they submit to Sharia law. The threatened governments are calling for all-out war against Israel, the source of the death ray. Other Islamists claim that the Israelis are using al Khalil’s name as a blind, as cover to attack its Arab neighbors, that al Khalil is not in Israel and that he has been seen in Yemen.

  “Saudi Arabia has condemned the loss of life, without criticizing al Khalil directly. The Wahhabist leaders of the kingdom are supporting al Khalil’s fervor and, according to reports, are in negotiations with the royal family to take over several ministries to strengthen the enforcement of Sharia law and to allocate more funds to spread the faith globally. Secular countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, and Syria are the most strident in their demands for the Arab League, for the United Nations and for the United States to take action against Israel, whom they call the real culprit. A more militant message is dominating the unofficial media, chat rooms, blogs, and YouTube. Tariq al Khalil’s prior speeches and presentations are being quoted. ‘It is time,’ he is quoted as saying, ‘for the Muslim world to go back to its roots.’

  “Local radical Muslim groups have been emboldened by al Khalil’s words and actions. They are attacking police stations and more symbolic, but undefended, representatives of secular power such as ministry buildings. Imams and mullahs have taken over churches and other non-Muslim religious edifices. The Secretary General of the United Nations has expressed his hope for more dialogue.”

  Al Khalil sat back. This was the Western media that he knew to be prejudiced. The real situation must be worse for the Arab powers than he had just heard. CNN was, after all, another arm of the American government. He searched for Al Jazeera’s channel.

  ***

  In Cairo, Salim, prohibited from holding another news conference, called correspondents.

  “Tariq al Khalil has shortened his deadline. You have seen what defying him means. As of this moment, any government in the Middle East that refuses to hand over power to the Muslim Brothers or to Salafist groups will suffer a much more serious fate than Tehran or Algiers. This ultimatum is effective immediately.”

  ***

  Jack Horton sat in the acoustic conference room with Ambassador Hastings.

  “Any news about your daughter?” he asked.

  “No. I asked al Khalil for a photo, which he could easily have sent by email, but I have had no contacts with him since then. I don’t even know if Kella is alive. What is the CIA reporting on this situation?”

  “Since the second release to the press by al Khalil’s spokesman, fighting broke out in Damascus and Jakarta. In Cairo itself, the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood activated their penetrations of the army and security services. Several Egyptian army units have made statements in support of an Islamic government. Muslim Brotherhood members are claiming majority power in the Egyptian parliament. Under free elections, they claim, they would have a democratic majority.

  “I need to ask you a question—what is your plan in terms of getting our dependents out of here? It’s only a matter of time before al Khalil hits Tel Aviv with that laser.”

  “We can’t evacuate our people; it would show a lack of faith, a lack of support for the Israeli government during a crisis.”

  Horton’s voice rose.

  “You’re talking about perceptions; I’m talking about the lives of our families.”

  Hastings sat more erect.

  “I’m not approving an evacuation. I don’t want to send the signal that the U.S. thinks the Israeli government can’t handle this situation. Just think of the implications about the bigger issues.”

  “Well, with all due respect, sir, I’m going to tell my people that those who want to send their families out can. We’ll figure out whether they’re reimbursed later.”

  “It may already be too late for Kella,” Hastings said. “I’m going to call the prime minister and tell him to start talking with the terrorists. We still don’t know what the hell they want. I wonder if their plan went any further than the capture of this laser gun.”

  “Probably not. As long as they own it, they rule the world.”

  Hastings hastily got up to leave the ACR, “That’s it! The Israelis have to find a way to destroy the gun. I’m calling the prime minister; you contact Israeli intelligence.”

  Horton left the ACR to inform his staff to evacuate their families in view of the looming threat of a laser attack. Before they assembled in his office, he was thinking perhaps the more timely survival action would be to leave Tel Aviv—there might not be time to get on a flight out of the country.

  15:49

  In the Israeli Laser Center, Habib was getting ready to fire the laser for the second strike.

  Al Khalil walked past the wel
l-armed squad of men that he had posted at the entrance of the Laser Center following Steve and Kella’s escape. He took a quick look at the tubes, wires, and machinery that populated the large underground room.

  “I was afraid you didn’t have power,” he said. “We lost all our power on the other side. That devil dog Church destroyed the circuit breakers!”

  He glanced around.

  Habib pointed toward a corner of the well-lit space.

  “The laser has its own emergency generator for lights, air conditioning—which is crucial, because this thing really heats up. But we are hooked up to the Nahal Soreq Nuclear Center to power the actual laser. I will be ready to fire again in about thirty minutes. What are the targets?”

  Habib led al Khalil toward a control panel. Al Khalil stopped and Habib turned around to face him. With even more gravity and determination on his face than usual, al Khalil put his hand on Habib’s shoulder and, looking up and scanning the electronic map, he said, “Riyadh, Tehran, and Tel Aviv. This time, I want full power.”

  Habib appeared surprised, “We just hit Tehran.”

  Al Khalil dropped his hand but his eyes maintained their intensity.

  “Iran and Saudi Arabia are the regional centers of power. When both are weak, my governments, my Caliphate, will rule supreme from Cairo. I will replace the al Saud dynasty with my men, people loyal to me and to the true version of our faith, people who will not invite foreign infidels to solve problems.”

  He paused and stroked his black beard, now starting to grow out again.

  “With a strong power center in Cairo, I will establish a borderless region covering the entire Middle East. I will also change that name. ‘Middle East’ is European terminology. Typical infidel arrogance labeled each region according to its distance from Europe.”

  16:03

  Before Steve went down the dark stairs, he asked Izem, “Can you collect any more of your Tuaregs?”

  “There might be one other downstairs guarding the scientists, that’s all.”

  “Let’s go then. Do you know where this secret weapon is, exactly?”

  When Izem shook his head, Steve said, “We better first liberate the scientists. They can help.”

  When they reached the door to the large computer room where the prisoners were being held, Steve held up his hand.

  “Izem, go in by yourself first. Tell the guards that Hussein wants them upstairs immediately. We’ll deal with them when they come out. Say Hussein wants just one guard for the prisoners and the rest to come and help him. And the one who’s going to stay to watch the prisoners should be your Tuareg brother.”

  Izem went in. Steve and Kella positioned themselves on each side of the door, and Steve told the two Tuareg fighters to step back and face the opening.

  “Kella, tell them that the idea is to capture them, not to shoot unless we have to.”

  The door opened and the sound of footsteps signaled people coming through. Steve turned his light on one of Hussein’s fighters. Almost as soon, a Tuareg plunged a knife into the man’s throat and pulled him to the side. Steve was shocked by the unexpected violence but had no time to philosophize about it. More men were coming through the door into the darkness of the corridor where the Tuaregs knifed and clubbed them into submission.

  Then an AK-47 went off, as the finger of a dying man tightened on the trigger, causing an indiscriminate spray of bullets to hit walls, ceilings, and bodies. The light was knocked out of Steve’s hand during the general free-for-all.

  He tried to use the stock of his weapon as a club, but bodies were too close together, and arms soon grabbed him. He found himself on the ground with his hand closing around a knife then around his opponent’s wrist. Blood made his grip slippery and he felt rather than saw the knife coming closer to his face. Suddenly, a flashlight came on, a shot rang out, and his opponent went limp. Kella pulled him up.

  “Are you all right?” she asked.

  The surprise of the assault in the dark gave the victory to Steve, Izem, and the Tuaregs. The AK-47 bullets had killed one Tuareg; otherwise they escaped with minor wounds. Steve wrapped a shirtsleeve around his hand after Kella, using a borrowed knife, cut the sleeve off.

  The small space was now filled with the smell of gunpowder and sweating bodies. Steve’s eardrums were still ringing from the painful blow of close-range gunshots. He found his flashlight and gave it to Izem. He motioned toward the computer room.

  “Bring them all back in here and tie them up, quickly.”

  “Kella, untie the prisoners,” he said as they got to the computer room, pointing to the Israelis lying on the floor. At the same time, as his ears still subdued the sounds around him, including his own voice, he said, “Listen up! This is almost over. Almost! The terrorists have discovered your secret laser weapon and are about to fire it, maybe at Tel Aviv. I need your help to prevent that from happening. Who’s going to help save your country from this weapon?

  “We will,” said Shoshanna Amitai, holding her bandaged and still-bleeding hand, as she and Aaron stepped forward. “I can show you.”

  “Izem, have two men guard them,” Steve said, pointing at the Salafists. “Bring the rest of your men. This is going to be the final test.”

  Before he left the computer room, he addressed the freed Israeli hostages.

  “If any of you have a way to call outside, tell them what’s going on. In the meantime, it’s best for you to stay here and help guard the prisoners. There’s more fighting to come. Kella, how about staying here?”

  Kella glanced at Izem, Steve, and their small band.

  “All right, I’ll try to find a working phone and call my father at the embassy. The Israelis can try to connect with their government.”

  Five Israelis came up to him and one said, “We’re reservists. If you have guns, we can help.”

  “There are guns on the floor outside this room. Let’s go.”

  Steve and the two scientists, with Izem, his Tuaregs, and the five army reservists turned left into the corridor, away from the stairs. The beam from Steve’s flashlight cut into the darkness.

  As they moved, Shoshanna said, “The laser is at the end of this corridor. It’s behind a vaulted door and a digital pad. But I can get in.”

  “Izem, how many fighters do you think are guarding the laser? How many are left?”

  “I think five or six. Hussein is still on the roof with maybe five men. So it’s Habib, al Khalil’s Tunisian scientist, and probably al Khalil himself, plus the fighters.”

  They soon reached the vaulted door, which Steve recognized from his prior exploration.

  “Is this the only entrance?” he asked Shoshanna.

  “There is a door in the back, for deliveries of equipment. But I’ve never been there and I don’t have the combination.”

  “When she gets the door open, I’m sure the Salafists are going to make this a killing zone,” he told Izem, “anyone who steps through that door is dead.” He asked the other Israelis, “Anyone know how to open the door in the back?”

  One of the reservists stepped forward.

  “Yes, it’s in back of the cargo platform.”

  “Come and show me. Izem, once this door is open, keep the guys inside busy but don’t try to go through. We’ll attack from the rear.”

  Steve took the five Israeli reservists with him, using a corridor he Steve had passed through before. Instead of turning toward the back stairs, they headed for the back of the building and turned again at the end of the corridor. They were on a wide wooden platform the height of a truck bed and running through the whole building. The platform was separated from the outside by two wide, sliding metal shutters. There were two doors that led inside from the platform. One was the width of a three-car garage; the other was another vault door.

  The reservist pointed to the large door and said, “That one opens from the inside only. This smaller door opens with a number combination and a thumbprint.”

  Then they heard to noise of
machinery, of gears working, and of metal grinding against inadequately lubricated metal.

  The reservist said, “That’s the roof opening. That means they’re close to firing the laser gun again.”

  Steve pulled him to the vault door, “Go ahead, we have to get in there to stop them.”

  The reservist slung his weapon over his shoulder and set to work under Steve’s flashlight.

  ***

  Inside, al Khalil said, “Habib, I don’t know what is taking you so long. But that is probably all right. It is giving our brothers in Cairo and Damascus time to either force or negotiate their way into power. I am going to talk to Salim. Be ready to fire in a few minutes.”

  He reached Salim almost right away.

  “Salim, what is the reaction to our second ultimatum. We are getting ready to fire again.”

  “Algeria is won. El Maghrebi was on TV a few minutes ago. He announced the new Islamic Republic of Algeria. There is fighting in a number of other countries.”

  “What about Saudi Arabia?”

  “The al Saud family is negotiating to hang onto power, but the Wahhabists seem to have the upper hand. It is not a done deal. The royal family is buying them off. No need to laser Cairo. I am in talks with the president. He has agreed to speak with you directly.”

  “Have him step down first, in favor of the Ikhwan. You can be the temporary leader until I arrive. Contact the army and prepare an immediate invasion of Israel after I laser Tel Aviv, which will be any minute now.”

  ***

  Steve and his squad were inside. They carried flashlights that revealed the space to be an office on the side of the spacious, high-ceilinged portion of the warehouse occupied by the laser. Steve still heard firing at the other end of the warehouse. It had to be Izem keeping al Khalil’s shooters busy. The reservist motioned to their right as they came out of the office.

  “The control room for the laser is three doors down from here,” he said.

  The sound from the roof stopped.