Spontaneous

by DiMirra

  "MarHaban (Greetings) Johnny," he said.

  "Ahlan wa sahlan (Welcome), Anees," I replied. "Anees, I am always delighted to see you, since I enjoy looking at myself, don't you?"

  Anees dismissed the remark with a laugh and replied, "Our Grandfather is a first class rascal, but he knows what he's doing."

  As I pulled out my iPhone, I said, "Speaking of Don Francisco, here is a picture taken just yesterday with Miche."

  A shadow of confusion fell upon his face. "You're joking, right?" he replied. "Who is this? What is this nonsense?"

  "Anees, long story short, we have discovered a stem cell treatment that rejuvenates a person of any age and cures any disease. We're on the cusp of a new age."

  Excitement and curiosity whisked away his shadow of confusion. "Johnny, I must know more about this miracle. Please tell me more."

  "All in due time, dear Cousin. Now is not that time. Suffice it to say, shortly, we will change the fate of mankind. Now tell me what brought you to Switzerland? What is this urgent business?"

  "Reza alerted me to the missing Pakistani nukes a few days ago in Abu Dhabi. I didn't think much about it at first but as time passed, something clicked. As you know, with so many Princes in high office throughout the Kingdom, there are always plots and conspiracies. While I do a wonderful job with the country's finances, I am considered a moderate. So I'm rarely approached or 'in the loop', so to speak. Anyway, the Airbus 319CJ that is assigned to my Ministry, the one I've used for seven years, suddenly went in for an unscheduled refit. I had to use one of the King's old 747 to fly here. Not my style. Too ostentatious."

  "So, what are you thinking?"

  "There is a clandestine movement of young Princes afoot for a regime change, in fact, to install a Caliphate. I believe the Minister of Defense leads it. This information comes from one my Daughters, who is married to a Prince-conspirator. It's something she overheard and was very distressed about but it is solid intel. I have not yet informed the King, pending this discussion with you."

  "Thank you for your confidence cousin. In the end, family is all we have, isn't it?"

  "I don't have the particulars and may not until the last minute, but here is what I surmise -- the Airbus is being refitted with an additional fuel tank and also to carry one of those Pakistani nukes. I believe the intended target is the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on the 20th, only two days hence. I am in Washington twice a month, so the authorities know me and are accustomed to this airplane."

  "That makes sense. The President is scheduled to give the State of Union address. That would certainly stir up a lot of confusion about the world situation. Actually, it's a brilliant plan . . . the audacity of it."

  My mind was racing with scenarios. I knew I needed to get Helene's husband out of harms way. I wondered if this was an opportunity or simply something that must be stopped at all costs.

  "Anees, who else may know about this plot?"

  "It's hard to say. This is certainly very closely held intel. Perhaps a dozen people know and certainly no one outside the Kingdom."

  "Not Iran, not the Russians?"

  "Russia perhaps, but not Iran because they are Shia, we are Sunni."

  "I believe you have delivered this information to me so that, as the head of the family, I may use it wisely and for our benefit. Correct?"

  "It is as you say, Johnny."

  "The King adores Ana. On the morning of the 20th, she will inform him of the internal plot. As for the rest, I will deal with it according to circumstances at that time. Let us speak of this no more.

  "I believe lunch is served," I continued. "It is wild trout from right here at the villa. When the renovations began, Miche had the landscape architect build in a natural trout run connected to the creek and the springs on the back of this property. I think your daughter and grandchildren are here on a shopping trip. You should all stay at the Villa until this nasty business plays itself out."

  We had espressos and talked about family and the events about to engulf the world. When he was 11 years old, Anees spent a year with me in Bogotá studying Latin, Greek, Spanish, and Philosophy. I was in Saudi Arabia the year before that, studying Arabic, mathematics and Islam.

  I saw a lot of our grandfather in his mannerisms and thought process. He smoked one Don Francisco's custom-rolled Cohiba cigars. Anees is a thoughtful man you can feel comfortable about and do business with. I thought these traits explain why he has done so well as Finance Minister.

  I said, "I have some long days in front of me, Old Friend, so I must take my leave at once."

  "Ma'a as-salaama (Goodbye.)"

  "Ila-liqaa' (Until we meet again.)"

  Etsa was waiting for me at the helicopter pad for a quick flight to Milan. We landed at the Linate airport. We boarded a Military Grade Boeing Business Jet belonging to an unrelated company that my brother-in-law, Vasily, owned. We were in the air within minutes. Our flight plan showed an official stopover in Rabat.

  Ali had alerted me that two kill teams under Colonel Johnson's control had been dispatched to Morocco from Libya. I suspected Colombia was Johnson's target and where he would be located. He was just covering his bets, as I would.

  As we taxied over to the hanger in Rabat, an old friend was waiting for our arrival after my earlier phone call to him -- the Minister of Immigration. He greeted me warmly and I invited Mehdi aboard for a short meeting.

  You never get right down to business with Latinos or Arabs. It just isn't polite. I introduced Etsa to Mehdi, informing them they were distant cousins and must build a relationship. I also made it clear that he should be a guest at the Villa when in Switzerland and that Etsa would take care of any arrangements on his behalf.

  Mehdi was a third cousin, twice removed, and had classic Berber features. He wore his graying hair long. His eyes were clear and bright. He had a beak of a nose and was very handsome in the classical sense. He always had an eye for women. The two Russian flight attendants were as hot as they come. We exchanged smiles and coy glances all around.

  Mehdi was on our payroll for 20 times his official salary. He was a key ally in the government. We had Moroccan coffee hot, thick and sweet, with a wonderful plate of dates and some honeyed pastries.

  "We have a little problem that I need you take care of immediately," I said. "Times are difficult right now and I have an enemy within the American government who has dispatched six men to kill me."

  "Johnny, please tell me what you want and it will be done."

  I extended my hand to him. "This thumb drive contains complete files on these mercenaries," I said. "They are en route from Libya as we speak. I suspect they will come overland so they can bring heavy weapons. However, I suggest you cover all ports of entry. There is no port too small or too distant. The bounty I offer is one million dollars for each head, upon delivery in Taroudant. Of course, an equal amount to you, upon completion."

  "Good God, Johnny! This must be serious for such a price. That's a king's ransom."

  "I cannot over-stress how important this is, or how bad these guys are. You must supervise this personally for the next few days. Take no chances with them. Shoot on sight and notify us immediately."

  Then my phone beeped. It was a text message from Ali saying the Chinese Minister of Security, Xu Yun, had been detained without incident, along with his top staff. They were on their way to North Korea.

  Ali promised a live feed when Xu Yun and his staff were fed to Kim Jong Un's wild dogs. It went on to say there were complications with the Vietnamese kingpin, a general in the People's Army who was knee deep in Vietnamese opium. He said he would explain when I arrived.

  Mehdi summoned his second in command and senior staff to the hanger. They started the process of alerting all checkpoints in the country. We left for Mehdi's home and dinner.

  It would have been impossible to refuse his dinner invitation. On our way to his family's home, a pleasant darkness settled across the land. Once again, I felt at peace in spite of the gathering s
torm that was about to engulf the world.

  Chapter 13

  Tripoli, Libya: January 18th

  Late Afternoon

  Ali sent a small Citation to Rabat to retrieve me. During this flight, I mused about the heinous process that was being re-enacted and within which we were engulfed --

  "As far as I can see, Libya never recovered from 'Arab Spring.' It's a seething hotbed of corruption, violence and internecine warfare. Militias are out of control. Military contractors appear everywhere you look. They are all acting on orders from unseen government lackeys to protect turf or causes for their bosses.

  "Colonel Johnson's group is of this ilk. He is in charge of protecting the American-based arsenal that arms all sides depending on how the wind blows any particular day.

  "Such men have always existed. Governments have exploited them worldwide to achieve their own aspirations and implement their ideas of what should and should not happen. People like these enact atrocities we see daily on television in places where we've never been and will never go. We shake our heads when we see such things because we cannot reconcile them with humanistic ideals.

  "A truth we never face is that nothing tactical happens, no matter how inhuman it may be, without approval of some government. Here, there, and everywhere, the evil never lies so much in the performing of atrocities as it does in the power people who initiate them to escape responsibility because they don't want to admit they knew what was going on when they get caught. We know they knew and they lie, cover up, misdirect, and blame their minions farther down the chain of command.

  "Various leaders throughout modern history mastered the art of deflecting blame. Stalin, Hitler and Chairman Mao come to mind. They were absolute gurus of "The Big Lie." In like manner, the US administration was also working its way up to a top-ten spot on the Despot List.

  "This could well be the deciding factor in a decision I would make 48 hours hence . . .

  I landed at the compound in Taroudant at 22:00 hours, refreshed and ready for action. I was sure there was satellite surveillance, so I had the plane taxi into the hanger where a Land Rover awaited my arrival. I would have to stay undercover until this situation resolved.

  Our enemies had dispatched two teams of three men each to Morocco on an assassination mission. They cared nothing about the details except the target needed to be eliminated within 72 hours. These were pure-theater adrenaline junkies who could not survive outside of a war zone.

  Such men always found some God-forbidden place to ply their trade. We occasionally found this type embedded in our own ranks. If their actions called for it, we executed them on the spot. Otherwise, the rest were released. Many went out with a grudge against us -- typical for these assassins.

  Time was of the essence. The A-team would arrive on different commercial flights to different cities in Morocco. Once on the ground, they would purchase light weapons on the black market suitable for their use and rendezvous in Marrakesh as the jump point. The B-team would fly by private charter, with arms, to Bechar, Algeria. There they would requisition a suitable vehicle to enter Morocco through Figuig and be in position 10 hours later. One team would move in from the west and the other from the east -- a classic pincer strategy.

  I settled into our headquarters of operations center where I would spend the next 48 hours with Ali and Etsa. Ali gave a briefing to bring us up to speed on the different theaters of operation.

  Ali opened with, "Father, first thing, all family members arrived safely in Chile. As far as we know they were undetected.

  "Uwishun and your double, Bryan, are in Bogota at the Castle. They will head directly to Granada by helicopter, bypassing the base, early in the morning.

  "At this point, there is no sign of Johnson or his men. Our Seal teams have been in place for about 10 days. Uwishun knows most them personally or by reputation. We have detected nothing unusual."

  "Ali, there's always activity at the base," I said. "Look for a late night arrival of six or seven men and keep an eye on the El Dorado airport in Bogota."

  "We've heard from Raffa," Ali continued, "on the success of Rhino and the arrest and deportation of Xu Shu and company. There were complications with the General in Vietnam. His staff, with the exception of one, were all assassinated, but the General himself was away in the field at the last minute. We have the Chinese assets in place and they will pursue until it is finished."

  "The Chinese have identified the biologic that wiped out those two villages. It's an unknown, modified, quick-acting strain of Ebola. This strain is airborne and long-lived. The incubation period is about five days.

  "Raffa's intuition tells him the Chinese are not behind it. He believes the most probable source is an Islamic movement in their rogue provinces or in Waziristan. They are concerned enough to ask Raffa to intercede with you Father on their behalf. Somehow, they have become aware we have a highly advanced Cellbot therapy. If the weaponized Ebola is unleashed in China proper, they will need help with stopping it.

  "Holy shit, Ali!" I said, in a hushed voice. "You and I will speak at length about this Ebola issue later."

  Ali continued, "The last news on China is that they were very non-committal about movement their naval assets.

  "Russia is next on the agenda. The Minister thinks, and our intelligence backs this up, that Russia will use this opportunity to annex some of the countries that left the Soviet Union some years ago. More importantly he believes there will be a concerted effort by Russia, China, Iran, India and Israel to reduce the influence of the US Navy within the next 48 hours."

  "We're already out of that one, Ali," I broke in. "We warned the Americans. They have chosen to disregard the warning. That, my son, is a fine example of an inherent fault with Big Government. If the intel doesn't originate from inside their agencies, they assume it couldn't possibly be true. I suspect they will lose their carriers and assault ships in the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th fleets. History does repeat itself."

  "On to Israel," Ali resumed. "I've been speaking to my counterpart in the Mossad. Moshe is aware we are tracking the Panama-flagged tanker carrying the Iranian nuke. It will be about 100 miles north of the Island of Socotra and entering the Gulf of Aden, tomorrow morning at 06:00.

  "He is aware we are shadowing the tanker from the Sa'ar Class fast frigate, Defender, positioned forty nautical miles east-southeast. As you are aware, the Defender carries Harpoon anti-ship missiles. Moshe has green-lighted an early morning strike to sink that tanker where she lies.

  "In exchange, they will launch a missile strike from the Mediterranean on Colonel Johnson's compound and forces at the same hour. We will have an MQ Reaper on site 30 minutes prior to the strike to paint the targets."

  "Outstanding, I said. "I assume the Reaper will broadcast live footage? We'll be looking for secondary explosions. Ali, do us all a favor. Arm the Reaper with a full bomb load of cluster munitions, to deliver 15 minutes after the missile strike, for cleanup, and to keep riff-raff away for weeks."

  Ali had transmitted coordinates of the Yunez to the Director of the NSA an hour previously. The "missing" Iranian submarine was lurking about 300 nautical miles east-southeast of DC. He also informed the Director that we did not have an exact location on the Tareq yet. Ali will inform her office about the tanker's destruction, with BDA footage, five minutes after the strike.

  "Ali, and Etsa," I continued, "Just so you know why we have been so careful with the Cellbot technology -- it can be re-engineered into a weapon. Using that format, the Director of the NSA has already been contaminated. She will die at 18:00 hours on the twentieth while we are speaking to her.

  "This weaponized Cellbot iteration basically transforms all the cells in a body so they are cancerous. When they are switched on, they consume the organism with frightening speed. It appears as though the targeted person is melting before your very eyes. The target realizes they are stricken for a moment, then feels intense pain and suffering for another moment and then they are gone.

 
"No Loose ends!" I shouted. "They always come back to get you. Remember that, boys!

  "Ali, let's move on to France and Europe, please."

  Ali continued, "As you and the computer predicted, Europe is in total chaos. For now our Alpha and Bravo teams are safely dug in. They will wait it out until we call on them.

  "Per our current intel, numerous European leaders have been assassinated or have fled. Governments are collapsing. Military and police forces are either directly serving the indigenous populations or they hedge their bets as anxiety reverberates through the few governing parties left behind. It will get worse, much worse, and will have to run its course."

  I was reminded of dialog from a movie that was so appropriate for this moment. I think it was V for Vendetta. I've always been fascinated with the work of the Wachowski Brothers --

  "Tonight, our world will change. Our leaders will be gone and we must choose what comes next. But the world is not saved . . . Do not think that it is when the fires die and the smoke clears. There is no miracle . . . there is only a path . . . upon which they must learn to rule themselves."

  It seems as though our freedoms can only last a generation or so, until our leaders, in their beneficence, begin to steal them a little at a time so the masses will not realize what happens. Much as in ancient Rome, they drug us with "games and free grain," making this recurrent rubric successful again and again and again.

  Ali continued reporting on Europe -- "Germany, Sweden, Norway and Britain have mostly gone dark and have declared martial law. The rioting is so great that the authorities are overwhelmed and the governments will fall by early morning.

  "Moving on to Africa, I have arranged a video conference with Keny so he can bring you up to date."

  Chapter 14

  Outside of Nairobi, Kenya: 02:00, January 19th

  "Greetings Johnny," roared Keny. "Rhino and Voting Machine are under way. I have Reza here with me conducting naval operations and Voting Machine."