The Third Cell

by Anthony D'Egidio

  11:00 A.M.: The Air Israel B747 entered Eritrea air space. Iyad took the microphone from the captain and radioed the air controller’s tower at Asmara, Eritrea, “Inna fatahna laka fathan mubeenan.” (Verily, we have granted thee a manifest victory.)

  The tower had been waiting for this communication. Already on the ground was a chartered Mideast International A320.

  11:22 A.M.: Captain Vekret radioed the Asmara airport tower. “Tower, this is Air Israel flight Lima Yankee Zero, Zero, Eight. Please give runway coordinates and length.”

  The radio crackled back, “Air Israel Lima Yankee Zero, Zero, Eight, the runway direction is from southwest to northeast at eight thousand feet altitude. You must approach from the southwest end. The runway length is nine thousand six hundred feet.”

  The captain went over the variables with his copilot. “We’re well under eighty percent of load weight with no cargo and low on fuel. We can land on the runway of only six thousand seven hundred feet if necessary, there’s some margin for error.”

  The plane came in at one hundred forty-five miles per hour with the flaps and landing gear deployed. The captain hit the reverse thrusters as soon as the tires made touchdown.

  Iyad tapped the captain on the shoulder pointing. “Taxi the plane to that area where the small planes are kept.”

  Captain Vekret maneuvered the B747 to the area, dwarfing all the aircraft near him. Shutting down the engines, he and his flight crew were ushered back to the rear of the plane with the rest of the hostages.

  Aaron Shapiro was handcuffed and sitting with the first row of hostages. The compartment was wired with explosives. The two terrorists were positioned on each aisle as guards and several times Aaron had the muzzle of an AK-47 placed against his forehead.

  The terrorist taunted, “Jew, how easily I could blow off your head and splatter your brains all over the plane.”

  Aaron could only close his eyes and mentally picture his wife and children to give him strength.

  All of the windows had been sprayed with black paint obstructing any view. It was impossible to tell what time of day it was.

  Iyad opened the front exit door and activated the emergency chute. All the terrorists except two exited the plane taking the six crewmembers with them. Eritrean military personnel directed them to an army building; civilian and military planes jointly used Asmara airport.

  Once inside the hanger, they arrested the six crewmembers on charges that they illegally entered Eritrea airspace and brought them to a separate structure.

  Captain Vekret protested, “We had no choice but to follow the orders of the terrorists. If anyone should be arrested it’s the terrorists on the plane. I demand that you release us at once and contact Israel or the United States.”

  As his voice rose in anger, an Eritrean Army Colonel walked up behind him, took out his pistol and shot him in the back of the head. The rest of the crewmembers were horrified by the action. It was an ominous sign that all their lives were in jeopardy. The remaining crewmembers were then forced into a waiting military vehicle and taken to Sawa, Eritrea’s national military training center near the western border with Sudan.

  11:35 A.M.: Inside the army building, the terrorists quickly shaved, showered and put on fresh clothing. Four photographers were taking the men’s pictures and an equal number of men were applying and sealing the pictures to pre-made bogus passports. The passports were made up from various Middle Eastern countries including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. The masters of counterfeiting in Syria had been busy for the last several months duplicating and backdating the passports. They made sure the passports had random issue dates to keep suspicion to a minimum. It was a chaotic scene with so many to be processed, but within three hours of departing the Air Israel B747, the terrorists were onboard the chartered Mideast International flight.

  2:30 P.M.: The A320 lifted off the runway and headed east with seventy-eight of the terrorists.

  Mideast International, a privately run airline carrier, had no idea they were transporting terrorists. The only thing the airline knew was that a large group of pilgrims were going to Mashhad, Iran. Twenty million faithful Muslims visit the city every year. A chartered flight from Asmara, Eritrea would be just one of many.

  Mashhad, Iran is revered as one of the holiest cities of the Islamic faith. Located in northeast Iran near the Turkmenistan border, Mashhad is nestled between two mountain ranges in the valley of the Kashaf River. A modern city, it has many of the Middle East’s most stunning mosques. The Shrine of Imam Reza exemplifies some of the finest Iranian architecture anywhere. Its gold leaf dome glowing in the setting sun intertwined with intricate mosaics made it one of the most photographed structures in the world.

  With the Mideast International flight departed from Asmara, Eritrea Television, the national public broadcaster of the country was called to the scene by the Eritrean military. The television announcer was told that an Air Israel plane had just landed.

  The announcer was interviewing an Eritrea Army General who was giving the official account of the incident.

  “When the plane landed at Asmara, we had no idea who or where it was from. Most of the terrorists escaped from the plane by using the emergency chute, taking the airline crew with them. They ran to the main highway, which is a half kilometer east of here, where they climbed into waiting vehicles and sped off.”

  The general paused to let his statement sink in. “As you know, we’ve been fighting against the EIJM for several years and we suspect they were involved in helping the terrorists flee the airport and the city of Asmara. We’re investigating any and all suspicious activity, but up until now we’ve been unable to locate them. We were told that there are hostages being held on the plane by two terrorists with explosives. We’ve been given a demand note by them stating that Allāh’s soldiers still in the United States must be given safe passage out of the country.”

  The Situation Room

  The news of most hostages being finally located was greeted with mixed emotions.

  General Henderson addressed the members of the staff. “No one has been able to figure out how the Air Israel plane had eluded the E-10 radar and surveillance. We believe that someone in Cairo air traffic control was helping the plane, but this hasn’t been proven.” He sat down.

  General Knight acknowledged, “I’m sure the terrorists had inside help at Cairo airport. The Egyptian security forces were on a wild goose chase for over an hour, while the terrorists escaped to Eritrean. Believe me, that son-of-a-bitch Eritrean general’s lying through his teeth. We saw television pictures of the aircraft with several hostages paraded up to the open exit door. That was some crappy television publicity with the camera panning in on their faces for identification. What’s the CIA’s assessment?”

  Jack Shelby gave the CIA’s evaluation of the situation. “The news that an entire group of terrorists escaped without help from the Eritrean government is total fabrication. That airport is also a military base and would have been heavily guarded. We have no way of corroborating the Eritrean general’s story. We can only assume the terrorists were probably heading for the rain forest located at Filfli, twenty miles north of Asmara. Finding the terrorists in that rugged mountainous region will be next to impossible and a cruise missile strike is impractical.”

  The president spoke up, “Where do you think the Air Israel crewmembers are being held?”

  Jack responded, “We have no idea.”

  “It seems unlikely they would transport these men into the mountains, especially if they’re going to be used as pawns for the safe return of the remaining terrorists in the United States.”

  Jack just shook his head, “They could be in the city of Asmara. They have no value as hostages to the terrorists. I fear for their lives.”

  CHAPTER 34

  THE SIEGE, DAY FOUR, HYPOCRITES - DECEMBER 28

  The Majestic

  The tanker had traveled five hundred seventeen miles since the rendezvous with Th
e Phoenix Rising. All three of the cell members completed their facial surgery and were recovering in their cabin. Meals were brought to them, as they didn’t venture out with their faces bandaged. They kept vigil on the events in the United States and the Middle East hoping to glean out information.

  The television was showing the Asmara airport hostage scene and the Eritrean general’s interview. The cell members awaited the next action by the Amir to secure the release of the remainder of Allāh’s soldiers and to see them depart for the Middle East. They knew that the chartered Mideast International Airlines flight was well on its way to Mashhad, Iran, except for the two men who had volunteered to hold the hostages on the plane until the rest of Allāh’s soldiers were out of the United States.

  The Amir

  Ahman Imad Rahman had been watching the televised interview of the Eritrean general and reflected on how well the plan was going. It’s amazing what money can buy. There’s no loyalty except to lining one’s pocket with gold. With my soldiers in Mashhad and with my three holy warriors safe at sea, I only need to bring home the remaining group to declare victory.

  I’m comfortable knowing the flight has landed in Mashhad and that all of my men have gotten through Iranian customs with no problem. They will scatter throughout the Middle East and since no one in the United States knows their true identity, they’ll be safe for the rest of their lives. Ahman picked up the phone and dialed Washington, D.C.

  The White House

  9:20 A.M.: General Knight and the Joint Chiefs had returned to the Pentagon. President Conklin, the Secretary of State and several Cabinet members were meeting in the Situation Room when the hotline phone rang. They were discussing Yemen’s agreement to receive the second group of terrorists, taking pressure off the other countries that had refused the terrorists’ entry. Yemen agreed to fly the terrorists to a final destination once they had established a country that was willing to receive them. Yemen and the Sudan were also considering the request.

  An aide picking up the phone quickly indicated to Secretary of State George Martens that he should take the phone call.

  “George Martens here.”

  Ahman was direct. “I’m pleased that my soldiers have achieved freedom. I expect the United States to honor the second part by providing transportation for the rest of Allāh’s soldiers out of your country.”

  George clinched the pencil in his hand so tight it broke. “We’ll provide transportation from both nuclear reactor sites to a B767 which will fly them to Yemen. We fully expect the rest of the hostages to be released as soon as your people are airborne.”

  Ahman laughed. “I’ll not release the one hundred sixty hostages until my men are safe in Yemen. I will contact Allāh’s soldiers at the nuclear reactor sites and tell them that we have an agreement and they will be given safe passage to Libya.”

  The Amir

  Ahman dialed the satellite phones of Arshad Osman Hassāni and Faiz Bilal Taqi to conference them in.

  The phones were stationed outside of the containment buildings to allow for incoming signals. The terrorists assigned to answer the phones were startled to hear them finally ring. They sent word to Arshad and Faiz who both left their respective control rooms to receive the call.

  Ahman was jubilant as he spoke. “We’ve accomplished a great feat in making the Great Satan and the Zionists commit to helping the Palestinian people. We’ve shown the world that a small group of dedicated followers of Islam and Allāh can conquer even the most powerful of nations. This is a great day for all who believe. Soon you’ll be free to join the rest of Allāh’s soldiers. You’ll be transported to Fort Lauderdale and both groups will then be flown out. Once you’re on Libyan soil a final destination will be given.”

  There was a long pause on the phone. Ahman said, “I expected both of you to react joyfully having fulfilled your mission.”

  Arshad spoke first. “Ahman, we’re at our final destination. We were chosen to bring the infidels to their knees and to teach them a lesson. This will be our final mission.”

  Ahman was very irritated that his men were disobeying him. “I’m commanding you to turn the facilities back to the Americans and you’ll be given safe passage out of the country. We’ve succeeded in giving the Palestinian people their dignity back.”

  Faiz spoke up. “We’ve no intention of leaving the country except in spirit. We were sent here as representatives of the World Islamic Front for a Jihad against Jews and Crusaders. We intend to fulfill our oath and we’ll die as martyrs for all of Islam. We’ve sworn allegiance to al-Qaeda, and now we will make America pay for the killing of our leader, Osama bin Laden.”

  Ahman at that moment knew he and the Muslims For Justice had been exploited and used as pawns by al-Qaeda to commit a Jihad against the United States. These men were not interested in helping the oppressed Palestinians. They only had one objective: death and destruction.

  Angrily, Ahman quoted from the Qur’an, Al-Munafiqoon (The Hypocrites) Chapter 063 Verse 2:

  “Ittakhathoo aymanahum junnatan fasaddoo AAan sabeeli Allahi innahum saa ma kanoo yaAAmaloona.”

  (They have made their oaths a screen for their misdeeds: thus they obstruct men from the Path of Allāh: truly evil are their deeds.)

  Hearing the quote incensed both al-Qaeda militants.

  Faiz shouted, “You call me a hypocrite, a dog, a swine and a tool of the devil? We were been chosen by the supreme leader himself to cast terror into the hearts of the infidels.”

  The two nuclear engineers were not about to be deterred. Hanging up the phones, they shouted to the rest of the unsuspecting terrorists, “The United States and Israel have reneged on their promise and have killed all of our brothers.”

  As the word spread among the terrorists they fired their rifles into the air shouting, “Death to America, Death to Israel. Praise be to Allāh, Praise be to Allāh.”

  Arshad and Faiz gave orders at both sites. “Destroy the reactors, revenge for the death of your brothers. Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar. (God is the greatest.) ”

  Ahman was shocked at the turn of events. His work of more than twenty-five years to bring dignity and respect to the Palestinians was going to be destroyed not by Israel, not by the United States, but by fellow Muslims. All the careful planning, the elimination of anyone who had knowledge of the cell members and the tens of millions of dollars spent was going to be undermined by al-Qaeda. The hypocrites! He was ashamed and angry to be associated with the radicals of the faith.

  Ahman continually pounded the concrete wall wailing in sorrow for his people until his fists were bloody, repeating over and over again from the Qur’an, Al-Ankaboot (The Spider) Chapter 29: verse 11.

  “WalayaAAlamanna Allahu allatheena amanoo walayaAAlamanna almunafiqeena.”

  (And Allāh most certainly knows those who believe and as certainly those who are Hypocrites.)

  Washington, D.C.

  The CIA, NSA and the U.S. military were monitoring all phone calls into Florida. At the Pentagon and the White House phones were ringing. Jack Shelby of the CIA was briefing the president and secretary of state.

  Stan Conklin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Are you telling me that the terrorists have been infiltrated by other terrorists loyal to al-Qaeda?”

  Jack Shelby acknowledged. “It looks like the Muslims For Justice were cleverly used by al-Qaeda to bring their Jihad to our shores once more. From the conversations we heard, we believe it’s only two of the terrorists who are associated with al-Qaeda, but they are the most dangerous of the group. These are the men who are running the nuclear reactor control rooms and probably know exactly how to cause the greatest amount of damage. They convinced the other terrorists at the sites that we have killed all of the militants that had fled the country. ”

  Stan Conklin picked up the phone and called General Knight, “General, strike now with all that you have and may God be with us.”

  The FEU Nuclear Reactor Sites

  Arshad and Faiz ret
urned to their respective control rooms. After giving orders to begin the destruction of the reactors, they raised the graphite rods that kept the fusion process in check.

  In the control room the FEU operators who had been forced to help keep the plant running were handcuffed to their chairs. They watched in disbelief as the rods were raised completely from the reactor core.

  Across the FEU site, other explosives were being detonated at the pumps, completely disabling the cooling water that flowed to both reactors. The structure holding the cooling pond water where fuel rods were stored was also destroyed.

  Reactor pumps that circulated the water from the reactor vessel to the steam generator exchange were completely disabled. The reactor water was under high-pressure, 2,175 pounds per square inch. This allowed the water temperature to reach six hundred degrees Fahrenheit without boiling. The high-pressure reactor water was pumped through pipes into the steam generator exchange, where it heated the water in the vessel to create steam to drive the turbine generator. Without the cooling water to reduce the temperature of the pressurized circulating water, the entire reactor vessel would reach the meltdown stage.

  Within fifteen minutes, the cores of the two reactors at each FEU site had reached two thousand degrees. With no water to cool the core, the reactor vessels would collapse as temperatures approached five thousand degrees. The stagnant cooling water turned to steam, rupturing the pipes and reactor vessel, and filled the containment building with pressurized radioactive steam, pushing the interior pressure to one hundred fifty pounds per square inch in a building designed for fifty PSI. The steam spewing from the ruptured pipes was deafening.