The Sword of Cyrus: A Thriller (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 4)

by JC Ryan

  ~~~

  September 1, Iran

  The rag-tag assembly of nuclear specialists in the Iranian Army, their numbers also halved at least by the virus, took inventory. Half of their former inventory had been expended in the futile attack on Israel and the US during the height of the medical crisis. Another fifteen percent had failed at launch, causing the nuclear explosions to occur over their own territory. Now only one-third of their former inventory was left; not enough to seriously threaten even Israel, their first target.

  When this was reported to Armand, he contacted North Korea and Pakistan, requesting that they make good on their promises to supply extra weapons. The attack he intended to launch was put off to give their allies time to transport the necessary items to Sirjan, where emergency construction of launch facilities were taking place, Qom having been destroyed when the missiles there had blown up just before launch during the previous attempt to nuke Israel.

  Armand had a bad feeling about all of this, but, being fond of his head, he kept his opinions to himself. All he could do was place the missile site prudently far away from Tehran. Although it was relatively convenient to the Pakistani border, it was far enough away from the Afghan border to avoid a repeat of the embarrassing and disastrous failure of one of the missiles that had managed to launch in the spring. Diplomatic relations with Afghanistan had been seriously strained by that incident, which rendered the Iranian city of Tayyebat and much of the western area of northern Afghanistan uninhabitable for decades to come.

  Naturally, it was almost impossible to keep Iran’s intentions secret. No sooner than the nature of the construction project in Sirjan was detected, The US moved its counterstrike satellites into geosynchronous orbit. Other satellites were tasked to follow the progress of certain heavily-laden trains heading southeast from North Korea toward the Middle East. Iran might manage to deploy nuclear weapons, but they would not be able to do so undetected. Ironically, Iran’s military did not know it.

  A massive effort among Iranian workers and others imported from allied countries made the launch site ready in only six weeks, just in time to receive the materiel. Before they could deploy, the nuclear specialists insisted upon a dry run to test the missiles without warheads or fuel. In other words, they would test the electronics only, in order to preserve what numbers they had. On the day of the test, the specialists were baffled to see that nothing worked. From the ignition sequence to the electronics that would deploy the warhead when the target was reached, everything was as dead as the late lamented Ayatollah Kazemi.

  They were at a loss to explain it. Other experts were sent for, from as far away as North Korea and Russia. Several days after the test failures, foreign experts arrived to inspect the electronics. After running several more sophisticated tests, the experts agreed that the only explanation was that the equipment had been damaged by electromagnetic interference, such as a massive solar flare. What didn’t make sense was that the surrounding countryside and the city had escaped the same damage. If it had been a solar flare, the experts would have expected that the power grid would also be knocked out, at the very least. Moreover, no record of such a flare existed.

  Exasperated at this setback, the military set about replacing the damaged parts as quickly as they could obtain supplies. Word of the failure was suppressed, except in certain circles. The administrative members of Ayatollah Khorasani’s household were among those who were informed, among them Ahmad Ahmadi, a holdover from Kazemi’s tenure. Ahmad had certain suspicions about not only this failure, but the disasters that overtook the previous spring’s nuclear launch. He had no doubt that the US had found a way to deflect the blowback from Kazemi’s assassination, thanks to his early warning. However, as maddening as it was that his assessment of the relative military strength of his country to the US was correct, it afforded him an opportunity to set his agenda in motion.

  His first visit was to his leader, Ayatollah Khorasani. Carefully, he explained his belief that a war against the West would not have a successful outcome, citing as an example the debacle at Sirjan. Then he explained his vision of duping the West into reconstructing Iran and the rest of the Middle East while giving over the secrets and educational opportunities that would bring them firmly into the twenty-first century. Khorasani was an intelligent man despite his rigid religious views. What Ahmadi was saying made perfect sense. With his permission and encouragement, Ahmadi was ushered into the presence of General Armand and other political leaders to lay out his plans once more.

  “Mr. President-General Armand, distinguished gentlemen. I am here today to convey a message from Ayatollah Khorasani. He bade me tell you that Allah has spoken. Twice we have attempted to visit jihad upon our enemies, Israel and America. Twice, Allah’s hand has stopped us. We must now listen with our brains instead of with our hearts. Allah wants us to concentrate on building up our strength, rebuilding our lands and infrastructure, raising our people from poverty and deprivation. Only when we have achieved equality with the West will we be in a position to challenge their greed and apostasy. We must now humble ourselves to seek alliance with the West instead of fighting.”

  Expressions of shock were all that Ahmadi could see on the faces of his audience. It would take more than this one speech to bring them on board, but with the authority of the Supreme Leader behind him, a vote to call a hiatus to the war was passed overwhelmingly. Now Ahmad would have time to persuade them individually to his cause. Armed with a letter from Khorasani, he first met with key individuals within the eighty members of the Assembly of Experts, to assure them that his plan did not represent turning away from the teachings of the Quran, but rather adoption of certain strategies that, carefully restricted to those whose heads would not be turned, would bring prosperity to their country. That prosperity would in turn feed the preparations for the real agenda: total world dominance. With approval from the most influential members, assuring him that Khorasani would remain in power for the foreseeable future, he next went to General Armand.

  Ahmad Ahmadi was received as an honored guest by Armand. His reputation as a valuable asset to the late Ayatollah Kazemi preceded him, and Armand was pleased to host the spokesman of the current Supreme Leader. Ahmad set Armand’s mind at ease by telling him first that he didn’t bring instructions from the Supreme Leader, but rather more information about the plan of which he’d spoken in his speech to Parliament. Armand composed himself to listen, though his expertise was in matters of military implications, not those of peace and subterfuge.

  “General Armand, my congratulations on your appointment as interim president. May I ask if you aspire to the election on a more permanent basis?”

  “Not at all. I’m no politician, and if you and the Supreme Leader have your way, my presence in this office will be of no value. I do not say this in bitterness. On the contrary, I will be glad to get back to the business that I understand best, even if that business has no immediate relevance.”

  “Do not worry, General Armand. I can assure you that within a few years, your assistance in rebuilding our military strength will be of the utmost importance. Let me tell you of our plans.”

  Ahmad began by stating his belief that Iran must find a way to modernize everything except those things dictated by Sharia law, that is, the manner of dress of women and so forth. As for the rest, they must allow their scientists to explore the most up-to-date discoveries, including those associated with the 10th Cycle Library. They must attract foreign investment by inviting international corporations to move their operations into Iran, and assure them that their facilities and administrators would be safe and that they would receive big tax incentives to do so. They must encourage the education of both children and adults to a standard equal to those of Western nations.

  “You want to westernize our country?” asked Armand, shocked.

  “Not at all. I want to adopt such technology as we require to achieve prosperity. Once that is achieved, I want to Islamize the West, to coin a phrase.�
� Ahmad stopped talking to let the general’s understanding catch up.

  Armand’s shock turned to admiration as he beheld the big picture. “This will require a level of intrigue that would rival any harem of old,” he joked.

  “Indeed. Only certain people will be granted the knowledge of our eventual intentions. We must carefully select those who will lead these efforts, for it will be tempting to them to wholeheartedly adopt a Western way of life. They must be beyond such temptation, devout Muslims who understand our purpose and can carry it out without becoming seduced. Janaab, you are the first to receive this honor.” The flattery would keep Armand from the temptation of talking to people he shouldn’t. If not, he and anyone who shouldn’t be privy to the plans were expendable.

  One by one, Ahmad visited other members of Parliament until he had the buy-in required to set the next step in motion. He then requested that Khorasani direct Armand to name him Director of Reconstruction, giving him plenary power to act on his plans.

  This is what you can do with nanotechnology

  2019, 1st week of September the Rossler Foundation in Boulder

  Roy arrived the evening before his presentation and was entertained at dinner by the Rosslers, Daniel and Sarah, with the other guests being JR and Rebecca, and Robert and Cyndi. Seated between Sarah and Rebecca, Roy seemed uncomfortable despite the best efforts of the women to draw him out. Rebecca, with an interest in psychology watched him carefully for clues to his behavior. When she or Sarah addressed Roy, he seemed to freeze for a moment, before stammering a reply without looking at them. However, when one of the men brought up a topic, he conversed easily. Rebecca decided Roy was extremely shy, especially around women. Roy could have told her that it was worse than that, if only he could have brought himself to speak to her.

  Roy’s presentation the next morning began with the history of nanotechnology, which to the surprise of everyone else in the room began centuries ago, with the processes that artists used to create stained glass windows. Of course, those artists had no idea that the processes actually changed the molecular structure of the gold and silver particles they used to enhance their colors. In fact, he went on to say, the modern notion of manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular level was introduced in 1959, by a scientist named Richard Feynman speaking at his own university, CalTech. It was during that speech that he described the process he envisioned. However, it wasn’t until 1981 that scientists had a tool to even see anything as small as an individual atom.

  As his audience began to shift in their seats, Roy finally got to the exciting part. Taking out the rock that Robert had showed him, he did something with his hands that no one could see. To the shock and amazement of his audience, a bright blue-white light shot out of the top of the rock and splashed across the ceiling.

  “You are looking at an ancient form of nanotechnology, the light source from Paradise Valley in Antarctica. I appreciate Robert Cartwright bringing it to my attention, along with the thought that there may well be important information about this fascinating field within the 10th Cycle library. This is only a sample of what nanotechnology can do,” Roy said, switching on the overhead projector to display his slide show.

  With slide after slide in the PowerPoint presentation, Roy described the multitude of uses envisioned for nanotech. In medicine, countless applications that required something small enough to target damaged cells without further damaging healthy ones, as well as delivery methods that could cross the blood/brain barrier without harm. In delivery of electronic charges to devices as diverse as cell phones, solar cells and fuel cells at a higher level and lower cost. Batteries that would remain fully charged for decades, or that could be recharged in a matter of seconds. Each time he mentioned a different field, one or two or several scientists sat up, intrigued at the implications to their own research. Better air quality? Cleaner water? More economical exploration of space? Nanotechnology, claimed Roy, had an application for all of them, and more.

  Basically, he said, they could group the current research into three categories; real and already in use nanotech, ideas in the making which would most probably be developed over the next few years, and science fiction - ideas which could be possible, but no one knew how yet. Then he reminded them that many scientific discoveries started off just in that way. After looking at the rock he got from Robert, in fact, he wasn’t sure what was sci-fi and what wasn’t anymore.

  Perhaps the most surprising was the part of his presentation where he explained where nanotech was already in use, over 1,300 applications and growing at three to four per week. Not everyone was happy at all of the uses. Nanotech in manipulation of food was something that Sarah and a few others deeply distrusted, but the mothers among them couldn’t fault using carbon nanotubes for stain-resistant clothing that needed no ironing. Nano-medicine had some controversy surrounding it, Rebecca knew, but Hannah was highly intrigued about the use of nanomaterials to deliver therapies to only diseased cells. Perhaps the same method could be used to deliver gene therapy, her pet cause.

  It was a tribute to his breadth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject that Roy was able to hold the attention of his entire audience for a full three hours. By then end of the presentation, both he and the audience were emotionally wrung out by the dazzling implications. Daniel knew that there would be no stopping some of the Foundation-employed scientists from abandoning their current projects or enhancing them with nanotech research. Roy invited questions from the audience, which he answered as best he could, although he was not an expert in many of the fields represented and he had difficulty forming a sentence when he was answering a query from a woman.

  The bombshell came, as usual, from JR. “How can nanotechnology be used in warfare?” he asked.

  A ripple went through the room as the shocked Rosslerite scientists considered what he was saying. The world had settled down somewhat in the two months since the 4th of July attacks, as well as the suicide bombing attempt on the Rossler Family on the 25th July and the terrorist groups responsible had been largely dismantled to the best of their knowledge. No one wanted to contemplate war, much less be involved in research concerning military applications. Seeing that his question had been misunderstood, JR clarified.

  “I know that the Rossler Foundation will only pursue peaceful research and development,” he said. “But, we aren’t the only ones doing research, obviously. There may be others out there already doing research along those lines. Wouldn’t it be better to know what it may be? What’s possible, so we can be prepared?”

  Roy was glad to have the chance to talk longer about his favorite subject.

  “Well, there are already some applications being developed that may interest you. Is anyone here a Trekkie?” Many of the scientists laughed at the reference to fans of the old TV series Star Trek, and a few sheepishly raised their hands. Fans of the series were known to be nerds and kooks, but the truth was that many a science career was born of an interest in the fabulous devices and concepts of the future that the writers had introduced. What Roy had to say next wowed them.

  “How about a cloaking device? Nanotechnology has the potential to make it possible, and it is common knowledge that military research is focusing on such things as cloaking technology, laser-type weapons that resemble phasers and even replicators. After all, Feynman’s original idea was that millions of tiny manufacturing devices would be able to make anything they were programmed to. Why not replicate food out of its component atoms, for example? Or even Earl Grey tea? DARPA is already working on a truck that will reconfigure itself into a helicopter, like the Transformers in the movies.

  “Most chilling is this. When you manipulate molecular and atomic structure, the resulting material exhibits new properties. It may soon be possible to manufacture a nuclear weapon the size of a can of Coke that has the destructive capability of a Hiroshima-type bomb. The same capability to deploy medicine could be used to deploy toxic substances.”

  The formerly exuberant
mood in the room was changed almost immediately to discomfort and dread. How would the Foundation be able to research beneficial applications of nanotechnology without potentially letting more deadly capability out into the world? Obviously, it was a matter for Board discussion before any research projects were approved.

  Daniel was grateful that Raj had suggested filming the presentation. Luke wasn’t there, but he needed to know what had been discussed. Security for super-sensitive research would obviously have to be beefed up or invented.

  The whole question could wait until the next meeting of the Board, though. They were to take up several proposals from scientists who were seeking Foundation funding, and those would be considered first. Daniel had no doubt that a couple of them would be modifying their requests after this presentation. In anticipation of finding something in the library that pertained to nanotech, he called Luke in.

  “Luke, I’d like you to watch the recording of the presentation of that young hotshot scientist that Robert brought in. As usual, JR has opened a can of worms, but he’s right. We need to be prepared. Let me know what you think.”

  Four hours later, Luke was at Daniel’s door, white as the snow that would soon cover the nearby 14,000-foot peaks. “Is he kidding? Nuclear weapons the size of a can of Coke?”

  “I’m afraid not, Luke. So here’s where you come in. I doubt that we should prevent all nanotech research. From what Dr. James said, there are just too many benefits. If we find anything in the library, we’re going to have to allow research to exploit it. But, as you saw, some of it will be a double-edged sword, especially the medical stuff. I need you to come up with a protocol that will keep the dangerous stuff out of the hands of anyone but those with the highest security clearance we have. And we need to develop a system of clearances like the government has. How quickly can you put that in place?”