The Nabatean Secret

by J C Ryan

  The twelfth and final councilor, Hassan Al-Suleiman, the leader of the True Sons of the Prophet, referred to by many as the Sultan of Syria, was going to be even more difficult to get their hands on than the Iranian.

  The United States closed their consular services in Damascus, Syria, in February 2012, and since March 1, 2013, only a US Interests Section operated through the Czech Republic’s embassy in Damascus.

  Syria, in the throes of a civil war since 2011, was probably the most chaotic and treacherous place on earth. Hassan’s base of operations was close to the Syria-Iraq border, the hotbed of ISIS activities.

  When Sullivan got to the end of the list, Grant asked Carter to pause Sullivan for a few minutes and called Bill, Sean, Dylan, Irene, James, and Scott into Scott’s office and told them what had been going through his mind.

  They all agreed that not one of the councilors could be allowed to escape—they had to be either apprehended or eliminated. It was immediately clear that Alireza Karimi-Shah in Tehran and Hassan Al-Suleiman in Syria were on the termination list. And that meant Grant, in the heat of the moment, had to make another decision with far-reaching consequences—authorizing the assassination of citizens of another country.

  Everyone was looking at him.

  “Do we have any other options?” he asked.

  Bill and the others were shaking their heads.

  “Then it is as Harry Truman said, ‘The buck stops here’. Bill, how do you want to take care of it?”

  Bill nodded and pointed to Sean and Dylan. “That’s why Executive Advantage exists.”

  Sean looked at Dylan and asked, “Phantoms?”

  “Yep,” Dylan replied without hesitation.

  Grant and Scott looked at Sean and Dylan questioningly.

  Sean explained, “The Desert Phantoms, sir. They are the Omani Special Forces. There is nobody on earth that knows the desert better than they do. They are the hardest men I’ve ever encountered. They train British and American Special Forces teams in desert warfare and survival, and we have often embedded some of them when we were on special operations in those parts of the world. We have a few of them working for EA. They know the Middle East and will take care of this.”

  Grant nodded. “Okay, make it happen.”

  ***

  At ten p.m., Scott was tasked to call in the National Security Council members to help brainstorm the massive operation.

  Sean called their commander of Middle East Operations, Omar Said, a former Desert Phantom, to the White House and then joined the rest in the Oval Office to continue Sullivan’s questioning.

  When the NSC members arrived, the group moved to the John F. Kennedy Conference Room, unofficially known as the Situation Room. A five-thousand-plus square foot conference room and intelligence management center located in the basement of the West Wing of the White House, it was not only large enough to accommodate the crowd, it was also very secure.

  Carter, Irene, and James, protected by two Secret Service agents, continued Sullivan’s debriefing in a secured room.

  Bill immediately informed the NSC members that electronic communications were out until the operation was over, and that ban included personal calls. The Nabateans would intercept any such transmissions and the element of surprise would be lost. That also meant in-person diplomatic missions to India, the UK, Japan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and China.

  Bill and the President agreed not to tell anyone about the Iran and Syria missions, so as far as the NSC was concerned, there were only nine council members to deal with.

  Someone mentioned several of the countries, notably China, Saudi Arabia, and probably Russia, would no doubt want to take immediate action, which would jeopardize the element of surprise for others. It was imperative every member of the Council of the Covenant of Nabatea be apprehended at once, leaving no one to give the order for the bombs to be set off or to escape.

  If any one of them escaped the net, the threat to the world would remain. Not just the threat of bombs, but the greater threat of Nabatean world dominance. One remaining seed to replant the evil conspiracy was all it would take.

  Coordinated missions then, tightly timed, so every country involved received word at precisely the same time.

  Each of the groups who’d be tasked with taking the message would be virtually flying by the seat of their pants to reach their assigned target at precisely the same time, taking pains to arrive at the US embassies in time to secure the help of the ambassadors in gaining the ears of the respective heads of state. Then it would be up to the US delegations to convey vigorously that it was imperative all missions to capture the Nabateans also be synchronized.

  Grant had Constance Pierce, the Secretary of State, put her wordsmiths to work. Each foreign dignitary required a different approach if the plan were to have the best chance of success. Letters over Grant’s signature would appeal to each, and in some cases, an offer of an incentive for cooperation.

  Chapter 89 - Operation Rock Concert

  May 30

  At twelve thirty a.m., they had worked through all the options, and the State Department employees were summoned and locked in under the watchful eyes of Secret Service agents. There’d be no more assumptions that high-level government employees were above suspicion. Only when the missions were complete would these employees get their cell phones and mobile devices back and be allowed to go home.

  Sean and Dylan had been awake for close to twenty-four hours, but their military training made it possible for them to focus with a clear head for at least thirty-six. They refused Grant’s offer to let them take a rest. Dylan muttered something about resting when he was dead.

  It was a sobering reminder that if this didn’t work, it was likely they’d all be dead within days, vaporized by the antimatter Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.

  The two of them had briefed Omar Said and arranged for him and one other former Desert Phantom to be flown to Oman on a private jet.

  Carter, too, was looking at some long hours and sleepless nights as he’d been forced to continue the job of interrogating Sullivan, who still wouldn’t talk to anyone but him.

  At least Sullivan’s willingness to divulge information without being tortured or threatened worked for them, and it didn’t waste time.

  ***

  At one thirty a.m., the contingent in the Situation Room took a short break as coffee and snacks were brought in. As they snatched bites of the food and sipped coffee, they began the task of putting the timeline in order.

  Everything hinged on the flight times to the countries involved and would be choreographed like a ballet. Once in motion, one misstep would create the risk of bringing down the rest of the dancers in a disastrous chain reaction.

  When they were notified the group in the Situation Room had a coffee break, Carter gave Sullivan a bit of a breather and went to get coffee and some food for his group.

  He arrived in the Situation Room just in time to hear one of the advisors talking about choreographing the operation like a ballet followed by someone asking what the code name for the mission would be.

  Carter whimsically suggested “Operation Rock Concert”—for the meanings of the names Petra, Petras, and Sassi, each meaning “rock”’ or “stone”’ in its respective language.

  President Grant approved. Quipping, “If that’s the name your Royal Highness desires, that’s what thy humble servants will name it.”

  Carter just shook his head—the jokes have started, sanctioned by the highest authority in the country. He grabbed the coffees and pastries and scooted out of the room before more bantering could follow.

  To create the timeline, they calculated the longest flight time—from DC to New Delhi—fifteen and a half hours. The delegations would leave at predetermined intervals so as to reach their destination countries at the same time. They allowed fourteen hours for meeting with the various heads of state and preparation to launch the strike response.

  Zero hour for Operation Rock Con
cert was set for exactly thirty hours from the starting gun, which would sound as soon as the delegation to India were airborne at four a.m. in DC. On their heels would be the delegations to Japan and China, both of which would leave an hour later for their fourteen-hour flights.

  Saudi Arabia’s mission would leave two hours later for their twelve-hour flight, Russia’s an hour and a half after that for a ten-and-a-half-hour flight, Peru’s three hours later, and the mission to London for the UK would leave only half an hour behind Peru’s delegation.

  ***

  The mission to Russia was the second most critical of the seven. Grant would have liked to lead it himself, but his place was in DC if the Nabateans managed to set off the bombs before Operation Rock Concert got them.

  Grant and Russia’s President hadn’t been on the best of terms for most of his tenure in the White House. And since the capture of the nine Spetsnaz operatives in the raid on Freydís and their transfer from Canada to the US, the already shaky relationship had only deteriorated.

  Russia claimed the transfer was a violation of international law and half a dozen treaties, and her President had been pouting like a toddler ever since. Therefore, Grant sent his Vice President, who would be accompanied by Dylan and six of his Executive Advantage operatives.

  The target was none other than Mathieu Nabati, whom Sullivan had named as the second in command of the Nabateans behind his mother, Graziella. Sullivan confirmed that Mathieu Nabati had been responsible for the Freydís debacle, as well as the murder of Peter Nikolaev, the former head of the FSB.

  If Russia would agree to help capture Mathieu Nabati, Grant was prepared to exchange the Spetsnaz troops for him and would throw in a few pieces of vital information for the Russian President to make a deal even more alluring.

  Therefore, it was decided if the Russian President agreed to the exchange and Mathieu Nabati was handed over, Grant would also release the information that the former head of the FSB, Peter Nikolaev, was a member of the Nabatean council responsible for the attack on Freydís. That Nikolaev’s ski accident was no accident but an action taken by the Nabatean council to protect their secrecy.

  In addition, the Russian President would be alerted to the fact that he had a viper in his bosom—his closest confidant, Igor Ustinov, was Nikolaev’s replacement on The Council of the Covenant of Nabatea.

  Consequently, Ustinov was the only Nabatean council member who was not targeted for capture during Operation Rock Concert. Cautious diplomatic maneuvering was required, partly because of the kneejerk reaction expected from the Russian President if he were to receive this devastating information about his bosom friend, often speculated to be Russia's second-most powerful person.

  Those revelations would be alluded to in vague terms and only if the circumstances during discussions called for it.

  The letter the Vice-President carried contained only the outline of the Nabatean conspiracy and the proposed terms of cooperation. The rest, it explained, would be given to him verbally by the delegation. The Vice-President himself knew not much more, but Grant assured him Dylan would fill him in during the flight.

  ***

  The most critical of the missions, the one to Peru, would be almost the last to leave. Constance Pierce would lead it accompanied by Sean and six more Executive Advantage operatives.

  Sean had to endure an almost serious scolding from Sam after confessing the Secretary of State’s flirtation with him on the trip to Matera. He just grinned when he thought about the repercussions it would have this time if he told Sam he and the coquettish Secretary had to go on an urgent trip—again. He shrugged. I’d rather take my chances with Sam and Connie than with an antimatter bomb.

  Mercifully, he’d get some rest on the flight, since he only had to fill Pierce in on what had happened since their last excursion, mostly the last twelve hours or so since Sullivan’s arrival at the White House.

  Before they left, Carter took a few minutes away from Sullivan and gave them the history of his involvement in Peruvian archaeology. It had begun about ten years ago, when a former student of his, Jacob Wilson, working on a dig at Cusco, had smoked out an illegal artifact dealing ring, and with Carter’s help, returned most of the stolen artifacts to the Peruvian government. After this, Carter was placed in charge of the dig, and Jacob was appointed as the onsite manager. He and Jacob had gone on to discover the fabled Golden Gardens in an underground city in the mountains near Cusco.

  It was their honest and cordial dealings with the former Minister of Culture, now the Prime Minister, that resulted in Carter’s former university still overseeing the dig and Jacob still in charge of it.

  Carter still had an affable long-distance friendship with Prime Minister Alvarez and would have gone himself if it hadn’t been for the necessity of keeping Sullivan’s illusion intact. He asked Constance to convey to Alvarez his warmest greetings and an apology that he couldn’t be there himself.

  ***

  There was little Grant could offer the Saudis to induce them to wait for Zero Hour, except to remind the King that he owed the US one. If Grant hadn’t revealed to him former council member Algosaibi’s plan to overthrow his rule, it might have been accomplished and the King’s own head stuck on a pike along a desert road.

  There was only one council member left in his kingdom, unfortunately a member of his own family, a prince who was third in line for succession.

  Grant had no doubt the King would cooperate. Third in line was too close for comfort. But whether His Majesty would wait for the signal was another matter. They could only hope he would understand the gravity of the situation and oblige.

  Also at issue was the interrogation techniques the Mabahith would likely employ before the traitor was executed by public beheading. Their enhanced interrogation techniques, which included waterboarding, de-nailing, flagellation, beatings, sleep deprivation, starvation, and the old favorite, electrocution, made what the US called “enhanced” look like child’s play.

  Nevertheless, if the King would agree to allow it, Bill would have two of his agents sit in on the interrogations. They’d probably have nightmares for the rest of their lives, but it was crucial to get all the information firsthand and act upon it.

  Chapter 90 - One more question

  It was already three a.m. Carter, with the help of Irene and James, had been questioning Sullivan for close to five hours, not counting the almost three hours when he was spilling his guts in the Oval Office before he was taken to the secure room.

  The effects of the stress and anxiety of the past weeks were taking their toll on Sullivan. With every passing hour, his speech became more slurred. At times, it was inaudible and incoherent.

  Notwithstanding the urgency, they agreed the man needed a rest.

  The White House physician was called in to examine Sullivan. He concurred, “You’re running the risk of driving him over the edge if you continue. The anxiety and stress is causing his body to produce too much adrenaline. It’s causing his rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety, sweating, and palpitations. He might have a stroke or heart attack at any moment.

  “You have to lay off and give him a break. I can give him a Xanax injection. It’s an anti-anxiety medication and will calm him down, but it also has a sedation effect. In other words, it could put him to sleep.”

  The three of them agreed and asked the doctor if they could ask Sullivan just two more critical questions before he administered the drug. The doctor agreed reluctantly and said he would wait outside the room. They had fifteen minutes.

  The twenty-minute rest during the physician’s examination, diagnosis, and advice had a positive impact on Sullivan’s condition. He sounded marginally better than before.

  Carter still had to do all the talking as Sullivan seemed oblivious to James’s and Irene’s presence.

  “Sullivan, when is your next council meeting?”

  “Five o’clock this morning, Your Majesty.”

  Carter’s eye caught the time
on the wall clock—it was 4:10 a.m. He looked at James who nodded and left the room in a hurry to inform Bill and the President.

  Carter would not get to the second question. If Sullivan didn’t attend the mandatory council meeting, the Nabateans could get nervous about his absence and possibly move up the timeline of their operations.

  They had to improvise a plan to keep up appearances so the Nabateans wouldn’t conclude he’d defected.

  After a short consultation with the doctor, Carter concluded it would be dangerous to let Sullivan attend the meeting, even if it would mean they could get better intel. In his delusional state of mind, and as exhausted as he was, he might set off alarm bells among the already panicky Nabateans, even reveal he had changed sides.

  Within minutes, James was back with Bill in tow. They had a quick discussion with the physician and a plan of action was formed.

  Chapter 91 - Collectively suspicious

  As predicted, the members of the council were immediately on edge when Sullivan was a no-show at their meeting. Graziella roused her contact in DC at 5:10 a.m. from his sleep and ordered him to find out where Sullivan was and not make her wait more than ten minutes for his call.

  He called back in seven and reported that Sullivan had been at the White House, pulling an all-nighter on a critical piece of financial legislation when he suffered a brain aneurism at about four thirty a.m., was rushed to Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and admitted to the ICU.

  When Graziella and the rest of the councilors heard the news, they were immediately and collectively suspicious.

  Sullivan’s situation looked unnervingly similar to that of a previous councilor, George Robertson, the former Vice President. He’d supposedly had a stroke while in the White House and was rushed off to a private hospital where not even his wife and children could see him. There he’d committed a very suspect suicide, but the world was told he died from a second stroke.