CHAPTER 27

PRESENT DAY, ISRAEL

The world’s attention stayed on Israel, the Temple, the earthquake, and the continued attempts of Hamas. Almost everyone forgot Iran. Except Israel. The world’s top technological innovators worked for Israel and Israel remained the most important player in the field of technology. The U.S. Silicon Valley was on the decline because of tax codes and sundry policies, and the only edge the U.S. military held depended on new technology coming from Israel.

The newest developments belonged to the drones. Israel’s Dr. Yahid Horowitz had finally completed his work on a system using drones that could detect enriched uranium, the necessary ingredient for Iran’s nuclear capability. Dr. Horowitz had been responsible for the computer worm that was able to infiltrate and mess-up the computer files that held formulas and plans for Iran’s nuclear work several years previous. Iran had since improved their ability to protect that information. The worm had slowed them down but did not totally cripple them.

It was the day before the earthquake that tests were complete on the drones. The plan moved close to readiness. The Israeli government prayed for a distraction, so they could go forward and finish the job before world opinion weighed in and stopped them. Usually the U.S. was informed of plans, but in recent months, even years, the U.S. pressed for restraint and verbal negotiations, not action. This action with the drones would be pin-point and swift. Mossad was directed to leak the information only to the CIA contacts that stood by Israel in all points.

Several weeks after the earthquake as world opinion continued to surge out both for and against the retaking of the Temple Mount, Horowitz’s small group of technicians gathered near Haifa. World attention focused on the audacity of the Israelis to even consider plans for the rebuilding of the Temple. Meanwhile, the secret underground laboratory was ready, and the doors opened. A platform rose, and coordinates were triple-checked. Three drones left with little fanfare in a matter of ten minutes at two a.m. The platform returned to underground and then the tracking screens were in full gear.

Rube’s phone chimed at five o’clock in the evening. A text from Jared. “Tonight will be great for star-gazing. Get over here.” Rube showed it to Jill.

“Let’s both go. We’ll grab some fast food on the way. Traffic will be crazy, but this sounds like we need to be there.”

Rube texted back. “Jill and I love the stars. Shall we bring you some food?”

Jared’s reply was one word. “YES!!!!!!!”

By six-fifteen Jill and Rube cleared security at Langley and arrived in Jared’s cluttered office. Jared hugged Jill. “It’s been a long time and I heard about the baby . . . I see it’s not far off. Congratulations. Exciting.”

Jill sat down, shifting her weight a bit gingerly. “We are so excited. A little tough with Rube’s parents in Israel but we’re good. We brought you food.” She grinned. “And food for me and the baby. Traffic was crazy, so it took a little longer.”

“We’re okay, things don’t start hopping until seven. I’m starved.” Jared peeked in the bags and started pulling out burgers and fries. “Thanks!”

“So why are we here? What’s happening?” Rube started shifting piles of files from the chairs to the desk.

“What’s not happening? The whole world is happening. But who has been under the radar with so many other things in the news?”

Rube unwrapped a hamburger. “Iran.”

“Exactly.”

Jill groaned. “Don’t tell me they’re ready to fire on Israel.”

“No, Israel is about to take out their nuclear capability.” Jared held up his hand and high-fived Rube. “With your family so involved, you need to see this.”

“Israel is going to bomb Iran?” Jill covered her face with her hands.

“Drones, Jill, drones. And these seek out enriched uranium. Ingenious. Israel’s technology is amazing.”

“Our administration isn’t screaming about it?”

“They don’t know. Frank was informed. He let me know. I let you know. We’ll watch, then report. No one is paying attention right now. It’s the perfect time.”

“How can it be the perfect time?” Jill popped a french fry in her mouth. “Everyone is watching Israel.”

“But no one is watching Iran, except the Israelis right now. They’re striking while the iron is hot.” Jared punched in a code on his computer. “Zero hour is two a.m. there, seven p.m. here.”

“What if Iran retaliates?”

“Israel’s military is on full alert. They’ve just added to their Iron Dome. Their F151s are on the tarmacs now. But they have been ready since they retook the Temple Mount. So, no one is noticing their alert. Sheez, the Israelis live in alert status.”

Jared punched in a few more numbers on his computer. “Okay, here’s the feed. Man, only three drones, and they can neutralize this Iranian nuclear threat. Dear God, help them.”

Rube placed all his attention on the screen. “Do you think any radar can pick them up in these other countries?”

“Not likely. They are so hard to detect on radar. It’s possible that people on the ground could see them, but they make so little sound.” Jared grabbed another hamburger. “Jill, are you done? There are a few in here.”

Jill laughed. “We know you, Jared. We got plenty extra. Eat all you want. I’m good.”

Silence followed as they watched the blips representing the drones edge closer to Iran.

Rube interrupted the silence. “Jared, you just said ‘Dear God’. Was that a prayer?”

Jared grinned. “You won’t believe this. If I wasn’t here watching this tonight, which I wouldn’t miss, and technically I need to be here, I would be with Deb at church.”

“Deb’s at church on a Wednesday night. I thought church was just Sunday morning. How is she?”

“She’s great. We both are.” Jared paused and punched in some coordinates on the computer. The screen image zoomed in on Iran. “Oh, look, they are starting to split off. This is amazing. We thought they had three main centers, but we could determine only the locations of two for sure. Apparently, Israel found the third one. Praise God.”

Rube turned. “Praise God? Who are you and what have you done with the Jared I know?”

“It’s incredible, you guys, just incredible. You know, Deb and I have been on the verge of breaking up a few times. This CIA work wears on a marriage, as you well know. But Deb’s sister invited us to this special thing to honor Israel at their church. Well, we went. Wait, wait, I think the drones are about to strike.”

They stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the screen. Simultaneously the drones struck three locations in Iran. The satellite feed was close enough to tell they were exactly on mark. The explosions were significant and the fires high in the sky.

Jared turned up the volume of the Haifa laboratory technicians. There was Hebrew with English translations. “We have hit. They are direct on target. The uranium has been nullified and the buildings are on fire.”

“I forgot to tell you. The drones were able to nullify nuclear detonation with a chemical powder, like a dust that was expelled moments before the explosion blew up the buildings. The innovation of the Israeli chemists is unprecedented.”

Jared sat down and sent out an encrypted message to the White House. He looked up. “Well, now the real fireworks are about to start. I’m so glad, though, that Israel has the upper hand. If they could just stop ISIS and Russia, they’d be all set. Hamas is weakening, Israel has the Temple Mount, Iran has just lost nuclear capability, and Syria basically has no more power.”

Jared typed a few more items. “Okay, now back to Deb and me.” He took a big gulp of soda. “Well, we just fell in love with this church, and before we knew it, we prayed to make Jesus our Lord.” He looked from Jill to Rube and back. “I’m sorry if that offends you, being Jewish, but there are a lot of people at the church who say they are Jewish and that they are now realizing that Jesus is their Messiah. Is that crazy or what?”

Rube leaned back and took Jill’s hand. “It seems like that is happening all over Israel, too. My folks and Tassie have told us, and it’s even on the news. I think Tassie has gone that route. It’s strange, but I feel kind of drawn to it. Somehow it sounds right.”

“And I hear it’s happening all over our country. People are turning their lives over to God.” Jared grabbed a few more fries.

Jill took a deep breath. “Yeah, being pregnant . . . I don’t know if you get more serious or feel more responsible or what. You just want to make sure you do everything right.” She looked at Rube and then back to Jared. “Maybe we should visit your church sometime.”

“That would be great. I need to give you something else to consider. Frank has been our man on the ground in Israel for a long time. He’s getting closer to retirement. Because of your expertise and keen abilities, Rube, I’ve been authorized to offer you a position as Frank’s assistant with the plan that you take over for him when he steps down. It seemed to be a great fit as your family is there.”

Rube sat open mouthed, with his soda in his hand. “You’re serious, Jared. Seriously?”

“Yeah, I am. We are. It’s a big decision. No hurry. You might want to wait till after the baby arrives, but it’s open and will remain open.”

Rube looked at Jill. Her eyes were wide. “We have a lot to think about.”