Chapter Fourteen

 

 

 

Iran

Persian Gulf

Summer 2017

 

 

The shipments now became routine. The Bushehr nuclear plant was completed years ago, with Russian help of course. The construction was hailed as an achievement in Iranian peaceful intentions and Russian diplomacy. The plant was being built only for energy generation, according to both parties, and was proof that the world was wrong concerning Iran. It was operated by Russian specialists and the spent fuel said to be sent back to Russia; although, Iran was scheduled to take over control of the plant within a few years.

The agenda behind the Iranian nuclear program was peaceful─this was the story both countries wanted the world to swallow. Russia had started construction of other nuclear plants in Iran as well and was providing nuclear technology and assistance in a variety of ways. Russia considered a nuclear Iran an American problem, and stopping the program was not in their national interests.

Bushehr was started by the Shah in the 1970s by German contractors. It was hailed as the first peaceful nuclear electrical plant in the Middle East. After the Iranian Revolution, progress was halted, as the initial contractors pulled out. Progress was further delayed, as the partially completed project was damaged by air strikes during the Iran-Iraq War. The Russians resumed construction in the mid-1990s, and after many delays, the plant became operational in late 2011. It supplied two percent of the country’s electrical needs.

 

The large trucks thundered across the terminal at the nearby port in the dark of night after loading their cargo from the container ship. There were four of them. The drive to the power plant was uneventful. Soon they entered the covered storage area inside the protected walls of the complex. Therefore, the view was blocked from the American satellites orbiting overhead. They came to a halt inside the structure. Immediately, activity sprang up around them as cranes appeared overhead and the covers were removed from the shipments. Senior Iranian military officials looked on from the floor above with satisfaction on their faces.

The trucks did not contain peaceful nuclear construction materials. The cargo was much more immediately lethal to the West. The main concern of Western intelligence was the delivery of nuclear materials that could be used for production of a weapon. Although, the Iranians were well advanced in this effort, this was not the cargo this evening.

The trucks contained Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air-missiles, or SAMS. These were one of the most feared weapon systems in the world. Initially deployed in the late 1970s, the weapon was battle tested and reliable. The system was upgraded and its accuracy and effectiveness improved over and over again. The elegant simplicity of Russian weapon systems allowed this. It could track up to one hundred targets and engage more than ten at a time. These targets included cruise missiles, aircraft, and even ballistic missiles. In the hands of the Iranians, they would provide a powerful capability and deterrent to Western attacks on their nuclear program, hence the installation of the systems at the nuclear plant and other sensitive sites around Iran.

These missiles were a deadly menace to Western Air Force assets. For decades the Soviets and now the Russians had developed powerful weapons to counter the perceived Western edge in air superiority. He who rules the sky rules the battlefield, as Billy Mitchell, the father of the American Air Force, foreshadowed. The Russians were brilliant in developing uncomplicated but powerful systems to engage Western aircraft and to protect their ground assets. Their air defense networks were in high demand globally.

The most potent among them was the late-model long-range S-300. They were coveted by the Iranians.

For their part, the Russians publicly denied Iran access to this very sophisticated system several years back in a bid to the Americans and their push for sanctions against Iran at the U.N. But the ban was not to last, if it was ever really serious.

The West was terrified of a nuclear-armed Iran. Iran had claimed over and over again publically that it wanted to “wipe Israel off the map.”

The Russians, in preventing access to these missiles, gained from the perception that they were cooperating with the U.N. They also gained some flexibility with the current U.S. administration, which helped Moscow with reciprocation on some of Russia’s pet projects as well. Turning a blind eye to the continued conflict in Chechnya and the removal of American missile defense systems in Europe were several examples.

The Russian action was just temporary and not meant to last. It was a ruse. Russia craved the respect and financial reward it received from expanding its armament export empire, and the Russian leadership had no love lost towards the Americans. It was a simple lie.

The missiles were unloaded from the trucks and stored safely out of view of the world.

 

 

Bahamas

 

 

Connor awoke to the sound of the waves hitting the side of the boat. It was a peaceful sound, not violent. The seagulls were also crowing overhead. He instantly realized where he was and that he had to get up in an hour to go search another site in the cays with Alex. It was a wild goose chase, he knew. Whatever was hidden there was long gone. He realized that now. The boat rocked slowly.

It was still black outside at 5:00 a.m. Kate stirred beside him. He pulled her close and felt her naked body. Carnal thoughts passed through his head but he decided to let her sleep. He put his arm around her, spooning her. She made a very feminine sound and backed into him.

Is this love? he wondered? It might be, he told himself. He had not let his heart feel this emotion in a long time. It excited and also scared him.

He could hear the gulls starting to scream on the land nearby as the sun started to rise. The light would not be long now. He drifted back to sleep with her in his arms.

The light peeked through the cabin window, and Kate awoke first this time. She turned and looked at Connor sleeping peacefully; she was thankful for this.

God knows he needs it, she thought to herself.

She got up and relieved herself in the head and climbed back into the bed next to Connor. This time he awoke and looked at her.

“You’re beautiful,” he marveled aloud.

“I need to tell you something,” she stated firmly.

He became fully awake and looked at her questioningly, sitting up on his elbow.

“It’s Alex. He’s not who you think he is. He has a past. Ha, and a present for that matter,” she corrected herself softly.

“What do you mean?” Connor whispered.

“I’ve been checking into him. Once you’ve been betrayed in your life, you develop a sixth sense. He’s not clean, Connor.”

She sat up and looked him in the eyes, holding the sheet over her body.

She began to speak deliberately.

“We think the Chinese are after the treasure as well, and they might have company. They have been buying gold reserves all over the world, and this would be a freebie. I think that is who was in our house in Nevis. I also think Alex is in bed with them. I don’t have direct proof, but I do know that a large sum of money was recently wired into one of Alex’s offshore accounts in Cayman. It came from an entity we know is controlled by a Chinese military company.”

“Shit,” Connor said sadly.

“I think he is using us to find whatever it is that Burr or Hamilton hid.”

Connor lay on the bed in disbelief. How could a best friend do this to him? Again, his whole life was being turned upside down.

“Don’t take it out on yourself,” she said. “He has lived a double life for a long time now that you have known nothing about.”

They both sat there in silence listening to the sound of the sea.

“I have to confront him,” Connor finally said.

“At the right time,” she responded.

 

 

 

Somewhere in the Caribbean Sea

 

 

The yacht moved effortlessly through the three-foot waves. She was a well-designed craft, built for speed and comfort. The large crew took care of every detail and performed like clockwork. The massive interior quarters resembled any Wall Street conference room with ease. No luxurious detail was spared. The passengers inside barely felt any disturbance from the rolling swells. This was fortunate, as they needed to focus on the task at hand.

They were seated around the sunken table, a round table if you will, so no one would feel less important. The national egos involved here were an issue to be dealt with.

This was deadly serious business. When one is making war against a superpower that is not entirely aware of it, one must be careful and deliberate in one’s decisions. Even if that superpower is waning in its capability to project power, one must be sure in one’s actions.

“The Americans will never respond. They are too weak,” the Russian said first. “We must strike while we have the opportunity.” He reached out to accept tea from a steward who was making the rounds while he spoke. He waited for the next person to interject. He didn’t like the Chinese or the Iranians but for now they served a purpose, Russia’s longer-term purpose. But he was wary, he didn’t trust any of these men.

“I have no problem attacking, but we must be sure the time is right. We are in no hurry. We will not have a second chance at this and must undertake this endeavor correctly,” said one of the Chinese participants. “The tiger still has his teeth.”

“Our forces are ready,” said the Iranian. “We are ready to bring the Great Satan to her knees. We are ready to start this conflict that is demanded by God. He will have us prevail.”

“Enough of the religious crap,” said the Chinese representative arrogantly. “Our governments have agreed to work together to destroy the United States of America. The Chinese people have done our part to devalue their currency and to control most of the precious metal and rare earth resources in the world. Now your job is to drive them into bankruptcy by starting a war they cannot afford but will surely try to prosecute.”

“The Iranian armed forces will do their duty,” said the Iranian diplomat. “We are massing as we speak for the attack. Our casualties will be heavy but our strength and determination will never be broken.”

“And the Russian people will begin to sell their U.S. treasury securities immediately upon the start of hostilities,” the Russian emissary added. We will also stop using the dollar as a trade currency which will add further downward pressure on its value. The swap lines between the Ruble and the Yuan have been established.

“As will the Chinese. The American’s economic power will be decimated,” said the Chinese leader. “The United States Dollar will cease to be a global currency. At that time we will gather here again and make plans to destroy her power completely.”

 

 

 

Scientific Institute

Eleuthera, Bahamas

 

Kate paced the floor in her room at the compound. She had to clear her mind to think.

She loved Connor. He deserved to be loved. But could she always be there for him? Her job could take her anywhere in the world. It was dangerous. What would happen to him if he lost another woman? Well he was strong, she knew that. But he might never trust and love again. Was it best to break it off now? Before anyone got hurt? She knew in her heart that this investigation could take her down very difficult and dangerous paths. The future of her country was more important to her than a relationship with a lover. She had made this decision on priorities in her life long ago. She had taken an oath. An oath she meant to uphold. Nothing had changed in her mind to make her alter that path.

She paced some more and took another sip of black tea. It helped calm her nerves. She looked out the balcony window at the rolling, blue surf pounding the beach. The stillness was captivating. She loved the peacefulness here.

What a beautiful scene, she thought. Too bad I can’t enjoy it.

They had searched the cay that Alex identified as a possible location of the gold. It had of course turned up empty. There was a surreal feeling the entire time during the dive that Alex’s heart was not in the search. That made Kate wonder even more what was happening.

“Alex felt our cautiousness,” she said to herself.

Now she was frightened. What was going on? She drank more tea. It was going to be a rough night.

She considered pulling out her ace in the hole.

“It is not time yet for that,” she said aloud.

 

To say that Kate was connected was an understatement.

During her college years at Haverford in Pennsylvania, she became fast friends with a certain Elizabeth Walker. After rooming together the first semester as freshmen, they became inseparable. Kate was even the maid of honor at Elizabeth’s wedding several years back. They were like sisters from a different mother. In fact Elizabeth’s mother died of cancer earlier in her childhood. She was raised by her father and Kate became like a second child to him.

It just so happened that Mr. Walker was then Governor of Pennsylvania, who went on recently to become the president of the United States.

 

No, it was not time to play that card yet.

Kate knew what she had to do. She had to distance herself from Connor. Her country was facing a mortal threat. She could no longer allow her feelings for him to interfere with her duty to her oath.

 

Out of college, Kate was recruited by a shadowy government agency. Once on board and through training, she was asked to join a highly selective team tasked with protecting the economic stability of the United States of America. She earned this assignment by her own hard work and talent. She was not going to throw away her reputation by crying to the president for help.

She was close to finding out who the entity was and the agenda behind that threat. Personal feelings could not be allowed to jeopardize this effort. There were people depending on her. The whole damn country was depending on her. She would figure it out on her own and stop them.

She made her decision.

She would get out of Connor’s life, however painful that may be to both of them.

 

 

 

July 15, 2017

Strait of Hormuz

 

 

It was 2:00 a.m. when Commander Zarin and his crew of nine silently left the secluded cover of the salt mine and slowly made their way out of the man-made canal into the open ocean. The sky was overcast, so they relied on night vision goggles for navigation, but even these did not provide much help in the blackness. They were thankful for the low visibility, it would provide concealment. They had eaten their last meal and prayed to Allah for glory. They were ready. They were ready to meet their God.

The U.S. Navy task force was making its way through the Strait of Hormuz a few miles in front of them, protecting the crucial channel and ensuring free navigation of international waters.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet had completed this maneuver hundreds of times over the years in their effort to keep this critical waterway open for international commerce and specifically twenty percent of the world’s oil supply. It was a routine mission.

There were hostilities in the past. The conflict resulted in the sinking of multiple Iranian naval vessels and the accidental downing of an Iranian airliner by the U.S.S. Vincennes in the 1980s.

The Iranian Navy during this time had mined the strait in order to impede the flow of oil to the West. A U.S. ship struck one of these mines and was almost sunk. In response, the Americans destroyed several Iranian armed oil platforms and sunk several enemy craft of various sizes.

The airline disaster was the result of an overexcited captain aboard the U.S. ship, who thought the airliner was an Iranian F-14 commencing an attack run. It was unfortunate and highlighted the fog of war that Clausewitz had written about. In war, decisions are sometimes made without all of the critical information.

That was some time ago, and no one was expecting what was about to happen. The American radars and other sensors were active, but there was not a sense of urgency. The Iranians now hoped to exploit this.

Commander Zarin was not the only one silently leaving their harbor. Over three hundred small vessels, which were painstakingly hidden over the last twelve months, were making their way into the open ocean from their places of concealment. Soon the American radars would pick them up, but it would be too late. At the appropriate prearranged time, under radio silence, all of the small vessels gunned their engines and made their way towards the American force. They swarmed like bees as they rushed the much larger ships.

It was asymmetric warfare at its finest.

 

Lieutenant Vince Armstrong was in the Officers’ Mess having coffee with two other off-duty naval officers when the call to battle stations startled him and the others. He gulped the half-full mug down and slammed it on the table, racing to the flight deck of the USS Nashville, which was his post. The ship was an amphibious assault vessel full of U.S. marines, their vehicles, and gear. Their assigned mission was to deploy U.S. marines anywhere in the world to project American power. There was a helipad on the rear of the ship for rotary wing landings.

He arrived on the flight deck a minute later and donned his battle gear. The flight control area was submerged beneath the deck with only a glass encasement rising from the ship to allow the controllers to put their heads above the deck to direct flight operations.

Once inside, he asked the on-duty officer for a status report to get up to speed on the situation at hand.

“We have a CH-53 inbound,” said the duty officer. “He’s bringing supplies. Thirty seconds out.”

“We’ll he’d better hurry,” said Lt. Armstrong.

He grabbed the microphone for the air control frequency.

“Specter Two-six, this is Alpha One. Proceed with haste. Situation on board,” he ordered.

Below decks, the company of U.S. marines on board were also stowing their gear and preparing for the worst. It was like being a passenger on an airplane. There was absolutely nothing they could do during a naval engagement but wait there in the hull like the sitting ducks they were. They waited for the day when they could be deployed in-country or storm a beach as they had been trained. Here they were useless.

They donned battle gear, checked and tightened the tie downs on their vehicles, and waited.

 

Commander Zarin raced into the open water. He was thrilled and consumed with passion for his God. Soon he would go to him. His emotions were overwhelming.

He could not see or hear them, but he knew that hundreds of other boats were massing on the same targets, the elements of the U.S. Fifth Fleet currently steaming through the strait.

He barked commands to his crew.

“Turn on the radar and prepare to fire!” he said loudly but calmly.

He was at peace and ready to meet his maker.

In the electronic control room of the USS San Jacinto, the radar emissions of Commander Zarin’s craft was noted by the electronic warfare officer, who relayed countermeasures and notified his commander. But it was one of many signatures painted on the scope. There were hundreds of targets, and they were busy trying to prioritize and engage each one. The San Jacinto was the Aegis class ship responsible for defending the fleet against attack. Its advanced radar tracking system could engage over a hundred targets at once.

But tonight even this system was not up to the task at hand.

The commander of the task force had already given the order to fire in order to defend his force. The electronic warfare officer passed this target to a U.S. Air Force asset circling above. This was obviously the real thing, the lieutenant junior grade thought to himself. The adrenaline rushed through his veins.

 

Commander Zarin fired the Silkworm missile at the nearest target that displayed on his radar. The missile roared from the catamaran and screamed towards the ship. Simultaneously he saw fireballs emerge up and down the strait to his left and right as other Iranian ships fired as well. He felt a joy he had never experienced before. He was doing God’s will. He closed his eyes and prepared to meet his maker.

The Marine CH-53 was hovering over the helipad at the stern of the ship. Lt. Armstrong was in communication with the pilot, talking him down in the darkness. This was a delicate operation.

The pilot of the aircraft had no visible horizon as he stared out into the blackness of the night ocean sky. It was literally like looking into a black hole. He could not tell if he was moving up, down, left, or right. The only information he had was that provided by his instruments and his crew.

The ship bobbed up and down beneath him. As he tried to maintain a level hover over the moving ship, his crew talked him down.

“Left one, right two, down one,” the flight engineer said as he looked down at the helipad through his night vision goggles. The tubes magnified tiny amounts of ambient light and provided a greenish, fuzzy picture to those wearing them. Even so, the crewman could barely see the deck below him on this dark night. Finally with only a few feet separating the helicopter from the ship, the pilot pushed down the collective and slammed the aircraft onto the deck. The crewmen raced in to tie her down as the cargo was unloaded. It was more of a controlled crash than a landing.

As the wheels connected with the ship, the copilot looked out the left side of his windscreen into the blackness over the ocean. He saw a bright spot of light heading directly for the ship at supersonic speed. He yanked up on the collective to get the helicopter airborne and screamed into the mic at the same time.

“Missile inbound!” he shouted.

It was too late.

The warhead struck the rear doors of the LPD, obliterating the stern of the vessel. The fireball engulfed the helicopter. Water rushed into the hold of the ship, where the marines were waiting.

Lt. Armstrong had one final look at the sky before Marine armaments below exploded and blew the ship in half.