handpicked twenty Iranian Special Forces troopers, and a fire-support element under the direct command of Brigadier Khohollah. He had chosen his newly appointed adjutant, Captain Jamshid Komard, as the actual field commander of the heavy-weapons organization. They were set up for rapid deployment to specific areas when needed. The brigadier had chosen two types of support weapons that would be excellent in the confinement of mountain warfare. They were German MG-3 7.62-millimeter machine guns and a particularly nasty Spanish grenade launcher designated the LAG-40. This crew-served, bipod-mounted weapon was belt-fed from detachable twenty- four- or thirty-two-round ammo boxes that could be fed into the breech from either side. It fired the 40-millimeter projectiles at a rate of 215 rounds a minute with a maximum range of 1500 meters, offering a potential of small but deadly detonations of HE that could be concentrated in a small area or spread across a space up to 100 meters wide. This could be accomplished by well-trained crews employing accurately timed two- and three-second pulls on the trigger.
Khohollah could also expect infusions of Arab insurgents from time to time. These would be graduates of the Iranian Special Forces Training Center set up to prepare the mujahideen for unconventional warfare. After the tough eight-week course, the volunteers were destined to be funneled into Sikes Pasha's unit. The Brit enjoyed the very real possibility that he might end up with a hundred or so fully equipped and well-trained assault riflemen under his direct command.
But for the time being, both Sikes Pasha and Captain Naser Khadid's commands were divided into small combat teams of riflemen armed with French FA-MAS 5.56-millimeter rifles. These weapons had selective firing, including burst capabilities, and their worth had already been proven countless times by French armed forces particularly the Foreign Legion in operations as widespread as Lebanon and Bosnia. All twenty of the Iranian SF personnel were graduates of the Iranian Army's tough twelve-week mountain survival and combat course, and were capable of splitting up and grouping as the tactical situation dictated.
However, the most colorful unit in the Iranian force was Sikes Pasha's Arabs, the al-Askerin-Zaubi. They had been issued the latest Iranian camouflage uniforms that were patterned after the type used by the Russian Army. Sikes Pasha had his corporals and sergeants retain their British chevrons, although he wore the device of an Iranian major. Also, Warrant Officer Shafaqat had changed the crown insignia of the British for the single bar of an ostvar, the Iranian equivalent of his rank. Each member of the unit was back in his keffiyeh headdress with the akal to hold it in place. Everyone, from Brigadier Shahruz Khohollah down to the lowest-ranking rifleman in Khadid's rifle teams, now referred to the egotistical Brit as Sikes Pasha. A special order from the Iranian High Command mandated the courtesy. It was not as much to commend Sikes as it was to attract additional Shiite Arabs to the cause.
The Iranian government spared no expense for this elite fighting force. Every officer and man was supplied with modern night-vision capabilities, communications that included LASH headsets, the latest in field rations, first-aid kits, and comfort items such as ponchos and small camp stoves.
The fortified position occupied by the Zaheya along the Afghan border had been constructed a year and a half before by Iranian Army personnel under the supervision of Russian military engineers. They and their construction equipment and machines had been flown in undetected by a small fleet of Mi-10 flying crane helicopters at a time when the area was largely ignored. A high mountain field with an empty flat terrain offered a perfect landing spot.
The Russian job bosses took advantage of a series of caves in the area, connecting them with deep trenches and well-fortified fighting positions that faced eastward toward Afghanistan. Wells were also sunk to bring up pure cold artesian water. No doubt, any veterans of the Soviet-Afghan War among the supervisors were delighted to be constructing a project that had the fantastic potential of contributing to a future defeat of the Afghan fighters who had made their lives so miserable back in the 1980s.
The Iranian officers coordinating the effort emphasized the need for protection against aerial attack since the chance of Western air forces being engaged against the site was almost a certainty. The Russians complied by reinforcing the fortifications with tiers of heavy logs and packed earth. The caves required no additional construction or alterations.
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1 JUNE
0700 HOURS
BRIGADIER Shahruz Khohollah stood in front of his assembled force in the field that once served construction helicopters. To his left, he saw Sikes Pasha and his twenty-man force of al-Askerin-Zaubi. The Storm Troopers looked magnificent and nearly exotic with their keffiyehs as they stood at a strict position of attention. They seemed like a unit from the old British colonial days when white officers, often from working-class backgrounds, turned to the dangers and uncertainties of isolated areas in Queen Victoria's far-flung empire as their only chance for military fame and glory. The old tradition was now being carried out by Archibald Sikes, an English lad from working-class Manchester.
The middle formation of the brigadier's force was made up of Captain Naser Khadid and the twenty Iranian Special Forces troopers. They had adopted the name Shiraane Saltanat: the Imperial Lions. The Shiraane as they were referred to within the Zaheya were clad in camouflage battle dress, sporting the black berets of Special Forces. These were modern empire-builders, drawn into an impending do-or-die war by an overly ambitious government.
And over to the brigadier's right was the fire-support group led by Captain Jamshid Komard. They were dressed in the same uniforms as the Special Forces, except their headgear consisted of small black turbans styled in the manner of those widely worn in northern Iran. This detachment was divided into three two-man crews for the LAG-40 grenade launchers and seven two-man crews for the MG-3 machine guns. These were pragmatic, determined men who had taken no special name for themselves. It was enough knowing that the riflemen would depend on them for covering fire to accomplish assigned missions whether attacking or defending.
Now Brigadier Khohollah called them to stand at ease. Soldiers! he addressed them. You have been brought here as a vanguard. This is a great honor for a small fighting group such as us. There are great plans that will result in our nation and religion avenging the past injustices and encroachments of the West. These are humiliations that have been forced on us for over ninety years. The people of the Middle East will revere you, the people of Europe and America will fear you, and Allah will reward you.
He had chosen his words carefully to placate Sikes Pasha's men. They would be needed, like all their brethren, to advance Iran's ambitions. Later, when that area of the globe was completely dominated by Iranians, the Arabs' native countries would be ruled by military governors sent out from Tehran. This was the colonial modus operandi of the ancient Persian Empire.
Now Khohollah began pacing up and down as he continued. There have been setbacks, as we all know. But such unfortunate instances were expected, and we do not reel from these small defeats. The big attack will begin from here and by you. Are you ready?
Cries of Bale, Satrip and Aiwa, Zaim came from the Zaheya troops as they made affirmative replies in Farsi and Arabic.
Detachment commanders! Khohollah bellowed. Take charge of your commands and move them into their fighting positions.
Sikes Pasha, Captain Khadid, and Captain Komard called their separate units to attention, then faced them to the west to begin marching to what was to become their front lines.
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CORONADO, CALIFORNIA
3 JUNE
1400 HOURS
PENNY Brubaker came downstairs from the expansive two-story home she had leased as a residence for her and her cousin Stephanie and hubby Harrington Gilwright during the wait for Chad Murchison's return. They had one full-time maid for cooking, laundry, and light housekeeping, and an agreement with a maid service that sent over a team of women to clean the large house a couple of times a week. The luxury domicile was located in a gated community on the east side of Coronado looking out over San Diego Bay.
Penny walked across the dining area and out onto the patio, where Stephanie and Harrington sat at the canopied table. When Penny joined them, she could see that Harrington was already well into his cups. A shaker of martinis was by his elbow, along with a bowl of olives already spitted on picks for the many drinks he planned on consuming. He held the long-stemmed glass in his hands, sipping lightly from it. Penny sat down, frowning at her
