Exit Plan

resolve this question today. Ray, what’s Plan B for Opal?”

Kirkpatrick answered, “I’m going to ask Dr. Joanna Patterson to brief you. She will be the action officer for this operation. She’s familiar with submarine operations and the technological issues.”

Joanna didn’t stand up. It was too intimate a setting, and besides, many men felt threatened by a tall woman. She ignored the others in the room and spoke directly to the president. “It’s really a variation of the original plan. Without going into too much detail, Pilot planned to smuggle Opal out by boat. Since we’ve lost Pilot, we will use a different boat. USS Michigan is in the theater and has a detachment of SEALs embarked, and is carrying a minisub. We need to use subs because the coast is heavily patrolled by IRGC Navy small craft.

“Michigan will make a submerged approach to the thirty-fathom line, a point approximately eight nautical miles off the coast, by the port city of Bandar Kangan, then launch the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, or ASDS minisub. It will close to within a few hundred yards from the shoreline — really, almost shouting distance. The SEALs will leave the ASDS while it’s submerged, swim ashore, rendezvous with Opal, and bring him and his wife back to the minisub. The SEALs, Opal, and his spouse will swim back on the surface to the ASDS, which will broach as they approach so that the swimmers can use the upper hatch. Once on board, the ASDS will rendezvous with Michigan, dock, and we’re done. It’s a simple plan, but simpler is always better.”

“Simple, except for the part about commandos and nuclear submarines,” answered Myles, smiling. “I assume this is being done at night?”

Patterson answered, “Actually, sir, we’re recommending the end of nautical twilight, or last light. While the SEALs prefer to operate at night, the civilians will need some daylight to find their way to the rendezvous point. And late-night activity on the coast can draw attention from passing patrols. The SEALs are trained to handle that, but the civilians are not. However, a couple out for a stroll on the beach during the evening glow is not an unusual event, even in Iran.”

“How long will the SEALs be exposed?” asked Secretary of Defense Springfield.

“If Opal is at the right place, at the right time, ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Even with civilians, the use of GPS significantly increases the chances of a quick rendezvous. Opal has a GPS device and he knows how to use it.”

“And if they’re discovered?” asked Myles.

“They run back to the water, hopefully with Opal, and leave,” Patterson answered. “They only risk exposure when they actually leave the water to make contact, and if bad guys are in sight, they just won’t go ashore.”

She added, “CENTCOM will have an RC-135 SIGINT aircraft on standing patrol in the gulf. It will monitor radio and phone transmissions in the area. They’re also tasking a medium-endurance UAV to monitor the rendezvous point. If either one sees anything amiss, we can warn the SEALs off.”

Myles looked at his notepad. “What’s the thirty-fathom curve?”

She answered, “The line on the chart where the water depth becomes less than thirty fathoms, a hundred and eighty feet. Nuclear subs can’t maneuver well in shallow water, especially ones as big as Michigan.”

“How far is that line out from shore?” the president asked.

“At that part of the coast, a little over eight nautical miles, sir.” Opening her folio, she took out a map and handed it to the president. “This shows the route of Michigan and the proposed pick-up point. This is Bandar Kangan, the nearest major city — really no more than a small town.” Myles nodded and returned the sheet. She quickly put it away, and did not show the map to anyone else in the room.

“There is a risk,” Lloyd insisted. “If the Iranians discover us in their waters, they’d consider it an act of war.”

“They won’t find Michigan or the ASDS,” the SECDEF replied confidently. “The Iranian Navy operates to the east of the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. The IRGC Navy has responsibility for operations inside the gulf, and they have no antisubmarine warfare capability whatsoever.

Hughes and Ramsdale both nodded in agreement, but Lloyd didn’t look satisfied.

“Why does Michigan have to go into Iranian territorial waters?” Myles asked.

Patterson answered, “To shorten the run for the ASDS.”

“Could the ASDS travel the distance if Michigan stayed outside the twelve-mile limit?” he asked.

Joanna paused, considering a moment before answering. “Yes, sir. It has a range of a hundred and twenty- five nautical miles at five knots.”

“So a total run of what? — twenty-five or thirty miles, is well within its abilities, and at least Michigan is in the clear. Will it affect the timing of the operation?”

Patterson studied her notes. “Not significantly, sir. Michigan will be on station well before the ASDS is launched. It will double their time inside the ASDS, but it’s ‘dry,’ so fatigue isn’t the problem it was with earlier vehicles.”

“Then is there any other reason to put a nuclear submarine inside Iranian waters?”

Patterson looked at Kirkpatrick, Hughes, and Ramsdale. They’d built the plan together but had never considered keeping Michigan back. They all looked unhappy, but nobody spoke.

“Then change the plan so that Michigan remains outside Iranian territorial waters. Also, add in a slight buffer to guard against any navigation errors,” Myles ordered.

“We’re still violating their territory,” Kirkpatrick reminded him.

“I understand that, Ray, but perceptions are important. And in this instance, there is a very big difference between the ASDS and a very large cruise missile-armed nuclear submarine.”

Patterson nodded, making notes. “We’ll make the change immediately.”

“It would be better if we didn’t have to send anyone into their territory,” Lloyd insisted. “If we’re discovered, the Iranians will turn it into a major incident.”

“Like they need an excuse,” the SECDEF muttered.

“Let’s not hand them one,” Lloyd countered, annoyed. “Imagine the propaganda campaign if they capture U.S. commandos lured ashore by someone pretending to be an American agent.”

The SECDEF shook his head. “They don’t show themselves until it’s clear, and they’ll only be on the beach for ten or fifteen minutes. Mr. President, I agree with Ray and his people. Either we do this, and accept the low risk, or lose Opal and the information he carries. And what about the propaganda coup if VEVAK arrests Opal?”

Lloyd persisted. “I’m assuming there’s nobody else in Iran — anywhere — that we can use to get Opal out of the country.”

Patterson started to answer, but Foster broke in. “That was our first choice, Mr. Secretary, but again, without giving too much detail, Opal’s movements are being watched. We are using this secondary plan,” Foster said, emphasizing the word, “because my people don’t have any safe way to get him and his wife out quickly.” He motioned toward Hughes and Rams-dale. “When we couldn’t do it, we asked the Navy and SOCOM to help.”

The CIA director turned back to Patterson. “Michigan will be on station by 1600 hours local time tomorrow. With your approval to proceed, the operation will start about an hour later. By this time on Thursday, Opal should be safe and the information should be in our hands.”

Myles and Patterson both scanned the room. Lloyd looked unhappy, and Duvall grim, but there we no dissenters. “All right, Dr. Patterson, gentlemen, proceed with the operation.”

South of Shiraz

Bushehr Province, Iran

They headed south on Highway 65, another couple on an excursion to Bandar Kangan. They’d made reservations for three nights at a modest hotel near the ocean. After a drive to the coast and lunch in Bandar Tahari, Shirin and Yousef would explore some of the ancient Persian ruins before arriving in Bandar Kangan by midafternoon. The next day, they’d visit a national park farther down the coast before beginning the return trip home.

Shirin’s mother, Mehry, had completely approved. “You spend too much time indoors, Shirin. Maybe underground, if the stories I’ve heard are true.”

“Mother, please don’t repeat rumors.”

“Go. Take walks by the ocean. Get some fresh air. We’ll have plenty of time to visit later.”