“Well, it’s just the nature of our business, you know? I mean, we live a pretty normal life here in the office. But once in a while, people we know — our colleagues — go in harm’s way and sometimes they get harmed. For some reason, it just struck me that I’d never really envisioned Frank or most of our people actually doing what they do. Getting in gunfights, killing people to avoid being killed or maimed.” He looked at her. “You know what I mean?”
Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael squirmed slightly. She sensed the potential for an interservice rivalry, but she was well paid to speak her mind on professional matters. “Well, Admiral, yes I do. I mean, that’s pretty much what we do in the Army. I understand that the Navy has other roles and missions…”
Derringer flinched visibly. “Ouch. Or should I say
Carmichael accepted victory gracefully. Besides, she harbored genuine affection for her boss.
“Well, I suppose that’s just the luck of the draw, Admiral. I mean, the Air Force doesn’t have much of a direct role in the war on terrorism, either. At least not the big-ticket items like air superiority fighters and stealth bombers and such.”
He waved a hand. “Ah, you’re just being magnanimous, Sandy. But you don’t have to coddle an old sea dog. We sailors grow pretty thick skins, you know, facing hurricane winds and staring into sun-bleached skies.”
The SSI operations officer thought for a moment. “Admiral, it seems to me that we’re doing a decent business because we
Derringer swiveled slightly in his chair, obviously more receptive to the turn in the conversation. “It wasn’t very hard to predict, Sandy. The way Bush Forty-one and Clinton and Congress rushed to downsize, the opportunity was there for anybody who could look downstream a few years. The military was bound to be caught short, and civilian contractors were well positioned to pick up the slack.” He fought down a self-congratulatory grin. “Now DoD can’t do without us.”
She nodded. “So we’re back to Square One. Our friends go to interesting places and get shot at.”
Derringer squinted at the attractive Alabaman. He recalled that she had killed two of three Muslim assassins sent to destroy SSI’s headquarters last year. “You’d go with them if you could, wouldn’t you?”
“In a New York minute, Admiral.”
“But what about your girls?”
“Well, Kippy’s starting college, and Patty could stay with Nyle and Carol.”
Derringer shook his head. “Nyle and Carol?”
“Oh, my brother’s family. Actually, I’ve discussed it with them and it would be okay for a while.” She smiled. “Besides, they’d love the chance to spoil her.”
“Sandy, listen up.” Derringer leaned forward on the desk, hands clasped before him. “There are some contracts I’d allow you to work in the field, but this job in Lebanon is not one of them. You receiving me, Colonel?”
She bit her lip. “Five by five, Admiral. Five by five.”
Mohammad Azizi found Esmaili working with the budding snipers. The man from Tehran crooked a finger at Esmaili, who left the shooters to continue under Essam Tawfiq.
Azizi led Esmaili off to a safe distance before speaking. “How are they progressing?”
“Three of the six are satisfactory, especially the boy, Hazim. But he is more motivated than the others.”
“What of the other three?”
Esmaili shrugged. “One might progress, given more time. As for the others, I see more enthusiasm than dedication.” He looked over his shoulder at the group. “I believe they volunteered for the prestige.”
“Then we may consider them to be expendable?”
Ahmad Esmaili’s professional antennae sensed the political atmosphere and sent a warning message to his personal receptors.
Azizi regarded his colleague carefully, as if uncertain of the cell leader’s intent. Finally he replied, “Surely, we all do Allah’s will.” He almost smiled. “But some can serve God sooner than others, if you understand my meaning.”
Esmaili thought:
“They must be in Beirut tomorrow night. There is a situation developing that will benefit us in the near future if certain measures can be taken soon.”
“I do not understand the urgency. After all, there are much more experienced men in Beirut than any of these… boys.”
Azizi glanced at the nascent snipers, then turned back to their leader. “The need is twofold, Esmaili. First is security. The target is already aware of the threat it faces, but that is localized. We can get your… boys… into the area without going through the usual channels. Secondly, the target area is well defended and capably manned. It is unlikely that the snipers will survive, but if they achieve even part of their mission, that is acceptable.”
Esmaili wanted to ask
“Exactly so.”
With no alternative, Esmaili yielded to the situation. “I will have them ready for you this evening.”
Azizi raised a hand. “Oh, forgive me, brother, if I did not make myself plain. You see, I shall show the way, but they are going with you.”
17
The briefing was largely a lie but it had to be.
Azizi closed the door of the building that had served as headquarters for Esmaili’s unit, and had been usurped by Imam Elham. The cleric was absent at the moment, but Azizi had dropped some hints that the forthcoming operation carried not only his knowledge, but consent.
Esmaili’s sniper students sat on benches, appearing eager or pensive depending upon their state of training and motivation. All they knew was that a mission was pending, and that two would be accorded the honor of conducting it.
“Our unit has been selected for an operation in Beirut,” Esmaili began. “Brother Azizi informs me that two men will be needed, and time is short. I think it best if you hear the details directly from him.”
As he stepped aside, Esmaili glanced at Hazim. The boy seemed confident of himself, and not without reason. He was generally the best shooter in the class, always eager to earn approval. The others were interested in sniping; Hazim was devoted to it.
Azizi went straight to the point.
“There is an American mercenary team at a Druze compound in Northwest Beirut. Our operatives have been watching them since they arrived. We believe that the Zionist lackeys are about to move into this area to train the local militias, and we intend to prevent that from occurring.” He paused for effect. “After consulting with brother Esmaili, I have selected two of you to undertake the dangerous task of destroying some of the Great Satan’s minions.”
Hazim squirmed in anticipation. He appeared positively radiant.
Azizi intoned, “Ebrahim Larijani and Moshen Yazdi, stand up.”
