Dr. Black
Malcolm Black was jarred awake by the rocking of the Land Rover. The roads in this part of China were not as well maintained as one might hope, and he hadn’t been able to get much rest on his way to the airport. He turned to look out the window, and noticed light creeping over the horizon. This would be the last sunrise he would see in China, because he was finally going home.
Malcolm reached into his jacket and retrieved a small photo of his wife and daughter, smiling back at him from their small apartment in New Jersey. He had brought it to remind himself why he had taken this assignment; thanks to the substantial consultant’s fee he had been paid, they could finally have the life they deserved.
A couple of months ago, he had been contacted by a military officer named Selik; he had heard about Malcolm from his thesis paper on yellowcake uranium and its potential applications for military use. Hailing from a relatively unknown country known as Derbaran, Major Selik had indicated that his government had an interest in uranium R&D and needed a consultant. Malcolm hadn’t been interested – until the Major mentioned the commission rate. For leading a team of Derbaran scientists through a uranium lab in southern China, he would return home debt-free and with enough money left over to provide a comfortable life for himself and his family.
His phone rang as his driver pulled into the airport.
“Black here,” he answered.
“Dr. Black, this is Major Selik. I am calling to thank you for your efforts in China. I have received reports from our scientists and they stated that your training and expertise was invaluable to them.” Selik’s tone was formal, but Black couldn’t help but feel there was more to this phone call than a simple thank-you.
“It’s nothing, Major, just doing what you paid me to do.” Malcolm chose his words carefully. “I don’t mean to cut our conversation short, but my plane is boarding and…”
“I would like you on a different plane, Dr. Black. We have need of you in Derbaran for a few days more.” There was an edge of finality in his statement. “Before you say anything, I want you to understand that your visit to Derbaran is of vital importance to our country. You will be paid double what we have already given you if you choose to come. I hope to meet you soon.” The phone went silent.
Malcolm wanted to contest, but instead he silently watched the plane to New York take flight. He would have to wait a few more days to see his family.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Resistance Strengthens
Two days later…
“Thank you for coming to see me on such short notice, Major,” Zaripov said from behind his desk. He motioned for Selik to sit down.
“Of course, sir. You can always count on me.” Selik took the seat in front of his desk. “What questions did you have on my report?”
“Before we get to your report, tell me how Black has responded to our offer,” Zaripov asked.
“He seems fine with everything. I think he can be trusted; he will make enough money in the next few days to be set for life. Also, he seems to be a devoted family man and wouldn’t do anything to risk his wife or child.”
“Excellent, everyone is happy then.” Zaripov smiled. “Now, it says here that the weapons you uncovered are a bit of a mystery?”
“Not so much a mystery sir, we know where they came from and how they were made, we just can’t trace who made them. These weapons should be easily traceable, as only a few companies make guns as sophisticated as this. However, these guns are counterfeit, constructed from legal parts you can pretty much find anywhere on the planet.”
“So the N.I.U. is constructing illicit guns. How can they have the resources to do that?” Zaripov asked.
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Stars…
At the N.I.U. stronghold
General Karmali had even more questions now than before he interviewed the War Rock witnesses. While he was sure of the power and value of the War Rock, he could not determine what it was. At the same time, things were tense for the N.I.U. tribal leaders. While they were committed to the cause, they were superstitious, and rumors about the War Rock being a sign of doom from heaven were spreading like wildfire. Adding to Karmali’s problems was the fact that the People’s Press had somehow gotten hold of the witness’ account, probably during the Derbaran counterattack to try and recover the witnesses.
Karmali recalled the interrogation with the witness of the War Rock…
“Stars…” said the boy, with a vacant look on his face.
“What do you mean by ‘stars,’ boy?” Karmali asked gently. The witnesses were sympathetic to the N.I.U. cause anyway; there was no need to be harsh.
“Inside the rock, it looked like it was full of stars…that’s all I remember sir…”
None of this sat well with Karmali. He called in Captain Ramazan.
“General, you called for me?” Ramazan said as he walked into Karmali’s office.
“Captain, I have need of your talents.” Karmali got right to the point. “Take the Desert Dogs and get me information about the War Rock. The Derbaran have a secret information stockpile here, in this town.” He pointed to a wall map of the Republic of Derbaran. “I wish I knew more, but all I know is that the storage facility is called ‘the Bloc.’ Find it; get me something that I can use. I’m tired of being in the dark here.”
“Consider it done, General. I will contact you as soon as I have your information.” Ramazan left quickly; Karmali’s impatience demanded immediate results.
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The Source Discovered
Selik was ecstatic. Finally, some answers! He thought to himself as he walked through the sprawling headquarters that led to Zaripov’s office. Everything made sense now. Selik was proud that Nightwatch 1 had been able to come through for Zaripov. Only by chance had one of his lieutenants recognized the man from Apollo Defense Systems during a stakeout of an N.I.U. supply shipment; it seemed that luck was on his side today.
Apollo Defense Systems was a huge multinational company capable of supplying Karmali with the assets to continue the war. After recognizing the man from Apollo, it did not take much research to confirm that the company was heavily invested in Karmali’s operation. Zaripov must know about this as soon as possible; he could likely put a stop to Karmali’s shipments from Apollo within the week. Finally he reached Zaripov’s office. He ignored the secretary’s cries of protest and burst through the doors.
“Sir!” he exclaimed before thinking. But the office was empty; Zaripov was not there.
“Like I tried to tell you…” Zaripov’s secretary had caught up with him, her tone edgy and her face indignant. “He’s not in at the moment. I can schedule an appointment for you as soon as he gets back…”
Stupid woman. Selik cut her off before her self-importance got the better of her. “Yes, do that. Have him contact me as soon as he can, tell him it’s urgent.” Where could he have gone to at this time? Surely the war demanded that he stay in the protective care of Nightwatch 1. How did Zaripov slip beneath his radar?
The Pursuit Continues
Karmali left the meeting fully convinced that taking on Apollo Defense Systems as a partner in the war was one of the best decisions he had ever made. Truly, if it were not for Apollo, he would probably still be in the military, working as Zaripov’s lapdog. The information they had shared with him convinced him that Derbaran would be heading down a path of destruction if Zaripov were allowed to remain in control.
Today Karmali was to meet them about a Derbaran arms shipment that the N.I.U. had intercepted. These new weapons and armor were more advanced than anything the N.I.U. had in its arsenal, and Apollo was going to mimic the designs for N.I.U. use.
His phone rang; it was Ramazan.
“Hello, Captain. I trust you have good news for me?” Karmali asked hopefully.
“Yes and no sir.” Ramazan didn’t want to get Karmali’s hopes up.
“Just spit it out, Ramazan. Don’t be coy,” Karmali chided.
“Well sir, we captured the Bloc, but we left due to information that the War Rock was being moved from its current location not far from the Bloc. One of the Derbaran officers cracked under questioning and told us the War Rock was being held at Kahli, which would never have considered due to the arms convention going on...”
“Where are you now, Captain?” Karmali knew there was more to the story.
“At Kahli. The convention ended a few days ago but there was still a small Derbaran force there. After we dispatched them we searched everywhere. The War Rock is not here… it was moved before we arrived. Whatever this ‘War Rock’ is, it certainly moves around a lot. We are going to attempt to track it down, but Derbaran reinforcements are closing in fast,” Ramazan explained.
“Very well. Good work, Captain. Continue your course and let’s see where it leads us. Let me know when you find out more.” Karmali trusted Ramazan above all his other soldiers, so he was allowed to operate on his own without direct orders from superiors.
“Yes sir.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Pursuit Continues
Karmali left the meeting fully convinced that taking on Apollo Defense Systems as a partner in the war was one of the best decisions he had ever made. Truly, if it were not for Apollo, he would probably still be in the military, working as Zaripov’s lapdog. The information they had shared with him convinced him that Derbaran would be heading down a path of destruction if Zaripov were allowed to remain in control.
Today Karmali was to meet them about a Derbaran arms shipment that the N.I.U. had intercepted. These new weapons and armor were more advanced than anything the N.I.U. had in its arsenal, and Apollo was going to mimic the designs for N.I.U. use.
His phone rang; it was Ramazan.
“Hello, Captain. I trust you have good news for me?” Karmali asked hopefully.
“Yes and no sir.” Ramazan didn’t want to get Karmali’s hopes up.
“Just spit it out, Ramazan. Don’t be coy,” Karmali chided.
“Well sir, we captured the Bloc, but we left due to information that the War Rock was being moved from its current location not far from the Bloc. One of the Derbaran officers cracked under questioning and told us the War Rock was being held at Kahli, which would never have considered due to the arms convention going on...”
“Where are you now, Captain?” Karmali knew there was more to the story.
“At Kahli. The convention ended a few days ago but there was still a small Derbaran force there. After we dispatched them we searched everywhere. The War Rock is not here… it was moved before we arrived. Whatever this ‘War Rock’ is, it certainly moves around a lot. We are going to attempt to track it down, but Derbaran reinforcements are closing in fast,” Ramazan explained.
“Very well. Good work, Captain. Continue your course and let’s see where it leads us. Let me know when you find out more.” Karmali trusted Ramazan above all his other soldiers, so he was allowed to operate on his own without direct orders from superiors.
“Yes sir.”
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Running Scared
Malcolm Black was crouched down low in an alley behind a dumpster. He had been waiting here for the day to get dark enough for him to safely move again without being seen. The information he had accidentally uncovered about the “War Rock” needed to be released to the public. Malcolm did not consider himself to be a hero, nor did he want to be one. He would drop this information off at the Associated Press office, and then get back to his post in the Derbaran lab before anyone would notice he was gone. He was scared; if he were found with this information he knew he could be killed for it.
It’s not like it was in the movies, with the reluctant hero miraculously summoning courage out of thin air. He couldn’t stop shaking; all he could think about was his family at home. Just drop it off and get back, you’ll be home tomorrow, everything will be fine. He began to move down the street, only a few blocks left to go before he was there. He began to calm down now; he could not wait to get home, and the last two days had been intense, both physically and mentally. The War Rock was a fascinating, as well as highly dangerous, subject. The construction of the object was like nothing he had ever seen before; even the metal was unique. All he knew for certain was that someone had built it and it was deadly if misused. Black’s instinctive curiosity made him want to keep working on the project; he was sure a Nobel Prize could be his for the work he had done over the last two days. Just thinking about the War Rock’s potential made his head spin. But he could tell that it was going to be used for warmongering and power struggles; at least, that was the path Zaripov and Karmali had chosen.
He was almost to the office. In his haste, he turned the corner so quickly he almost knocked over a homeless ma
n.
“Excuse me, sorry…” Malcolm apologized.
“It’s okay. Any chance you can spare any change?” asked the transient.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have anything on me…I was in a rush when I left.” Malcolm ascended the stairs to the night drop when he heard the unmistakable click of a loaded sidearm. Malcolm turned around to see the homeless man holding a silenced pistol pointed directly at him. “I really don’t have any money…”
“That’s alright, I only want that document in your coat.” Malcolm knew that he had no choice but to give the document up.
“Okay.” He handed over the document. “I was just doing what I thought was right, please don’t…” But he never got to finish the sentence.
The assassin concealed the document in his coat, put his sleeve to his mouth and said “Package acquired” into a hidden radio.
Malcolm passed away silently on the street, his last thoughts of his family.
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Suspicion Grows
“Karmali, thank you for making time to talk to me. I had just a few questions.” Ramazan spoke softly into the cell phone; he was undercover, observing a possible facility that might house the War Rock.
“As always, I will answer you to the best of my ability.” Karmali answered tactfully. Ramazan was in the business of secrets, so he understood that Karmali couldn’t tell him everything.
“I was reading the papers today. It seems an American scientist was killed last night outside the press building half a mile from where I am sitting.” Ramazan was concerned that he knew nothing about this scientist’s presence in Derbaran. “Did you know he was here?”
“I did not.” Karmali answered. “Apparently Zaripov had managed to hide him from us while he was here. He was killed by our silent partner; the man knew too much.”
“Well then, did they get what they wanted from him? I still wonder about the motivation of our partner. Are they personally tied to the War Rock? Did they lose it?” Ramazan and Karmali were dancing around the name Apollo because it was imperative that their influence in the N.I.U. remained a secret.
“Do not worry about their motivation.” Karmali assured him. “Trust me when I say that I have them under control. What they know, I know.”
“I hope so Karmali, because I do not trust them. They knew that he was here when we didn’t. Why didn’t they tell us?” Ramazan asked.
“They had to act fast to find him. Informing us would have been unnecessary as the result would been the same.” Karmali explained. “Ramazan, I do not need you to trust them. Just trust in me that I know what I am doing. I will need your strength in the coming days. Things are about to get very interesting…”
