“How rude of me, where are my manners. I cannot have you return home and say British hospitality was lacking now could I? Would you like a cup of coffee or another type of beverage perhaps? Maybe a pastry?
“No thank you, Sir Robert. I’ll just take the bad news that you have to provide me, straight up.”
Sir Robert looked at Igor and realized why General Poszk placed his trust in the man. He had been forewarned that he was a no bullshit kind of soldier. All of this came clearly across to Sir Robert. “Okay, by now you must be wondering what this is all about?” Sir Robert pointed to the room’s surroundings and then to the tour book that lay on the table. “An old soldier such as yourself is probably wondering when the rubber hoses and bats are coming out?”
They both laughed aloud at the prospect, but the harsh reality being that just 20 years earlier that probably would have been the situation. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, everything changed, including cooperation between the two former enemies.
“But enough of the past. General Poszk and I have a proposition for you. Well, I have a proposition for you. The general has already ordered you on the mission. It’s the alteration to the mission that you might have some contention with. It pertains to something we thought up a few years ago. At the time it was nothing more of what if fantasy and a bit of a dream then its chance of ever becoming reality. That was up until this nuclear suitcase issue comes about. Immediately we both realized the potential of the situation.”
Igor nodded.
Sir John continued. “If you agree, you will be going on a short visit to the United States just as previously planned, then on to Israel for us, meaning General Poszk and myself. Upon completion of the Israel portion of the mission, you will retire. You are being forced to retire by the general because he said, and I am quoting him here when I say this,” taking a piece of paper from his briefcase and removing his glasses to read the small print. “‘The old bear has done enough for his country, it’s time to hibernate,’ unquote. I imagine you have a good idea of what he is referring too?”
Igor nodded once more, realizing the general was trying to protect him due to the political turmoil going on back home. This was his way of saying thank-you and to stay low and away from him.
“Now, if you don’t mind Captain, back to the matter at hand.” He cast a gaze on him that made Igor feel uncomfortable for the moment, wondering what he was thinking. “You are going to perform a mission of the utmost secrecy. Nothing higher than this, my boy.”
“Sir Robert, I understood the risks before I left Russia. The only thing that has changed is the recent addition of going to Israel. As I first said to General Poszk and now to you, I am willing to die for this mission. That should be enough to calm your fears of my maintaining mission secrecy. I think the question should be how are you going to maintain secrecy on your end?”
“Touché Captain. I admire your jab. To answer your question, I alone will know of this. No one else on the British side, not even the Prime Minister will hear about this until the time is right. Let’s dispense with the appetizer and jump right into the main course shall we? The governments of Russia and Great Britain have been secretly negotiating a Middle-East peace settlement with Israel, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and the Palestinians. We have decided to brush aside the United States and their half-hearted attempts of peace and decided to take a more radical approach to the process.”
“Since when does Great Britain and Russia co-operate on a peace treaty? Has Hell frozen over? We in Russia have always thought of the United States and yourself as one nation, one enemy. Only the United States seemed to be your mouthpiece.”
Sir Robert understood his animosity, knowing their countries past histories and entanglements. “Yes, some of us in Great Britain are of the same thought. Times change my young Russian friend. We are always looking for new opportunities. When this one presented itself, we jumped at the chance to show the Americans we are still a sovereign nation. We will achieve peace on the first go-around.”
“And how do you intend on achieving this?”
“It’s simplistic in nature. You will go to the United States and perform your mission as originally planned. Find the suitcase weapon and bring it back to us here in London. As for your embassy in Washington, inform them that when you reached the location of the weapon it had already been unearthed. They will obviously blame that rebel chap you are after for its disappearance, and assume it is back in their homeland somewhere. Once back in London, General Poszk, myself, and of course you, will escort the weapon with a combination of MI-6 and General’s handpicked team members to Jerusalem. Neither team will be informed of the precious cargo we carry, only yourself. We will inform the others that we are on some sort of joint training exercise or something along those lines.
“Once in Jerusalem we will proceed to the area around the Temple Mount, the holiest shrine for Christians, Muslims and the Jewish people. The Temple Mount holds the significance of all three religions, therefore it commands absolute attention,” Sir Robert said. “Stop me if I’m proceeding too fast for you old boy.”
The Captain nodded for him to proceed.
“The weapon will then be buried 10 meters underground in a chamber that the Israelis are presently excavating under the guise of an archeological dig. Again, only the leader of Mossad is aware of the full operation. Even the laborers performing the work have no idea. Presently, only the Israeli’s are involved. We haven’t let the other countries in on the operation yet. Once the initial part of the mission is complete, we will then summon all of the Middle East participants to the peace table, inform them of the buried weapon and then lay our terms on the table.” Sir Robert sat staring once again at Igor, evidently wondering how he would react to such a radical plan, or a delicious opportunity as they in Whitehall saw it.
Igor sat back for a moment trying to read between the lines of the operation, there was always something hidden between the lines. Sitting back in his chair, he had many questions and concerns but thought better, this was neither the time nor the place. He would state the obvious to Sir Robert, and then back away.
“Your plan sounds achievable, but what keeps the Arabs from still attacking Israel?”
Sir Robert leaned back in his chair; it was his turn to smile, anticipating just such a question. “Remember, I said it is simplistic in nature so lower your normal standards of thinking Captain. Since the Temple Mount is the principle piece holding the religions together, it could also destroy them. When we approach the table, we will inform the Arabs that the weapon is buried in the Temple Mount and set to explode if any attack happens upon Israel. Not a minor shooting or stabbing mind you but a heavy attack or invasion. In one quick motion, we will guarantee security for the region. We then initiate the idea of a Palestinian State but only on the west bank and then saturate the area with United Nations troops on the ground as peacekeepers. The Gaza strip reverts back to Israeli control. The Israeli’s have already stated they will accept the idea of a state if we supply the security. Who wants to be the instigator that causes the destruction of the holiest shrine representing three key religions?”
This was clever thought Igor, wondering who had first come up with such a brilliant idea, Sir John or General Poszk? He thought both men of being capable. “Who is going to hold the activation keys for the weapon?” Igor knew full well from his recent training that the weapon had to be manually keyed in order to achieve detonation. This weapon was to be buried under 10 feet of earth or concrete.