Andri’s eyes narrowed. “You have the advantage, sir.”
“Yes. The emir would like to know if you would be interested in designing ships for the nation of Kuwait.”
Andri knew there was more to it than that. Mohsen wanted a quick commitment. That was why the statement was so vague. The conversation started to become a chess game, and he gambled that they needed him worse than Mohsen let on. “No,” he said flatly.
The immediacy of the answer caught Mohsen off guard. The surprise was chiseled in his face. He wondered what Andri’s existing circumstances could offer that would allow him to reject his proposal. The answer had such conviction that it gave him a chill. If Andri were to turn him down, the emir would be very displeased. Mohsen had staked his reputation on this mission.
He was sure Stemovich would jump at the chance to be in a position of authority again. After all, like him, Andri was a military man. Surely he couldn’t be happy doing anything other than what he had practiced for all his life. If he didn’t take back an agreement, the emir and his staff would not trust him with their confidence. The shame would be too great. He was not prepared to leave without a commitment. “I’m a little surprised. I haven’t explained the terms.”
“A man with my background does not build the average vessel. I can only guess that a small, wealthy country such as yours wants my talents for what was my specialty. I can’t give you this until I know exactly what your plans are.”
Mohsen again was slapped with the response. He didn’t want to be too specific — at least not yet. Finding a response and regrouping was difficult.
“You cut to the heart of the matter, like all good negotiators.”
“I like to know what is involved.” Andri smelled the upper hand and pressed. “Remember, Captain, I am from the Soviet Union. Soviets have very few moral problems. I have seen and heard many things over my lifetime. Some of them would have had a very disturbing outcome should they have been implemented.” Mohsen’s reaction told Andri that he wanted a weapon. He had to give him something that assured the Arab that he could be trusted. “I constructed machines that were designed to devastate whole regions of the world. The intent itself one could classify as diabolical.”
The conversation had plunged deep and too fast, and Mohsen was left no place to retreat. Andri had given him the signal that he had an inkling of what was going to be requested. He just wanted the Kuwaiti to lay it out. Mohsen took some comfort in this. Like a good captain, Andri wanted to know as much about the situation before committing to a course of action. It seemed like Stemovich was leaning in the right direction and demanding truth. Mohsen would be judged by his reply. If he made less of the subject than what it was, he could lose any commitment that he might now have.
“Our nation must keep up with its enemies. Your skill and knowledge would help us in that endeavor. A nuclear submarine, fully capable of carrying missiles, is an expensive undertaking. We have the means by which this can be accomplished, but we lack the expertise.” It was out, and Mohsen was surprised that it didn’t hurt as much as he thought it might.
It wasn’t either relief or joy that spread across Andri’s face but a cold, hard stare. His visitor had given what he anticipated and wanted. Mohsen didn’t know it, but the conversation had turned heavily in Andri’s favor. He sat and gave Mohsen enough to keep him talking. “I’m interested.”
The reaction put Mohsen at great ease. Obviously we are two men of the same cloth, he thought. A brother he could trust. “Good. We’d like to discuss the specifics as soon as possible, but in Kuwait.”
“I do have some questions that I need answered immediately. They are obvious, and my full commitment depends on the truth. Any shading of the truth at this point and further conversations cease.”
This made Mohsen nervous. “Continue…”
“What is Kuwait going to do with a nuclear submarine? And then the Americans. What about your greatest friend and ally?”
The second question was easy to answer. Unfortunately, it compounded the first. “The United States would not be sympathetic to our needs.” He struggled desperately with the other answer.
Andri saw the pause and didn’t want him to lie. He pressed the issue. “Your country really has no facilities for such an undertaking — at least not openly. Such a vessel cannot be built in secret. It is a detail that makes me question your commitment.”
“We are committed,” Mohsen said, quick to reassure, not realizing he had just been put on the defensive. “We are prepared to move a substantial amount of American dollars toward the construction. One way or the other, we have access to all the materials needed.” The explanation raised Andri’s eyebrows, and Mohsen suddenly felt he had said too much.
“Your enemies must be great.”
Mohsen didn’t return the volley.
“Captain Mohsen. Who is it you plan to oppose with this weapon? What is its end purpose?”
Mohsen was straining. He had trusted Andri this far, and the man didn’t flinch. Could he trust him with the rest? As much as he wanted to lie, he knew the end result could be disastrous if Andri lost confidence. He did notice that all Andri asked for was the truth, nothing more; and he avoided judgment. It was a noble trait in most men. Mohsen thought he understood him, but now knew he might be wrong. Andri was more than he expected, which, overall, was good. At the moment, though, it seemed a little disquieting. He made the choice to throw it all out.
“The destruction of the OPEC alliance.”
Now Andri knew he was getting the real thing, and he eased back into his chair, signaling that he believed Mohsen. “Why?”
“My country thrives on oil production. Though OPEC keeps production low and prices high, some countries, like Iran, blatantly ignore the mandates and sell more oil cheaper, costing us billions. Now we are forced to flood the market with the only valuable commodity we have.”
Andri sneered at the greed. “Surely you still live very comfortably…”
“Any portion of a fortune is still a fortune in itself, Andri Stemovich.”
“So, you will use the sub to keep Iran in line with OPEC?”
“Iran is not our concern. Outwardly Kuwait will always embrace OPEC. The truth is that we have no desire to remain a member. We want the freedom to produce as much, or as little, oil for whatever price we like. We need out of the alliance. We want independence, competition.”
“Can you withdraw?”
“We could, but that action would set our brother lands against us, militarily and economically. We are too small to handle that. We want to avoid another occupation. We have learned our lesson since Iraq stormed across our borders.”
Andri had very little feeling for the situation. Kuwait wanted to create conflict to increase its profit margin. It was foreign to him, but on a basic level, it made sense. “Who will you attack?”
“Baghdad,” Mohsen replied. “It would be a convenient place to fracture the coalition. Poetic, I think. Where OPEC was formed is where it will end.”
“Perhaps you should lay out the strategy for me.”
Mohsen was impressed with the analytical mind of Stemovich and felt comfortable enough to release the details. “A simple division of the country of Iraq. Let the Kurds and Shiites battle for territory. Hopefully each side will draw different allies, and the coalition will fall apart.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes.”
Andri smiled. He knew there was more. Mohsen had forgotten to tell him the most important part. The part that mostly concerned him and the sub.
“Dear Captain. You know as well as I that this can’t be accomplished without the launching of a nuclear missile. A conventional rocket volley will not accomplish your goals.”