VICINITY 40deg EAST AND 13deg NORTH
1200 HOURS LOCAL
SHEIKH Omar Jambarah was not a member of Saudi Arabia's royal family, but his clan enjoyed close relations with the rulers of the kingdom. One of the perks of this friendship was unlimited use of the Royal Yacht Sayih.
Sheikh Omar's forefathers were no more than country bumpkins from outward appearances; however, during several centuries of intrigues, rebellions, wars, and political infighting on the Arabian Peninsula, the elders of the family always managed to choose the sides and causes that were victorious. Even between 1915 and 1927, when the British claimed the area as a protectorate, the headmen of the Jambarah clan continued to stick with winners, giving them genuine devotion and loyalty. In 1932, when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emerged from the chaos, Jambarah's grandfather was granted a sheikdom by the grateful royal family. Eventually, oil was found on the land, and the Jambarah clan became incredibly wealthy. They established a city-state, sending their sons abroad to be educated at the world's finest universities. The latest of these male offspring was the present ruler, Sheikh Omar.
Jambarah went further than simply taking advantage of excellent schooling. He broke free of his strict Islamic upbringing and fell into the sins of the flesh offered in the West. He dealt with this sinfulness with the rationalization that giving in to his base desires while not actually in a Muslim country meant he was not in conflict with Islamic law. He also used his abundant spare time and personal wealth to form the al-Mimkhalif Warriors of Fury to carry out a special jihad against the infidels. He did this not because of religious fervor, but to create a kingdom of his own that he would claw out of Saudi Arabia.
So much for loyal allegiance.
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SHEIKH Omar Jambarah and his friend Commodore Muhammad Mahamat relaxed on deck chairs on the royal yacht's afterdeck. The naval officer and sheikh had been discussing the planned attack on the Philippine Patrol Boat 22 scheduled in two days. The imminent destruction of that point of irritation had put both men in a collective good mood. It was one less thing the sheikh had to worry about, and a grand opportunity for Mahamat to give his fast-attack boats a good workout the crews would enjoy.
The sheikh bit into a peach, chewing thoughtfully. "Is there anything else we should be considering at this time, Brother Mahamat?"
"Yes, Sheikh Omar," the commodore replied. "The Americans have deployed an air-cushion vehicle in the operational area of their carrier battle group. Its tender ship is a new amphibious attack vessel called the Dan Daly. As of this moment that is all I know, but after I meet with my friend from the American Embassy in Muscat, I shall have much more intelligence."
"Ah, yes!" the sheikh said. "Ply the infidel with liquor, hey?"
"It does tend to make them talkative," Mahamat said with a chuckle. "And speaking of the ACV, it actually stopped our dhow at sea, and dispatched a boarding party to make a search."
"Shu halmsibi--bad luck! What happened?"
"Not to worry,* Sheikh Omar," Mahamat said reassuringly. "The old ship was empty and Captain Bashir's papers were all in order."
"Perhaps this is advantageous to our cause," the sheikh mused. "If the Americans see the Nijm Zark again, they will no doubt have no interest in her."
"I'm afraid the Americans are not all that convinced of Captain Bashir's innocence," Mahamat said. "My source tells me that orders have been issued to the carrier battle group that all ships sighting the dhow are to report the location and course it is following."
"Ah! They are suspicious then," the sheikh said. "But what if we used the dhow in the same manner we are going to use the Jakarta?"
"Do you mean to set a trap?"
"Of course," the Sheikh said. "If they are using that ACV as a patrol vehicle, we could draw it to the dhow at a predetermined location where your squadron could easily destroy and kill the infidel crew."
"Such a thing must be handled most carefully, Sheikh Omar."
"I am so happy that you appreciate the sensitivity of the situation," the sheikh said. "And there is another very important thing for you to consider. I have been entertaining the idea of having your fast-attack squadron take over the arms-delivery missions."
"It would be most feasible, Sheikh Omar," Mahamat said. "In fact, having us take a more active part in this program would present additional opportunities to destroy that ACV."
"You seem worried about that vessel."
"Captain Bashir told me it was well armed and moved extremely fast across the water."
"Then the sooner it is sunk, the better!"
'The Americans will replace it with another."
The sheikh laughed. "Then we shall sink that one too. And the next, and the next, and the next."
"We will be able to adapt to whatever situation the Americans create," Mahamat said. "I can guarantee that." "Allah biauwid alaik--God will reward you!"
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PATROL BOAT 22
INDIAN OCEAN
VICINITY OF THE EQUATOR AND 90 EAST
10 OCTOBER
0800 HOURS LOCAL
LIEUTENANT Commander Ferdinand Aguilando stood on the bridge as the vessel plowed through the slight choppiness of the sea. Four seamen--one each forward, port, starboard, and aft--scanned the horizon with their binoculars, looking for the arrival of the S. S. Jakarta. Aguilando was in a good mood. The cargo carried by the Greater Sunda Shipping Line vessel was made up of Russian PKM 7.62-millimeter machine guns. This had been confirmed by both Abduruddin Suhanto and Harry Turpin. Between that and the cocaine expected from Suhanto, Aguilando expected to purchase both a new motorcycle and automobile within a couple of weeks. It was only a question of the models and makes he desired. Additionally, he would move his mistress into a larger, more luxurious apartment. She showed her gratitude for special consideration in exceedingly pleasant ways.
The Jakarta was expected to arrive at the location sometime between 0730 and 1030 hours. It was difficult to be precise about the ocean rendezvous because of the vagaries of loading and transferring cargo in clandestine conditions. There also existed an outside chance that the law might interfere with the get-together as well. Patience and a certain amount of pessimism brought reality to such situations.
Aguilando went below to the radar station and checked the scope. Its circular sweeps revealed nothing but empty ocean surrounding the patrol boat.
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FLAGSHIP HARBI-MIN-ISLAM
0830 HOURS LOCAL
COMMODORE Muhammad Mahamat relaxed in his cabin, outwardly calm but inwardly excited about the morning's potential for excitement. The commanding officer of Oman's crack fast-attack squadron had decided that he needed no backup from any of the half-dozen attack boats that made up the rest of his outfit. His personal flagship could easily handle the day's mission.
A knock on the cabin door interrupted his reading of the Masqat Nisr newspaper. "Come in!" he barked, slightly irritated at the interruption.
A sailor stepped into the cabin and handed him a sheet of paper. "Radio message, Amid. The Jakarta reports she will rendezvous with the Philippine patrol boat at approximately 0930 hours."
"Haida taiyib!" Mahamat exclaimed. He reached over and turned on his intercom connection to the bridge. "Sound general quarters!"
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PATROL BOAT 22
0925 HOURS LOCAL
AGUILANDO stood by the helmsman as they slowed to one-third speed. The Jakarta was a hundred meters off their starboard bow, moving at ten knots. The officer picked up the microphone on the radio that was tuned to the international maritime frequency.