Read Defection Games (Dan Gordon Intelligence Thriller) for Free Online Page B

Paul got up to leave. “We’ll be in the adjoining office if you need us,” said Paul as he stepped out, “I’ll see you in the afternoon; lunch will be brought in an hour.” 
    Eric didn’t bother to say anything. He just scowled and left.
    IV
    October 2006 – Washington, D.C.
    I poured myself a cup of water from the cooler and read the folder labeled Tango Defection. Tango’s access to real-time intelligence on Iran’s progress in developing nuclear arms and sponsorship of terrorism made him invaluable. His fear of being captured created a real dilemma—pulling him out to save his life, getting our last bit of intel when he’s debriefed in Langley, vs. leaving him there hoping that the chatter he noticed around him was just cicadas, not VEVAK agents closing in on him. Madani would be an incredibly valuable asset to lose. And Iranian assets were hard to come by—very hard.
    The most important part of the Tango folder was the section dealing with the strategic timetable. It gave a new meaning to the word urgent. According to the brief, the world would have little time to stop the Iranians before it would be too late. Your arsenal of strategies against a rogue state armed with nuclear weapons is ill-stocked if not empty. The year 2015 could mark the turning point because, by then, Iran is expected to have nuclear weapons that would deter any potential attackers, as well as the means to deliver them. Iran will deploy the Russian made air defense system S-300PMU2, serving as an advanced Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) in addition to an advanced SAM Air Defense System. The Iranian Navy would be able to threaten commercial shipping and military naval forces in the Arabian Gulf, and stop oil tankers passing through the Straits of Hormuz. By 2012 or 2013 Iran will also have accurate short, medium, and long-range ballistic missiles, which could carry nuclear warheads and reach Europe and the U.S Eastern seaboard. Finally, Iran will increase its support to its proxy terrorist groups to launch attacks against American interests and allies anywhere. Urgent? Maybe the terms ‘critical’ and ‘burning’ would be more appropriate.
    Eric returned to the office with Benny. “Have you read it?”
    I nodded. “What’s my specific role?”
    “You’ll be the person to meet Madani face to face in a crossing point on the Iranian-Armenian border, identify him, and escort him to safety. A seven-man unit will be around you as back up and security.  You’re leaving tomorrow for a week of training in Ramstein, Germany, and then a few more days in another location in Germany where you’ll also get the final operational instructions.” 
    We then engaged in a seven-hour review of the master plan.
    "Any more questions?” asked Benny.
    I had plenty, but I kept my big mouth shut, a rare occasion. I was certain that they would be answered during the final instruction session in Germany. I’ve been through the process before. Almost nothing is left for self-initiative. In the Mossad operations, on the other hand, there was always room for improvisation, as conditions in the field change. This is where Israeli operatives excel and sometimes fail.
    Paul McGregor gave me a travel folder. “At Frankfurt airport, an Agency representative will give you a duffle bag with a U.S Army uniform and documentation. Change into the uniform and travel by train to Ramstein Air Base. There are travel vouchers in the folder."
    Ramstein Air Base, in the rural district of Kaiserslautern, Germany, was both the headquarters for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and a NATO installation.
    "Bear in mind that besides Americans, the base also includes Canadian, German, British, French, Belgian, Polish, Czech, Norwegian, Danish, and Dutch personnel. Only if asked, say that you are a part of a U.S. Army teachers’ team that travels to U.S. bases outside the United States to teach Civics. See further details in your travel folder. Use that cover story only if you