145: Chapter 142 Trap

November 8, 1981, Port of Basra.

The operative sent by Iraq had been waiting at the port for three days.

His name was Abdul Hamid, a senior operative from the Iraqi General Staff Intelligence Department with fifteen years of experience in intelligence work. His mission was simple: confirm the cargo on the ship "Desert Star."

But the problem was, the "Desert Star" did not exist at all.

Abdul Hamid could not find this ship's name in the port's records. He asked the port staff, but no one had heard of this ship. He checked Kuwait's ship registration records and didn't find the ship there either.

This was very strange.

But even stranger was that when he reported this situation to Baghdad, Baghdad's reply was: "Keep investigating. Do not give up. This ship will definitely come."

So, Abdul Hamid continued to wait.

He sat in a teahouse at the port for three days, drank cold tea for three days, and watched ship after ship enter the port, but none of them was the "Desert Star."

On the fourth day, he decided to go see Karim.

Karim was in the port customs office, and Abdul Hamid entered using a fake name.

He claimed to be a businessman who wanted to understand the recent import cargo situation at the port.

Karim was very vigilant. He knew this person was not a real businessman.

But he also knew that this person was from Iraq.

"I heard," Abdul Hamid said, "that a batch of anti-aircraft missile components is to be imported recently."

Karim's expression changed.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he said.

"You don't know!?" Abdul Hamid laughed, "But our informant says you do."

Karim was silent.

He realized now that he had been dragged into something very big.

He didn't know what this thing was, but he knew that whatever he said could have serious consequences.

"I really don't know," he said finally.

Abdul Hamid looked at him, his eyes devoid of any expression.

"Alright then," he said, "if you remember anything, you can tell me."

He left a phone number and then left.

Karim sat in the office, his hands trembling.

He knew he had been discovered.

Not discovered by Iran, but discovered by Iraq.

Iraq knew he was working for Iran.

He needed to run.

But he didn't run. He made a smarter choice; he called Farouk.

"Someone came to find me," he said on the phone, "an Iraqi."

Farouk was silent on the other end of the line for a long time.

"What did you tell him!?"

"Nothing," Karim said.

"Then continue to say nothing," Farouk said, "I will handle this matter."

The phone hung up.

Karim sat in the office, waiting for what would happen next.

Ahvaz, Reza's office.

After listening to Karimi's report, a satisfied smile appeared on Reza's face.

"Iraq has sent someone," he said.

"Yes," Karimi said, "a senior operative named Abdul Hamid."

"What did he find?"

"Nothing," Karimi said, "because the 'Desert Star' does not exist at all."

"Very good," Reza said, "this is exactly what I wanted. Now Iraq will start to doubt. They will doubt whether this information is true, they will doubt whether Karim is truly reliable, they will doubt their entire intelligence system."

"And then!?"

"Then," Reza said, "we will give them real information. A real anti-aircraft missile system, a real threat. But this time, they won't believe it. Because they have already been deceived once."

This was a brilliant strategy.

First use false information to destroy the enemy's trust, then use true information to confuse the enemy.

The enemy will doubt the true information because of the previous false information, thereby making wrong decisions.

"How is Karim's situation now!?" Reza asked.

"He is very scared," Karimi said, "he knows he has been discovered."

"Let him keep being scared," Reza said, "fear will make him more cautious, more reliable. Tell him we will protect him."

Karimi went out.

Reza sat in the office, looking out the window.

This plan was proceeding very smoothly.

The informant at the port had been activated, the false information had been passed on, and Iraq had already started to doubt.

Now, he needed to wait.

Wait for Iraq's reaction, wait for the success of the Persian-4 Missile, wait for that critical moment to arrive.

Eighteen more months.

But now, every day was becoming more fulfilling.

The desert south of Kermanshah, on the same day.

Fatima was conducting the fourth tracking test of the Persian-4 Missile.

This time, she had improved the signal processing algorithm of the seeker.

The new algorithm used a more complex mathematical model, capable of processing the target missile's high-speed rolling maneuvers faster.

The missile lifted off, and tracking began.

The target missile performed the same actions as last time: rapid climb, roll, rapid descent.

But this time, the missile did not lose tracking.

The two lines on the screen always maintained a close tracking relationship.

The delay was controlled within 0.2 seconds.

The target missile continued to perform more aggressive maneuvers: side rolls, spiral climbs, rapid turns.

The missile followed every move.

The distance was narrowing, from ten kilometers, to five kilometers, to two kilometers.

Fatima's hand was placed on the intercept button.

She was waiting for the final moment.

The target missile made one last rapid turn at an altitude of one thousand meters.

The missile's tracking was completed at this moment.

Fatima pressed the intercept button.

On the screen, the missile's trajectory line and the target missile's trajectory line intersected in the air.

A virtual explosion flashed on the screen.

It was a success.

Cheers erupted in the control room.

Hassan walked over and patted Fatima on the shoulder.

"You did it~~" he said.

Fatima did not speak. She just looked at the virtual explosion on the screen, her eyes shimmering with tears.

This was not just a technical success.

This was a proof.

A proof of her ability, a proof of her value, a proof that she was not someone who could be easily defeated.

"Now," Hassan said, "we wait for the chips."

"Yes," Fatima said, "we wait for the chips."

She knew that the real test was still ahead. After the chips arrived, final integration testing would still be needed. But now, she had already seen the possibility of success.

This possibility was enough to support her through every day that followed.