184: Chapter 181 Interception

April 2, 1982, 1:00 PM. Frontline command post.

Fatima brought intelligence.

"We have located three temporary Chemical weapons storage sites," she said, "all in northern Basra, about twenty kilometers from the frontline."

"Specific locations?"

She pointed out three spots on the map.

"Here, here, and here."

"Defenses?"

"Each storage site has an Iraqi battalion guarding it. There are also anti-aircraft and ground radar."

"How do we strike?"

"Scud missile," Fatima said, "We will deploy six, two for each storage site."

"The accuracy of the Scud Missile?"

"A deviation of about two kilometers."

Reza frowned.

"If the deviation is two kilometers, we won't hit the storage sites."

"Correct. That's why we need—Special Forces."

"Special Forces to guide them?"

"Yes," Fatima said, "Special Forces will infiltrate near the storage sites and use lasers to designate targets. Our Scud missiles have laser-guided versions—secretly purchased from the Soviet Union through Syria."

Reza was taken aback.

"We have laser-guided Scud Missiles?"

"They arrived two months ago. We have twenty in storage."

"Why didn't I know?"

"This is classified," Fatima said, "only Karimi and I knew."

Reza smiled.

"So you two have been keeping things from me as well."

"For security," Fatima said, "if you were assassinated, the enemy could not extract this secret from you."

"I understand."

"Use them or not?"

"Use them," Reza said, "deploy immediately."

"Yes."

Fatima left.

3:00 PM.

Iranian Special Forces advanced secretly toward the Chemical weapons storage sites from three directions.

Each Special Forces team had twelve men. Two of them carried laser designators.

They had to reach the vicinity of the storage sites without the Iraqi guards knowing.

The first team reached the vicinity of the first storage site at 5:00 PM.

They hid on a hilltop, about one kilometer from the storage site.

The laser designator was aimed at the storage site.

The second team reached the vicinity of the second storage site at 5:30 PM.

The third team reached the vicinity of the third storage site at 6:00 PM.

But the third team encountered a problem.

They were discovered by an Iraqi patrol.

Gunshots rang out.

The Special Forces fought back.

They were able to repel the patrol, but the patrol's distress call was heard by the Iraqi guards.

The entire garrison at the storage site began to assemble in the direction of the Special Forces.

The leader of the third team reported via walkie-talkie.

"We've been discovered," he said, "How long can we hold out? I don't know."

Reza was listening in the command post.

"Is the laser designator still functional?" he asked.

"Yes," the team leader said, "but we might be wiped out before the Scud Missiles arrive."

"Launch immediately," Reza said to Fatima.

"Now?"

"Now."

Fatima issued the order via radio.

Six Scud missiles took off.

6:20 PM.

The first Scud Missile hit the first storage site.

A massive explosion. The Chemical weapons storage tanks were detonated.

Toxic gas dispersed into the sky. But due to the wind direction, the gas drifted north—away from Iranian territory, spreading into the interior of Iraq.

The second Scud Missile hit another part of the first storage site. Complete destruction.

The third and fourth missiles hit the second storage site.

The second storage site was destroyed.

The fifth missile flew toward the third storage site—this was the location where the third Special Forces team was under attack.

The laser designator was still working.

The fifth Scud Missile hit the storage site precisely.

A massive explosion.

But the blast radius was larger than expected.

The third Special Forces team was also caught in the explosion.

There was no more sound from the third team's walkie-talkie.

The sixth Scud Missile arrived.

It hit another part of the third storage site, ensuring complete destruction.

7:00 PM. Command post.

Fatima walked over.

"Mission accomplished," she said, "all three storage sites have been destroyed."

"Casualties for the Special Forces?" Reza asked.

"The first and second teams have safely withdrawn. The third team—" she paused, "all sacrificed."

"Twelve men?"

"Yes."

Reza closed his eyes.

Twelve Special Forces soldiers. Twelve families.

But their sacrifice saved fifty thousand troops.

That is war. The sacrifice of a few in exchange for the survival of the many.

But that did not make Reza feel any better.

"Their families," he said, "I want their names."

"I will give them to you."

"Their families," Reza said, "I will personally take care of them."

"Yes."

Fatima left.

Reza sat in the command post.

He thought of the fallen Special Forces soldiers. He thought of their families. He thought of the cost of war.

He wrote a line in his notebook:

"Today, twelve Iranian heroes died. Their deaths saved fifty thousand people. But their wives have lost their husbands, and their children have lost their fathers. This is the cost of war."

He closed the notebook.

The phone rang.

It was Karimi.

"Your Excellency Reza," Karimi said, "I have new intelligence."

"Speak."

"Saddam Hussein has decided to increase the scale of Chemical weapons production," Karimi said, "He is purchasing more raw materials for Chemical weapons from the Soviet Union."

"The Soviet Union is selling to him?"

"Yes. The Soviet Union is selling to both us and Iraq simultaneously. They want the war to continue."

Reza closed his eyes.

"Also," Karimi said, "we have dealt with Mirza."

"How was he dealt with?"

"Executed in secret, per the Supreme Leader's orders."

"What did he say during interrogation?"

"A lot," Karimi said, "including all the intelligence he previously passed to Iraq. We now know what information Iraq has already obtained."

"And—" Reza hesitated, "did he say anything about me?"

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment.

"Yes," Karimi said, "he reported all of your actions. Including your family situation. Including your relationship with Fatima."

Reza closed his eyes.

If Iraq knew the special significance Fatima held for him, they might target Fatima.

"We need to protect Fatima," Reza said.

"It's already being done."

"Also," Reza said, "our families—my brother, my mother—must also be protected."

"That has already been done."

Reza breathed a sigh of relief.

"Before Mirza was executed," he said, "how did Saddam Hussein react?"

"Saddam Hussein thought Mirza had been captured," Karimi said, "He decided to use Chemical weapons in his anger. Our intelligence regarding the Chemical weapons attack warning was obtained during Mirza's interrogation."

"That is to say," Reza said, "we used Mirza once. Then we executed him. But before he was executed, he had already passed all our secrets to Iraq."

"Yes."

"This is a lose-lose outcome."

"Yes."

Reza thought for a moment.

"Karimi," he said, "we need to do more."

"What?"

"We must thoroughly purge all high-level officials. See if there are any more spies."

"Purging all high-level officials will cause panic."

"Necessary panic," Reza said, "if we don't purge thoroughly, we will always have spies."

"Yes."

"Also," Reza said, "our counter-espionage system needs to be reorganized. We must establish a brand new internal intelligence system, independent of all other departments."

"Yes."

The phone hung up.

Reza paced back and forth in the command post.

He knew that this war had shifted from a military struggle to an intelligence struggle.

Militarily, Iran could win.

But regarding intelligence, Iran was still on the defensive.

If the intelligence problem was not solved, all military victories could be reversed.

9:00 PM.

Reza prepared to return to Ahvaz.

The guards from the Supreme Leader's guard unit surrounded him.

Fatima walked over.

"I will go back with you," she said.

"Okay."

They boarded an armored vehicle together.

Inside the vehicle.

Fatima looked out the window.

She was silent for a moment.

"Reza," she said.

"What?"

"Mirza reported our relationship."

"I know."

"Iraq knows now."

"I know."

"They might target me."

"We will protect you."

Fatima was silent for a moment.

"Reza," she said, "perhaps we should stop meeting."

"What?"

"For your safety," Fatima said, "and for the war. If Iraq targets me, I will become your weakness. If they capture me, they can threaten you."

"I won't let them capture you."

"You cannot guarantee that."

Reza was silent.

He knew Fatima was right.

But he was unwilling to admit it.

"I will consider it," he finally said.

The vehicle drove along the road.

The world outside was dark.

It was also dark inside the vehicle.

The two did not speak again.

But they were both thinking about the same thing.

The war had brought them together. But the war could also tear them apart.

Neither of them knew what kind of future they would have.

They only knew that the war was far from over.

And they had to carry on.