The Faithful, North African and Middle Eastern Islamic nations, are plotting to seize the oil resources of the Middle East. By controlling the earth's oil and its major trade routes, they plan to bring the world to its knees. Then, when the entire world is kneeling, the Faithful of Allah will read to them from the Koran, preaching the message of Islam, the True Faith. The Faithful will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. But how far will they go? And how many lives will it cost?

4 Victory and Defeat

4.2 Tunisia

4.2.1 The Twist

Ahab Dingjatha had spent his entire life plotting and scheming. He saw the problem with the plan the moment young Gamel Hassan presented it to the Council of The Faithful. The plan was far too straightforward. There was no trickery, no subtlety and no distractions. It just pitted power against power in a head-to-head contest. Even in his amateurish way, he could see that the American fleet was both very large and very capable. Who would win in this struggle of strength vs. strength? Only Allah could tell. But, with a little distraction here and a little trickery there, Dingjatha knew he could change the odds slightly in their favor, which could mean the difference between success and failure.

Dingjatha made a few hurried VisiPhone calls. He found the perfect ship at Porto Farina. It was ancient, with only its rust holding it together, but it floated and could make headway. For the other actor on his little stage, he needed something big. It took several hours to find what he wanted. The Libyans had a 360,000-ton tanker ready to sail from Banghazi, and they were willing to let it play its part. He outlined his plan, and the Libyans admired its cunning. He needed to make only one more call.

The picture of General Yusuf Kamsanni sprang onto his screen. "Yes, Minister. How can I be of service?".

It took only ten minutes for Dingjatha to outline his plan. As Dingjatha expected, the general was pleased. "Excellent, Minister! The Americans have just declared an exclusion zone. With your plan, we will be able to disguise our attack as an errand of mercy. Allah be praised!"

4.2.2 Ar Cabril Sails

The master of the coastal freighter Ar-Cabril protested loudly, "You cannot steal my ship. It is all I have!"

The answer was stern. "You have been paid twice its worth. Get off this ship, or be shot!"

Ar-Cabril's Master and owner reconsidered. He had indeed been paid, and far more than twice its value. Perhaps, he would retire and open a small shop in the Bazaar. He carefully stuffed his money into his turban and quietly walked to the quay.

The secret police laughed at the old man. They had paid him in counterfeit money, but nobody would ever know the difference.

It took them half an hour to get the recalcitrant double-lunger diesel to fire. Four hours later, they had the Ar-Cabril nestled snugly in the lee of Kelibia. They dropped anchor, but dared not shut down the engine for fear it would never start again. They pulled out the radio they had brought with them and connected it to the rusty aerial. It only took twenty seconds to inform the Minister that they were in position.

At the same time as the Ar Cabril was setting out from Sousse, the Gulf of Hammamet was sailing from Banghazi. It took three tugs to push the behemoth away from the oil bunkers from which she had been thirstily drinking all day. Her lead-red plimsoll line washed against the oil-slicked surface of the anchorage. She slowly gathered headway on a northwesterly course that would take her east of Malta and on towards Syracuse. At her rate of speed, she would arrive in a day and a half.

Beneath her, as she strove to gain momentum, two gray shadows dove beneath her bulk. But, unlike the whales and porpoises that frolicked in the warm sea, these cold creatures did not surface or play in her bow wave.