Best Intentions

United Nations troops were prepped and moved by CJ’s transports to staging areas on disguised cargo ships in the Sea of Japan.

Kin Te Ill was contacted and given the United Nations ultimatum, either relinquish control of the North Korean government to the United Nations or face the consequences.

His reaction was just as everyone expected. The red-faced dictator went on state-run television. He promised a nuclear holocaust if enemy troops were to set foot on North Korean soil.

“Mr. Chairman,” said the Secretary-General to the obviously unstable leader. “You and I both know that your nuclear weapons have been disarmed. For once think of the welfare of your people first. Have the military stand down. The forces that you face are overwhelmingly superior.”

He sputtered but wouldn’t back down on his position. He swore that no foreigner who invaded his country would leave alive.

“I’m asking you once again, please reconsider your decision.”

The furious dictator said nothing and a moment later broke the connection.

Mark, who was monitoring the exchange, thought to himself, “Well that wasn’t hard to predict.”

“Mr. Secretary-General, you tried,” Mark said. “It’s time to begin the operations.”

“Yes, Mr. Richards. I had hoped he would be reasonable at last.”

“You knew that it was a long shot though, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but I had to honor China’s wishes and at least try.”

“That’s why you have the job you do, Mr. Secretary-General. Now that the formalities have been honored, others have their jobs too.” Mark disconnected from UN headquarters and contacted the commanding general of the coalition forces.

Everyone was ready.

“Ok, CJ. Get your transports moving, let’s send in the troops!”

“Affirmative, Mark. The troop carriers are ready to depart. I have positioned one module over central areas of North Korea. It has targeted the main missile base with lasers and will fire on any launch attempts. The other will patrol along the border with South Korea and keep watch for concealed mobile artillery systems. The United Nations troops will not have to contend with long-range missile bombardment. Another module stands by at high altitude to keep an overview of the battle situation.”

“Great, CJ. That should help things for the troops on the ground.”

He watched on the screens as the transports took off from the staging area and dropped down in the designated landing sites inside North Korea. They took small arms fire but continued on without slowing.

Once they landed, the troops debarked and fanned out to form a perimeter. The mission leaders command vehicle rolled out of one transport taking up a central position and activating the shield CJ had installed. The transports lifted off to continue moving men and their equipment to other sites.

The battles were lopsided, with the North Korean troops firing outdated rifles into UN troops wearing the protective suits to no effect. Meanwhile, the disruptor-armed soldiers mowed them down by the battalion. Many North Korean soldiers threw down their weapons and surrendered as soon as they saw their supposed enemy.

Before long it was over. Kin Te Ill had been isolated in his palace and was shot by one of his own men. The process of merging the two Koreas, installing new local leadership and taking care of the North Korean people’s most basic needs would be a difficult task. But with aid from the West, South Korean President See Myung-Bak would manage. Soon the world would have one less rogue nation to deal with and Korea would once again be one country.

“They have their work cut out for them, CJ. The North Koreans have been starving for years while Kin Te Ill and his family live like kings. Just look at how fat his son is,” Mark said watching him being taken into custody. “I never imagined that anyone could treat their own people like that!”

“Affirmative, Mark. The operation was successful and another of your goals has been achieved. Will the United Nations agree to begin operations in Iran now?”

“I’m not sure, CJ. Yes, the troops did a good job in North Korea and the world is a safer place without that nut in power anymore. But I get the impression that the Secretary-General is not keen to tackle Iran though.”

“Why would they not wish to remove or change the government of Iran? They repress the citizens just as the one formerly ruling North Korea.”

“Yes it is, but there are some big differences between the two situations. Except for China, North Korea had no allies. Once China dropped their support for Kin Te Ill’s government they stood alone. Iran may not have many friends in the region but many of the other governments act similarly towards their citizens and won’t support action against that country because they could be next.”

“Could cooperation not be compelled by pressure being applied by the United Nations, Mark?”

“That is a possibility, CJ. But there is still another issue. The government of Iran is controlled by a group of religious leaders who have absolute control. The UN isn’t likely to strike at religious figures. That would surely be disastrous in dealings with the others in the Middle East.”

“Judging by records from human history, religious leaders make poor political leaders. In every case I can find their rule was not good for the people of the respective countries. Removal from their countries and power has been the only way to limit their influence over a population.”

“Sending them into exile sounds like a good idea, CJ. But with modern communications, anywhere they are sent they will still have followers to cause trouble. It would just be a matter of time until they came back and disrupted whatever progress has been made.” Mark sighed. “The more we discuss this, the more I agree with the hesitation expressed by Lisa Smith and the rest of the Security Council.”

“Would the Iranian leaders rethink their positions in light of the actions they have witnessed by the United Nations in North Korea?”

“Anything is possible.” Mark thought about it for a moment. “Can you tap into and monitor communications between the religious leaders and the puppets in the Iranian government? Maybe we can get some idea if you are correct. If not at least we will be one step ahead in our dealings with them.”

“Affirmative, Mark. That will not pose any difficulty, but from their reluctance to act I do not believe the United Nations would approve of such actions.”

“They probably wouldn’t, so we just won’t tell them. Countries of the Middle East present the biggest obstacles to achieving peace on Earth and it’s too important to me for it to be kept in interminable discussions.”

During routine monitoring of Iran, CJ discovered that the religious leaders were at odds with President Mohamed Andijon as to how to proceed. The president believed that UN forces would eventually turn the military force towards Iran. The Ayatollah, however, reserved final say on all matters of state security. He believed that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard was capable of stopping any invasion. He would brook no dissent and was adamant that capitulation in any form to the governments of the west would not be acceptable. The Ayatollah also suggested that if he wanted to remain president he would cease to suggest otherwise. Any public dissent would have dire consequences to him personally.

He took their not so veiled threat to heart but not in the way they expected. He put plans into motion. Not willing to lose his position, or see Iran destroyed (in his mind the two were intertwined) either by outside or inside forces.

The clerics had gathered for a meeting with their trusted aids at the Ayatollah’s palace a week later and that was when President Andijon struck. The following morning servants knocked on the sealed doors to the innermost chambers but received no response. They conversed in hushed whispers and tried several more times before contacting the president who immediately sent a handpicked team of his own men to break open the doors to the room.

When they found the men slumped around the table or lying on the floor with unmistakable signs of sickness on their faces, they backed off and sealed the building with the servants still inside.

“Kill everyone in the compound and burn the building to the ground,” the president ordered when informed of the situation. “You and the men are to report to the presidential palace as soon as it has been accomplished. Speak to no one.”

When the men arrived, he had them shot before they could even report. Ostensibly it was a necessary precaution to prevent the spread of the deadly illness. In reality it was to prevent anyone from talking.

“No one can be left to contradict me,” he thought.

President Mohamed Andijon made an announcement to the people that all their nation’s spiritual leaders had been killed.

“This is a national tragedy,” he said trying to sound sincere. “However, Allah in his infinite power and wisdom did not see fit to save them,” he added. “I must conclude that they had angered him and it was his will and by his judgment that they died. As such, there will be no period of mourning for them.”

Lower level religious figures petitioned President Andijon almost immediately. They wished to step into the leadership rolls left vacant by the deaths of the senior clerics.

He had a simple answer for them. “No, that will not be possible at the present time.”

“But the country must have spiritual leaders!” they cried.

“Be careful with your demands,” the president warned. “You wouldn’t want to make the same mistakes they did and bring Allah’s wrath down upon you, would you? I will let you know when I have made a decision. Do not press the matter.”

His tone of voice alone told them that there would be consequences if they disobeyed his advice and they backed down.

“This is my opportunity to be free of those zealots,” he thought. “The leadership of the country is mine now! I am tired of being a figurehead and not inclined to let power slip back into others hands!”

Two weeks later he arrived at his office as he did every morning. He had been able to stave off the clerics for the time being and his confidence grew daily.

As he entered, President Andijon looked around his spartan office. “I should not have to look at blank walls,” he thought.

“Maybe some artwork from the Tehran Museum,” he said aloud.

“That sounds like a good idea,” said a voice speaking in Arabic coming from his desk.

He started and looked around for the hidden speaker. Finally noticing a small transparent square sitting on his desk that had an image within it, an image that he thought he recognized.

“There is no need to be alarmed, Mr. President,” said Mark with CJ translating. “I just wish to speak with you.”

“Yes, who are you?” He asked from a few feet away. “What is this device and how did it get into my office?”

“Mr. President, I am Mark Richards. Never mind how I got the communications link into your office. We have some matters to discuss, you and I.”

“What, Mark Richards? What do you want and how is it that you speak my language?”

“Many things become possible with advanced technology, Mr. President. May I continue? Do you accept that I am who I say I am?”

“Let us speak in English, Mr. Richards,” President Andijon said walking over to his desk and taking his chair. He stared at the three dimensional image but made no move to pick up the device. “I find you speaking the Prophet’s tongue unnerving.”

“As you wish, Mr. President,” Mark replied. CJ stopped the translation so they may continue.

“What do you want? We are in the midst of a crisis,” the president asked, irritated.

“Yes, I am quite aware of the situation. I notice that you’re using it to good advantage.”

“Exactly what do you mean by that? I serve my people, just as I have always done!”

“With the exception that instead of being nothing more than a mouthpiece for the clerics, you are running Iran’s government now. You must be somewhat pleased?”

“I have always run Iran, Mr. Richards.” He spoke with authority but Mark could sense some unease with the conversation. “Now, if there is nothing of importance you wish to discuss, I am busy.”

“Ok, if you want to play things that way that’s fine,” Mark said. “Oh by the way, did I mention that I know you had the Ayatollah and the other ranking clerics assassinated?” He waited a moment for a reaction before continuing. When President Andijon was silent he went on. “What I would like to know is how you faked the signs of plague? Ricin doesn’t leave anything you can see. Oops, I bet that that’s information you don’t want getting out.”

President Andijon scowled and sat there without speaking for a few moments. He grabbed the communications device and seemed about to hurl it across the room.

“You will not be able to break that device, Mr. President. Why don’t you just put it down? Like I said we have some things to discuss.”

“I think I understand you now, Mark Richards,” he said as he returned the tablet to his desktop. “You threaten to expose me. My position is precarious is it not?”

“I guess he is sharper than I gave him credit for,” Mark thought.

“Mr. President, I’m not planning anything like that. You are an intelligent man, loud and obnoxious sometimes, but intelligent nonetheless.”

“Is this the reason you contacted me, to hurl threats and insults?”

“Oh come on, you have been called worse in your time and you know it. And I save my threats for the U.S. President.”

President Andijon could not help but smile at that.

“I have a question for you, Mr. President. Wouldn’t it be better to rule your country with kindness rather than with force? If you can keep the next group of religious leaders from taking over, something you are managing just fine by the way, you just may find your country prospering like never before. Iran’s next election could be an actual landslide victory for you.”

“You represent western interests, Mr. Richards,” he said suspiciously. “Why should I trust you?”

“The interests I represent are the entire world’s, not western, or American. If you think I was being disrespectful to you, you should have heard some of the conversations I’ve had with President Stone! Not to mention Vice President Foster, his evil henchman. Or is that it the other way around? The relationship between those two is confusing sometimes.”

The Iranian president actually laughed at that. “That you have not had success speaking to those two does not surprise me, Mr. Richards. My own dealings with them have been less than satisfying.”

Mark had to chuckle at that in return. “Mr. President, I am prepared to provide Iran with the same advantages that I have given many other countries. Just prove to me that you have the capacity to learn and change.”

“What exactly do you want from us, Mr. Richards. What must the Iranian people do to receive your technological gifts?”

“That’s simple. I want peace in the Middle East. You can start by ending your support for the numerous terrorist organizations in the region, Mr. President. I am providing material aid to the Palestinian people to try and sway them from violence. Your giving them weapons just keeps the cycle going.”

“With you having already started to reduce the world’s dependence on oil,” he replied with surprising candor, “we cannot afford to pursue that course of action anymore unless we allow the country to go bankrupt. I do not see that as a problem.”

“Thank you, Mr. President. I had hoped, and am glad to see that you can be a reasonable man.”

“Do you have any other… requests?”

Mark could tell from his voice that he expected a demand that Iran recognize Israel as a legitimate country.

“Just treat the people with respect and kindness. Many outdated laws need to be modified or better still, eliminated. Do your part to keep the peace in the region and I will be satisfied. I’m hoping that the others in the Middle East will take a cue from you as well. I would be satisfied just to have your cooperation, but every other country that joins us would be a bonus.”

“That is acceptable to me.”

“One last thing, Mr. President,” Mark added. “I would appreciate it if Iran gave up its nuclear program. With the abundant solar energy, it won’t be necessary anyway.”

“We have already devoted considerable resources to the construction of a nuclear power plant. I will have to provide justification for just abandoning it.”

“Now we both know that isn’t true, Mr. President. You are the leader of the country. If you tell the people that giving up the pursuit of nuclear power will be good for your nation, they will accept it.”

“How soon will you begin construction of the energy receiving stations?” he asked, deflecting Mark’s comment.

“Pick a location, and I can have construction machines install the foundation and power core within a week. Lengths of superconducting cable will also be delivered at that time. I can have the plans for finishing the station downloaded into your computer.”

“That will be acceptable, Mr. Richards. I will have a technician provide access to our computer network.”

“That won’t be necessary. My friend CJ can access any computer or network on the planet.”

The Iranian President took that to be a subtle warning that he would be watched. “I understand. Construction on the nuclear plant will be halted immediately.”

“President Andijon, I believe that you just may have a good long run as leader of Iran. You may even inspire some of the other holdouts to see the wisdom of cooperation.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Richards.”

Mohamed Andijon hung up the phone feeling somewhat bemused.