Singapore Under Attack (International Espionage Book 1) Page 7

  ***

  Ja’afari still vividly remembered the Supreme Leader’s humble dwelling. It had been an ongoing tradition since the days of Ayatollah Khomeini. The scale of the home was in contrast to the Leader’s power. The president and Ja’afari passed by the security detail with no problems and entered the familiar meeting hall. General Suleimani was already seated in an armchair adjacent to the Leader’s seat. He nodded but did not bother to rise in order to honor the president. Delicate china cups and tea kettles had already been placed on the small tables in front of the seated attendees.

  “You’ve come a long way, General Ja’afari, and I’m sure you have important things to say to us,” the Supreme Leader said as he entered the hall and sat down in his seat at the head of the assembly.

  “That is true, sir. I’m grateful that you’re taking the time to meet me, and I have a few things to say about the situation in Southeast Asia.”

  “I’ve asked the president of the republic and the commander of the Revolutionary Guard to join us for the meeting.”

  “I appreciate that, sir, and I wanted you to know that I’ve already met the president and General Suleimani and updated them about some of the issues taking place in the region to which I’ve been appointed as ambassador.”

  “We’re listening,” the Leader encouraged him gently.

  “There’s been progress in enhancing our presence in Southeast Asia. The training facility we’ve established in Kuala Lumpur, per General Suleimani’s suggestion, is already active and currently hosting a second cycle of Hezbollah and Hamas fighters. I want to note the support from Malaysia, primarily from General Razek, head of the Royal Intelligence Corps—”

  “If I may, sir,” Suleimani intervened, “this facility, which is distant and seemingly unconnected to us, is in accordance with the policy we decided on after signing the nuclear agreement with the six superpowers. So long as the West doesn’t suspect we’re cultivating terror, there’s no risk of them renewing the sanctions.”

  “General Suleimani is right,” Ja’afari continued. “Which brings us to the central topic I want to present. We’re building an intelligence infrastructure to collect information in Singapore, which is a target for potential attacks, as we all understand. But when it comes to carrying out the attacks, it seems reasonable to us to rely on support from Hezbollah teams. We’ve already seen what they’re capable of in the attack in Argentina, and recently we’ve witnessed their accomplishments in the war in Syria, fighting alongside President Assad’s forces.”

  “They are a serious source of support,” the president pitched in, “and their accomplishments are truly impressive. I have no doubt that they’d be capable of carrying out successful attacks in Singapore as well.”

  “And yet there’s still a vulnerability for us here,” Suleimani commented.

  “What do you mean, General?” the Leader asked.

  “Our connection to Hezbollah is well known throughout the world. If, perish the thought, a Hezbollah fighter is captured, this might result in political pressure on us, as well as the risk of re-establishing the sanctions.”

  At this point, Ja’afari quickly proposed the new direction of using cyber attacks, still refraining from mentioning specific targets.

  General Suleimani appeared to be deliberating. He was well acquainted with the guard’s cyber team and had no doubts about its ability to both defend against and initiate cyber attacks in Singapore. He knew the idea was good and sound but was perturbed by the fact that it was Ja’afari, of all people, who had brought it up and would end up reaping the glory from the Supreme Leader.

  “This is an idea that frees us from the risks of direct exposure, and for being blamed for terrorist attacks in the region,” Suleimani agreed. “But I’m not sure to what extent our technology experts are currently ready to supply the necessary cyber means. And generally speaking, we have to be acquainted with the specific nature of our targets in order to opt for the most appropriate method of attack using computer communication.”

  “And there’s one more important matter.” Suleimani turned to look at the Supreme Leader. “Singapore is our testing ground, and even if we don’t succeed, it wouldn’t be a severe strategic blow. Our true targets are the Great Satan, the United States, and Little Satan, Israel. Even failure in Singapore could lead to progress in enhancing our cyber attack arsenal against our major enemies.” Suleimani emphasized this point, which weakened the status of his enemy, Ja’afari.

  “We’ve come up with several types of targets.” Ja’afari tried to maintain the lead in the discussion. “The first and most concrete is the Port of Singapore. We’ve already made some forays there using the limited means at our disposal, and it does look feasible. We’ve also considered the air-traffic control center at Changi Airport and the banking system in Singapore, as well as attacking the water infrastructure in Singapore.”

  Suleimani leaped from his seat as if he had just been bitten, his furious gaze bouncing between Ja’afari and the president. He did not try to hide his surprise. He felt, justifiably, that Ja’afari was asserting himself as a leader, with the president’s encouragement.

  “What’s the deal with the water? Where did that come from all of a sudden?”

  “Let’s listen to the details,” the Supreme Leader said calmly. “Would you give us some more information, General Ja’afari?”

  “Singapore suffers from a constant shortage of water. It has designed and constructed water desalination facilities in order to decrease its dependency on importing water from its neighbor Malaysia. We recommend viewing this attack as preparation for hitting Israel’s water desalination facilities. The important goal is drying up Israel.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” the president said, “and I suggest advancing it. Let’s not forget that Israel built our water desalination facilities as well. When the war in Iraq ended, we—Ja’afari and I—were part of a force stationed to protect these facilities. It was at our air force base in Bushehr where the desalination facilities were built. I know these facilities are still active and that our engineers will know how to uncover the vulnerabilities of the facilities in Singapore and Israel.”

  “Ja’afari is correct in assuming that the list of goals mentioned here is beyond the capabilities of the embassy specifically, and might be beyond our total capabilities in general,” Suleimani said in a more placating tone, attempting to regain control of the discussion.

  “Should we ask for help from our great ally China?” Ja’afari half-asked, half-suggested.

  “I’m not sure we can just approach them like that, with no advance preparation…” Suleimani said.

  “We have strong, reliable strategic relations with China,” the president said. “They would be happy to increase their control over the region’s nations. The potential for future damage to the United States won’t bother them either. On the contrary. I believe, Supreme Leader, that approaching them would be justified.”

  Ja’afari decided to stay out of the president’s exchange with the commander of the Revolutionary Guard at this stage. He had not forgotten the struggles for power and prestige among the higher ranks of command. It was important to him that the Supreme Leader side with him at the meeting’s conclusion and, therefore, he took the time to praise Suleimani far beyond what he felt the man truly deserved.

  “I accept your assessment regarding the risk of exposing the initiation of terrorist attacks now, particularly after signing the nuclear agreement and the removal of most of the sanctions,” the Supreme Leader said. “Therefore, going in the direction of actions that can’t be attributed to us, such as cyber attacks, is indeed justified. Thank you, General Ja’afari, for your initiative and analysis of the situation in the region under your responsibility. We should approach China and look into how much they can assist us.”

  He turned to the president. “I request that you contact the p
resident of China, and we’ll see how we can advance as quickly as possible in creating an appropriate, promising action plan. Thank you, gentlemen,” the leader concluded, rising to shake the three men’s hands.

  Suleimani was still contemplating to what extent the credit that Ja’afari had received from the Supreme Leader would play in his favor in future conflicts. The president was already thinking how he would convince the president of China to let Iran in on secrets pertaining to cyber warfare. Ja’afari was experiencing mixed emotions, happy for the support the Supreme Leader had expressed for the means of operation he had presented but also apprehensive about mishaps and failures on the way to the ambitious attacks he had proposed. He knew many things could happen on the way to realizing any action, even the most successfully planned.

  Chapter 12

  Ronit Hart was sweaty when she returned from her morning run in Bedok Reservoir Park, circling the massive water reservoir at the heart of the park. Two laps around the artificial lake had left her breathing heavily and bursting with adrenalin. The reservoir had once been a sand mine, designated to be filled with water once it was no longer being mined for sand. Singapore’s central bank had been involved in funding the establishment of the reservoir, and Ronit had heard, from some of the bank’s veteran employees, about the considerations that had resulted in designing several reservoirs to trap rainwater. Singapore, they told her, was striving to free itself of its dependence on its neighbor Malaysia, which was a main provider of water for Singapore. The reservoirs and the water desalination systems had been granted the status of national projects, receiving a prominent position on the government’s priority list. The bank, Ronit learned, was tasked with coordinating the projects’ funding, including recruiting funds from investors abroad. When the Malaysians discovered that Singapore was approaching the point of freeing itself from dependence upon their water supply, they tried to halt the process, at first by significantly decreasing water prices and, when this did them no good, by employing threats.

  Her studio apartment, on the twentieth floor of a modern, secure apartment building, was small but pleasant and convenient. Ronit made herself a cup of espresso in the machine and turned to listen to a message indicated by a blinking light on her phone.

  “Good morning, Ronit.” She heard the familiar voice of the bank manager’s administrative assistant. “The manager would like to see you as soon as you come to work.”

  Ronit gulped down her coffee and quickly went to shower and get dressed. She chose a pantsuit that flattered her and a greenish, long-sleeved blouse. She had been working at the bank for a year now and, for some reason, had not been granted job tenure yet. She mentally surveyed the list of topics she had handled successfully during the year and found no cause for concern. Happily, she had received good feedback throughout the year. But she was still plagued by apprehension that the manager might tell her that the year was now over and that her work at the bank would not be continuing. Ronit was very eager to stay in Singapore in general, and at the prestigious central bank in particular. She had realized that working at the bank helped her forget the affairs of her past, particularly the love she had recently lost. During her year at the bank, she had rarely thought about the charming, beloved man who could not keep his promise to get divorced and marry her.

  “Good morning, Ronit. I’m happy to see you so radiant. You’re just full of energy when you come here.”

  “Good morning, sir, and thanks for the compliment. It’s the morning run in the park that prepares me for another busy workday.”

  “I asked to talk to you, and I’ve got news for you.”

  “W… w… what’s the news?” Suddenly, Ronit had lost her ability to speak fluently.

  “In yesterday’s executive meeting, we assessed your accomplishments during the last year. We want to appoint you as manager of the private banking department. We were just talking about energy, Ronit, and you should know that this role will require you to make a greater effort than what’s been asked of you so far.”

  Ronit remained silent for several moments, which seemed like an eternity to her. She was having a hard time taking in the news. The search for a manager for the private banking department had been a major topic of conversation at the bank for weeks now. Many of the bank’s employees had their hearts set on the role. She knew that Muhammad Osman, her neighbor on the office floor, had dedicated significant efforts to winning the position. She was glad to hear of the decision to grant the role to her.

  “I don’t know how to thank you. This is a great privilege, and I’m not sure I deserve it.”

  “Don’t be too modest. You quickly got a good grasp on working at the bank, and you’re known to be industrious and efficient in every area you take on. But beyond that, you have a way with people. You have a sensitivity that’s combined with determination. We believe these traits will grant you success in our private banking department, which needs a serious shake-up.”

  “What are the required goals?” Ronit returned to her usual self, resuming her focus. “What do you expect from me?”

  “I’d mention two main directions at this stage, Ronit. We’re relying on your connections to Israel and with Israeli investors. Israel is also connected to Europe as well as the United States. It would be smart to reach out to businesspeople with ties to successful startups in Israel and, through them, reach European and American companies.”

  “And the other direction?”

  “It’s something different, and a bit more problematic,” the manager responded. “We’ve marked Hong Kong as a target. Not as a target in itself,” he quickly noted, “but as an entry point to China, which is gradually shifting its economy to focus more on private ventures.”

  “That seems like an immense challenge to me.”

  “You’ll succeed at it, Ronit. We have no doubt about that. Your next step is to come up with an action plan, which we’ll examine before green-lighting it.”

  “How long do I have to come up with the plan?”

  “A few days, my dear.” The manager’s tone became more personal. “No more than a week.”

  “I’m on it,” Ronit promised and rose to shake the manager’s hand.

  “There’s one more thing I have to add. Sit down and listen carefully.”

  “I’m listening.” Ronit dropped down into the chair once more.

  “In addition to appointing you to head the private banking department, I’m also adding you to the team we recently established to protect ourselves against cyber attacks on the bank…”

  “Me?” Ronit was incredulous. “The little I know about this topic indicates that it’s complex and intimidating.”

  “We don’t know a lot about this field either, and it requires a massive investment of time and effort. I’ve put together a team that will focus on protecting the bank from cyber invasion, and I expect you to take part in it. We know about your accomplishments in studying mathematics and physics at the INSEAD Institute and, in addition, you’re an Israeli, and it’s no secret how advanced Israel is in this area. I have no doubt that you can contribute to us in that regard as well. Ronit, I won’t hide the fact that protection from cyber attacks is, in fact, your primary new role. You’ll have to find ways to emphasize the private banking aspect of your work and conceal the cyber-related aspects.”

  ***

  Ronit was preoccupied as she descended from the management floor to her own office on the second floor. She thought about leaving behind the small room that had served as her office since she began her work at the bank. The new role would require her to move to the management floor, to a large, roomy office. It was also clear to her that there were new staff members she had to meet. She passed by the office adjacent to her own and, without thinking twice, knocked on the door and entered.

  “Good morning, Ronit!” Muhammad Osman called out, rising to shake her hand. “You look great this morning. An
ything new?”

  “Yes, Osman, there’s news, and you’ll be the first to hear it.”

  “Come sit down, Ronit,” Osman suggested. “Will you join me for a cup of coffee? I’m curious to hear what’s going on.”

  “Yes, thank you, Osman,” Ronit replied. “I’ll tell you in a moment, and I also want to hear your opinion.”

  “I’m listening,” Osman said once he had returned from the office floor’s kitchen with coffee for both of them.

  “I just had a meeting with the bank manager, who offered me the position of managing the private banking department…”

  Ronit debated on how to continue, watching Osman’s reactions closely. They’d had a good relationship throughout the year, and Ronit was grateful to Osman, who had guided her through her first steps at the bank. She had learned to rely on the experience, intelligence, and advice of the witty, handsome young man, a member of the Malaysian minority in Singapore. She knew that a new situation was now transpiring, one in which Osman, who had not been promoted, would stay where he was, while she would be moving up. Ronit did not want to lose her connection to the young man who had charmed her and made her feel more at ease at the bank.

  “I’m glad I was chosen, and I’m sorry it wasn’t you. I’m sure you’re a better fit for the role than me…”

  “The decision wasn’t ours to make, and you shouldn’t think too much about me. How are you going to prepare for the job?”

  “That’s exactly what brought me to you, and I’d be happy to get some good advice, as always.”

  “I assume the manager gave you a timeframe for preparing a plan of action?”

  “Exactly. And he also said I should use my connections to investors in Israel in order to develop the field of private banking in the United States and the European Union as well. But the manager also mentioned another assignment…” She paused, taking a deep breath.