OUTCAST Ops: The Poseidon Initiative

EIGHTEEN

Mr. Peterson stared at Stephen Shah as the embassy administrator began talking to whomever had picked up the phone on the other end.

“David, listen to me. A State Department envoy just handed me embassy shutdown orders from the White House.”

Shah heard an unintelligible line of inquiry emanate from the phone.

“Yes, shutdown orders. Right, they’re complying with the demands. At least for now.”

Peterson listened for a few more seconds and then cupped the phone, looking at Shah.

“Where are we supposed to go? Do we stay in country or report for duty in D.C.?”

Shah hadn’t considered this and had to think fast. As much as he enjoyed the vision of a couple of hundred foreign embassy workers suddenly showing up for non-existent duty in Washington, it was more consistent with his temporary closure story that they remain nearby.

“Stay in country and be prepared to resume operations when notified. You have a disaster plan in place, correct? Like if there’s an earthquake or a flood or something?”

Peterson nodded.

“Treat this like that. Those type of plans generally tell employees how to contact each other once off the premises. Put your disaster plan into effect now.”

Peterson spoke into his phone. “We need to evacuate everyone and then follow our disaster plan for coordination of activities while off-site.”

For the first time since he’d entered the embassy, Shah allowed himself the faintest of hopes that his ploy might actually work. Emboldened, he pressed on, half-expecting that at any second a team of security men would burst into the office to escort him away.

“You also need to remember to announce the closure publicly just before or after leaving, to let the terrorists know that their demands have been met.”

“Hold on a minute, okay?” Peterson said into the phone. Then he said to Shah, “Shouldn’t President Carmichael do that?”

He was right, of course. But Shah was hoping that since The Hague was Hofstad’s base of operations that a local announcement would reach their ears soon, and they would put a hold on whatever they had in store for the citizenry of the United States for at least the next few hours. Who knows, maybe the White House would follow with its own announcement if they assume the embassy acted on its own best intel. Maybe they know something the president doesn’t. But these thoughts took a backseat in Shah’s mind to the situation right here, right now. He still had some convincing to do, and even if Peterson and whomever he was talking to were fooled, he was well aware that this little charade could have the rug pulled out from under it anytime in the next few hours.

“The president will do it, but sometimes local sources are taken as more authentic by local people, so we would like the announcement to come from the embassy itself as well.”

That would have to do. Shah hoped it would be enough as Peterson conveyed the instructions to his colleague on the phone. Shah’s inner voice told him he should get while the getting was good. The ruse would either work or it wouldn’t. There wasn’t anything more he could do here. The questioning would grow more pointed, more confirmations would be requested, so it was better if he left now and hoped the plan would be carried out. Based on his knowledge of federal administration of overseas assets, Shah gave it about a forty percent chance of success.

At least Peterson and his contact were now discussing the details of implementing the shutdown.

“Excuse me, Mr. Peterson?” Shah interrupted. Peterson raised his eyebrows at Shah expectantly.

“I’ve got to be on my way. I trust you can handle things from here?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Rahimi. You can count on us.”

“Excellent. I’ll be sure to let the president know what a first rate operation you run here. Just don’t forget that announcement.”

Peterson beamed. Thank you, Mr. Rahimi. Yes, Sir!”

Shah turned and left the office, closing the door behind him.