Target Omega

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Chernin scanned a series of reports prepared by the various task managers on the project as he ran an electric razor over the stubble on his chin. He paused to sip some coffee from a large mug and rub the sleep from his eyes. He had slept barely three hours.

Chernin felt no ill effects from the previous evening’s cigars and vodka. In fact, despite having consumed nearly twice as much vodka as Mansur, Chernin was still going strong, hinting at the importance of his work without revealing any details, when the latter had begun drifting off to sleep.

Chernin had spent most of the morning reviewing weekly reports. He took satisfaction in the knowledge that this could very well be the last series of weekly performance reports he would need to review. The time was approaching for him to go home. After a series of tests, the project would be certified at the local level. The Iranians were so anxious to get under way that they would likely certify anything, but Chernin’s superiors in Moscow would make the final assessment and their standards were far more exacting.

Chernin’s standards were just as high and he was confident that all systems would pass inspection. Then, if all was in order, the project would be prepared for execution in a little more than three days. It would be, as the Americans liked to say, a game changer.