Zwischenzug
Isfahan
Ali Qapu was in a state of panic now. Almost immediately after Julian issued his declaration of war against Mozaffar, all hell broke loose. Staffers hurried Mozaffar between various rooms of the palace as each new crisis broke. Just when he finally made himself comfortable in his seat, the staffers dragged him out of the room. By the afternoon on the 28th, he had ended up in the former Music Hall, where Parviz had set up several computers and tables as part of his base of operations.
“Get me the head of al-Khwarizmi!” he screamed into his phone, his anger echoing around the room. “The longer I have to wait, the more I will be inclined to have the Ministry of Energy seize the Atar blueprints!”
“Having trouble?” Mozaffar said.
There was a pause, and then Parviz slammed down his phone. “YOU
AHMAGH! That
haramzade bisharaf hung up!”
“Were you talking to al-Khwarizmi?”
“Yes, I was going to ask their idiot CEO when he was going to crush those strikers!” Parviz said. “Does he have any idea how important that oil is for our war machine?”
By now, Parviz had assumed most of the decision-making responsibilities in the cabinet. Mozaffar was kept out of the loop for most details other than the extremely obvious stuff.
They didn’t even tell me what they planned to do with the oil strikes.
“That’s it, I’m going to send in the troops.” Parviz began typing on a computer. “I’ll get General Malik to send a few tanks up to the refineries and give those equalists a scare. Might as well send another two up to al-Khwarizmi’s headquarters while I’m still here.”
“Don’t you think we’re going too far, Parviz?” Mozaffar asked.
“Too far?” Parviz sneered at him. “Mozaffar, we haven’t gone
far enough! If the Artesh halts its advance now, Jerusalem will seize the opportunity to strike back!”
“They literally nuked themselves, though.”
“And yet they still have enough soldiers left over for a civil war! If they can do that, then surely they have enough troops ready to invade Persia!”
“
Kos e sher, Parviz. You know it.”
Parviz shrugged. “So what? The people will believe it anyways. They see our tanks running out of fuel and our troops stopping in their tracks, and the natural next step would be to assume they’re about to become mincemeat.”
Isn’t that straight out of Bysandros Malecares’ playbook? “Surely you can go about al-Khwarizmi in a more diplomatic manner.”
“I already did, but it seems that incompetent CEO can’t even keep his own employees in line,” Parviz said, “So I guess I’ll do his job for him. We need to keep that oil flowing.”
A computer chimed. Parviz peered at the screen and shook his head. “Oh, I forgot to tell you this earlier, but I think you should see it for yourself.”
Mozaffar peered at the computer. A recent article from the Isfahan Times had just been sent to them.
“MINISTER MOZAFFAR ACCUSED OF SECRET FINANCIAL DEALINGS, NEPOTISM”
He quickly scanned the rest of the article. It seemed that the Isfahan Times had received, from an anonymous source, various documents relating to how Mozaffar gained his office. These documents included financial transactions, phone transcripts, and bank records which allegedly proved Mozaffar had only gotten into politics and rose to his office through deals with certain lobbyists and political figures. Fortunately, they didn’t name Uncle Abbas. “How…how did they get all that?”
“Beats me,” Parviz said, “We probably have a leak.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Hafez from Accounting? Never liked that guy.”
“Look into it, now.” Mozaffar took on a stern tone. “I cannot have these allegations swirling around me when I am due to become chancellor in four days.”
“Yes, yes, I will look into it,” Parviz said.
Another staffer ran up to them. “Minister Mozaffar, we need you back in the war room.”
“What for?”
“There’s this new video making the rounds online. Claims to show Artesh soldiers executing captured Crusaders.”
“That’s impossible,” Parviz said, “We couldn’t even take prisoners to begin with.”
That was the official narrative. As the Crusaders retreated from Isfahan on April 2, they all did so as a monolith, without any dissenters or defectors. They only did two things: attempt to retreat westwards and shoot anybody attacking them. And so the Artesh came down hard on them as they did so. It was much easier than dealing with the human waves in Mesopotamia. Officially, the vast majority of Operation Gaugamela was annihilated, their bodies still rotting across western Persia. The survivors all escaped back into Jerusalem. No prisoners were taken.
At least, that was what he had been told.
“It must be a doctored video,” Mozaffar said, “You know how impressive machine-generated footage can be these days.”
“Yes, it’s obviously another of the Anniona brat’s ploys to take us down,” Parviz said.
“I might as well see it for myself, though,” Mozaffar said, “See just how outlandish it is.”
“Right, right, I shouldn’t be keeping you, then,” Parviz said.
“I’ll see you later. And I fully expect you to have a solution for al-Khwarizmi ready to go.”
Mozaffar left the Music Hall and followed the staffer downstairs. Once he was far enough away from Parviz, he smiled.
Yes, Parviz, you’re on the right track. Someone did leak the information to the press. But it wasn’t Hafez.
“Sir?” the staffer said. “Is something the matter?”
Mozaffar shook his head. “No, it’s nothing. Just thinking about my inevitable victory in four days.”
---
Julian, Angelica, and Tania leaned over the table, looking closely at a map of Isfahan. Certain locations had been either circled or crossed out. In lieu of counters, they used random items they could get their hands on—paper clips, toothpaste caps, rings, coins, and so on—to mark police and military locations. Currently, most of them were concentrated in the northwest.
“Just as planned,” Julian said, “The strikers are putting up a hell of a fight.”
“Can’t believe Mozaffar took the bait so easily,” Angelica said, “Tanks too? He must be getting desperate.”
“The more personnel he sends to al-Khwarizmi’s refineries, the better. There will be fewer left over for the city itself. Tania, have you scouted out the area?”
“I have. The military presence has been significantly reduced. I dare say some blindspots have opened up.” Tania laid out a second map. One building in particular was circled, as was a route leading to it. “I think we can get this done.”
Julian nodded. “Good. I see you’ve already marked a route of infiltration?”
“Yes. I’ve taken advantage of the blindspots as best as I could.”
“Angelica, you know what you have to do, right?”
“Yes,” Angelica said, “Nothing the old X-Division can’t handle.”
“In the meantime, I’ll cause more disruptions in downtown,” Julian said, “I still have plenty of cards left to play.”
“I’m excited,” Angelica said, “How about you, Tani?”
“So this is what my aunt used to do, huh?” Tania said. “Can’t say it isn’t exciting, but I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t worry,” Angelica said, “As long as we have Julian, we have this in the bag.”
“Right, Julian will deliver.”
Julian nervously laughed. “Heh, you guys are giving me too much pressure and credit. I’m not some god.”
“But you’ve done so much already, gotten us this far.”
“Only because I had the help of so many people like you two,” Julian said, “Give yourselves some credit.”
“I suppose so,” Tania said.
“Anyways, get some rest,” Julian said, “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”
The others left the room. Julian quickly set about packing everything up. In case their hideout was located, he had to make sure there was nothing that could incriminate them or jeopardize the operation. Once that was done, Julian slumped into his chair and thought over his plan one last time.
I would like to say this is foolproof, but I can’t. No plan is foolproof. You just have to make sure to minimize the chances of the worst happening. And I have. But is it enough? Have I planned far enough ahead? Is Mozaffar expecting me? No, I’ve made my contingencies. I’ve covered all of them, and any possible plays on his side. This plan will succeed.
It must
succeed. In Eva’s name.
---
Alex heard footsteps in the distance, drawing closer. Then there was a beep as a guard swiped his keycard, and the heavy door slowly creaked open.
“Good news, you have a visitor.” The guard stepped aside, revealing Theodor Tesla.
The ex-CEO and regent waved smugly. “Hello, Alex.”
Alex shot to his feet and shook his fist. “YOU!”
Theodor only smiled. “Yes, me.”
“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here,” Alex said.
Josh stirred awake. “What is it—huh, didn’t expect you’d to show.”
“Good day, boys,” Theodor said, “I hope you’re enjoying prison.”
“As if you’re not stuck here with us,” Alex said.
“As a matter of fact, I’m not.” Theodora raised his hands. His free, unshackled hands. “Straight from Regent Mozaffar’s desk. I’m pardoned, as of today.”
“P-Pardoned?” Alex’s face grew red and his heart sunk as the words sunk in. “PARDONED?!” He threw himself at Theodor without hesitation, but the guard slammed the butt of his rifle into his stomach. The wind knocked out of him, Alex crumpled to the floor, gasping and groaning.
“That’s no way to greet a guest,” Theodor said, “Unless you want your sentence to be made harsher. You know, I hear they’re already considering the death penalty.”
“Why…does a man like you…get to go free?!” Alex said.
Theodor shrugged. “What can I say? Mozaffar and his people appreciate my skills. Especially with regards to Panopticons. This is a meritocracy, after all.”
“Says the guy who stole and bought his way to power.”
“All baseless lies and slander you’ve got no way to prove.” Theodor dismissively waved at the air. “What are you going to do, use Malecares as a source?”
“Now you know the truth of this world,” Josh said, “People will always do whatever it takes to get ahead. Values mean nothing in the face of ultimate victory. Idealists will always be eaten by the vultures.”
He turned to Theodor. “So when can I expect to be released?”
Theodor paused for a moment. And then he suddenly burst into laughter. “AHAHAHAHAHA! Good one, Josh.”
“I’m serious.”
The mirth disappeared from Theodor’s face. “And so am I. You’re staying right where you are.”
“But…but…” Josh’s tone was filled with panic and fear now. If Alex’s stomach and diaphragm weren’t racked with pain, he would have laughed as well at the sheer irony of Josh’s edgy statement right before Theodor’s revelation. “What is the meaning of this, Regent?! I…I served you loyally for years! Since before Jerusalem! It…it is only right for me…to be released alongside you!”
“Oh, quit your whining, Johansen.” Theodor’s face hardened. “You are nothing.”
“N-Nothing?”
“Yes, nothing,” Theodor said, “Only the best of the best deserve the honor of working for me. If you’re not, you are not fit to be in my presence. And you, Johansen, have failed miserably in every way.”
“But my record! I served Argus during the old regime, suppressing leftists and deviants to save our nation and values from complete destruction! I served loyally in East Africa! I was there on Bloody Tuesday, helping purge the party cartel! I was there on Red Christmas! I murdered Chancellor Jayapal and crippled Jayasimha! I wiped out X-Division! I purged
Die Zeiten and other enemies of the state! I killed Chancellor Kirova! I served on the front lines in this war as a loyal servant of God, bringing the light of Christ and civilization to the pagans! I…I was the spearhead in Gaugamela! You can’t call me nothing and throw me away just like that!”
Theodor shook his head. “On the contrary, I can. The fact is you failed in Gaugamela. Not only did you fail to complete any of your objectives, and not only did you disobey my direct orders to go fulfill your own personal vendetta, but you also
failed to fulfill said vendetta. I can’t believe you, the man who defeated X-Division and killed Chancellor Kirova when so many others before you failed, got defeated by three civilians, two of whom were
women. Only one of them was using a gun too! They beat you with chairs and baseball bats! You had the latest in Tesla Dynamic’s powered armor technology, as well as a damn Panopticon! And yet those…those
simpletons crushed you! Unacceptable. Unbelievable. You are a liability. You are not fit to be my soldier, you disgrace.”
For a moment, Alex thought he saw a hint of relief on Theodor’s face, as if he had been meaning to say that for some time. Turning back to Josh, all he could see on the younger man’s face was rage.
“HOW DARE YOU TREAT ME LIKE THAT!” Josh was the next one to launch himself at Theodor, but the chain caught him before he could reach Theodor, and he faceplanted into the ground. For good measure, the guard then slammed his rifle into Josh’s back. “I AM A HOLY CRUSADER! JERUSALEM’S STRONGEST SOLDIER! I DEMAND THE RESPECT I DESERVE!”
“This
is the respect you deserve,” Theodor said, “Oh, and by the way. As per the terms of my pardon, I’ve agreed to testify against you at the war crimes tribunal. You can expect a recording of this conversation to be used as evidence.”
“You…WERE RECORDING THIS?!” Josh said.
Alex couldn’t resist anymore. His mouth opened and he heaved and wheezed as he tried to laugh, but it just worsened the pain in his diaphragm. Still, he couldn’t stop.
“Yep, I recorded this.” Theodor held up a recording device. “It turns out you’ve done me one final act of service. So I must thank you for admitting to all of your crimes. I thought it would take a few attempts and your Panopticon’s data. Still going to extract the data anyways, to be sure. The prosecution wants an ironclad argument.”
“TRAITOR!” Josh said. “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! AFTER ALL I DID FOR JERUSALEM! FOR YOU!”
“Wow, someone sure is a bootlicker,” Alex muttered, “What was that you were just saying? The truth of the world, people doing whatever it takes to get ahead? Values meaning nothing? Looks like you’re just meal for the vultures now.”
“I’LL KILL YOU, ALEX!”
“You have to get over here first.” Alex pointed at Josh’s chain. “And I thought we were finally getting along.”
“RRAAAAAAAAAAA!” Josh angrily pounded the concrete floor.
“Looks like you two have a lot of catching up to do,” Theodor said, “So I’ll leave you to it. Mozaffar’s got me on a very strict schedule today. Got to run!”
He stepped out of the cell with another obnoxious wave. The guard followed suit, slamming the door behind him.
“Oh, this is just rich!” Alex said. “Why does my week keep getting better and better?”
“You do know you’re going to be sentenced to death, right?”
Alex leaned against the wall and grinned, taking in the sight of Josh still sprawled on the floor. “Well, at least I’ll die happy.”
---
In Definitive Edition, I feel like retconning al-Khwarizmi into the early stages of NWO as the big oil company at the center of the Mossadegh incident. My intent is they were an oil company that branched out into renewable energy, hence why they got funding for the Atar fusion reactor.