Beyond the Shroud of the Universe by Chris Kennedy

forget I ever saw you,” Night replied. “My focus is on killing bad guys, not revealing the identities of quasi-allies.”
    The man smiled. “We are allies,” he said. “We want what you want, a peaceful Earth where everyone can prosper. We just have different methods of achieving it.”
    “I understand,” Night said. “The Kidon has been responsible for a number of successful assassinations; however, that’s something we Americans generally don’t go for.”
    “There are two things wrong with that statement. First, Americans do go for assassinations; they just aren’t honest enough to admit it when they’re caught. Assassinations can be very effective in stunting an organization’s growth. The other thing wrong is that, while the Kidon is the department responsible for executing our nation’s enemies, I am not part of it as you are suggesting. Now, can we dispense with the verbal sparring? We do not have much time before irreversible changes will be made.”
    Night stared at the man, trying to take his measure; the man endured it without shrinking until Night made up his mind.
    With a small nod, Night indicated his approval. “Okay,” he growled. “What do you know that can help us kill these bastards?”
     
     

Cargo Bay, Shuttle 02 , Lake Pedam, Nigeria, October 5, 2021
    “I don’t have a lot of time,” Admiral Wright said, walking into the cargo bay with Night to find Lieutenant Bradford waiting for them. “As you can imagine, the world leadership wants to know what the hell I’m doing about the terrorists. What is so damn important you dragged me out here to see?”
    “There isn’t anything to see, sir,” Night said, “but I think I have a line on your terrorists.”
    “Well that would be the first good news I’ve had today,” the admiral said. “What have you got?”
    “After the General Assembly meeting yesterday, I was approached by a man with some information. I think he’s from the Mossad, but can’t prove it. He claims to know where the terrorists are hiding and how to get them.”
    “And you believe him?”
    “I think so. He certainly is well-connected, if nothing else. He knew we had found Father Z and brought him back.”
    “Why did he contact you and not someone in the government, then?”
    “He said our communications are compromised, and all our phones are monitored. He’s also pretty sure our satellite and network communications are being monitored. I can’t tell if he’s just paranoid, but he’s worried about our implant comms too. I don’t know how the terrorists could breach the implant network, but he swears they have. If you’re transmitting anything, he says the Persians can probably pick it up. The bottom line is if your conversation isn’t face-to-face and in a secure location, you’re being monitored.”
    “That’s scary,” the admiral said. “Total comms breakdown.”
    “Yes sir. The Israelis also believe we only have global communications so the terrorists can monitor them for intel. If the Iranians thought we were onto them, the man said the Iranians could take down all our comms nets.”
    “But how? Who do they have positioned to do this?”
    “I don’t know, sir. He did tell me where to find their headquarters, and he let me know that we’ve only got a small window of opportunity to stop them.”
    “Based on the fact we’re now part of the ‘Fourth Persian Empire,’” the admiral said, “I’m guessing the headquarters is in Iran.”
    “That’s a good guess,” Night said. “What do you know about the Iranian nuclear program?”
    “Umm…they lie until they’re caught, they confess and we forgive them? Then they go back to doing it again? Something like that? Honestly, my focus has been on aliens, not what the Iranians have been doing.”
    “Unfortunately, almost everyone’s focus has been on the stars,” Night replied, “and that’s what’s biting us in the ass right now.” He paused to pull out a map and spread it