In the same manner that she handled yesterday’s conference call, Janet White waits until the admiral and both generals are on the line before notifying the president. She has observed over the two years she has been working as the president’s secretary, and always finds it amusing, that admirals and generals particularly dislike being put on hold while waiting for others. Even the president of the United States. She always finds this amazing.
Just before noon she calls into the president and advises him that all three parties are on the line waiting for him to pick up.
“Admiral, generals,” he greets them all, “it’s three weeks since we met last. I’m looking for an update on your strategy presentations.”
Admiral Smith speaks first. “Mr. President, we are looking at your order in two different, and very distinctly different, ways. We are looking at two sets of conditions: a pre-emptive strike and a retaliatory strike. We are also looking at surveillance possibilities which will enable you to reach your executive decision.”
My executive decision – what a smart-ass way of saying the buck stops on your end.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Publishing Part Four
The package I chose to purchase from Xlibris provides many services that save an author a great deal of time and money. For instance they will create a cover for you, they will edit your manuscript for you, provide your work with its ISBN number or numbers if you do both hard and soft covers. Book reviews are sent out, press releases are done, along with an e-mail marketing campaign. Your work is secured with U. S. copyright registration and with the Library of Congress. These are only some of the benefits of the package. I must tell you though that writing a military thriller I asked if whoever edited my work would they have military thriller experience. They very honestly told me that I could not be guaranteed that possibility. So I spent six months searching for my own editor. I also used the services of my own graphic artist to create the cover for the book since I believe that covers aid in selling a book. I feel it was a good choice based on how the cover looks. Writing a manuscript is only part of the work an author must do. The real work begins after your passion is completed. It is a lot of effort once you start working with an editor and then proofing your work to make sure it is correct. However, it is worth it to see the final copy in your hands.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Chapter Thirteen First Week of June
After a wait of a delicious ten minutes of stolen glances, a phone on the exquisite receptionist’s desk rings. She answers it, then turns to Wattenberg and Bergman. “The prime minister will see you now,” she says in a throaty contralto, then rises from her chair to escort the two men into the prime minister’s office. This time Wattenberg takes the lead, knowing he owes Bergman something for all his embarrassment: the receptionist’s hand laid gently on the shoulder of the last to enter, the grazing of a breast against an arm, and the full, luscious smile and slow wink that always accompany it. Yaakov Brumwell’s receptionist is nothing if not predictable.
Unfortunately, Bergman can barely appreciate the fleeting moment, the touch, the graze, the smile and the wink, as nervous as he is. He has never spoken directly with the prime minister before.
The prime minister rises and shakes both of their hands. “Have a seat,” he says graciously. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. Yosef, I’m hearing some very creative thinking coming out of your group.”
Bergman is floored that he’s the first to be addressed, and by first name. “Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister,” he says, somewhat disconcerted, but hits his stride quickly. “But let’s get it off the ground first, and see it to completion. Then you can tell me if it was such a great idea.” He smiles sheepishly.
The prime minister raises his eyebrows. “What? What kind of a confidence level is that?” Have I been misjudging what I’ve been hearing?
“The confidence of this being a good idea is there, sir,” Bergman says, making an effort to convey greater conviction. “In all honesty, however, I will feel better when we have our people back on Israeli soil and we have the data we require,” he adds.
“Good,” says Yaakov, nodding. “Over-confidence can lead to lousy planning and disasters.” Then he turns to Wattenberg. “So, tell me how your meeting went with our two scouts.”
Unfortunately, Bergman can barely appreciate the fleeting moment, the touch, the graze, the smile and the wink, as nervous as he is. He has never spoken directly with the prime minister before.
The prime minister rises and shakes both of their hands. “Have a seat,” he says graciously. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. Yosef, I’m hearing some very creative thinking coming out of your group.”
Bergman is floored that he’s the first to be addressed, and by first name. “Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister,” he says, somewhat disconcerted, but hits his stride quickly. “But let’s get it off the ground first, and see it to completion. Then you can tell me if it was such a great idea.” He smiles sheepishly.
The prime minister raises his eyebrows. “What? What kind of a confidence level is that?” Have I been misjudging what I’ve been hearing?
“The confidence of this being a good idea is there, sir,” Bergman says, making an effort to convey greater conviction. “In all honesty, however, I will feel better when we have our people back on Israeli soil and we have the data we require,” he adds.
“Good,” says Yaakov, nodding. “Over-confidence can lead to lousy planning and disasters.” Then he turns to Wattenberg. “So, tell me how your meeting went with our two scouts.”
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Chapter Twelve End of May
On the fourteenth day of the promised two weeks, Schwartz calls Bergman.
As his palms begin to sweat, Bergman asks, “So, my friend, what have you and Mark decided?”
“We would like to schedule a second meeting. We think your plan might have merit. There are a number of issues we need to work out together, however. If we can come to a reasonable agreement on the overall operation and costs, then possibly we can come to terms.”
“And what are your terms?” Bergman asks reflexively, then kicks himself. He knows the answer before Schwartz can speak the words.
“Yosef, Yosef, this is not something that can be settled over the phone,” Schwartz scolds him, but his tone is good-natured. “Have Ariel come with you, if he’s the real decision-maker. If he’s not, then bring whomever is.”
Bergman hangs up and sits staring blankly at his office wall as if a video is playing on it. My God, maybe this is a good idea after all! If I could only tell Ariel, but he’s off in the Negev, out of contact till the day after tomorrow. Ariel will want to set up the meeting. I doubt he’d bring someone above him to play ‘decision-maker.’ Prime ministers don’t just bounce around the countryside whenever someone wants the top dog.
Bergman leaves word with Wattenberg’s secretary to have him call as soon as he returns. In the meantime, he has other concerns to address. If this mission is to succeed, I must consider how I can most effectively communicate with them. Data and operational messages need to be sent and received without any possibility of detection. This is becoming downright scary. This may be the most sensitive mission I’ve ever been involved in.
As his palms begin to sweat, Bergman asks, “So, my friend, what have you and Mark decided?”
“We would like to schedule a second meeting. We think your plan might have merit. There are a number of issues we need to work out together, however. If we can come to a reasonable agreement on the overall operation and costs, then possibly we can come to terms.”
“And what are your terms?” Bergman asks reflexively, then kicks himself. He knows the answer before Schwartz can speak the words.
“Yosef, Yosef, this is not something that can be settled over the phone,” Schwartz scolds him, but his tone is good-natured. “Have Ariel come with you, if he’s the real decision-maker. If he’s not, then bring whomever is.”
Bergman hangs up and sits staring blankly at his office wall as if a video is playing on it. My God, maybe this is a good idea after all! If I could only tell Ariel, but he’s off in the Negev, out of contact till the day after tomorrow. Ariel will want to set up the meeting. I doubt he’d bring someone above him to play ‘decision-maker.’ Prime ministers don’t just bounce around the countryside whenever someone wants the top dog.
Bergman leaves word with Wattenberg’s secretary to have him call as soon as he returns. In the meantime, he has other concerns to address. If this mission is to succeed, I must consider how I can most effectively communicate with them. Data and operational messages need to be sent and received without any possibility of detection. This is becoming downright scary. This may be the most sensitive mission I’ve ever been involved in.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Publishing Part Three
Two days after I left my e-mail request on Xlibris’s website, I received a call from a customer service representative. We spent an hour on the phone in which she explained how Xlibris worked with authors to self publish their works and the various programs that are available through them. The programs ranged from very basic Advantage program at $299 to another six programs with a top figure of $12,999. Each program is designed to give the author just what they feel they need or are willing to invest into their work. I purchased the Premium program which gave me a full service package to bring a book to market and the necessary avenues and tools to contact my target markets. Premium package costs $2,999 at the time of this writing. There are currently only two levels higher than the Premium package.
After listening to this lady I was impressed there was no pressure to sign on just a willingness to work together. Something I didn’t receive from the two companies I was currently looking into. The decision to work with Xlibris, especially after getting the recommendation I did, was a no brainer.
Why would you want to self publish? First of all for me time was a factor in two ways. My current novel is dealing with a time frame of current events. If I went with the publishing house route it could be a year to eighteen months before the book hit the market if I was accepted by one. Secondly, I am sixty seven and I feel strongly this is a good book and wanted to see it published before the Good Lord decides its time to me to return to where ever my spirit will go to.
Self publishing gives you, at least with Xlibris, all the retention to the rights of your book. Be very careful here; make sure you receive this in writing no matter who you should deal with.
After listening to this lady I was impressed there was no pressure to sign on just a willingness to work together. Something I didn’t receive from the two companies I was currently looking into. The decision to work with Xlibris, especially after getting the recommendation I did, was a no brainer.
Why would you want to self publish? First of all for me time was a factor in two ways. My current novel is dealing with a time frame of current events. If I went with the publishing house route it could be a year to eighteen months before the book hit the market if I was accepted by one. Secondly, I am sixty seven and I feel strongly this is a good book and wanted to see it published before the Good Lord decides its time to me to return to where ever my spirit will go to.
Self publishing gives you, at least with Xlibris, all the retention to the rights of your book. Be very careful here; make sure you receive this in writing no matter who you should deal with.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Chapter Eleven Following the Training
Atwan gets down to specifics. “Our current uranium enrichment manufacturing process cannot supply us with all we need. In order to have sufficient quantities on hand, we find we must obtain materials that are available only on the black market. As I said, this is not as easy as a stroll through the Grand Bazaar. This is a matter of finding the sources, identifying the real sellers, insuring the quality of the materials, shipping the goods and settling on a fair market price. Most important of all, Iran must not be traceable as either the buyer or end user of the ore.”
“Although generic in nature, our past two weeks have given us a good foundation in what we can expect and what we need to do,” Dakham says quietly.
“So, if you two were planning this mission, where would you start?” asks Atwan.
“I would start looking for those sources that have had past access to nuclear materials from within and around the former Soviet Union,” Hussein states coolly.
“Hamid, do you agree? Or do you think otherwise?”
“I agree. They are certainly known to be lax in the monitoring of their nuclear storage. And it is a well-known fact that most of their military commanders can be bought for a price.”
“What happens when those commanders are caught, or start feeling they have betrayed the motherland?”
Dakham pauses. “I sense you have a more definite proposal, Jibril. How would you approach the problem?” he asks prudently. No point in reinventing the wheel, or in this case, a plan for the procurement of uranium ore.
“Although generic in nature, our past two weeks have given us a good foundation in what we can expect and what we need to do,” Dakham says quietly.
“So, if you two were planning this mission, where would you start?” asks Atwan.
“I would start looking for those sources that have had past access to nuclear materials from within and around the former Soviet Union,” Hussein states coolly.
“Hamid, do you agree? Or do you think otherwise?”
“I agree. They are certainly known to be lax in the monitoring of their nuclear storage. And it is a well-known fact that most of their military commanders can be bought for a price.”
“What happens when those commanders are caught, or start feeling they have betrayed the motherland?”
Dakham pauses. “I sense you have a more definite proposal, Jibril. How would you approach the problem?” he asks prudently. No point in reinventing the wheel, or in this case, a plan for the procurement of uranium ore.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Chapter Ten Middle of May
The morning after he receives permission to set up a meeting with his so-called desert rats, Bergman calls Natan Schwartz. He leaves a message on Schwartz’s voice mail asking him for a return call.
Four hours later, Mossad’s receptionist calls Bergman, and tells him that a gentleman identifying himself only as ‘Natan’ is returning his call. “He’s on line three,” she tells Bergman.
Bergman punches the button and picks up his phone. “Natan,” he says. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” a deep voice replies with distrust, “but to whom am I speaking? Do I know you? I’m sorry, but I know a lot of Yosefs.”
“It’s not your imagination,” Bergman agrees. “We have never met personally. However your new business venture has been recommended to me and my boss. We would like to meet with you and your partner. Would it be possible for you to fit us in to your schedule, either this week or next?”
“Do you mind telling me what you have in mind?” asks Schwartz.
“I’d rather that my boss tells you and that both of you hear it from him together. If after hearing about it you have any interest in our project, we can proceed from there, or simply forget about it.” Bergman pauses, then adds, “All I’m authorized to tell you is that it would be a full-time project, involving anywhere from thirty to ninety days.”
“I will speak with my partner to see what his schedule looks like, and if he thinks we can consider that lengthy a project at this time. I will call you back, in two days time.”
Four hours later, Mossad’s receptionist calls Bergman, and tells him that a gentleman identifying himself only as ‘Natan’ is returning his call. “He’s on line three,” she tells Bergman.
Bergman punches the button and picks up his phone. “Natan,” he says. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” a deep voice replies with distrust, “but to whom am I speaking? Do I know you? I’m sorry, but I know a lot of Yosefs.”
“It’s not your imagination,” Bergman agrees. “We have never met personally. However your new business venture has been recommended to me and my boss. We would like to meet with you and your partner. Would it be possible for you to fit us in to your schedule, either this week or next?”
“Do you mind telling me what you have in mind?” asks Schwartz.
“I’d rather that my boss tells you and that both of you hear it from him together. If after hearing about it you have any interest in our project, we can proceed from there, or simply forget about it.” Bergman pauses, then adds, “All I’m authorized to tell you is that it would be a full-time project, involving anywhere from thirty to ninety days.”
“I will speak with my partner to see what his schedule looks like, and if he thinks we can consider that lengthy a project at this time. I will call you back, in two days time.”
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