Chapter Two - part fourteen

   The President had barely moved while James was talking. Now he just looked past James and gave a single nod to someone by the door. That man quickly left the room. Only then did the President speak. "Well, I will say this Captain Cooper. You are exactly what they say you are. I think maybe I am beginning to see a big 'S' under your uniform after all. You were very thorough and complete with your report. You were also very compelling, but now I would like to let you see someone who has been even more convincing than you about what happened that day and why." James heart sank as the President again gave a slight nod to someone at the door, as the door opened behind him James turned to see who it was that had managed to sway the President against him. He was stunned when he saw who was stepping inside. The first person in was Sabella, the next was Sargon Najjar! James couldn't believe his eyes. The Lion of Syria was standing in the same room with the President of the United States! Sargon walked straight past Sabella who had snapped a salute when she entered the room. He stepped up to James who had come to his feet without thinking. Sargon suddenly burst into a huge smile and hugged James tightly. When he finally released James he turned to the President and gave him a very formal bow before he spoke.

  "Did I not tell you he has great wisdom and honor? He is as honest as he is courageous. I tell you again, you must let him return with me. All of the Syrian people have heard of what was done. They want him back! We need him back." He turned to Sabella and smiled. "Captain Reed is a very wise woman as well, but she isn't the man that Captain Cooper is. She has done much, but he alone can finish what he has started. I am grateful that you were willing to hear my words, but now I too beg you, as he has begged you. Let him return to us. Let him finish his work with us. He can do this! He can bring peace to my land! I have never trusted you or others from the west, but this man... this man I trust! I am not alone. He has earned the trust of many in Syria and proven himself worthy of our trust. You must let him finish this. He has spoken only the truth to you. He has done only what he knew was right and good. You should not blame him for what others have done." Sargon stopped and again gave a short bow before stepping back to stand directly beside James. Sabella now stood on his other side.

  The President just sat watching them for a time. Then he stood up and stepped forward. After standing only a single step away for a time he spoke softly. "General Adams, if you please." The general stood up and handed the President something as he snapped an order. "ATTENTION!" Everyone in the room came to their feet and any who were in the military stood at attention. The President was smiling as he opened the small box he had been given. He carefully removed something from it and began to speak. "Captain James Andrew Cooper, it is with great pleasure that I now present you with the Silver Star. At great risk to yourself and your career you did what you believed had to be done in order to salvage the situation you found yourself in, at no fault of your own. Your actions, though against possible allies, have been determined to have not only saved critical people's lives, but perhaps saved a long sought peace in a nation that hasn't known peace in decades. Though many will continue to blame you for things beyond your control, you have in my opinion and the opinion of your superior officers acted in accordance to the finest possible standards for officers in our military services. Congratulations Captain Cooper." The President had pinned the medal on James as he spoke. Now he shook his hand and stepped back as General Adams stepped forward. Everyone was still at attention.

   Now General Adams spoke. "Captain Cooper, due to those same actions and all the work you had already done to make peace a real possibility in Syria prior to this; it has been determined that you have far exceeded the requirements of a Captain in the United States Air Force. After much careful consideration it is my pleasure to inform you that you have been promoted to the rank of Major effective immediately." General Adams stepped forward to carefully remove the Captain's bars from James uniform and replace them with a Major's clusters, which Sabella had handed him. He stepped back and gave James a salute, which James returned. The President stepped forward again and spoke. "At ease, everyone. Now Major Cooper I think it is high time you got back to work. I am told there is a lot to be done and that you are the man that can get it done. I have a plane waiting to take you..." He paused and smiled at Sargon. "...and your friends back to Damascus. I wish you well. I do have one favor to ask of you. Would you please try to finish your work without any further international incidents? My indigestion can't handle much more of this!"

   James managed a smile and a sharp "YES SIR!" Then the President shook all of their hands and dismissed them. James was escorted out along with Sargon and Sabella. None of them spoke a word until they were safely away. Once they were away James got to listen to a very wild and almost unbelievable tale of how everything had happened and what was going on now. He was well over the Atlantic before he had heard the entire tale. James wasn't the only one who had received another commendation. Both Aadila and Sabella had been awarded the Bronze Star, as well as the Purple Heart for wounds they had received while getting James and Sargon to safety. Sabella had just grinned and told James he wasn't the only hero in the world, when he had tried to say thanks. After that they spent the remainder of the trip trying to sort out what the next step would be and how to deal with the unfinished issues that James had left them with. James did manage to call Sarah and his family before they landed. It was good to be able to talk to them, though he still couldn't discuss a lot of things. They had all been very worried. James didn't tell them about his medal or his promotion. He only told them he was headed back to try to complete his mission. His folks were just glad to hear his voice. They hadn't been able to see or talk to him and Sarah telling them he was fine just wasn't the same. The sound of his voice had helped after so many weeks of silence.

Chapter Two - part thirteen

   Finally James was released from all the questioning. He had hoped to be allowed to return, but that wasn't going to happen just yet. It seemed there were still some people who wanted to talk with him. James was quietly taken to Camp David. It seemed the President, himself, wanted to talk with James. When James arrived he soon found out it wasn't just the President. He found himself in a room with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and General Adams the Commander of the Air Force in Europe. There were several others there as well, but James wasn't sure who they all were. The first man to speak was the President. He stood up and moved to greet James as he was shown into the room. "Captain Cooper, I must say I was expecting someone much more like Superman, but I guess you do sort of resemble Clark Kent. It is good to finally meet you, though I must say I would have preferred it to be under less strained circumstances."

  James managed to snap a quick salute and then shake his hand as he replied. "Sir, I am honored to meet you, but I too wish it was under different circumstances." The President just smiled and motioned for James to take a seat as he did the same. Once they were all seated again the President spoke. "Well now that you are here I would like to hear what you have to say about things. Start where ever you want and tell me everything you feel I should know. I have been briefed and read your testimony, but now I want it in your own words. Tell it the way you think it needs to be told. What I have read was focused on placing blame. I want to hear the whole story from start to finish. I promise you that none of these people will interrupt you. I may ask you a few questions myself, but I will try to let you just talk if I can."

   This hadn't been expected by James. He had expected a lot more questions and a lot more frustrated politicians. Instead he seemed to have been given an open forum. Well he had been praying for a chance to speak his mind. Dad and Pastor David had often warned him to be careful what you prayed for... you just might get it! It looked like they had been right again! James nodded his head and took a moment to sort out his thoughts. Then he started talking. He didn't start with the meeting or the raid on it. James started from the very beginning, why he had been asked to go to Syria and how things had developed. He talked about the leaders he had worked with and about the slow progress of the talks. Finally he had gotten to the meeting, the sudden NATO attack, and their combined response to that attack. At least he told them what he could remember of it. A lot of that last day was very blurry and some spots were just blank to him. The doctors said that was because of his concussion. The President had never said a word, nobody did. Finally James was ready to wrap it all up.

  "That is about all I can tell you, sir. I have been trying to make everyone understand that we had to do what we did. I believed we had a real chance for peace. Maybe we still do sir, but I need to get back there. I was told that they won't talk to anyone except Aadila and Sabella. If you would let me get back there, then maybe I can get you some more answers. I know those men, sir. They may not like us and they may not agree with anything we say, but they are all concerned about their nation and their people. Please sir, I don't care what you decide to do about my actions, but let me try to get this worked out first. I know I can make a difference if you will just give me the chance. Then you can do whatever you need to do to me. Please just don't let this chance slip away. We have a chance to make a real difference in the lives of the people of Syria. Please sir, I am begging you. Give me a chance to do whatever I can to save this situation." James had been looking at and talking directly to the President the entire time. Now he continued to watch, wait, and pray. What would this man do? Would he give James a chance or would he sacrifice James in the name of foreign relations and politics?

Chapter Two - part twelve

   Once more James woke up to bright sunlight from a window. He was in a hospital... again! It might have been over seven years, but it still was too often for his taste. At least this time he didn't try to sit up. He shifted around and that wasn't too bad. He hurt, but it wasn't unbearable. James looked around and found himself in a private room, but he wasn't alone. His day had just gotten a lot better. Sarah was sleeping in a chair beside his bed! He reached over and gently touched her hand. She instantly jerked awake and immediately looked at him. A smile quickly spread across her face, as tears filled her eyes. She collapsed against him and began to sob softly. James just held onto her hand and gently ran his free hand over her hair. They said nothing. Sarah had stopped crying before a nurse stepped in and saw James was awake. She immediately turned and called for a doctor before coming inside. James learned that he was no longer in Damascus or even the Middle East. He was now at Landstuhl hospital just outside Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It had been close to a week ago that everything had happened.

   James soon learned that he had a severe concussion, numerous minor injuries from the shrapnel, in addition to several badly bruised internal organs and cracked ribs, as well as minor internal bleeding. They had removed the shrapnel, stitched up his wounds, and kept him sedated for a few days to give his body time to heal. The doctors said he was a very lucky man. They had flown him here as soon they were certain he was stable enough. Sarah had arrived the next day. James also learned that the situation in Syria was much better than he had hoped for. That wasn't to say it was good though. The negotiations were at a standstill. Sabella and Aadila were the only ones any of the groups would speak with at all now. NATO had been virtually locked down inside their bases since the event. They came under attack by all of the various militia groups and occasionally even the civilian population if they ventured out of the secured areas now. Even inside the safe area they weren't treated well by the Syrians who were there. Many were calling for NATO to leave, but without a functioning government those calls were wasted.

   It was another week before James was ready to be dismissed from the hospital. Surprisingly he hadn't been questioned by anyone yet. When he had asked about that he was told to wait until they had this mess sorted out. At the moment nobody knew what to do or who to talk with. He still wasn't allowed to talk with anyone about anything. Once he was released from the hospital he quickly found himself on a plane. He wasn't headed back to Damascus though. James was headed to Washington, D.C. to testify before the Foreign Affairs Congressional Committee. Sarah wasn't able to go with him. She had been called back to duty once he was released from the hospital. James wasn't sure how any of this was going to turn out, but he had no regrets. At least for now all of the various groups fighting for control in Syria seemed to have stopped fighting among themselves and were concentrating their efforts against NATO. That wasn't the best possible news, but it wasn't the worst he could have heard either. So far those efforts hadn't been extremely violent, they were more like warning shots being fired, but James feared that might change very suddenly if this wasn't dealt with quickly. The Foreign Affairs Committee wasn't happy with what James had to say, but they were even less pleased with how little he actually did know.

   Finally, after several days of testimony, they seemed to be satisfied that he had indeed told them all he knew about the entire mess, little as that was. They did warn him not to speak with anyone outside his command structure yet, especially no one from the press. James had hoped to be returned to Syria after they were done, but that wasn't going to happen. Now it was time to face his commanders and the NATO commanders. That turned into a three week long interrogation as far as James was concerned. He managed to keep his cool most of the time, though he did have to ask to be excused for a time to keep from screaming back at a couple of the NATO commanders. He could understand their anger, but there was nothing he could do about the situation from half way around the world. The NATO commanders were furious, because the commander in charge of that raid was still being held 'hostage' in Syria along with most of his troops. They didn't seem to care that James had been seriously wounded and unconscious when that had happened. They seemed to think that he had played a key part in the entire affair and so was responsible for all of it.

   His own commanders weren't much better when they were alone with him. The fact that he openly admitted that he had knowingly fired on NATO troops didn't sit well with them. James made no excuses though. He simply told them that his orders were to do all he could to help bring peace to Syria and a functioning government if possible. If he had done nothing, then that mission would have failed right there with the death or capture of key players in those negotiations. While they couldn't argue with that, they still didn't approve of James taking part in the actual fighting. James had been out of Syria for going on two months now. He had been allowed to talk to almost nobody. He had learned that almost nothing was known about any of what had happened, outside of those directly involved. The Syrian situation had been in the news for so long that the sudden conflict with NATO forces was almost unnoticed so far. That couldn't last much longer though. Something had to give soon or it was all going to become headline news. Then it could easily get a lot worse for everyone and very quickly!

Chapter Two - part eleven

   The first out was Sargon and his men. They hit hard and fast, taking the NATO forces totally unaware. They had quickly swept over all of the forces in the immediate path that Khebat was planning on using. He was the next out, just as quickly he established a perimeter and moved the non-combatants out towards safety. The NATO commander wasn't slow to react though. He had turned the units on the side Sargon hadn't hit and was pushing them towards both Khebat and Sargon. He hadn't counted on a third line of attack hitting him though. James literally smashed past those units, breaking the entire counter-attack in one blow. Within minutes it was no longer NATO doing the attacking. They were on the defense and trying desperately to regroup. They had literally been overrun and were now almost outnumbered themselves due to the number of wounded they now had. The plan had worked perfectly. Khebat had not only gotten everyone out that he wanted out, he had pulled in more men and was hitting the NATO forces again himself.

   Soon they had basically surrounded and pinned the NATO forces down. James hadn't liked the idea of fighting his own allies, but he had liked the thought of losing all hope for peace in Syria even less. The NATO forces were in full body armor so the odds of one of them being killed with small arms fire was very low. That didn't mean it couldn't happen and it didn't keep them from being badly injured. Still, given a choice, a few broken bones and internal injuries were far better that dying. It wasn't completely over though. Since the ground forces were pinned down; the NATO operational commander, who was still with the armored units, took some extreme action. He literally blasted his was in to relieve his forces on the ground. That action had some major consequences. The first one was a lot more civilian casualties. The second was in many ways much worse. He had come in from the back side of the original counter attack launched by Sargon. That had literally run him directly into Sargon himself. James wasn't far away by the time the armor arrived.

   Sargon was about to be pinned down and trapped between the majority of the remaining NATO ground force and the armored units. He quickly saw the danger and moved to get out of that spot. James saw something that Sargon couldn't see though. His retreat was taking him directly into the line of fire of another single light armor vehicle. It didn't have the firepower of the massed heavier vehicles, but it had enough to be very deadly in a close fight. James left his men behind to try and draw some of the fire from the heavy armor while he made a fast run to cut Sargon off before he ran into an unseen firestorm. He was almost there when the worst happened. Sargon went down between two cover positions. He rolled into a safer spot, but he had been hit in the leg and wouldn't be going anywhere without help. James was close and starting to try to organize a rescue when he saw something even worse was about to happen. One of the NATO ground units was about to launch a handheld rocket right at Sargon's position. Alone Sargon couldn't possibly get clear in time. James immediately did the only thing he knew to do. He made a mad dash across the open ground that separated him from Sargon. He sure hoped he still had some of his sprinters speed left from all those years of running. Sargon saw him and reacted far quicker than James had thought possible. He seemed to know that James wouldn't take this risk unless there was an even greater one for Sargon. James reached him under heavy cover fire and grabbing him tried to get him out of line of fire for that rocket. They made it... almost! The explosion literally blew the vehicle Sargon had been using for cover to pieces.

  The explosion also threw both James and Sargon down the street. It slammed them into a wall of a small alley. Both were down, but they were still alive. James had literally shielded Sargon from most of the explosion and shrapnel that had come from it with his own body. He hadn't been able to shield Sargon from the force of the impact with that wall though. In fact Sargon had helped cushion James when they had hit the wall.  James was barely conscious and Sargon had been knocked completely out. Both of them were bleeding badly too, Sargon from the wound in his leg and James from dozens of shrapnel hits. James tried to roll over, but he didn't seem to be able to control his arms and legs. His head was ringing and he could hear nothing except that ringing.  Suddenly he felt hands pulling him around. He tried to focus his eyes and see who it was, but couldn't. He could dimly see somebody pulling Sargon up as well. James thought he heard some words, but he couldn't make anything out for all of the ringing. He felt whoever had him trying to make him move, so he tried.

  They were moving down the alley and away from the fighting. James thought he must have passed out for at least a little while. He woke to the sound of voices. At first he couldn't understand them. Then as his head cleared he began to make sense of them. Much of it was in other languages, but he did hear one person he could understand. It was Aadila and she was talking to someone about getting back to the secure area as fast as possible. James groaned and tried to sit up. That was a mistake. He hurt all over. When he managed to open his eyes after the pain passed he saw Aadila and Sabella, both were leaning over him. He was in the back of some sort of box truck and they were moving. Aadila began to smile, but it was Sabella who spoke. His ears were still ringing, but he could understand her. "You are the luckiest idiot I have ever met! How you managed to survive that I don't know! Now stay still until we get you to the hospital! You have lost a lot of blood and I think you may have internal injuries too." James wet his lips and managed to get out the question he wanted answered the most. "What about Sargon?"

   Now Aadila laughed. She spoke as James looked at her. "Don't worry, you are still a hero! Sargon is alive and had regained consciousness before we left. Most of us made it out in fact, and Khebat actually took the commander of the raid prisoner, along with someone else you will find most interesting. He has agreed to allow us to talk with them before he does anything. In fact Sabella has his word that he will let all of those who have been working so hard for peace talk with them. Now you rest and let us get you taken care of. It seems that we still have much work left to do before there can be peace here." James laid back and closed his eyes. They had done it! They had gotten everyone out and there was still hope for peace. They might even be able to get some answers about who was responsible for this mess too. He would just rest and try to let his head clear up. He hurt worse than he had after the Ironman, maybe not as much as during it, but definitely more than after it. That was his last thought before he drifted off again. 

Chapter Two - part ten

   The meeting had been going on for less than an hour when suddenly radios came alive just as gunfire started outside. They barely had time to react before an explosion shook the entire building. The building had been selected because it had a secure, reinforced basement. That was where they had been meeting. James and the girls had weapons as did everyone in the meetings, but light arms against rockets wasn't a fair fight. Both Shadid and Najjar were getting reports and neither looked happy with the other, but Shadid suddenly turned all of his attention to James. He was clearly furious, but he also looked shocked as he spoke directly to James. "My people say that it is none of us! It is actually NATO ground troops and they have heavy armor moving in behind them now! We are pinned down and will soon be overrun! What have you done to us and why?" Before James could recover and speak Najjar spoke up. "Don't be a fool Khebat! He had nothing to do with this! My men confirm it is NATO, but I have people inside who swear that NATO hates this one worse than they hate us. I think we need to save our fury for Omar! This has his smell upon it!"

   Khebat hesitated and then with a nod turned away. He began giving orders to his people as Sargon did to his. They were about to try and fight their way out... separately! Now James spoke. He shouted to get their attention. "WAIT!" When they both looked at him; he quickly continued. "Both of you will be fools if you try dealing with this alone. I don't know who is behind this or why, but I do know we have to face this together. We are surrounded and by superior numbers, with superior arms from what I can tell from you. If you two each try to get out alone you will both be captured or killed. We have only one choice left! We fight together or we all lose! Either way we will all end up together. I say we fight together! Then at least we won't die alone if we do die." The others in the room looked at James for a long moment as the battle raged outside. Sargon spoke first. "You speak with wisdom once again, young warrior." Turning to look at Khebat he continued to speak. "This place was your choice, tell me that you chose well and it has another way out?" Khebat actually smiled and nodded his head. Then he began to move quickly as he called for everyone to follow him.

   There was indeed a passage hidden behind a stack of boxes and other clutter. Khebat turned to speak to them after sending two men ahead to make sure it was safe. "This leads two streets over. It comes out is a small shop. The back room has a trap door. Only I and two others know of it and they are both here with us. We can slip out and should be somewhere close to the advancing NATO forces, perhaps behind the ground troops and in front of the armored units. We should be able to fight our way out if we do it suddenly enough and fiercely enough." Sargon spoke up once more. "Perhaps we could, but I say we need to do more than simply escape. I want the names and the heads of those who have done this. Perhaps there would never have been peace between us, but this was a chance. It was a small chance, but still a chance. Many of us will also die here along with that small chance for peace. I say we make those responsible pay dearly for this treachery."

  Once again James stepped forward. "We will make them pay, but only if we can hold onto the chance for peace. If we let that chance die, then nothing we do will be enough to pay back the cost of the peace lost for your nation. We need to find out who is responsible, but we must do it with wisdom and care. If we just rush out in search of vengeance, then I fear we will lose far more than just a chance for peace. I fear the people may lose all hope for peace as well. If that happens then nothing we have done, or may yet do, will matter. Stop and think before we rush out in search of vengeance. Sargon, they call you 'The Lion of Syria', but as ferocious as a lion is what makes it truly dangerous is the ability to outsmart its prey. Khebat has given us a chance at surprise. Can you use that to give us a chance to not only escape with our lives, but keep a chance for peace alive as well?"

   Sargon stood there in silence for a moment and then nodded slowly as he spoke. "Perhaps, perhaps... but only with all the help I can find." He looked at Khebat. Khebat frowned for a just a moment and then simply nodded.  Sargon immediately returned his nod and moved to spread out something on top of a pile of boxes. It was a simple sketch of the meeting site and the surrounding area. It had several places marked. When Khebat saw it he swore softly as he gave Sargon an appraising look. James just smiled. The markings showed not only where Khebat had stationed guards, but also where Sargon had stationed guards as well. The difference was that Sargon had two lines of guards. One in close, just barely beyond those Khebat had positioned and a second one much farther out. Sargon was paying no attention to any of them. He was listening to reports from two of his own men, who had just arrived. He quickly began to mark more positions on that sketch as he listened. He was marking locations of NATO forces, both troops and armor.

   He soon began to speak to those gathered around him. "Our best chance is to appear to do what they would expect us to do, but do the unexpected instead. We could just try to escape or to fight, but I don't think they will expect us to do both. Khebat I want you to gather your people and those among mine who are not the best fighters. You will make a run as if to escape. I will let you choose the way you will go, you know this area far better than me. Show me where you will try to run and I will plan my attack to draw them from you and provide as much cover as I can too. They will likely expect 'The Lion ' to attack with everything he has available. I don't think they know how much I do have though. I have spent days working people into this area and hiding them. NATO doesn't have the strength of numbers that they think they have. Once you are clear Khebat I will still need your help. Turn on them and attack them from behind. That will divide them and give me a better chance." He stopped and looked at James. "You and yours will go with Khebat, but once you are clear I expect you to keep going to the secure NATO area. You can do more good by talking of what has happened here than by fighting here. Besides we will be fighting NATO and you are allied with them. It wouldn't be good for you or for us, if you fought against your allies. Better that you leave this battle to us."

   This time it was Aadila who spoke. "I won't run from this! I may be able to get the NATO units to listen to me if I can reach them. I will try to do that." Before anyone else could object James spoke up. "NO! That won't help in the end, even if it did work, which I doubt it would. Sargon, are any of those NATO units from America?" Sargon glanced at one of those who had brought him the information he was using. The reply was a shrug and a shake of the head. Sargon shook his head as he replied. "I don't think so, but I cannot be certain. You should all just go! Even if there are Americans I doubt any of you have the rank to change their orders." Aadila clearly wanted to say something, but what could she say?  Sargon was probably right. A NATO force this size was likely commanded by a Lt. Colonel at least. None of the soldiers would listen to a mere Captain that demanded they do something different than they had been ordered to do. They might check in, but the odds of changing anything were very slim and if there were no American units out there it was even less likely.

   James stepped forward and looking at the map began to talk. "Your plan looks good Sargon, but I think I can do more good here than I can by leaving. You seem to be planning a two pronged attack. I suggest we make it a three pronged attack. You take the side you have chosen with your men and I will take some men from Khebat and hit the opposite side. I suggest we not stand and fight at all. I think we should just charge them and not stop, you from one direction and me around the other. I think we should fight our way around the entire perimeter and try to join up. Khebat I suggest you try to make a flanking attack in much the same way. The only difference should be that you do it in short jabs. Hit them hard and fast, then withdraw and hit somewhere else. Forget about the armored units unless you have to face them. They will be too hard to take out. We must try to wound as many of the troops as possible too, without killing them. That will tie up their forces faster than killing will. They won't leave wounded men to continue the fight, but they will leave the dead." Turning to the girls he spoke directly to them next. "I won't tell you to leave, but I will ask that you do. We need to get word out about this. Sabella, I hate to say this, but it would be best if you did that. Aadila could be accused of favoritism, because she is Muslim. I won't order either of you to go, but I am asking both of you to go. Jesus said in book of Matthew that we should have two witnesses to establish proof of a sin and if this attack wasn't a sin I don't know what would be."

   Everyone was looking at James. Sargon slowly shook his head and then started to give orders. "You have heard the Ironman warrior speak and his words are indeed wise. We will do as he says. I have my men. Khebat, you give him the best you have to fight with him. I would like to see if he fights as well as he speaks. Tell everyone to try to wound rather than kill. That will be better for all of us in the end. These men aren't our enemies, they are merely following orders. We will need to find out who gave the orders, and who had them given, before we will know for certain who our true enemy is. Though I think that rat, Omar, will be the one behind all of this." Aadila suddenly spoke again. "That isn't true! Uncle Omar isn't a rat and he would never do this!" Once again Sargon and Khebat turned on Aadila in stunned disbelief. James quickly spoke up as Aadila began to turn red at what she had just done. "Omar isn't her uncle! He was a close friend to her grandfather though. He looks at Aadila as his own granddaughter. I don't think he is to blame for this. He wouldn't have been willing to risk her life, no matter how great the gain."

   Sargon and Khebat said nothing, but they both nodded and slowly went back to preparing to carry out the plan. The tunnel was just wide enough for two people and a tall man would have to duck. The other end was a small room with a set of stairs leading up to the surface. The trap door was in a tiny room. In fact the entire center of the room floor was the door. As people went up they moved out and huddled down in the small building. Sargon did a quick check over his radio and soon knew exactly what was going on outside. The NATO forces had found themselves unable to get past the inner defense rings that Sargon and Khebat had in place. They were also unable to bring in the heavy armor they had been counting on. Sargon's second ring of defense had stopped those dead with simple vehicle blockades and small explosives. Once everyone was safely up and ready it was time to start the plan. They were in a perfect position for the plan to succeed. The small shop was right along the back of the NATO ground forces and in front of the armor. Once clear it should be simple for those trying to escape to slip away. It would also give those about to engage the NATO forces the perfect opportunity to do that. They were almost in a flanking position and should be able to easily squeeze the unsuspecting forces between them and the original defenders position. 

Chapter Two - part nine

  The days quickly became weeks. James tried to talk to Sarah every day, but that didn't always happen. Their schedules didn't help either. James was 7 hours ahead of Sarah, so it was hard to find a time when they were both off duty and awake. At the end of the first month things had progressed very little in the overall talks. However James was now meeting regularly with all of the groups, without the U.N. being involved. He had started to push for something that even Aadila and Sabella were totally against though. James wanted to move some of the meetings outside the NATO secure zone. James wanted to go to them instead of waiting behind barricades and bunkers for them to come to him. He finally managed to get approval for limited excursions with heavy NATO escorts. Whoever he was meeting with also provided heavy security once he was inside their area of control. Another month of that and James had begun to gain the trust of not only the leaders, but many of the men who followed them. He had gradually been able to get NATO to reduce the size of his escorts, until he was taking only two lightly armored vehicles. It was finally time to make the next step. He started meeting with more than one group at a time. That had been very tense at first, but as the meetings continued without incidents it got better.

   Almost three months had passed before James was ready to try for the big meeting with all groups meeting in a selected spot at a selected time. James had managed to secure permission to go without a NATO escort to it. He went and the meeting went off without a hitch. It had only lasted a couple of hours, but that was a start. Again things continued to slowly progress towards something more meaningful. The groups still weren't ready to give up fighting in the streets. They all still believed they each had the best solutions for saving the nation and its people. Soon six more months had passed and still they were fighting against change rather than working towards it. Sabella and Aadila had once again been allowed to join in on the negotiations along the way. Aadila had actually begun to help bring some of them together, but they still had a long way to go. Finally James managed to work out a simple plan for them to form a temporary government, one that would be given control of all areas for six months. That six month period would be used to stabilize things and prepare for forming a real government. There would be no elections at the start. A convention would be held. It would be formed with all parties represented equally. Then together, they would select the people who would become the new temporary government. Depending on how it was set up the first free Syrian government in decades might be formed after that.

   All that remained was selecting the people to make up the convention. That convention would form the temporary government and write up a new Constitution. How to make the selections for the convention had been a real battle for James, but one he had finally won. Each group had wanted to select their own people without any outside input. James had insisted that each group bring the people they wanted into meetings with the group James felt was most opposed to their views. Those two groups had to agree on who would represent each of them by picking six people from ten selected by the other group. Once all groups had made that selection they would move on to the next step. That step would require them to bring all the people selected into the NATO secure area. Once everyone was there each group would get to talk with all of those selected and choose four people from each group except their own. Only people who received approval from each of the six groups would be allowed to be part of the convention. Until four people from each group, a total of twenty-four people, were selected they would repeat the process. Each group could replace a person in their group if they wished to help with the selection process, but that was all they could do. They had to find people from those provided by the other groups without being able to make any changes in the choices of the other group's people.

   It was a simple plan, but making it work was close to impossible among all the divisions within Syria. Religious and political views played havoc with any agreements, but economics and social unrest were becoming the major driving forces within the majority of the people. Most of the people were struggling to just survive. Many were nearly starving. The Syrian people didn't care who was in charge anymore. They just wanted to find some peace and stability. They wanted a safe home and food to eat. They wanted to be able to work and live without constant fear of dying in another street battle. That was more important to their daily lives than any religion or government at the moment. The first meeting was finally scheduled for selecting people to form the convention. James was to be allowed a say in who was selected by all groups. It wouldn't be a final say, but that they all wanted him to be there during the selections was a huge show of trust. They all had agreed that he had taken sides with nobody. James always chose what was fair and best for all. That first meeting was between Sargon Najjar and Khebat Shadid. It was basically the power base behind the former rulers meeting with the poor rural people who had nothing but trouble while under that rule. James, Aadila, and Sabella all arrived at the appointed time. The others arrived right along with them. Shadid and his people had provided the meeting place. Both he and the Lion were providing the security. The entire area, for several blocks had been secured and was heavily guarded before any of them had arrived.

Chapter Two - part eight

   Sargon Najjar wasn't the first to meet, but was the first to meet alone with James. He came in with only two men. They all sat down to talk. Sargon started by questioning what the others wanted to discuss with James. That got a smile and a shake of the head from James, before he told Sargon that wasn't why he had asked for meetings alone. He wanted to talk directly with Sargon about the issues that concerned him not the others. It took a while for them to start really talking issues, but once they did the talks quickly became very intense. There was no anger or shouting, just a lot of very strong words and even stronger positions. The other meetings had lasted for several hours each, but none had lasted more than six hours. Sargon and James were still deep in discussion of issues facing the possibility of peace for Syria eight hours after they had closed the door. A soft knock interrupted them. It seemed that Sargon's other men who were waiting just outside the safe area had become concerned. It was growing dark and that would make it harder for them to slip out of the city unnoticed. Few people moved after dark anymore. Sargon had been stunned to find out they had been talking for so long. He quickly prepared to leave. James suggested sending out three NATO security patrols with him. NATO did patrol at night in the immediate region around the secured area. They would break off at different times. That should make it harder for anyone watching to know what was really happening. It worked very well. Sargon had never traveled with a NATO escort before and was able to slip out undetected.

   That last man to come in for a private meeting was Omar Nassar. He came in with a large convoy of heavily armored vehicles and over two dozen militia. Once at the secured area he left them all behind and came in alone. He wouldn't even acknowledge anyone other than the single escort who had come in from the secured area entrance with him. Once at the meeting room he had closed the door and locked it behind him before facing James and Aadila. Omar wasn't what James had expected. He was a rather plain looking man. Well dressed, but someone that it would be very easy to not even notice. When he smiled, Omar looked much younger than he was. Omar was said to be in his early eighties. He walked directly over to Aadila and gave her a huge hug. James just watched in shocked silence. They spoke to each other in what James assumed was Arabic, though he couldn't be certain. After a brief exchange Omar turned to face James as Aadila introduced them. "James, this is my Uncle Omar. Uncle Omar this is the man I have told you about." Omar had laughed as he took the hand James extended to him. He pulled James in and gave him a hug too. Only after that did he speak to James. "I have heard much about you, but I doubt that you have ever heard of Uncle Omar. I am not really her uncle; though I love her like a granddaughter. I was a good friend of her grandfather. We were like brothers long ago and so I have always been Uncle Omar. Though I seldom get to see her anymore, I have kept track of Aadila and know a great deal about her life. I have wanted to meet you since I first heard the story of your courage during the Ironman. I will admit I was curious to know why a stranger and a Christian would do such a thing for any Muslim. But that wasn't why I asked you to come here. I thought that perhaps you could save my country as you once saved my beloved Aadila."

   Now James began to laugh. Shaking his head he motioned towards the table as he spoke to 'Uncle Omar'. "Well, 'Uncle Omar', I will do my best not to let you or Aadila down, but I think the Ironman was a pleasant stroll in a park compared to what you have asked me to do."  Omar smiled and moved to take a seat as he replied. "Perhaps, but from what I have heard of you recently, I am even more hopeful now. You have great courage. This I knew or you couldn't have done what you did for Aadila or in your plane against so many others. It seems that you also have great honor, since you think little of what you have done. It takes great honor for a man to be a hero and remain humble too. But I still didn't know if you had the last thing that will be required for us to have any hope of saving my country, which is wisdom. Wisdom is a very rare thing. Even the old seldom find much wisdom. But you have shown more understanding and wisdom than I had dared to hope for. I think perhaps you have brought real hope to my nation for the first time in many years. Now let us talk and see if we can find a way to make that hope grow and blossom. Perhaps in time we can even make it produce a lasting peace for my people."

   Omar had not only stayed to talk even longer than Sargon had. Omar had remained for three full days before he returned to discuss things with his people. Sabella had been allowed to join in after the first day, but she was the only one. Omar had flatly refused to speak with anyone else at all. He had also forbidden any of them from telling anyone what they had discussed until after he returned again. He wanted to talk with his own people first. That one demand had proven to be the most difficult of all for James to meet. The Ambassador and the other U.N. people were furious about all of this. When James refused to talk about anything that went on with Omar it was bad enough. When Aadila and Sabella both refused to talk, saying they had been ordered to keep silent by James it blew the top off things. After two days and dozens of meeting and phone calls it was finally settled. One phone call settled it for good. The President of the United States had come to the rescue. It seems he had received a call from Omar Nassar, asking him to make sure James wasn't forced to talk to anyone about the meetings... not even to the President!