The Master's Utimatum: The Master's Series, #2

By George C. Baker

The Master’s Ultimatum is the second of a six-part Master's Series of international thrillers introducing a new breed of radicalized terrorist leadership capable of using his incredible financial resources in developing complex multiple level terrorist attacks that affect the stability of the entire world.

The Master of Deception (Book 1) Synopsis: 

Yassar Kaffi, billionaire financier, and developer of Dubai became radicalized after his extended family and numerous friends were slaughtered while attending a Yemeni wedding by a U.S. cruise missile.  The military strike was targeted to eliminate two high-ranking al-Qaeda leaders. This horrendous event transformed Yassar from a western celebrity lifestyle and thinking world figure into a radicalized Muslim mastermind terrorist leader.  Following the loss of his family, Yassar spends the next seven years creating a new more sophisticated terrorist organization well beyond those preceding terrorist group. 

An Omani by birth, Yassar becomes solely motivated by the traditional Omani cultural requirement of “awb isaba” which demanded that individuals avenge those that bring any harm, dishonor or disgrace upon their family. The skills Yassar acquired in playing the game of chess over five decades laid the foundation for the development of sophisticated plans, ploys, feigns of misdirection, deceptive attacks and precisely anticipated the international responses to keep intelligence and anti-terrorist agencies at bay and create chaos, fear, and frustration for the U.S. and numerous allies. His multiple leveled plans began with attacks on seemingly senseless low-level soft targets against bridges and art museums. His strategy morphs into higher priority targets that in ways surpass the massive attack of September 11th. Counter terrorism and intelligence agencies worldwide are matched against a mastermind devoted to sacrificing everything to get his revenge.

The Master’s Ultimatum opens with Yassar’s diabolical second level attack as his large Tolem Series terrorist cell has taken full control of Palo Verde, the largest nuclear facility in the United States. Nassar Bin Hassan, is Yassar’s son-in-law, by marriage to his daughter Khadiija killed in the Yemen cruise missile attack. Nassar as the leader of the Tolem Series terrorist cell delivered an “Ultimatum” upon U.S. President Reynolds demanding the release of all Muslim detainees in Guantanamo Camp Delta and held around the world or face the destruction of three massive nuclear reactors with unfathomed consequences. At the same time, the cell is making preparations to destroy the incredible facility regardless of the President meeting their demands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: George C Baker
• Release date: May 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386590538

George C. Baker

Born and raised in a large family in Lakeview, NY, George was the oldest with five younger sisters in a traditional German-Irish Catholic home. His family travelled and camped extensively.  George was a very active Boy Scout and relished the numerous expereinces of scouting. A tennis prodigy George played tennis in juniors, high school, college and a brief time as a professional.   Since he started his 50 year educational career, George has taught AP History and AP Macroeconomics and served as an administrator in New York, California, Arizona, Maryland, Hawaii and the Netherlands at the American School of The Hague. Over those  years, he has served as History Department Chair, Division Head at the middle and high school level, Assistant Headmaster, and Headmaster.  In 1977 he received a U.S. State Department Economic Fellowship to Greece.  In 1995 he served on the United Nations delegation to the Russian Ministry of Education visiting ten pedagogical institutes throughout Russia. George has served on the Harvard Graduate School of Education National Advisory Board (1995-2006) & as Co-Chairman (2000-2006).  He has served on the Federal Reserve Bank Economic Education Committee and the ASCD National Health Education Committee.  It is rare to find an educator with the breathe of experience including: Catholic K-8; Coed Public 6-8; International PreK-12; Coed Independent PreK-12; All Girls 4-12; All Boys K-8; and Episcopal PreK-12. George's last position as Headmaster (2005-2014) was founding of a coed prek-12 independent school on Maui.  He currently lives with his wife in Maui, HI.  He has two sons and four grandchildren living in Arizona. Most recently George has involved himself in producing, showing and selling wire sculptures in an Maui Upcountry Gallery.  He has completed book 1 of an outlined 6 book series of international intrigue thrillers.  A world traveler, George has lived abroad (Vietnam, Germany, Netherlands, and Greece) for six years and visited 132 different countries. He is a Bronze Star recipient and decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, certified scuba diver, enjoys tennis, standup paddlimng, surfing, kayaking, snow skiing and rock climbing.  George writes in the thriller genre with detail much like Tom Clancy, and draws upon a wide range of travel expereinces to enhance his writing.

Book preview

The Master's Utimatum

The Master's Series, Volume 2

George C. Baker

Published by George C Baker, 2017.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE MASTER'S UTIMATUM

First edition. May 23, 2017.

Copyright © 2017 George C. Baker.

ISBN: 978-1386590538

Written by George C. Baker.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

The Master's Utimatum (The Master's Series, #2)

Sign up for George C. Baker's Mailing List

Further Reading: The Master of Deception

Also By George C. Baker

The Master’s Ultimatum is dedicated to my artistically talented and creative mother, dedicated and inspiring wife, two sons and their wives/significant others, four grandchildren and close friends for their incredible love, support, and patience as I work on my books. 

The Master of Deception (Book 1) Synopsis: 

Yassar Kaffi, billionaire financier, and developer of Dubai became radicalized after his extended family and numerous friends were slaughtered by a U.S. cruise missile while attending a Yemeni wedding.  The military strike was targeted to eliminate two high-ranking al-Qaeda leaders. This horrendous event transformed Yassar from a westward thinking celebrity lifestyle and world figure into a radicalized Muslim mastermind terrorist leader.  Following the loss of his family, Yassar spends the next seven years creating a new more sophisticated terrorist organization going well beyond the preceding terrorist group. 

An Omani by birth, Yassar becomes solely motivated by the traditional Omani cultural requirement of "awb isaba" which demanded that individuals avenge those that bring any harm, dishonor or disgrace upon their family. The skills Yassar acquired in playing the game of chess over five decades laid the foundation for the development of sophisticated plans, ploys, feigns of misdirection, and deceptive attacks.  He knew how to precisely anticipate the international responses to keep intelligence and anti-terrorist agencies at bay and create chaos, fear, and frustration for the U.S. and numerous allies. His multi-leveled plans began with attacks on seemingly senseless low-level soft targets against bridges and art museums and morphed into higher priority targets that in some ways surpass the massive attack of September 11th. Counter terrorism and intelligence agencies worldwide are matched against a mastermind devoted to sacrificing everything to get his revenge.

The Master’s Ultimatum opens with Yassar’s diabolical second level attack as his large Tolem Series terrorist cell has taken full control of Palo Verde, the largest nuclear facility in the United States. Nassar Bin Hassan, is Yassar’s son-in-law, by marriage to his daughter Khadiija killed in the Yemen cruise missile attack. Nassar as the leader of the Tolem Series terrorist cell delivered an Ultimatum of Demands upon U.S. President Reynolds demanding the release of all Muslim detainees in Guantanamo Camp Delta and held around the world or face the destruction of three massive nuclear reactors with unfathomed consequences. At the same time, the cell is making preparations to destroy the incredible facility regardless of the President meeting the demands.

Chapter 1:  Goodyear AZ 911 Call

Sunday, November 24, 11:14 p.m. MST (UTC/GMT-6  Goodyear Airport, Goodyear, Arizona

Ralph Olson was a 1985 Purdue University Aviation Technology graduate majoring in Professional Flight.  He served in the United States Air Force as a pilot of Boeing C-17 transport aircraft for eighteen years in New Jersey, Japan, Korea, Germany, and Italy. After which he was reassigned as Presidential Air Force 1 co-pilot until he retired twelve years later. Following his military retirement, Col. Olson worked for seven years at the United Airlines Pilot Training Center (DENTK) in Denver, Colorado before being recruited to become Director of Flight Instruction at the Lufthansa Airline Training Center in Goodyear, Arizona.

His decision to change positions was heavily influenced by his development of debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. Ralph knew it was time to get out of Denver’s cold damp mile high air and seek the warm sunny conditions in Arizona. Marilyn, his wife had persuaded him that the Phoenix area would be an ideal place for his final job before full retirement within the next few years.

The couple purchased a spacious four-bedroom, three and a half-bath house, with a pool adjacent to the fourth tee of the Sun City South Golf Course. The house was much more than the couple actually needed but would easily accommodate visits by their two married children and six grandkids. They expected to entertain their whole family for holidays and vacations.

The Lufthansa Flight Center position was an amazing job working with small groups of international pilots on their sophisticated flight simulator and training flights in the newly acquired aircraft. The Center was in a major transition process beginning to train pilots on the new and significantly larger Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The German airline had placed orders for twenty-one Boeing 787-9s and thirteen 787-10s with delivery within the next seven years.

In preparation for the new fleet of aircraft, Lufthansa sent groups of pilots for three weeks of training at their Goodyear airport facility. Upon completion of their training, pilots left fully certified in both of the technologically advanced aircraft.

It had been customary over the last three years for Ralph, the Flight Center Director, to welcome each new group of pilots upon their arrival before they were taken to their Hampton Inn Hotel in neighboring Avondale, Arizona.  He was patiently waiting in his home for a group of Lufthansa pilots arriving on British Airways flight 289 from London. Their 14-hour flight was on time and touched down at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as scheduled at 9:20 p.m.

The group of pilots stretched their legs and decided to stop for a light dinner at the Wildflower Bread Company Cafe just outside their Concourse B arrival gate. About an hour later they boarded a specially arranged Lufthansa shuttle for the 38-minute trip to the Lufthansa Goodyear Airport facility.

At 11:10 p.m., Doug Kerry, the shuttle van driver called to inform Ralph that they were less than 15 minutes away on U.S. Interstate 10.  Ralph was anticipating the call and immediately left his home for the flight center to meet and greet the exhausted pilots. 

Upon arrival at the Flight Center facility, Ralph was struck by a large number of vehicles and two old busses in the facility parking lot outside the security gate. Once a year Lufthansa permitted the Palo Verde nuclear facility security staff to use the huge hangar facility as a gathering place to prepare for a special security exercise.  Tonight was the Palo Verde scheduled force-on-force exercise. Thinking nothing more of the vehicles, Ralph punched in the digital code and opened the eight-foot-high airport security gate. 

Ralph quickly walked a hundred meters to the south entrance of the Flight Center. As he approached the door he noted that strangely the exterior light had been turned off. After using his cell phone for light Ralph entered the side door to the huge Flight Center hangar. As he reached for the hanger lights to the right of the entrance, he was struck by an unfamiliar stench filling the hanger.

It smelt like several rodents had perished in the traps placed around the massive facility. A familiar sound of the light switch echoed through the hanger followed by the immediate glare of the facilities huge lights. Ralph’s eyes slowly became accustomed to the brightness of the hanger lights.

Suddenly he had an eerie feeling that something was wrong.  He could not believe his eyes. Standing in complete shock, he felt utter horror as he focused on three lifeless bodies lying in pools of blood next to the hangar wall. The three blue-uniformed men had their hands cuffed with plastic restraints. They obviously were lined up facing the hanger wall and executed with a shot to the back of their heads. The blood splattered on the wall and amassed in huge pools around the three bodies. Ralph breathed deeply and tried to regain his composure. Reaching for his cell he called 911, at the same time attempting to fully understand the horror of the scene before him. 

911 Dispatcher, What is your emergency? Denise Kaufman asked in a calm voice.

Send help, Ralph stated in a shaken voice.  He was having difficulty forming words. Thinking, I have to remain calm my life may depend on it.  Ralph finally found his voice, This is Ralph Olsen, Director of Lufthansa Airline Training Center at the Goodyear, Airport. I just found three dead bodies apparently executed in our hanger. Please send the police.

Mr. Olsen, please remain on the line. Are you in danger? Denise prompted.

I think I’m fine, Ralph responded looking around the hanger. There doesn’t seem to be anyone here.

Denise followed the protocol set for 911 dispatchers asking, Are you sure the bodies are dead?

Yes, I am sure they are dead. God, they were shot in the head. Ralph’s terse answer relayed that he was impatient with the dispatcher’s question.

Stay on the line. Where are you inside the facility?

I am just inside the hangar door on the southeast side of the hanger.

Thanks, I have a DPS unit very near your location.  They should arrive at the facility within minutes.  Do not touch anything.  Stand by the door and let me know if you see anyone within the hanger or grounds outside.

Got it

Please let me know when you see the police unit arrive outside.

Thanks, I’ve got it. I can’t believe this has happened.  I am expecting a new group of five Lufthansa pilots arriving any minute.

While still on the line, Ralph becomes sick. He opens the door and throws up just outside ensuring that he did not taint any forensic evidence near the bodies.  Unaccustomed to seeing gruesome dead people, he was nauseated by the fact that three lives ended in such a horrendous bloody manner.  He spots the Lufthansa shuttle van pulling up outside the security gate at the same time as an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) unit screeches up with flashing blue lights adjacent to the locked perimeter security gate.

The police unit just arrived at our security gate, Ralph reported to the dispatcher.

Thanks, the officer in charge is Lt. Kline. You can hang up now. Everything will be handled by the DPS.  Denise was calm as she could be, perhaps the result of years of training and taking emergency calls. Dispatchers were taught that their voices had the potential of having a major effect on people in serious distress. Their job was to remain calm and at ease even in a terrifying situation. 

Ralph was bent over slightly at the waist just outside the entrance.  DPS officers Lt. Kline and Officer Javier Lopez were the first officers to respond to the dispatched call.  Lopez immediately held the van at a distance so they would not enter and compromise the potential crime scene.  Lt. Kline went to the security gate. Using his cell phone as a prompt, he punched in the security code opening the gate and left it open so additional emergency responders could enter the interior of the fenced airport facility.  He walked towards Ralph Olson taking in as much as he could by observing the man’s appearance and demeanor. An experienced officer knows that frequently the person reporting a heinous crime is somehow involved with the perpetrator. The slightest nuance might later lend itself to solving the crime.

Are you Ralph Olsen? Kline asked.

I am as he stood up straight and showed Kline into the hanger. Olsen had his cell phone out and was calling back Doug Kerry.

Kline turning his head to his right and saw the huddled bodies and bloodstained walls. This is one hell of a mess.  Were you here when any of this happened?

Ralph did not answer the question, holding a finger up as he spoke on his cell phone.  He knew he had to deal with the pilots in the shuttle van.  Doug you need to take the crew immediately to their hotel, while I deal with the situation inside the hanger. There is no need to involve them. Please apologize to them for me.  It is unfortunate that this untimely situation happened just as they were arriving. I will see them tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. in the hotel meeting room.

Ralph, what is going on?  Why are the cops here?

I will tell you later.  I need to deal with DPS right now. Get the crew settled, and I will call you when I get a chance.

Got it!  Good luck!

As the van turns around and pulls away two Avondale Police units with sirens blaring and flashing blue lights, and a Maricopa Sherriff’s unit goes through the gate and parks near the hanger.

Kline was speaking into his personal tactical microphone attached to his left shoulder, This is Kline at the Goodyear Airport Lufthansa hanger, I have three civilians DOA. Other units have arrived.  At this point, I will not need any additional backup to secure the interior and exterior of the hanger.

Copy Kline, I have dispatched the Med Examiner and forensics team to your location. Call if you need any additional backup. 

Thanks, for now, we have local Avondale PD and Maricopa Sheriff units on location.  Kline quickly confirmed that his 720 Resolution body camera was recording both the visual and audio. He had out his iPad Mini 4 to record Ralph’s responses.

I am recording this interview is that alright with you?

Sorry officer I needed to deal with getting our van full of new pilots arriving from London to their hotel. Sure recording this is fine. Ralph paused watching as Kline continued assessing the crime scene. I was not here when this happened. I arrived around 11:20 to welcome the new pilots.

Did you see or hear anyone in or around the hanger?  Anything at all.

No, I didn’t see anyone in or around the hanger or parking lot outside the security gate. The hanger was being used as a gathering place for the Palo Verde security force to prepare for a force-on-force exercise between 9:30-10:30 p.m.  That’s why the parking lot outside the fence is filled to capacity on a Sunday night. 

Interesting. Did you contact or see any airport security?

No, I contacted 911 as soon as I saw the bodies. Should I contact our airport security guys?

I can have one of the other units contact them.  Is there some way to contact the person responsible for the Palo Verde security gathering?

My assistant has that information. I can check her desk or call her if that would help.

Please check her desk and if necessary call her. I need to know if this had anything to do with the security gathering or exercise. Watch where you are walking and do not touch anything I do not want any potential evidence tainted. 

Ralph walked cautiously the short twenty-five yards to his office. Opening the door and switching on the light, Ralph was shocked again at finding two additional bodies. One had a huge pool of blood under each knee and had fallen backward with a bullet to his forehead. The other lay face down in a pool of blood with a bullet hole in the back of his head. Both had been executed much like the three bodies at the hanger entrance. Ralph stood absolutely still, feeling nauseous again.

Ralph yelled out OFFICER KLINE

Kline appeared just outside the office just as Ralph vomited on the wall outside. The additional bodies underlined the seriousness of the situation. Stepping into the office, Kline spoke clearly Dispatch, I just found another two civilian bodies. Their deaths appear to be execution style. Please request the watch commander and additional DPS units.

Copy Captain Patterson is near Central. Your requested backup will be dispatched immediately.

Kline called the Goodyear Airport operations number. 

Goodyear Flight Operations, this is Dennis Ryan speaking. How can I help you?

This is DPS Lieutenant Kline.  I am in the Lufthansa hanger and want to alert you to the fact that it is now a crime scene with multiple deaths. Please alert your security force to be cautious as they may be in danger.

God! How could this be happening?  Dennis began breathing deeply. "But I have been concerned as the mobile security trucks have become strangely irregular in their patrol coverage. I will contact them immediately. Is there anything else I can do to help?

Just be aware that police units are searching the interior and exterior of the Lufthansa facility and may expand their search.  Let me know if there are any issues with other facilities, aircraft or your security units. 

Will do. 

We will need a list of all aircraft leaving the airport from 8 p.m. this evening.  Are you aware of other activities in other facilities this evening?

I will compile the list and but there has not been much activity.  Ryan seemed a bit dazed as he spoke. There was some maintenance of an aircraft on the tarmac that ended just after 8 p.m., but not anything else. Is there anything more you need?"

Just alert your security. I will send my partner over to get the list.  Thanks.

Glad to help. Please let me know if you need anything. Dennis hung up and quickly placed a call to Herbert Gaines the Goodyear Airport Facility Manager. 

Within nineteen minutes DPS Watch Commander Captain Jack Patterson, the Medical Examiner’s black van, and the DPS Forensic Team vans arrive on site. They begin setting up a perimeter around the bodies in the hanger and office. The crime scene photographer was busy taking video from several angles before anyone touched the corpses. 

Patterson ordered the other officers to carefully search the premises and perimeter outside for any additional evidence. He observed from outside the taped perimeter as the forensic team finally turned over each body to carefully photograph and search through their belongings.  The three hanger bodies were identified as bus drivers by the Blue Bird Bus Company logo on their polo shirts and their Arizona CDL licenses.  More importantly the office bodies each had Palo Verde Security Force identification. 

The DPS and Avondale officers began a thorough search of the entire hangar and the surrounding area. Fifteen minutes later they had completed the careful search of the locker room, classroom, flight simulator facility, and Dreamliner aircraft. Proceeding through the hanger two Avondale police officers slowly mounted the portable stairs to the Lufthansa A380 aircraft. The forward cabin door was wide open. As a precaution, the officer’s guns were drawn and at the ready. They were shocked at discovering the mass execution inside the aircraft. The plane was full of victims seated with seat belts fastened. Their hands were cuffed behind their backs with plastic restraints, their heads hung to one side or the other; most had a bullet hole in the forehead obviously causing instant death.

The blood splatter created on the seats indicated that they were shot after being seated.

It created an enormous mess throughout the aircraft for the forensics lab guys to sort out. The experienced Avondale officers had never seen anything like this mass execution scene. Moving through the aircraft checking each of the victims, they found three victims that were still alive. The officers used the Arizona Interagency Radio System to call for medical assistance.

Shortly thereafter the Maricopa Sheriff Deputies found the bodies of three uniformed airport security guards within a dumpster near the security gate adding to the growing horrific crime scene. Obviously, the airport security perimeter had been seriously breached and compromised. 

Captain Patterson placed a call to dispatch for additional units fully understanding that the perpetrators may have taken control of aircraft or attacked other parts of the facility.

Thinking of 9/11 he wonders about aircraft being stolen and used in a larger terrorist event. Patterson ordered units to extend their search perimeter to secure all the other buildings and to get confirmation on missing aircraft.

Herbert Gaines, Airport Manager with his assistant pulled into the parking area adjacent to the Lufthansa hanger. After getting a grasp of the complexity of the situation, he ordered his assistant to contact all renters and aircraft owners to assess their aircraft and property within the compromised airport. 

After entering the A380 and viewing the mass execution, Captain Patterson understood the severe gravity of the situation and confirmed that the brutal execution-style murders had to do with the nuclear power plant security exercise. Patterson called the DPS Director Colonel Harry Freeman setting off a critical series of calls and alerts. 

The DPS Director Freemen called Arizona Governor Ann Hargrove.  Governor Hargrove fearing the worst immediately ordered Colonel Freeman to mobilize the DPS and the Maricopa County Sheriff for a potential incident at the Palo Verde nuclear facility. They needed to create a perimeter around the nuclear facility as soon as possible.

Shaking her head, Ann slammed her landline phone and thought to herself, I knew that at some point that facility was going to be a disaster. Nuclear facilities are ticking time bombs. I just hoped that it wouldn’t be during my time as Governor.

In the meantime Lt. Kline had contacted the Blue Bird Bus Company dispatcher, identified himself and began inquiring about the three drivers.

I need to know the details of the most recent driving assignments of Greg Towns, Kent Jerome, and Frank Moser. 

Greg Dean, the bus dispatcher responded, I can only tell you that the drivers were assigned to transport portions of the Palo Verde security force at 10 p.m. from the Goodyear Lufthansa hanger to the nuclear facility. They left here at 9:15 p.m. and were scheduled to return to our bus garage at 2:30 a.m.  Are they okay?

Thank you. Unfortunately, they were the victims of foul play.  Kline responded.

Greg’s voice became shaky as panic hit him, God! Are they wounded? He paused for a second thinking the very worse, Are they dead? Pausing again he asked, Are the three buses still at the Goodyear Airport? I could have them picked up.

Sorry to say that all three were executed. The busses are not here. We will attempt to locate the busses. Are there GPS locator devices on your busses?

Yeah, I will check on their GPS locators. Greg could be heard working his computer.  All three busses are in different areas of the Palo Verde facility. Greg’s voice seemed strained.

I’m sure the busses will play an important part in our investigation. They probably will not be released to your company for a week or two. We will send a unit to your office to further our investigation and contact the drivers loved ones. 

Shit that is going to cause a mess for our dispatcher in the morning.  I need to call my boss.  Can my boss call you at this number officer?

Sure, I will be available at this number.  I need to get back to the crime scene.

Kline realized that this was going to be a long shift.  Captain Patterson filled him in on the probability of a major issue involving the Palo Verde plant, and the fact that DPS Director Freemen had sent out a general alert to all on duty and off duty DPS officers, and activated the Arizona DPS's Bomb Response Vehicle. 

Patterson approached Ralph Olson; I need to secure this facility until we are finished with our investigation. I am afraid that the crime scene could be tied up for up for between two to six weeks. I suggest that you contact your employer and alert them to the situation as it will more than likely change your program.

Thanks, but I do not think they will be happy with the news. I am going to get some crap about only in America can stuff like this happen. Ralph knew he had the corporate Human Resource number as a contact on his cell. He called the number. 

In the meantime, Director Freemen was personally taking control of all the law enforcement units around the Palo Verde plant in the DPS Command Center Winnebago. 

Three ambulances arrived at the hanger to deal with the wounded from the A380 aircraft.  Unfortunately, the victims were declared DOA before the ambulances reached the Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear. 

Chapter 2:  Spreading the News

Sunday, November 24, 11:35 p.m. MST (UTC/GMT-6)  Reeves Residence, Avondale, Arizona

Ben Reeves, a Palo Verde nuclear plant maintenance