"Repeat: 'Blazing Sun' operation starts now."
"Execute Plan A. Remain covert, prioritize control, and avoid public conflict as much as possible. Use all necessary ans if resistance is encountered."
"For the rebirth of Kurdistan."
"Action."
The mont the order was given, sixteen screens on the monitor simultaneously "ca alive."
14:02, eighth floor of the Autonomous Committee Building, third eting room.
The air conditioning system seed to have malfunctioned, and the eting room was unbearably hot.
The special eting of the Finance Committee had been going on for twelve minutes with slow progress. Around the oval table, the Energy Minister and Industry Minister were arguing over the distribution ratio of oil revenues, their voices growing increasingly louder.
The Deputy Minister of Finance attempted to diate, but with little effect.
Adnan Jassim sat at the observer's seat against the wall, quickly noting the key points of the argunt.
As the assistant to the Secretary-General, his task was to consolidate the eting minutes, identify points of consensus and divergence, and provide a foundation for subsequent negotiations.
He had done this job for three years and was well-acquainted with the rhythm.
Argue, compromise, argue again, compromise again, and finally produce a plan that no one is satisfied with but everyone can accept.
This is politics, he once believed.
Slow, tedious, but necessary.
Then the door was abruptly slamd open.
Six n in dark suits filed in.
They seed like governnt officials, but their swift movents and the bulge at their waists exposed their identities.
The last person closed the door imdiately after entering, stood back against the door, hand inside his coat.
The eting room instantly fell silent.
Everyone watched the intruders.
"Sorry to interrupt the eting."
The leader displayed his credentials.
They were from the Special Investigation Departnt of the Security Bureau.
"By order of the Ergency Committee, the Committee Building is temporarily under the control of Security Forces. Please remain in your seats, do not use communication devices, and cooperate with our work."
A few seconds of dead silence.
Then Industry Minister Muhammad Ali suddenly stood up, his chair slid backward and fell to the floor with a loud crash.
"What does this an? Ergency Committee? Who authorized it? Does Chairman Masoud know?"
"Chairman Masoud was assassinated this morning in Kirkuk and unfortunately martyred."
The speaker's voice was calm, like reading a news announcent.
"Vice Chairman Barzani, according to the ergency provisions of the constitution, announced the formation of the Ergency Committee, temporarily taking over all powers. This is a necessary asure during the transition period."
"Assassination?"
Transportation Minister Casim turned pale, "That's impossible! I'm calling the Chairman's office..."
"Communication has been temporarily suspended."
The security officer stepped forward, "Please sit down, Minister. We don't wish to use force."
Adnan's brain raced in shock.
Assassination?
Masoud is dead?
Barzani took over power?
Everything happened too quickly, too suddenly.
But his intelligence training imdiately made him realize—this is a coup.
This damn well is a naked coup!
And in broad daylight!
He looked around the eting room.
The Energy Minister sat in his chair, hands trembling; the Industry Minister still stood, face flushed; the Deputy Minister of Finance looked down at the table, lips moving as if praying silently; other officials had varied expressions: shock, fear, bewildernt.
And one or two seed sowhat excited...
As if expecting sothing?
The door was once again opened a crack, revealing the scene in the corridor outside.
More people in suits or casual clothes were "escorting" governnt employees back to their offices or into temporary holding rooms.
No gunshots, no shouting, everything was proceeding in an orderly yet silent manner.
The elderly advisor from the Energy Departnt, Sair, suddenly spoke, voice filled with anger: "This is a coup."
The security officer looked at him and did not deny it.
"This is a constitutionally authorized power transition. Please cooperate to reduce unnecessary chaos and bloodshed."
"Bloodshed?" The Industry Minister sneered, "You've prepared for bloodshed?"
"We are prepared to prevent bloodshed." The security officer corrected, "But if anyone tries to resist or create chaos, we will have to take necessary asures. Now, please leave the eting room one by one to the designated waiting area. Please cooperate."
Adnan got up with the others and walked towards the door.
As he passed by the security officer, he heard him whisper to his colleague: "Detain individuals on the list separately, especially Adnan Jassim."
His heart sank.
They knew him.
This ans he is not on the "winnable" list but on the "needs control" list.
In the corridor, more employees were gathered.
Adnan saw the Policy Research Office's Director, Legal Advisor Sadiq, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office...
All key figures from various departnts.
They were divided into two groups.
One group was taken to the west side waiting area, another to the east side small eting room.
Adnan was placed in the east side group.
He was brought into a small eting room, which already had seven or eight people inside.
Legal Advisor Sadiq smiled wryly and nodded towards him: "Welco to the first cell of the new era, young man."
"Did they really assassinate the Chairman?" Adnan asked quietly, sitting down next to Sadiq.
"Barzani claid it was the Abu You Brigade." Sadiq lowered his voice, almost speaking in whispers: "But I've heard so rumors from other channels—Chairman Masoud might not be dead yet."
Adnan's heart jumped. "What?"
"Shh."
Sadiq gestured him to silence, speaking in an even softer voice.
User Comments
0 comments from readers