<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://imgs.elookat.com/ilan/foto/2/yazlik-1-JPG-31-3023.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">Gondol Titel Sitesi</span></span></div><br/><br/>Pinar knew it was Malik as soon as he walked off the boat. As the man drew closer to the SUV, he spotted her and fixed a knowing grin on his face.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Were you trying to hide from me?”</span>He was playing up the part, that they knew one another with his free, easy going tone. Pinar was game.<br/><br/>The attractive Turkish woman stepped from the truck, put a large smile on her face, walked quickly, almost a run toward him with arms wide open giving the stranger a hug as though they were long lost companions. "It is wonderful to see you again, Malik!" Pinar exclaimed gleefully.<br/><br/>As she lead him to the SUV, he continued the charade,<span style="font-style: italic">“I hope you were not waiting too long. Public transportation can be such a pain at times.”</span>As they climbed into the Land Rover, Malik spoke,<span style="font-style: italic">“It has… been awhile since we last spoke, has it not? Too long if you ask me. I cannot wait to tell you all about my trip. America is… quite an interesting country.”</span><br/><br/>Pinar slid in behind the wheel, started up the engine and headed out of the parking lot. In the relative security of the truck, Pinar explained his itinerary. "I have you booked into Gondol Titel Sitesi, where I work. It is a modest accommodation in one of Turkey's more luxurious hotels. I think you will find it to your liking," the pleasant smile and lilt in her voice now removed. "I also have dinner reservations with you at the<span style="font-style: italic">Bali</span>, a Turkish-Indian restaurant on the first floor of the resort. We can head out tomorrow morning when you are ready. This truck is for your use.  I am traveling with you to continue the cover. When you get to the border, drop me off. I have made arrangements to get back to Icel." The vehicle pulled into the parking garage at the hotel. Pinar parked next to an early model German made Volkswagon Taunus. She opened the truck of the older car, pulled out a shovel and placed it in the back of the Land Rover. "I was instructed you might need this."<br/><br/>Before heading inside the building, Pinar reached inside the truck and pulled out the newspaper. It was the copy of<span style="font-style: italic">Today's Zaman</span>. She handed the paper to him saying, "read this. It is the same newspaper you are now working for. It may help if you actually know what your employer is writing." The headlines of the newspaper covered the Syrian Civil War, specifically how the Syrian Arab Republic (opposition) used Chlorine gas on civilians loyal to the Syrian government only 30 or 40 miles from the Turkish border.<br/><br/>As the couple walked toward the building, Pinar grabbed Malik's arm in her's. She smiled and said, "Tell me about your trip to America; the land of opportunity and decadence. I've always been curious." She grinned, continuing to play her role.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #8080FF">022200May15Z Damascus, Syria</span></span></span></span><br/>"Lion is walking from pool area into the rear of the residence, over." A whispered voice communicated over the radio. The Soldiers of Christ reconnaissance team used state of the art, American-made  SINCGARS RT-1702G radio transceivers. All radios with the same cryptic<span style="font-style: italic">fill</span>operated on the same frequency. Actually, the radios jumped from one frequency to the next at the same time. The radios jumped to several randomly selected frequencies so fast, they were impossible to listen on without the same cryptic fill. All stations needed to be on the same frequencies at the same time in order to listen. This feature also made them impossible to jam or even detect. The recon teams had been in country for the past six months and had not been detected yet. They certainly would not be located by a radio signature.<br/><br/>"Roger that, Lion is no longer swimming, out." Farid Al Hammasa responded to the surveillance team. He then made a notation in his activity log on Bashar Hafez al-Assad. He had extensive notes on the man and could already perceive some repetition or patterns in his behavior. There were at least a half dozen opportunities when the Syrian President would be vulnerable to observation at distances from 500 to 1500 meters. 'If Mr. Topçu was as good as they say he is, this range should be perfect for him.' Farid considered his target and the man who had departed home base yesterday. Farid was tracking Malik Topçu's progress as well, 'he should be resting peacefully at Icel tonight; his last night of peace before he crosses into hell tomorrow morning.'