<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #8080FF">031430May15Z Damascus, Syria</span></span></span></span><br/>The Operations Center for the Syrian cell was nothing more than a dilapidated room in a dilapidated building which had been standing like many of the others in this neighborhood for over three hundred years. A few of the structures would have been replaced and all require frequent maintenance in order for them to remain standing. A stale odor of some rotten fruit or meat always seemed to linger about the area; giving the city a special appeal for the uninitiated, like smelling rotten fruit was a pleasant experience.<br/><br/>Farid understood Malik's concerns, "brother, I know you are a professional at what you do. I would not want to push into doing anything before you are ready. Please take your time. I will be here to help you in any way I can." Farid reached into his jacket pocket to remove a cigarette. He tapped the end a few times to settle the tobacco to one end. His right hand deftly inserted one end of the tobacco filled paper into his mouth. His left hand manipulated the Zippo lighter, igniting the dried leaves and paper; inhaling. Farid enjoyed that first inhalation. It caused a brief sensation of light headedness, making all his worries drift away. It was why he enjoyed his habit, regardless of what the world tried to tell him. He held the pack out to Malik, "Would you care to take one?"<br/><br/>When the pack had finished serving its purpose, he returned it and the Zippo to his jacket pocket. "Mr. Topcu, I won't lie to you. We have been here for six months. It is a terrible place." Ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-Shām [tr.: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)] had been gaining an upper hand in the war. If the west or at least Russia and o ther minor nations with air and Special Operations units took a more active role in this war, they might be able to halt the rapid advancement of daesh. But, it was also quite possible Russia had a hand in the advancement of ISIL. Farid continued with his speech, "we are looking forward to leaving this godforsaken place and returning home. But we are also soldiers and have no intention of rushing you. I want you to take your time, sir. If you want to get a feel for the land, the layout of the properties around Damascus, be my guest.  I have a letter for you signed by the Syrian Chief of staff. It gives me access to just about everything in the city or wherever the fighting is going on. This is so I can take photographs and write my stories about how the war is progressing. You need this letter to help you maintain your cover and get to those places that will help you accomplish your mission."<br/><br/>"Swimming. Every evening before he goes to bed, he takes a dip in the pool. The times he is in teh pool is random, but never earlier than 1700 hours and he is typically inside his house by 2300. This gives you a six hour window where you would have to observe the pool just to insure the Lion is present." Farid took a drag on the cigarette, held the smoke in his lungs and then slowly allowed it to pass through his nostrils while looking in the ledger. "My team and I came to the same conclusion. When he is at the pool would be the best opportunity to take a shot. The Bunker is always so well protected. Even if you do get him there, one of his soldiers may have an excellent shot at getting you."<br/><br/>"There are three vantage points to his place. The closest is a five hundred meter shot from the north, below the Moaz Ben Jabal and above the Tora River." Farid pointed at the location with his finger. "The elevation difference is slight, maybe a few feet higher. But that is because Bashar had the palace built on higher ground. A few smaller promontories exist to the west, giving you a sleight 20 meter height advantage, but it would be a thousand meter shot. Both of these two vantage points are observed by Bashar's security and they are exposed. Also, my surveillance team has a hide spot on both hills. They have been there for almost six months and the security has not located them yet. With proper camouflage and stealthy movements, you should have no problems getting in and out. I believe complacency has taken center stage at the palace. No one has made too much of an attempt on his life there. The closest anyone has come is a few mortar rounds, but they landed harmlessly at a distance. It was simply a reminder of what is outside the city. Not enough to make the security believe anyone is targeting the president. The third location is a building to the south here," Farid pointed the third location out. "It is a large factory located on Mount Mezzeh. The northeastern ridgeline is in a perfect angle toward the target. The problem here, is like the spot to the north, its elevation advantage is only sleight. We do have a hide spot, and access to the roof of the eight-story building is easy enough. The distance is just over 1200 meters."<br/><br/>Farid allowed Malik to take all this information in. He left the map out on the table for him to look at. The books remained available for him to look over. He continued to suck at the cigarette, finding much pleasure in the smoke and the relaxing possibility that he might actually leave this wretched place. He'd already considered the opportunity to walk through the desert on his way to the Golan Heights or maybe even Jerusalem itself. A detour into Lebanon would not be too farfetched as well. It depends on what is going on outside this city right here, right now.<br/><br/>The radio crackled to life, "Dealer, this is black jack fife, Lion is leaving the den and headed back to the Eye Doctor's Office, out."<br/><br/>"Roger that, Black jack fife. Dealer, out," Farid responded. He picked up the latest book and made an entry. He then looked at Malik. It appears your target is heading back to work. Lunch must be over for him. What about you? Are you hungry? I have some leftover chicken kebab and some Lakhma bread. It is actually quite tasty. It's cold, but will fill you up."