Black Gold

M.W. Fletcher

Description

Following the Yom Kippur war of October 1973, OPEC raises the price of oil by 70% along with a 5% reduction in oil production. Len Saunders a highly skilled and knowledgeable British engineer for Jaguar motors, is approached by the UK energy commission in the January of 1974 to create a new propulsion system; using a secret document from a German WW2 scientist, that they have come into possession of. Len Saunders sets to work on creating the holy grail of energy. Seven years later 1981, Haidar Farooq the Kuwait oil minister working at OPEC and head of a secret organisation named Black Gold becomes aware of this research and its fruition and he cannot allow it to become a new energy source. Len Saunders dies in what appears to be a hit and run road traffic collision, his research work goes missing. Fast forward to 1988, Robin Saunders an officer in the British Parachute regiment learns that his father's death was no accident and whom was behind it. He resigns his commission and what follows is death and destruction on an immense scale. The stakes are high; the dice have been rolled and this deadly game is afoot. Again, Max Storm and the Operational Strike Command must enter the arena against one of their own. The OSC is Britain's first and last line of offence.

Sujets

• Adventure (Guyana)
• Adventure

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 25 mai 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781782349136
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
BLACK GOLD
by
MW Fletcher



Publisher Information
Published in 2013 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
The right of MW Fletcher to be identified as the Authors of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998
Copyright © 2013 MW Fletcher
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.



1
Sixteen years earlier
Tel Aviv
Israel
Lat = 31 degrees, 16.6 minutes North
Long = 34 degrees, 58.3 minutes East
Saturday October 6 th 1973
Zero-eight zero five hours
The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur is celebrated on this day, as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, both religiously observant Jews and most of the secular majority fast and abstains from any use of fire, electricity, engines, communications, etc, and all road traffic ceases.
Many soldiers also had gone home from their military facilities for the holiday; this creates the problem for the country becoming more vulnerable with much of its military personnel on leave.
Upon learning of an impending attack from Egyptian and Syrian forces, combined with the large number of other warnings, a high-level meeting was taking place in the capital, between the Prime Minister Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan the Israeli military leader and General David Elazar.
Elazar presented his argument in favour of a pre-emptive attack against Syrian airfields at noon, Syrian missiles at 3:00 p.m., and Syrian ground forces at 5:00 p.m.
When the presentations were done, the Prime Minister hemmed uncertainly for a few moments but then came to a clear decision. There would be no pre-emptive strike.
She was aware that Israel might need American assistance soon and it was imperative that it would not be blamed for starting the war.
However a compromise was made, orders went out for a partial call-up of the Israeli reserves.
Several hours later this same day, Egypt and Syria carried out surprise attacks on Israeli occupied lands in Sinai and the Golan Heights, starting the fourth Arab-Israeli War.
With a massive and successful Egyptian crossing of the Suez Canal during the first three days, after which they dug in, settling into a stalemate.
The Syrians coordinated their attack on the Golan Heights to coincide with the Egyptian offensive and initially made threatening gains against the greatly outnumbered Israelis.
Within a week, Israel recovered and launched a four-day Counter-offensive, driving deep into Syria.
At the conclusion of hostilities, on Thursday the 25 th October 1973, nineteen days after the surprise attack the Israeli forces were 25 miles from Damascus and 63 miles from Cairo.
OPEC Headquarters
Upper Danube Street 93, Vienna. Austria.
Lat = 48 degrees, 12.8 minutes North
Long = 16 degrees, 22.6 minutes East
Tuesday 16 th October 1973
Eleven twenty hours
Local time.
The Secretary General of OPEC was heading the emergency meeting of OPEC, following the recent events in Israel.
OPEC. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries was founded to unify and coordinate members’ petroleum policies. It is an intergovernmental organization of twelve developing countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Their objectives are to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.
OPEC has maintained its headquarters in Vienna since 1965, and hosts regular meetings among the oil ministers of its Member Countries.
After a few hours of debate, they had decided to raise the posted price of oil by 70 percent, to $5.11 a barrel.
The following day, oil ministers agreed to an embargo, a cut in production by five percent from September’s output.
This was seen as a punishment against the United States, the United Kingdom and several Western nations for supporting Israel in a war against Egypt and Syria. This resulted in severe gasoline shortages and a recession in Western nations, especially in Great Britain, Europe, Canada, and the United States.
European Commission
Berlaymont building.
200 Rue de la Loi,
Brussels.
Lat = 50 degrees, 50.5 minutes North
Long = 4 degrees, 22.8 minutes East
Tuesday 6 th November 1973.
Thirteen thirty-six hours
Local time
The nine foreign ministers of the European Economic Community (EEC) that includes Great Britain, had been unable to achieve a common policy during the first month of the Yom Kippur War, and today issued an unambiguously Pro-Arab statement listing what they regarded as essential requirements for Middle East peace.
These included the termination of Israel’s 1967 occupation of Arab territory and recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians along with condemnation of Israel’s acquiring of territory by force.
As a result, OPEC duly lifted its embargo from all members of the EEC.
London 10 Downing Street
Lat = 51 degrees, 30.2 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 7.7 minutes West
Wednesday 5 th December 1973
Twelve fifty four hours GMT
Due to the initial embargo of oil and the subsequent oil price increases The British Government of the time were now having to face the reality of how to conserve energy supplies.
They came up with a number of initiatives, which included a working three-day week, banning flights on Sundays and a temporary maximum national speed limit of 50 mph (80 km/h) for all roads, including motorways, and was introduced on the 8 th December.
Jaguar car manufacturers
Browns lane Allesley
Coventry
UK
Lat = 52 degrees, 26.0 minutes North
Long = 1 degrees, 33.7 minutes West
Monday 7 th January 1974
Zero seven fifty hours GMT
Len Saunders had just left his home at 165 Browns lane, taking the short walk to his place of work, at the Jaguar works, it was five minutes to eight as he walked past the security gate, when a voice called him; “Len come here.” Len turned around to locate the voice and noticed Taffy Jones the security man, who was beckoning him over to him.
Len did an about turn and walked over, “what’s up taffy?”
“You have some visitors from the government, arrived less than half an hour ago, the MD said to meet him in his office when you arrived.”
“Christ what’s up now?” Len exclaimed.
Taffy gave him a wink and said, “You ain’t been caught taking stuff home have you Len?”
Len smiled back at taffy, recognising the humour in his quip, “see your later Taffy.”
With that, Len walked away, towards the main building, his mind trying to fathom out what this was all about.
Managing Directors office
Jaguar car manufacturers
Browns lane Allesley
Coventry
UK
Lat = 52 degrees, 26.0 minutes North
Long = 1 degrees, 33.7 minutes West
Monday 7 th January 1974 (Same day).
Zero-eight hundred hours GMT.
Keith Massey was entertaining the two government officials when his phone rang, “thank you Jenny.”
“Gentlemen; Mr Saunders is on his way up.”
A few minutes later a knock came on the door, and in stepped Len Saunders, at the age of thirty-five he stood tall at six-feet three inches in a gangly body frame, black hair that was already showing signs of grey at the sides.
Len was married to his wife Rosie and had a nine-year-old son named Robin.
“Keith Massey beckoned Len over, “come have a seat and help yourself to a tea or coffee Len.”
Len walked over to the nearby table, poured a tea, and sat down at the only available chair at the side of the MD’s desk.
“What’s this all about sir?”
“All in good time Len; let me introduce you to our guests; on the left is John Stephenson accompanied by Roger Masterson, both work for the UK’s energy commission.”
Both Stephenson and Masterson nodded an acknowledgement to Len.
Len took a sip of his coffee and his quick mind was in deep thought as to why these two men were here, and wanting to see him.
His thoughts were interrupted by Keith Massey, “Len; before I let these gentlemen explain the purpose of their visit, I feel it would be of benefit for you to give them a quick outline of your history and work with us here at Jaguar.”
Len replaced his cup on the table, “certainly sir.” He looked over at the two men and then spoke, “I have been with Jaguar since leaving school in 1955, after my five year apprenticeship I moved into and began specialising in fuel systems for the Jaguar engines, and I am currently working in the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) workshops here at Browns Lane.”
Len picked up his drink and took a mouthful.
“Thank you Len,” replied Massey.
There was a few moments pause before John Stephenson spoke.
“Mr Saunders; like many people in the country you are profoundly aware of the issues we have with energy, especially as so much relies on oil from overseas, the price has escalated to outrageous prices and we have advised the government that this is only the beginning and that prices will continue to rise. We like many other countries, are now at the mercy of OPEC,” Stephenson