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"Well the current concern of Turkey is not in question. We are satisfied in our fact finding that they are unstable and in need of new leadership. Traditional monarchism is not our proposal; rather, a combination of benevolent monarchism and Ottomanism. A pan-arab union, with a strong monarch at...

"Unfortunately, mister, this is the way these things work. It wouldn't be very smart of these benefactors to reveal their identities, as it would compromise their ability to support you. What I am offering you is several caches of arms, for free, and the ability to get in on the ground floor of...

Watching Sleiman as he spoke with kind eyes, Daoud looked nearly twice his age. In robes rather than a suit and circled by pipe smoke, the garden felt like a relic, a portal back to the peak of the Khedivate. "I am grateful that, in spite of the unusual nature of these summons, you still chose...

With a casual attitude not practiced but instead learned through his years of business in the Middle East, Abdelaziz continued, still in Kurdish. "It was a bit of a challenge to pick up, but I've dealt with Kurds before. You'd be surprised just how much of a discount you can snag if you speak...

Sitting behind the counter, an older man with eyes that told of his exhaustion took a slow sip of his black coffee out of its paper cup. Expressionless, he watched as the three approached and held out their documents at the same time like some weirdly choreographed dance group. With a sigh, he...

At the palace's threshold, a handsome servant boy would guide Sleiman in, taking his coat and offering up a pipe as they wound through narrow halls decorated with fine carpet and tapestries on every wall. Portraits hung high told of the grand blood that ran through the veins of the palace's...

As the hood came off his head, Abdelaziz's vision spun, taking in the torchlight and men all around him. A dank cave. A little disbelief hit him for the first time: how on earth did he get here? Sitting down at the table, he took some of the flatbread in his hands and began to eat carefully...

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"Firstly, to my knowledge, there is no such activity, Minister. Secondly, it is highly undiplomatic of you to make accusations like this, based on what I can only assume to be flimsy or falsified evidence. Let me say it clearly, as I said over email, we do not support the Catalan separatist...

Kassab's eyes glossed quickly over the email. Shit. Nothing to be done. But clearly, there was some diplomatic issue at play now. There was nothing to be done but wait, ready, until intelligence told him to stand down. As night fell on Madrid, he lit a cigarette and stood at the banister...

The Turkish Airlines flight was fine enough. Black coffee in a paper cup held Abdelaziz over from Cairo to Antalya Airport, where he hopped on a domestic flight to Siirt Airport. Strolling out into the simple streets of Siirt, Abdelaziz bopped his head to the 80s pop in his headphones, his dress...

At the Egyptian embassy in Madrid, Ambassador Aly Kassab stared at the email on his laptop with his jaw slack. For the last few years of his tenure, Kassab had done, in effect, nothing. Nothing of real importance, anyhow. Boozing, schmoozing, meeting, and greeting the wealthy of Madrid was his...

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"I see no reason, minister, to convey what is already clear and implemented." Jabour would shift slightly in his seat, drawing from his cigar as he sensed a shift in attitude from the Spanish minister. Clearly, there was something that he was thinking about. Clearly, he came here with some...

As the Sultana prepared the palace in Heliopolis for their guest, the Sultan's staff arranged for a private charter jet to pick Sleiman up at Beirut's airport. It was a nice jet, with a dozen seats and in-flight drinks and food, movies, newspapers, and books—anything that the royal could want...

To: The Kurdistan Freedom Hawks From: A Friend < Encrypted > Subject: A United Kurdistan To whom it may concern, We have been monitoring the actions of the Freedom Hawks for a time now, and to be frank, we see little being done to bring about a lasting change. This is...

In his office high in the Egyptian foreign ministry building, Zero Jabour was sat smoking with some high-ranking friends when the line from Madrid was activated. Quickly, his friends cleared the room, closing the doors behind them. To keep his environment as clear as his mind, Jabour had...

To: Julia Riera From: Hatem Shammas, Chief Officer of Intelligence Subject: International Standing Security Clearance: Government; Top Secret Commander Riera, Your perception of the Thai "nation" is unfortunate. Clearly, what you categorize as an assertion of...

To: José Manuel Albares From: Zero Jabour, Chief of International Affairs Subject: Recent Developments in Catalonia Security Clearance: Government; Restricted Minister, Thank you for your prompt response. The Sultan will be exceptionally pleased to hear of...