“I know I am. But I’m asking only because it must be done. Our nation cannot protect its existence at the expense of its soul.”

Cohen had moved next to the ramsad, and the two were now in a hushed discussion.

Nicole had never been so proud of Nir—nor so angry with him. He was right, but a voice inside kept telling her he would pay dearly for this. Lord, I know I’m feeling doubt, and doubt is a lack of trust in You. Bless Nir and these men for their commitment to what is right. Protect them. Bring them home.

Nir spoke again. “Ramsad, how many times did we have Fakhrizadeh in our sights but held back to protect the innocent? How many times did we have Soleimani dead to rights but left it to the Americans because all our options would harm his children?”

“Quiet, Tavor,” Katz said.

“You have the trigger. We will blow the boat. We just have to try this first.”

“Nir, shut up,” Cohen yelled before going back to his discussion with the ramsad.

Then the ramsad looked at Nicole. “You’ve been on the boat. You’ve seen these people. What do you say?”

Nicole knew her next words could cost Nir his life. But like him, she didn’t have a choice. “You’ve got to let them try.”

The ramsad’s bloodshot eyes told her the weight of every life on those two teams bore heavily on his shoulders. “Yes, it appears I do, don’t I? Tavor, I’m approving this mission. But I have two demands. First, it will be run by the Shayetet 13 lead. Your team will be part of it, but I want the best military operators in charge, and that’s not Kidon.”

“Yes, Ha’mefaked.”

“Second, under no circumstances are you to be part of it. I want you back on the sub as soon as possible. You’re in no condition to be on an assault team. Am I understood?”

No response.

“Am I understood?”

“Yes, Ha’mefaked.”

“Good, you have one hour. Make it count.”

“Thank you. Team Lead, out.”

The ramsad leaned back into his chair and took his cell phone out of his shirt pocket. “He’s going on the raid, isn’t he?”

“One hundred percent,” Nicole and Cohen said in unison.

ARABIAN SEA, OFF MUMBAI, INDIA—23:01 / 11:01 P.M. IST

“I need your uniform,” Nir said, pointing to one of the batwings who’d been manning the boats.

“Tiraga, slow down here,” said S5, the Shayetet 13 squad lead. “I say which of my team strips naked and for whom. So you’re going?”

“You stopping me?”

The man put up his hands defensively. “Lighten up. It’s only a question. I’ve just never heard of anyone defying old Ira Katz before.”

Nir let his hackles settle back down. “He’s a teddy bear when you get to know him.”