She bobbed her head from side to side. “Close; but I think it is more likely to be a Toufan. They’re direct copies of your SeaCobra but are developed by the Iranian Aviation Industries.”

“Iran? What are they doing here?”

“Why not? It makes perfect sense. They want the world to believe that, like the rest of us, they are fighting the Hezar-Jihadi. But they will covertly back anyone who makes life difficult for the west.” She looked around. “We need to be cautious. The Toufan helicopters are used primarily by the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, or Sepāh.” She turned to Alex. “You know them as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.”

“Great.” Alex exhaled, and called the team in close. “Heads up; we might have IRG on the ground.”

“Here? I thought those guys were really only active inside Iran, and just used more as financial muscle outside their borders,” Sam said.

Adira shook her head. “You underestimate them, Sam Reid. The Sepāh now have over a hundred twenty thousand military personnel in all type of forces – land, sea and air. They also control the paramilitary Basij militia, which has another ninety thousand active personnel. And you’re right, they do use their financial muscle, because they have a lot of it – they are now a multibillion-dollar business empire.”

Alex knew she was right. During his own research he’d found that the Iranian IRG were like a state within a state, and had a finger in everything. These days they were already a more dominant force then even the Shia clerical system.

“Damned nightmare,” he said. “Iran and Hezar-Jihadi cuddling up. But it would sure answer a lot of questions about how these militia jihadis get their funding, intelligence, and advanced weaponry.” Alex grunted. “Hammerson is going to be real interested in this.” He looked around, seeking his egress, but there was no visible door or skylight. “Franks, those guys from the chopper must have got in somewhere, find me where. Sam, take some readings. Let’s see if there’s more heavy particle trace below us.”

Casey moved off like a bloodhound, searching the rooftop, looking at the smallest edge or crack until she eventually stopped and crouched. She raised a hand, and clicked her fingers once. Alex joined her. There was a three-foot square cut into the roof, flush with its surroundings – a trapdoor. Alex ran a hand over it.

“Steel, solid.” A single tiny hole was near one end. There’d be no breaking this door or its lock without alerting everyone within a mile.

Sam finished his reading. “Traces of HRE, higher than background normal, but non lethal … as long as we don’t spend the night down there.” He looked up. “This is the place.”

“Good.” Alex pointed. “That’s a locking mech. Cut us in.”