It was as if everyone, including the Libyan soldiers, were stunned motionless as they saw the sand and dust settle and King Idris the Second still standing, holding the Stinger launcher triumphantly in one hand, laughing loudly as the smoke and debris from the wrecked helicopter gunship wafted near him—but it was as if even the smoke and flames dared not touch him. His men cheered as they rolled up to cover him, but Zuwayy’s soldiers did not try to run or fight—instead, moments later, they joined in the cheering.

“Pretty good shooting, Your Highness,” Patrick said as he and the other Night Stalkers joined him a few moments later.

“Shukran gazilan,” Sanusi replied. He looked at the other Mi-24 gunship and nodded happily. “Pretty good piece of flying yourself, Mr. McLanahan.” Sanusi’s men were already taking possession of the vehicles that were still intact—one T-60 tank, four armored personnel carriers, and a Mil Mi-24 helicopter gunship.

To Patrick’s surprise, Sanusi’s men and a good number of the Libyan soldiers were greeting each other like long-lost brothers—the Libyan soldiers were tearing off insignia and patches that had anything to do with Zuwayy’s regime, and Sanusi’s men were giving the defecting soldiers imperial insignia to wear. Moments later, they were all lined up before the king and each individually swore loyalty to him in front of the others. They all did so without one moment’s hesitation. The two surviving officers refused to swear loyalty to the true king of united Libya—and were executed on the spot by a knife thrust to the heart, by their own men.

“Turns out most of these men were from the same town, west of Tripoli,” Sanusi said several minutes later after he rejoined Patrick and the other Night Stalkers. “They are based at Al-Jawf. They were sent out to investigate the reports of nuclear weapons and possible hostile military presence at Jaghbub. They believe that if they made contact with any enemy forces Jaghbub was going to be attacked by attack helicopters and bombers from Zillah or rockets from Al-Jawf.”

“Strange that the Libyans haven’t sent more troops, Your Highness,” Hal Briggs observed as the day wore on. “They lost three attack helicopters and a light armor scout platoon—I thought they’d be a bit more curious as to why.”

“They didn’t lose them,” Sanusi replied with a smile. “The platoon has checked in every hour on the half hour, as ordered. The platoon is continuing their search of Jaghbub. They have encountered heavier-than-expected radiation levels, however, and are advising against sending any more forces toward the town.” He was pleased at Briggs’s smile. “Clever, sir. But you realize that won’t last long.”

“We have extended the fiction another day or two, I think,” Sanusi acknowledged. “But soon the platoon will be relieved, and that’s when Zuwayy will strike with force.”