by Andrew B. Louis (Author)
Indications of a new, potentially quite significant, hydrocarbon discovery in the Philippines brings a wealthy Filipino businessman to seek the help of a Manilla-based Mossad agent with whom he has struck a friendship, without knowing of his role. Though Mossad initially expresses only a limited interest in providing the help the businessman seeks, it eventually agrees to assist with the creation of self-defense mechanisms for the oil production platform. Subsequent developments broaden the assistance provided, as a few incidents create a potentially more critical dimension to the current problem. Terrorist acts involving the use of biological agents cultivated to be particularly harmful force the hand of Mossad, who feel they must help uncover the source of a mysterious disease initially affecting fishermen in the Spratly islands. This requires Mossad to invite The Shadow Experts to join the undercover operations. As improbable as it might seem, in part because of the physical distance between the Philippines and Israel and in part in view of the lack of a direct geopolitical interest in the South China Sea on the part of the Hebrew state, an alliance forms which demonstrates how discreet, and laser-focused help can achieve what might otherwise appear impossible.