Kranke would not be able to order his planned deception. The Russians were simply too cautious. The Germans were running past the long finger of Hopen Island off Svalbard, or Spitzbergen as it was then called. A signal came ordering them to set all the Soviet prisoners ashore there, saying their names and identities were known and stressing that they had best be unharmed and well treated. The Kapitan complied, then went about his rescue operation under the watchful eye of the Russian ship, always lurking on the horizon, a distant, threatening shadow.
Three hours later the Germans had recovered the great bulk of the crew of Nurnberg, and set off scuttling charges to make certain the Russians would not get the ship. Then, his decks crowded with cold, bedraggled men, Kranke turn and sailed on, a chastened man.
Fafnir, he thought. Yes, and now where is Sigurd? It will take something better than this old pocket battleship to get after that monster. Hoffmann fared no better, and he had both Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with him. And Lindemann had Bismarck and Tirpitz and he still broke off his engagement as well.
“I’m afraid they have evened the score,” Heintz said dejectedly. “I wonder why they did not turn those rocket weapons on us? We’ve been in range for some hours, and they have every reason to avenge what we have done.”
“This Russian Captain is a cagey and cautious man,” said Kranke. “Yes, he’s trumped us with these new weapons they’ve developed-for the moment. Lindemann turned for home on Raeder’s orders, but I heard the damage to Bismarck was not significant. Against a lightly armored cruiser like Nurnberg those rockets were very effective. I doubt if Bismarck would be bothered by them, and that ship has 15-inch guns.”
“I hope you are correct, sir.”
Kranke gave him a long look. “Yes, I hope I am correct as well. Otherwise we may have awakened a sleeping bear here, and I was the man who gave the orders.” He turned, walking slowly off the bridge, his gait slow and deliberate, shoulders slumped.
“Well,” said Volsky. “I have accomplished my purpose here, and that was more than the recovery of Zolotov and the others.”
Volsky waited until the Germans had completed their rescue operation and sailed off. They followed slowly, shadowing the Germans for some time, and then turned towards Hopen Island to pick up the Russians that had been taken from Siberiakov and Port Dickson.
“I know it appeared to you that all we did here is break another ship and crew,” said Volsky. “But we have built something here as well.”
“What is that, Admiral?”
“A reputation, Fedorov. It will precede us wherever we go now, like a long shadow. The next time a German Captain sees my ship on his horizon, they will remember us. Let us hope they respect the way this was handled.”
“I would think they realized they were overmatched, sir,” said Fedorov.
“Good. Fear is a useful weapon. Now when they see any Russian ship at sea they may not be so eager to engage. Perhaps they will think that all our ships might have the weapons we used. It could save some lives.”
“Let us hope as much, Admiral, but in time they will see that is not the case. We will soon be deemed the exception, and not the rule, and that will deepen the mystery for them somewhat as well.”
“They still have a lot to learn.” Volsky nodded.
“Will we be returning to Severomorsk now?”
“No, I think we have other business at the moment, Mister Fedorov. “The ship has been well repaired, and we have replenished our stocks of food and fresh water. I know the men were eager for home, but in many ways, seeing it that way, barren, everything we knew gone… Well it may have done more harm than help.”
“I understand, sir. Then what course should I set now?”
“I think we will continue west into the Norwegian Sea again. I told Golovko I would handle this matter and then scout the German buildup near the North Cape area. The KA-40 should be useful in that regard. After that we have business further south. I had a private talk with Sergie Kirov before he left. He has authorized me to make formal offers of Alliance with Great Britain, and to reinforce the diplomatic talks now underway in back channels with an official visit.”
“I see,” said Fedorov, very impressed by this, and heartened by the news. “Then we are going to rendezvous with the British? Where sir? Scapa Flow?”
“We can arrange that soon enough,” said Volsky. “Plot a course for the Faeroe Island Group. I think that would make a convenient place to have another chat. I think you might also see what you learn with signals intercepts and use that gizmo you have.”
“Gizmo, sir?”
“That application that deciphers the German Enigma Naval code. I think Admiral Tovey might be pleased to learn that we have broken that code.”
‘That would be a major development, sir. It was instrumental to the British war effort.”
“Yes, well that will be a nice little cherry we can put on the ice cream, yes?” Volsky sighed. “It was my intention to find friends here, Fedorov. That we have done, but I’m afraid that every choice has its implications, and we have made enemies here as well.”
“The Germans may have been surprised and intimidated here, sir,” said Fedorov. “But they will not give up easily. They’ve lost a destroyer and a light cruiser, but all their other capital ships will return to service. I think things should quiet down here for a while. They will want to make those repairs and the winter ice will be setting in sooner than we realize.”
“Where is the hot table in the casino now, Fedorov?”
“Sir? If you mean the history, the British are worried about Operation Seelowe now, and the French Navy.”
“I will tell Admiral Tovey that they need have no worry over the prospect of a German invasion. That I could easily prevent. As for the Battle of Britain, I’m afraid we don’t have enough SAMs to stop the Luftwaffe just now.”
“Agreed, sir. Unless you are willing to reconsider another shift attempt, I think we must be very conservative in the application of our remaining missile inventory. We have 23 SSMs remaining.”
“You say the British are worried about the French?”
“Yes sir. The center of gravity now shifts to the Mediterranean for the balance of this year. France has just capitulated, and the French have some very powerful and useful ships. The British may have settled the matter. The attack on the French fleet at Mers-el-Kebir took place on July 3rd in our history, but this recent German operation may have changed that. I doubt if it occurred. Most of the ships that were to be assigned to Admiral Somerville to create Force H at Gibraltar were up here for this operation, including HMS Hood and the two carriers that were supporting Tovey’s operation against the Germans. But all things considered, the British will now be looking south. They could be planning an operation against the French fleet even as we speak.”
“Let us hope they sort it out. You have the bridge, Mister Fedorov. I’m going below to see Zolotov and the other Russians we took aboard. They may be with us for some time, and that may require a little management.”
“I understand, sir.”
Fedorov saluted as the Admiral left, thinking. It appears that everyone has finally chosen sides. Soon the real fighting will begin.
Part VIII
“Here is a list of fearful things:
The jaws of sharks, a vulture's wings,
The rabid bite of the dog's of war,
The voice of one who went before.
But most of all the mirror's gaze, which counts us out our numbered days.”
Chapter 22
July 15, 1940
Admiral Tovey sat at his desk, a dejected look on his face. Britain was also in a quandary over what to do about the powerful French fleet. While the French Army had been shattered by the German blitzkrieg, the Navy survived largely intact, with strong capital ships scattered throughout ports from Alexandria to Dakar. Soon the Italians and Germans will realize what is there, he thought. Then they’ll descend on those ports like vultures.