Unhappy was an understatement, and huge amounts of the Allied resources were suddenly directed to finding the submarines in question, and discovering the purpose of their existence, as well as locating the scientists and engineers that could possess secrets too dreadful to contemplate.
Reconnaissance flights trebled throughout the whole Pacific, and naval ships that had relaxed into a pseudo peacetime routine suddenly found themselves back to old ways, searching the silent waters for signs of a lurking enemy.
Key areas like Ulithi, Tokyo Bay, Pearl Harbor, San Francisco, and the Panama Canal were suddenly under full war footing, and thousands of men who had hoped to return to their homes found themselves once more guarding against a very real threat.
All of which was wasted effort.
1902 hrs, Monday, 2nd December 1946, Vinogradar Young Communists Sailing Club, Black Sea, USSR.
“I can’t sanction that, Comrade Commander. We simply cannot permit the submarines to venture into the open sea ahead of time. There’s too much risk involved.”
Commander Nobukiyo’s language skills had developed immensely, so no translation was needed.
“I regret, Admiral, I must ask for higher authority to sanction this mission. There is little point in keeping the Sen-Tokus secret from the enemy if my men have forgotten what it is like to be at sea when the time comes.”
Nobukiyo turned towards the massive submarines and gestured at each in turn.
“These wonderful machines of war are as nothing without the men that drive them, and those men have grown stale as sailors whilst they have developed their skills as engineers and missile handlers, Admiral Oktyabrskiy. I simply must insist that we be given some sea time.”
“I can only agree, Comrade Admiral. All our men have been bottled up without anything but static diving exercises for months. We must get our subs wet out there, or there will be errors made. If nothing else, we need to practice with the ‘Sheptat’ in open water.”
Kalinin referred to the ‘Whisper’ underwater acoustic communications system recently installed on their submarines, drawings of which had been copied from the US Navy blueprints of ‘Gertrude’ by agents of GRU [East].
The Admiral was not a submariner by trade, but he was a navy man through and through, and understood precisely why the Japanese officer was so insistent.
He also had strict orders from people who were extremely unlikely to bend, regardless of how good an argument might be. They had their orders from other people, who were not known for their tolerance.
None the less, he had to try.
“I’ll pass on your request immediately, together with my endorsement. If it’s possible to get you some sea time, I’ll get it.”
Oktyabrskiy saluted and left the two submariners to complete the day’s programme.
Commander Nobukiyo, much to his embarrassment, arrived last.
“Thank you for coming at such short notice, Comrades.”
It was rapidly approaching midnight and both Kalinin and Nobukiyo had been in their quarters inside the bunker, although Kalinin had not yet gone to bed, hence his swifter arrival.
“Comrades, I can report that your request has been granted. You’re to be permitted to conduct sea exercises that can commence no sooner than one hour after sunset, and conclude no later than one and a half hours before dawn. We’re to coordinate with all commands to ensure there are no errors and no unwanted visits from Allied snoopers. I’ll take care of all that, as well as arranging for distractions for those with terminal curiosity.”
Kalinin punched his fist into his other hand in celebration, whilst Nobukiyo bowed and bowed.
“Thank you, Comrade Admiral, thank you, thank you.”
Oktyabrskiy interrupted the Japanese’s display.
“I have permission for four excursions over the next month, no more. Present me with an operational plan and any other requirements for a date no sooner than 10th December by 1600 tomorrow. I confess, I’m no less surprised than both of you are. Now, get some sleep. There’ll be no relaxation in training, despite the extra work you two now have. Good night, Comrades.”
0839 hrs, Wednesday, 4th December 1946, NATO Forces in Europe Headquarters, Frankfurt, Germany.
“Morning, Sir.”
“Morning, Walter.”
Ready for his meeting with the Mexican air force officers at 0900, Eisenhower had already had breakfast and was well into his fifth cigarette of the day.
“Sir, we’ve had this come in from the Pacific, and it coincides with communications from both Secretary Stimson and General Marshall.”
Eisenhower received the report in silence.
After a moment, he looked up at Bedell-Smith.
“You read this, Walter?”
“Skimmed it as I walked it round to you, Sir.”
Eisenhower resumed his reading and stayed silent until he had finished.
“Wow. That’s worrying. Those two related?”
He indicated the messages from Stimson and Marshall.
“Yes indeedy, Sir. Both giving you some specific instructions and expectations.”
He handed them over and Eisenhower was taken aback by the size of both messages.
“Précis them for me.”
He skim read as Bedell-Smith did just that.
“Basically, you’ve got orders. Every effort to find these submarines and the people they carry. Some specific measures are detailed… navy and air force tasks in the main. Quite clearly the folks back home are worried, Ike.”
Eisenhower looked at the clock and found he still had enough time.
“OK. Specifics of what they expect?”
“Well, Sir. Eastern and Western seaboards are on full alert now. Canal’s locked down. We’ve got to do the same across the board. And then we search everywhere… pretty much the whole of our side of the Atlantic, the Med, anywhere with water.”
“Have they got intel that says it’s our threat?”
“No, Sir, but both orders are quite specific. Consider everywhere at risk.”
“At risk from what?”
“That’s the part I’m not getting, Ike. Just subs and people are mentioned. General Marshall will be visiting here. He’s coming via London, so he’s obviously briefing Churchill in person. Must be pretty sensitive stuff. Anyway, I’m going to speak with a couple of guys in Washington, see if I can get the information firmed up some.”
“OK, Walter.”
Eisenhower rose and consumed the last of his coffee.
“Get the staff on this straightaway. Pull in all the heads of service for a meeting at… 1300hrs. Get that lot to George Tedder… have him briefed in immediately. Heads up to all commands, be vague for the moment. Have a plan ready for implementation that can be discussed at that meeting.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Right, I’m off to chat with our Allies. Get that plan sorted and find out what the heck this is all about please.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Oh and Walter…anything happening in Berlin?”
Eisenhower referred to the Soviet enclave that remained after the Red Army’s withdrawal, one that was now surrounded by the Allies and supplied solely by an air corridor that was designated for Soviet use.
“It’s settled down now, Sir. They’ve fortified their ground but nothing that looks aggressive.”
“Thank you, Walter… and keep me informed.”
By some strange twist of fate, as the 1300 meeting was being briefed about the new orders and being shocked by the use of words like biological and atomic, scientists at the underground facility in Camp 1001 turned on the last of the fifty-four high capacity Japanese centrifuges, bringing the process of enriching uranium to its peak.