“The car is there nearly every day, sir, and the same man comes out to talk to them. Today it was early before his shift.”
“You know it’s the same guy?” Walter asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“The cameras are that good?”
“Yes, sir and we think we know who it is.”
“You’re kidding?” Deke said.
“No, sir. We have him identified as Igor Radinsky,” Jerry said and handed a photo to Walter.
“When did you find this out?” Deke asked.
“Literally, ten minutes ago. I was double checking with photo reconnaissance and I’m sure it’s Radinsky.”
“Who is he?” Walter asked.
“A lieutenant, signal corps officer and he worked in their nuclear weapons development program for three years. He’s twenty-seven and was transferred to Kapustin Yar six months ago,” Jerry said.
“Who is he?” Deke asked, sensing there was more to this Radinsky guy.
“We have information from Interpol, mostly anecdotal but it suggests that Radinksy is connected to Kulagin.” General Zumwalt sighed and shook his head.
“This just keeps getting better and better,” Walter said sarcastically. “Get Alton up here.”
“Yes, sir,” Lieutenant Alton said as she stood at attention in front of the general’s station.
“At ease, Lieutenant. What do you have on their subs?”
“They’ve moved closer to the international line on both of our coasts, sir.”
“What else?” Walter asked as he detected something in Alton’s voice that suggested she had more.
“They’ve deployed their super subs, sir.”
“Super subs?” Walter asked.
“The newest addition to their sub surface fleet, sir. They’re sonar invisible.”
“Are we sure of that?” Deke asked.
“It’s scuttlebutt mixed with some info we have from satellites and U-2 photos, sir.”
“How reliable is it?”
“We track them then they vanish but reappear later, miles away.”
“Are they actually invisible or do they just project a false image?” Walter asked.
“We’re not sure, sir.”
“Great, so now we’re chasing the invisible man.”
“I’m afraid so, sir,” Lieutenant Alton replied.
“Thank you, Lieutenant, keep me informed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Deke.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get me General Ledger at Alaskan Air Command.”
“Yes, sir.” It was a ticklish situation. The Russians were clearly on the move for some reason and Walter didn’t want to get caught napping. “Sir, General Ledger.”
“Tommy, we’re tracking Russian sub movements and other things and I’m not liking what I see.”
“What’s happening?”
“We’re not sure but I don’t want to be standing around twiddling my thumbs if something happens. Just be on alert and ready.”
“Consider it done, Walt.”
“I’ll keep you informed.”
“Sir, should you call the President?” Deke asked.
“My next move exactly.” General Zumwalt called President Lexington and briefed her on the situation with Russian military moves and the odd happenings at Kapustin Yar. Ellen listened and thanked the general for the update. It was a short conversation and to the point. When she hung up the phone, she called in Andrew and Henry York and they discussed what Zumwalt had told her.
“Any reaction, gentlemen?”
“Typical Russian bluster,” Andrew said.
“Henry?” Ellen asked as she looked at her national security advisor.
“Andrew is right but in light of the summit they could be up to something.”
“Like what for instance?”
“A bold move.”
“Where?”
“Estonia” Henry suggested.
“They’d invade Estonia? You’re kidding I hope.”
“What would you do?” Henry asked. Ellen thought for a moment and the truth was she didn’t know what she’d do.
“Good question. They’d gamble that I wouldn’t go to war over a tiny country that they used to control along with all of Eastern Europe.”
“Exactly and to the Stalinist movement the old Soviet Union borders are the de facto status quo,” Henry posed.
“Then they’d have their Baltic Sea base.”
“They would indeed and you’d have to decide if you wanted to go to war over it,” Henry said. Ellen nodded understanding and agreement with what he said.
“And you and the Russians doubt if I’d do that.”
“Would you?” Henry asked. Andrew was the diplomat but Henry was blunt and to the point. He didn’t pull any punches.
“I don’t know, you and Andrew would have to advise me.”
“But the decision is yours and yours alone, Madam President,” Henry informed her.
“I know that and thank you for reminding me.” Henry nodded.
“Ma’am, what did General Zumwalt have to say?” Andrew asked.
“That Russian subs are more active than usual, their surface fleet is on the move in the Far East and the Mediterranean and there are suspicious events taking place outside of Kapustin Yar. You know just the regular crisis stuff.” Ellen shook her head and sighed.
“Did General Zumwalt alert the Alaskan Command?” Andrew asked.
“Oh, yes. All leaves are cancelled and planes are in the air. It’s routine but the Russians will view it as us stepping things up.”
“As they should,” Henry added.
“Yes, as they should and we both stumble headlong into crisis,” Ellen said as she got up and paced.
“Will you bring up these things to Deniken today?” Henry asked.
“He knows it all and he knows I know as well.”
“How are you going to approach him today?” Andrew asked.
“I’ll let him take the lead. We were ready to sign yesterday. He’s the one who’s stalling. We all know why, part of the Russian mantra as you two both know. The ball is in his court and after he makes his absurd offer, I’ll turn him down and we’ll go from there.”
“You think we have the advantage?” Andrew asked.
“Well, don’t you?”
“I think so, after all it was Deniken’s idea for the treaty. He needs this to shore things up at home. You know big headlines… Deniken keeps The Ukraine out of NATO,” Andrew explained.
“And we’ll give him that for The Crimea but nothing less for us and nothing more for him.”
“No base in the Baltic?” Henry asked.
“No.”
“What about a naval base on the west side of The Crimea. They have one there now.”
“And, I’d be open to that idea.”
“What will The Ukraine say about a Russian presence there?” Henry asked.
“It’s out of their hands. The two super powers are running this show,” Ellen said. Henry nodded agreement.
“Madam President, your car is here,” Bonnie said as she peeked her head into the room.
“I’m coming.”
“Good luck, Ma’am,” Andrew said with two thumbs up.
“I’ll need it.” It was decided that Andrew and Henry should stay at the hotel. Ellen didn’t want to give the impression that she was being handled. Deniken was already at the meeting hall in a room with his advisors. The two presidents would meet at two pm. On this day, meetings were planned for the afternoon then in the evening a bus trip across the Crimean Bridge was scheduled. They would go into Russia and tour the Port of Kavkaz. It was a big PR moment for Deniken and Russian television would play it up big as the Russian President taking the U.S. President in tow like a child. Deniken didn’t want that but it was out of his hands. President Lexington knew all of this but she would play the game. In time Deniken would come to the U.S. and she could return the favor.
“Let’s hope for the best,” Ellen said to Bonnie as the car pulled away from the hotel.