Fifteen seconds passed and Lipovsky still did not reply. The Admiral’s face grew flush and beads of sweat formed on his brow.
“I’m growing impatient,” Kalinin said.
Lipovsky sputtered, “I cannot say for sure.”
Kalinin slammed his fist on his desk. “Answer the question or I will relieve you of command!”
“I gave the orders.”
Kalinin turned to Fleet Admiral Ivanov. The older man sat in his chair calmly, with no hint of distress. Ivanov had cleared Lipovsky. But not Chernov. Kalinin watched Chernov from the corner of his eye as he directed his next question at Ivanov.
“Why did you give those orders?”
“The potential gain was worth the risk.”
“What risk?” Kalinin asked. “The loss of Vepr and two Spetsnaz platoons?” Kalinin’s anger built as he continued. “A direct attack on the United States?” The Russian president’s anger crested as he leaned forward, adding, “The end of your career and your incarceration!”
“Yes.”
Kalinin glared at his Fleet Admiral, who remained unfazed, wondering why Ivanov was so calm. Was he following orders, preparing to absolve himself with his next statement? Kalinin glanced at Chernov. The Defense Minister seemed nervous, changing his position in his chair, his eyes shifting between Ivanov and Kalinin.
Kalinin followed up, “Were you following orders, or did you come up with this idea by yourself?”
“It was my idea,” the Admiral replied. “No one else was involved.”
Kalinin noted Chernov’s reaction. His Defense Minister seemed relieved, but that could be because Ivanov was covering for him or because he had been worried Ivanov would falsely accuse him. Kalinin could not be sure, but with Ivanov accepting full responsibility, there was little more to probe.
“Fleet Admiral Ivanov,” Kalinin replied. “You are relieved of your command and reduced in rank to Admiral pending disciplinary action.”
There was no visible reaction from the former Fleet Admiral. He sat there, staring at Kalinin as he awaited further direction.
“You are dismissed,” Kalinin added.
Ivanov pushed himself to his feet, then left without a word, glancing briefly at Chernov as he passed by.
Kalinin turned to Lipovsky. “You are now the acting Fleet Admiral. Attend to this mess and keep the defense minister informed of all issues. You are dismissed.”
The relief in Lipovsky’s face was apparent as he rose and left the president’s office, closing the door behind him. Kalinin shifted his gaze to Chernov.
“I will call the American president and let him know what I’ve learned, then come to an agreement as to what will be made public. Our task is more difficult, as we have to explain the loss of two attack submarines. Do you have a recommendation?”
It appeared Chernov had been contemplating the matter, because he replied immediately. “I suggest,” he began, “that we be truthful about the collision between Dolgoruky and the American submarine. These things happen, and it would be difficult to conceal the damage to the American submarine when it returns for repairs. Regarding Vepr and Severodvinsk, they collided while searching for Dolgoruky, and the reason for the Spetsnaz deaths can be easily concealed.
“That leaves the American casualties to explain, and I am sure an understanding can be reached. As a concession to America, we will credit them with the rescue of Dolgoruky’s crew, and praise their assistance as we rescue survivors aboard Vepr and Severodvinsk.”
Chernov added, “We will highlight that during this difficult time, our two countries have put aside our political differences and are working closely together, strengthening the bond of our unique relationship.” Chernov smiled.
Kalinin absorbed Chernov’s words as the defense minister added, “We will brief all parties involved on our side, so that only the official story is released. The American president will have to do the same.”
After a moment of reflection, Kalinin nodded his approval and picked up the phone.
106
Christine’s eyes opened, then fluttered shut in the bright light. She opened her eyes again, this time just a tad, letting them adjust to the light as she tried to figure out where she was. She was lying on a bed somewhere with a heated blanket wrapped tightly around her. As her surroundings came into focus, she noticed an insulated IV Warmer hanging from the bulkhead beside her, with the clear plastic tubing running out the bottom and tucked inside the blanket on her left side. She could feel warmth radiating up her left arm.
“Welcome back to the living, Ms. O’Connor.”
Christine turned in the direction of the man’s voice, spotting Commander Joe Aleo standing beside her. She realized she was aboard Michigan, in Medical — Doc’s office, lying on the single bed against the bulkhead. It was in this same office that he had stitched her arm up after being shot on the way out of Beijing. Aleo pulled a pocket flashlight from his coveralls and examined her pupils.
“Can you talk?”
“Yes,” Christine replied.
“What’s your name?”
“Christine.”
Doc asked several more questions, and she saw the relief on his face when she answered them correctly.
“How do you feel?”
“Tired,” she replied, “but okay otherwise.”
“You gave us quite a scare,” Aleo said. “You were rescued from Dolgoruky just in time. You were about to turn into an ice sculpture.”
Christine asked what happened, and Aleo explained how they had used the Russian submersible to rescue her. It had then surfaced in a nearby lead along with USS Michigan, where she was transferred aboard the guided missile submarine so she could be placed in one of the Dry Deck Shelter hyperbaric chambers to decompress, and had been released a few hours ago.
“How’s your hearing?” he asked.
“A little muffled,” Christine replied.
“Your eardrums are ruptured,” he explained. “It must have happened when Dolgoruky was torpedoed, from the pressure transient when the submarine flooded. Most eardrum ruptures heal with no loss of hearing, but my bigger concern is hypothermia. You’re out of the danger zone now, but there might be some permanent damage. I won’t know for another day or two. We’ll see how things go and I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“You should thank Harrison,” Aleo replied. “He was the one who talked the Russians into checking Dolgoruky before rescuing their two submarine crews. If you had been down there much longer, you wouldn’t have made it.”
Before Christine could respond, Aleo said, “Wait right here.” He smiled, realizing she wasn’t going anywhere. She was wrapped tightly in the heated blanket. “I’ll let everyone know you’ve regained consciousness.”
Aleo stepped from his office, and as Christine waited for his return, she wished he had turned off the lights. She was already feeling drowsy, and the bright lights were annoying. She was about to close her eyes when the door opened and Jake Harrison entered, stopping beside her.