“The new arrangements for Kurgan must be factored in, and quickly done. The effect of change upon Diaspora must also be reflected and changes made. In both cases, you are authorised to immediately commence the movements necessary to get forces in place in line with all the plans submitted. This has absolute priority and all your efforts should be directed into preparation. You should prepare to execute both plans from the 3rd August. Please return to your respective headquarters Comrades”
There were no groans, no sounds of dismay, nothing.
Nevertheless, each senior officer present inwardly sank at the timescale forced upon them, none more so than Isakov, who had recently made a claim that he did not know if he could back up.
Vasilevsky who, as yet, had not worked out the effect of loss of transport aircraft on his plans, was silent but in despair.
Zhukov, as ever, took the bull by the horns.
“We will be ready, Comrade General Secretary.”
“Yes you will Comrade Marshall.”
The military men had all gone, the GKO had gone its separate ways and that left Bulganin and Beria accompanying Stalin at his request, taking a slow walk back to the General Secretary’s office.
Once inside, tea was brought in and the men discussed the course of the day. The joint opinion was that it had gone well.
However, there was one matter that irked Stalin.
“Comrade Chairman, your messages. It is rare that news has such an effect upon you and I assume you have something to share?”
Stalin had not missed Beria’s earlier discomfort after all.
“Yes Comrade General Secretary. More agent messages from Manhattan.”
Beria passed one over without another word and waited for the storm.
‘[priority code] DDX
[agent] Gamayun
[date code] 260645d
[personal code as an authenticator] EX644007XE
[distribution1] route x-eyes only
[distribution1] AalphaA [Comrade Chairman Beria].
[message] Wellington. Weapon test 1607, strength A+ Confirmation type1. Diagram of bomb fat man en route via Tiger soonest. Load-Eels.
[message ends]
Message authenticates. Codes for non-compromisation valid.
RECEIVED 11:14 2/7/45-B.V.LEMSKY’
The storm did not arrive.
“Your interpretation of this Comrade Beria?” No storm but the cut in Stalin’s tone was noticeable.
“Confirmation of the date of test, certainly Comrade. We now have two names for a bomb, which implies two bombs. This is not news as we know the Americans are working on both uranium and plutonium projects.” That it actually was news, and not good news, was truer.
“On the positive side we now know Gamayun is still active and he has received our order as he acknowledges with ‘Wellington’. Our chances for interference with their project have increased.”
“Then why did you react so Comrade?”
“Because I learned this morning that we may have some difficulties with secure communications, particularly with our Washington Embassy, through which this message was unfortunately routed.”
Stalin looked pointedly at Beria, in a way that conveyed that this was not news to his ears.
‘This possibility was only uncovered last night and was acted on immediately. It would probably have been too late for this message.”
Stalin’s gaze did not falter, drawing Beria into further commitment.
“I have my best staff interpreting our intelligence on this but, as a precaution, all NKVD codes have been changed and new routings established.”
In an effort to end with something upbeat Beria hastily threw in an assurance.
“Our Manhattan agents all have lines of reporting which would remain uncompromised in any case, some because their own needs have dictated more complex methods of exchange.”
He indicated the message still held in the General Secretary’s hand.
“That message should not have gone through the embassy and we have identified the error and corrected it.”
Everyone present understood that referred to an individual as well as what corrected meant in this instance.
As was the case many a time, Stalin’s words were more order than question.
“You will confirm for me that there is no suggestion of Army codes being involved and absolutely no possibility of Kingdom 39 being compromised.”
Beria answered with a conviction he genuinely felt.
“Absolutely not Comrade General Secretary. There has been no compromise of NKGB, GRU or Army codes. Of that we are sure.”
“The party will hold you to that Comrade Marshall.”
Stalin sat back in his chair.
“And the other?”
Beria extended a hand containing the other agents report.
Stalin read it slowly and was visibly agitated by its contents. Bulganin’s eyes silently questioned the NKVD chief who was furiously polishing his glasses.
Stalin passed the paper to Bulganin and lit a cigarette.
Bulganin digested the words.
‘[priority code] ZZZ
[agent] Kalibr
[date code] 250645b
[personal code as an authenticator] OV322628BK
[distribution1] route x-eyes only
[distribution1] AalphaA [Comrade Chairman Beria].
[message] Reassigned Alamagordo NM. At O.R. material produced sufficient for 4 weapons max. Strength A. type-2. Wellington not possible. End-low.
[message ends]
Message authenticates. Codes for non-compromisation valid.
RECEIVED 11:26 2/7/45-B.V.LEMSKY’
“Four? Enough for four, Comrade?”
Beria replaced his glasses.
“Admittedly we expected material enough for three maximum. One for test purposes as we have confirmed. Two for offensive purposes against our slant-eyed comrades, also confirmed by the GRU’s asset in Washington. We can already sabotage the facility as we know without Kalibr and so this will not alter anything Comrade General Secretary.”
Stalin looked unconvinced, so he pressed on.
“Our intelligence is good. I concede we only recently discovered how advanced the project was and that they approached testing but we now know for certain what assets they have and we have known for a long time what they intend. We have agents in place awaiting orders to damage the project. Our security is intact despite the Washington routing problem. That the Capitalists may have additional material for another bomb does not change anything. I see no cause for concern here Comrades”
Beria finished with a confident flourish of the hand.
Stalin took the message from Bulganin and read it once more.
With an expansive gesture, he fired the message across the table at Beria and it slid almost menacingly onto his lap with all the weight of a death warrant.
“The party will also hold you to that, Comrade Marshall.”
Beria stood as if to leave.
“One last thing Comrade.”
Beria waited.
“Do not send the preparatory code to our agents.”
The NKVD Chairman, missing the point, drew breath to remonstrate.
Stalin held up his hand and with lightness inappropriate for the moment added, “Initiate Napoleon immediately.”
Chapter 9 – THE RELOCATION
Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.
Colonel Frisson had been remarkably efficient and organised the segregation of the seven selected German officers. It would have been preferable had he exercised some thought, as his efficiency obviously telegraphed the impending departure of Knocke and the others to every German in the camp. Initially rumours of trial and execution abounded but a message was smuggled out through an easily bribed French-Alsatian soldier.