"What's our plan for extraction?"
"We can't get you out by air from the objective. Vysotsky will have a fast boat on the river. He wants to get Korov back and that's the best guarantee for your safety I can think of. If you have to run, get south to Kazakhstan."
"That's a long way."
"Yes."
"No backup from here."
"No."
"Deniable?" That meant if something happened the US would have no official knowledge of them and would do nothing to aid them.
"Yes."
Ronnie and Lamont didn't look happy. Nick just shook his head.
"Korov will have Russian uniforms and weapons for you."
"None of us speak enough Russian to understand what's going on."
"I have a solution for that. Selena will be here with me. You'll wear a two-way satellite uplink. We'll be able to hear everything and you can talk to us. She and I will listen in real time and keep you aware of what's said. Korov knows English. We have to trust Vysotsky."
"That's a lot of trust."
"I haven't gotten to the hard part yet."
Lamont sighed.
Harker said, "The purpose of this mission is to destroy the installation. Once Vysotsky is in control he may want to change his mind. You have to make sure that doesn't happen."
"That would mean going up against Korov and his Spetsnaz buddies," Nick said. He thought about the night they'd all gotten drunk together in Washington. Nick liked Korov, they all did. "You're putting us in a bad situation."
"We cannot permit Russia to have this weapon." Harker's voice was hard. She began beating a tattoo on her desk with her pen. "Not under any circumstances. If you have to go up against Korov, you do it. Are we clear?"
"Yeah," Nick said. "We're clear.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
The flight to Ankara was uneventful. The terminal at Esenboğa International Airport was a long, sleek stretch of white laid out on the Turkish plains. Sweeping curves rose to a roof high above stone floors polished to a glass-like shine. It reminded Nick of DIA in Denver. There were even mountains outside in the distance. But it was a long way from Colorado.
Korov met them as they came off the plane. They shook hands all around.
"There is no need to clear customs," he said. "We will not leave the airport except on our plane."
They followed Korov to the far end of the terminal. Guards took one look at Korov's papers and passed them outside to a restricted area. A car waited to take them to the General Aviation building.
Their plane was a Dassault Falcon 20, a French jet with a range of about 2000 miles. The Dassault was much favored by the power elite of Europe. Like the American Gulfstream, it was an efficient, luxury business plane available with many options. Twenty minutes after they boarded, they were in the air.
They changed into Russian uniforms.
"It is about four hours to Chelyabinsk, " Korov said.
Ronnie had a small leather pouch in his hand.
"What is that you are holding?" Korov asked.
"This? This is a jish. I always have it with me."
The jish was Ronnie's personal medicine bundle. He only took it out when he was nervous about a mission. Ronnie had told Nick that the jish was like a living person. It had to be cared for, interacted with, respected. Otherwise it became no more than superstition, a good luck charm.
"What is in the bag?".
"Oh, a few things. Corn pollen. A pinch of earth from each of the four sacred mountains. A few other things."
Ronnie had never told Nick or anyone else exactly what was inside. It was bad medicine to talk much about it. He slipped the jish back in his pocket.
Nick changed the subject. "How do we get from Chelyabinsk to the objective?"
"We fly and we jump," Korov said. "You are all qualified. It will be a low altitude night jump. The anti-aircraft batteries will be informed of a training exercise. We will have the proper codes. They will not see us leave the plane."
They settled in for the flight. Nick fell into a half sleep, his mind filled with vague images. He woke to the monotone drone of the engines and looked at his watch. He'd been asleep for an hour and a half. He rubbed his eyes. Korov came over and sat down next to him.
"You were uneasy in your sleep," he said. "You are all right?"
"Yeah, fine. What happens when we get to Chelyabinsk?"
"My team will meet us. They will have weapons for you."
"How do they feel about working with Americans?"
"They will follow orders." He paused. "Nick, I am in command here. We are clear on this?"
"We are. It's your operation."
"Good." Korov checked his watch. "We are less than two hours from Chelyabinsk. We will be in the air soon after that. Let's go over the plan now."
For the next hour they reviewed the satellite photos. They discussed the defenses and possible complications. Both men knew there were things about this mission that could get them killed. Both had years of experience. Except for the bizarre nature of the target and their unlikely alliance, it was just another assignment. The uncertainties went with the job. Neither of them expected everything to go smoothly. The best they could do was anticipate problems and prepare mentally for every possibility they could think of. Training was a given. Preparation was what kept you alive.
Professionals, getting ready for another day at the office in Special Ops.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
Selena came into Harker's office, using a cane. Stephanie jumped up and hugged her. Selena winced.
"I'm so glad to see you. We were so worried about you."
"I'm fine. Six months and I'll be up to speed."
Selena was pale. She sank into a chair and let out deep breath.
"Maybe longer," she said.
"There's no rush." Elizabeth handed her a headset and a control. "The team is about to land in Chelyabinsk. You'll be able to hear everything. I want you to monitor the Russians. Just in case."
"I understand. Nick can hear us?"
"Yes. The others can't. Just press that button to transmit. When you press it twice, it will alert him so he won't show surprise. Then you can talk."
Selena donned the headset, adjusted the volume. She could hear the engines and the sounds of men talking in Russian in the cabin. The engine noise made it difficult.
"Do the Russians know we can listen?"
"No."
"I'm going to test it out." She pressed the button twice. "Nick, this is a test. If you can hear me okay, just cough. Like you're clearing your throat."
She heard him cough, once.
"Okay, you're five by five." She paused. "For the record I thought about it, what you said. We're good."
Cough, cough.
"We'll talk when you get back."
Cough.
It felt like a weight off her chest. She'd thought about it every day. Every long night. The job. Nick. She hadn't thought about much else. Whatever happened between them in the future, she didn't want him out where he could get killed thinking she wasn't behind him.
"What was that," Elizabeth said.
"Like I said, a test."
Elizabeth and Stephanie looked at each other.
"Good," Elizabeth said.
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
The Russians were all Special Forces, hard men. Captain Ilya Zhukov was second in command after Korov. Senior Sergeant Bukharin was recognizable in any army as a career non com. Sergeant Ivanesky was the third man. Korov made the introductions. Ivanesky gave Nick a hard look and walked away with a few words to Korov. Selena's voice sounded in Nick's ear.