Steve Abbott - Devil's Gambit

The “Glavnoe Razvedyvatelnoe Upravlanie,” or GRU, the military intelligence arm of the Soviet Army, gathers intelligence through military attaches, and keeping a close eye on the various arms of the Russian war machine.

The thawing of the Cold War, the exchanges of nuclear information and SDI technology between the new leadership in Russia and the United States, had formed and trained four new international Nuclear Emergency Situation teams. Staffed by a mix of highly trained individuals, each trained in every nuclear delivery system known, and a few just speculated at. Of course, all of the Russian team members were officers in the GRU, even if their official paperwork said they were outstanding officers of the Raketnye Voyska Strategicheskogo Naznacheniya. The Strategic Missile Troops of the Armed Forces .

General Fillip Ilyich Molotov, the Director of the GRU, listened to the President explain the unfolding situation in Batumi. Information he already had, but no need to inform his President of that. Unfortunately, the only team available was in the United States finalizing their training. They would have to be recalled. It was an unwanted early start to the team’s new careers.

Molotov and the President sat in a small room that adjoined the President’s main office. Swept daily for bugs and well-recessed in the walls of the building, it was supposed to be impervious to all forms of electronic eavesdropping. Molotov put little faith in such claims, but it made the President happy and so there they were, in what was little more than an oak-lined closet.

Molotov was one of the surviving old guard, everything a modern General should be. Experienced in battle and well-versed in the tactics of his enemies, whomever and wherever they may be. His style of leadership and temper matched his name.

The President wrapped up his brief with a question: “Who stands to gain the most through acquisition of these devices?”

Molotov’s answer was candid. “Take your pick. Any country who wishes to join the nuclear club without the effort. Every terrorist group with money and a cause. Even the North Koreans. They have a fully functional, if not plagued, program.”

The President did not take that well. “General, how will we retrieve these weapons?”

Molotov made a bridge out of his fingers, “It will be very hard. These particular units are extremely portable, but I think we can rule out terrorist groups.”

The President looked surprised, “And why is that?”

“The whole payload carriage assembly was removed, including the guidance system. These units are a large enough size that they would make a very conspicuous bomb. In fact, you would need a truck to move even just one around. Also, the warheads are controlled by a ribbon-type computer cable. A terrorist group would need access to our targeting algorithm and extensive working knowledge of the warhead itself. And while it is possible, I would think it highly improbable.” Molotov shook his head. “No, these were stolen to be sold to a country with a delivery vehicle of their own.”

“So that leaves us …?”

“China, Pakistan, the North Koreans or perhaps some private buyer with dubious plans of his own. The Chinese build most of the world’s electronics. They have a functioning nuclear program with intercontinental capability. Any advances in their guidance or warhead technology would be through adapting consumer technology gleaned from commercial contracts. Information can be a very lucrative business. They concentrate on components, not payload packages. Not all people have discretion in these areas.” Molotov paused. “Pakistan is a good probability. A nuclear weapon not linked to them, in their hands, would be a useful tool to create an accident or even a terrorist act on Indian soil. Though, our intelligence assets in the region have not indicated any type of move in their military or government to secure weapons of this nature.”

“And you believe this because?” The President leaned forward.

“Because, there is no information that can’t be bought in their government. Corruption would seem to be a way of life there. It actually makes the game less of a challenge, but in this case, I don’t care as long as the results are good. I also think a private buyer is merely wild speculation on my part.” Molotov spread his hands. “And so we are left with…”

“The North Koreans.” the President said.

“They have been put into a very difficult position by our demands of hard cash for oil. Our economic intelligence unit shows the Chinese are supplying them with but a fraction of the oil they need for that monstrosity of a military they insist on maintaining. Also, the new leader, Kim Jong Un, pardon me, their Supreme Leader, follows in his father’s footsteps and insists on a sixty day military reserve of fuel.” Molotov paused to pour himself a cup of tea. He took a sip and looked over at his president. “Our people know full well what kind of a strain that puts on your way of life. Power outages are common, when there is any power at all. Food and fuel cannot get to the outlying districts, so another winter famine can be expected. There is also a marked reduction in the output of the state factories.”

The President was not convinced. “But they have a program in effect and the means to deliver a device at least to medium range. Even this Supreme Leader would not be mad enough to detonate such a device on South Korean soil and risk the repercussion of world opinion, not to mention the wrath of the United States.”

“Considering what the Western press has said about Kim Jong Un, he couldn’t care less about world opinion. Do not make the mistake of trying to assign our values to an eastern culture. But you are right. The nuclear option makes little sense in the conquest of the South. But when you look at their culture, anything is possible. China has signed a friendship pact with the South, so the pressure on the North is greater than ever before. Also, one of our assets in the US State department secured the results of a series of computer simulations the Americans ran of a second Korean War.”

“And what were the results?”

“Casualty rates that even we would balk at.”

The President leaned back in his chair. “I see.”

“What do you want me and my men to do?”

“We will assume, for the time being, that they could be the ones behind this loss. Until we find out who is behind this, leave no stone unturned with the other countries discussed. Determine, through your assets, how bad the situation is for the North Koreans and their new leadership. You have convinced me that it bears looking into. We must also follow up any leads uncovered by Sturmovic in Batumi. Deploy the available NEST Team.”

Molotov nodded, “I will recall the Los Alamos team from the United States. The American woman commanding the Los Alamos team is regarded highly. As for Commander Sturmovic, he is a good man. It would be rash to destroy his career over this. If there was a conspiracy, it should have fallen on the GRU’s shoulders to prevent it.”

This admission surprised the President. In the old days, friendship was as fleeting as circumstance.

Molotov continued, “There is one other thing, Mr. President.”

“And that is?”

“It is regarding the warhead type. The guidance packet to be specific.”

“General Molotov, if you could be more specific, please.”

“The guidance packet was the newest one.”

“The one with…?”

“Yes, the one with the Hermes targeting system.”

“General! Find those warheads.”

“Yes, Mr. President. I’m doing my best.”