Mark Spaid - Falcon Down

“Are we still a go for tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Should I contact Lanewsky and Manatov?”

“No, I’ll do that. Just stay in contact with the hotel and let me know when they’ll meet again. Panesky left and Andrei took out a cell he used for private calls. It couldn’t be traced and he definitely didn’t want anyone to know who he was talking to at any time, let alone now.

“Lanewsky, how are things?”

“We’re ready, Galkin is set and Bulganesky has things right where we want them. He has the secret service and the Russian guards eating out of his hand.”

“Good, but watch out for Wilson, the American, he’s no fool and he won’t be taken in by any gratuities.”

“Yes, Comrade.”

“We move after tomorrow’s meeting during the tour as planned.” Kulagin put his cell away.

Lieutenant Radinsky showed up early for work at Kapustin Yar and that’d been part of his plan for months. He needed to win the favor of Colonel Azarov. He had everything in place and Kulagin’s entire scheme depended on Radinsky pulling off the impossible. If he failed then Kulagin, Radinsky, Galkin and all of the confederates would be shot for treason.

“Good morning, sir,” Radinsky said as Azarov made it to the command console.

“Hello, Lieutenant, everything running smoothly I take it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Captain Retzlarian, where are we on the U.S. missile tests?”

“The usual amount the last wo days. They had spiked a week ago but it doesn’t seem to be connected to the summit,” Retzlarian said.

“Don’t kid yourself, Captain, everything is connected to this summit,” Azarov remarked and Retzlarian nodded.

“Sirs, I need to recalibrate this afternoon,” Igor said.

“Today?” Azarov asked.

“Yes, it’s been scheduled for weeks.”

“I hate to be out of the control room at such a crucial time,” Colonel Azarov said.

“It’s necessary, sir,” Igor said nervously.

“Could we cancel and do it another day?”

“It really needs to be done on schedule, sir,” Igor said. His fingers were crossed. If Azarov canceled the recalibration then Kulagin and his gang would lose control of the command center. Fully manned there were twelve people in the room. Igor had planned it out so it would be him alone or at the most one other guy. He’d simply kill the other person and man the controls. He could seal the doors and it would take hours, maybe days to get through. That’s all the time he needed to launch the missiles.

“Very well, then but can we make it quick?” Azarov asked.

“Yes, sir, I’ll expedite it and it shouldn’t take more than twenty minutes,” Igor said. Azarov thought for a moment.

“Okay, go ahead.” Radinsky breathed a sigh of relief and his knees stopped shaking. Kulagin wouldn’t kill him for failing, at least not this time.

“Deke, what do we have on their surface fleet?” General Zumwalt asked at NORAD.

“Some movement in the Sea of Japan and the Mediterranean and of course the Baltic.”

“Anything extraordinary?”

“No, sir, all within their normal range, though there are more ships involved this time.”

“Do you think it’s related to this summit?”

“Possibly but I doubt if it’s anything sinister. It could be the Russians saying, take us seriously in any negotiations.”

“I read it the same way, thanks, Deke.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get Fillmore up here.”

“Yes, sir. Fillmore!” Deke yelled and Sergeant Fillmore presented himself, to the general.

“Yes, sir,” Jerry said.

“Sergeant, what about the clandestine activity around Kapustin Yar?” Walter asked.

“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.