Larry Bond - Cold Choices

Patterson began to ask what had just happened, and the interpreter said, “Admiral Vidchenko says you must all leave right away. We have identified one of your party as a CIA agent.”

He turned and spoke in Russian to Vidchenko, who was stepping away from the table. Vidchenko answered, then started to leave the room. “Mr. Lindstrom is welcome to stay, but the rest must leave, now.”

Manning called to Vidchenko in Russian, he spoke rapidly and intently. Vidchenko, still angry but surprised, turned to listen but obviously was unmoved. Patterson watched the exchange without understanding, but finally Manning shrugged. He leaned close to Patterson, and said softly, “There’s nothing more we can do here. I’ve said everything that could be said. We should leave. I’ll explain on the way back.”

Confused and reluctant, Patterson followed the others back to the helicopter.

USS Churchill

The twenty-five-minute flight back to Churchill gave Dwight Manning time to explain what had happened aboard the Russian flagship. The truth had not set Patterson free, or removed the incredible sense of failure that weighed her down.

All the work and chances shed taken to open communications with the Russians, for the benefit of Russian sailors, had been undone by more Cold War mistrust.

Manning reprised his entire conversation with Vidchenko for her, but at the end, she had to admit there was nothing else she could have added or changed to what was said.

As they landed aboard Churchill, Patterson rejected the first three things she thought of saying, and finally told Silas, “Please report to me in my stateroom in five minutes.”

She had time to dump her coat and laptop before she heard a quiet knock. Commander John Silas stood at the open door silently, his expression impassive.

Seeing him again fanned her anger, and she badly wanted to shout at him. Controlling her first impulse, she stuck to the script. “I assume you understood the Russians’ objections to you aboard their ship. Mr. Manning says you speak Russian fluently.” Patterson’s tone was cold, almost harsh.

“Yes, Doctor, I did.” He looked like he was going to say something else, but instead he stopped himself, waiting.

Seeing his self-control strengthened hers, and she asked, “Did you wonder why I didn’t take Dr. Russo with us? He’s a submarine rescue expert and a former submariner. He has some Russian-language skills. He would have been perfect for this meeting, except for one small problem. He works at the CIA!”

She paused for a moment. Patterson had felt her voice rising. “I knew the Russians would be security-conscious to the point of paranoia. I deliberately left him behind because I wanted them to trust us. I haven’t heard you deny their accusations.”

Silas sighed. “They’re true. I am assigned to the CIA as a senior analyst. I’m their expert on the Russian naval operations. I’ve been studying and writing on the Russian Navy for most of my naval career. You can see why the Navy thought I’d be perfect for this assignment. I’ve. ”

“How long have you been there?”

“Two-plus years. I’m retiring in two more and they’ve promised to hire me as a civilian.”

“And you just hoped the Russians didn’t know about your assignment to CIA.” She threw up her hands. “Once they hear those three letters, that’s it.”

“Ma’am, my only goal was to support you. I planned to listen and observe. They might have revealed vital clues about their intentions.”

She almost threw something at him. “We already know their intentions! This is a rescue operation! The Cold War ended while you were in college, but you’re still thinking that way, and so are the Russians.”

“Ma’am, I’m not supposed to discuss my CIA affiliation. It’s need-to-know only.”

“Which I obviously did!” She fought to keep her temper from rising any further. “That’s the problem with need-to-know. The people who need to know aren’t the ones who make the decision about what they get to know. Too many secrets.”

Silas had no immediate response, but his expression had changed as they talked, the lines in his face sliding slowly downward. He looked profoundly unhappy.

“Dr. Patterson, I’m very sorry that my poor judgment has caused this problem. I understand that you want to help rescue those Russians, and I’ve messed that up.” He spoke carefully, almost formally. “Tell me what I can do.”

“There isn’t anything,” she answered. “That’s the worst part of it all. We’ve missed our chance. I pulled that one opportunity out of thin air and I don’t know where the next one will come from.”

There was nothing else either of them could say. She dismissed Silas. “Go on, you’ve got a trip report to write for your bosses at Langley.”

Patterson found Rudel in Churchill’s wardroom, saying his good-byes. Captain Baker had loaded the helicopter with fresh supplies and other items for Seawolf’s crew. Baker was wishing the submarine captain luck, but Ken Bover was still trying to convince him that it was time to head for port, with no effect.

Rudel shook Patterson’s hand slowly, with a grim expression. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help,” he apologized. “Do you have a Plan B?”

“Not yet. I’m still trying to pick up the pieces of Plan A.”

“You know, I tried to ‘forget’ that envelope on the table. A Russian officer followed me and gave it back. He treated it like pornography.”

She laughed in spite of her mood. “It could have been. They’ll never know.”

Rudel shrugged. “Maybe they’ll get lucky and the charges will work. AS-34 will start its dive in about four hours.”

“I really hope it does. But they’d have a better chance if they’d used your survey,” Patterson grumbled. “They have to see it.”

“Only if you can trick them into looking. You’d have better luck if it really was pornography,” Rudel said suggestively.

She smiled knowingly. “And where do you find pornography these days?”

Skynews Report

“Stunning images of the mortally wounded Russian submarine Severodvinsk have been obtained by Britt Adams, one of our Skynews correspondents.

They show the crippled vessel lying on the seabed, tilted to the left so far that the crew inside are unable to escape.

“These pictures were taken by robotic underwater vehicles launched from the submarine USS Seawolf, which was also involved in the collision with Severodvinsk. Although the hull looks relatively intact, detailed digital photographs show heavy damage, piercing the pressure hull and flooding several sections of the submarine’s interior.

“Russian Federation Navy spokesmen have refused to respond to questions about the images, and U.S. Navy spokesmen will only say that the images were not released through their office, so they cannot comment on their accuracy or authenticity. They emphasize that USS Churchill and USS Seawolf are both standing by to render whatever assistance the Russians may require.

“Adams also reports that the Russians are in the final stages of preparations and may be ready to attempt a rescue very soon.”

AS-34

Captain Bakhorin said, “Start,” as he hit the valves, and Umansky clicked his stopwatch. AS-34 began her descent, and as they dropped, Bakhorin fed his navigator depths and descent rates.

Umansky divided his time between the nav display and his hand-drawn graph. Marking their downward speed on the graph, he reported, “Within tolerances.”