Kirov Saga: Armageddon (Kirov Series) Read Online Free

a sadness in his eyes. “We
started this, and now we must finish it. A submarine is the only way we could
get there and still have any authority. It’s already clear that Karpov will not
listen to reason, at least not from me.”
    The men were meeting in the deep underground bunker at Naval
Headquarters Fokino, and the atmosphere there was now very tense. Fedorov had
come in with Chief Dobrynin, and it was a very happy reunion until they
realized the enormity of the situation before them now.
    “Suppose I were to come with you,” said Volsky. “Yes, I think I
must do this. I could add the weight of my own authority to the situation. A
direct order to Karpov to desist and rendezvous with us may be all that is
required. What do you think, Director?”
    Kamenski raised an eyebrow as he spoke. “Perhaps, Admiral. I was
thinking to invite you on a little vacation with me, but now it seems this will
not be the wisest course. Yes. I think you should go with this bright young man
here, and if you wouldn’t mind my company, I should like to come along as well.
Perhaps there is something I could contribute to the situation, another mind
and voice in the mix.”
    “Very well, then it’s agreed, but this will be a very perilous
journey, Kamenski.”
    “Most likely—are there any other kind when the world is at the
edge of Armageddon and it has come down to the four of us here to save it from
certain oblivion? Yes, that’s a tall order for any chef I know. I must be sure to
bring along my very best tea.”
    Volsky smiled, feeling just a little more hopeful. Something in
the manner of this ex-KGB man was most disarming. He had a quiet inner strength
that might see him calmly lighting his pipe or brewing up tea as the world came
tumbling down in its final, terrible crash. That thought set Volsky’s mind on
the urgency of their situation, and he reached for the secure line to Moscow,
knowing their time could be running out, even as he spoke.
    “I think we had better see if Moscow is getting ready to burn down
the house. I will put a call through to Suchkov, Chief of the Navy. He will
certainly be in on any final decisions to be made on this matter.”
    It took time, as the persistent electromagnetic effects in the heavily
occluded atmosphere due to the Demon Volcano eruption were impeding normal
radio communications. In the end he had to switch to a land line.
    “That monster in the Kuriles has everything fouled up.
Communications are spotty all through the region. The ash cloud is so massive
that it is generating its own weather! Imagine lightning in the midst of all
that. The only consolation is that the Admirals and Generals may have trouble
ordering their sailors and soldiers to kill one another.”
    Volsky smiled wanly as he continued to wait on the line. Eventually
he was able to get through, and they all listened on speaker phone as he and Suchkov
spoke of the current situation, discussing the sudden escalation that was now
expected after the bold Chinese riposte in detonating a nuclear warhead over
the west coast of the United States.
    “Listen Suchkov. You and I have had our disagreements in the past,
but there is no time for that now. Everything depends on what may happen here
in the next twelve hours.”
    “Events are taking their course, Admiral.” The voice of Suchkov was
thin and drawn on the speakerphone. “The Chinese reprisal for those American
missile bomber strikes on their satellite facilities was unexpected, and we
both know the Americans will not let it go unanswered. We have brought the
strategic arm of our forces to a high level of preparedness as a signal to the
Americans. Perhaps they will be cautious now, or at least have second thoughts
before they lob a missile at Beijing.”
    “Yes, but this could also force the Americans to their DEFCON One!
They will prepare all their missiles for launch as well. Then we stand on the
razor’s edge, and anything could tip the balance into utter chaos. You