Kirov Saga: Armageddon (Kirov Series) Read Online Free Page A

must do
whatever you can to prevent a strategic missile launch now, not start
one!” Volsky’s voice was strident with his effort to persuade the Navy Chief
and, as he finished, Kamenski leaned in, whispering something in his ear.
    “Hold on, Suchkov,” said Volsky. “There is someone else here who
wishes to speak to you.” He gestured to Kamenski, who sat down slowly, leaning
forward heavily on the table.
    “Greetings my old friend.”
    “Pavel?...Pavel Kamenski?”
    “One and the same, Suchkov. I am here with Admiral Volsky, and I
must concur with everything he says. We are going to try something here, and we
need time. You must do whatever you can to give us that time. Understood?”
    There was silence on the line for a good long while, and they
heard other voices murmuring in the background. Then Suchkov’s voice returned,
more subdued now, yet edged with a tone of fatalism. “What is it you are
planning? What are you going to do?”
    “You must leave that to me, Suchkov, but rest assured, we have a
plan. There are others in the room with you that will know something of what I
speak of now, but I can say nothing more here, not even on this secure line. I
have come to learn in my day that things are seldom as secure as one might
believe. You must trust that Admiral Volsky and I will manage the situation.
Once the missiles launch they cannot be called back. So do everything in your
power to delay that final moment. Call Beijing at once.”
    “But what about the Americans? What if they launch first?”
    “Then you will have plenty of time to launch second. What
difference will any of that make if this happens, Suchkov? You have already
shown the Americans your fist. Now I advise you to stand down the missile
bastions for twenty-four hours, and tell the Americans you are doing this. That
will send another signal, yes? This too will give them reason for second
thoughts about answering the Chinese missile attack. As for Beijing, tell them
that unless they desist from any further actions of this nature they will not
have our support should the Americans target their homeland. They have seen you
readying your missiles, and this only emboldens them. Without us they could
never hope to prevail or even deter a strategic strike from the Americans. When
they see us stand down to a lower level of alert, that will give them reason for second thoughts as well. Then perhaps Admiral Volsky and I will have
the time we need to see what we can do here.”
    Again the murmurs in the background. Then Suchkov returned to the line. “Very well, Mister Deputy Secretary.”
    “Deputy Secretary? I have not heard that old handle for a good
many years, Suchkov.”
    “Yet that is how we remember you, Pavel. There are a good many old
grey heads in this room. Very well. We will do as you ask, but please keep us
informed.”
    “You have my word on it,” Kamenski smiled at Volsky now as they
concluded the call. “It seems I still have a little bit of pull in Moscow,” he
said softly. “Now…Let’s get on with it. We have no time to waste. What about
this submarine?”
    Volsky pursed his lips. “There are three diesel electric boats at
Pavlovsk Bay. Everything else is at sea.”
    “That’s all?” Fedorov seemed concerned. “We certainly can’t use a
diesel boat. We’ll need something with nuclear propulsion.”
    “We lost Omsk and Viluchinsk after that missile
attack against the American 7th Fleet, though we made them pay for those kills.
We think we may have a confirmed kill on Key West .”
    “Key West?” Fedorov was very surprised. “But that was the submarine Karpov
spared—the key trigger point for this war we’re facing.”
    “Yes it was, but events have been shuffled like a bad poker hand,
Mister Fedorov. Key West was snooping for signs of our missing ships and
engaged by Gepard . That said, we have very little left, a couple Akula class boats and the diesel subs. Kazan is the only other missile attack
boat