Cold Choices

Severodvinsk’s crew, and brilliantly at that.”

“What about this underwater vehicle they used to carry the supplies?” Huber asked. “I won’t quibble about cost in the middle of a rescue operation, but didn’t we just hand them classified technology?”

Wright and Forrester both looked at Sloan, who shrugged. “They may be able to remove some of the components. The computer and sonar are first-rate technology, but none of the hardware is classified and all of it is commercially available. Of course, the pieces would have to be portable enough to take with them when they are rescued.”

General Hodges concluded, “The most they can get are parts of a state-of-the-art UUV. Possibly of some use for their own designers.”

“An unintended consequence of Commander Rudel’s ingenuity,” Rain commented.

“An unavoidable consequence,” corrected Sloan.

Rain made a note. “I like that. ‘Unavoidable’ is good. He simply had no choice.”

“That’s good, Jeffrey.” Huber seemed distracted. “When do we expect the Norwegians to reach the area?”

“The day after tomorrow, the tenth, and Mystic two days after that,” Forrester answered. “If the Russians can’t get their men out, the Norwegians should arrive before their air gets too foul.”

“Barely,” Sloan added, and Hodges nodded agreement.

“And when the Russians arrive, Rudel can pass control to them and leave, correct?” Huber sounded hopeful.

“Unless the Russians ask Seawolf to stay and assist,” Sloan answered. “She still has two UUVs. They would be very useful.”

Huber looked over at his press secretary. Rain observed, “That could be good and bad. Their asking makes us one of the good guys, part of the rescue effort. But if it fails, we’re to blame as well, especially since the collision was our fault to begin with.”

Wright, Hodges, Forrester, and Sloan all looked as if they were going to speak, but Huber quickly beat them to it. “According to the reports, Ed, Rudel did his best to avoid a collision.”

Rain shook his head. “Understood, sir. And that’s the line we’ve taken, but the Russians say it’s our fault, and until an investigation clears Rudel, a lot of people will believe it’s our fault. Our best course of action is whatever gets Seawolf out of the area and out of the news before anything else bad happens.”

“We don’t have a lot of options,” Huber mused. “At least until the Russians take over.”

“Which is why we have to limit our actions, so as to limit our risks.” Rain turned to the officers. “For instance, this something-or-other sulfur chloride they dumped overboard to make room for supplies, this action has already cost us some political capital. I’ve had calls from several environmental organizations complaining about this flagrant violation of international accords. Do you know how toxic that stuff is? We’re talking about alienating some of the President’s core supporters!”

Sloan argued, “It had to be done. If. ”

“Yes, I understand the necessity, but it won’t stop some people with an agenda from second-guessing, and that can do more damage than actual events. There’s no leverage for us in this crisis. We gain nothing, even if Severodvinsk’s crew is rescued.”

Huber stood and paced. “I know we’re working to save lives, but the best we can expect at the end of the day is to break even.” He started ticking off items on his fingers. “First, attention’s been drawn to a classified operation. Second, lives have been lost and a submarine’s been badly damaged in a collision. That means an investigation, and possibly a court-martial. More bad press. Third, relations with Russia are going to suffer, even if Severodvinsk’s crew is rescued.”

Wright broke in. “One other matter, sir. Dr. Patterson is asking permission to contact the Russian government directly, without passing her messages through the State Department here in Washington. She does have someone from the Moscow embassy with her on Churchill.”

Huber looked a little puzzled. “Why would Joanna want to cut State out of the loop?”

“She says it’s interfering with the timely passing of communications. She still hasn’t been able to talk to anyone on the Russian side.”

“That’s probably more the Russians’ fault than State’s,” Rain observed.

Huber shook his head. “I’m glad one of my people is out there, but we’ve got precious little control over events. I’m not ready to give that up. I want to know what Joanna is saying to the Russians before the Russians do.”

Wright looked ready to discuss it further, but Huber cut him off. “Tell her we’ll keep State honest — and Jeff, you tell me the moment they’re not.”

After a moment’s pause, he added, “And tell her to get Seawolf out of there as soon as we legally can.”

Northern Fleet Headquarters

Vice Admiral Kokurin read through the intelligence report, looking for anything he didn’t already know. He’d gotten copies of Rudel’s conversation with his commanders from the Navy Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and he’d seen news reports about it on the television as well. Now his intelligence specialists sent him the same thing, copied almost verbatim, with “probably” and “possibly” added here and there to cover their bureaucratic behinds. Stamp something secret and they think they own it.

Direction finders had also confirmed the Americans’ location during his last transmission. He was sitting right on top of Severodvinsk’s supposed location.

The Foreign Ministry had received communications from the U.S. government asking for the movements of the rescue ships and for details of Severodvinsk’s construction. The latter request was supposedly on behalf of the Norwegians, but they were still two days away. And why was the request coming from an American warship?

The Foreign Ministry had asked the Main Navy Staff, and they had asked him. Why were they asking these questions? How should they be answered?

Kokurin could imagine many reasons for wanting to know Petr Velikiy s movements. Some of them were reasonable, others were not. As long as it was the Americans asking, he had to assume the worst. As for details of Severodvinsk’s hatches and emergency equipment, that information could be sent to the Norwegians, when it became absolutely necessary.

Both ministries had also asked for his estimate of the destroyer’s intentions. Intelligence said an American front-line Flight IIA Burke-class destroyer was heading north at high speed, loaded with parts to repair Seawolf’s radios and civilian experts as passengers.

They were probably telling the truth about the radio parts. Kokurin smiled. Having to surface and use that idiot satellite phone was probably making the submarine captain and half the U.S. Navy insane. Getting his radios repaired would indeed be a high priority. But after that?

Having a surface ship in the area able to observe and communicate freely would give the American government a big advantage. Seawolf’s sensors and her remote vehicles gave her a good picture of what was happening underwater, but even an undamaged submarine was severely limited in what it could see above the surface.

Seawolf was damaged. Would she go home when the destroyer arrived? He didn’t think so. She’d stayed there so far, and together they made a powerful team. Kokurin didn’t like the idea of the two of them observing and recording.

But if the reports were true, the Americans had bought three days of life for Severodvinsk’s crew. The U.S. submarine captain was resourceful. It was possible they would need the Americans’ help to rescue Petrov and his crew.

The thought was bitter in his mind. The Navy had already lost its newest submarine and eighteen lives. They might still lose the whole crew. But the thought of outsiders being involved in any way almost revolted him. Even if they could help, that help would disgrace them all.

Interfax Press Release

“The Russian Naval Ministry has declared a maritime exclusion zone, effective at 1500 hours Greenwich Mean