Blackmail

EPILOGUE MOSCOW

As sunlight streamed into his Kremlin office through tall Palladian windows behind him, President Kalinin sat at his desk, deep in thought. With two key positions temporarily vacant — Russia’s minister of defense and director of the SVR — Kalinin had convened today’s meeting in his office instead of the conference room. Seated across from him were General Andropov, Fleet Admiral Lipovsky, and Foreign Minister Lavrov. The three men waited while Kalinin sorted through the magnitude of their naval defeat.

Russia’s Northern and Pacific Fleets had been ravaged, with every surface combatant sunk or heavily damaged. The submarine force had fared much better, still fielding over thirty attack submarines. The significant numerical advantage beneath the waves, with most of America’s submarines still undergoing repair, weighed heavily on Kalinin’s deliberation.

“What is the status of our Alexander class?” he asked.

“We have one operational submarine so far,” General Andropov replied. “However, it was withheld from battle pending resolution of defects in its new capability. We are pushing the cutting edge of technology,” Andropov offered as an excuse, “but we will test a solution next month. Additionally, two more Alexander class are nearing completion. With six Alexander class leading our submarine force, the American submarine fleet would be overwhelmed.”

Kalinin replied, “As we experienced in the Arabian Sea, the Americans have more anti-submarine forces at their disposal besides submarines. Their surface combatants and aircraft are formidable assets.”

General Andropov replied. “We still have the Zolotov option.”

“That’s a very dangerous plan,” Minister Lavrov said. “A path from which we cannot turn back. We cannot predict how America would respond.”

“There will be no response from the United States,” Andropov replied. “That’s the purpose of the Zolotov option: to eliminate their ability.”

President Kalinin weighed his options in silence, moving slowly toward a decision. The United States had publicly humiliated both Kalinin and Russia. A response was required.

“You may proceed,” Kalinin said. “Order both submarine shipyards to twenty-four-hour shiftwork to complete the next two Alexander class as soon as possible. Regarding the Zolotov option, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

General Andropov acknowledged Kalinin’s order. “It is a wise decision, Mr. President. We will make America pay for what they’ve done.”