“And that includes Mironov.” Greg’s lips came together.

“Get over it.” Cate turned back to her screen. “This is really happening, so everyone better just lock and load, or step out of the way.”

Abby grinned. “I can’t believe you’re able to stay so calm.”

“Experience.” Cate faked a smile, perspiration running down her sides.

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Brogidan Yusoff, head of the Russian Ministry of Resources and Agriculture, leaned in closer to Uli Stroyev – his second in charge – as he flicked through the printed folder of the satellite images intercepted from their American counterparts. The final one was a deep-earth penetration shot taken with a high-energy strategraphic sonar imager and then enhanced with computer graphics. It showed the vast body of liquid extending under Alaska, and well across the Bering Sea.

“So, Mr Stroyev, I think now we know what Valery Konstantin Mironov wants with one of our deep sea submersibles, hmm?”

“A little ocean trip, I think, Minister.” Uli Stroyev smirked, watching as Yusoff’s large head bobbed in enjoyment. The Minister had oversized, fleshy features, and heavy epicanthic folds over each eye giving him a slight Asian appearance that betrayed his Mongolian heritage.

Stroyev knew of the hatred Yusoff harbored for the wealthy defector. Valery Mironov had many run-ins with the Russian business and political establishments, but managed to stay on the right side of President Volkov through huge donations to the man and employing many of his children in prestigious, high-paying jobs. It was smart, and the only thing that saved his skin. But old enmities ran deep. The people who ran rival companies, and supported other politicians, detested Mironov for his inflexible approach to competition, and his willingness to bring rival’s aberrant behavior to the attention of Volkov. In turn, the President got to be seen as stamping down hard on corruption, and made himself popular with the masses. The transgressors had their assets seized, and ended up in jail, while Mironov went from strength to strength.

Stroyev looked into the large, fleshy face of the minister, seeing the venomous hatred twisting his features. Brogidan Yusoff had been caught up in a foreign currency transaction that helped move the ruble, making him millions, but losing the country billions in export revenue. Mironov found out, reported it, and President Volkov paid Yusoff a personal visit. The minister had only stayed out of prison by signing over his hugely-profitable national construction business to the president, and also blaming his son for the illegal trading. The young man was still rotting in one of their forced labor camps.

Yusoff kept his job and his skin. All this while Mironov moved to America, with Volkov’s blessing, and his own children got green cards?