“Gentlemen, the hour is at hand,” he began. Around the table, all eyes connected with his. Even those of Boris Medikov. “You will each now begin to put your portion of the plan into action. In three days from now, we will announce the unthinkable, treacherous sinking of our glorious new submarine, Gepard, by the deceitful Americans, and the loss of all her brave crew. If Serebnitskiv has not returned by then, we will announce that Volk was lost trying to defend her. We will express our dismay, our disbelief that the Americans would do such an unfathomable thing, despite their paranoia over the introduction of the first new Russian submarine in a decade. We can remain quiet. The media will do our jobs for us, enflaming the people of the world against the newly aggressive Americans. We will have unwitting allies within the bloodthirsty American press. Their own people will soon be marching in the streets. Our people will hear the nuances of the story, all placed in the proper light.”

He nodded toward one of the civilians, the CEO of the nation’s largest news organization.

“When the public outcry is at its peak, Mr. Medikov’s New York operation will swing into full production. It will throw the American stock market into utter disarray and panic. Economic turmoil and protests by their own people will absorb the American attention so much, and with it the entire world, that they won’t even notice our maneuverings here. Our plan will be assured of success.”

Durov reached down and picked up a carafe of port and poured a glassful. He circled the table, pouring a glassful for everyone there.

Once back at the head of the table, he raised his own glass high. “To the Rodina!”

Everyone scrambled to stand and all drank deeply. They cheered.

All, that is, except Boris Medikov. He remained seated and sipped from his glass as he peered over the rim at the grinning, red-flushed face of Admiral Alexander Durov.

Chapter 11

“Captain, we’re in the area,” Jerry Perez reported as he glanced up from the navigation chart. “This is the position Miami reported.”

Joe Glass nodded. “Very well, Nav. Let’s start an expanding circle around this location at four knots.” He paused for a moment, his face grim. “I want you to be very careful. We don’t know what happened to either one of them, the Russian boat or the Miami.”