LENINGRAD DECEPTION: AN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL SPY THRILLER (THE DECEPTION SERIES Book 3) by Richard Lyntton

Author:Richard Lyntton [Lyntton, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller / Espionage
Publisher: Malchik Media
Published: 2023-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Submarine USSR Komsomolets

“Thirty seconds to impact,” said Yuri, the Russian submarine’s chief navigation officer.

“Understood. Thirty seconds to impact,” replied Captain Tolmachenko. This was the most unusual mission he had undertaken in thirty years. It was one thing to duel with a superpower, with NATO, to use your skills, training, and expertise to outsmart, unhinge, and defeat your opponent. But this? Why would they allow me to pulverize a defenseless fishing boat? Then again, I can’t pick a fight with General Urmancheva. It would be the end of my career.

Captain Tolmachenko buried his face in the periscope. He could even make out the crew on board the fishing boat.

“Captain …” said Yuri.

“Speak to me.”

“You’re not going to believe this.”

“I am trained not to believe anything until I see it with my own eyes or hear it from you. What is it?”

Yuri spoke slowly, his eyes pinging back and forth between radar screens. “Unidentified vessel, starboard, one mile, within firing range.” Yuri’s eyes widened. “But …”

“But what?”

“It appears to be surfacing.”

“Who is it?”

“Not one of ours.”

“Prepare fire mission.”

“Prepare fire mission, Captain.”

“Americans?”

“Negative, Captain.”

“Then who? How is this possible?”

“I don’t know, Captain. This makes no sense.”

Captain Tolmachenko glanced up from his periscope to see Yuri sweating profusely and several of his officers exchanging glances with each other as the situation became more puzzling. “It’s impossible—”

“For an enemy vessel to penetrate our screen. That’s what I am trying to say, Captain.” Yuri spoke quickly now, his exasperation on full display. The proximity of the crew meant that they were able to feel each other’s fears and anxiety without a word being spoken.

“Position?”

“You can see it already.” Yuri pointed to his master radar screen. “Fire mission?”

In a split second, Captain Tolmachenko reeled through all the options and possibilities—fire mission, abort his fishing boat mission, retreat, possible actions-on, consequences of opening fire, consequences of not opening fire, advantages and disadvantages, political and military fallout—thirty years of experience squeezed into a split second of command decision.

He spoke calmly. “Of course not, Yuri. Do you want to start World War Three?”

“Understood, Comrade Captain.”

“Abort mission.”

“Captain?”

“I said, abort.”

“Sorry, Captain. Which mission?

“Abort fishing boat mission.”

“Understood, Comrade Captain. Abort fishing boat mission.”

There was a collective sigh of relief—inaudible exhales and invisible-to-the-naked-eye releases of shoulder and forehead tension.

“General Urmancheva will be furious.”

“On the contrary, Yuri. I believe he will be ecstatic.”

Yuri’s furrowed brow indicated he was begging for an explanation.

“We have just exposed one of the greatest secrets of modern sea warfare.”

“I don’t understand, Comrade Captain.”

“That, Comrade Chief Navigation Officer,” said Captain Tolmachenko, pointing to the radar, “is a Swedish stealth submarine, sixty meters in length, with a crew of thirty-five men and one woman. It is known as the Gotland class.”

“How do you know, Comrade Captain?”

“Process of elimination, Yuri. There is nothing else it could be.”

Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

Vincenzo crossed the cobblestones of San Domaso Courtyard and entered the Apostolic Palace. It was one of those days when the aircraft high above painted a satisfying white wisp across the clear, blue canvas sky.

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