Everything Dhankhar and his cohorts knew said China was on the brink of economic and social collapse. The sudden destruction of China’s five largest port cities would wreak havoc throughout the country. Chakra’s attack would push them over the edge.
Officers that were part of Dhankhar’s group would send orders launching a surprise offensive, well before the Pakistanis expected it and now without their Chinese protectors. No Chinese AWACS aircraft flying just over the border, warning of Indian aircraft. No more ordnance or spares for the Chinese-made Pakistani fighters. India would have air superiority.
No threat of Chinese troops tying up valuable units on the flanks of the fighting. They’d need every soldier they could to keep order in the cities. That would free up fresh troops.
Because key people in the Indian armed forces were ready for Vajra, they’d be able to take advantage of the kind of shock and surprise that had been unintentionally displayed in Kashmir. He expected Indian troops to break through the Pakistani’s static defenses and into the rear within hours.
And again because of the Kashmir explosion, and thanks to the Americans, the nuclear weapons could not be directly linked to India. Yes, the Americans knew, but they undoubtedly wouldn’t say anything to China out of a fear of causing even greater casualties — they’d take the lesser of the two evils. Would the Indian government, when presented with a fait accompli, pass up the chance to end the Pakistani threat once and for all? India had gone to war with that goal, and that victory would be his vindication and redemption.
Dhankhar finally convinced himself that Mitra was doing all he could, and headed for the torpedo shop. He realized he’d been stalling, remaining in Mitra’s office because he didn’t want to hear what the Russians would tell him. But that was irresponsible. Whatever the problem, he’d fix it somehow.
They’d worked through the night. Dhankhar was pleasantly surprised; he’d half expected to find the place deserted, the Russians fled to gods knew where. But the lure of the money had been too great.
The door to the weapons vault was open, and all five torpedoes were out. That gave Dhankhar a flash of hope, but then he could see that two of the weapons were still in pieces, their warhead sections exposed. Kirichenko and Orlav were bent over one of them. The Russians were obviously not done.
Kirichenko stopped work as Dhankhar came into the shop. He’d found a pair of coveralls, and with a rag stuffed in a back pocket, looked more like a car mechanic than a former admiral. Actually, he looked like a tired and worried mechanic, the kind that has to give his customers bad news.
“We’re not finished,” Kirichenko announced. “We can’t finish in time.” He sounded matter-of-fact, as if he was going to tell Dhankhar the engine block was cracked and couldn’t be repaired.
The Russian nodded toward three weapons neatly lined up near the door, resting in their cradles. “Those three are ready to be loaded. Final checks have been made.” He gestured toward Orlav, still working. “The fourth device is in place, and we should be able to finish it in time for loading, but the fifth still needs to be installed. There’s no way we can fit it, perform the necessary checks, assemble the complete weapon, and then make the rest of the checks.”
Kirichenko shrugged. “I can give you four weapons. That’s the best we can do.” Again the same matter-of-fact tone, but Kirichenko was trying to pretend this wasn’t a massive failure. It was clear he hoped Dhankhar would be satisfied with destroying four Chinese port cities.
“No. I want five,” Dhankhar replied firmly. “Six was the original agreement. Four might not be enough. Five will barely deliver the body blow we need.”
Kirichenko gestured helplessly. “I just told you. We can’t finish in time.”
“Actually,” Dhankhar replied, “we’ve moved the sailing time up. “Chakra leaves tonight.”
“What?” Kirichenko’s look of surprise almost made Dhankhar laugh. Then the Russian sighed, and rubbed his forehead. He was probably nursing a headache, not that Dhankhar cared. “Then there’s absolutely no time to even begin work on the fifth torpedo.”
“Then you can finish the work under way, after Chakra sails. Just get the last two weapons assembled. You can make the final connections and tests aboard the submarine.”
The Russian scratched his unshaven chin thoughtfully, then nodded. “All right. It means more of the crew will learn about the torpedoes,” he warned.
“That can’t be helped, and once Chakra sails, it won’t matter,” Dhankhar answered. “Jain and his men are up to the task.”
Kirichenko brightened as he considered the possibilities. “You’ve got good weapons for the first three ports. With the transit, that gives us at least a week and a half, perhaps two, to finish the work on the last two torpedoes. We could both get some rest and still have time to finish. It’s probably not a good idea to work nuclear weapons when you’re short on sleep. I’ll need you to put our payment into the account number I gave you before we leave, of course.”
Dhankhar shook his head. “Absolutely not!”
“But we were to be paid before Chakra sails. I need that money!” Kirichenko was almost whining.
“You were to be paid when you deliver five armed torpedoes.” Dhankhar tried not to sound too pleased. He found himself enjoying this. “I will tell Jain to send a message after the last weapon is launched and it is safe for him to transmit. Then, and only then, will I transfer the money to your account.”
Kirichenko gestured helplessly. “What? You think we won’t finish the work locked up on your submarine?”
“Were you going to use the money for something before you sailed?” replied Dhankhar. “There’s nothing to spend it on here at the base, and I don’t think you should go outside. Did I mention that the SVR knows all about your operation?”
“How?” Kirichenko was horrified.
“We know that part of a U.S. briefing given to the Indian government yesterday described a barge hidden off the coast of northern Russia, and your connection to it. Evidently the American and Russian governments have been working together.”
Dhankhar watched the Russian’s expression change from horror to fear, then something like resignation. “Fine. I must insist that we be paid today — in cash, preferably U.S. dollars.”
“That’s a lot of money, even if I wasn’t in a hurry. Why should I?”
By now, Orlav had stopped work and had come over to listen as well. Kirichenko explained, “If the SVR is now looking for me, there’s no guarantee that my offshore account is safe, or that my contacts are still trustworthy.”
He paused, then added, “And can you arrange to have Captain Jain put us ashore near some neutral port after he has accomplished his mission? I can’t go back to Russia, although that had been my intention.”
Dhankhar scowled. “Chakra can’t just pull into some Asian port and drop you two off. I’m sure you understand that it means surfacing and putting you — and your money — in a rubber raft and leaving you to make your own way to shore.”
“Of course,” Kirichenko answered, and looking over at Orlav, added, “Two rafts, please.”