“Linc, have the torpedo room pull down two fish and load tubes one and two. Better safe than sorry”
“Aye, Cap. Tubes one and two.” Lincoln Dowl never questioned or hesitated. But as he radioed the order to the bow, he couldn’t help but be concerned. His captain expected a confrontation, and loading the War Eagle for multiple rounds of fighting made him sweat.
Booker was becoming agitated. “I haven’t a fucking clue as to why there is no response. They flashed their position, and the waves went dead. We’ve been trying to raise them for over an hour now.”
The word had spread across the ship that they weren’t really performing a drill. They had been sent north for some secret operation. The other men in the war room listened intently to the conversation. It was the only way to piece together the puzzle.
“Jim’s a very smart man, Book. I’m sure there is a good reason why he hasn’t responded to your hails.” Kenneth took it all in stride. He had found out that his multibillion-dollar baby was still in good shape. That was all he needed to know. The action of the War Eagle also indicated that they were tracking the Saratov successfully.
“Admiral, I’d really like to see this end before it gets out of control.” Booker despised the situation. They were in unfriendly waters, his crew was beat, and a renegade sub with nuclear warheads could be sailing straight toward them. Suddenly being in the navy wasn’t any fun, and he got the feeling that this was more of a personal operation for the admiral than a professional one. “Can we at least notify the Russian Navy or Air Force of their suspected position?”
Kenneth didn’t want to answer that. It would be the logical thing to do. This was somewhat of an insane situation from all perspectives. “No. Never.” The War Eagle was in the area, and he didn’t want to put her in jeopardy.
It made absolutely no sense to Book. When an ensign strolled in and handed him a communiqué, it made even less sense. “Read this. It may change your mind.”
The message was simple: “Tanks are rolling on Moscow.”
It didn’t faze Sukudo. “No.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Metal Versus Flesh
It was hard to tell which group was more stunned — the protesters or the tank commanders. Boris couldn’t believe that his worst-case scenario stood before him at least 150,000 strong, with still more coming.
As each tank rolled off the main highway into Red Square, they all turned their big guns on the crowd. Boris had prepared for this, and though he was surprised, he didn’t flinch as he led the line to the other side, away from the mass of people.
The crowd consisted of all kinds. Old people, young people, crippled people, women with their children, and more. All watching. He noticed that many signs had been erected, but he was unable to read them because the writing was facing the Kremlin.
Except for the roar of the tanks the entire square was silent. There was a shock of disbelief as the armor spread out evenly and positioned itself on the flank of the crowd. There he signaled for all vehicles to halt and present an attack posture. Like they had during their drills for over the past month, his commanders executed the maneuver perfectly and without a pause. That made Boris feel good. It was a subtle signal that his men were behind him 100 percent.
“You people have one hour to disperse,” he blasted over his loudspeaker to the gathered crowd. He knew hesitation could lead to failure, but he had to give them one opportunity. He had to be at least that reasonable. If he could take control of the government without bloodshed, then the new government would have more credibility in the world’s eyes. After his statement, he glanced briefly across his battalion to make sure that they were in position, and then he gave the signal to batten down the hatches. Every tank commander climbed inside and locked their weapon up as tight as a drum. Boris poured himself some tea from a thermos and sipped it as he waited for the hour to pass.
There was an uneasy silence and an uncomfortable milling about in the crowd. They had heard the message to leave, and no one really wanted to, but there wasn’t anyone jumping in front telling them to stay. They were without a leader.
Joseph knew that this was his time, but he was finding it increasingly harder to muster the courage to speak. He wanted to be the voice — to be the one to remind the people about why they were together. He had passed it through his mind many times how he’d easily saunter to the front and give a rousing speech, and they would assault their opponent and crush the tyrants before them. It seemed as if it would be so simple and that it would automatically happen. That wasn’t the case. Now he realized that he was more than scared. He was terrified.
Though the tanks were an ominous vision at the other side of the square, somehow Joseph began to move the hundred meters or so to the front of the crowd. It was evident as he waded past that everyone was waiting for someone else to make the first move. Waiting for that one person to remind them that what they were there for was right.
He stood at the front, waiting for anyone else to seize the initiative, but it didn’t happen. Eventually Joseph told himself that if he didn’t move now he’d never be able to look at himself, ever. When he stepped forward, all eyes turned his way; it was most uncomfortable.
He spoke with a shaky voice at first. “People of the Communist Party! What stands before us is only our fear. The tanks on the other side are not as opposing as what is within all of us. You have overcome more within yourselves just to stand here today than it would take to stand and overcome those who would strike us down.”
There came a smattering of applause and some jeers directed toward the armored vehicles. It was enough from which to draw strength as he continued to summon courage. The crowd was quieting as all tried to hear the man who stood before them. He was getting the attention of the whole crowd.
“Today we are at an impasse because the faltering Russian government must acknowledge our views, our needs, before they can move forward. They cannot navigate around us, nor can they circumvent our position. We leave them only one option, and that is to travel through us. Since we leave them only that course, then they will be changed when they reach the other side. They will have returned to the government that we all believe to be the only true governing body of Russia: the Communist government.”
Surprisingly there came quite a lot of strong support from the people nearest him. More in the back were still trying to get closer to hear. Joseph’s confidence began to rise.
“Do not fear what is across the way, for they are not our enemy. They are only the instruments of the Russian government to silence our voices. If we fail today, then we will have failed for all time. Hesitation means defeat.” The men began to get angry, and more obscenities were shouted in the direction of the tanks. “Passive action means defeat. We have but one moment to strike, and that moment is now. The government leaders were the ones who brought about this confrontation with the military. It proves to what lengths they will go to keep the ruling class alive.”
The words were beginning to whip up anger in the crowd. Though many could only see him and not hear, they still felt the passion run with the speed of lightning.
“I caution you, though. Do not become a mob. To win here today means organization. We don’t have the weapons to match the tanks, but we do have more heart. We have the strength of our people.”
“What do we do?” a voice cried from the back.