General Stepanov controls the only pair of SU-57s stationed within range to defend likely targets. He has refused to commit these stealth fighters to that mission, saying they are needed in Syria. The President will not overrule the commander on the ground, which I… reluctantly… understand. However, he has agreed to order General Stepanov to hear details of the planned attack directly from the defector.
Now we come to the most difficult part of your mission. The defector has provided us with many details, but has told us she has withheld many as well until she reaches Moscow. We pointed out that once the attacks begin her information is useless. We also threatened to refuse to help her leave Iran at all, and even to give her to Iranian authorities. She has proved quite stubborn.
You will need to overcome her reluctance to talk to have any chance of convincing General Stepanov to commit his SU-57s.
The Embassy will give you all the other details of your mission. Good luck to you both.”
Grishkov shook his head in bewilderment. “Can it really be so hard to persuade this defector to talk? Does whoever at the Embassy debriefed her know what they’re doing?”
Alina flushed angrily. “I’d like to think so, since that person is me. As the only woman at this Embassy’s intelligence station, I was selected because it was thought the defector would relate better to a woman. That may not have been the best choice, but it cannot be changed because after our initial report Moscow ordered that no one else at the Embassy is to speak with the defector.”
Grishkov winced. “I’m sorry. I meant no offense. I’m frustrated because we’ve been hitting our heads against a wall for days trying to find details on the upcoming attacks, and to be told a person has the answers, came to us but refuses to tell us everything is… maddening.”
Alina was still clearly unhappy, but seemed at least somewhat mollified.
“Maddening is the right word. But put yourself in her position. By now she has certainly been reported missing. Considering her husband’s position, there is sure to be a police alert for her. Without our help, she’ll never make it out of Iran. And once she’s told us everything, why should we take the risk of helping her?”
Grishkov shook his head. “We would never betray…” His voice died away as he saw the expressions on the faces of both Alina and Vasilyev. It was Vasilyev who spoke first.
“No, we would not betray her in this case, because there will be those in Moscow who wish to speak to her personally. But betrayal is simply another tool for an intelligence officer, however distasteful they may find it personally. I doubt that any of us makes it through a career without using it at least once.”
All Grishkov had to do was look at Alina’s face to see the truth of Vasilyev’s statement. She looked up and said, “She has told us a great deal.
You will find the information in your briefing materials. But she has held back the target locations.” With that she laid a hand lightly on Vasilyev’s, who withdrew it with a smile. She withdrew hers with an answering smile.
Grishkov frowned and asked, “Do we really need this Iranian guide who is supposed to take us across the border to Iraq? I can read a map, and I have plenty of experience getting through wilderness without being seen by the enemy.”
Alina sighed and shook her head. “There are many dangers not marked on any map. Minefields left over from the Iran-Iraq War in the eighties. Others said to have been put along smuggling routes more recently. And, of course, Iranian Army patrols. The area of Iraq you will cross into is controlled by the Kurds and there is no love lost between them and the Iranians, so they keep a sharp watch there.”
Grishkov grimaced. “So, why are we going that way?”
Alina waved her hand, clearly frustrated. “Not my decision, in fact I argued against it. Director Smyslov ordered it, precisely because the area is controlled by the Kurds. When our forces pick you up by helicopter, he does not wish a detailed report of who was aboard immediately passed to the Iraqi government, and from there almost certainly to Iran. Mind you, that will happen eventually. But it will take longer this way, since the Kurds do not cooperate especially closely with the Iraqi government.”
Grishkov shook his head. “Assuming we make it at all.”
Alina smiled wryly. “Well, yes. That was the crux of my argument against this route. The Director seems to believe you both have nearly superhuman abilities. He said something about how I would never believe what you have already accomplished, and how I should be feeling sorry for the Iranians,” in a tone that made it clear she was not convinced of anything of the sort by the two sitting in front of her.
Grishkov snorted. “I feel very ordinary, and I’m sure bullets would work on me just fine.”
Vasilyev sighed. “We shall have to have a long talk with the Director after we return home.”
Alina leaned forward. “Another important point to remember is that it would be suspicious for the defector to be traveling without a male family member, particularly because she is fairly young and quite attractive. You should wait to speak to her until you are far from observation by any Iranian.”
After first looking around to make sure they were not being watched, Alina passed her black briefcase under the table to Vasilyev.
“Documents for your trip, local currency and US dollars, and train tickets are inside. So are some other necessities, so you should not open the case where you may be observed.”
Seeing Vasilyev’s raised eyebrows, Alina smiled and said, “No offense. I know you have far more experience than I do, but I have found it is best to take nothing for granted.”
This earned her an answering smile from Vasilyev. “So, Mikhail is still training at the Academy?”
Alina nodded. “Yes. The instructor everyone hopes they don’t get, but sooner or later everyone did. I thought he was tough but fair, as long as you paid attention.”
Vasilyev nodded approvingly. “It’s obvious you did. When you said ‘it is best to take nothing for granted’ I could hear his voice.”
Alina glanced at her watch. “I have hired you a cab which should be pulling up front in the next five minutes. It will take you to the train station.
The defector and our Iranian escort will be taking the same train. You will be in the same car to provide security overwatch in a neighboring compartment.”
Vasilyev frowned. “They have been briefed not to approach us?”
Alina nodded. “Yes. Security checks on train trips that do not leave Iran are usually not a problem, but it will not take much to attract attention. Note that the security guards on Iranian trains are armed.”
Vasilyev smiled. “We promise to be on our best behavior.”
“So, you said this was going to take about thirteen hours,” Grishkov said, looking out the train window at the passing scrubland.
Vasilyev nodded. “Yes. Then we take a bus to Naqadeh. Alina has arranged for us to pick up a rental car there stocked with the supplies we will need for the hike to the border. The defector and her Iranian companion will accompany us from there. We can safely drive as far as the outskirts of Nalous, and will hike from there in the direction of Sidakan. The helicopter pickup point is only a kilometer from the border, where a hill will prevent observation from the Iranian side.”
Grishkov frowned. “How far from Nalous will we be hiking?”
Vasilyev rocked his right hand side to side, which Grishkov knew meant he was guessing. "Including detours to avoid minefields and patrols, about fifty kilometers.”
Grishkov grunted. “A walk in the park in Chechnya. I am, though, concerned about our defector. How ready is she for this little stroll?”