Part 10 (1/2)
”Until now, as you know, it's been cla.s.sified Top Secret,” he said.
”That cla.s.sification was imposed primarily for the safety of the team going into Russia. I need hardly remind you, it's essential that Mafia elements don't get wind of your presence.
He paused and looked down at his notes. Then he said, ”The name of the operation has been changed. It is now Operation Nimrod. Further, it has become a black operation. I don't need to tell you what that means, but I will. It means that absolutely no further mention of it is to be made to anyone except members of the team. The reason will become obvious in a moment. Is that clearly understood?”
We were sitting facing the bra.s.s on two rows of chairs, three and five. When I glanced round, I saw everyone nod quickly.
The CO's tension had communicated itself to the team.
”Right, then.” The CO cleared his throat.
”Another element has been added to the operation. The training of Tiger Force will go down as planned, but as from today that will serve as cover for a new main task. The first priority of Operation Nimrod is now to plant two compact nuclear devices in strategic positions, where they can be detonated by satellite signal if or when such action is deemed necessary.”
Silence. For several seconds n.o.body moved. I felt as if I'd been skewered to my seat. When the CO continued, I seemed to be hearing him from a distance.
”We realise, of course, that this action is not in line with overt Western policy. The initiative has come from the United States Defense Department. For some time they've been looking at the concept of infiltrating nuclear devices into the former Soviet Union. Now Operation Nimrod is about to provide an opportunity. Any questions so far?”
”You mean you're expecting us to plant nuclear devices?” I went.
”Just that,” the CO replied.
”What under the b.l.o.o.d.y Kremlin, I suppose?”
”Exactly. One of them, anyway.”
”Boss you can't be serious.”
”I am, Geordie. It sounds outrageous, I know. But I am.
Totally serious.”
I felt myself growing angry.
”I thought we were supposed to be helping the poor b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.”
”We are. In the short term, we're on their side. We'll go through with the training programme as planned, and I hope we'll do them a service. The new phase of the operation is a long-term measure designed to keep the lid on things in the event of a take-over by criminal elements.”
”That's one way of putting it,” I said.
”You keep the lid on things by blowing the whole f.u.c.king place sky high.”
”Geordie!” The CO's voice sharpened.
”Get hold of yourself The Regiment has received this request from the Pentagon, via the British Governnment. We've agreed to carry it out.”
Already I regarded Sasha as a friend, a comrade in arms, who needed all the help I could give him. Now I was going to have to double-cross him in everything I said or did. All my friendly actions were going to be undermined by treachery. Then there was Anna. Even though we'd only met once, I sensed that I could work with her. From day one I'd be deceiving her too.
I heard myself asking, ”Does our emba.s.sy in Moscow know about this?”
”No.” The Boss shook his head emphatically.
”Not a thing.
They'll never hear of it.”
Immediately I thought, More people to deceive: the Charge d'Affaires, for a start.
”Christ!” I glanced at Whinger and saw he was looking pretty sick. I looked on along the line of faces Rick, Mal, Pavarotti, Dusty hoping for back-up, but they all wore blank, puzzled expressions.
”These devices,” I said.
”Are you talking about suitcase bombs the sort of things that were developed for taking out bridges or dams?”
”A modern version,” the CO conceded.
”Slightly bigger, and very much more powerful.”
”How are we supposed to handle them? I mean, are they portable, or what?”
”More or less.” The CO gestured to his left.
”Mr. Laidlaw is going to give you an initial briefing.”
Laidlaw stood up to expound. Plump and rubicund, with dark hair slicked back and a big gut bulging against his doublebreasted, navy pin-stripe suit, he looked a bit of a character, a man who enjoyed a gla.s.s or two. Yet his manner was anything but frivolous: ”Gentlemen,” he said in a thick, fruity Scottish accent, 'for simplicity's sake I shall refer to the devices by initials. In the trade they're known as CNDs, compact nuclear devices. Ironic that the same initials stood for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which some of you may remember.
Nevertheless, those are the initials that we tend to use.
”The two CNDs you will be placing in position weigh approximately a hundred and fifty kilograms apiece. However, each one comes in two parts the size and shape of large suitcases.
One component weighs eighty kilos, the other seventy. Thus each component can be carried without much difficulty by two men. Easier with four. The device is primed by fitting the two halves together. It is then connected to a smaller unit, a radio receiver. The whole is detonated by signal from a satellite in synchronous...o...b..t.”
He stopped, scanning our faces.
”Gentlemen, I can see you looking worried. May I emphasise that the chances of any CND ever being detonated in anger are extremely remote. The devices are being planted purely as a deterrent, which the West will use as a form of control, should the situation in Russia deteriorate to a level which threatens the international community. Think of them as an insurance policy, not as weapons of aggression.
Seeing Johnny s.h.i.+ft on his chair, he prompted, ”Yes?”
”These bombs. How do they get to Moscow?”
”You'll take them with you when you fly in.”
”Where are they now?”
Laidlaw looked at his watch.
”They're due into Lakenheath any time now. They should reach Hereford this evening.”
I was finding it hard to believe that this whole spiel wasn't some crazy test, sprung on us to gauge our reactions.
”How do we know where to site them, once we get there?” I asked.