Tom Clancy's op-centre_ mirror image - Tom Clancy [99]
General Orlov informed Dal about the 76T and its eastward progress. It was southeast of Franz Josef Land in the Arctic Ocean. He also informed him about the efforts by United States intelligence to communicate with other Russian transports. Dal agreed that the 76T seemed to be suspicious, not only because it was flying to the east, away from the action, but because there was no record of any transfer of goods in Berlin or Helsinki. Though the records might be held up in red tape, Dal suggested a flyby to signal the pilot to break radio silence and explain his mission. Orlov agreed, and asked him to take the issue up with Air Force General-Major Petrov, who was in charge of the four air defense divisions that patrolled the Arctic Circle.
Orlov had decided to say nothing about the money on the Trans-Siberian train. He wanted to try and find out what Dogin and Kosigan were planning before taking action, and hoped that this call would be somewhat more informative.
Orlov quickly finished the last of his sandwich as the transcription began coming through. He pulled a cloth napkin from the paper bag and touched it to his lips. It bore a trace of Masha's perfume from when she'd packed it. He smiled.
As the voices began coming in, Titev had tagged them so the computer recognized which was Kosigan and which was Dogin. The text appeared in solid blocks, broken when someone else spoke and punctuated based on the inflection of the speaker. Orlov read with increasing concern. He was worried not only about the prospects for peace but about who was answering to whom in the relationship.
Dogin: General, we seem to have taken the Kremlin and the world by surprise.
Kosigan: That was my zadacha dnia my mission of the day.
Dogin: Zhanin is still busy trying to figure out what's happening- Kosigan: As I've said, force him to react rather than act and he's helpless.
Dogin: That's the only reason I let you move your troops this far before the money was in place.
Kosigan: Let?
Dogin: Agreed, let, what's the difference? You were right to want to put Zhanin on the defensive so soon.
Kosigan: Momentum we mustn't lose- Dogin: We won't. Where are you?
Kosigan: Thirty-two miles west of Lvov, Poland. All the forward regiments are in place and I can see Poland from my command tent. All we await are the great acts of terrorism Shovich's money is supposed to buy me. Where are they? I'm getting restless.
Dogin: You may have to wait a little longer than we'd planned.
Kosigan: Wait? What do you mean?
Dogin. The snow. General Orlov transferred the crates to a train.
Kosigan: Six billion dollars on a train! Do you think he suspects?
Dogin: No, no, it's nothing like that. He did it to get the cargo through the storm.
Kosigan: But on a train, Minister? So vulnerable- Dogin: Orlov's son's unit is guarding it. Rossky assures me the boy's a real soldier, not a trained space monkey.
Kosigan: He could be in league with his father.
Dogin: I assure you, General, that is not the case. And no one will ever hear of the money afterward. When this is finished, we'll retire Orlov the Elder and return Orlov the Younger to his military hole where no one will ever hear of it. Don't worry. I'll have the cargo met west of Bira, clear of the storm, and flown to you.
Kosigan: Fifteen or sixteen hours wasted! The first of the major disturbances should have been happening by then! You risk giving Zhanin the time to take control of the situation.
Dogin: He won't. I've spoken with our allies in the government. They understand about the delay- Kosigan: Allies? They're profiteers, not allies. If Zhanin traces this action to us and gets to them before some of the money lines their pockets- Dogin: He won't. The President will do nothing for now. And our Polish hirelings will act the moment they are paid.
Kosigan: The government! The Poles! We don't need either of them! Let me send spetsnaz troops disguised as shipyard or factory workers to attack the police station and television station.
Dogin: