Paths of Courage by Mike Woodhams Page A

service, including Russian, to keep track of where they are in the oceans and to log movements of particular types of submarines. This base is constantly updated whenever the opportunity arises, especially during the cat and mouse games played out in the oceans around the world.”
    â€œFrom now on, all Russian subs encountered are to be regarded as hostile, especially if the signature of any of the three now in Rybachiy is confirmed,” said the PM firmly.
    â€œTake out a Russian and we could start a war,” said Regis.
    â€œThey didn’t when America sunk K-129,” said Engels.
    â€œWas that the rogue Russian sub that was supposedly going to launch missiles at Pearl Harbour?” questioned the PM.
    â€œYes, sir, according to unofficial channels.”
    â€œPresumably they didn’t retaliate then because they were the perpetrators,” the PM offered. “Here, if that sub was sold to the Koreans, the Russians are doing the same thing, only indirectly. They would have nothing to gain and everything to lose if we managed to disable. I would gamble, with our island at stake, that Dimitriev would not risk starting a Third World War on that basis.”
    â€œ We could expect some kind of a move against us. It’s more than speculation the Russians sunk the USS
Scorpion
off the Azores in retaliation,” said the admiral.
    â€œIf the Deltas are waiting to be scrapped,” said Trafford, “and knowing the Russian Navy’s currently streamlining their Pacific sub fleet, I would not rule out an ‘under the table’ deal by regional controllers. We know the consolidation is causing hardship to redundant crews; it leaves men idle, who need to feed families.” The minister of defence paused to collect his thoughts and looked at the PM. “A call to President Dimitriev might clarify things.”
    â€œForget that,” shot the PM. “Dimitriev will give nothing away. They may now call themselves a democratic Russian Federation, but the mentality of the old Soviet Union is still firmly in place, believe me. Besides, I would have to explain why. Not only would that make the Russians fully aware of our situation, but it would also give them the excuse to increase their submarine activity. Not to mention surface ships in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans which could put serious pressure on our own naval resources in those areas and, I might add, compromise our own efforts to locate and disable this submarine.”
    The commander-in-chief, Engels, agreed.
    Then, as if an afterthought, the PM added, “Dimitriev probably would not be too unhappy to see London blown away or, for that matter, any American city.”
    Trafford came back, ignoring that last comment, “But, if a sub has been illegally sold to the North Koreans by rogue elements of the Russian Navy’s eastern high command, the Kremlin would also like to locate and destroy, I’m sure, to avoid the consequences, should the sub’s, and thus al-Qaeda’s, intentions succeed. Having them search for their own sub could be a help more than a hindrance. We have to stop that sub by whatever means available, even if it means enlisting the help of the Russians.”
    â€œSupposing, of course, it is Russian,” said Regis. “It could conceivably be French or Indian.”
    The admiral replied, “Every one of the Indian and French nuclear subs is accounted for. There is absolutely no question these two countries would sell to another nation without ours and the Americans’ prior knowledge and agreement. They are our firm allies. The Chinese are a possibility; they have three currently – all brand new. However, I would guess it unlikely that China would give one to a poor neighbour. Relationships between the two are not what you would call cordial right now.”
    Engels excused himself and left the room to return a short while later.
    â€œApart from Seoul, none of our