Fire Ice

The pilot's voice came over their earphones in a lazy, slightly western Chuck Yeager drawl.

"Hi, folks. My name is Mike. Make yourselves comfortable. Should be plenty of room to stretch. They designed this chopper for oil-rig support, so it's pretty much a flying bus. We can take twelve passengers. You're lucky to be going on this leg. We expect to be pretty crowded on the return trip. There's a thermos of hot coffee up near the bulkhead. Help yourselves. Please let me know if you need anything. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the flight."

Gu

"What's been going on, Rudi?" Paul said. "We've only heard bits and pieces."

"I'm not sure what the total picture looks like, but here's what we do know. Several days ago, Admiral Sandecker was invited to a White House meeting with the president and his advisors. The White House was worried about the deteriorating political situation in Russia. Some of the president's men scolded Sandecker for allowing Kurt to violate Russian sovereign territory at the abandoned Soviet submarine base. They were worried that it would give Russian opposition forces ammunition to use against the government, which is already fighting for its life. The admiral apologized, said it was an accident and offered to talk directly to the Russians. His offer was rejected. Then he asked what the White House was doing about the NR-1. Strangely, the president and his people had forgotten to tell Sandecker the sub was missing."

Paul gri

Gamay shook her head. "It's unbelievable that the NR-1 could vanish with no trace, as if it had been swallowed by a sea monster."

"You're not far off the mark. The NR-1 was hijacked and transported on the deck of a submarine."

"That's more far-fetched than the sea monster theory," Gamay said.

"We were trying to figure things out, when Kurt called and said a source had told him that a mining tycoon named Mikhail Razov is behind the political unrest in Russia. According to the White House, there's a tie between the NR-1's disappearance and the mess in Moscow. In addition, Razov's company, Ataman Enterprises, has leased the sub base from the Russian government."

Gamay said, "That's why Kurt asked us to look into Razov's operation at Novorossiysk."

"You think the NR-J was taken to this old sub base?"

Paul said. "We thought that was a possibility. But we were more worried about something else Kurt's source said, that Razov was co

"What sort of plot?" Paul asked.

"We don't know. Sandecker considered the tip serious. When Kurt said he was assembling the Special Assignments Team and pla

"He put it quite colorfully," Gamay said, laughingly.

"I won't even ask," said Rudi, imagining Austin's report. "The White House specifically warned Admiral Sandecker to stay clear of the NR-1 investigation. I'm sure it won't surprise you to know he managed to get around that warning by a technicality. He agreed not to search for the sub, but said nothing about the sub base."

"I'm shocked, shocked," Gamay said with mock horror, echoing Casablanca.

"Me, too," said Paul. "Who would have thought such a thing?"

"Your sarcasm is dutifully noted and ignored. But you get the point. We had to keep the admiral insulated to give him room to maneuver.

"Risky," Paul said. "The whole thing could blow up in NUMA's face."

"Sandecker was well aware of that possibility, but the gods who watch over the Black Sea were in a benevolent mood."

"You look like the cat who swallowed the canary," Gamay said, noting Gu

"Very good. He and Joe found the NR-1's crew – the package I mentioned. They were being held captive at the Russian base. They're on the Argo now."

"That's great, but I don't understand," Paul said, furrowing his brow. "The Russians were holding them prisoner?"

"It's more complicated than that, from what I gather. The captain and pilot are still missing, along with the sub itself. Kurt wanted us all to be at the crew's debriefing."

"Finding these guys is quite a coup for NUMA and the admiral," Paul observed.

"Unfortunately, we can't claim credit for the rescue. I'm not sure how it will be a

"Hard to keep a secret in Washington," Paul said. "The story is bound to get out."

"I agree. We've notified the navy that we found the sub's crew, but we've deliberately been short on details. We won't be able to get away with that strategy forever. Which is why this brainstorming session with the crew is so important. We've got to get to the bottom of this. Why don't we help ourselves to more coffee while you fill me in on your encounter with Ataman?"

Gamay volunteered to refill their coffee mugs. "I'll let Paul do the play-by-play and I'll add the color," she said.

Gu

Gu

The pilot's voice broke Gu

The Argo had switched on every light in greeting and looked look like a giant floating Christmas tree against the inky darkness of the sea. The helicopter hovered over the ship and slowly descended onto the large, blinking X that marked the landing pad. The touchdown was nearly perfect, marked by a slight thump of the wheels on the deck. The rotors spun to a stop, and the copilot came back to open the door. The passengers thanked the crew for a smooth flight and descended the boarding steps, eyes blinking against the brilliant floodlights that turned the night into day.

Austin's broad shoulders and pale hair were easy to spot among the crowd that had gathered to greet the arrivals. He strode over, shook hands with Gu

"Hope you had time for your martinis," Austin said.

Gamay smiled and pecked his cheek. "We squeezed in two drinks apiece, thank you."