“Then let us conference with Captain Madden and see if we can make the arrangements. Request permission to escort the Captain and the survivors off Birmingham to that ship, and a meeting with Admiral Tovey at his discretion.”
“Right away, sir.”
Fedorov had suddenly lost all his reservations about the meeting, and the lightness in his step brought a grin to Admiral Volsky’s face. Well, he thought. I suppose I had better get into my dress uniform. Appearances always matter, especially for the British. They’ll look me over as closely as they look over this ship. So now we see if the character of this man John Tovey has changed in this altered reality. This will be very interesting.
The last time I met this man both fear and respect were invited to the conference. He had seen us in combat, knew what we could do. We had driven him off in King George V, and bested both Rodney and Nelson together. We blackened the aircraft carrier Furious, and then Karpov unleashed that awful attack against the Americans. He undoubtedly saw the mushroom cloud that day. Fedorov tells me they had a name for us in their code books—Geronimo. But it is only 1940 now. None of that has happened yet, and in this world it probably never will. This time we have only mystery to bring with us to the table—no—that is not quite so. We have another guest that I can bring along, and he is right in Fedorov’s head: information, intelligence, a full accounting of the situation Tovey now faces should the Germans come south again. Yes, this will be very interesting.
An hour later the word came that the meeting was approved and they were invited to join Admirals Tovey and Holland aboard the HMS Invincible for lunch.
“Very well, gentlemen,” said Volsky, and they went over in a large launch. Admiral Volsky, Fedorov, Nikolin and Captain Madden were sitting forward with Sergeant Troyak and two Marines to accompany the British survivors off Birmingham. Rodenko had the ship, watching them go from the bridge and remembering how Karpov had strutted out the entire Marine honor guard and the ship’s band when he went ashore to see the Mayor of Vladivostok in 1908. A pity he could not find a way to parley with Admiral Togo.
Volsky boarded the British battlecruiser up a lowered metal stair, and was duly piped aboard. There he saw a small honor detachment standing at attention, which he saluted.
They were greeted by a young man in smart dress whites. He saluted and stepped forward to extend a hand. “Lieutenant Commander Christopher Wells,” he said. “Admiral Tovey sends his compliments and invites you to follow me, sir. Greetings Captain Madden, and welcome back. We’ve been missing you.”
“Thank you, Mister Wells, it seems that you and I have both been through the fire lately. Good show bringing Glorious home. Wish I could say the same for my ship.”
“I’m sure you did your best, sir, and everything possible under the circumstances.”
“Yes, but when a magazine blows…well, that’s another story. Lead on, sir.”
They made their way along the deck, past the high aft mast where the naval jack of the Royal Navy flew proudly above the fleet flagship. Fedorov’ eyes were big, a light of discovery in them, and quiet elation. Once he paused to gape up at the big twin funnels and then stare at the main battery amidships, his eyes sweeping over the massive barrels of steel.
“Come along, Mister Fedorov,” said Volsky with a smile. “We mustn’t let Admiral Tovey’s soup get cold waiting for us.”
“Sorry sir.” Fedorov quickened his pace. “This is quite a remarkable ship. If built to designed specs, it would have belt armor 14 inches thick, over 17 inches on those gun turrets, and the deck under our feet is all of 8 inches thick in key places.”
“Very well protected,” said Volsky. “How different we are with Kirov, wearing only a helmet and breastplate near the reactor room compared to the full body armor and chain mail of this heavy knight. But while he must charge valiantly in and fight with lance, sword and shield at close quarters, we use the longbow from beyond his reach. Therein lies our real armor, Fedorov—ranged firepower. It is the reason aircraft carriers were proved so dominant by the end of this war. Yet we even better that weapons platform, in that what we target we hit, and without fail in this era, as they have no SAM systems capable of tracking or hindering our SSMs. If they would ever hit one it would be sheer happenstance.”
“Well put, Admiral. And when we add in the fact that we can find the enemy unerringly, see him first and then hit him well over the horizon, it is clear that Kirov is the mightiest ship afloat here, but it is strange to think that no more than that intangible element of trust now stands as our only shield sitting this close to those ships. One blast of those 16 inch guns at the moment would blow us sky high.”
“Just be sure you do not mention that in these discussions, Fedorov,” the Admiral warned him half seriously.
“Of course, sir. Yet for all the power we see assembled here, I fear the German fleet may have the advantage, sir. Nikolin and I have intercepted and decoded a good deal of signals traffic. The Germans Have the carrier Graf Zeppelin with their main body. That is a game changer, sir, and it has already made a successful strike on Tovey’s squadron, damaging the battlecruiser Renown and forcing him to withdraw. That is, in fact why I believe he has chosen to consolidate here.”
“I may call on your analysis of this situation, Fedorov. If the opportunity presents, do not hesitate to speak your mind. I think we must find a way to convince the British we are valuable to them as an ally here.”
They climbed several levels, which Volsky found somewhat arduous, leaving him a little winded when they reached the Admiral’s stateroom high up in the forward conning tower structure. He huffed in to find a row of British officers, in dress whites, all standing to meet him. There he immediately recognized Admiral Tovey’s tall stocky frame, the narrow eyes, calm demeanor, and walked directly to him, extending his hand in greeting. Nikolin padded behind, quickly translating what he said.
“I would pay dearly to find a naval architect with a fancy for elevators,” he said, which immediately drew a polite laugh from the officers assembled. “I am Admiral Leonid Volsky. A remarkable ship you have here, Admiral Tovey. My Captain Fedorov has been admiring it greatly.” Volsky extended an arm, beckoning Fedorov to his side to shake hands with the British officers.
There stood Tovey, with his Flag Lieutenant Villers, then Captain Bennett standing with Admiral Holland off the Hood. Vice Admiral Aircraft Carriers had been invited, but Ark Royal was busy mounting air patrols at the moment and coordinating her efforts with HMS Illustrious. The young staff officer that had escorted them here stood dutifully by the hatch.
As Tovey looked at the man before him he had the sudden and distinct impression that he knew him; that he had met him somewhere before. Was it the way he singled me out as if he, too, knew exactly who I was without counting stripes? I could swear I have spoken with this man before. It was a feeling that had taken root in him the moment he set eyes upon the arriving Russian ship. There was something about it that stirred deep memories, hazy now yet crystal clear in places, where the image of a distant dreadnought lashing out with wrathful fire were still riveted in his mind. That was far away in time, and in the Pacific, but he could not escape the feeling that he had once seen this towering ship, its long raked hull, tall prow, and the strangely open forecastle that was devoid of any heavy armament. Yet that was clearly not possible, and for all his life he could not place any moment where he could recall meeting this man, a high ranking officer in the Soviet Navy.
Now, however, there was the matter of the intelligence he had received from the Admiralty indicating that the Soviet cruiser Kirov had been properly accounted for in the Baltic. Yet it was not time for that yet. Courtesy first, then lunch, and business after with gin.
So they all sat down at the table, laid out with white linen and the ships ceremonial silver. The meal was light, but savory, a nice hot soup, cold cuts, fresh bread with butter and sliced cucumber. The staff officer Wells was seated next to Fedorov, surprised that he, too had been
invited to the table.
“I’m taking this gentleman under my wing,” said Tovey. “He’s already saved us an aircraft carrier, and that is a fine start in any man’s log as I see things.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Thank you, Mister Wells. Though I’m afraid you will have to work quite diligently if you ever hope to top that one.” That brought a laugh, and Tovey thought to himself, that’s what I’ve been doing ever since I charged in that day aboard King Alfred—trying to grasp that moment in hand and heart again. I suppose it’s what every man who’s ever found himself at the edge of death in combat does for the rest of his life.
Tovey kept the lunch conversation light, expressing his gratitude for the rescue of Birmingham’s surviving crew. But he slowly worked in a few points he wanted clarification on. Had the Admiral also seen a convoy further south? He found that this was, indeed, the same cruiser spotted by HX-49 and Ausonia, and the same reported to him by Flight Captain Partridge off Ark Royal.
As lunch ended his curiosity was overpowering, but he correctly waited for the gin and cigarettes to be offered, noting that none of the Russians seemed to prefer tobacco, but that they warmly received the gin. Then he got round to the business of the day.
“You wished to see me, Admiral Volsky, and I was happy to take this meeting with you here. Yet I wonder if I might clear up one small matter at the outset. Your initial claim some days ago when sighted by our aircraft was that you were the cruiser Kirov. Yet my Admiralty tells me that very ship is presently in the Baltic. I must say I forget what ship I’m on at times the way I bounce about the fleet. But might you clarify this for me?”
Volsky thought that he had never been so politely accused of being a liar in his life, though he knew this question was coming. “Well Admiral,” he said. “The Kirov presently in the Baltic is an older ship, launched in 1936 if I am not mistaken.” He looked to Fedorov now.
“That is correct, sir,” said Fedorov in passing English. Then he spoke in Russian, with Nikolin translating quickly. “We have a bad habit of often renaming ships in our navy. There were six cruisers in the Kirov class, and two of those will be renamed. We are somewhat newer, but graced with the official name Sergie Kirov as well, though our ship is of another class entirely, and may not yet be known to your Admiralty or Naval Intelligence.”
“We are, in fact, not even well known among our own naval personnel,” said Volsky adding a little icing to the cake. “This ship was built under a cloak of considerable secrecy and security. I suppose we will not be the last ship to bear the name Kirov either, but for the moment I am happy to share it with our elder brother in the Baltic. I don’t think he knows we’re stepping on his toes yet.”
“I see…A reasonable explanation. Then your mission here is classified as well?”
“It was. We were to test new equipment and conduct exercises. We are presently en route to Murmansk, returning home.”
“Well I’m afraid you will find yourself in dangerous waters here,” said Tovey. “It is our intelligence that the German Navy is planning a major breakout operation here, which is the reason we have hastened to assemble this battle fleet. It may be wise of you to move south at this time to avoid the action that may soon unfold here. Given your size and silhouette, it would be easy for either side to mistake you for the enemy, and should you proceed north we cannot necessarily guarantee your safety.”
Volsky smiled. The low cards have been played, and now the British Admiral led with a spade, hoping to move me out of the theater of operations. But I am an old bridge player, and have a very long suit in spades. Time to play.
“Thank you, Admiral Tovey. But I can guarantee our safety as we sail north. In fact I may be able to guarantee yours as well.”
Chapter 33
Tovey did not know what to make of Admiral Volsky’s last statement. “I’m sorry, Admiral, but I am not quite sure I follow what you mean.”
“Forgive me, Admiral. I do not mean to be coy, but we have been well north of your present position, and gained intelligence that you might find valuable. So it was that we came across the wreckage of your cruiser along our route home. I wonder if you are aware that the Germans will have more than this heavy cruiser at sea to the north.”
“Which is all the more reason for you to consider safer waters to the south, Admiral.”
Volsky took a sip of his gin, then set the glass down. “May I ask Captain Fedorov to speak briefly. He is somewhat of a naval historian, and I think he may be able to shed some light on what I am trying to tell you here. Mister Fedorov?”
Fedorov began to address the officers as if he were lecturing at the academy, looking to Nikolin, who translated skillfully as he spoke.
“From what I have seen, you presently have a strong force assembled. You will be matched, however, by an equally powerful force. Our intelligence indicates the Germans will have Bismarck and Tirpitz, to put against your flagship here and HMS Hood. They will have two battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, to match Repulse, and two heavy cruisers Prince Eugen and the Hipper to set beside your own cruisers. They, too have carrier support, which is somewhat surprising to me, and I think it was also a surprise to you. We have confirmed this through analysis of signals traffic. And they have also brought three large destroyers, more like light cruisers really. To put it simply, sir, and I mean no disrespect, I do not believe you presently command sufficient force to prevail should it come to a major fleet action here.”
Holland raised an eyebrow at that, thinking the Russian Captain seemed a bit too young to be in that position, and here he was telling a pair of Admirals with combined service histories twice his years in age that all their considerable efforts would come to naught. He smiled, politely, but spoke his mind.
“My good man, I should think we will manage well enough if it comes to a fight here.”
“I would hope that you would, Admiral Holland, but we believe this flagship and other escorts were east of Iceland some 48 hours ago, and undoubtedly with the same mindset and confidence. Yet here you are, and we are aware that HMS Renown, once steaming by your side, is not here.”
The boldness of that statement struck through the British officers like a well aimed cricket ball. Flag Lieutenant Villers shifted uncomfortably, but deferred to Admiral Tovey.
“May I ask how you came by this information, Captain?”
“The same way you come by your information, Admiral. We listen to signals traffic just as you and the Germans do, and our ship is highly specialized in general area surveillance. In fact, we can tell you a great many things you may not yet know based on our reconnaissance north earlier today.”
“I see… Do go on, Captain. If you have information that would be pertinent and useful, we would certainly welcome it.”
Fedorov looked first to Admiral Volsky, something Tovey noted and looked on with approval. The young man seemed confident, knowledgeable, yet correctly deferred to senior authority. He watched the Russian Admiral closely as well, still wrestling inwardly with the impossible notion that he knew this man. Volsky spoke next.
“There is something more I will disclose to you now, and that is a decision I have made personally in this situation in consultation with our senior officers. You have said we cruise in dangerous waters here, and this we came to know, first hand. The German ships responsible for the sinking of your cruiser to the north also encountered us. I believe they were attempting to refuel with a replenishment ship hovering west near the ice floes. In any case, as it happened our course ran afoul of theirs, and there was a disagreement.” He folded his arms, watching Tovey to see what effect his words had as Nikolin finished the translation.
“Are you saying you engaged the Germans, sir?”
“Two ships. My Captain here tells me they were battlecruisers, and they did not seem to like the looks of us on their horizon. From our position at the time we were aware of your position as well, Admiral Holland, and it seemed to us that the Germans, after besting yo
ur cruiser screen, were now in a very good place to slip by you and gain the Atlantic. I do not have to tell you that would have created a most uncomfortable situation for your merchant marine, as we have also seen the convoy traffic further south. Taking all this into consideration, I made a decision to intervene.”
“Intervene?” Holland again has a bemused look on his face. “Now I mean no disrespect either here, Admiral, and please pardon me if I am as frank and direct as your Captain Fedorov. I have had a close look at your ship in the last hour. Your size and silhouette are quite impressive, a marvel of naval architecture, I would say. However how did you propose to ‘intervene’ with all of six 5.7 inchers on deck? The Twins, that is what we call the two German battlecruisers we are hunting, well…they will outgun you many times over, and I wouldn’t think your ship would survive such an encounter. After all, they bested two of our cruisers with twenty-four 6-inch guns between them. That is four times the firepower I saw on your ship.” Holland folded his hands.
Soft spoken if a bit smug, thought Volsky, but he understood the man’s argument and attitude easily enough. The British cannot see our teeth, and so of course they believe we are toothless. How to convince them otherwise?
“Mister Fedorov, kindly inform these gentlemen as to the decisions we made and relate the action taken.”
“Yes sir. Admiral Holland, while it may not appear from a distance that we carry much in the way of armament, appearances can be deceiving. We are, in fact, a prototype design, and considerably well armed with resources beyond the deck guns you have observed and commented on.” He noted how Holland folded his arms, his body language closed and clearly somewhat defensive at the moment.
“Some time ago we attempted to dissuade the Germans from attacking your cruisers, but did not apply sufficient force. We were uncertain as to what we should do at the time, so we first tried jamming their radar and communications, but they persisted. We did, however use those 5.7 inchers to prompt the Germans to break off their pursuit of the cruisers, whereupon they turned southwest at high speed.”
Kirov Saga: Altered States (Kirov Series) Page 28