Red Star Rising

The smiling mine specialist raising his glasses watched the two minelayers. Men ran about their decks in closely coordinated actions. About that time two 95-foot coastal patrol ships established their presence allowing the other ships to work without interference. Though the ships were without surface-to-air firepower capabilities, Pedro counted several men walking their decks with shoulder-fired missile launchers. Once during the mine laying operation a helicopter from Captain Gorshkov’s flagship roared over snapping photographs. Without incident the chopper flew back to its ship.

While this deadly drama unfolded Kathy curiously observed the grim-faced gunners cautiously tracking that chopper’s flight. Pedro was more interested in those huge oval mines dropping into the waters along an overlapping course. With his glasses the petty officer studied black crowns on the explosive devices housing special state-of-the-art electronics. Within short order sixteen mines were dropped over the sides. As the minelayers made ready to depart, their shadowing coastal boats exchanged messages. Afterwards the ships flying Estonian national colors headed back to Tallinn, their contribution to the political crisis finished.

The visiting Russian and American warships were effectively blockaded inside Knaleski’s harbor!

While Pedro angrily watched the auxiliary ships depart Kathy sternly demanded.

“Were those JKP-47 mines?”

“Sure was.”

“Can we deactivate them?”

“No.”

The naval officer pondered his curt rely before snapping. “So we’re blockaded?”

“I didn’t say that. All I said the mines couldn’t be defused without proper decoding. There are other ways to render them useless.” Handing the glasses back to his lieutenant, the petty officer left the bunker that suddenly didn’t seem so safe. Hearing her coming up the steps he solemnly said. “Those mines are four times the size of standard mines meaning they pack a deadly wham-O and there are sixteen of the bastards out there.”

Before reaching the van the petty officer turning to Kathy somberly theorized. “With the harbor’s entry not one mile across those mines effectively closes the bay. Supposedly JKP-47 models are electronically activated from another station?” He sighed before speculating. “We got to find that station and neutralize it. Our biggest problem will be finding the location as it can be small as an automobile.”

Stopping at the van, Kathy looked at Pedro. “So where do we start?”

“First, I need to talk this over with somebody at our submarine mine school.”

“And?”

“Maybe your Estonian friends can help find that station?”

“Sounds fair enough.”

Nearing the van Pedro stops to look at the woman. “I don’t think I have ever heard of a mission screwy as this one? We have Russians that are friends and Russians who are enemies and we don’t know which is which. The world blames Yeltsin for all of this shit and he’s not telling the world there are two Russian fractions battling this one out. Maybe why he isn’t talking straight is because he doesn’t want to know which fraction is on his side and which one isn’t. Our government sends three warships right into a damned war then tells us to figure out how to get our ass out of the hot water.” He bitterly shook his head. “And every time we take a step the covert becomes even more bizarre.”

Kathy laughed. “Interesting, eh?”