Dominika smiled. “So let’s summarize. MAGNIT has passed railgun technology to the GRU, which in turn has passed it to the North Korean intelligence service, the RGB, which has in turn provided the data to be used in nuclear trigger design at the Yongbyon Scientific Research Center.” Shlykov looked back at Dominika without expression.
“Why would the GRU under any circumstances wish to accelerate the development of a North Korean nuclear device?” asked Dominika. Bravo, thought Gorelikov, Egorova arrives at the correct issue in five minutes.
“That is not an intelligence matter,” snapped Shlykov. “That is a policy consideration far outside your purview.” Gorelikov from the end of the table looked at Dominika with a blank expression that meant drop it.
“And what does the SVR Director think?” said Dominika. No answer; the current SVR Director is a nonentity. “Is it the president’s edict that Academician Ri be terminated? I see no conflict between the two cases. MAGNIT is only providing the technology. Professor Ri is a penetration of the North Korean nuclear program. Cannot both cases be run concurrently and in close coordination?” Gorelikov noted how Egorova kept her temper, while Shlykov fumed.
“When an asset of immense potential value is threatened by another asset of lesser value, priorities must be set. There is no question that Egorova’s case must be terminated. The SVR must withdraw from the operational field,” said Shlykov.
“I believe we can discuss the compatibility of these cases at a later date,” said Gorelikov. “But what the major says is true. MAGNIT is of immense importance, now and in the future. But this brings us to another subject, the ultimate reason for this meeting: the secure handling of MAGNIT. The president has ordered the SVR to assist the GRU in establishing an enhanced handling protocol for this asset.” Shlykov bristled in his chair.
“The GRU is more than capable of handling its assets securely,” he snapped.
“You may wish to express your opposition to the president’s wishes in person,” said Gorelikov softly, using the time-honored Kremlin threat. Shlykov looked down at his folder, retreating, knowing the conversation was probably being recorded.
“No one has the experience and acumen that the SVR can bring to a foreign operation,” said Gorelikov, ticking points off on his fingers. “MAGNIT will be more safely handled in the United States by an illegals officer. SVR administers Line S, the illegals directorate. Colonel Egorova has handled illegals before. Besides,” he continued, as if any of it made a difference, “the president expressly wishes that Colonel Egorova be involved in the handling and communications plan for MAGNIT,” said Gorelikov.
“I did not agree to this,” said Shlykov.
“The president did not solicit your approval,” said Gorelikov, impatiently. “MAGNIT has been handled adequately for a decade, with tradecraft commensurate with the asset’s position.” Gorelikov was devilishly clever not to use the masculine or feminine pronoun. Be patient; someone will make a slip sooner or later, Dominika thought.
“But the internal handling protocol must now be strengthened,” said Gorelikov. “With the prospect of MAGNIT’s improved access, handling can no longer be left to inside GRU officers. A top illegals officer in New York City encrypted SUSAN will handle MAGNIT internally from now on, and Egorova will travel to the United States to meet her and pass dedicated communications equipment.” Well, we at least know SUSAN is a she. New York: it would be Dominika’s first trip to America.
What none of them at the table knew was that for at least ten years MAGNIT was also being met once a year outside the United States by Gorelikov himself. Gorelikov considered MAGNIT his case despite Shlykov’s pettifogging and now, as MAGNIT’s access was going to mushroom, he wanted to jettison clunky GRU handling and institute more secure handling in the United States.
“The SVR will try to usurp the case,” said Shlykov, unhappily. “The General Staff will not stand for any attempt to purloin the intelligence.”
“You mean steal your credit,” said Gorelikov dryly. “Do not worry, the case will remain with the GRU. Colonel Egorova need not even know MAGNIT’s true name when she passes the equipment to SUSAN.” Wrong answer, Anton. I need to know where our friend MAGNIT lives and breathes. There will be time.
“That’s most reassuring,” said Shlykov. “But I want Blokhin to accompany the colonel to New York to protect our operational equities.”
For a million reasons, no way, thought Dominika. I’ll be meeting Nate and Bratok in New York. “Now I’m afraid I must object,” said Dominika. “Two officers cannot make a clandestine meeting in tandem. Though I’m sure Sergeant Blokhin’s skills in the field are many, I suspect surveillance detection is not one of them.”
Blokhin’s strange bass voice surprised everyone. “I’ll show you my field skills whenever you like,” he said. His vacant look was more alarming than had he been growling. The black wings folded back on each other.
Shlykov and Blokhin pushed back from the table, gathered their folders, and left the conference room. The metronome click of their heels faded, until they turned a corner in the gorgeous hallway.
* * *
* * *
Gorelikov heaved a deep sigh. “Dealing with that presmykayushchiysya, that reptile, is always tiresome,” said Gorelikov. “His grandfather was a hero in the Great Patriotic War, until Stalin purged—shot—him in 1949. His father was an army marshal in the seventies, and young Valeriy has done well in the GRU. He is ambitious, privileged, and unethical, so watch your back with him.”
“And MAGNIT?” asked Dominika casually.
“An immensely productive case with unimaginable promise,” said Gorelikov, who was not ready to reveal the agent’s identity to Egorova on the eve of her trip to New York. “The asset has risen through the bureaucracy and is now poised on the US national policy stage. If things develop the right way, the source will be handled by the illegals officer in New York and directed from the Kremlin as a Director’s case, despite our ill-mannered Shlykov’s wishes.” Okay for now. No more questions about the mole; you’ll have the name for Benford in a month.
“And would it be overstepping my bounds to ask why in heaven we are helping the North Korean nuclear program?” said Dominika.
“Because I want to disorient the Chinese, and flatter that little dumpling in Pyongyang,” said President Vladimir Putin, entering the conference room from a side door. The usual blue suit, white shirt, aquamarine tie, and darting blue eyes complemented the well-known phlegmatic expression somewhere between a grin and a leer. Putin came around the table with his characteristic rolling sailor’s gait, which an obsequious Kremlin biographer had recently described as a KGB-taught fighter’s stride, but Dominika suspected was just a short man’s waddle. Without speaking, he sat opposite her and rested his hands on the table. His blue aura—intelligence, guile, calculation—was like a kokoshnik on his head, the traditional conical Russian headdress, half-tiara, and half-diadem.
“I would like you to meet the illegals officer in New York,” he said. Dominika had no doubt he had heard the conversation with Shlykov five minutes before.
The clairvoyant leader, the all-knowing tsar. “Yes, Mr. President.”
“I trust you to take the necessary precautions.”
“Of course, Mr. President,” said Dominika.
“Take Blokhin with you as support,” Putin said.
Gorelikov stirred. “Mr. President,” he said, “a Spetsnaz trooper is not exactly what the operational situation—”
“Take him along, nonetheless,” said Putin. “Keep the major happy until he begins his other project.” Gorelikov kept quiet.
“And when you return,” said Putin to Dominika, “I want to discuss new initiatives in the SVR with you. The recent favorable results of the activniye meropriyatiya, our active measures in the United States tells me we should expand our capabilities in this area.”