Opening Moves

‘[priority code] SDD

[agent] Alkonost

[date code] 160745c

[personal code as an authenticator] FB21162285

[distribution1] route x-eyes only

[distribution1] AalphaA [Comrade Chairman Beria].

[message] test failed. A+ self observed. Reliable reports B+ many scientist deaths. Train-Snake.

[message ends]

Message authenticates. Codes for non-compromisation valid.

RECEIVED 09:19 21/7/45-B.V.LEMSKY’

“So this failure Lavrentiy? Our agents or their inefficiency? Do we know?”

“Neither Alkonost, Gamayun, nor Kalibr reports indicate action on the part of the agent but all three messages have been brief. It is possible that it could be modesty on the part of an agent of course, but I would have expected credit to be claimed, however brief the message.”

Beria offered an explanation.

“I can imagine there is much consternation in the Amerikanisti project, so possibly our agents have sent short messages for their own security.”

 “Only Alkonost mentions casualties but the reliability seems reasonable. We will know more later.”

Stalin pushed a little harder.

“So I was correct. No need to trouble our military after all.”

“That would appear to be so, Comrade General Secretary. Their project is now stalled and, if the report of casualties is true then we may even find our own research proves fruitful before theirs. That is a thought to sustain the revolutionary heart comrade!”

“Indeed it is Comrade Marshall” and what passed for a laugh escaped the dictator’s lips.

Recently Beria’s position had been cosmetically changed from Chairman to Marshall and he had difficulty getting used to the idea, and the uniform for that matter. The suit he wore today made him feel more the part.

“Now I must receive a delegation from the Urals factories. A necessary evil.”

“I will inform your staff that you are free on my way out Comrade General Secretary.”

Beria did so as he passed through the anteroom, his mind already wrestling with his next problem. Hopefully Comrade Philby’s timely Turkish present was already singing, but it was already clear from Philby’s report that no information had been handed over. Therefore, Beria’s men were just going through the motions of interrogation before disposing of the traitor.

By the time Beria had the thought, Volkov’s body was already stiffening, his interrogation and torture completed in record time as his liaison with the British was already well-documented. He took the crucial secret of his fruitless liaison with the US with him to his cold and silent grave.

1400 hrs Saturday, 21st July 1945, The Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, French Alsace.

It was on this morning that Anne-Marie Valois broke the news to Von Arnesen that his son had been killed in the fighting during the last days of resistance in Berlin. There remained no news of his wife.

At precisely 1400 hrs, Knocke and De Walle adjourned to the Frenchman’s private office to discuss the submitted reports for the first week of the symposium. Overall, it had been a huge success, with the allied soldiers accepting the input of the Germans grudgingly at first but with increasing thirst for knowledge as they began to appreciate the abilities and experiences of their teachers.

Both Kriegspeils had been Symposium victories, but the second had been a remarkably close run thing.

The sole problem had been the arrogant and mouthy American Major Parker, who constantly tried to undermine the sessions with snide comments, despite being verbally slapped into place by his peers. His lack of humility in the august company he kept that week caused more than one of his fellow officers to take him to one side.

The report on his attendance accurately reflected his conduct, and more damningly, his lack of tactical ability. It was sent to his Divisional Commander, complete with the note of abject apology handed to De Walle by a very embarrassed Major Hardegen, also of the 4th US Armored Division.

Hardegen was at the other end of the scale to Parker, quiet, unassuming but exceptionally competent in the military arts, and Knocke and his men were glowing in their praise for the man’s ability. Together with Commandant St.Clair of the 1e [Premiere] Division Française Libre, Hardegen had received the best possible report Knocke felt he could give.

De Walle reasoned that it was important for the symposium members to feel their reports were being properly viewed, so he followed the progress of Parker’s negative evaluation all the way.