Shadow Flight

The date had been September 6, 1976. The place had been Sakharovka Air Force Base, near the village of Chuguyevka, 200 kilometers northeast of Vladivostok. Voronoteev had commanded the 3d Squadron of the 513th Fighter Regiment of the Soviet Air Defense Command. The incident had been the defection to Japan by squadron pilot Lt. Viktor Belenko. He had flown a MiG-25 to asylum in the West, landing out of fuel at Hakodate Airport in northern Japan.

The loss of the highly classified front line interceptor had been difficult enough, but the defection of a Soviet officer and an elite combat pilot had been devastating to the Kremlin leadership.

Heads rolled, including Voronoteev's, Belenko's commanding officer. After the board of inquiry, presided over by then Col. Ilych Borol'kov, Voronoteev had been reassigned to the staff of the deputy commander in chief for Military Schools, Strategic Rocket Forces. The nonflying billet had been humiliating, but the removal from command and subsequent censure had destroyed Voronoteev's career in the military.

Voronoteev cleared his mind, shoved back his chair, stood and placed the Eyes Only folder under his arm. He opened the door to his outer office and spoke to the starshina in charge of the clerical staff. "I will return in a few minutes," Voronoteev said as he walked through the cluttered office.

"Yes, comrade general," the chief master sergeant replied, rising to attention.

Voronoteev walked the length of the command and staff offices, passing the first deputy commander and chief's austere quarters, then climbed the wide stairs leading to Borol'kov's spacious suite. The impressive office, replete with bedroom, large bath, walk-in vault, and entertaining salon, was a subject of much discussion among the lower ranking officers.

Voronoteev opened the door to the small outer office and approached Starshiy Praporshchik Lugayev. The smiling senior warrant officer popped to attention and held out a large folder for Voronoteev. "The last combat efficiency report, comrade general."

Voronoteev accepted the bound folder wordlessly, leafed through it, then frowned. "This does not reflect our implementation of Armaments and Aviation Engineering. This report is ambiguous." Voronoteev could see that Lugayev, who blanched, had been taken by complete surprise. "Did you compile this report, Lugayev?"

The short, dapper warrant officer, still at attention, hesitated a moment. "Yes, comrade general."

"At ease," Voronoteev said in a pleasant tone. "Has General Borol'kov read this report?"

"I'm sure the commander has, comrade general," Lugayev answered, clearly uneasy. "I believe that he has endorsed the last page."

Voronoteev thumbed through to the final page. "So he has. It is unusual for the general to miss such a glaring oversight."

Lugayev remained quiet, studying his immaculately manicured fingernails.

"Well, Lugayev, we can let this be our secret. I'll correct your figures as I adjust my readiness report. Open the vault and I'll get the two previous efficiency reports."

"Comrade general," Lugayev said haltingly, "I am expressly forbidden to allow anyone access to the vault, sir."

"Open the vault, Warrant Officer Lugayev," Voronoteev ordered sternly. "I take full responsibility for the security of the contents."

"Yes, comrade general," Lugayev replied as he rounded his desk and entered the spacious office. Voronoteev followed Lugayev into the commander's suite and waited until the vault swung open.

"Comrade general, this is highly irregular, and I must ask you to certify that I was ord—"

"Lugayev," Voronoteev interrupted, "this is official business and I don't have time to waste. We will seal the vault as soon as I compile the figures."

Lugayev nodded his head, stealing a glance toward the outer office entrance, then backed through the open door and closed it behind him.

Voronoteev quickly yanked open the bottom slide-out drawer and began flipping back each SECRET file folder, scanning the content heading. Opening the ninth file, titled ATB, he discovered the B-2 advanced technology bomber scheme.

He was overwhelmed by the complexity of the secret endeavor. The KGB had apparently engineered the operation on its own, and had pulled it off. The supersecret Stealth bomber was in Cuba, secure in the hands of the KGB.

"San Julian," Voronoteev said to himself as he closed the file. He straightened up, opened a larger upper file drawer, then closed it loudly and walked to the door. He opened it and shook his head. "You were right after all. The Armaments and Aviation Engineering data will be included in the annual efficiency report."

"Yes, sir," Lugayev responded as he hurried through the door to close the vault.