Three Kings

“I can put men on the ground there today if you wish. We can go by aircraft.”

“By air? I suppose you could fly intoSiwa, but we have a patrol there from our Long Range Desert Group. Perhaps they could handle the matter and spare you the trouble. The Italians have a few fighters at Giarabub that could cause problems for any air search we attempt. That said, it could take days or weeks for desert patrols to locate O’Connor’s plane.”

Volsky smiled. “We can find it by nightfall. We have some special equipment we can use to conduct a search for this aircraft. It will stand out as a heat source in the desert, will it not? We have equipment that can find it, even at night. As for the Italian fighter planes, they will pose no threat. Our aircraft can make use of the rockets we demonstrated earlier, and defend itself quite easily.”

Wavell raised an eyebrow at this, somewhat surprised. “Well… if you’d care to have a go at it, I can send word to my people atSiwa to expect company. I don’t wish to sound discouraging, but it may be more difficult to locate this plane than you believe, Admiral.”

“We have a way of overcoming such difficulties, General Wavell. I will give the order for the search and rescue operation to proceed at once. Mister Fedorov? You seem very eager to see General O’Connor safely returned to the fold here. This sounds like a good job for our Sergeant Troyak and the KA-40. Please handle the matter for me.”

“Thank you, sir. I would be honored.”

“And as to your other problem,” Volsky now turned to Admiral Tovey where he was still consulting the map with Cunningham. “It would seem that my ship is available to help you even those odds.”

Tovey looked over his shoulder, then turned to face the Russians with a grateful nod. “I thank you for the offer,” he said. “Yet we still have that delicate political issue to consider-a Russian ship pulled into the conflict when your own country has not yet openly declared war on Germany, let alone Italy. If you were to become an active combatant here that could cause… difficulties.”

“True,” said Volsky, “but I have given this some thought since our last discussion when you informed me of your Admiralty’s decision to relieve our watch on the Denmark Strait. It seems the whole question comes down to the flag flying from our main mast out there, and it occurred to me that is something that can be easily changed.”

Wavell needed no translation to realize what Volsky was suggesting now. His instincts were as good as his Russian, and he immediately knew that Volsky was offering to re-flag his ship under British colors.

“Your government would permit this?” he said directly to Volsky.

“This may come as a surprise to you and others here,” said Volsky, “but while I am empowered to represent the interests of Sergei Kirov’s Soviet Russia, I also remain an independent force de jure, as the French might put things. I can act on my own accord, and exercise my own judgment here. It was my intention to attend this meeting as an observer and advisor, yet the situation you describe seems quite dire. How can I claim to stand with you as an ally, and yet stand aside when it comes to battle, particularly in a situation like this?”

“Your government makes the claim of alliance with Great Britain,” said Wavell directly in Russian. “Are you saying they have empowered you to assume the role of an active combatant?”

Volsky knew this question would arise, and he had informed Sergei Kirov that it might be necessary to take a more active stance in the war. Kirov had simply replied: “Do what you must. We stand ready, and if the Germans want to do anything about it, let them try.” Volsky knew that he could not tell Wavell he was operating independently of the Soviet government without raising suspicions and questions he would rather not answer here, so he and Sergei Kirov had determined what he might do-re-flag the ship.

“The Americans have lately sold you a number of destroyers for use in the Atlantic, have they not?” Volsky smiled. “Consider this an offer to lend the Royal Navy the support of my ship-all authorized by my government. Think of it as a kind of lend lease. The only condition I impose will be that my vessel remains under my direct command, crewed by my men as it stands. Otherwise, I am willing to re-flag and fight in cooperation with your Royal Navy, and I think I can even the odds considerably in this grave hour.”

“A very generous offer,” said Cunningham. “Yet that makes it eleven to five in capital ships. You realize what you now propose, Admiral Volsky? If we choose to fight here, we do so with the intention of placing our entire force at considerable risk. I assume the Admiralty has no qualms about that?” Now he looked to Tovey, lately dispatched by their Lordships at Whitehall.