when the device is switched off,’ he said. ‘Our boffins at Sixteen believe that operating it in shallow water causes a bounce effect that would be detrimental to the equipment on board the ship itself.’ Jervis nodded for the ops officer to continue.
‘The ship never sails anywhere except in deep water in order to keep the disrupter operational. The Inessa is also obliged to turn off the disrupter in Sevastopol harbour because of the density of sonar surveillance and security systems in operation. Those same systems prohibit us from mounting an effective surveillance task while she’s in port. The Inessa’s disrupter is therefore kept in the standby mode until the ship has left the harbour. The captain can turn it on as soon as he has passed the mole. He appears to make a habit of taking the vessel as close to the northern mole as he can. The seabed there is less than a metre below propeller depth. The logic seems to be that if he can’t use the disrupter until the ship’s clear of the mole he’ll opt for the shallowest point. The turbulence created by the vessel is too great to position a robot. A team of Spetsnaz shadow the ship and they have been seen inspecting the shallows after she has passed this point. They appear to take every precaution. We believe the only solution is to send a diver in, someone who can react quickly to a changing situation, record the data and get out of there before the Spetsnaz arrive.
‘We have carried out a survey of the seabed, where the Inessa likes to pass,’ the ops officer went on, touching the screen, which zoomed in to an area just beyond the end of the mole. ‘It’s uneven, made up of large rocks. MI16 has come up with a harness that can be bolted to rock. Theoretically, a diver should be able to attach himself to the harness and operate a recording device while the vessel passes overhead. When it’s gone he disconnects and gets out of there.’ The ops officer looked around at them. ‘That’s the task in general detail.’
‘What tests have been carried out with this harness and recorder?’ the CO asked. ‘Has anyone actually tried this before?’
‘I had a moment with the chap from MI16 who’s here,’ the ops officer said. ‘I understand they’ve carried out several satisfactory trials.’
The CO looked at Stratton. ‘What do you think?’
Stratton tried to visualise the operation. ‘It’ll depend on the kit, sir. There’ll be a lot of turbulence. But if it’s been done . . .’
The CO turned back to David. ‘Did he describe the precise conditions in which they tested the equipment?’
‘Apparently one of them wore the harness in its intended role while a Royal Navy frigate passed overhead,’ the ops officer replied. ‘With the same clearances as may be expected in Sevastopol.’
‘They actually trialled it using one of their own?’ the CO asked, impressed.
‘So he said, sir.’
‘Why don’t we just get them to do it?’ Mike quipped, with a smirk. No one laughed, though Jervis smiled thinly.
‘The Spetsnaz are as much of a concern to me as the turbulence, ’ the CO said. ‘This is a job for a soldier, not a scientist.’
‘We have some useful underwater toys,’ Mike offered.
‘And so have the Russians,’ the CO countered. ‘This chap from Sixteen. Did he bring the kit with him?’
‘Yes, sir. He’s waiting upstairs,’ the ops officer said.
‘How long have we got before we mount this operation?’ the CO asked Jervis. ‘I’d like Stratton to have a practice run if possible.’
‘You won’t have time for any of that,’ Jervis said. ‘We believe the Inessa leaves harbour tomorrow night or very soon after. Your man would have to be on target by then and every night until it does depart.’
The information only added to the general discomfort among the specialist soldiers.
Stratton had a question. ‘Do we know if the Spetsnaz conduct recces of the shallows before the Inessa passes the mole?’
‘They’re part of the Inessa’s crew,’ Jervis replied. ‘They satellite it whenever the disrupter’s in standby mode and go aboard once it’s operational. I’ve heard nothing about them recceing ahead but I’ll see if I can confirm that and get back to you.’
‘What about a team, sir?’ Mike suggested. ‘Give Stratton some back-up.’
‘Too risky,’ Jervis replied. ‘I can’t afford to have a crowd operating in that area. The Russians are highly sensitive at the moment. There’s talk of conflict with the Ukrainians over the port lease. The