Power Play

By Rick Campbell

Power Play, a thrilling new Trident Deception short story by Rick Campbell.

The Russians have their newest class of nuclear attack submarine and is taking it, K-561 Kazan, on a shakedown cruise. Unbeknownst to them, however, this new submarine is being followed by an American submarine, the USS Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh is to gather any intelligence they can on this new Russian submarine while avoiding detection by the Russians. But what first appears to be the rollout of a new type of submarine, might well be something completely different. Instead the Pittsburgh witness a torpedo firing exercise—and the radical new technology might well not be the submarine, but the torpedo.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Jan 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781250231116

Rick Campbell

Rick Campbell, a retired Navy Commander, spent more than twenty years on multiple submarine tours. On his last tour, he was one of the two men whose permission was required to launch the submarine's nuclear warhead-tipped missiles. Campbell is the author of The Trident Deception, Empire Rising and Ice Station Nautilus, and lives with his family in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Book preview

Begin Reading

Table of Contents

About the Author

Copyright Page

Thank you for buying this

St. Martin’s Press ebook.

To receive special offers, bonus content,

and info on new releases and other great reads,

sign up for our newsletters.

Or visit us online at

us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup

For email updates on the author, click here.

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

AMERICAN CHARACTERS

UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION

Kevin Hardison—chief of staff

Christine O’Connor—national security advisor

Bill DuBose (Colonel)—senior military aide

USS MICHIGAN (Ohio class guided missile submarine)—Crew

Murray Wilson (Captain)—Commanding Officer

Charlie Eaton (Lieutenant)—Navigator

Clif Bradley (Lieutenant)—Junior Officer

Jeff Porteous (Lieutenant)—Junior Officer

USS MICHIGAN—SEAL Detachment

John McNeil (Commander)—SEAL Team Commander

Jake Harrison (Lieutenant)—SEAL Platoon Officer-in-Charge

Jeff Stone (Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief)

Sam Carver (Special Warfare Operator First Class)

USS PITTSBURGH (Los Angeles class fast attack submarine)

John Buglione (Commander)—Commanding Officer

Rick Schwartz (Lieutenant Commander)—Executive Officer

Bob Cibelli (Lieutenant)—Navigator

Mike Williams (Lieutenant)—Junior Officer

NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE CENTER, NEWPORT DIVISION

Tony DelGreco—Director, Code 85

John Hinves—lead torpedo mechanical engineer

Dave Reynolds—lead torpedo electrical engineer

Gino Cerbarano—lead torpedo warhead engineer

OTHER CHARACTERS

Logan Chance—Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)

Carmen Aguirre—Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI)

Eric Mason—ONI Russian submarine expert

Dave Harrelson—ONI Russian torpedo expert

Vivian Best—Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

John Kaufmann—CIA interrogator

RUSSIAN CHARACTERS

RUSSIAN FEDERATION ADMINISTRATION

Yuri Kalinin—president

Andrei Lavrov—foreign minister

Sergei Andropov (General)—Chief of the General Staff

K-561 KAZAN (Yasen class attack submarine)

Anatoly Mikhailov (Captain Second Rank)—Commanding Officer

Erik Fedorov (Captain Third Rank)—First Officer

OTHER CHARACTERS

Alexei Novikoff—design lead for Russian Type 53 and Type 65 torpedoes

Georgiy Ivanov—former commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy

Elena Krayev—CIA agent

CHAPTER 1

MOSCOW, RUSSIA

Russian President Yuri Kalinin entered the Kremlin conference room, joining his senior civilian and military advisors. All stood when Kalinin entered, returning to their seats after he took his position at the head of the table. Kalinin sensed the tension in the room as he prepared to review the aftermath of their invasion of Ukraine and Lithuania. The Americans had overcome Russia’s attempt to prevent them from intervening and had soundly defeated the Russian Navy in the process. Black plumes of smoke were still rising from Russian surface combatants—those lucky enough to have not been sunk—and hours earlier, Kalinin had been forced to order the withdrawal of all Russian troops from the two Eastern European countries.

Assessing the status of Russia’s military, along with potential damage control on the political front, were the main topics of this morning’s meeting. Kalinin turned to Foreign Minister Lavrov, who delivered his brief, focusing on efforts to repair diplomatic relations with Ukraine, Lithuania, and the United States, as well as the entire NATO alliance. Preventing additional economic sanctions, on top of those already in place for Russia’s annexation of Crimea, was high on the agenda. Various conciliatory proposals were discussed. However, when the topic shifted to the status of Russia’s military, the tone took a decidedly different turn.

General Andropov, Kalinin’s senior military advisor, addressed the Russian president. We cannot let this stand. America has humiliated us. By the end of the day, images of Russian warships on fire and drifting aimlessly will be displayed on every Russian television broadcast. Public confidence in our military—and in your administration—will be seriously degraded.

Andropov didn’t have to expound. Kalinin was up for reelection next year, being challenged by a Vladimir Putin protégé who currently led in the polls. When the country learned of the military debacle, he’d surge even further ahead. Drastic action would be required to shift public opinion and reestablish the world’s respect for the Russian military. Kalinin listened intently as Andropov continued.

"Despite our surface combatant losses, our submarine fleet remains a viable asset. We still have thirty-five diesel and nuclear attack submarines, while America has only eighteen fast attack submarines after their war with China and the losses inflicted at our hands. Additionally, we may soon have an unsurmountable advantage over our American counterparts. Kazan heads to sea tomorrow for the next phase of testing. If the test is successful, our submarines will be invincible. The American Navy will be at our mercy, which opens the door to numerous possibilities.

However, Andropov added, the required test is unusual and carries notable risks. Before the Navy proceeds, we need your approval. He slid a folder across the table to Kalinin.

The Russian president read the directive, carefully considering the plan and its ramifications. After a long moment, he signed it. He looked up at Andropov.

Proceed with the test.

CHAPTER 2

THE BARENTS SEA

Ten miles north of Kildin Island, just off the coast of Russia’s Kola Peninsula, USS Pittsburgh cruised westward at periscope depth. Lieutenant Mike Williams, on watch as the Officer of the Deck, rotated the port periscope slowly, his right eye pressed against the eyepiece. As the scope optics swung to the south, Williams shifted the periscope to high power for a detailed scan of Kola Bay—the exit point for Russian warships stationed in ports along the shores of the Murmansk Fjord. He paused at the fjord entrance and pressed the doubler, increasing the periscope magnification to maximum.

Still nothing.

Williams released the doubler and shifted back to low power, continuing his clockwise revolution. In another thirty minutes, he’d be relieved by the next Officer of the Deck, who would have the pleasure of walking in circles for the next six hours. Although he looked forward to the end of his watch, he was disappointed. He’d hoped to be the one to spot Russia’s newest nuclear attack submarine, K-561 Kazan, entering the Barents Sea.

This morning’s intelligence message had reported Kazan would likely head to sea today. Reconnaissance satellites had monitored Kazan’s crew loading supplies and torpedoes. Shore power had been disconnected; the submarine’s reactor had been brought on-line in preparation for getting underway. Where Kazan was headed was what COMSUBLANT wanted to know, and USS Pittsburgh had been tasked to find out.

Pittsburgh’s operational order had been concise: gain trail on Kazan as she emerged from Kola Bay and follow her until she exited the Barents Sea. There were a few options as to where Kazan was headed, with the leading contenders being west toward the GIUK gap for an Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea deployment, north under the ice for transfer to Russia’s Pacific Fleet, or into a local operating area for training. Anywhere was fine with Williams, as long as there was something to trail. They’d been on station for two weeks thus far with nothing to show for it.

Williams’s thoughts were interrupted by the Sonar Supervisor’s report over the Conn speaker. Conn, Sonar. Hold a new contact on the towed array, designated Sierra two-one, ambiguous bearings two-one-zero and zero-three-zero. Analyzing.

Pittsburgh’s towed array was a valuable asset, detecting contacts at longer ranges than the submarine’s other acoustic sensors. However, the array was an assembly of hydrophones connected in a straight line, which meant it could not determine which side the sound arrived from, resulting in two potential bearings to the contact—one on each side of the array.

Williams acknowledged Sonar’s report and rotated the periscope to a bearing of zero-three-zero, shifting to high power and activating the doubler. There were no contacts. He swung to the south. As he examined Kola Bay, he spotted a small speck on the horizon. He called to the Electronic Support Measures watch. ESM, Conn. Report all radar contacts to the south.

Conn, ESM. I hold no contacts to the south.

Williams selected the Captain’s stateroom on the 27-MC control box, then with his eye still against the periscope, retrieved the microphone from its holder.

Captain, Officer of the Deck.

A few seconds later, John Buglione answered.

Reviews for Power Play

[sunnydrk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book had so much potential with the plot but, fell way short in the story telling. The beginning takes way to long to get to the point.

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Finder is a good story teller and this tale about a corporate off-site is gripping. I found myself wonder who, really, was the bad guy. The plot kept my interest and the research on the characters is marvelous. I really liked the Jake character. As the story goes, we learn about a reform school survivor who made good... Enjoyed the story.

[kevinjoseph_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With Power Play, Joseph Finder continues the line of corporate thrillers he kicked off with the magnificent Paranoia. This thriller, though, features as much violent action as it does corporate intrigue, leaving me with the feeling that Finder was writing a thinly-veiled script for a movie blockbuster. Indeed, the similarities to Die Hard are impossible to ignore. Jake Landry, like the Bruce Willis Die Hard hero, is supposed to represent the blue collar everyman caught in the middle of a corporate hostage crisis. Unlike the top brass who attend Hammond Aerospace's fancy off-site at a secluded lodge, Jake's a mid-level manager who's invited for reasons other than his corporate pedigree. When the management team is taken hostage and ordered to embezzle $500 million from the corporate treasury in exchange for their lives, Jake finds himself the only guy in the company who is truly worthy of alpha male posturing. The plot barrels ahead with Jake and his ex-girlfriend Ali (who happens to have been invited to the off-site as the new CEO's special assistant) engaged in a desperate attempt to outmanuever their brutal captors. Interspered with the action are brief flashbacks to Jake's formative years, in which we learn the origins of his skill with weapons and willingness to tangle with dangerous men. The author also exploits the tension between the new female CEO and the all-male cast of senior executives. The last third of this book is as suspenseful as anything I've read recently, although the plot teeters in a number of places on the edge of impracticability (how combat-hardened can Jake really be, anyway) and many of the characters are thinly-developed corporate stereotypes. Nonetheless I continue to admire Finder's penchant for interesting plot premises and ability to find action and adventure amidst Sarbanes-Oxley and corporate boardrooms.

[yaakov_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Power Play is a quick read, but make sure you have a few hours as its hard to put down. The book deals with corporate intrigue and hostage taking in our present day post Enron world. It’s set at a corporate retreat, where the guests have no email or telephone access. Sounds great until the execuitives are taken hostage by apparent local hunters.There is a high level of action, without too much complexity.

[chris_p_bacon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fast paced thriller that I really enjoyed reading.This was my first book by this author after hearing a review on the radio.I shall certainly be reading some more.Not literature but a great page turner.

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jake is an underling at his company, so he is surprised to suddenly be told he is going to their private retreat with all the executives in the Candadian wilderness. Jake figures out why he was invited when he spots his ex-girlfriend Ali with the CEO as her personal assistant. Jake is not into playing the corporate power game, but the skills that he learned from his secret past may be the only thing that keeps him alive when a group of armed men take over the retreat center and hold all of the executives hostage for money.I loved the fast paced action of this book and the way the author gradually revealed details about the past that explained the present events. The author was great about revealing just enough to keep me guessing the entire way through. I loved this suspense and highly recommend this to those who like page-turners filled with thrills and suspense.

[mullgirl · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I’m still entertained that I read this. Even more so that I actually finished it. But when you are half-way round the world in a hotel room, and jet lag is making sleep all too illusive, and you just refuse to pay the equivalent of $15-$20 for a paperback in English, well, you sift through the spouse’s backpack and read whatever you come across. This is one such book.

Power Play is a he-man sort of book. The kind that sadly feeds men’s insistence that women really only like bad boys . . . even reformed bad boys. Let me make it clear to Mr. Finder: there is nothing romantic or mysterious (in a good way) about knowing that your man once killed someone.

The plot stays on its carefully crafted tracks throughout. So I can’t have much to complain about there. It’s the track itself that bothers me. In this story, a man who knows quite a bit about airplanes happens to get sent to his company’s executive, good-ole-boys yearly retreat at some cabin in the middle of nowhere. I’ll spare you the detailed contrivance that gets him there. Conveniently for the author, the protagonist’s lost true love, who is not an executive and who broke up with him because he never shared anything about his personal life, also magically, contrivedly, appears on scene. Within precious few hours, the cabin has been taken over by a band of renegades seemingly bent on taking the entire executive staff hostage so as to make off with much of the company’s money. And of course, they are unopposed to using far more violence than necessary to accomplish their goal.

Of course, just to keep it interesting(??), Mr. Finder also adds liberal dashes of executive in-fighting, whining, and crotch-scratching stopping just shy (or not) of chest thumping their masculinity. Actually, I think the rescue from the almost-rape scene of the protagonist’s long lost love that crosses the chest thumping line. Or is it her overly heart-felt reaction–her desire to be touched by the protagonist so soon after the ordeal who only saves her by exercising brute strength force. I guess that’s how some men feel manly, by protecting their women folk.

My review jumps around because the story also jumps around. There are numerous flashbacks designed to let the reader into the mind of the protagonist, so that naturally by the end we understand who he is much better than those around him. And of course, he gets the girl in the end.

Contrived, contrived, contrived. While I really didn’t enjoy the actual story line, I will say that Mr. Finder knows how to write a story that moves along. He was neither too light nor too heavy with the dialog, and his general structure was well-written. In my preparation to write this review, I discovered that he has at least half-dozen acclaimed books released before this particular novel. I’ll have to ask my husband if they are all cast from the same sort of mold. Or if this was a blip in an otherwise good repertoire.

When I completed the book, I looked at my spouse and commented on the total unbelievability of the plot and wondered whether men really buy that kind of thing. And he silenced me well and good by querying the same thing of women for most of my favorite chick lit books. Touché.

But I can’t help thinking that few of the books that I choose to read for their modern fantasy appeal are half as ridiculous as Power Play.

[thoughtsofjoylibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jake Landry is a junior executive at California's Hammond Aerospace. His boss is unable to attend the corporate weekend planned at a secluded lodge in Canada, so Jake, somewhat reluctantly, takes his place. Immediately, the new CEO corners Jake and asks him to report any wayward conversations he may overhear. He doesn't get much of a chance - some hunters invade the lodge and discover these are well-off corporate employees. Jake immediately suspects foul play.While I enjoyed the thriller portion of the book, I had no interest in the beginning and end which focused on the corporate/business end. Since reading Power Play, it has come to my attention that placing characters in a variety of industries is Finder's trademark, so leading the plot so heavily in that direction makes more sense to me now. :) Due to topic, not necessarily writing style, I don't think I'll be picking up another by him any time soon. (3.75/5)Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy

[reacherfan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jake Landry has to go on a corporate "team building" weekend. This isn't just for anyone, just the big shots at the corporate level at a company, and Jake isn't one of them. He doesn't want to be there, and the Powers that Be at the company don't want him there because they don't think he's worthy. As they are having their first banquet, some hunters come in and ruin the party. The problem is that they're not really hunters but major bas guys who have more than hunting on their mind. What they want to do is to kidnap all of the executives and an unGodly ransom. Jake is the only one who sees this is more than a simple kidnapping, something much much bigger. It's up to Jake to stop these men. If Jake can't do it, then pretty much everyone will be killed. The problem is that Jake isn't a pencil pushing desk jockey, he knows a thing or two. I don't want to say to much more in fear of spoiling the plot. I really liked the character of Jake. As the story unfolds, you read about his past and what made him the way he is. Why he pretty much don't take garbage from anyone. His character has depth. I also liked the leader of the bad guys, he has a lot of character depth as well. This is just such a fun read, I highly suggest it!

[bushard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Finder is a good story teller. Jake Landrey is the hero at an upscale resort in Canada; where his company is having a special deal for upper Management and Jake substitutes for his boss who is sick.

[loveseabooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing Story I was delayed at an airport during a layover flight and I bought this book. I don't usually read thrillers, but the plot of Power Play perked my interest. I was intrigued with the story of a group of aerospace executives meeting in a Canadian hunting lodge for a bonding session and are held hostage by what appears to be some redneck hunters who stumbled across the opportunity to make some money. The book turned out to be a real page turner and I enjoyed it very much.

[judiex · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

was unavailable for the company’s annual executive retreat at a sports lodge in Canada. The purpose of the retreat was team building and to ensure attendees paid attention to that task only, there was no contact with the outside world, in person or by electronic device, during the program.The new CEO, Cheryl Tobin, called on his assistant, Jake Landry, to substitute for him since Jack knew more about their new 880 model than anyone else.While he really didn’t want to go–he was nowhere near the financial or social level of the other participants–he had no choice.When the previous CEO died suddenly, the board hired Cheryl, an outsider, to take over the job. That did not sit well with the rest of the executives who openly resented that they had been passed over for promotion and that she was a woman. While they were airborne in the luxurious company jet, Cheryl told Jake his real job there was to help learn about illegal activities being carried out by staff members, particularly the executives. The agenda quickly changed when a group of mountain men burst in and held the entire group hostage. Arguments quickly began as to how to defuse the situation. POWER PLAY has many meanings in this book. Flashbacks show how Jake became the man he now was. It is used to demonstrate the company dynamics and the dynamics when the attackers enter the story.The story has many twists and surprises and is basically a good read. There is a lot of information about the airline industry. For example, most companies today use parts that are outsourced and do the assembly in the US. However, many of the characters are stereotypes and the situations unrealistic. In addition, the book has too many unnecessarily short chapters, often taking place at the same place and the same time. I automatically deduct one star for that because I think it insults the reader’s intelligence and is too unecological.

[beccam2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ah, the other reviewers have done an excellent job providing the plot of this novel.Mr. Finder is justfiably a best selling author. His plots are unusual- taking place in the business world- something I find very refreshing (and recognizable:>), with unusual plot twists. Business gone murderous. He is one of my favorite authors.

[gatorhater · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was the perfect retreat for the top pfficiers of the Hammond Aerospace Corporation, no cell phones, no BlackBerrys and just a luxurious remote lodge surrounded by thousands of miles of wilderness, with one last minute substitue-a junior executive "jake Landry". When a band of backwoods hunters crashes the opening-night dinner, holding them hostages to get their hands on the largest ransom in the history.

[permaswooned · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoy Joseph Finder's books. His take on corporate America and all the machinations that take place in the boardroom is always interesting. I have to say though, that this is my least favorite book. The level of violence in it is unusual for Finder, and we don't learn nearly as much as usual about the main characters. He knows how to pace a book, though, so I enjoyed it even with what I see as flaws.

[bohemiangirl35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jake Landry is a trouble shooter for an airplane manufacturer. He makes sure things run smoothly and pieces are made solidly. He gets tapped to go on an "offsite" with upper management when his supervisor can't make it. The new CEO asks him to spy on the others at the retreat because she suspects they are trying to sabotage her and cover up some illegal actions. But then the retreat takes a turn that nobody expects.Fun, easy read.