Foreword:

A fictional account on what happened behind the scenes during the Gorbachev period and after. 1985-1994. With the coming to power of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, the USSR began to experience a profound process of restructuring, or better known as Perestroika, and political liberalisation, Glasnost. There had been at the time a concern that the new dispensation would alter the policy of support for the ANC (African National Congress) and other liberation forces, especially since the Soviets were now embarking on a thaw in Cold War relations and a rapprochement with the United State and the West in general.

Synopsis

Moscow Rules:
Assume nothing.
Never go against your gut; it is your operational antenna.
Don't look back - you are never completely alone.
Any operation can be aborted. If it feels wrong, it is wrong.
Maintain a natural pace.
Lull them into a sense of complacency.
Build in opportunity, but use it sparingly.
Don't harass the opposition.
There is no limit to a human being's ability to rationalize the truth.
Technology will always let you down.
Once is an accident. Twice is coincidence. Three times is an enemy action.

Prologue

Electronic - Sunday Times - Obituary
Electronic - The Christian Science Monitor - Obituary
Electronic - Epoch Times - Obituary
Electronic - New York Times - Obituary
Electronic - The Irish Echo - Obituary

Novospassky Monastery
55°43′55″N 37°39′24″E
It is indeed with a heavy heart that we informed of the passing of Olaf Romanov. He passed away in his sleep yesterday at the age of ninety-two at the Novospassky Monastery. He had been for decades, an integral part of a small group, who had ensured the well-being of the members, and preservation of the Monastery. He was a nephew of Nicholas Romanov, the late Prince of Russia, a loving husband, fraternal brother of a number of charitable orders, and veteran naval officer. He will be fondly remembered.