The Finland Station loomed like a cathedral to steam and iron, its vast ceiling trapping the smoky dawn light. But today it wasn't a place of travel—it was a fortress waiting for a siege. The usual noise of vendors, families, and hissing trains was gone. Silence hung heavy, broken only by the rhythm of boots and the clink of rifles.
Uniforms filled every corner. Military police stood in pairs by the entrances and along the platforms. Between them moved the others—the plainclothes Okhrana agents. They scanned faces without expression, watching for the smallest twitch of fear or hesitation. This was no ordinary patrol. Someone had kicked the hornet's nest, and Koba's team had walked straight into it.
The next hour would decide everything. It would be a performance with no rehearsal, played out under the eyes of men who killed for suspicion alone.
Koba adjusted his role. The strategist became Sergeant Orlov, a man of twenty years' service, too tired to care and too professional to err. His back straightened. His face hardened into weary indifference. The ghost of Jake Vance disappeared behind the mask of a soldier who had seen too much.
"Privates, at ease—but stay sharp," Orlov muttered, his voice low and rough. He moved toward the stationmaster's office with steady, deliberate steps. The man behind the desk jumped up, sweat shining on his brow.
"Sergeant Orlov, Semyonovsky Regiment," Koba said, handing him the forged transfer orders. "Cargo supervision for the 0800 train to Vyborg. Four crates, agricultural equipment."
The stationmaster fumbled with the papers. They bore all the right stamps, signatures, and insignia. "Yes, of course, Sergeant," he stammered. "Track seven. Everything is in order."
Koba took the papers back with a grunt. "See that it stays that way."
On the platform, Pavel, Murat, and Ivan stood beside four wooden crates. They looked the part—three quiet soldiers obeying orders. Pavel's bulk radiated steady discipline. Murat's sharp eyes missed nothing. Ivan slouched just enough to seem simple. From a distance, they were unremarkable, and that was the point.
The minutes crawled. Every glance felt like a test. Every shout from a conductor made Koba's pulse tick higher. Then, the first challenge came.
A young Okhrana lieutenant, his boots still shiny from the academy, strode up to them. "Sergeant," he said, voice loud and eager. "What's in those crates?"
Koba met his gaze, calm and tired. "Agricultural equipment, sir. Orders from the Admiralty."
"I'll have to inspect them," the lieutenant declared, puffing up. "New protocols."
Koba sighed like a man who had dealt with a hundred such fools. "With respect, Lieutenant, these are sealed under naval authority. If you wish to open them, I'll wait here while you explain to Admiral Chukhnin why you disrupted his supply chain."
The officer froze. Everyone in Petersburg knew the admiral's temper. The lieutenant's pride battled with self-preservation—and lost. "Carry on, Sergeant," he muttered before retreating.
The danger passed, but only for a moment. The next came from within.
A drunken sergeant from another unit stumbled by, reeking of alcohol. He slammed into Murat and snarled, "Watch it, you dark crow." The insult was old and ugly. Murat's hand drifted toward his pistol. His eyes turned sharp with killing intent.
Before he could move, Pavel stepped between them, huge and immovable. His hand landed on Murat's shoulder—gentle in appearance, crushing in truth. "Aslan," he whispered in Chechen. Be still.
The moment broke. The drunk cursed and staggered away. The air loosened. Koba exhaled slowly, sweat cold down his spine. They were lions pretending to be sheep. One wrong instinct could doom them all.
He turned his head slightly—and froze. His own face stared back at him from a wanted poster on a nearby pillar. The image was grainy, but recognizable: Koba. The Ghost of Tbilisi. The words below promised a generous reward. He forced his eyes past it, keeping his body still. To look too long would be death. He became the soldier again—tired, indifferent, forgettable.
Far away, in a muddy field near Kiev, Kato stood among peasants selling their crops. Her shawl hid most of her face, but her nerves betrayed her. She knew the syndicate's reach. They would watch every road, every river. She needed to vanish before they found her.
Then she saw one of Grigory's men. He was showing a drawing to a stable boy—the same boy who had helped her hide. Even from a distance, she recognized the sketch. It was her face. The boy hesitated, afraid. The thug leaned closer, hand heavy on his shoulder. The hunt was moving. And it was getting closer.
Back at the Finland Station, a whistle cut through the air—long, sharp, final. Boarding was done. The platform began to empty. Koba and his men climbed into the guard car, locking the door behind them. The wooden crates sat in the freight section next door. Everything had gone as planned.
For a brief moment, relief filled the small compartment. The train lurched forward. The city began to fall away behind them. Koba let his head rest against the wall, eyes closed. They had made it.
Then, metal screamed. The door slid open.
An Okhrana officer stood there, framed in the fading station lights. Koba knew his face—the incorruptible one from Stolypin's checkpoint. His voice was cold, official.
"Orders from the Prime Minister," he said. "This shipment is now classified high security. I'll be accompanying you to Vyborg."
He stepped inside, shutting the door with a hard click. The sound echoed in the cramped space like the lock on a cell.
They weren't free after all. They were trapped—rolling north inside their own cage.