My story, Redemption In Red, is about an outstanding counter intelligence officer from Communist Bulgaria, who, in the pick of the Cold War, makes a fatal mistake, is severely punished, but is given a rare, once-in-a-lifetime 2nd chance to restore the trust in him.
In his quest for redemption, though, he stumbles upon the grim reality of the crumbling Communist Regime and must decide whether to listen to his mind and fulfil his duties (by taking a part in the government’s top secret international drug-trafficking scheme), or listen to his heart and save the ones whom he’s been sent to destroy.
"A Word From The Author"
"I've got your Soul!"
The so-called Eastern Block of Communist countries was a collection of supposed independent states. The reality was that, following the WW 2, those nations were given to the victorious Soviet Union.
Moscow rapidly took over them, annihilated – with unseen brutality and meticulousness – every piece of century-old national identities, isolated them from the world, and implanted the alien Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist views of the world.
This is the Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev (screen left). He manifested his perverse sense of ownership and superiority by a mandatory mouth-to-mouth kiss whenever meeting with one of the leaders of those countries.
"Shiny future, fading reality - fitting solution!"
The seeming military might and staged parades did not speed up the promised bright future. Instead, the Eastern Block sunk into corruption, poverty, and isolation.
An ingenious and quite fitting solution was born: secretly flood the West with narcotics and use the vast profits to patch the sinking ship. So was born the first government-sponsored drug trafficking enterprise.
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The year 1985 draws to an end and the Cold War is as heated as ever. The Soviet Block has launched a concerted effort to outmaneuver the imperialistic West and win hearts and minds of neutral Lebanon.
During a relative lull in the Lebanese Civil War, a Bulgarian Navy frigate docks at the port of Beirut, Lebanon, as part of the effort. Luben, a pedigreed counter-intelligence officer possessed of that rare blend of talent and integrity, is undercover as political minder. Real mission: first, make sure everybody — from the cook to the Captain — follows Party directives to the T, and second, identify, prevent and, if need be, put an end to any defection attempts by personnel.
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THE ANTAGONIST
A true representative of the Communist old-timers, the Local Party Secretary is composed, analytical, vigilant, unwavering, and ferocious in implementing his beliefs of how this World must operate.
Will he be able to remain “on top of his hill?”
THE PROTAGONIST
Capt. Luben, a pedigreed counter-intelligence officer, and a proud successor of his distinguished father, is climbing steadfast the career hierarchy.
Aside from the obvious connections, he appears to have that rare blend of talent, integrity, and devotion.
During a pivotal operation, though, Luben is outwitted. The consequences are two-fold: a) an international embracement of the Eastern Block, and b) an abrupt end to his stellar career.
Will he manage to recover?
THE FATHER AND HIS HIGHLY-CLASSIFIED, DRUG-EXPORTING DEPARTMENT
A decorated officer never retires – especially during such critical times. And if he has served with accolades as Luben’s Father has, he is tasked with the most secretive, life-saving operation: international drug trafficking.
But will he be able to save his son?”
BUT BORDO, THE NOMADIC GYPSY SEER…
…knows the Truth, and no human-made laws and rules could lock him down in a box and control him.