We watched part of The Hunt For Red October tonight  A key part of the movie is that the Ramius, played by Sean Connery, posts a letter to the Russian head honchos stating that he intends to defect with the Red October before he sets sail.  It is, as he says, motivation to remain undetected to the Russians chasing him because as a result of the letter the entire Russian fleet have instructions to find him and sync his boat.  

Well, that's the way that Offspring heard it.