I think some might be overthinking Red October too much.
Original mention was The Hunt for Red October, which was a movie about multi-tiered deception. The Captain and high ranking officials knew. The crew didn't and trusted him to the end.
Think Mueller. When he flips and charges the treasonous elements of the FBI, it is going to throw them for a loop. They never saw it coming. All the attacks and faux outrage Trump has thrown out for almost a year now has them looking everywhere except right under their noses. Even the media is willing lie to defend Mueller. Mueller has his hands dirty, but he never dishonored the position he held to this extent that others are doing now.
The defector was the one they entrusted to follow out their scam. It was over before it began.