tc.redstormrising-第125章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


〃Your　wife　is　too　skinny；　but　you　are　a　lucky　man　also。〃　Chapayev　paused　as　his　eyes　teared　up　for　a　moment。　He　blinked　them　away。　〃I　would　like　a　drink；〃　he　said　hopefully。
〃Me；　too。　Not　allowed　on　our　ships。〃　He　looked　at　the　photos。　〃Your　daughters　are　beautiful；　Major。　You　know；　we　have　to　be　crazy　to　leave　them。〃
〃We　have　our　duty；〃　Chapayev　said。　Toland　gestured　angrily。
〃It's　the　damned　politicians。　They　just　tell　us　to　go…and　we　go；　like　idiots！　Hell；　we　don't　even　know　why　the　Goddamned　war　started！〃
〃You　mean　you　do　not　know？〃
Bingo。　Codeine　and　sympathy　。　。　。　The　tape　recorder　he　had　in　his　pocket　was　already　turned　on。

HUNZEN；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
〃If　I　continue　the　attack；　we'll　be　destroyed　here！〃　Alekseyev　protested。　〃I　have　two　full　divisions　on　my　flank；　and　I　have　a　report　that　American　tanks　are　at　Alfeld。〃
〃Impossible！〃　CINC…West　replied　angrily。
〃The　report　came　from　Major　Sergetov。　He　saw　them　arrive。　I　have　ordered　him　to　Stendal　to　make　his　report　to　you　personally。〃
〃I　have　26th　Motor…Rifle　approaching　Alfeld　now。　If　any　Americans　are　present；　they'll　handle　matters。〃
That's　a　Category…C　unit；　Alekseyev　thought。　Reservists；　short　on　equipment；　out…of…date　training。
〃What　progress　have　you　made　on　the　crossing？〃
〃Two　regiments　across；　a　third　moving　now。　Enemy　air　activity　has　picked　up…dammit！　I　have　enemy　units　in　my　rear！〃
〃Get　back　to　Stendal；　Pasha。　Beregovoy　is　in　mand　at　Hunzen。　I　need　you　here。〃
I'm　being　relieved。　I'm　being　relieved　of　my　mand！
〃Understood；　rade　General；〃　Alekseyev　replied。　He　switched　off　the　radio。　Can　I　leave　my　troops　this　vulnerable　to　counterattack？　Can　I　forego　warning　my　manders？　Alekseyev　slammed　his　fist　on　the　worktable。　〃Get　me　General　Beregovoy'！'

ALFELD；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
It　was　too　far　for　artillery　support　from　the　NATO　lines；　and　they'd　been　forced　to　leave　their　own　guns　behind。　Mackall　trained　his　gunsights　through　the　haze　and　saw　the　advancing　Russian　formations。　He　estimated　two　regiments。　That　made　it　a　division…sized　attack　in　the　classic　two…up；　one…back　fashion。　Hmm。　I　don't　see　any　SAM　launchers　upfront　The　colonel　in　overall　mand　started　giving　his　orders　over　the　mand　circuit。　Friendly　air　was　ing　in。
Apache　attack　choppers　popped　up　right　behind　the　Cav's　positions。　They　moved　south　to　flank　the　advancing　Russian　vehicles；　jinking　and　skidding　as　they　launched　their　Hellfire　missiles　into　the　leading　echelon　of　tanks。　Their　pilots　sought　out　missile…launch　vehicles　but　found　none。　Next　came　the　A10s。　The　ugly　twin…engine　aircraft　swooped　low；　free　for　once　of　the　SAM　threat。　Their　rotary　cannon　and　cluster　bombs　continued　the　job　of　the　Apaches。
〃They're　ing　in　dumb；　boss；〃　the　gunner　mented。
〃Maybe　they're　green；　Woody。〃
〃Okay　by　me。〃
The　Bradleys　on　the　eastern　edge　of　the　town　engaged　next　with　their　missiles。　The　leading　Soviet　ranks　were　savaged　even　before　they　came　into　range　of　the　tanks　over　the　river。　The　attack　began　to　falter。　The　Russian　tanks　stopped　to　shoot。　They　popped　smoke　and　shot　wildly　from　inside　it。　A　few　wild　rounds　landed　close　to　Mackall's　position；　but　they　were　not　aimed　shots。　The　attack　was　stopped　two　kilometers　short　of　the　town。
〃Head　north；〃　Alekseyev　said　over　the　headset。
〃rade　General；　if　we　head　north…〃　the　pilot　started　to　say。
〃I　said　head　north！　Keep　low；〃　he　added。
The　heavily　armed　Mi…24　swooped　low　abruptly。　Alekseyev's　gorge　rose　in　his　throat　as　the　pilot　tried　to　get　even　with　him　for　giving　the　stupid；　dangerous　order。　He　sat　in　the　back；　hanging　on　to　the　seatbelt　and　leaning　out　the　left…side　door　to　see　what　he　could。　The　helicopter　jinked　violently　left　and　right；　up　and　down…the　pilot　knew　the　dangers　here。
〃There！〃　Alekseyev　called。　〃Ten　o'clock。　I　see…American　or　German？　Tanks　at　ten　o'clock。〃
〃I　see　some　missile　vehicles；　too；　rade　General。　Do　you　wish　to　see　them　more　closely？〃　the　pilot　inquired　acidly。　He　brought　the　chopper　down　a　wooded　road；　barely　two　meters　above　the　pavement　as　he　dipped　out　of　sight。
〃That　was　at　least　a　battalion；〃　the　General　said。
〃I'd　say　more；〃　the　pilot　mented。　He　was　at　full　power；　his　nose　low　for　maximum　speed；　and　his　eyes　scanned　ahead　for　enemy　aircraft。
The　General　fumbled　with　his　map。　He　had　to　sit　down　and　strap　in　to　use　both　hands　on　it。　〃My　God；　this　far　south？〃
〃As　I　told　you；〃　the　pilot　answered　over　the　inter；　〃they　have　staged　a　breakthrough。〃
〃How　close　can　you　go　to　Alfeld？〃
'That　depends　on　how　much　the　General　wishes　to　be　alive　tonight。〃　Alekseyev　noted　the　fear　and　anger　in　the　words；　and　reminded　himself　that　the　captain　flying　his　helicopter　was　already　twice　a　Hero　of　the　Soviet　Union　for　his　daring　over　the　battlefield。
〃As　close　as　you　think　safe；　rade　Captain。　I　must　see　for　myself　what　the　enemy　is　doing。〃
〃Understood。　Hang　on；　it　will　be　a　very　rough　ride。〃　The　Mi…24　jumped　up　to　avoid　some　power　lines；　then　dropped　again　like　a　stone。　Alekseyev　winced　at　how　close　to　the　ground　they　stopped。　〃Enemy　aircraft　overhead。　Look　like　the　Devil's　Cross　。　。　。　four　of　them　heading　west。〃
They　passed　over　a…not　a　road；　Alekseyev　thought；　a　grassy　strip　with　tracked　vehicles　on　it。　The　grass　had　been　churned　to　bare　dirt。　He　checked　his　map。　This　route　led　to　Alfeld。
〃I　will　cross　over　the　Leine　and　approach　Alfeld　from　the　east。　That　way　we'll　be　over　friendly　troops　if　anything　happens；〃　the　pilot　advised。　Immediately　thereafter　the　aircraft　jumped　up　and　down　again。　Alekseyev　caught　a　glimpse　of　tanks　on　the　ridge　as　they　raced　past。　Many　of　them。　A　few　strings　of　tracer　bullets　reached　out　at　the　chopper；　but　fell　behind。　〃Quite　a　few　tanks　there；　rade　General。　I'd　say　a　regimental　force。　The　tank…repair　yard　is　to　the　south…what's　left　of　it…shit！　Enemy　helicopters　to　the　south！〃
The　aircraft　stopped　and　pivoted　in　the　air。　There　was　a　roar　as　an　air…to…air　missile　leaped　off　the　wingtip；　then　the　Mi…24　started　moving　again。　It　jinked　up；　then　down　hard；　and　the　General　saw　a　smoke　trail　go　overhead。
〃That　was　close。〃
〃Did　you　get　him？〃
〃Does　the　General　wish　me　to　stop　and　see？　What's　that？　That　wasn't　here　before。〃
The　chopper　stopped　briefly。　Alekseyev　saw　burning　vehicles　and　running　men。　The　tanks　were　old　T…55s　。　。　。　this　was　the　counterattack　he'd　been　told　about！　Smashed。　A　minute　later　he　saw　vehicles　assembling　for　another　effort。
〃I've　seen　enough。　Straight　to　Stendal　as　fast　as　you　can。〃　The　General　leaned　back　with　his　maps　and　tried　to　formulate　a　clear　picture　of　what　he'd　seen。　Half　an　hour　later　the　helicopter　flared　and　landed。
〃You　were　right；　Pasha；〃　CINC…West　said　as　soon　as　he　walked　into　the　operations　room。　He　held　three　reconnaissance　photographs。
〃Twenty…Sixth　Motor…Rifle's　initial　attack　was　crushed　two　kilometers　in　front　of　enemy　lines。　When　I　flew　over；　they　were　re…forming　for　another。　This　is　a　mistake；〃　Alekseyev　said　with　quiet　urgency。　〃If　we　want　that　position　back；　we　have　to　attack　with　full　preparation。〃
〃We　must　have　that　bridgehead　back　in　our　hands　as　quickly　as　possible。〃
〃Fine。　Tell　Beregovoy　to　detach　two　of　his　units　and　drive　back　east。〃
〃We　can't　abandon　the　Weser　crossing！〃
〃rade　General；　either　we　pull　those　units　back　or　we　let　NATO　destroy　them　in　place。　That　is　the　only　choice　we　have　at　the　moment。〃
〃No。　Once　we　get　Alfeld　back；　we　can　reinforce。　That　will　defeat　the　counterattack　on　their　flank　and　allow　us　to　continue　the　advance。〃
〃What　do　we　have　to　strike　Alfeld　with？〃
〃Three　divisions　are　en　route　now…〃
Alekseyev　scanned　the　unit　designations　on　the　map。　〃They're　all　C　formations！〃
〃Yes。　I　had　to　divert　most　of　my　B　units　north。　NATO　counterattacked　at　Hamburg　as　well。　Cheer　up；　Pasha；　we　have　many　C　units　ing　onto　the　front。〃
Wonderful　All　these　old；　fat；　out…of…practice　reservists　are　marching　to　a　front　held　by　battle…seasoned　troops。
〃Wait　until　all　three　divisions　are　in　place。　Get　their　artillery　up　front　first　so　that　we　can　pound　the　NATO　positions。　What　about　Gronau？〃
〃The　Germans　crossed　the　Leine　there；　but　we　have　them　contained。　Two　divisions　are　moving　to　attack　there　also。〃
Alekseyev　walked　over　to　the　main　map　display　and　looked　for　changes　in　the　tactical　situation　since　he'd　last　been　here。　The　battle　lines　in　the　north　had　not　changed　appreciably；　and　the　NATO　counterattack　on　the　Alfeld…R乭le　salient　was　only　now　being　posted。　Blue　flags　were　at　Gronau；　and　Alfeld。　There　was　the　counterattack　at　Hamburg。
We've　lost　the　initiative。　How　do　we　get　it　back？
The　Soviet　Army　had　started　the　war　with　twenty　A　divisions　based　in　Germany；　with　another　ten　moved　in　at　the　start；　and　more　since。　All　of　them　had　now　been　mitted　to　battle；　many　pulled　off　the　line　due　to　losses。　The　last　reserve　of　the　full…strength　formations　was　at　R乭le；　and　they　were　about　to　be　trapped。　Beregovoy　was　too　good　a　soldier　to　violate　orders；　even　though　he　knew　his　forces　had　to　be　pulled　back　before　they　were　irretrievably　cut　off。
〃We　must　abandon　the　attack。　If　we　press　on；　those　divisions　will　be　trapped　behind　two　rivers；　not　just　one。〃
〃The　attack　is　a　political　and　military　necessity；〃　CINC…West　answered…　〃If　they　push　forward；　NATO　will　have　to　draw　forces　off　this　attack　to　defend　the　Ruhr。　Then　we'll　have　them。〃
Alekseyev　didn't　argue　further。　The　thought　that　came　to　him　felt　like　a　blast　of　cold　air　on　exposed　skin。　Have　we　failed？

USS　INDEPENDENCE
〃Admiral；　I　need　to　see　somebody　in　the　MAF。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Chuck　Lowe…he's　a　regimental　mander。　Before　he　took　it　over；　we　worked　together　on　CINCLANT's　intelligence　staff。〃
〃Why　not…〃
〃He's　good；　Admiral；　very　good　at　this　stuff。〃

〃You　think　the　information　is　that　hot？〃　Jacobsen　asked。
〃I　sure　do；　sir；　but　I　need　a　second　opinion。　Chuck's　the　best　guy　who's　handy。〃
Jacobsen　lifted　his　phone。　〃Get　me　General　Emerson；　quick　。　。　。　Billy？　Scott。　You　have　a　Colonel　Chuck　Lowe　serving　with　you？　Where？　Okay；　one　of　my　intel　people　needs　to　see　him　right　now　。　。　。　important　enough；　Billy。　Very　well；　he'll　be　on　his　way　in　ten　minutes。〃　The　Admiral　set　the　phone　down。　〃Have　you　copied　that　tape？〃
〃Yes；　sir。　This　is　one　of　the　copies。　The　original's　in　the　safe。〃
〃There'll　be　a　helo　waiting　for　you。〃
It　was　a　one…hour　flight　to　Stykkisholmur。　From　there　a　Marine　chopper　took　him　southeast。　He　found　Chuck　Lowe　in　a　tent　looking　over　some　maps。
〃You　get　around　pretty　good。　I　heard　about　Nimitz；　Bob。　Glad　to　see　you　made　it。　What's　up？〃
〃I　want　you　to　listen　to　this　tape。　It'll　take　you　about　twenty　minutes。〃　Toland　explained　who　the　Russian　was。　He　handed　over　a　small　Japanese　personal　tape　player　with　earphones。　The　two　officers　walked　out　of　the　tent　to　a　relatively　quiet　place。　Twice　Lowe　rewound　the　tape　to　repeat　a　section。
〃Son　of　a　bitch；〃　he　said　quietly　when　it　was　finished。
〃He　thought　we　already　knew。〃
Colonel　Lowe　stooped　down　and　picked　up　a　rock。　He　hefted　it　in　his　hand　for　a　moment；　then　hurled　it　as　hard　as　he　could。　〃Why　not？　We　assume　the　KGB　is　petent；　why　should　they　assume　that　we're　not！　We　had　the　information　all　along　。　。　。　and　we　blew　it！　〃　His　voice　was　full　of　wonder　and　disgust。　〃You　sure　this　isn't　a　cock…and…bull　story？〃
〃When　we　pulled　him　out　of　the　water；　he　had　a　nasty　cut　on　the　leg。　The　docs　sewed　that　up　and　gave　him　pai