tc.redstormrising-第128章

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〃I　can；　but　I　won't　be　able　to　maneuver　my　units　worth　a　damn！〃
〃You　must　attack　with　what　you　have。〃
〃But…〃
〃There　are　four　divisions　of　Soviet　soldiers　who　will　die　if　you　do　not　relieve　them。　The　attack　will　go　as　scheduled！〃　Alekseyev　set　the　phone　down。　Beregovoy　was　also　short　on　fuel。　A　tank　could　have　enough　fuel　to　drive　three　hundred　kilometers　in　a　straight　line；　but　they　almost　never　traveled　in　a　straight　line；　and　despite　orders；　the　crews　invariably　left　the　engines　running　when　sitting　still。　The　time　needed　to　start　their　diesels　could　mean　death　if　a　sudden　air　attack　fell　on　them。　Beregovoy　had　been　forced　to　give　all　of　his　reserve　fuel　to　his　eastbound　tanks　so　that　they　could　hit　Alfeld　in　conjunction　with　the　westbound　C　divisions。　The　two　divisions　on　the　left　bank　of　the　Weser　were　essentially　immobilized。　Alekseyev　was　gambling　the　offensive　on　his　ability　to　reestablish　his　supply　routes。　He　told　his　supply　chief　to　get　more　fuel。　If　his　attack　succeeded　he'd　need　more　still。

MOSCOW；　R。S。F。S。R。
The　transition　was　ridiculous…less　than　two　hours　from　Stendal　to　Moscow　by　jet；　from　war　to　peace；　from　danger　to　safety。　His　father's　chauffeur；　Vitaly；　met　him　at　the　military　airport　and　drove　at　once　to　the　Minister's　official　dacha　in　the　birch　forests　outside　the　capital。　He　entered　the　front　room　to　see　a　stranger　with　his　father。
〃So　this　is　the　famous　Ivan　Mikhailovich　Sergetov；　Major　of　the　Soviet　Army。〃
〃Excuse　me；　rade；　but　I　do　not　think　we　have　met　before。〃
〃Vanya；　this　is　Boris　Kosov。〃
The　young　officer's　face　betrayed　just　a　fraction　of　his　emotions　on　being　introduced　to　the　Director　of　the　KGB。　He　leaned　back　into　the　easy　chair　and　observed　the　man　who　had　ordered　the　bombing　of　the　Kremlin…after　arranging　for　children　to　be　there。　It　was　two　in　the　morning。　KGB　troops　loyal…thought　to　be　loyal；　Minister　Sergetov　corrected　himself…to　Kosov　patrolled　outside　to　keep　this　meeting　a　secret。
〃Ivan　Mikhailovich；〃　Kosov　said　genially；　〃what　is　your　assessment　of　the　situation　at　the　front？〃
The　young　officer　suppressed　a　desire　to　look　to　his　father　for　guidance。　〃The　success　or　failure　of　the　operation　hangs　in　the　balance…remember　that　I　am　a　junior　officer　and　I　lack　the　expertise　for　a　reliable　evaluation。　But　as　I　see　things；　the　campaign　could　now　go　either　way。　NATO　is　short　on　manpower　but　they've　had　a　sudden　infusion　of　supplies。〃
〃About　two　weeks'　worth。〃
〃Probably　less；〃　Sergetov　said。　〃One　thing　we've　learned　at　the　front　is　that　supplies　get　used　up　much　faster　than　expected。　Fuel；　ordnance；　everything　seems　almost　to　evaporate。　So　our　friends　in　the　Navy　must　keep　hitting　the　convoys。〃
〃Our　ability　to　do　this　is　seriously　reduced；〃　Kosov　said。　〃I　would　not　expect…the　truth　is　that　the　Navy　has　been　defeated。　Iceland　will　soon　be　back　in　NATO　hands。〃
〃But　Bukharin　didn't　say　that！〃　the　elder　Sergetov　objected。
〃He　didn't　tell　us　that　Northern　Fleet's　long…range　aircraft　were　nearly　exterminated　either；　but　they　were。　The　fool　thinks　he　can　keep　me　from　learning　this！　The　Americans　have　a　full　division　on　Iceland　now；　with　massive　support　from　their　fleet。　Unless　our　submarines　can　defeat　this　collection　of　ships…and　remember　that　while　they　are　there；　they　cannot　strike　at　the　convoys…Iceland　will　be　lost　within　a　week。　That　will　obviate　the　Navy's　strategy　for　isolating　Europe。　If　NATO　can　resupply　at　will；　then　what？〃
Ivan　Sergetov　shifted　nervously　in　his　chair。　He　could　see　where　the　conversation　was　leading。　〃Then　possibly　we　have　lost。〃
〃Possibly？〃　Kosov　snorted。　〃Then　we　are　doomed。　We　will　have　lost　our　war　against　NATO；　we　still　have　only　a　fraction　of　our　energy　needs；　and　our　armed　forces　are　a　shadow　of　their　former　selves。　And　what　will　the　Politburo　do　then？〃
〃But　if　the　Alfeld　offensive　succeeds　。　。　。　〃　Both　Politburo　men　ignored　this　statement。
〃What　of　the　secret　German　negotiations　in　India？〃　Minister　Sergetov　asked。
〃Ah；　you　noted　that　the　Foreign　Minister　glossed　over　that？〃　Kosov　smiled　wickedly。　He　was　a　man　born　to　conspiracy。　〃They　have　not　changed　their　bargaining　position　a　dot。　At　most　it　was　a　hedge　against　the　collapse　of　NATO　forces。　It　might　also　have　been　a　trick　from　the　beginning。　We're　not　sure。〃　The　KGB　Chief　poured　himself　a　glass　of　mineral　water。　〃The　Politburo　meets　in　eight　hours。　I　will　not　be　there。　I　feel　an　angina　attack　ing　on　from　my　damaged　heart。〃
〃So　Larionov　will　deliver　your　report？〃
〃Yes。〃　Kosov　grinned。　〃Poor　Josef。　He　is　trapped　by　his　own　intelligence　estimates。　He　will　report　that　things　are　not　going　according　to　plan；　but　still　going。　He　will　say　that　NATO's　current　attack　is　a　desperate　attempt　to　forestall　the　Alfeld　offensive；　and　that　the　German　negotiations　still　hold　promise。　I　should　warn　you；　Major；　that　one　of　his　men　is　on　your　staff。　I　know　his　name；　but　I　have　not　seen　his　reports。　It　was　probably　he　who　provided　the　information　that　got　the　former　mander　arrested　and　put　your　general　in　his　place。〃
〃What　will　happen　to　him？〃　the　officer　asked。
〃That　is　not　your　concern；〃　Kosov　answered　coldly。　A　total　of　seven　senior　officers　had　been　arrested　in　the　past　thirty…six　hours。　All　were　now　in　Lefortovo　Prison；　and　Kosov　could　not　have　altered　their　fates　even　if　he'd　had　the　mind　to。
〃Father；　I　need　to　know　the　fuel　situation。〃
〃We　are　down　to　minimum　national　reserves…you　have　a　week's　fuel　delivered　or　being　shipped　now；　and　roughly　one　week's　supply　is　available　for　the　forces　deployed　in　Germany；　plus　a　week　for　the　armies　detailed　to　go　into　the　Persian　Gulf。〃
〃So　tell　your　mander　that　he　has　two　weeks　to　win　the　war。　If　he　fails；　it　will　mean　his　head。　Larionov　will　blame　the　Army　for　his　own　intelligence　mistakes。　Your　life　will　be　in　danger　too；　young　man。〃
〃Who　is　the　KGB　spy　on　our　staff？〃
〃The　Theater　Operations　Officer。　He　was　co…opted　years　ago；　but　his　control　officer　is　in　the　Larionov　faction。　I　don't　know　exactly　what　he　is　reporting。〃
〃General　Alekseyev　is…technically　he's　violating　orders　by　taking　a　unit　on　the　Weser　and　sending　it　east　to　relieve　Alfeld。〃
〃Then　he　is　already　in　danger；　and　I　cannot　help　him。〃　Not　without　tipping　my　hand
〃Vanya；　you　should　return　now。　rade　Kosov　and　I　have　other　things　to　discuss。〃　Sergetov　embraced　his　son　and　walked　him　to　the　door。　He　watched　the　red　taillights　disappear　behind　the　birch　trees。
〃I　don't　like　using　my　own　son　in　this！〃
〃Whom　else　can　you　trust；　Mikhail　Eduardovich？　The　Rodina　faces　possible　destruction；　the　Party　leadership　has　gone　mad；　and　I　don't　even　have　full　control　of　the　KGB。　Don't　you　see：　we　have　lost！　We　must　now　save　what　we　can。〃
〃But　we　still　hold　enemy　territory…〃
〃Yesterday　does　not　matter。　Today　does　not　matter。　What　matters　is　one　week　from　today。　What　will　our　Defense　Minister　do　when　it　bees　obvious　even　to　him　that　we　have　failed？　Have　you　considered　that？　When　desperate　men　realize　they　have　failedand　those　desperate　men　have　control　of　atomic　weapons；　then　what？〃
Then　what；　indeed？　Sergetov　wondered。　He　pondered　two　more　questions。　What　do　I…we？…do　about　it？　Then　he　looked　at　Kosov　and　asked　himself　the　second。

ALFELD；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
The　Russians　were　not　responding　very　fast；　Mackall　was　surprised　to　see。　There　had　been　air　attacks　and　several　vicious　artillery　bombardments　during　the　night；　but　the　expected　ground　assault　hadn't　materialized。　For　the　Russians　this　was　a　crucial　mistake。　More　ammunition　had　arrived；　bringing　them　to　full　loads　for　the　first　time　in　weeks。　Better　still；　a　full　brigade　of　German　panzer　Grenadiers　had　reinforced　the　depleted　troopers　of　the　11th　Cav；　and　Mackall　had　learned　to　trust　these　men　as　he　trusted　his　tank's　posite　armor。　Their　defensive　positions　were　arrayed　in　depth　to　the　east　and　west。　The　armored　forces　pushing　down　from　the　north　could　now　support　Alfeld　with　their　long…range　guns。　Engineers　had　repaired　the　Russian　bridges　on　the　Leine；　and　Mackall　was　about　to　move　his　tanks　east　to　support　the　mechanized　troops　guarding　the　rubble　that　was　Alfeld。
It　was　strange　crossing　the　Soviet　ribbon　bridge…it　was　strange　to　be　moving　east　at　all！　Mackall　thought…and　his　driver　was　nervous；　crossing　the　narrow；　flimsy…looking　structure　at　five　miles　per　hour。　Once　across；　they　moved　north　along　the　river；　swinging　around　the　town。　It　was　raining　lightly；　with　fog　and　low…hanging　clouds；　typical　European　summer　weather　that　cut　visibility　to　under　a　thousand　yards。　He　was　met　by　troops　who　guided　the　arriving　tanks　to　selected　defensive　positions。　The　Soviets　had　helped　for　once。　In　their　constant　efforts　to　clear　the　roads　of　rubble；　they'd　given　the　Americans　neat　piles　of　brick　and　stone　about　two　meters　high；　almost　exactly　the　right　size　for　tanks　to　hide　behind。　The　lieutenant　dismounted　from　his　vehicle　to　check　the　placement　of　his　four　tanks；　then　conferred　with　the　mander　of　the　infantry　pany　he　was　detailed　to　support。　There　were　two　battalions　of　infantry　dug　in　deep　and　hard　on　the　outskirts　of　Alfeld；　supported　by　a　squadron　of　tanks。　He　heard　the　overhead　whistling　of　artillery　shells；　the　new　kind　that　dropped　mines　on　the　fog…shrouded　battlefield　ahead　of　him。　The　whistling　changed　as　he　mounted　his　tank。　Ining。

STENDAL；　GERMAN　DEMOCRATIC　REPUBLIC
〃It's　taken　too　long　to　get　them　moving；〃　Alekseyev　growled　to　his　operations　officer。
〃It's　still　three　divisions；　and　they　are　moving　now。〃
〃But　how　many　reinforcements　have　arrived？〃
The　operations　man　had　warned　Alekseyev　against　trying　to　coordinate　a　two…pronged　attack；　but　the　General　had　stuck　to　the　plan。　Beregovoy's　A　tank　division　was　now　in　place　to　strike　from　the　west；　while　the　three　C　reserve　divisions　hit　from　the　east。　The　regular　tank　force　had　no　artillery…they'd　had　to　move　too　fast　to　bring　it…but　three　hundred　tanks　and　six　hundred　personnel　carriers　were　a　formidable　force　all　by　themselves；　the　General　thought　。　。　。　but　what　were　they　up　against；
and　how　many　vehicles　had　been　destroyed　or　damaged　by　air　attack　on　the　approach　march？
Sergetov　arrived。　His　class…A　uniform　was　rumpled　from　his　traveling。
〃And　how　was　Moscow？〃　Alekseyev　asked。
〃Dark；　rade　General。　The　attack；　how　did　it　go？〃
〃Just　starting　now。〃
〃Oh？〃　The　major　was　surprised　at　the　delay。　He　looked　rather　closely　at　the　Theater　Operations　Officer；　who　hovered　over　the　map　table；　frowning　at　the　dispositions　while　the　plotting　officers　prepared　to　mark　the　progress　of　the　attack。
〃I　have　a　message　from　high　mand　for　you；　rade　General。〃　Sergetov　handed　over　an　official…looking　form。　Alekseyev　scanned　it…and　stopped　reading。　His　fingers　went　taut　on　the　paper　briefly　before　he　regained　self…control。
〃e　to　my　office。〃　The　General　said　nothing　more　until　the　door　was　closed。　〃Are　you　sure　of　this？〃
〃I　was　told　by　Director　Kosov　himself。〃
Alekseyev　sat　on　the　edge　of　his　desk。　He　lit　a　match　and　burned　the　message　form；　watching　the　flame　march　across　the　paper　almost　to　his　fingertips　as　he　twisted　it　in　his　hand。
〃That　fucking　weasel。　Stukach！〃　An　informer　on　my　own　staff！　〃What　else？〃
Sergetov　related　the　other　information　he'd　learned。　The　General　was　silent　for　a　minute；　puting　his　fuel　requirements　against　fuel　reserves。
〃If　today's　attack　fails　。　。　。　we've…〃　He　turned　away；　unwi