tc.redstormrising-第129章

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〃If　today's　attack　fails　。　。　。　we've…〃　He　turned　away；　unwilling；　unable；　to　make　himself　say　it　aloud。　I　have　not　trained　my　whole　life　to　fail！　He　remembered　the　first　notice　he'd　had　of　the　campaign　against　NATO。　I　told　them　to　attack　at　once。　I　told　them　that　we　needed　strategic　surprise；　and　that　we'd　have　difficulty　achieving　it　if　we　waited　so　long。　I　told　them　that　we'd　have　to　close　the　North　Atlantic　to　prevent　resupply　of　the　NATO　forces。　So。　Now　that　we've　acplished　none　of　these；　my　friend　is　in　a　KGB　prison　and　my　own　life　is　in　jeopardy　because　I　may　fail　to　do　what　I　told　them　we　could　not　do…because　I　was　right　all　along！
e　now；　Pasha。　Why　should　the　Politburo　listen　to　its　soldiers　when　it　can　just　as　easily　shoot　them？
The　Theater　Operations　Officer　stuck　his　head　through　the　door。　〃The　troops　are　moving。〃
〃Thank　you；　Yevgeny　Ilych；〃　Alekseyev　answered　amiably。　He　rose　from　the　desk。　〃e；　Major；　let's　see　how　quickly　we　can　smash　through　the　NATO　lines！〃

ALFELD；　FEDERAL　REPUBLIC　OF　GERMANY
〃Bar　fight；〃　Woody　said　from　his　gunner's　position。
〃Looks　like　it；〃　Mackall　agreed。
They'd　been　told　to　expect　two　or　three　Soviet　reserve　divisions。　Together　they　had　perhaps　the　artillery　strength　of　two　regular　units；　and　they　were　firing　at　both　sides　of　the　river。　The　miserable　visibility　hurt　both　sides。　The　Russians　could　not　direct　their　artillery　fire　well；　and　the　NATO　troops　would　have　minimal　air　support。　As　usual；　the　worst　part　of　the　preliminary　bombardment　was　the　rockets；　which　lasted　two　minutes；　the　unguided　missiles　falling　like　hail。　Though　men　died　and　vehicles　exploded；　the　defending　force　was　well　prepared　and　casualties　were　light。
Woody　switched　on　his　thermal…imaging　sights。　It　allowed　him　to　see　roughly　a　thousand　yards；　double　the　visual　range。　On　the　left　side　of　the　turret；　the　loader　sat　nervously；　his　foot　resting　lightly　on　the　pedal　that　controlled　the　doors　to　the　ammo　partment。　The　driver　in　his　coffinsized　box　under　the　main　gun　drummed　his　fingers　on　the　control　bar。
〃Heads　up。　Friendlies　ing　in；〃　Mackall　told　his　crew。　〃Movement　reported　to　the　east。〃
〃I　see　'em；〃　Woody　acknowledged。　Just　a　few　infantrymen　were　returning　from　their　forward　listening　posts。　Not　as　many　as　there　should　have　been；　Mackall　thought。　So　many　casualties　over　the　past…
〃Target　tank；　twelve　o'clock；〃　Woody　said。　He　squeezed　the　triggers　on　his　yoke；　and　the　tank　seemed　to　leap　from　its　first　shot。
The　spent　round　ejected　from　the　breech。　The　loader　stomped　his　foot　on　the　pedal。　The　door　slid　clear　of　the　ammo　partment　and　he　pulled　out　another　sabot　round；　turning　it　in　a　narrow　circle　to　slain　it　in　the　breech。
〃Ready！〃
Woody　already　had　another　target。　He　was　largely　on　his　own　while　Mackall　watched　out　for　the　whole　platoon's　front。　The　troop　mander　was　calling　in　artillery　fire。　Immediately　behind　the　first　row　of　tanks；　they　saw　dismounted　infantrymen　running　to　keep　up　with　the　tanks。　Eight…wheeled　infantry　carriers　were　mixed　in　as　well。　The　Bradleys　engaged　them　with　their　25mm　guns　as　proximity…fused　artillery　rounds　began　to　detonate　twenty　feet　off　the　ground；　showering　the　infantrymen　with　fragments。
They　couldn't　miss。　The　Russian　tanks　advanced　at　half　the　normal　hundred…yard　interval；　concentrating　on　a　narrow　front。　They　were　old　T…55s；　Woody　saw；　with　obsolete　100mm　guns。　He　killed　three　before　they　could　even　see　the　NATO　positions。　One　shell　landed　in　the　stone　pile　ahead　of　their　tank；　sending　a　mix　of　steel　fragments　and　stone　chips　over　the　vehicle。　Woody　dispatched　that　tank　with　a　HEAT　round。　Smoke　rounds　began　failing…they　didn't　help　the　Russians　at　all。　The　electronic　sights　on　the　NATO　vehicles　saw　right　through　it。　More　artillery　fire　landed　on　the　Cav　now　that　the　Russians　could　see　well　enough　to　direct　fire　in　on　their　positions；　and　that　began　an　artillery　duel　as　NATO　guns　searched　for　the　Russian　batteries。
〃Antenna　tank！　Sabot！〃　The　gunner　locked　his　sights　on　the　T…55　and　fired。　The　round　missed　this　time　and　they　reloaded　another　round。　The　second　shot　blew　the　turret　into　the　sky。　The　thermal　sight　showed　the　bright　dots　of　antitank　missiles　running　downrange；　and　the　fountaining　explosions　of　the　vehicles　they　hit。　Suddenly　the　Russians　stopped。　Most　of　the　vehicles　died　in　place；　but　some　turned　and　ran　off。
〃Cease　fire；　cease　fire！〃　Mackall　told　his　platoon。　〃Report　in。〃
〃Three…two　has　a　track　blown　off；〃　one　replied。　The　others　were　intact；　protected　by　their　stone　revetments。
〃Nine　rounds　fired；　boss；〃　Woody　said。　Mackall　and　the　loader　opened　their　hatches　to　vent　the　acrid　propellant　smell　out　of　the　turret。　The　gunner　pulled　off　his　leather　helmet　and　shook　his　head。　His　sandy　hair　was　filthy。　〃You　know；　there's　one　thing　I　miss　from　the　M…60。〃
〃What's　that；　Woody？〃
〃We　ain't　got　no　hatch　in　the　bottom。　Nice　to　be　able　to　take　a　piss　without　climbing　outside。〃
〃Did　you　have　to　say　that！〃　the　driver　moaned。
Mackall　laughed。　It　was　a　moment　before　he　realized　why。　For　the　first　time　they'd　stopped　Ivan　cold；　without　having　to　pull　back　at　all…a　good　thing　since　their　current　position　didn't　allow　for　that　possibility！　And　how　did　the　crew　react？　They　were　making　jokes。

USS　REUBEN　JAMES
O'Malley　lifted　off　again。　He　was　averaging　ten　flight　hours　per　day。　Three　ships　had　been　torpedoed；　two　more　hit　by　submarine…launched　missiles　in　the　past　four　days；　but　the　Russians　had　paid　dearly　for　that。　They'd　sent　perhaps　as　many　as　twenty　submarines　into　Icelandic　waters。　Eight　had　died　trying　to　get　through　the　picket　line　of　submarines　that　was　the　fleet's　outer　defense。　More　had　fallen　to　the　line　of　towed…array　ships　whose　helicopters　were　now　backed　up　by　those　of　HMS　Illustrious；　A　bold　Tango　skipper　had　actually　penetrated　one　of　the　carrier　groups　and　put　a　fish　into　America's　tough　hide；　only　to　be　pounced　on　and　sunk　by　the　destroyer　Caron。　The　carrier　could　now　make　only　twenty…five　knots；　barely　enough　to　conduct　flight　operations；　but　she　was　still　there。
Mike　Force…Reuben　James；　Battleaxe；　and　Illustrious…was　escorting　a　group　of　amphibs　south　for　another　landing。　There　were　still　bears　in　the　woods；　and　Ivan　would　go　for　the　amphibious…warfare　ships　as　soon　as　he　had　the　chance。　From　a　thousand　feet；　O'Malley　could　see　Nassau　and　three　others　to　the　north。　Smoke　rose　from　Keflavik。　The　Russian　troops　were　getting　no　rest　at　all。
〃Won't　be　easy　for　them　to　track　in　on　us；〃　Ralston　thought　aloud。
〃You　suppose　those　Russian　troops　have　radios？〃　O'Malley　asked。
〃Sure。〃
〃You　suppose　maybe　they　can　see　us　from　those　hills…and　maybe　radio　a　submarine　what　they　see？〃
〃I　didn't　think　of　that；〃　the　ensign　admitted。
〃Mat's　all　right。　I'm　sure　Ivan　did。〃　O'Malley　looked　north　again。　There　were　three　thousand　Marines　on　those　ships。　The　Marines　had　saved　his　ass　in　Vietnam　more　than　once。
Reuben　James　and　O'Malley　had　the　inshore　side　of　the　small　convoy　while　the　British　ships　and　helos　guarded　to　seaward。　It　was　relatively　shallow　water。　Their　towed…array　sonars　were　reeled　in。
〃Willy；　drop…now；　now；　now！〃　The　first　active　sonobuoy　was　ejected　into　the　water。　Five　more　were　deployed　in　the　next　few　minutes。　The　passive　buoys　used　for　open…ocean　search　were　the　wrong　choice　here。　Stealth　was　not　in　the　cards　if　the　Russian　subs　were　being　informed　where　to　go。　Better　to　scare　them　off　than　to　try　finesse。
Three　hours；　O'Malley　thought。
〃Hammer；　this　is　Romeo；〃　Morris　called。　〃Bravo　and　India　are　working　a　possible　contact　to　seaward；　two…nine　miles　bearing　two…four…seven。〃
〃Roger　that；　Romeo。〃　O'Malley　acknowledged。　To　Ralston：　〃Bastard's　within　missile　range。　That　oughta　make　the　Marines　happy。〃
〃Contact！　Possible　contact　on　buoy　four；〃　Willy　said；　watching　the　sonar　display。　〃Signal　is　weak。〃
O'Malley　turned　his　helo　and　moved　back　up　the　line。

KEFLAVIK；　ICELAND
〃Where　do　you　suppose　they　are？〃　Andreyev　asked　his　naval　liaison　officer。　The　position　of　the　formation　had　been　plotted　on　the　map　from　the　reports　of　several　mountaintop　lookout　stations。
The　man　shook　his　head。　〃Trying　to　get　to　the　targets。〃
The　General　remembered　his　own　time　aboard　ship；　how　vulnerable　he'd　felt；　how　dangerous　it　had　been。　A　distant　part　of　his　consciousness　felt　sympathy　for　the　American　Marines。　But　gallantry　was　a　luxury　the　General　could　not　afford。　His　paratroopers　were　heavily　engaged；　and　he　didn't　need　more　enemy　troops　and　heavy　equipment…of　course！
His　division　was　deployed　to　keep　the　Americans　away　from　the　Reykjavik/Keflavik　area　as　long　as　possible。　His　original　orders　remained　operative：　deny　the　Keflavik　Air　Base　to　NATO。　That　he　could　do；　though　it　would　mean　the　probable　annihilation　of　his　elite　troopers。　His　problem　was　that　Reykjavik　airport　would　be　equally　useful　to　the　enemy；　and　one　light　division　wasn't　enough　to　cover　both　places。
So　now　the　Americans　trailed　their　coats　in　plain　view　of　his　observers　…a　full　regiment　of　troops　plus　heavy　weapons　and　helicopters　that　they　could　land　anywhere　they　wished。　If　he　redeployed　to　meet　this　threat；　he　risked　disaster　when　he　disengaged　his　forward　units。　If　he　moved　his　reserves；　they　would　be　in　the　open　where　naval　guns　and　aircraft　could　massacre　them。　This　unit　was　being　moved；　not　to　join　the　others　deployed　against　his　airborne　infantrymen；　but　to　exploit　a　weakness　within　minutes　instead　of　hours。　Once　in　place；　the　landing　ships　could　wait　for　relative　darkness　or　a　storm　and　race　unseen　across　the　water　to　landbound　troops。　How　could　he　deploy　his　own　forces　to　deal　with　that？　His　radars　were　finished；　he　had　a　single　remaining　SAM　launcher；　and　the　battleships　had　systematically　exterminated　most　of　his　artillery。
〃How　many　submarines　out　there？〃
〃I　don't　know；　rade　General。〃

USS　REUBEN　JAMES
Morris　watched　the　sonar　plot。　The　sonobuoy　contact　had　faded　off　after　a　few　minutes。　A　school　of　herring；　perhaps。　The　ocean　waters　abounded　with　fish；　and　enough　of　them　on　active　sonar　looked　like　a　sub。　His　own　sonar　was　virtually　useless　as　his　ship　struggled　just　to　keep　up　with　the　'phibs。　A　possible　submarine　to　seaward…every　sub　contact　was　a　possible　cruise…missile　sub…was　all　the　modore　needed　to　go　to　full　speed。
O'Malley　was　dipping　his　sonar　now；　trying　to　reacquire　the　lost　contact。　He　was　the　only　one　who　could　keep　up　with　things。
〃Romeo；　this　is　Bravo。　Be　advised　we　are　prosecuting　a　possible　missile　carrying　submarine。〃　Doug　Perrin　had　to　assume　the　worst　case。
〃Roger　that；　Bravo。〃　According　to　the　data…link　picture；　three　helicopters　were　backing　Battleaxe　up；　and　the　British　frigate　had　interposed　herself　on　the　line　from　the　contact　to　the　amphibious　ships。　Be　careful；　Doug。
〃Contact！〃　Willy　said。　〃I　have　an　active　sonar　contact　bearing　three…zero…three；　range　two　three　hundred。〃
O'Malley　didn't　have　to　look　at　his　tactical　display。　The　submarine　was　between　him　and　the　'phibs。
〃Up　dome！〃　The　pilot　hovered　while　the　sonar　transducer　was　winched　in。　The　contact　was　alerted　now。　That　made　it　harder。　〃Romeo；　Hammer；　we　have　a　possible　contact　here。〃
〃Roger；　understood。〃　Morris　was　looking　at　the　display。　He　ordered　the　frigate　to　close　at　flank　speed。　Not　a　smart　tactic；　he　had　no　choice　but　to　pounce　on　the　contact　before　it　got　within　range　of　the　'phib