tc.redstormrising-第33章

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。　Every　one　of　them　wished　that　Major　Chernyavin　were　there；　and　wondered　if　somehow　the　mission　might　have　been　blown。　One　by　one；　they　set　these　thoughts　aside。　Soon　every　man　was　reviewing　his　part　in　the　mission　to　destroy　Lammersdorf。
The　drivers　were　KGB　agents　well　experienced　at　working　in　foreign　lands；　and　wondering　exactly　the　same　thing。　Both　vehicles　stayed　together；　driving　conservatively；　wary　of　vehicles　that　followed　them。　Each　had　a　scanner　radio　tuned　to　the　local　police　frequencies；　and　another　for　municating　with　each　other。　The　KGB　officers　had　discussed　the　mission　an　hour　before。　Moscow　Center　had　told　them　that　NATO　was　not　yet　fully　alerted。　The　lead　driver；　whose　regular　cover　job　was　driving　a　taxi；　wondered　if　a　〃full〃　NATO　alert　meant　a　parade　through　Red　Square。
〃Turning　right　now。　Car　three；　close　in。　Car　one；　turn　left　at　the　next　intersection　and　get　ahead　of　them。〃　Colonel　Weber　spoke　over　a　tactical　radio　of　the　sort　used　by　FIST…fire…support　team…units。　The　ambush　had　been　ready　for　several　days　now；　and　as　soon　as　their　targets　had　emerged　from　their　safe　house；　the　word　had　been　flashed　all　over　the　Federal　Republic。　NATO　establishments　already　on　alert　were　brought　to　full　battle…readiness。　This　could　only　be　the　opening　move　in　a　shooting　war　。　。　。　unless；　Weber　admitted　to　himself；　they　were　simply　moving　from　one　secure　place　to　wait　further　in　another　one。　He　didn't　know　which　way　things　would　turn；　though　surely　it　had　to　begin　soon。　Didn't　it？
The　two　trucks　were　now　in　a　rural　part　of　Western　Germany；　driving　southeast　through　the　German…Belgian　Nature　Park；　a　scenic　route　often　traveled　by　tourists　and　sightseers。　They　had　chosen　this　side　road　to　avoid　the　military　traffic　on　the　major　highways；　but　as　they　passed　through　Mulartshutte；　the　lead　driver　frowned　as　he　saw　a　military　convoy　of　tanks　on　low…hauler　trailers。　Strangely；　the　tanks　were　loaded　backwards；　with　their　massive　guns　facing　aft。　British　tanks；　he　saw；　new　Challengers。　Well；　he　hadn't　expected　to　see　any　German　Leopard　tanks　on　the　Belgian　border。　There　had　never　been　any　possibility　of　preventing　a　German　mobilization；　and　he　tried　to　convince　himself　that　the　rest　of　the　NATO　countries　had　not　moved　as　quickly　as　they　could　have。　Ah；　if　this　mission　were　successful；　then　NATO's　munications　would　be　seriously　damaged；　and　maybe　the　armored　spearheads　would　indeed　e　to　rescue　them。　The　convoy　slowed。　The　driver　considered　pulling　around　them；　but　his　orders　were　to　be　inconspicuous。
〃Everyone　ready？〃　Weber　asked　from　his　chase　car。
〃Ready。〃　Bloody　plex　op；　this；　Colonel　Armstrong　thought。　Tankers；　SAS；　and　the　Germans　all　working　together。　But　worth　it　to　bag　a　bunch　of　Spetznaz…　The　convoy　slowed　and　stopped　at　a　picnicking　area。　Weber　halted　his　car　a　hundred　meters　away。　It　was　now　in　the　hands　of　the　English　ambush　team。
Flares　erupted　around　the　two　small　vans。
The　KGB　driver　cringed　at　being　in　the　center　of　so　much　light。　Then　he　looked　forward　to　see　the　barrel　of　the　tank　just　fifty　meters　ahead　of　him　rise　from　its　travel…rest　and　center　on　his　windshield。
〃Attention；〃　a　voice　called　in　Russian　over　a　megaphone。　〃Spetznaz　soldiers；　attention。　You　are　surrounded　by　a　pany　of　mechanized　troops。　e　out　of　your　vehicles　singly　and　unarmed。　If　you　open　fire；　you　will　be　killed　within　seconds。〃　A　second　voice　began　speaking。
〃e　out；　rades；　this　is　Major　Chernyavin。　There　is　no　chance。〃
The　mandos　exchanged　looks　of　horror。　In　the　lead　vehicle　the　captain　started　to　pull　the　pin　on　a　grenade。　A　sergeant　leaped　on　him　and　wrapped　his　hand　around　the　captain's。
〃We　cannot　be　taken　alive！　Those　are　our　orders！〃　the　captain　shouted。
〃The　devil's　mother　we　can't！〃　the　sergeant　screamed。　〃One　at　a　time；　rades…out　with　hands　high。　And　be　careful！〃
A　private　emerged　from　the　back　door　of　the　van；　one　slow　foot　at　a　time。
〃e　to　the　sound　of　my　voice；　Ivanov；〃　Chernyavin　said　from　a　wheelchair。　The　major　had　told　much　to　earn　the　chance　to　save　his　detachment。　He　had　worked　with　these　men　for　two　years；　and　he　could　not　let　them　be　slaughtered　to　no　purpose。　It　was　one　thing　to　be　loyal　to　the　State；　another　to　be　loyal　to　the　men　he'd　led　in　bat　operations。　〃You　will　not　be　hurt。　If　you　have　any　weapons；　drop　them　now。　I　know　about　the　knife　you　carry；　Private　Ivanov　。　。　。　Very　good。　Next　man。〃
It　went　quickly。　A　joint　team　of　Special　Air　Service　and　GSG…9　mandos　collected　their　Soviet　counterparts；　handcuffed　them；　and　led　them　off　to　be　blindfolded。　Soon　only　two　were　left。　The　grenade　made　it　tricky。　By　this　time　the　captain　had　seen　the　futility　of　his　action；　but　it　proved　impossible　to　locate　the　pin　for　the　grenade。　The　sergeant　shouted　a　warning　to　Chernyavin；　who　wanted　to　e　forward　himself；　but　couldn't。　The　captain　came　out　last。　He　wanted　to　throw　the　grenade　at　the　officer　who；　he　thought；　had　betrayed　his　country；　only　to　see　a　man　whose　legs　were　swathed　in　plaster。
Chernyavin　could　see　the　look　on　the　man's　face。
〃Andrey　Ilych；　would　you　prefer　that　your　life　should　end　for　nothing？〃　the　major　asked。　〃The　bastards　drugged　me　and　learned　enough　to　kill　you　all。　I　could　not　let　them　do　this。〃
〃I　have　a　live　grenade！〃　the　captain　said　loudly。　〃I　will　throw　it　into　the　truck。〃　This　he　did　before　anyone　could　shout　to　stop　him。　A　moment　later　the　truck　exploded；　destroying　the　group's　maps　and　plans　for　escape。　For　the　first　time　in　a　week；　Chernyavin's　face　broke　into　a　wide　grin。　〃Well　done；　Andrushka！〃
Two　other　Spetznaz　groups　were　less　lucky；　and　were　intercepted　within　sight　of　their　targets　by　German　units　privy　to　Chernyavin's　capture。　But　twenty　additional　groups　were　in　the　Federal　Republic；　and　not　every　NATO　site　had　gotten　the　word　in　time。　A　score　of　vicious　firefights　erupted　on　both　sides　of　the　Rhein。　A　war　to　involve　millions　began　with　squad…　and　platoon…sized　units　fighting　desperate　actions　in　the　dark。

17　…　The　Frisbees　of　Dreamland

GERMANY；　FORWARD　EDGE　OF　THE　BATTLE　AREA
The　view　would　have　been　frightening　to　most　men。　There　were　solid　clouds　overhead　at　four　thousand　feet。　He　flew　through　showers　that　he　more　heard　than　saw　on　this　black　night；　and　the　dark　outlines　of　trees　appeared　to　reach　up　and　snatch　at　his　speeding　fighter。　Only　a　madman　would　be　so　low　on　such　a　night…so　much　the　better；　he　smiled　inside　his　oxygen　mask。
Colonel　Douglas　Ellington's　fingertips　caressed　the　control　stick　of　his　F…19A　Ghostrider　attack　fighter；　while　his　other　hand　rested　on　the　side…by…side　throttle　controls　on　the　left…side　cockpit　wall。　The　head…up　display　projected　on　the　windshield　in　front　of　him　reported　625　knots　Indicated　Air　Speed；　a　hundred　six　feet　of　altitude；　a　heading　of　013；　and　around　the　numbers　was　a　monocolor　holographic　image　of　the　terrain　before　him。　The　image　came　from　a　forward…looking　infrared　camera　in　the　fighter's　nose；　augmented　by　an　invisible　laser　that　interrogated　the　ground　eight　times　per　second。　For　peripheral　vision；　his　oversized　helmet　was　fitted　with　low…light　goggles。
〃Raisin'　hell　over　our　heads；〃　his　back…seater　reported。　Major　Don　Eisly　monitored　the　radio　and　radar　signals；　as　well　as　their　own　instruments：　〃All　systems　continue　nominal；　range　to　target　now　ninety　miles。〃
〃Right；〃　the　Duke　responded。　It　had　been　an　automatic　nickname　for　Ellington；　who　even　looked　vaguely　like　the　jazz　musician。
Ellington　relished　the　mission。　They　were　skimming　north　at　perilously　low　level　over　the　angular　terrain　of　East　Germany；　and　their　Frisbee；　never　more　than　two　hundred　feet　off　the　ground；　jerked　up　and　down　to　the　pilot's　constant　course　adjustments。
Lockheed　called　her　the　Ghostrider。　The　pilots　called　her　the　Frisbee；　the　F…19A；　the　secretly　developed　Stealth　attack　fighter。　She　had　no　corners；　no　box　shapes　to　allow　radar　signals　to　bounce　cleanly　off　her。　Her　high…bypass　turbofans　were　designed　to　emit　a　blurry　infrared　signature　at　most。　From　above；　her　wings　appeared　to　mimic　the　shape　of　a　cathedral　bell。　From　in　front；　they　curved　oddly　toward　the　ground；　earning　her　the　affectionate　nickname　of　Frisbee。　Though　she　was　a　masterpiece　of　electronic　technology　inside；　she　usually　didn't　use　her　active　systems。　Radars　and　radios　made　electronic　noise　that　an　enemy　might　detect；　and　the　whole　idea　of　the　Frisbee　was　that　she　didn't　seem　to　exist　at　all。
Far　over　their　heads　on　both　sides　of　the　border；　hundreds　of　fighter　aircraft　played　a　deadly　game　of　bluff；　racing　toward　the　border　and　then　turning　away；　both　sides　trying　to　goad　the　other　into　mitting　to　battle。　Each　side　had　airborne　radar　aircraft　with　which　to　control　such　a　battle　and　so　gain　the　advantage　in　a　war　which；　though　few　yet　knew　it；　had　already　begun。
And　we're　getting　a　quick　one　in；　Ellington　thought。　We're　finally　doing　something　smart！　He'd　had　a　hundred　missions　over　Vietnam　in　the　first　production　F…111A　fighters。　The　Duke　was　the　Air　Force's　leading　expert　on　covert　low…level　missions；　and　it　was　said　that　he　could　〃bull's…eye　a　chuckhole　in　a　Kansas　tornado　at　midnight。〃　That　wasn't　quite　true。　The　Frisbee　could　never　handle　a　tornado。　The　sad　truth　was　that　the　F…19　handled　like　a　pig…a　consequence　of　her　ungainly　design。　But　Ellington　didn't　care。　Being　invisible　was　better　than　being　agile；　he　judged；　knowing　that　he　was　about　to　prove　or　disprove　that　proposition。
The　Frisbee　squadron　was　now　penetrating　the　most　concentrated　SAM　belt　the　world　had　ever　known。
〃Range　to　primary　target　is　now　sixty　miles；〃　Eisly　advised。　〃All　onboard　systems　continue　nominal。　No　radars　are　locked　onto　us。　Lookin'　good；　Duke。〃
〃Roger。〃　Ellington　pushed　the　stick　forward　and　dived　as　they　passed　over　the　crest　of　a　small　hill；　then　bottomed　out　at　eighty　feet　over　a　wheatfield。　The　Duke　was　playing　his　game　to　the　limit；　drawing　on　years　of　experience　in　low…level　attacks。　Their　primary　target　was　a　Soviet　IL…76　Mainstay；　an　AWACS…type　aircraft　that　was　circling　near　Magdeburg；　agreeably　within　ten　miles　of　their　secondary　target；　the　E…8　highway　bridges　over　the　Elbe　at　Hohenroarthe。　The　mission　was　getting　a　lot　hairier。　The　closer　they　got　to　the　Mainstay　the　more　radar　signal　hit　their　aircraft；　its　intensity　growing　at　a　square　function。　Sooner　or　later；　enough　signal　would　be　reflected　back　to　the　Mainstay　to　be　detectable；　even　by　curved　wings　made　of　radar…transparent　posites。　All　the　Stealth　technology　did　was　to　make　radar　detection　harder；　not　impossible。　Would　they　be　seen　by　the　Mainstay？　If　so；　when；　and　how　quickly　would　the　Russians　react？
Keep　her　on　the　deck；　he　told　himself。　Play　the　game　by　the　rules　you've　practiced　out。　They　had　rehearsed　this　mission　for　nine　days　in　〃Dreamland；〃　the　top…secret　exercise　area　in　the　sprawl　of　Nellis　Air　Force　Base；　Nevada。　Even　the　E…3A　Sentry　could　barely　make　them　out　at　forty　miles；　and　the　Sentry　was　a　far　better　radar　platform　than　the　Mainstay；　wasn't　it？
That's　what　you're　here　to　find　out；　boy　。　。　。
There　were　five　Mainstays　on　duty；　all　a　hundred　klicks　east　of　the　inter…German　border。　A　nice　safe　distance；　what　with　over　three　hundred　fighters　between　them　and　the　border。
〃Twenty　miles；　Duke。〃
〃Right。　Call　it　off；　Don。〃
〃Roge。　Still　no　fire…control　emanations　on　us；　and　no　search　stuff　is　lingering　ou