tc.redstormrising-第38章

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　defensive　positions　as　the　reinforced　pany　in　each　vehicle　advanced　slowly　and　skillfully；　using　their　cover　and　taking　advantage　of　their　fire　support。　The　assault　force　had　been　handpicked　from　units　that　had　fought　in　Afghanistan。　Every　man　had　been　under　fire　before。　The　Lebeds　immediately　turned　crablike　and　sped　back　to　sea　to　pick　up　yet　more　infantrymen。　Already；　elements　of　two　elite　airborne　battalions　were　engaging　a　single　pany　of　Marines。
The　frantic　words　on　the　platoon　radio　nets　were　all　too　clear。　The　base　electrical　supply　was　cut；　and　along　with　it　the　main　radios。　The　Marine　officers　were　dead；　and　there　was　no　one　to　coordinate　the　defense。　Edwards　wondered　if　anyone　really　knew　what　the　hell　was　going　on。　He　decided　that　it　probably　didn't　matter。
〃Sergeant；　we　gotta　get　the　hell　outa　here！〃
〃You　mean　run　away！〃
〃I　mean　get　away　and　report　what's　happened　here。　Looks　like　we　lost　this　one；　Sarge。　Somebody's　gotta　report　in　so　they　don't　send　any　more　planes　to　land　here。　What's　the　fastest　way　to　Reykjavik？〃
〃Dammit；　sir；　there's　Marines　out　there…〃
〃You　wanna　be　a　Russian　prisoner？　We　lost！　I　say　we　gotta　report　in　and　you'll　do　what　I　Goddamned　tell　you；　Sergeant；　you　got　that！〃
〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
〃How　we　fixed　for　weapons？〃
On　his　own；　a　private　ran　to　what　was　left　of　the　school。　A　Marine　was　lying　there　facedown；　a　pool　of　red　spreading　from　some　invisible；　fatal　wound。　The　private　came　back　with　the　man's　M…16；　field　pack；　and　ammo　belt；　handing　the　collection　to　Edwards。
〃We　all　got　one　now；　sir。〃
〃Let's　get　the　hell　outa　here。〃
The　sergeant　threw　the　jeep　into　gear。　〃How　we　gonna　report　in？〃
〃Let　me　worry　about　that；　okay？〃
〃You　say　so。〃　The　sergeant　turned　the　jeep　pletely　around；　back　up　International；　toward　the　wrecked　satellite　antennae。

MV　JULIUS　FUCIK
〃Aircraft　sighted；　port　bow！〃　a　lookout　screamed。　Kherov　raised　his　binoculars　to　his　eyes　and　swore　softly。　He　saw　what　could　only　be　missiles　dangling　from　each　wing　of　the　multiengined　aircraft。

PENGUIN　8
〃Well；　lookie　what　we　got　here；〃　the　Orion's　pilot　said　quietly。　〃Our　old　friend；　the　Doctor　Lykes。　bat；　Flight；　what　else　is　around？〃
〃Nothin'；　Flight；　not　another　surface　ship　for　over　a　hundred　miles。〃　They　had　just　pleted　a　plete　circuit　of　the　horizon；　scanning　with　their　surface…search　radar。
〃And　it's　for　Goddamned　sure　those　hovercraft　didn't　e　in　off　no　submarine。〃　The　pilot　adjusted　course　to　pass　within　two　miles　of　the　ship；　with　the　sun　behind　the　four…engine　patrol　aircraft。　His　copilot　examined　the　ship　through　binoculars。　Onboard　TV　cameras　operated　by　the　weapons　crew　would　provide　even　better　close…up　pictures。　They　saw　a　pair　of　helicopters　warming　up。　Someone　aboard　the　Fucik　panicked　and　fired　a　hand…held　SA…7　missile。　It　failed　to　lock　onto　the　Orion　and　blazed　off　directly　into　the　low　sun。

MV　JULIUS　FUCIK
〃Idiot！〃　Kherov　growled。　The　smoke　from　the　rocket　motor　didn't　even　e　close　to　the　aircraft。　〃He'll　shoot　at　us　now。　All　ahead　flank！　Helmsman；　be　alert！〃

PENGUIN　8
〃Okay；〃　the　pilot　said；　turning　away　from　the　merchantman。　〃Tacco；　we　got　a　target　for　your　Harpoons。　Any　luck　with　Keflavik？〃
〃Negative；　but　Sentry　One　is　relaying　the　data　into　Scotland。　They　say　a　bunch　of　missiles　hit　Keflavik；　looks　like　the　place　is　closed　whether　we　keep　it　or　not。〃
The　pilot　cursed　briefly。　〃Okay。　We'll　blow　this　pirate　right　out　of　the　water。〃
〃Roge；　Flight；〃　the　tactical　coordinator　replied。　〃Two　minutes　before　we　can　launch　the…damn！　I　got　a　red　light　on　the　portside　Harpoon。　The　sucker　won't　arm。〃
〃Well；　play　with　the　bastard！〃　the　pilot　growled。　It　didn't　work。　In　the　haste　to　get　off　the　ground；　the　missile's　control　cables　had　not　been　fully　attached　by　the　weary　ground　crew。
〃Okay；　I　got　one　working。　Ready！〃
〃Shoot！〃
The　missile　dropped　clear　of　the　wing　and　fell　thirty　feet　before　its　engine　ignited。　Fucik's　weather　deck　was　lined　with　paratroopers；　many　holding　hand…launched　SAMs　and　hoping　to　intercept　the　ining　ASM。
〃Tacco；　see　if　you　can　raise　an　F…15。　Maybe　they　can　rip　this　baby　up　with　twenty…millimeters。〃
〃Doing　that　already。　We　got　a　pair　of　Eagles　ing　in；　but　they're　skosh　fuel。　One　or　two　passes'll　be　all　they　can　manage。〃
Forward；　the　pilot　had　binoculars　to　his　eyes；　watching　the　whitepainted　missile　skimming　the　wavetops。　〃Go；　baby；　go　。

MV　JULIUS　FUCIK
〃Rocket　ing　in；　low　on　the　horizon；　portside。〃　At　least　we　have　good　lookouts；　Kherov　thought。　He　estimated　the　distance　to　the　horizon；　and　gave　the　missile　a　speed　of　a　thousand　kilometers　per　hour　。　。　。
〃Right　hard　rudder！〃　he　screamed。　The　helmsman　threw　the　wheel　over　as　far　as　it　would　go　and　held　it　down。
〃You　cannot　run　from　a　missile；　Kherov；〃　the　General　said　quietly。
〃I　know　this。　Watch；　my　friend。〃
The　black…hulled　vessel　was　turning　radically　to　starboard。　As　she　did　so；　the　ship　heeled　in　the　opposite　direction；　the　same　way　a　car　rolls　away　from　a　turn　on　a　flat　road；　which　artificially　raised　the　waterline　on　the　vulnerable　portside。
Some　enterprising　officers　aboard　fired　signal　flares；　hoping　to　decoy　the　missile　away；　but　all　the　missile's　microchip　brain　cared　about　was　the　enormous　blip　that　occupied　the　center　of　its　radar　seeker　head。　It　noted　that　the　ship's　heading　was　changing　slightly；　and　altered　its　own　course　accordingly。　Half　a　mile　from　the　target；　the　Harpoon　lurched　upward　from　its　ten…foot　altitude　in　its　programmed　〃pop…up〃　terminal　maneuver。　The　troopers　aboard　the　Fucik　instantly　fired　an　even　dozen　SAMs。　Three　locked　onto　the　Harpoon's　engine　exhaust　plume；　but　were　unable　to　turn　rapidly　enough　to　hit　the　ining　missile；　and　continued　past　it。　The　Harpoon　tipped　over　and　dove。

PENGUIN　8
〃All　right　。　。　。〃　the　pilot　whispered。　There　was　no　stopping　it　now。
The　missile　struck　the　Fucik's　hull　six　feet　above　the　waterline；　slightly　abaft　the　bridge。　The　warhead　exploded　at　once；　but　the　missile　body　kept　moving　forward；　spreading　two　hundred　pounds　of　jet　fuel　that　fireballed　into　the　lowest　cargo　deck。　In　an　instant；　the　ship　disappeared　behind　a　wall　of　smoke。　Three　paratroopers；　thrown　off　their　feet　by　the　impact；　accidentally　triggered　their　SAMs　straight　up。
〃Tacco；　your　bird　hit　just　fine。　We　got　warhead　detonation。　Looks　like　。　。　。　The　pilot's　eyes　strained　at　his　binoculars　to　assess　the　damage。

MV　JULIUS　FUCIK
〃Rudder　amidships！〃　Kherov　had　expected　to　be　knocked　from　his　feet；　but　the　missile　was　a　small　one；　and　JULIUS　FUCIK　still　had　thirty…five　thousand　tons　of　mass。　He　ran　out　to　the　bridge　wing　to　survey　the　damage。　As　the　ship　returned　to　an　even　keel；　the　ragged　hole　in　her　side　rose　ten　feet　from　the　lapping　waves。　Smoke　poured　from　the　hole。　There　was　fire　aboard；　but　the　ship　should　not　flood　from　the　blow；　the　captain　judged。　There　was　only　one　danger。　Kherov　rapidly　gave　orders　to　his　damage…control　teams；　and　the　General　sent　one　of　his　own　officers　to　assist。　A　hundred　of　the　paratroopers　had　been　trained　over　the　last　ten　days　in　shipboard　firefighting。　They　would　now　put　what　they　had　learned　to　use。

PENGUIN　8
The　Fucik　emerged　at　twenty　knots　from　the　smoke；　a　fifteen…foot　hole　in　the　ship's　side。　Smoke　poured　from　the　opening；　but　the　pilot　knew　at　once　that　the　damage　would　not　be　fatal。　He　could　see　hundreds　of　men　on　the　upper　deck；　some　of　them　already　running　toward　ladders　to　fight　the　fire　below。
〃Where　are　those　fighters？〃　the　pilot　asked。　The　tactical　coordinator　didn't　answer。　He　switched　his　radio　circuits。
〃Penguin　Eight；　this　is　Cobra　One。　I　got　two　birds。　Our　missiles　are　all　gone；　but　we　both　got　a　full　load　of　twenty…mike…mike。　I　can　give　you　two　passes；　then　we　gotta　bingo　to　Scotland。〃
〃That's　a　roge；　Cobra　Lead。　The　target　has　some　helos　spooling　up。　Watch　out　for　hand…held　SAMs。　I　seen　'em　fire　about　twenty　of　the　bastards。〃
〃Roger　that；　Penguin。　Any　further　word　of　Keflavik？〃
〃We're　gonna　have　to　find　a　new　home　for　a　while。〃
〃Roger；　copy。　Okay；　keep　clear；　we're　ing　in　from　up…sun；　on　the　deck。〃
The　Orion　continued　to　orbit　three　miles　out。　Her　pilot　didn't　see　the　fighters　until　they　started　firing。　The　two　Eagles　were　a　few　feet　apart；　perhaps　twenty　feet　over　the　water　as　their　noses　sparkled　with　the　flash　from　their　20mm　rotary　cannon。

MV　JULIUS　FUCIK
Nobody　aboard　saw　them　e　in。　A　moment　later；　the　water　around　the　Fucik's　side　turned　to　froth　from　short…failing　rounds；　then　her　main　deck　was　hidden　with　dust。　A　sudden　orange　fireball　announced　the　explosion　of　one　of　the　Russian　helicopters；　and　burning　jet　fuel　splattered　over　the　bridge；　narrowly　missing　the　General　and　captain。
〃What　was　that？〃　Kherov　gasped。
〃American　fighters。　They　came　in　very　low。　They　must　only　have　their　cannon；　else　they'd　have　bombed　us　already。　It　is　not　over　yet；　my　captain。〃
The　fighters　split；　passing　left　and　right　of　the　ship；　which　continued　to　move　at　twenty　knots　in　a　wide　circle。　No　SAMs　followed　the　Eagles　away；　and　both　turned；　re…formed；　and　closed　on　the　Fucik's　bow。　The　next　target　was　the　superstructure。　A　moment　later；　the　freighter's　bridge　was　peppered　with　several　hundred　rounds。　Every　window　was　blown　away；　and　most　of　the　bridge　crew　killed；　but　the　ship's　watertight　integrity　hadn't　been　damaged　a　whit。
Kherov　surveyed　the　carnage。　His　helmsman　had　been　blown　apart　by　a　half…dozen　exploding　bullets　and　every　man　present　on　the　bridge　was　dead。　It　took　a　second　for　him　to　overe　the　shock　and　notice　a　crippling　pain　in　his　own　abdomen；　his　dark　jacket　darkening　further　with　blood。
〃You　are　hit；　Captain。〃　Only　the　General　had　had　the　instinct　to　duck　behind　something　solid。　He　looked　at　the　eight　mutilated　bodies　in　the　pilothouse　and　wondered　once　again　why　he　was　so　lucky。
〃I　must　get　the　ship　to　port。　Go　aft。　Tell　the　first　officer　to　continue　landing　operations。　You；　rade　General；　supervise　the　fires　topside。　We　must　get　my　ship　to　port。〃
〃I　will　send　you　help。〃　The　General　ran　out　the　door　as　Kherov　went　to　the　wheel。

KEFLAVIK；　ICELAND
〃Stop；　hold　it　right　here！〃　Edwards　screamed。
〃What　now；　Lieutenant？〃　the　sergeant　demanded。　He　stopped　the　jeep　by　the　BOQ　parking　lot。
〃Let's　get　my　car。　This　jeep's　too　friggin'　conspicuous。〃　The　lieutenant　jumped　out　of　the　jeep；　pulling　his　car　keys　from　his　pants　pocket。　The　Marines　just　looked　at　each　other　for　a　moment　before　running　after　him。
His　car　was　a　ten…year…old　Volvo　that　he'd　purchased　from　a　departing　officer　a　few　months　before。　It　had　seen　rugged　service　on　Iceland's　mainly　unpaved　roads；　and　it　showed。　〃Well；　get　in！〃
〃Sir；　what　the　hell　are　we　doing；　exactly？〃
〃Look；　Sarge；　we　gotta　clear　the　area。　What　if　Ivan's　got　helicopters？　What　do　you　suppose　a　jeep　looks　like　from　the　air？〃
〃Oh；　okay。〃　The　sergeant　nodded。　〃But　what　are　we　doing；　sir？〃
〃We'll　drive　at　least　as　far　as　Hafnarfjordur；　ditch　the　car；　and　start　walking　back　into　the　boonies。　Soon　as　we　get　to　a　safe　place；　we'll　radio　in。　That's　a　satellite　radio　I　got。　We　have　to　let　Washington　know　what's　happening　here。　That　means　we　gotta　be　able　to　see　what　Ivan's　got　ing　in。　Our　people　are　gonna　at　least　try　to　take　this　rock　back。　Our　mission；　Sergeant；　is　to　stay　alive；　report　in；　and　maybe　make　that　easier。〃　Edwards　hadn't　thought　this　out　until　a　few　moments　before　he　said　i