tc.redstormrising-第43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！


〃Signal　ing　in　from　Talbot；　sir；〃　the　junior　officer　of　the　deck　reported。
Morris　rose　and　walked　to　the　starboard　bridge　wing　with　his　binoculars。　He　prided　himself　on　being　able　to　read　Morse　almost　as　quickly　as　his　signalmen：　REPORT　ICELAND　ATTACKED　AND　NEUTRALIZED　BY　SOVIET　FORCES　X　EXPECT　MORE　SERIOUS　AIR　AND　SUB　THREAT　X。
〃More　good　news；　skipper；〃　the　OOD　mented。
〃Yeah。〃

USS　NIMITZ

〃How　did　they　do　it？〃　Chip　wondered　aloud。
〃How　don't　matter　a　damn；〃　Toland　replied。　〃We　gotta　get　this　to　the　boss。〃　He　made　a　quick　phone　call　and　left　for　flag　country。
He　almost　got　lost。　Nimitz　had　over　two　thousand　partments。　The　Admiral　lived　in　only　one　of　them；　and　Toland　had　only　been　there　once。　He　found　a　Marine　sentry　at　the　door。　The　carrier's　mander；　Captain　Svenson；　was　already　there。
〃Sir；　we　have　a　Flash　message　that　the　Soviets　have　attacked　and　neutralized　Iceland。　They　may　have　troops　there。〃
〃Do　they　have　aircraft　there？〃　Svenson　asked　at　once。
〃We　don't　know。　They're　trying　to　get　a　recon　bird　to　take　a　look；　probably　the　Brits；　but　we　won't　have　any　hard　information　for　at　least　six　hours。　The　last　friendly　satellite　pass　was　two　hours　ago；　and　we　won't　have　another　one　of　those　for　nine　hours。〃
〃Okay；　tell　me　what　you　have；〃　the　Admiral　ordered。
Toland　went　over　the　sketchy　data　that　had　e　in　the　dispatch　from　Norfolk。　〃From　what　we　know；　it　was　a　pretty　off…the…wall　plan；　but　it　seems　to　have　worked。〃
〃Nobody　ever　said　Ivan　was　dumb；〃　Svenson　mented　sourly。　〃What　about　our　orders？〃
〃Nothing　yet。〃
〃How　many　troops　on　Iceland？〃　the　Admiral　asked。
〃No　word　on　that；　sir。　The　P…3　crew　watched　two　relays　of　four　hovercraft。　At　a　hundred　men　per　load；　that's　eight　hundred　men；　at　least　a　battalion。　probably　more　like　a　regiment。　The　ship　is　large　enough　to　carry　the　equipment　load　for　a　full　brigade　and　then　some。　It's　in　one　of　Gorshkov's　books　that　this　sort　of　ship　is　uniquely　useful　for　landing　operations。〃
〃That's　too　much　for　a　MAU　to　take　on；　sir；〃　Svenson　said。　A　Marine　Amphibious　Unit　consisted　of　a　reinforced　battalion　of　troops。
〃With　three　carriers　backing　them　up？〃　Admiral　Baker　snorted；　then　adopted　a　more　thoughtful　pose。　〃You　could　be　right　at　that。　What　does　this　do　to　the　air　threat　to　us？〃
〃Iceland　had　a　squadron　of　F…15s　and　a　couple　AWACS　birds。　That's　a　lot　of　protection　for　us…gone。　We've　lost　raid　warning；　attrition；　and　raid…tracking　capabilities。〃　Svenson　didn't　like　this　at　all。　〃We　should　be　able　to　handle　their　Backfires　ourselves；　but　it　would　have　been　a　lot　easier　with　those　Eagles　running　interference。〃
Baker　sipped　at　his　coffee。　〃Our　orders　haven't　changed。〃
〃What　else　is　going　on　in　the　world？〃　Svenson　asked。
〃Norway　is　being　hit　hard；　but　no　details　yet。　Same　story　in　Germany。　The　Air　Force　is　supposed　to　have　gotten　a　heavy　hit　in　on　the　Soviets；　again　no　details。　It's　still　too　early　for　any　substantive　intel　assessments　of　what's　happening。〃
〃If　Ivan　was　able　to　suppress　the　Norwegians　and　fully　neutralize　Iceland；　the　air　threat　against　this　battle　group　has　at　least　doubled；〃　Svenson　said。　〃I　have　to　get　talking　with　my　air　group。〃
The　captain　left。　Admiral　Baker　was　silent　for　several　minutes。　Toland　had　to　stay　put。　He　hadn't　been　dismissed　yet。　〃They　just　hit　Keflavik？〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃
〃Find　out　what　else　is　there　and　get　back　to　me。〃
〃Yes；　sir。〃　As　Toland　walked　back　to　the　intelligence　shack；　he　pondered　what　he'd　told　his　wife：　The　carrier　is　the　best…protected　ship　in　the　fleet。　But　the　captain　was　worried。

HILL　152；　ICELAND
They　were　almost　thinking　of　it　as　home。　The　position　was　at　least　easily　defensible。　No　one　could　approach　Hill　152　without　being　seen；　and　that　meant　crossing　a　lava　field；　then　climbing　up　a　steep；　bare　slope。　Garcia　found　a　small　lake　a　kilometer　away；　evidently　filled　with　water　from　the　winter　snows　that　had　only　lately　melted。　Sergeant　Smith　observed　that　it　would　have　made　a　good　mixer　for　bourbon；　if　they　had　any　bourbon。
They　were　hungry；　but　all　had　four　days　of　rations　along；　and　they　feasted　on　such　delicacies　as　canned　lima　beans　and　ham。　Edwards　learned　a　new　and　indelicate　name　for　this　item。
〃Anybody　here　know　how　to　cook　a　sheep？〃　Rodgers　asked。　Several　miles　south　of　them　was　a　large　herd　of　the　animals。
〃Cook　with　what？〃　Edwards　asked。
〃Oh。〃　Rodgers　looked　around。　There　wasn't　a　tree　in　sight。　〃How　e　there　ain't　no　trees？〃
〃Rodgers　only　been　here　a　month；〃　Smith　explained。　〃Prive；　you　ain't　never　seen　a　windy　day　till　you　been　here　in　the　winter。　The　only　way　a　tree　can　grow　here　is　if　you　set　her　in　concrete。　I　seen　wind　strong　enough　to　blow　a　deuce…and…a…half　right　off　the　road。〃
〃Airplanes。〃　Garcia　had　the　binoculars。　He　pointed　northeast。　〃Lots。〃
Edwards　took　the　field　glasses。　They　were　just　dots；　but　they　grew　rapidly　into　shapes。　〃I　count　six；　big　ones；　look　like　C…141s　。　。　。　that　makes　them　IL…76s；　I　think。　Maybe　some　fighters；　too。　Sergeant；　get　a　pad　and　a　pencil…we　have　to　do　a　count。〃
It　lasted　for　hours。　The　fighters　landed　first；　rolling　off　to　the　refueling　area　at　once；　then　taxiing　to　one　of　the　shorter　runways。　One　aircraft　came　in　every　three　minutes；　and　Edwards　couldn't　help　be　impressed。　The　IL…76；　code…named　the　Candid　by　the　NATO　countries；　was　an　awkward；　ungainly　design；　like　its　American　counterpart。　The　pilots　landed；　stopped；　and　rolled　their　aircraft　onto　the　taxiway　off　the　main　north…south　runway　as　though　they　had　practiced　for　months…as　Edwards　rather　suspected　they　had。　They　unloaded　at　the　airport　terminal　building；　then　rolled　to　the　refueling　area　and　took　off；　coordinating　neatly　with　the　landing　aircraft。　Those　lifting　off　came　very　close　to　their　hill；　close　enough　that　Edwards　was　able　to　copy　down　a　few　fail　numbers。　When　the　count　reached　fifty；　he　set　up　his　radio。
〃This　is　Edwards　transmitting　from　Hill　152。　Do　you　copy；　over。〃
〃Roger；　copy；〃　the　voice　came　back　at　once。　〃From　now　on；　your　code　name　is　Beagle。　We　are　Doghouse。　Continue　your　report。〃
〃Roger；　Doghouse。　We　have　a　Soviet　airlift　in　progress。　We　have　counted　fifty…five…zero…Soviet　transport　aircraft；　India…Lima…Seven…Six　type。　They　are　ing　into　Reykjavik；　unloading；　and　rolling　back　out　to　the　northeast。〃
〃Beagle；　are　you　sure；　repeat　are　you　sure　of　your　count。〃
〃That　is　affirmative；　Doghouse。　The　takeoff　run　brings　them　right　over　our　heads；　and　we　got　a　paper　record。　No　shit；　mister；　five…zero　aircraft〃　…Smith　held　up　his　pad…〃make　that　five…three　aircraft；　and　the　operation　is　continuing。　We　also　have　six　single…seat　aircraft　sitting　at　the　end　of　runway　four。　I　can't　make　out　the　type；　but　they　sure　as　hell　look　like　fighters。　You　copy　that；　Doghouse？〃
〃I　copy　five…three　transports　and　six　possible　fighters。　Okay；　Beagle；　we　gotta　get　this　information　upstairs　fast。　Sit　tight　and　we'll　keep　to　the　regular　transmission　schedule。　Is　your　position　safe？〃
That's　a　good　question；　Edwards　thought。　〃I　hear　you；　Doghouse　We're　staying　put。　Out。〃　He　took　off　the　headset。　〃We　safe；　Sergeant？〃
〃Sure；　Lieutenant；　I　haven't　felt　this　safe　since　Beirut。〃

HAFNARFJORDUR；　ICELAND
〃A　beautiful　operation；　rade　General。〃　The　Ambassador　beamed。
〃Your　support　was　most　valuable；〃　the　General　lied　through　his　teeth。　The　Soviet　embassy　to　Iceland　had　over　sixty　members；　almost　all　intelligence　types　of　one　sort　or　another。　Instead　of　doing　something　useful；　like　seizing　the　telephone　exchange；　on　donning　their　uniforms　they　had　been　rounding　up　local　political　figures。　Most　of　the　members　of　Iceland's　ancient　Parliament；　the　Althing；　had　been　arrested。　Necessary；　the　General　agreed；　but　too　roughly　done；　with　one　of　them　killed　in　the　process　and　two　more　shot。　Better　to　be　gentle　with　them；　he　thought。　This　was　not　Afghanistan。　The　Icelanders　had　no　warrior　tradition；　and　a　gentler　approach　might　have　shown　better　returns。　But　that　aspect　of　the　operation　was　under　KGB　control；　its　control　team　already　in　place　with　the　embassy　personnel。　〃With　your　permission；　there　is　much　yet　to　be　done。〃
The　General　went　back　up　the　jacob's　ladder　onto　the　Fucik…　Problem　had　developed　in　off…loading　the　division's　missile　battalion。　The　barges　that　contained　that　equipment　had　been　damaged　by　the　missile　strike　The　newly　installed　landing　doors　had　jammed　solid　and　had　to　be　torched　free。　He　shrugged。　Up　to　now；　Polar　Glory　had　been　a　near　textbook　operation。　Not　bad　for　a　scratch　crew。　Most　of　his　rolling　equipment…two　hundred　armored　vehicles　and　many　trucks…had　already　been　mated　with　their　troops　and　dispersed。　The　SA…11　battalion　was　all　that　remained。　〃
Bad　news；　rade　General；〃　the　SAM　mander　reported。
〃Must　I　wait　for　it？〃　the　General　asked　testily。　It　had　been　a　very　long　day。
〃We　have　three　usable　rockets。〃
〃Three？〃
〃Both　these　barges　were　ruptured　when　the　American　missile　hit　us。　The　shock　damage　accounted　for　several。　The　main　damage　came　from　the　water　used　to　fight　the　fire。〃
〃Those　are　mobile　missiles；〃　the　General　objected。　〃Surely　the　designers　anticipated　that　they　might　get　wet！〃
〃Not　with　saltwater；　rade。　This　is　the　army　version；　not　the　naval；　and　it　is　not　protected　against　saltwater　corrosion。　The　men　who　fought　the　fire　did　so　with　great　gusto；　and　most　of　the　rockets　were　soaked。　The　exposed　control　wiring　and　the　radar　seeker　beads　on　the　missile　noses　were　badly　damaged。　My　men　have　run　electronic　tests　of　all　the　rockets。　Three　are　fully　functional。　Four　more　we　can　probably　clean　off　and　repair。　The　rest　are　ruined。　We　have　to　fly　more　in。〃
The　General　controlled　his　temper。　So；　a　small　thing　that　no　one　had　thought　of。　Aboard　ship；　fires　are　fought　with　saltwater。　They　should　have　asked　for　the　naval　variant　of　this　rocket。　It　was　always　the　small　things。
〃Divide　your　launchers　as　planned。　Place　all　the　usable　missiles　at　the　Reykjavik　airport；　and　the　ones　you　think　you　can　fix　at　Keflavik。　I'll　order　the　replacement　rockets　to　be　flown　in。　Is　there　other　damage？〃
〃Apparently　not。　The　radar　antennae　were　covered　with　plastic；　and　the　instruments　inside　the　vehicles　were　safe　because　the　vehicles　themselves　were　sealed。　If　we　get　new　rockets；　my　battalion　is　fully　ready。　We'll　be　ready　to　travel　in　twenty　minutes。　Sorry；　rade。〃
〃Not　your　fault。　You　know　where　you　are　to　go？〃
〃Two　of　my　battery　manders　have　already　checked　the　routes。〃
〃Excellent。　Carry　on；　rade　Colonel。〃　The　General　climbed　back　up　the　ladder　to　the　bridge　to　look　for　his　munications　officer。　Within　two　hours　a　plane　loaded　with　forty　SA…11　surface…to…air　missiles　was　rolling　off　Murmansk's　Kilpyavr　airfield　bound　for　Iceland。




20　…　The　Dance　of　the　Vampires

USS　NIMITZ
Toland　had　been　a　busy　fellow　for　the　past　twelve　hours。　The　data　on　Iceland　came　in　slowly；　one　confusing　piece　at　a　time；　and　even　now　he　didn't　have　enough　to　call　a　clear　picture。　The　group's　orders　had　been　changed；　though　only　after　too　many　hours　of　indecision。　The　mission　to　reinforce　Iceland　was　a　washout。　For　the　past　ten　hours　the　battle　group　had　been　heading　due　east　toward　friendly　air　cover　from　England　and　France。　Someone　had　decided　that　if　the　Marines　could　not　go　to　Iceland；　then　they　might　find　useful　employment　in　Germany。　Bob　had　expected　them　to　be　diverted　to　Norway；　where　a　Marine　Amphibious　Brigade　was　already　in