tc.redstormrising-第44章

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arine　Amphibious　Brigade　was　already　in　place；　but　getting　them　there　could　prove　difficult。　A　furious　air　battle　had　been　raging　over　northern　Norway　for　almost　twenty　hours；　with　losses　heavy　on　both　sides。　The　Norwegians　had　started　the　war　with　scarcely　a　hundred　modem　fighters。　They　were　screaming　for　help；　but　there　was　no　help　for　anyone　as　yet。
〃They're　not　just　chewing　the　Norwegians　up；〃　Toland　observed。　〃They're　driving　them　south。　Most　of　the　attacks　are　on　the　northern　bases；　and　they're　not　giving　them　any　breather　at　all。〃
Chip　nodded。　〃That　figures。　Gives　their　Backfires　a　straighter　shot　at　us。　Briefing　time。〃
〃Yeah。〃　Toland　packed　up　his　notes　and　walked　again　toward　flag　country。　It　was　easier　this　time。
〃Okay；　mander；〃　Admiral　Baker　said。　〃Start　with　the　peripheries。〃
〃Nothing　much　seems　to　be　happening　in　the　Pacific　as　yet。　The　Soviets　are　evidently　putting　a　lot　of　diplomatic　pressure　on　Japan。　The　same　story　they've　given　the　rest　of　the　world…it's　all　a　German　plot。〃
〃Horseshit；〃　Baker　observed。
〃True　enough；　Admiral；　but　it's　a　plausible　enough　story　that　Greece　is　refusing　to　honor　its　treaty　mitments；　and　a　lot　of　neutral　and　third…world　countries　are　buying　it。　Anyway；　the　Russians　are　making　noises　about　giving　the　Sakhalin　Islands　back　if　they　play　ball…or　pounding　hell　out　of　them　if　they　don't。　Bottom　line：　Japan　is　not　allowing　any　bases　on　its　soil　to　be　used　for　offensive　strikes　against　the　Soviet　Union。　What　we　have　in　Korea　is　needed　there。　The　only　carrier　group　we　have　in　the　Western　Pacific　is　centered　on　Midway。　They're　well　out　to　sea　at　present；　and　they　don't　have　the　moxie　to　go　after　Kamchatka　alone。　There's　some　air　activity　in　the　South　China　Sea　west　of　the　Philippines；　but　nothing　major　yet。　Cam　Ranh　Bay　appears　to　be　empty　of　Soviet　shipping。　So　the　Pacific　is　quiet；　but　that　won't　last　long。
〃In　the　Indian　Ocean；　somebody　launched　a　missile　attack　against　Diego　Garcia；　probably　a　submarine。　Not　much　damage…just　about　everything　there　was　sent　out　to　sea　five　days　ago…but　it　got　their　attention。　At　last　report；　their　10　squadron　was　at　fifteen…north；　ninety…east；　a　long　way　from　our　guys；　and　heading　south。
〃No　activity　at　all　on　NATO's　southern　flank。　The　Turks　aren't　about　to　attack　Russia　on　their　own　hook；　and　Greece　is　staying　out　of　what　they　call　'this　German…Russian　dispute。'　So　Ivan　has　a　secure　southern　flank；　too；　and　so　far　it　looks　like　he's　happy　enough　to　keep　it　that　way。　So　far　the　Russians　are　only　fighting　in　Western　Europe　and　against　selected　American　installations　elsewhere。　They　are　telling　anyone　who'll　listen　that　they　don't　even　want　to　fight　us。　They've　even　guaranteed　the　safety　of　American　tourists　and　businessmen　in　the　Soviet　Union。　Supposedly；　they're　flying　them　all　out　through　India。　We've　underestimated　the　political　dimension　here；　sir。　So　far　it's　working　for　them。
〃Okay。　In　Europe　their　operations　began　with　from　twenty　to　thirty　Spetznaz　mando　attacks　throughout　Germany。　For　the　most　part　they　were　defeated；　but　they　scored　big　in　two　places。　The　port　of　Hamburg　has　been　blocked。　A　pair　of　merchantmen　was　scuttled　in　the　main　channel；　and　the　team　that　pulled　it　off　got　away　clean。　The　same　thing　was　attempted　in　Bremen…they　blocked　one　channel　partially　and　burned　three　ships　at　one　of　the　container　terminals。　This　team　didn't　get　away。　The　other　attacks　were　against　nuclear　weapons　storage　sites；　munications　posts；　and　one　big　one　against　a　tank　site。　Our　guys　were　ready　for　it。　We　took　losses；　but　those　Spetznaz　troops　got　chewed　up　in　most　cases。
〃The　Soviet　Army　attacked　west　just　before　dawn　yesterday。　The　good　news　here　is　that　the　Air　Force　pulled　something　really　wild。　That　new　Stealth　fighter　we've　been　hearing　rumblings　about　is　in　squadron　service；　and　it　was　used　to　raise　a　lot　of　hell　behind　Russian　lines。　The　Air　Force　says　they've　got　air　superiority；　or　something　close　to　it；　so　Ivan　must　have　taken　a　big　hit。　Whatever　they　did；　the　initial　Russian　attack　was　not　as　powerful　as　expected。　They're　moving　forward；　but　as　of　midnight　nothing　more　than　fifteen　kilometers；　and　in　two　places　they　got　stopped　cold。　So　far　no　word　on　nukes　or　chemical　weapons。　Losses　are　reported　heavy　on　both　sides；　especially　up　in　northern　Germany；　where　they　moved　the　farthest。　Hamburg　is　threatened。　The　Kiel　Canal　may　have　been　hit　with　an　airborne　or　airmobile　attack；　we're　not　sure；　but　part　is　under　Russian　control。　That　situation　is　a　little　confused。　A　lot　of　activity　on　the　Baltic；　too。　The　fast　attack　boats　of　the　German　and　Danish　navies　claim　to　have　beaten　up　hard　on　a　bined　Soviet　and　East　German　attack；　but　again　things　are　pretty　confused。〃
Toland　went　on　to　describe　the　situation　in　Norway。
〃The　direct　threats　against　us　are　from　submarines　and　aircraft。　Ivan's　subs　have　been　pretty　busy。　We　have　reports　of　twenty…two　merchant　ships　sunk。　The　worst　was　Ocean　Star；　a　Panamanian…flag　passenger　liner　ing　back　from　a　Med　cruise。　Eight　hundred　miles　northwest　of　Gibraltar　she　took　a　missile　hit；　type　unknown；　but　probably　from　a　Juliet。　She　burned；　lots　of　casualties。　Two　Spanish　frigates　are　moving　in　for　the　search…and…rescue。
〃We　have　three　submarines　reported　close　to　our　course　track；　an　Echo；　a　Tango；　and　a　Foxtrot。　There　could　be　more；　but　intelligence　reports　have　most　of　them　south　and　west　of　us。　When　Iceland　got　neutralized；　we　lost　the　G…I…UK　SOSUS　line；　and　that　will　allow　Ivan's　subs　an　easier　access　to　the　North　Atlantic。　SACLANT　is　dispatching　subs　to　block　the　gaps。　They'll　have　to　hustle；　we　have　reports　of　numerous　Soviet　submarines　heading　for　the　Denmark　Strait。〃
〃How　many　subs　have　we　taken　out？〃　Svenson　asked。
''Lajes　and　Brunswick　claim　four　kills。　The　P…3s　got　off　to　a　good　start。　The　bad　news　here　is　that　one　Orion　is　missing；　and　another　reported　being　shot　at　by　a　sub…launched　missile。　This　is　being　evaluated　now；　and　we　expect　something　firm　by　noon。　In　any　case；　the　main　threat　to　us　now　appears　to　be　from　aircraft；　not　subs。　That　could　change　by　tomorrow；　though。〃
〃One　day　at　a　time。　Get　to　Iceland；〃　Baker　ordered。

〃The　reports　we　had　yesterday　were　correct。　Evidently　a　regimental…sized　unit　came　in　by　sea；　and　the　rest　of　its　division　was　airlifted　in；　starting　around　1400　hours。　We　have　to　assume　they're　all　in　by　now。〃
〃Fighters？〃　Svenson　asked。
〃None　reported；　but　it's　possible。　Iceland　has　four　usable　airfields〃
〃Wrong；　Toland；　it's　three；〃　Baker　said　harshly。
〃Beg　pardon；　sir；　four。　The　big　base　is　Keflavik。　Five　runways；　two　of　them　over　ten　thousand　feet　long。　We　built　the　place　to　stage　B…52s　out　of；　and　it's　quite　a　facility。　Ivan　got　it　virtually　intact。　His　attack　was　planned　deliberately　not　to　crater　the　runways。　Second；　they　have　the　civilian　airfield　at　Reykjavik。　The　longest　runway　there　is　about　two　thousand　meters；　plenty　big　enough　for　fighters；　and　it's　got　a　city　wrapped　around　it。　Hitting　that　place　means　running　the　risk　of　civilian　casualties。　On　the　north　side　of　the　island　is　Akureyri；　one　hard…surface　strip。　The　fourth　one；　Admiral；　is　old　Keflavik；　about　two　miles　southeast　of　the　current　NATO　air　base。　It　shows　on　the　maps　as　unusable；　but　I　ran　into　a　guy　who　put　in　two　years　on　Iceland。　That　strip　is　usable；　certainly　for　rough…surface…capable　aircraft　like　our　C…　130。　The　base　personnel　use　it　for　racing　their　go…carts　and　sports　cars。　He　thinks　you　could　use　fighters　out　of　there；　too。　Finally；　every　city　on　that　island　has　a　gravel　strip　for　their　domestic　airline。　The　AUG…23　and　several　other　Russian　fighters　have　a　rough…field　capability；　and　could　use　any　one　of　those。〃
〃You're　full　of　good　news；〃　observed　Nimitz's　mander；　air　group；　known　as　the　CAG。　〃What　about　the　other　base　facilities；　like　fuel？〃
〃The　fuel　depot　right　on　the　base　was　destroyed　in　the　attack；　but　the　base　tank…farm　was　not；　and　neither　was　the　new　terminal　at　Hakotstanger。　Unless　somebody　takes　it　out；　we've　left　the　Russians　enough　jet　fuel　to　operate　for　months。〃
〃How　solid　is　all　this？〃　Baker　wanted　to　know。
〃We　have　an　eyeball　report　from　a　Navy　P…3　crew　who　surveyed　the　damage　immediately　after　the　attack。　The　RAF　sent　two　recce　birds　for　a　look…see。　The　first　one　got　good　shots　of　Keflavik　and　the　surrounding　area。　The　second　didn't　make　it　back；　reason　unknown。〃
〃SAMs。〃　The　CAG　really　looked　unhappy　now。
Toland　nodded。　〃A　good　bet。　The　photos　show　vehicles　consistent　with　the　presence　of　a　reinforced　Soviet　Air　Rifle　division。　Icelandic　radio　and　TV　are　off　the　air。　The　Brits　report　contact　with　ham　radio　operators　on　the　Icelandic　coast；　but　nothing　at　all　is　ing　out　of　the　southwest　corner　of　the　island。　That's　where　most　of　the　people　are；　and　it　looks　to　be　pletely　under　Soviet　control。　We're　getting　some　intel　information；　but　it　can't　last。〃
〃What　you're　telling　us　is　that　we　can't　expect　raid　warning　from　the　Norwegians；　and　we've　lost　our　picket　fence　at　Iceland。　What　other　assets　do　we　have？〃　Svenson　asked。
〃Evidently　something。　I've　been　told　to　expect　possible　raid　warning　from　an　asset　code…named　Realtime。　If　a　large　force　of　Soviet　aircraft　leaves　Kola；　we　ought　to　know　about　it。〃
〃What's　Realtime？〃　the　CAG　asked。
〃They　didn't　tell　me　that。〃
〃Submarine。〃　Baker　smiled　thinly。　〃Jesus　protect　him　when　he　transmits。　Well；　Ivan　sent　his　bombers　against　Iceland　yesterday。　Anybody　wonder　where　they'll　be　ing　today？〃
〃In　case　anyone　wants　it；　my　official　intelligence　estimate　is；　right　here；〃　Toland　said。
〃Always　nice　to　have　a　professional　opinion；〃　the　CAG　observed　acidly。　〃We　ought　to　head　north　and　pound　on　those　Russians〃…by　training　and　experience　the　CAG　was　an　attack　pilot…〃but　we　can't　do　that　until　we　deal　with　the　Backfires。　What　is　the　strength　of　the　threat　to　us？〃
〃I'm　assuming　no　assistance　from　the　Air　Force　units。　With　Soviet　Naval　Aviation　alone　we　have　six　regiments　of　strike　aircraft；　three　each　of　Backfires　and　Badgers。　One　regiment　of　Badger　jammers。　One　regiment　of　Bear　reconnaissance　birds。　Add　some　tanker　assets　to　that。　Twenty…seven　aircraft　to　the　regiment。　That's　about　a　hundred　sixty　strike　aircraft；　each　of　which　can　carry　two　or　three　air…to…surface　missiles。〃
〃Those　Badgers　will　have　to　stretch　to　get　here。　The　round　trip　must　be　a　good　four　thousand　miles；　even　if　they　cut　across　Norway。　Those　are　tired　old　birds；〃　CAG　said。　〃What　about　their　satellites？〃
Toland　checked　his　watch。　〃There　will　be　a　RORSAT　pass　over　us　in　fifty…two　minutes。　They　got　us　twelve　hours　ago；　too。〃
〃I　hope　the　Air　Force　gets　its　act　together　with　their　ASAT　pretty　soon；〃　Svenson　said　quietly。　〃If　Ivan　can　real…time　that　satellite　intelligence；　they　don't　need　those　damned　Bears。　They　can　figure　our　course　easily　enough；　and　it's　only　a　four…hour　cruise　down　here　for　them。〃
〃Try　a　course　change　as　it　passes　overhead？〃　CAG　wondered。
〃Not　much　point　in　it；〃　Baker　replied。　〃We've　been　heading　east　for　ten　hours。　They　can't　miss　that；　and　we　can　only　do　twenty　knots。　We　can　give　them　a　plus…minus　of　eighty　miles。　How　long　does　it　take　to　fly　that？〃
Toland　noted　that　Svenson　and　the　CAG　didn't　like　that　decision；　but　neither　disputed　the　point。　He'd　been　told　that　Baker　wasn't　a　man　to　argue　with；　and　wondered　if　that　was　a　good　trait　in　a　bat　mander。

H