tc.redstormrising-第45章

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d　that　Baker　wasn't　a　man　to　argue　with；　and　wondered　if　that　was　a　good　trait　in　a　bat　mander。

HILL　152；　ICELAND
Edwards　took　some　solace　in　having　predicted　the　cold　front's　arrival　properly。　The　rain　had　e　exactly　on　time；　just　after　midnight。　If　there　was　anything　to　make　the　worst　situation　worse　still；　it　was　a　steady　cold　rain。　The　showers　were　intermittent　now；　a　ceiling　of　gray　clouds　two　thousand　feet　over　their　heads；　blown　along　by　thirty…knot　winds　toward　Iceland's　mountainous　center。
〃Where　are　the　fighters？〃　Edwards　asked。　He　swept　Reykjavik　airport　with　his　binoculars；　but　couldn't　find　the　six　fighters　he'd　reported　on　the　previous　evening。　All　the　transports　were　gone　also。　He　saw　one　Soviet　helicopter　and　some　tanks。　There　was　very　little　traffic　on　the　streets　and　roads　he　could　see。　Certainly　not　much　for　a　Monday　morning。　Surely　the　mercial　fishermen　would　be　driving　to　their　boats？　〃Anybody　see　them　lift　out？〃
〃No；　sir。　Weather　we　had　last　night；　the　whole　Russian　Air　Force　could　have　e　in　and　left。〃　Sergeant　Smith　was　annoyed　too；　mainly　with　the　weather。　〃Could　be　in　those　hangars；　maybe。〃
About　2300　the　previous　night；　they'd　observed　a　streak　of　light　like　that　of　a　rocket　taking　off；　but　whatever　it　had　been　aimed　at　had　been　lost　in　a　rain　shower。　Edwards　had　not　reported　that；　halfway　wondering　if　it　might　have　been　lightning。
〃What's　that？　That's　no　tank。　Garcia；　check　it　out…five　hundred　yards　west　of　the　terminal。〃　The　lieutenant　handed　the　glasses　over。
〃Okay。　That's　some　kinda　tracked　vehicle。　Looks　like　it　has　some　sort　of…not　a　gun；　there's　three　of　them。　Rocket　launcher；　maybe。〃
〃SAMs；〃　the　sergeant　mented。　〃How　much　you　wanna　bet　that's　what　we　saw　shot　off　last　night？〃
〃E。T。；　phone　home。〃　Edwards　started　putting　his　radio　together。
〃How　many　launchers　and　what　type？〃　Doghouse　asked。
〃We　see　one　launcher；　possibly　three　missiles　on　it。　We　can't　tell　the　type。　I　wouldn't　know　the　difference　anyway。　They　might　have　fired　off　a　missile　last　night　about　2300　local。〃
〃Why　the　hell　didn't　you　tell　us？〃　Doghouse　demanded。
〃'Cause　I　didn't　know　what　it　was！''　Edwards　nearly　yelled。　〃Goddammit！　We're　reporting　on　everything　we　see；　and　you　don't　even　believe　half　of　what　we　tell　you！〃
〃Settle　down；　Beagle。　We　believe　you。　I　know　it's　hard。　Anything　else　happening？〃
〃He　knows　it's　hard；〃　Edwards　told　his　men。　〃Can't　see　much　activity　at　all；　Doghouse。　Stiff　early；　but　we'd　expect　civilian　traffic　on　the　streets。〃
〃Copy　that。　Okay　now；　Edwards；　real　fast；　what's　your　father's　middle　name？〃
〃Doesn't　have　one；〃　Edwards　said。　〃What…〃
〃The　name　of　his　boat？〃
〃The　Annie　Jay。　What　the　hell　is　this？〃
〃What　happened　to　your　girlfriend　Sandy？〃
It　was　like　a　knife　in　the　guts。　The　tone　of　his　voice　answered　for　him。　〃You　go　and　fuck　yourself　1〃
〃Copy　that；〃　the　voice　replied。　〃Sorry；　Lieutenant；　but　you　had　to　pass　that　test。　We　have　no　further　orders　for　you　yet。　Tell　you　the　truth；　nobody's　decided　what　to　do　about　you。　Stay　cool　and　avoid　contact。　Same　transmission　schedule。　If　you　get　tagged　and　they　try　to　make　you　play　radio　games；　start　off　every　transmission　with　our　call　sign　and　say　that　everything　is　going　great。　Got　that？　Going　great。〃
〃Roger。　If　you　hear　me　say　that；　you　know　something's　wrong。　Out。〃

KEFLAVIK；　ICELAND
The　major　manding　the　Air　Force　detachment　was　enjoying　himself　despite　having　been　up　for　over　thirty　hours。　Keflavik　was　a　magnificent　base；　and　the　paratroopers　had　captured　it　nearly　intact。　Most　importantly；　the　Americans　had　thoughtfully　stored　their　maintenance　equipment　in　protective　shelters　dispersed　throughout　the　base；　and　all　of　it　had　survived。　As　he　watched　from　the　smashed　control　tower；　a　half…dozen　sweeper　trucks　were　brushing　the　last　fragments　from　runway　nine。　In　thirty　minutes　it　would　be　safe　to　use。　Eight　fuel　bowsers　sat　filled　and　ready　on　the　field；　and　by　the　end　of　the　day　the　pipeline　should　be　repaired。　Then　this　would　be　a　fully　functional　Soviet　air　base。
〃How　long　before　our　fighters　arrive？〃
〃Thirty　minutes；　rade　Major。〃
〃Get　the　radar　operating。〃
The　Soviets　had　packed　most　of　the　equipment　for　a　forward　air　base　in　one　of　the　Fucik's　barges。　A　mobile　long…range　radar　was　now　operating　just　west　of　the　main　runway　intersection；　plus　a　van　from　which　ground　controllers　could　direct　radar　intercepts　of　ining　targets。　Three　truck…vans　of　spare　parts　and　air…to…air　missiles　were　on　the　base；　and　three　hundred　maintenance　personnel　had　been　flown　in　the　previous　day。　A　full　battery　of　SA…11　missiles　guarded　the　runways；　plus　eight　mobile　antiaircraft　guns　and　a　platoon　of　infantrymen　armed　with　handheld　SAMs　for　low…flying　raiders。　The　only　hangup　had　been　with　the　SAMs；　and　the　replacements　flown　in　a　few　hours　ago　had　already　been　loaded　on　the　launcher　vehicles。　Any　NATO　aircraft　that　came　waltzing　into　Iceland　was　in　for　a　rude　surprise；　as　a　Royal　Air　Force　Jaguar　had　discovered　the　night　before；　shot　out　of　the　sky　over　Reykjavik　before　its　pilot　could　react。
〃Runway　nine　is　cleared　for　operation；〃　the　radio　operator　reported。　〃Excellent！　Now　get　them　working　on　one…eight。　I　want　every　strip　operational　by　this　afternoon。〃

HILL　152；　ICELAND
〃What's　that？〃　Edwards　saw　it　first　for　a　change。　The　wide　silver　wings　of　a　Badger　bomber　skirted　in　and　out　of　the　lower　cloud　layer。　Then　something　else。　It　was　smaller；　and　it　disappeared　back　into　the　clouds。
〃Was　that　a　fighter？〃
〃I　didn't　see　anything；　sir。〃　Garcia　had　been　looking　in　the　wrong　direction。　The　sound　passed　overhead；　the　distinctive　whine　of　turbojets　on　a　low　throttle　setting。
The　lieutenant　was　being　a　master　at　getting　his　radio　in　operation。　〃Doghouse；　this　is　Beagle；　and　things　are　rotten。　Do　you　copy？〃
〃Roger；　Beagle。　What　do　you　have　for　us？〃
〃We　have　aircraft　flying　overhead；　westbound；　probably　for　Keflavik。　Stand　by。〃
〃I　can　hear　'em；　but　I　don't　see　nothin'。〃　Garcia　handed　the　glasses　over。
〃I　saw　one　twin…engine　aircraft；　probably　a　bomber；　and　one　other　aircraft；　a　lot　smaller；　like　a　fighter。　We　have　aircraft　sounds　overhead；　but　we　got　solid　clouds　at　about　two　thousand　feet。　No　more　visual　sightings。〃
〃You　say　heading　towards　Keflavik？〃
〃That's　affirm。　The　bomber　appeared　to　be　westbound　and　descending。〃
〃Any　chance　you　can　walk　back　to　Keflavik　to　see　what's　happening　there？〃
Edwards　didn't　speak　for　a　second。　Couldn't　the　bastard　read　a　map？　That　meant　walking　thirty　miles　over　bare　ground。
〃Negative。　Say　again；　negative；　no　chance。　Over。〃
〃Understood；　Beagle。　Sorry　about　that。　I　had　orders　to　ask。　Get　back　to　us　when　you　have　a　better　count。　You're　doing　good；　guys。　Hang　in　there。　Out。〃
〃They　asked　if　we　wanted　to　walk　over　to　Keflavik；〃　Edwards　announced　as　he　took　off　his　headset。　〃I　said　no。〃
〃Real　good；　sir；〃　Smith　observed。　At　least　Air　Force　officers　weren't　total　idiots。

KEFLAVIK；　ICELAND
The　first　MiG…29　Fulcrum　landed　at　Keflavik　a　minute　later。　It　taxied　behind　a　base　jeep　and　stopped　close　to　the　tower。　The　major　in　mand　of　the　base　was　there　to　meet　it。
〃Wele　to　Keflavik！〃
〃Excellent。　Find　me　a　lavatory；〃　the　colonel　replied。
The　major　motioned　him　to　his　own　jeep…the　Americans　had　left　seventy　jeeps　behind；　plus　over　three　hundred　private　automobiles…and　drove　toward　the　tower。　The　American　radios　had　been　destroyed；　but　the　plumbing　was　made　of　sterner　stuff。
〃How　many？〃
〃Six；〃　the　colonel　answered。　〃A　Goddamned　Norwegian　F…16　jumped　us　off　Hammerfest　and　got　one　before　we　knew　he　was　there。　Another　aborted　with　engine　trouble；　and　a　third　had　to　land　at　Akureyri。　Do　we　have　men　there？〃
〃Not　yet。　We　have　only　one　helicopter。　More　should　be　ing　in　today。〃　They　pulled　to　the　door。　〃Inside；　second　door　on　the　right。〃
〃Thank　you；　rade　Major！〃　The　colonel　was　back　in　three　minutes。　〃The　unglamorous　side　of　flying　fighter　aircraft。　Somehow　we　never　warn　our　cadets　about　this。〃
〃Here；　coffee。　The　previous　occupants　were　most　kind　to　us。〃　The　major　unscrewed　an　American　thermos。　The　colonel　took　the　cup；　savoring　the　flavor　as　though　it　were　fine　brandy　while　he　watched　his　fighters　land。　〃We　have　your　missiles　all　ready　for　you；　and　we　can　refuel　every　aircraft　from　our　trucks。　How　soon　can　you　fly　again？〃
〃I'd　prefer　that　my　men　get　at　least　two　hours　to　rest　and　eat。　And　I　want　those　aircraft　dispersed　after　they're　fueled。　Have　you　been　hit　yet？〃
〃Only　two　reconnaissance　aircraft；　and　we　killed　one。　If　we're　lucky…〃
〃Luck　is　for　fools。　The　American　will　hit　us　today。　I　would。〃

USS　NIMITZ
〃We　have　a　new　intel　source　on　Iceland；　code　name　Beagle；〃　Toland　reported。　They　were　in　the　carrier's　bat　Information　Center　now。　〃He　counted　over　eighty　transport　flights　into　Reykjavik　last　night；　at　least　six　fighters　with　them。　That's　enough　airlift　capacity　for　a　whole　airborne　division　and　then　some。　Doghouse　in　Scotland　says　that　they　have　an　unconfirmed　report　of　Soviet　fighters　landing　now。〃
〃Have　to　be　a　long…range　one。　Foxhound；　maybe　a　Fulcrum；〃　CAG　said。　〃If　they　have　them　to　spare。　Well；　we　weren't　planning　to　visit　the　place　just　yet。　We　might　have　a　problem　with　them　trying　raid…escort；　though。〃
〃Any　word　on　E…3　support　from　the　U。K。〃　Baker　asked　Svenson。
〃Looks　like　none。〃
〃Toland；　when　do　you　expect　our　friends　to　arrive？〃
〃The　RORSAT　passes　overhead　in　twenty　minutes。　They'll　probably　want　that　data　before　they　take　off。　They　could　take　off　at　any　time　after　that；　Admiral。　If　the　Backfires　tank　up　partway　down　and　proceed　at　max　power；　two　hours。　That's　worst　case。　More　likely　four　to　five　hours。〃
〃CAG？〃
The　air　group　mander　looked　tense。　〃Each　carrier　has　a　Hummer　radar　bird　up；　a　pair　of　F…14　Tomcats　with　each。　Two　more　Tomcats　on　the　catapults；　ready　to　go　at　five　minutes'　notice；　another　Hummer　and　a　tanker。　The　rest　of　the　fighters　are　at　plus…fifteen　on　the　roof；　loaded　and　fueled。　The　flight　crews　are　briefed。　One　Prowler　over　the　formation；　the　rest　ready　to　go　at　fifteen。　The　A…7s　have　buddy　stores　rigged。　We're　ready。　Foch　has　her　Crusaders　at　plus…fifteen。　Good　birds；　but　short　legs。　When　the　time　es　we'll　use　them　for　overhead　coverage。〃

KIROVSK；　R。S。F。S。R。
The　Radar　Ocean　Reconnaissance　Satellite；　called　a　RORSAT；　passed　over　the　formation　at　0310。　Its　radar　transmitter　noted　the　formation　and　its　cameras　tracked　in　on　their　wakes。　Five　minutes　later；　the　data　was　in　Moscow。　Fifteen　minutes　after　that；　flight　crews　were　given　their　final　brief　at　four　military　air　bases　grouped　around　the　city　of　Kirovsk　on　the　Kola　Peninsula。　The　crews　were　quiet；　no　less　tense　than　their　American　targets。　Both　sides　mulled　over　the　same　thoughts。　This　was　the　exercise　both　sides　had　practiced　for　over　fifteen　years。　Millions　of　hours　of　planning；　studies　and　simulations　were　about　to　be　put　to　the　test。
The　Badgers　lifted　off　first；　pushed　by　their　twin　Mikulin　engines。　Each　takeoff　was　an　effort。　The　bombers　were　so　heavily　loaded　that　the　tower　controllers　reached　out　with　their　minds　to　wish　every　aircraft　into　the　still　morning　air。　Once　off　the　ground　they　headed　north；　forming　up　into　loose　regimental　formations　just　north　of　Murmansk　before　heading　west　and　skirting　past　the　North　Cape；　before　their　slow　left　turns　took　them　toward　the　North　Atlantic。
Twenty　miles　off　the　North　Russian　co