tc.redstormrising-第74章

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ir　bombs　to　maneuver。　Finally；　when　they　do　manage　to　reach　the　battle　zone　they　are　frequently　shot　at　by　friendly　missile　units　who　don't　take　the　time　to　distinguish　between　friend　and　foe。〃　It　was　an　old　story；　and　not　merely　a　Soviet　problem。
〃You　are　telling　us　that　NATO　has　mand　of　the　air；〃　Alekseyev　said。
〃No；　they　do　not。　Neither　side　does。　Our　surface…to…air　missiles　deny　them　the　ability　to　control　the　air　over　the　battle　line；　and　their　fighters　helped　by　their　surface…to…air　missiles；　and　ours！…deny　it　to　us。　The　sky　over　the　battlefield　belongs　to　no　one。〃　Except　the　dead；　the　Air　Force　General　thought　to　himself。
Alekseyev　thought　of　what　he　had　seen　at　Bieben；　and　wondered　how　correct　he　was。
〃We　must　do　better；〃　the　Theater　mander　said。　〃The　next　massed　attack　we　launch　will　have　proper　air　support　if　it　means　stripping　fighters　from　every　unit　on　the　front。〃
〃We　are　trying　to　get　more　aircraft　forward　by　using　deceptive　maneuvering。　Yesterday　we　tried　to　feint　NATO's　fighters　to　the　wrong　place。　It　nearly　worked；　but　we　made　a　mistake。　That　mistake　has　been　identified。〃

〃We　attack　south　of　Hannover　at　0600　tomorrow。　I　want　two　hundred　aircraft　at　the　front　line　supporting　my　divisions。〃
〃You'll　have　them；〃　the　Air　Force　General　agreed。　Alekseyev　watched　the　flyer　leave。
〃So；　Pasha？〃
〃That's　a　start…if　the　two　hundred　fighters　show　up。〃
〃We　have　our　helicopters；　too。〃
〃I　watched　what　happens　to　helicopters　in　a　missile　environment。　Just　when　I　thought　they'd　blast　a　hole　through　the　German　lines；　a　bination　of　SAMs　and　fighters　nearly　annihilated　them。　They　have　to　expose　themselves　too　greatly　when　they　fire　their　missiles。　The　courage　of　the　pilots　is　remarkable；　but　courage　alone　is　not　enough。　We　have　underestimated　NATO　firepower…no；　more　properly　we　have　overestimated　our　ability　to　neutralize　it。〃
〃We've　been　attacking　prepared　positions　since　this　war　began。　Once　we　break　into　the　open…〃
〃Yes。　A　mobile　campaign　will　reduce　our　losses　and　give　us　a　much　more　even　contest。　We　have　to　break　through。〃　Alekseyev　looked　down　at　the　map。　Just　after　dawn　tomorrow；　an　army…four　motor…rifle　divisions；　supported　by　a　division　of　tanks…would　hurl　itself　into　the　NATO　lines。　〃And　here　seems　to　be　the　place。　I　want　to　be　forward　again。〃
〃As　you　wish；　Pasha。　But　be　careful。　By　the　way；　the　doctor　tells　me　the　cut　on　your　hand　was　from　a　shell　fragment。　You　are　entitled　to　a　decoration。〃
〃For　this？〃　Alekseyev　looked　at　his　bandaged　hand。　〃I've　cut　myself　worse　than　this　shaving。　No　medal　for　this；　it　would　be　an　insult　to　our　troops。

ICELAND
They　were　climbing　down　a　rocky　slope　when　the　helicopter　appeared　two　miles　west　of　them。　It　was　low；　about　three　hundred　feet　over　the　ridge　line；　and　moving　slowly　toward　them。　The　Marines　immediately　fell　to　the　ground　and　crawled　to　places　where　they　might　hide　in　shadows。　Edwards　took　a　few　steps　to　Vigdis　and　pulled　her　down　also。　She　was　wearing　a　white　patterned　sweater　that　was　all　too　easy　to　spot。　The　lieutenant　stripped　off　his　field　jacket　and　draped　it　around　her；　holding　her　head　down　as　he　wrapped　the　hood　over　her　blond　hair。
〃Don't　move　at　all。　They're　looking　for　us。〃　Edwards　kept　his　own　head　up　briefly　to　see　where　his　men　were。　Smith　waved　for　him　to　get　down。　Edwards　did　so；　keeping　his　eyes　open　so　that　he　could　look　sideways　at　the　chopper。　It　was　another　Hind。　He　could　see　rocket　pods　hanging　from　stubby　wings　on　either　side　of　the　airframe。　Both　the　doors　to　the　passenger　partment　were　open；　revealing　a　squad　of　infantrymen；　weapons　at　the　ready；　looking　down。　〃Oh；　shit。〃
The　noise　from　its　turboshaft　engines　increased　as　the　Hind　came　closer；　and　the　massive　five…bladed　main　rotor　beat　at　the　air；　stirring　up　the　volcanic　dust　that　coated　everything　on　the　plateau　they　had　just　left。　Edwards's　hand　tightened　on　the　M…16's　pistol　grip；　and　he　thumbed　off　the　safety。　The　helicopter　was　ing　almost　sideways；　its　rocket　pods　pointed　at　the　flatlands　behind　the　Marines。　Edwards　could　make　out　the　machine　guns　in　the　Hind's　nose；　some　kind　of　rotary　gun　like　the　American　minigun　that　spat　out　four　thousand　rounds　per　minute。　They　wouldn't　have　a　chance　in　hell　against　that。
〃Turn；　you　son　of　a　bitch；〃　Mike　said　under　his　breath。
〃What　is　it　doing？〃　Vigdis　asked。
〃Just　relax。　Don't　move　at　all。〃　Oh；　God；　don't　let　them　see　us　now　。

〃There！　Look　there　at　one　o'clock；〃　the　gunner　said　from　the　front　seat　of　the　helicopter。
〃So　this　mission　isn't　a　waste　after　all；〃　the　pilot　replied。　〃Go　ahead。〃
The　gunner　centered　Ins　sights　and　armed　the　machine　gun；　setting　his　selector　for　a　five…shot　burst。　His　target　was　agreeably　still　as　he　depressed　the　trigger。
〃Got　him！〃

Edwards　jumped　at　the　sound。　Vigdis　didn't　move　at　all。　The　lieutenant　moved　his　rifle　slightly；　bringing　it　to　bear　on　the　chopper…which　moved　south；　dropping　below　the　ridgeline。　He　saw　three　heads　e　up。　What　had　they　shot　at？　The　engine　sounds　changed　as　the　helicopter　landed；　not　far　away。
The　gunner　had　hit　the　buck　with　three　bullets；　with　little　damage　to　the　edible　tissue。　There　was　just　enough　in　the　eighty…pound　animal　to　feed　the　squad　and　the　helicopter　crew。　The　paratroop　sergeant　slit　the　deer's　throat　with　his　bat　knife；　then　set　to　remove　the　viscera。　The　local　deer　were　nothing　like　the　animals　his　father　hunted　in　Siberia；　but　for　the　first　time　in　three　weeks　he'd　have　some　fresh　meat。　That　was　sufficient　to　make　this　boring　mission　worthwhile。　The　carcass　was　loaded　into　the　Hind。　Two　minutes　later　it　circled　up　to　cruise　altitude　and　flew　back　to　Keflavik。
They　watched　it　depart；　the　stuttering　rotor　sound　diminishing　on　the　breeze。
〃What　was　that　all　about？〃　Edwards　asked　his　sergeant。
〃Beats　the　hell　out　of　me；　skipper。　I　think　we　better　boogie　on　outa　here。　They　were　sure　as　hell　looking　for　something；　and　I'll　betcha　it's　us。　Let's　keep　to　places　with　some　kind　of　cover。〃
〃You　got　it；　Jim。　Lead　off。〃　Edwards　walked　back　to　Vigdis。
Is　safe　now？〃
They've　gone。　Why　don't　you　keep　that　jacket　on。　It　makes　you　harder　to　spot。〃
It　was　two　sizes　too　large　for　Edwards；　and　looked　like　a　tent　on　Vigdis's　diminutive　frame。　She　held　her　arms　out　straight　in　an　effort　to　get　her　hands　out　of　the　sleeves；　and　for　the　first　time　since　he　met　her；　Vigdis　Agustdottir　smiled。

USS　PHARRIS
〃All　ahead　one…third；〃　the　executive　officer　ordered。
〃All　ahead　one…third；　aye；〃　the　quartermaster　of　the　watch　responded；　moving　the　annunciator　handle　up　from　the　Ahead　Full　setting。　A　moment　later　the　inside　pointer　changed　also。　〃Engine　room　answers　all　ahead　one…third。〃
〃Very　well。〃
Pharris　slowed；　ing　off　a　twenty…five…knot　sprint　to　mence　another　drift　maneuver；　and　allowing　her　towed…array　sonar　to　listen　for　hostile　submarines。　Morris　was　in　his　bridge　chair；　going　over　messages　from　shore。　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　lit　up　another　Pall　Mall。
〃Bridge；〃　called　the　urgent　voice　of　a　lookout。　〃Periscope　feather　on　the　port　bow！　Halfway　to　the　horizon；　port　bow！〃　Morris　snatched　his　binoculars　from　the　holder　and　had　them　to　his　eyes　in　an　instant。　He　didn't　see　anything。
〃Battle　stations！〃　ordered　the　XO。　The　alarm　gong　went　off　a　second　later　and　weary　men　ran　again　to　their　posts。　Morris　looped　his　binoculars　around　his　neck　and　ran　down　the　ladder　to　his　battle　station　in　CIC。
The　sonar　loosed　a　dozen　ranging　pings　to　port　as　Morris　took　his　position　in　CIC。　Nothing。　The　helo　lifted　off　as　the　frigate　maneuvered　north；　allowing　her　towed…array　sonar　to　track　on　the　possible　contact。
〃Passive　sonar　contact；　evaluate　as　possible　submarine　bearing　zero…one…three；〃　announced　the　towed…array　operator。　〃Steam　noises；　sounds　like　a　possible　nuke。〃
〃I　got　nothing　there；〃　said　the　active…sonar　operator。
Morris　and　his　ASW　officer　examined　the　water…conditions　board。　There　was　a　layer　at　two　hundred　feet。　The　passive　sonar　was　below　it；　and　could　well　be　hearing　a　submarine　that　the　active　pings　could　not　reach。　The　lookout　might　have　seen　anything　from　a　spouting　whale　this　was　the　mating　season　for　humpbacks…to　a　streak　of　foam　。　。　。　or　the　feathery　wake　left　by　a　periscope。　If　it　was　a　submarine；　he　had　plenty　of　time　to　duck　under　the　layer。　The　target　was　too　close　to　be　bottom　bounced　and　too　far　for　the　sonar　to　blast　directly　through　the　layer。
〃Less　than　five　miles；〃　ASW　said。　〃More　than　two。　If　this　is　a　sub；　we're　up　against　a　good　one。〃
〃Great。　Get　the　helo　on　him　right　now！〃　Morris　examined　the　plot。　The　submarine　could　have　heard　his　frigate　as　it　sprinted　at　twenty…five　knots。　Now；　at　reduced　speed；　and　with　Prairie/Masker　operating；　Pharris　would　be　very　hard　to　detect　。　。　。　so　the　sub's　fire…control　solution　had　probably　just　gone　out　the　window。　But　Morris　didn't　have　one　either；　and　the　submarine　was　perilously　close。　An　urgent　contact　report　was　radioed　to　the　screen　mander　twenty　miles　away。
The　Sea　Sprite　dropped　a　pattern　of　sonobuoys。　Minutes　passed。
〃I　got　a　weak　signal　on　number　six　and　a　medium　on　number　four；〃　the　sonobuoy　petty　officer　said。　Morris　watched　the　plot。　That　made　the　contact　less　than　three　miles　off。
〃Drop　some　pingers；〃　he　ordered。　Behind　him　the　ship's　weapons　officer　ordered　the　arming　of　the　ASROC　and　torpedo　launchers。　Three　miles　off；　the　helicopter　turned　and　swept　across　the　target　area；　dropping　three　CASS　buoys　this　time；　which　sent　out　active；　nondirectional　pings。
〃Contact；　a　strong　contact　on　buoy　nine。　Classify　as　possible　submarine〃
〃I　got　him；　bearing　zero…one…five…this　one's　a　sub；　classify　as　positive　submarine　contact；〃　said　the　towed…array　man。　〃He　just　increased　power。　Some　cavitation　sounds。　Single…screw　submarine；　maybe　a　Victor…class；　bearing　changing　rapidly　left…to…right。〃
The　active　sonar　still　didn't　have　him　despite　continuous　maximum　power　pings　down　the　correct　line　of　bearing。　The　submarine　was　definitely　under　the　layer。
Morris　wanted　to　maneuver　but　decided　against　it。　A　radical　turn　would　cause　his　towed…array　sonar　to　curve；　rendering　it　useless　for　several　minutes。　Then　he　would　have　to　depend　on　sonobuoys　alone；　and　Morris　trusted　his　towed　sonar　more　than　the　buoys。
〃Bearing　to　contact　is　now　zero…one…five　and　steady　。　。　。　noise　level　is　down　somewhat。〃　The　operator　pointed　at　his　screen。　Morris　was　surprised。　The　contact　bearing　had　been　changing　rapidly　and　was　now　steadied　down？
The　helicopter　made　yet　another　pass。　A　new　sonobuoy　registered　the　contact；　but　the　MAD　gear　didn't　confirm　the　presence　of　a　submarine　and　the　contact　was　fading。　The　noise　level　continued　to　drop。　Morris　watched　the　relative　position　of　the　contact　pass　aft。　What　the　hell　was　this　character　doing？
〃Periscope；　starboard　bow！〃　the　talker　reported。
〃Wrong　place；　sir　。　。　。unless　we're　looking　at　a　noisemaker；〃　the　operator　said。
The　ASW　officer　had　the　active　sonar　change　bearing　and　the　results　were　immediate。
〃Contact　bearing　three…four…five；　range　fifteen　hundred　yards！〃　A　bright　pip　glowed　on　the　sonar　scope。
〃All　ahead　flank！〃　Morris　yelled。　Somehow　the　submarine　had　evaded　the　towed　sonar；　then　popped　up　atop　the　layer　and　run　up　his　periscope　That　could　only　mean　one　thing。　〃Right　full　rudder。〃
〃Hydrophone　effects…torpedoes　inbound；　bearing　three…five…one！〃
Instantly　the　weapons　officer　ordered　t