tc.redstormrising-第81章

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eam　of　experts。　Buns　shook　her　head。　There　had　only　been　one　real　test　of　the　system　before　a　moratorium　had　been　slapped　on　the　project。　A　successful　test；　to　be　sure；　but　only　one。　She　hoped　it　would　work。　The　Navy　really　needed　help　from　the　Air　Force　pukes。　Besides；　that　A…6　driver　was　cute。
The　major　finished　her　walkaround；　taking　her　time…her　target　wasn't　over　the　Indian　Ocean　yet…then　strapped　herself　into　her　Eagle；　ran　her　eyes　and　hands　over　the　gauges　and　handles；　adjusted　the　seat；　and　finally　input　the　numbers　painted　on　the　wall　of　the　aircraft　shelter　into　the　aircraft's　inertial　navigation　system　so　that　the　fighter　would　know　where　it　was。　Finished；　she　began　to　fire　up　her　engines。　Her　flight　helmet　protected　her　from　the　shriek　of　the　two　Pratt　and　Whitney　engines。　The　needles　on　her　engine　gauges　rotated　into　proper　position。　Below　her；　the　crew　chief　gave　the　aircraft　a　careful　examination；　then　waved　to　her　to　taxi　the　aircraft　into　the　open。　Six　people　were　out　there；　standing　behind　the　red　warning　line　to　protect　their　ears　from　the　noise。　Always　nice　to　have　an　audience；　she　thought；　ignoring　them。
〃Eagle　One…Zero…Four　ready　to　taxi；〃　she　told　the　tower。
〃One…Zero…Four；　roger。　You　are　cleared　to　taxi；〃　the　tower　controller　replied。　〃Wind　is　　two…five…three　at　twelve　knots。〃
〃Roger　that；　One…Zero…Four　is　rolling。〃
Buns　brought　her　canopy　down。　The　crew　chief　snapped　to　attention　and　gave　the　major　a　perfect　salute。　Nakamura　answered　it　with　panache；　advanced　her　throttles　slightly；　and　the　Eagle　fighter　moved　off　to　the　runway　like　a　crippled　stork。　A　minute　later；　she　was　in　the　air；　a　silky　smooth　feeling　of　pure　power　enveloping　her　as　she　pointed　her　Eagle　at　the　sky。
Kosmos　1801　was　just　pleting　its　southbound　leg；　bending　around　the　Straits　of　Magellan　to　head　north　over　the　Atlantic。　The　orbital　pass　would　take　it　two　hundred　miles　off　the　American　coast。　At　the　ground…control　station；　technicians　prepared　to　switch　on　the　powerful　sea…surveillance　radar。　They　were　sure　an　American　carrier　battle　group　was　at　sea；　but　had　been　unable　to　locate　it。　Three　regiments　of　Backfires　were　waiting　for　information　that　would　allow　them　to　repeat　the　feat　acplished　on　the　second　day　of　the　war。
Nakamura　eased　her　fighter　under　the　tanker's　tail；　and　the　boom　operator　expertly　shoved　the　refueling　probe　into　the　back　of　her　fighter。　Ten　thousand　pounds　of　fuel　transferred　into　her　tanks　in　only　a　few　minutes；　and　as　she　disengaged；　a　small　cloud　of　kerosene　vapor　escaped　into　the　sky。
〃Gulliver；　this　is　One…Zero…Four；　over；〃　she　called　over　the　radio。
〃One…Zero…Four；　this　is　Gulliver；〃　replied　a　colonel　in　the　passenger　partment　of　a　LearJet　cruising　at　forty　thousand　feet。
〃All　tanked　and　ready　to　go。　All　on…board　systems　show　green。　Orbiting　at　Point　Sierra。　Ready　to　initiate　intercept　climb。　Standing　by。〃
〃Roger　that；　One…Zero…Four。〃
Major　Nakamura　kept　her　Eagle　in　a　small　turning　circle。　She　didn't　want　to　waste　a　drop　of　fuel　when　she　started　her　climb。　She　shifted　ever　so　slightly　in　her　seat；　which　for　her　was　a　violent　show　of　emotion　when　flying；　and　concentrated　on　her　aircraft。　As　her　eyes　traced　over　her　cockpit　instruments；　she　told　herself　to　control　her　breathing。
Space　mand's　radars　picked　up　the　Soviet　satellite　as　it　passed　the　bulge　of　South　America。　puters　pared　its　course　and　speed　with　known　data；　matched　them　with　the　position　of　Nakamura's　fighter；　and　a　puter　spat　out　its　mands；　which　were　relayed　to　the　LearJet。
〃One…Zero…Four；　e　to　heading　two…four…five。〃
〃Turning　now。〃　The　major　brought　her　fighter　into　a　tight　turn。　〃Holding　on　two…four…five。〃
〃Stand　by　。　。　。　stand　by…initiate！〃
〃Roger。〃　Buns　pushed　her　throttles　to　the　stops　and　punched　up　the　afterburners。　The　Eagle　leaped　forward　like　a　spurred　horse；　accelerating　through　Mach　1　in　seconds。　Next　she　eased　back　on　the　stick；　bringing　her　Eagle　into　a　forty…five…degree　climb；　still　accelerating　into　a　darkening　sky。　She　didn't　look　out。　Her　eyes　were　locked　on　her　cockpit　gauges：　the　fighter　had　to　maintain　a　specific　flight　profile　for　the　next　two　minutes。　As　the　Eagle　rocketed　into　the　sky；　the　altimeter　needle　whirled　around　its　clockface。　Fifty　thousand　feet；　sixty　thousand　feet；　seventy；　eighty；　ninety　thousand　feet。　Stars　were　visible　now　in　the　nearly　black　sky；　but　Nakamura　didn't　notice。
〃e　on；　baby；　find　the　son　of　a　bitch　she　thought　aloud。
Beneath　the　aircraft　the　ASAT　missile's　tracking　head　came　on；　searching　the　sky　for　the　infrared　heat　signature　of　the　Soviet　satellite。　A　light　blinked　on　Buns's　instrument　panel。
〃My　weapon　is　tracking！　Repeat；　my　weapon　is　tracking。　Auto　launch　sequence　equipment　is　activated。　Altitude　ninety…four　thousand　feet　seven　hundred…breakaway；　breakaway！〃　She　felt　her　aircraft　lurch　as　the　heavy　missile　dropped　free　and　immediately　brought　her　throttles　back　to　low　power　and　brought　the　stick　back　to　loop　the　fighter。　She　checked　her　fuel　state。　The　afterburning　climb　had　nearly　emptied　her　tanks；　but　she　had　enough　to　make　Langley　without　tanking　again。　She　had　already　turned　for　home　when　she　realized　that　she　hadn't　seen　the　missile。　It　didn't　matter　anyway。　Nakamura　turned　west；　letting　the　Eagle　settle　into　a　shallow　dive　that　would　terminate　on　the　Virginia　Coast。
Aboard　the　LearJet；　a　tracker　camera　followed　the　missile　upward。　The　solid…fuel　rocket　motor　burned　for　thirty　seconds；　then　the　warhead　separated。　The　Miniature　Homing　Vehicle；　an　infrared　heat　sensor　embedded　in　its　flat　face；　had　long　since　acquired　its　target。　The　Soviet　satellite's　on…board　nuclear　reactor　radiated　waste　heat　out　into　space；　and　the　resulting　infrared　signature　rivaled　the　sun。　As　its　microchip　brain　puted　the　intercept　course；　the　MHV　made　a　tiny　course　alteration　and　the　distance　between　warhead　and　satellite　dropped　at　a　precipitous　rate。　The　satellite　was　northbound　at　eighteen　thousand　miles　per　hour；　the　MHV　southbound　at　over　ten　thousand；　yet　another　hi…tech　kamikaze。　Then…
〃Jesus！〃　said　the　senior　officer　on　the　LearJet　as　he　blinked　his　eyes　and　turned　away　from　the　TV　screen。　Several　hundred　pounds　of　steel　and　ceramic　had　just　turned　to　vapor。　〃That's　a　kill；　say　again　that's　a　kill！〃
The　TV　picture　was　downlinked　to　Space　mand；　where　a　radar　picture　backed　it　up。　The　massive　satellite　was　now　an　expanding　cloud　of　orbiting　rubble。　〃Target　is　negated；〃　said　a　calmer　voice。

LENINSK；　KAZAKH　S。S。R。
The　loss　of　signal　from　the　Kosmos　1801　satellite　was　recorded　scant　seconds　after　it　was　obliterated　from　the　sky。　It　was　no　surprise　to　the　Russian　space　experts；　since　1801　has　used　up　its　maneuvering　thrusters　several　days　before；　and　had　been　an　easy　target。　Another　F…1M　rocket　booster　was　sitting　on　a　launch　pad　of　the　Baikonur　Kosmodrome　plex。　An　abbreviated　launch　sequence　countdown　would　be　under　way　inside　of　two　hours…but　from　now　on　the　ability　of　the　Soviet　Navy　to　locate　convoys　and　fighting　fleets　would　be　in　jeopardy。

LANGLEY　AIR　FORCE　BASE；　VIRGINIA
〃Well？〃　Buns　asked　as　she　jumped　down　from　her　fighter。
〃Kill。　We　have　it　on　tape；〃　another　major　said。　〃It　worked。〃
〃How　soon　do　you　think　they'll　launch　a　replacement？〃　One　more　kill　and　I'll　be　an　ace！
〃We　think　they　have　one　on　the　pad　now。　Twelve　to　twenty…four　hours。　No　telling　how　many　spares　they　have　ready。〃
Nakamura　nodded。　The　Air　Force　had　a　total　of　six　remaining　ASAT　rockets。　Maybe　enough；　maybe　not…one　successful　mission　did　not　make　it　a　reliable　weapon。　She　walked　over　to　the　squadron　headquarters　for　coffee　and　donuts。

STENDAL；　GERMAN　DEMOCRATIC　REPUBLIC
〃Goddammit；　Pasha！〃　CINC…West　swore。　〃I　don't　have　a　four…star　deputy　so　that　he　can　run　around　playing　divisional　mander。　Look　at　you！　You　might　have　got　your　head　cut　off！〃
〃We　needed　a　breakthrough。　The　tank　mander　was　killed　and　his　deputy　was　too　young。　I　have　given　us　the　breakthrough。〃
〃Where　is　Captain　Sergetov？〃
〃Major　Sergetov；〃　Alekseyev　corrected。　〃He　performed　well　as　my　aide。　His　hand　got　carved　up　and　he's　having　it　attended　to。　So。　What　reinforcements　do　we　have　moving　to　the　8th　Guards　Army？〃
Both　generals　moved　over　to　a　large　map。　〃These　two　tank　divisions　are　already　en　route…ten　to　twelve　hours。　How　firm　is　your　bridgehead？〃
〃Could　be　better；〃　Alekseyev　admitted。　〃There　were　three　bridges　there；　but　some　madman　started　dropping　rockets　into　the　town　and　wrecked　two　of　them。　That　left　one。　We　managed　to　get　a　mechanized　battalion　across；　along　with　some　tanks；　before　the　Germans　were　able　to　destroy　it。　They　have　plenty　of　artillery　support；　and　when　I　left；　we　had　boats　and　bridging　equipment　ing　in。　The　man　who　relieved　me　will　be　trying　to　reinforce　as　soon　as　he　can　arrange　a　crossing　in　force。〃
〃Opposition？〃
〃Thin；　but　the　terrain　is　on　their　side。　I'd　estimate　one　regiment　or　so；　the　remains　of　other　NATO　units。　Some　tanks；　but　mainly　mechanized　infantry。　They　also　have　plenty　of　artillery　support。　When　I　left　it　was　a　very　even　match。　We　have　more　firepower；　but　most　of　it's　trapped　on　our　side　of　the　Leine。　It's　a　race　to　see　who　can　reinforce　quickest。〃
〃After　you　left；　NATO　threw　aircraft　in。　Our　people　are　trying　to　hold　them　back；　but　NATO　seems　to　be　ahead　in　the　air。〃
〃We　can't　wait　for　night。　Those　bastards　own　the　night　sky。〃
〃Go　now？〃
Alekseyev　nodded；　thinking　of　what　casualties　he　was　bringing　down　on　〃his〃　division。　〃As　soon　as　we　can　assemble　the　boats。　Expand　the　bridgehead　to　two　kilometers；　then　get　the　bridges　across。　What's　NATO　bringing　in？〃
〃Radio　intercepts　have　identified　two　brigades　en　route。　One　British　and　one　Belgian。〃
〃They'll　send　more　than　that。　They　must　know　what　we　can　do　if　we　exploit　this。　We　have　1st　Guards　Tank　Army　in　reserve　。　。　。〃
〃mit　half　of　our　reserves　here？〃
〃I　can't　think　of　a　better　place。〃　Alekseyev　gestured　at　the　map。　The　drive　toward　Hannover　had　been　stopped　within　sight　of　the　city。　The　northern　army　groups　had　gotten　into　the　outskirts　of　Hamburg；　at　the　cost　of　gutting　3rd　Shock　Army's　tank　formations。　〃With　luck；　we　can　break　all　of　the　1st　into　the　enemy　rear。　That　will　get　us　to　the　Weser　at　least…maybe　the　Rhein。〃
〃A　large　gamble；　Pasha；〃　CINC…West　breathed。　But　the　odds　here　were　better　than　anything　else　on　the　map。　If　the　NATO　forces　were　stretched　as　thinly　as　his　intelligence　staff　said；　they　had　to　crumble　someplace。　Perhaps　this　was　it？　〃Very　well。　Start　posting　the　orders。〃

FASLANE；　SCOTLAND
〃What　about　their　ASW　forces？〃　asked　the　captain　of　USS　Pittsburgh。
〃Considerable。　We　estimate　that　Ivan　has　two　major　antisubmarine　warfare　groups；　one　centered　on　Kiev；　the　other　on　a　Kresta　cruiser。　There　are　also　four　smaller　groups；　each　posed　of　a　Krivak…class　frigate　and　four　to　six　patrol　frigates　of　the　Grisha　and　Mirka　type。　Add　to　that　a　large　collection　of　ASW　aircraft　and　finally　twenty　or　so　submarines；　half　nuclear；　half　conventional；〃　answered　the　briefing　officer。
〃Why　don't　we　let　them　keep　the　Barents　Sea？〃　muttered　Todd　Simms　of　USS　Boston。
There's　an　idea；　Dan　McCafferty　agreed　silently。
〃Seven　days　to　get　there？〃　Pittsburgh　asked。
〃Yes；　that　gives　us　a　good　deal　of　freedom　on　how　to　enter　the　area。　Captain　Little？〃
The　captain　of　HMS　Torbay　took　the　podium。　McCafferty　wondered　if　the　Brits　had　any　need　for　NFL…sty