Along with the fighters at Saratov and the bombers at Engels, we’re now seeing activity at Astrakhan and Volgograd. This makes a total of six bomber and five fighter regiments mobilized in the past six hours. All of these regiments are within normal unrefueled combat radius of the various aircraft involved. In other words, we believe with high probability that all of these regiments are being mobilized for action over Turkmenistan.”
“That’s not good news,” Daren said. “Wonder what the boss is going to do?”
Rebecca looked over at Daren and smiled. “Well, I just want you to know, Daren, that the work you’ve done since you arrived here has been nothing short of amazing,” she said. “I never thought we’d have this capability — that we’d be flying around up here while a couple B-1 bombers are cruising nearby with us
“Thanks, Rebecca,” Daren said. He reached over, took her hand, and gave it a squeeze. He then realized what he’d done and was expecting a rebuff, but he didn’t get one. “It’s been great working with you again — although this cockpit is sure as hell different from the last one we went to war in.” He paused, looking at the satellite imagery and analysis data being presented on the supercockpit display in front of him. “Wonder what the general is going to do?”
“I don’t see he has much choice. He’s got to withdraw,” Rebecca said. “Nine regiments — that’s as many as a hundred and twenty aircraft, if the regiments are fully staffed. We’re outnumbered twenty to one, and I don’t think even the airborne laser or what few weapons we have in place can make up for that.” She looked at Daren. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” Daren said after a long pause. “It would be better if we had some help — a couple B-2 stealth-bomber squadrons and a few fighter wings for starters. Otherwise, we can hold out just long enough to get our guys out — if that long. The Russians have too many planes too close to Turkmenistan. It’s too easy for them to surge numerically superior forces.”
“So McLanahan has to pull back.” She gave Daren a wry smile and added, “That’ll be a first. I don’t even think he knows how.”
“I’m sorry things have escalated to this point, Mr. President,” Thomas Thorn said. He was seated in the Oval Office with Vice President Lester Busick, Secretary of Defense Robert Goff, and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Richard Venti. “The United States does not want a war with Russia or anyone else.”
“Your military forces have destroyed dozens of aircraft, heavily damaged a communications vessel on the high seas, and killed seventeen men and women, sir, all in one night,” Russian president Valentin Sen’kov said. “If you don’t want war, President Thorn, you have a strange way of showing it.”
“I take it by your words, Mr. President, that you did not actually declare war on the United States of America?”
“That’s the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard, President Thorn,” Sen’kov said. “No one in my government has declared war, and certainly not with the United States. Yes, I consider the Taliban a threat to peace in Turkmenistan, but I have not declared war on them or anyone else!”
“Then Colonel General Kasimov’s declarations and warnings were not authorized or sanctioned by the Russian government?”
“I don’t even
“We have e-mailed the Russian embassy in Washington with a digital recording and transcript of a conversation I had with Colonel General Kasimov, who said he was the Russian liaison to the Turkmen military general staff. He announced the imposition of martial law in Turkmenistan and said that, because of U.S. actions in Turkmenistan and by authority of treaties between Russia and Turkmenistan, a state of war existed between our countries.”
“I… this is outrageous! This is nonsense!” Sen’kov exploded. “I authorized nothing of the kind! It must have been approved by General Gryzlov, my chief of the general staff.”
“We are also monitoring a very large-scale buildup of tactical and strategic forces in Russia,” Thorn went on, “that all appear to be getting ready for air assaults in Turkmenistan.”
“I know that General Gryzlov issued a warning order directing mobilization and preparedness,” Sen’kov admitted. “He has that authority. He was very concerned about the shoot-down of the MiG-29 over Turkmenistan — fearing it might have been from a secret attack by the Taliban — and these recent attacks in the Caspian Sea and Krasnovodsk only reinforced his fears. However, I have not authorized any attacks against any forces anywhere.”
“So you issued no execution order for any attacks in Turkmenistan?”
“No, I did not,” Sen’kov said. “I understand that General Gryzlov delivered a draft execution order to my office. It is sitting here right in front of me on my desk, still unsigned.”
“So what does this mean?” Thorn asked. “Is General Gryzlov acting on your orders, or is he provoking a war on his own?”
“I don’t know if he has access to information I do not, or if he has misinterpreted a directive from my office,” Sen’kov said. “In any case we will investigate immediately. But I assure you most emphatically, Mr. President: Russia is
“I believe you, Mr. President,” Thorn replied. “But the world will soon see what we see: Russia getting ready to attack someone. We must have some kind of assurance that war is not imminent. The American Congress will certainly want a full explanation, and our military forces will press to go to a heightened state of alert. If that happens, we may not be able to control the escalation.”
“Then I suggest a meeting, Mr. Thorn,” Sen’kov said. “An emergency summit, in Reykjavik, Iceland, tomorrow morning. We shall issue a joint statement telling the world we are not at war; we shall both pledge to restore peace and democracy to Turkmenistan and work together to solve racial, cultural, religious, and ethnic conflicts all over the world.”
“Agreed. I’ll be there,” Thorn replied.
“Very good, Mr. President. I look forward to seeing you in Iceland.”
Thorn set the phone down and turned to Vice President Lester Busick. “Summit meeting between Sen’kov and me, tomorrow morning, in Reykjavik.”
“Well, at least the bastard chose someplace more or less in between our two capitals,” Busick said as he picked up his phone to start making arrangements. “The asshole probably denies the whole thing.”
“I have a feeling he’s as much in the dark as we are, Les.”
“Real fucking great. That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“What’s the status of our folks in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, Robert?” Thorn asked.
“Everyone’s standing by, sir,” Secretary of State Robert Goff replied. “Secretary Hershel has been in contact with the Taliban leader, Jalaluddin Turabi, who told her he wants to see what the people of Turkmenistan say. Gurizev is dead; we feel it’s far too dangerous for any American to go to the capital while the Russians control the city. I believe her mission is done.”
“Same here,” Busick said. “Let’s get her the hell out of there.”
“All right,” Thorn said. “General Venti, have General McLanahan’s aircraft escort Deputy Secretary of State Hershel’s aircraft out of Uzbekistan and stay with it until it’s safely back on friendly soil. Then have the rest of McLanahan’s force evacuate to Diego Garcia. I want maximum protection for the entire contingent. He’s authorized to use every aircraft he’s got to see to it that Hershel and his ground forces are safely out of the region.”
“Should McLanahan’s teams stand by on Diego Garcia, in case they’re needed again over Turkmenistan?”
Thorn thought about it for a moment, then replied, “No, General. As soon as Deputy Secretary Hershel is back on U.S. territory, bring them home. Be sure to pass along my thanks for a job well done.”
“Yes, sir,” Venti said. He picked up a telephone and began issuing orders.
Secretary Goff was the only adviser not otherwise occupied. “So what do you think this General Gryzlov is going to do next?” he asked Thorn. “Is he a loose cannon, an opportunist, or just plain crazy?”
Thomas Thorn thought about the question for a moment. “I think he’s going to make his voice heard,” he said. “He obviously has something to say, and he has the power and authority to force others to listen. We are definitely going to hear from him again — soon.”
