Plan of Attack

McLanahan will attack air bases, not naval bases. He’ll go after Anadyr, Blagoveshchensk, Ulan-Ude, Bratsk, or maybe even Kavaznya again.”

“How do you know that, sir?” Stepashin asked skeptically. “If I were he, I’d go after the ballistic-missile sub bases — Rybachiy and Vladivostok. He should know that all of our Pacific ballistic-missile subs are based there, and that we keep most of them in port. Our bombers have scattered — there’s nothing to hit at any of those bases except for a few empty planes.”

“I know him, and I challenged him, so that’s what he’ll do,” Gryzlov said confidently. “Even if the bases are empty, he’ll bomb them just to show us and Thorn that he can bomb them. Thorn will keep him on a tight leash. He won’t want to provoke a nuclear counterattack by striking our nuclear-sub bases — that would be an overt act of aggression, and Thorn isn’t built for that.”

Gryzlov picked up the telephone to the communications center. “Get me President Thorn immediately on the hot line.” To Stepashin he said, “Listen to me carefully, Nikolai. You may get only one chance to stop him. I have studied McLanahan, his weapons, and his tactics. I believe that this is the best way to stop him:

“First, his stealth technology is second to none,” Gryzlov began. “He will come at you from every direction, even from behind. It is absolutely critical that your defensive forces not use radar, except for long-range surveillance. The first targets he will attack are surface-to-air missile-defense systems. Activating surface-to-air missile radars will only result in their being destroyed. It is important not to waste your defensive-missile systems, because the initial attacks are designed only to clear a path for follow-on forces—those are your main targets. They will attempt to degrade or destroy your defensive systems enough to allow less stealthy special-operations transports to fly in, and you cannot allow that to happen.

“The fighters are your first line of defense. You must mass your fighters around your important bases, use long-range-surveillance radars only, and have the fighters use just optronic sensors to the maximum extent possible. The minute they turn on radar, they will be shot down. Any targets you see on surveillance radar are your real targets, but you must assume that they are being escorted by stealth aircraft with substantial air-to-air capabilities. Therefore you must have your fighters go in fast, strike at long range, and then get out of the area. There is no use in doing visual identifications or trying to close in to dogfight-missile range — McLanahan’s stealth aircraft will eat your forces alive. Knocking down as many of the special-operations transports as possible is more important than knocking down the bombers.

“However, you must assume that some special-operations forces will sneak in — most likely McLanahan’s Tin Man armored commandos,” Gryzlov went on. “Unless you receive intelligence information that indicates otherwise, I suggest you augment forces at every bomber base with additional heavy infantry. Don’t bother with heavy armored vehicles: The Tin Man commandos are far too fast, and they carry penetrator weapons that can disable even main battle tanks with ease. Light, fast armored reconnaissance units, helicopters with precision-standoff antiarmor weapons, and dismounted infantry with antitank weapons can deal with them effectively.

“More important is the Tin Men’s ability to vector unmanned bombers and attack aircraft, so you must supplement your ground forces with as much antiair weaponry as possible,” Gryzlov said. “Use passive infrared and optronic sensors, not radar. Don’t try to detect their aircraft from long range — you won’t see them until the attack has begun. The Americans will go after command and control, communications, power generation and distribution, air defenses, radar, and airfields first, so have each base decentralize and disperse its resources, and have alternate, backup, and emergency networks in place.

“McLanahan’s forces hit fast, hit hard, then disengage,” Gryzlov summarized. “The better your forces can ride out the initial standoff attack and then give chase as they try to withdraw, the more success they’ll have in whittling down his Tin Man forces. Killing one Tin Man is equivalent to destroying an entire mechanized infantry platoon or tank squadron. Do you understand, General?”

“Yes, sir.” Stepashin picked up a telephone and began issuing orders.

“Mr. President, Thomas Thorn is on the line for you,” the command center’s operator announced. “An interpreter is standing by.”

Gryzlov picked up the phone and nodded for the connection to be opened. “Is this Thomas Thorn?” he asked.

“This is President Thorn. To whom am I speaking?”

Gryzlov paused a moment to collect his thoughts, took a deep breath, then said through his interpreter, “This is President Gryzlov, Mr. Thorn.” He purposely tried to keep Thorn off balance by not using his title of “president,” addressing him as just another bureaucrat or functionary. “I just wanted to call to inform you that we have detected movement of General McLanahan’s forces from Battle Mountain.”

“Do you expect me to confirm that information for you, Gryzlov?” Thorn asked. “Or did you call just to make more threats?”

“I am glad to see you did not attempt to deny it,” Gryzlov said. “You are not very good at lying, and your truthfulness is your most endearing virtue. It will also be your downfall.”

“Let me guess, Gryzlov,” Thorn said. “You will say that I should recall all my special-operations forces immediately; that any forces in your country will be caught; that if caught, they will be summarily executed; and that if there are any attacks on any base in Russia, then you will have no choice but to retaliate with all weapons under your command. Is that what you called to tell me, Mr. President?”

“I am calling to tell you, Thorn, that you will be responsible for triggering more death and destruction, and it is totally and completely unnecessary,” Gryzlov said. “Our attacks on your bases were done out of frustration and desperation. It is not a sign of an all-out war between our countries, I swear it. I hereby promise to you that I will order a complete stand-down of all Russian strategic and tactical forces around the world immediately.”

Thorn paused for several moments. Finally he said, “I am very glad to hear it, Mr. President.”

“I know that McLanahan’s bomber forces and most assuredly his Tin Man commandos are even now moving toward staging locations at Eareckson Air Base on Shemya Island, and that a number of his Tin Men are already located there,” Gryzlov went on. He thought he detected an uneasy rustling and a slight intake of breath on the line and was pleased that he’d apparently guessed correctly. “Our intelligence also indicates that McLanahan intends to strike our bomber bases at Ulan-Ude, Vladivostok, and Blagoveshchensk. These attacks are not necessary, Thorn. I wish to do everything in my power to convince you to stop these attacks from commencing.”

“I’m sure you do, Gryzlov.”

“I will order all Russian strategic and tactical forces to stand down — but not our defensive forces. All air, coastal, and base-defense and — security forces will remain at one hundred and fifty percent manning and at full alert.”

“I think that is a very wise and reassuring move, Mr. President.”

“But it would not look wise or reassuring for my base defenders to have to fight off your attack planes and armored commandos after I announce a cease-fire,” Gryzlov said. “I think it would be most wise to recall McLanahan’s forces and any other military, paramilitary, or intelligence operations you have ongoing against my country. We certainly cannot commence negotiations for a complete end to hostilities with foreign military troops on our shores.”

“Now that your military objectives have been met, you want to negotiate an end to hostilities, is that it, Gryzlov?”

“I told you before, Thorn: Our actions were not premeditated,” Gryzlov said. “They were born of desperation and frustration on our part — not of American hegemony but of our inability to make any progress in reversing our own economic misfortunes. As the only remaining true world superpower, you must certainly understand the enormous pressure on myself and my government to come up with results. The military response was unfortunate and miscalculated, and I take full responsibility for it. Russia will do everything possible to compensate the United States for its loss and ensure that such a horrendous, unspeakable catastrophe never happens again.”

“What do you propose we do to decrease the likelihood of another attack on one another, Mr. President?” Thorn asked.

“Russia’s actions will be unilateral,” Gryzlov said. “I will immediately order all ballistic-missile submarines to unload American targeting data from their missiles’ computers, leave their alert launch positions, and return to their bases; I will order all land-based ballistic-missile forces to unload target data and return to normal alert; all mobile land-based missiles will unload data and return to their shelters; and all strategic and tactical aircraft will unload their nuclear weapons and return them to storage. I will hope that the United States will follow suit, but there is no condition for our own actions.”