Shadow Command

into the ashtray as if demonstrating what he intended to do to anyone who dared oppose him. “We’ll see who is willing to play, and who is not. Continue, General.”

“Yes, sir. The system can be disguised as a standard twelve-meter tractor-trailer rig and can be driven almost anywhere and mixed in with normal commercial traffic. It can be set up and readied to fire in less than an hour, can fire about a dozen bursts on one refueling, depending on how long the laser is firing at one target — and, most importantly, it can be broken down and moved within minutes after firing.”

“Only a dozen bursts? That does not sound like very many engagements.”

“We can bring along more fuel, of course,” Furzyenko said, “but Fanar was never designed to counter large numbers of spacecraft or aircraft. The system can only fire for up to thirty seconds at a time due to heat, and one load of fuel can fire the laser for approximately sixty seconds total. The next barrage can be fired thirty to forty minutes later after refueling, depending on if the fuel comes from the fire vehicle or a separate support vehicle. Most spacecraft in low-Earth orbit would be well beyond the horizon before another barrage, so we decided it would be best not to try to fire too many barrages at once.

“In addition, everything else in the convoy increases in size as well — security, provisions, spare parts, power generators — so we decided to limit the extra laser fuel to one truck. With one command and fire vehicle, one power and control vehicle, one refueling and supply vehicle, and one support and crew vehicle, it can still travel anonymously enough on open highways anywhere without drawing attention. We brought it back to Moscow for additional tests and upgrades. That will take some time to accomplish.”

“I think you’ve had enough time, General,” Zevitin said. “The Americans need to see how vulnerable their precious space station and spaceplanes can be. I want that system up and running now.”

“If I had more engineers and more money, sir, I could finish the three that are in the construction pipeline within a year,” Furzyenko said. He glanced at General Darzov. “But there seems to be a lot of attention being paid to General Darzov’s Molnija project, and I’m afraid our resources are being unduly diverted.”

“Darzov has made some good arguments for Molnija, General Furzyenko,” Zevitin said.

“I’m afraid I do not know what Molnija is, Mr. President,” Alexandra Hedrov said. “I assume it’s not a fine watch maker. Is this a new secret weapon program?”

Zevitin nodded to Andrei Darzov, who stood and began: “Molnija is an air-launched anti-satellite weapon, Madam Minister. It is a prototype weapon only, a combination of the Kh-90 hypersonic cruise missile reprogrammed for extreme high-altitude flight with a combination of rocket-ramjet-rocket propulsion to allow it to fly up to five hundred kilometers above Earth. The system was first developed by the Americans in the 1980s; we had a similar system but canceled it many years ago. The technology has improved greatly since then.”

“Molnija is a big step backward,” Furzyenko said. “The laser system has proven its worth. Air-launched anti-satellite weapons were rejected years ago because it was unreliable and too easily detected.”

“With respect, sir, I disagree,” Darzov said. Furzyenko turned to glare at his subordinate, but it was difficult to stare at the man’s rather disturbing wounds, and he was forced to look away. “The problem with a fixed anti- satellite weapon, as was found with the Kavaznya anti-satellite laser, is that it is too easy to attack it, even with numerous and sophisticated anti-aircraft weapon systems protecting it. Even the mobile laser system we developed is vulnerable to attack since it takes so much support and takes so long to set up, fuel, and aim. We saw how quickly the Americans were able to attack the laser site in Iran — luckily, we had time to move the real system and construct a decoy in its place. Molnija can be carried to many air bases in the target’s path and can attack from multiple angles.

“A single Molnija missile is carried aloft by a MiG-29 fighter or Tupolev-16 light bomber, or two missiles can be carried by a Tupolev-95 or Tupolev-160 heavy bomber,” Darzov went on. “The launch aircraft are maneuvered into position by ground-based or airborne radars and then the missiles are released. Molnija uses a solid rocket motor to boost it to supersonic speed, where it then uses a ramjet engine to accelerate to eight times the speed of sound and climb to target altitude. Once in range of the target, it uses its on-board sensors to track the target and ignites its third-stage rocket motor to begin the intercept. It uses precision thrusters to get within range, then detonates a high-explosive fragmentary warhead. We can also place a nuclear or X-ray laser warhead on the weapon, depending on the size of the target.”

“X-ray laser? What is that?”

“An X-ray laser is a device that collects and focuses X-rays from a small nuclear explosion and produces extremely powerful long-range energy beams that can penetrate even heavily shielded spacecraft as far as two hundred kilometers away,” Darzov said. “It is designed to disable spacecraft by scrambling its electronics and guidance systems.”

“Using nuclear weapons in space will create problems in the international community, General,” Hedrov pointed out.

“The Americans have had a nuclear reactor flying over Russia for decades, and no one seemed to notice, Alexandra,” Zevitin said bitterly. “The X-ray laser is just one option — we’ll use it only if it’s deemed absolutely necessary.”

“The nuclear reactor on board the American space station is just for generating power, sir,” Hedrov pointed out. “Yes, the laser has been used as an offensive weapon, but the reactor is thought of differently…”

“It is still an atomic device,” Zevitin argued, “which is expressly prohibited by treaty — a treaty the Americans casually ignore!”

“I am in agreement with you, sir,” Hedrov said, “but after the air attacks against the United States using nuclear weapons by President Gryzlov—”

“Yes, yes, I know…America gets a pass, and the world waits in fear to see what Russia will do next,” Zevitin said, the frustration thick in his voice. “I’m sick of the double standard.” He shook his head, then turned to General Darzov again. “What is the status of the anti-satellite missile program, General? Can we deploy the system or not?”

“Additional underground tests with the prototype Molnija unit were highly successful,” Darzov went on. “The technicians and engineers want more tests done, but I believe it is ready for battle now, sir. We can make improvements, upgrades, and enhancements for years and make it better, but I think it is ready as is, and I recommend deployment immediately.”

“Excuse me, sir,” Furzyenko interjected, looking at Minister of National Defense Ostenkov in confusion, “but General Darzov isn’t in charge of Molnija. It’s a secret project that is still being overseen by my research and development bureau.”

“Not anymore, General,” Zevitin said. “I have tasked General Darzov to develop strategies for dealing with the American space station and spaceplanes. He will report to me and Minister Ostenkov directly.”

Furzyenko’s mouth opened and closed in confusion, then hardened in sheer anger. “This is an outrage, sir!” he blurted out. “This is an insult! The chief of staff is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping the armed forces, and I should have been informed of this!”

“You are being informed now, General,” Zevitin said. “Fanar and Molnija belong to Darzov. He will keep me informed of his actions and will make recommendations to the national security bureau, but he takes his orders only from me. The farther outside your chain of command he operates, the better.” Zevitin smiled and nodded knowingly. “A little lesson we’ve learned from our friend General Patrick Shane McLanahan over the years, yes?”

“I believe the man is obsessive, compulsive, paranoid, and probably schizophrenic, sir,” Darzov said, “but he is also courageous and intelligent — two traits I admire. His unit is extremely effective because it operates with speed and daring with small numbers of highly motivated and energetic forces in command of the latest technological innovations. McLanahan also seems to completely disregard most regulations, normal conventions, and chains of command, and acts precipitously, perhaps even recklessly. Some say he is crazy. All I know is, he gets the job done.”

“As long as you don’t go off the deep end yourself,” Zevitin warned.

“Unfortunately I agree with Minister Hedrov, sir: nuclear weapons in space will not be seen as a defensive