'A problem, yes. The most important one, no. After all, who, Madam President, are the Germans going to use them against and where? If they go for the Tenth Corps before they enter Germany, they, the Germans, start the war and drag the Czechs and Slovaks and God knows who else into the fray. Even their friends the Ukrainians would be pissed, especially when you consider that radioactive fallout from Ukrainian bombs detonated on Czech soil will drift east into Ukrainian territory. And if the Germans wait until the Tenth Corps enters Germany, that would mean punching gigantic radioactive holes in German soil.' Lewis shook his head. 'No, I'm afraid not even Hitler would have been that dumb. After all, despite the fact that they had nerve gas during World War II and we didn't, the Germans still didn't use it for fear of retaliation. We know where the nukes are. We even know who's guarding them and, for the most part, how. The CIA's been pretty good about keeping up with that. So if you accept my premise that the Germans won't use them on their own soil, the nukes are for the moment a minor concern.'
Lewis's statement that the nukes were a minor concern caused Wilson to roll her eyes. Only after considering everything that he had said was she able to accept Lewis's analysis as valid. Calm again, Wilson looked down, pondering Lewis's assessment in silence. Finally she looked over at him. 'You realize, Ed, that after all this is over, even if we do pull it off, our political careers will be over.'
After a short pause during which Lewis's face lost all expression, he spoke. 'Madam President, yesterday I sat as close to Chancellor Ruff as I am now to you. I looked into his eyes and listened to his words. I cannot express to you my feelings of horror and dread. What the words did not convey, his eyes and the tone of his voice did. I felt as if I were staring into a dark bottomless pit. As I thought about that pit, suddenly I realized that I was listening to the same words our fathers and grandfathers had listened to in 1933. I do not mean to lecture you, Abby, but I must tell you, our fathers had to see the same dark pit.
Roused from a fitful sleep, Chancellor Ruff didn't bother dressing before going down to the den where he was told Colonel Kasper was waiting. When he entered, Ruff immediately regretted not having taken the time to dress. Kasper, in full uniform, jumped to his feet as soon as the doors of the den were slid open for Ruff. Another colonel, whom Ruff had seen once at the headquarters of the Bundeswehr, also came to a rigid position of attention. Concealing his embarrassment at being presented in nothing but pajamas, bathrobe, and slippers, Ruff headed right to his desk, where he took a seat before addressing the two officers.
Pivoting in place, both colonels waited while Ruff took his place behind his desk and lit a cigarette. Finally Ruff, after taking a long puff, looked up at Kasper. 'Well?'
Kasper's usual clear, sharp manner was not dulled by the early hour. 'Herr Chancellor, may I present Colonel Gotthardt Mahler of General Lange's personal staff.'
Without pause, as if rehearsed, Mahler presented himself. 'Herr Chancellor, General Lange regrets not being able to report to you at this time. He is currently reviewing the situation and will, after the morning briefing, report directly to you in person.'
Waving his hand with the cigarette in it, Ruff indicated that Mahler was to continue. 'Sir, we have been able to confirm that the American Tenth Corps is in motion, with logistical elements moving north from Prague.' Stepping forward, Mahler laid on Ruff's desk a small map showing the northern Czech-German border. As he continued to speak, he pointed to red military symbols marked on the map. 'They have commenced establishing forward logistical bases in the vicinities of Chomutov, Teplice, Decin, and Liberec.' Leaving the map in front of Ruff, Mahler stepped back, allowing the Chancellor to study the map and the strange military symbols that had no meaning to him as he thoughtfully puffed on his cigarette. Finally he looked up at Mahler. 'And what, Colonel, is General Lange's conclusion?'
Kasper had warned Mahler that the Chancellor had only a cursory layman's understanding of operational matters, telling him that he needed to be very specific, without being insulting, when explaining the military situation to Ruff. So Mahler was careful to respond in such a manner that his answer didn't sound like a lecture. 'General Lange believes that we are seeing the beginning of a redeployment in preparation for ground operations against Germany.'
Looking up at Mahler with narrow, inquiring eyes, Ruff took a puff from his cigarette. 'You are aware, I am sure, that President Wilson of the United States has stated that she is committed to defusing this situation and will begin the withdrawal of American forces from Europe as soon as the disposition of American equipment and weapons can be arranged with the Czech government. Could this move not be part of that effort?'
With no need to consider Ruff's question, Mahler responded. 'That, Herr Chancellor, is possible but unlikely. General Schacht reports that none of his sources in the Czech Republic have found any evidence that American combat units are preparing their weapons or equipment for demilitarization. If anything, his latest intelligence indicates that the Tenth Corps' combat units are preparing for sustained combat operations. Our agents who have been able to observe American units around Prague and Pizen all speak of units stripping away all unnecessary vehicles and equipment while distributing large quantities of combat rations, lubricants, and spare track parts to combat vehicles. Yesterday the corps logistics officer submitted a request to the Czech Army office of logistical operations for all the fuel cans it could spare, to be delivered to the main corps support area within forty-eight hours.'
Ruff was careful in wording his question so as not to appear totally ignorant of military matters. 'Yes, this all seems to belie what the American President is saying. But I cannot simply come out and declare her a liar based on the movement of a few supply units. Can I, gentlemen?'
Kasper, understanding the real question behind his Chancellor's question, responded. 'This is normal procedure for American forces. Some of their officers call it a slingshot. When the situation allows, logistical units and the bulk of the supplies to be used during the initial phases of an offensive operation are moved as far forward as possible in advance of the combat units. The combat units themselves are kept as far back as practical and dispersed. Only at the last moment are those units launched forward. When the combat elements do come forward, they all pass through the pre-established logistical points where they refuel and then move immediately into the attack. In this way the logistical system, normally the bulkiest and most cumbersome part of an army, is already set in place, leaving the roads free for movement of the combat units and able to support combat operations from the very beginning. It is a system the Americans have practiced here in Germany during Reforger exercises and used quite successfully during the first Gulf War.'
Finishing his cigarette, Ruff crushed it in an ashtray and looked at the map again. 'How soon before we know for sure when and where the Americans will strike, if indeed they intend to strike?'
Picking up where Kasper left off, Mahler responded. 'The next elements that move forward, if the Americans stay true to their doctrine, will be corps and division artillery units. Like the logistic units, by moving them forward first, the artillery units will be off the roads and ready to support the maneuver units when they come through. As for the likely axis of advance, when I left we were looking at three major avenues of advance into eastern Germany.' Leaning over Ruff's desk, Mahler used his index finger to show Ruff where he was talking about. 'One, here, north from Chomutov toward Chemnitz. Another, here, from Teplice into Dresden with a possible supporting attack from Decin also north toward Dresden. There is also the remote possibility that an end run may develop here, from Liberec, through Poland, toward Gorlitz.'
Mention of the move through Poland surprised Ruff. 'They wouldn't dare.'
Resuming his position of attention, Mahler responded in a matter-of-fact manner. 'It has been confirmed, Herr Chancellor, that General Malin, the commanding general of the Tenth Corps, paid a personal visit to the Polish embassy in Prague yesterday afternoon. This was followed last night by the appearance of the Polish military liaison officer at Tenth Corps headquarters. While such an operation is questionable, General Lange cannot ignore that possibility. He has instructed his planning staff to take such a contingency into account when planning for the redeployment of our forces to counter the American threat.'
'When, Colonel Mahler, does General Lange intend to present a full report and his recommendations to me?'
Lifting his right arm to eye level, Mahler studied his watch for a moment before answering. 'In four hours, Herr Chancellor. There is an intelligence update by General Schacht's section for the senior members of the General Staff scheduled at 0630, followed by a final review of the draft operational plan to the full staff at 0700 hours. That
