The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

In the trees with the Bradleys, the brigade XO watched the north end of the
Russian line crumple. That was the only word for it, he thought. The tank crews
were all combat vets, and now they had the edge. The northernmost Russian
battalion tried to reorient itself, but one of his Bradleys had evidently scored
on its commander, and there was confusion there. Why the Russians hadn't pressed
home the attack was one question that floated about the rear of his brain, but
that was something to save for the after-action report. Right now he saw that
they had screwed up, and that was a good thing for him and his men.
'Sir, I've got Seventh Army.' A sergeant handed him a microphone.
'What's happening over there?'
'General, this is Lieutenant Colonel Ed Long, we just got our ass attacked by
the regiment across town from us. No warning at all, they just came into our
kazerne like Jeb Stuart. We've got 'em stopped, but I've lost most of my tanks.
We need some help here.'
'Losses?'
'Sir, I've lost over forty tanks, eight Bradleys, and at least two hundred men.'
'Opposition?'
'One regiment of tanks. Nothing else yet, but they have lots of friends, sir. I
could sure use some myself.'
'I'll see what I can do.'
***
General Kuropatkin checked his status board. Every radar system that was not
down for repair was now operating. Satellite information told him that two SAC
bases were empty. That meant their aircraft were now airborne and flying towards
the Soviet Union along with KC-35 tankers. Their missile fields would also be at
full alert. His Eagle satellites would give launch-warning, announcing that his
country had thirty minutes left to live. Thirty minutes, the General thought.
Thirty minutes and the reason of the American president were all that stood
between life and death for his country.
'Air activity picking up over Germany,' a colonel said. 'We show some American
fighters coming out from Ramstein and Bitberg, heading east. Total of eight
aircraft.'
'What do we have on the American Stealth fighters?'
'There is a squadron – eighteen of them – at Ramstein. Supposedly, the Americans
are demonstrating them for possible sale to their NATO allies.'
'They could be all in the air right now,' Kuropatkin noted, 'carrying nuclear
weapons, for that matter.'
'Correct, they can easily carry two B-61-type weapons each. With high-altitude
cruise, they could be over Moscow before we knew it . . .'
'And with their bombsights . . . they could lay their weapons exactly on any
target they wish . . . two and a half hours from the time they lift off . . . my
God.' In the weapon's earth-penetration mode, it could be placed close enough to
eliminate the president's shelter. Kuropatkin lifted his phone. 'I need to talk
to the President.'
***
'Yes, General, what is it?' Narmonov asked.
'We have indications of American air activity over Germany.'