The Sum of All Fears.pdf - Delta Force

'General, we've pushed them back across the line, I can hold out against what's
here, but if more gets in to us, we're screwed,' Colonel Lang said. 'Sir, we
need help here!'
'Okay, I'll have some air to you in ten minutes. Fast-movers on the way now.'
'That's a start, but I need more than that, sir.'
SACEUR turned to his operations officer. 'What's ready?'
'Second of the Eleventh Cav, sir. They're moving out of their kazerne right
now.'
'What's between them and Berlin?'
'Russians? Not much. If they move fast. .
'Move 'em out.' SACEUR walked back to his desk and lifted the phone for
Washington.
***
'Yes, what is it?' Fowler asked.
'Sir, it appears that the Russians are bringing reinforcements into Berlin. I
have just ordered the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cav to move towards Berlin to
reinforce. I also have aircraft heading in now to assess the situation.'
'Do you have any idea what they're up to?'
'None, sir, it makes no damned sense at all, but we still have people being
killed. What are the Russians telling you, Mr President?'
'They're asking why we attacked them, General.'
'Are they nuts?' Or is it something else? SACEUR wondered. Something really
frightening?
'General,' it was a woman's voice, probably that Elliot woman, SACEUR thought.
'I want to be very clear on this. Are you sure that the Soviets initiated the
attack?'
'Yes, ma'am!' SACEUR replied heatedly. 'The commander of the Berlin Brigade is
probably dead. The XO is Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Long. I know the kid, he's
good. He says the Russians opened fire on the brigade without warning while they
were responding to the alert you sent out from D.C. They didn't even have their
tubes loaded. I repeat, ma'am, the Russians are the ones who started shooting,
and that's definite. Now, do I have your permission to reinforce?'
'What happens if you don't?' Fowler asked.
'In that case, Mr President, you have about five thousand letters to write.'
'Look, okay, send in the reinforcements. Tell Berlin to take no offensive
action. We're trying to get things settled down.'
'I wish you luck, Mr President, but right now I have a command to run.'
***
PRESIDENT NARMONOV:
WE HAVE RECEIVED WORD FROM EUROPE THAT A SOVIET TANK REGIMENT
LAUNCHED AN ATTACK
ON OUR BERLIN BRIGADE WITHOUT WARNING. I JUST TALKED TO OUR COMMANDER,
AND HE
CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS TRUE. WHAT IS HAPPENING? WHY DID YOUR TROOPS ATTACK
OUR
TROOPS?
***