Arc Light by Eric Harry

Author:Eric Harry
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

DEEP-UNDERGROUND COMMAND POST, THE KREMLIN

June 25, 1200 GMT (1400 Local)

Filipov saw that Razov had given up on conducting a formal STAVKA meeting as the senior officers were now almost constantly on the phone to their various commands. The vote on the American C-SPAN was still ongoing.

“Ukrainian Air Defense reports significant contact inbound north of Lvov. Probable FB-111s, low altitude, high speed, heading zero seven seven degrees.”

The captain who had read the report ran out to tear another off the teletype, and a waiting junior naval officer read, “ ‘Subsea sensors in Gulf of Finland report contact, probable American hunter-killer submarine, headed east fourteen kilometers north of Tallinn. Fast missile patrol boats have put out from Kronstadt to intercept.’ ”

By the time he had finished, there were two others in line behind him waiting to speak to the senior officers, most of whom were in animated conversations over the telephone and heard nothing. But Filipov, and Razov in front of him, listened. Without a field command, Razov’s job as commander in chief of the Supreme High Command was the big picture, and Filipov was Razov’s aide.

“Commander of 103rd Motorized Rifle Division reports leading elements reaching third objective ten kilometers east of Michalovce, Slovakia. Resistance on the ground is reported to be light, but air interdiction efforts are intensifying. Requests permission for extension of timetable for fourth objective, which is Michalovce itself.”

“Request denied,” snapped the commander of the Ukrainian Strategic Direction, which would soon be renamed the Ukrainian Front, taking his ear just briefly away from the phone before returning to it and saying, “Continue.”

“That was a good idea of yours, General Razov,” General Karyakin said as he lounged in his chair next to Razov, the Strategic Rocket Forces officer also having very little to do. “A spoiling attack against their forces in eastern Slovakia, good idea.” He nodded at the vote tallies on television, which were mounting quickly in favor of impeachment. “The Americans don’t seem to be waiting, so why should we?”

“Commander of Iceland Landing Force reports contact with main elements of American 82nd Airborne Division. He has ordered his men to temporarily assume a tactical defense and requests information as to when next resupply convoy or airdrop will arrive.”

Razov looked at Admiral Verkhovensky, who despite having phones pressed to each ear had obviously heard the report. Verkhovensky looked at Razov and shook his head.

“Tell the commander,” Razov said, raising his voice over the noise, “to assume both the tactical and the strategic defensive. Tell him that we are unable at this time . . . that we are unable to resupply him.”

The aide looked at Razov for just a moment longer than normal, then nodded curtly and turned to leave. When Verkhovensky hung one of the two phones up, Razov said, “What about the Kara Bastion?”

Several of the senior commanders’ heads turned at that question. Verkhovensky shook his head and cupped the mouthpiece. “They’re building in the Barents Sea west of Novaya Zemlya—have one carrier battle group on station and another on the way—but they seem to be making no attempts to penetrate.

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