iner to altitude。 The roof of what otherwise would be a passenger partment held a large telescope/camera assembly used to inspect Soviet space vehicle；。 In the back； technicians activated the sophisticated tracking systems used to lock the camera in on its distant target。
〃Burnout〃； they announced at Sunnyvale。 〃The vehicle has achieved orbital velocity。 Initial numbers look like an apogee of one hundred fifty…six miles and a perigee of one hundred forty…eight。〃 They'd have to refine those numbers； but NORAD and Washington needed something right now。
〃Your evaluation？〃 NORAD asked Sunnyvale。
〃Everything is consistent with a radar…ocean…reconnaissance…satellite launch。 The only change is the orbital insertion path was southerly instead of northerly。〃 Which made perfectly good sense； as everyone knew。 Any kind of rocket launched over the pole entailed dangers that no one wanted to contemplate。
Thirty minutes later they were sure。 The crewmen on the RC…l35 got good pictures of the new Soviet satellite。 Before it had pleted its first revolution； it was classified as a RORSAT。 The new radar…ocean…surveillance satellite would be a problem for the Navy； but not something to end the world。 The people in Sunnyvale and Cheyenne Mountain maintained their vigil。
ICELAND
They followed a footpath around the mountain。 Vigdis told them it was a favorite place for tourists to visit。 A small glacier on the northern side of the mountain fed a half…dozen streams； which led in turn to a sizable valley full of small farms。 They had a fine vantage point。 Almost everything in sight was below them； including several roads that were kept under constant scrutiny。 Edwards debated the advantages of cutting straight across the valley toward their objective or staying on the rough ground to the east。
〃I wonder what kinda radio station that is；〃 Smith said。 There was a tower of some sort eight miles west of them。
Mike looked at Vigdis and got a shrug。 She didn't listen to the radio。
〃Not easy to tell from this far；〃 Edwards observed。 〃But probably they have some Russians。〃 He unfolded his big map。 This part of the island showed lots of roads； but the information had to be taken with a grain of salt。 Only two of the roads had decent surfaces。 The rest were called 〃seasonal〃 on the map…meaning exactly what？ Edwards wondered。 Of these； some were well maintained； others were not。 The map didn't say which was which。 All of the Soviet troops they'd seen on the ground were driving jeep…type vehicles； not the tracked infantry…carriers they'd observed on the invasion day。 A good driver in a four…by…four could go almost anywhere； however。 How good were the Soviets at driving jeeps over broken ground 。 。 。 so many things to worry about； Edwards thought。
Edwards tracked his field glasses over the area to his west。 He saw a twin…prop airliner lift off from a small airfield。 You forgot about that； didn't you？ The Russians are using those puddle…jumpers to ferry troops around 。 。 。
〃Sarge； what do you think？〃 Might as well get a professional decision。
Smith grimaced。 The choice was between physical danger and physical exhaustion。 Some choice； he thought。 That's supposed to be why we have officers。
〃I'd at least have some patrols down there； Lieutenant。 Lots of roads； figure some checkpoints so they can keep an eye on the local folks。 Let's say that radio's a navigation beacon。 It'll be guarded。 Regular radio station'll be guarded； too。 All these farms…what kinda farms； Miss Vigdis？〃
〃Sheep； some milk cows； potatoes；〃 she answered。
〃So when the Russkies are off duty； there'll be some wandering around to get some fresh food instead of their canned crap。 We would； too。 I don't much like it； Lieutenant。〃
Edwards nodded agreement。 〃Okay； we head east。 Just about out of food。〃
〃There's always fish。〃
FASLANE； SCOTLAND
Chicago led the procession。 A Royal Navy fleet tug had helped her away from the quay； and the American sub was heading out the channel at six knots。 They were taking advantage of a 〃window〃 in Soviet satellite coverage。 It would be at least six hours before another Russian reconnaissance satellite came overhead。 Behind McCafferty came Boston； Pittsburgh； Providence； Key West； and Groton； at two…mile intervals。
〃What's the sounding？〃 McCafferty asked over the inter。
〃Five hundred seventy feet。〃
Time。 McCafferty ordered the lookouts below。 The only ships in sight were aft。 Boston was clearly visible； her black sail and twin diving planes gliding over the water like the angel of death。 That was apt enough； he thought。 The captain of USS Chicago made a final check of the control station atop the sail； then dropped down the ladder； pulling the hatch closed behind him。 Another twenty…five feet and he was in the attack center； where he closed another hatch； turning the locking wheel as far as it would go。
〃Straight board shut；〃 the executive officer reported； going through the official litany that signified that the submarine was rigged for dive。 Submariners evolved check fists long before aviators discovered them。 McCafferty checked the status boards himself…and so； furtively； did several others of the attack center crew。 Everything was as it should be。
〃Dive。 Make your depth two hundred feet；〃 McCafferty ordered。
The submarine filled with the sound of rushing air and water； and the sleek black hull began her descent。
McCafferty reviewed the chart in his head。 Seventy…four hours to the icepack； and turn east。 Forty…three hours to Svyatana and turn south。 Then came the really hard part。
STENDAL； GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
The Battle of Alfeld was turning into a living thing that ate men and tanks like a wolf eats rabbits。 Alekseyev chafed at being two hundred kilometers distant from the tank division he now regarded as his own。 He could not plain about his relief…which only made things worse。 The new mander had staged a successful forced river crossing； putting another two regiments of mechanized infantry on the far bank； and now three ribbon bridges were being built across the Leine…or at least a spirited attempt was under way to build them； despite murderous artillery fire from NATO units。
〃We have created a 'meeting engagement' Pasha；〃 CINC…West said； staring down at the map。
Alekseyev nodded agreement。 What had begun as a limited attack was fast being the focal point of the whole fighting front。 Two more Soviet tank divisions were now near the battle area； racing to the Leine。 Three NATO brigades were known to be heading the same way； along with artillery。 Both sides were pulling tactical fighters from other sectors； one to smash the bridgehead； the other to support it。 The terrain at the front didn't give the SAM crews enough time to discriminate friend from foe。 The Russians had many more surface…to…air missiles； and so a freefire zone had been established at Alfeld。 Anything that flew was automatically a target for the Russian missiles； while Soviet aircraft kept clear； working instead to locate and kill NATO artillery and reinforcements。 That ran contrary to pre…war doctrine…another gamble； but a favorable one； Alekseyev judged； given his experiences at the front。 That was an important lesson not stressed enough in pre…war training： senior manders had to see what was happening with their own eyes。 How did we ever forget that？ Pasha wondered。
He fingered the bandage on his forehead。 Alekseyev was suffering from a murderous headache； and a doctor had used twelve stitches to close the wound。 Crude stitches； the doctor had told him…they would leave a scar。 His father had had several such scars； all worn with pride。 He'd accepted the decoration for this one。
〃We have the ridge north of the town！〃 20th Tanks； mander called in。 〃We've pushed the Americans off。〃
Alekseyev took the phone。 〃How soon on the bridges？〃
〃We ought to have one ready in another half hour。 Their artillery support is slackening off。 They blew one bridging unit to hell； but this one will be pleted。 I have a battalion of tanks lined up already。 The SAMs are doing well。 I can see the wreckage of five aircraft from where I'm standing。 I see…〃 The General was interrupted by man…made thunder。
Alekseyev could do nothing but stare at the telephone receiver。 His fist tightened in anger around the handset。
〃Excuse me。 That was close。 The final section of bridge is rolling out now。 Those engineers have taken terrible losses； rade General。 They deserve particular attention。 The major in mand of the unit has been exposed for three hours now。 I want the gold star for him。〃
〃Then he'll get it。〃
〃Good； good…the bridge section is off the truck and in the water。 If they give us ten minutes to anchor the far end； I'll get those dammed tanks across for you。 How long on my reinforcements？〃
〃The lead elements will arrive just after sunset。〃
〃Excellent！ I must leave now。 I'll be back when we start rolling tanks。〃
Alekseyev handed the phone back to a junior officer。 It was like listening to a hockey game on the radio！
〃The next objective； Pasha？〃
〃Northwest to Hameln and beyond。 We might be able to cut off NATO's northern army groups。 If they start to disengage their forces around Hamburg； we go to a general attack and chase them all the way to the English Channel！ I think we have the