The last Backfire bomber circled Umbozero…South； waiting to land。 The pilot checked his fuel。 About thirty minutes left； there was not that much of a hurry。 For security reasons the three regiments were divided among four airfields clustered south of the mining city of Kirovsk。 The tall hills around the town held powerful radars and mobile SAM batteries to stave off a NATO air attack。 Most of the smelters were still operating； the pilot saw； the smoke rising from the many tall chimneys。
〃Sea Eagle Two…Six； you are cleared to land；〃 the tower said finally。
〃Who will it be tonight； Volodya？〃
〃Twenty degrees of flaps。 Air speed two hundred。 Landing gear is down and locked。 Irina Petrovna； I think。 The tall； skinny one at the telephone exchange。〃
〃What's that？〃 the pilot asked。 A small white object suddenly appeared over the runway in front of him。
The first of twelve Tomahawk missiles assigned to Umbozero…South cut across the runway at a shallow angle； then the blunt nose cover sprang off the airframe； and several hundred small bomblets began to sprinkle over the area。 Seventeen Backfires were already on the ground。 Ten were being refueled from trucks in the open； the others were armed and ready for another mission； dispersed in concrete revetments。 Each bomblet was the equivalent of a mortar shell。 The Tomahawk dropped its plete load； then climbed straight up； stalled； and crashed back to earth； adding its own fuel load to the destruction。 A ready…force Backfire went first。 Two bomblets fell on its wing and the bomber fireballed into the sky。
The pilot of Two…Six advanced his throttles and climbed out of the landing pattern； watching in horror as ten bombers exploded before his eyes and telltale puffs of smoke told him of less serious damage to many others。 In two minutes； it was over。 Crash trucks raced like toys along the concrete as men played fire hoses on the burning trucks and aircraft。 The pilot headed north for his alternate field and saw smoke rising there also。
〃Fifteen minutes' fuel。 You'd better find us a place fast；〃 Volodya warned。 They turned left for Kirovsk…South and the same story was repeated。 The attack had been timed for the missiles to hit all four targets simultaneously。
〃Afrikanda； this is Sea Eagle Two…Six。 We are low on fuel and need to land immediately。 Can you take us？〃
〃Affirmative； Two…Six。 Runway is clear。 Wind is two…six…five at twenty。〃
〃Very well； we're ing in。 Out。〃 The pilot turned。 〃What the hell was that？〃 he asked Volodya。
USS CHICAGO
〃munications is gone； fire…control is gone； fairwater planes gone。 We stopped the leaks。 Engines are okay； we can steam；〃 the skipper of Providence said over the gertrude。
〃Very well。 Stand by。〃 Boston was also alongside。 〃Todd； this is Danny。 What do you think？〃
〃She won't make it out alone。 I suggest we send the rest back out。 You and me escort her。〃
〃Agreed。 You follow 'em out。 We'll try to clear datum as quick as we can。〃
〃Good luck； Danny。〃 Boston raised her radio whip and made a quick transmission。 A minute later USS Chicago's sonar showed the noise of the other submarines racing north。
〃Providence； remend you e to course zero…one…five and go as fast as you can。 We'll cover your tail。 Boston will rendezvous later and we'll both escort you to the pack。〃
〃You can't risk it； we can…〃
〃Move your fucking boat！〃 McCafferty shouted into the microphone。 He was exactly three months senior in rank to his counterpart on Providence。 Presently the wounded submarine dived and headed northeast at fifteen knots。 Her damaged sail structure sounded like a junk wagon in the waterflow； but there was nothing they could do about it。 If the submarines were to have any chance of survival； they had to put as much distance between themselves and the firing point as they could。
MOSCOW； R。S。F。S。R。
Mikhail Sergetov looked around at a group of men still pale at what might have been。
〃rade Defense Minister；〃 the General Secretary said。 〃Can you tell us what has happened？〃
〃It would seem that submarines launched a number of cruise missiles at some of our northern airfields。 Their aim was evidently to destroy a number of our Backfire bombers。 How successful they were I do not yet know。〃
〃Where did they launch their missiles from？〃 Pyotr Bromkovskiy asked。
〃East of Murmansk； less than thirty kilometers from our coast。 A frigate saw and reported the launch； then went off the air。 We have aircraft searching for him now。〃
〃How the hell did he get there！ If that submarine had launched ballistic missiles at us；〃 Bromkovskiy demanded； 〃how much warning would we have had？〃
〃Six to seven minutes。〃
〃Wonderful！ We cannot react that fast。 How can you let them get so close！〃
〃They won't get out； Petya； I promise you that！〃 the Defense Minister replied heatedly。
The General Secretary leaned forward。 〃You will see to it that this can never happen again！〃
〃While we are all here； rades；〃 Sergetov spoke up。 〃Can the rade Defense Minister review overnight developments on the German Front？〃
〃NATO forces are strained to the breaking point。 As the KGB has told us； their supplies are critically low； and with the diplomatic developments of the past few days； I think we may safely assume that NATO is on the verge of political disintegration。 All we have to do is keep the pressure on； and they must collapse！〃
〃But we are running out of fuel also！〃 Bromkovskiy said。 〃The offer the Germans have given us is a reasonable one。〃
〃No。〃 The Foreign Minister shook his head emphatically。 〃This gives us nothing。〃
〃It gives us peace； rade；〃 Bromkovskiy said quietly。 〃If we continue…consider； my friends； consider what we were all thinking a few hours ago when the rocket warning came in。〃
For the first time； Sergetov realized； the old man had made a point they all agreed with。 After weeks and months of promises and plans and assurances on how things could be kept under control； that one false alarm had forced them to look at what lay over the edge of the abyss。 For ten minutes they feared that control had been lost； and all the Defense Minister's bluster could not make them forget that。
After a moment of consideration； the General Secretary spoke。 〃Our representatives are meeting with the Germans in a few hours。 The Foreign Minister will report to us tomorrow on the substance of their new offer。〃
On that note the session ended。 Sergetov tucked his notes in his leather briefcase； left the room alone； and walked downstairs to his official car。 A junior aide held the door open when a voice called。
〃Mikhail Eduardovich； may I ride with you？ My car has broken down。〃 It was Boris Kosov； chairman of the mittee for State Security； the KGB。
36 … Shootout at 31 West！
MOSCOW； R。S。F。S。R。
〃Shall we take a drive today； Mikhail Eduardovich？ Perhaps we can talk？〃 Sergetov's blood chilled； though he did not let it show。 Was it possible for the Chief of the KGB not to look sinister？ he wondered。 From Leningrad； like Sergetov； Kosov was a short； rotund man who had taken over the KGB after running the Central mittee's shadowy 〃General Department。〃 He had a jolly laugh when he wanted to； and in another guise could be the personification of Grandfather Frost； the State's acceptable version of Santa Claus。 But he was not in another guise now。
〃Certainly； Boris Georgiyevich；〃 Sergetov said； and pointed at his driver。 〃You may speak freely。 Vitaly is a good man。〃
〃I know it；〃 Kosov replied。 〃He's worked for us the last ten years。〃 Sergetov only had to watch the back of his driver's neck to know that Kosov spoke the truth。
〃So what shall we talk about？〃
The Director of the KGB reached into his briefcase and came out with a device about the size of a paperback book。 He flipped a switch and it gave off an unpleasant buzz。〃
〃A clever new device made in the Netherlands； he explained。 〃It gives off a noise that renders most microphones useless。 Something to do with harmonics； my people tell me。〃 Then his manner changed abruptly。
〃Mikhail Eduardovich； do you know the significance of the American attack on our airfields？〃
〃A troublesome development to be sure； but…〃
〃I thought not。 Several NATO convoys are at sea。 A major one left New York several days ago。 It carries two million tons of essential war materiel； plus a plete American division； to Europe。 In destroying a number of our bombers； NATO has significantly reduced our ability to deal with the convoys。 They have also cleared the way for direct attacks against Soviet soil。〃
〃But Iceland…〃
〃Has been neutralized。〃 Kosov explained what had happened to the Soviet fighters at Keflavik。
〃You're telling me the war goes badly？ Then why is Germany making overtures for peace？〃
〃Yes； that is a very good question。〃
〃If you have suspicions； rade Director； you should not bring them to me！〃
〃I will tell you a story。 Back in January when I had my bypass surgery； day…today control of KGB passed to the First Deputy Chairman； Josef Larionov。 Have you met little Josef？〃 Kosov asked。
〃No； he never took your place at Politburo meetings…what about the Defense Council？〃 Sergetov's head snapped around。 〃They did not consult you？ You were recovering then。〃
〃An exaggeration。 I was quite ill for two weeks； but naturally this information was kept quiet。 It took another month b