formation as they rounded Cape Bremenger on the last leg of the journey south.
Soon the landings would be accomplished, and the drive on Bergen would begin.
Then this war would be over, and the new Soviet Union could take its place
again as a superpower, able to dictate terms to a weak-willed world and
restore her broken economy and political structure once and for all.
All it would take was one more success, and after the defeat of the
Americans in Iceland and in the ambush over the Norwegian Sea this last
success would be easy enough to obtain.
The Russians had kept an eye on the progress of the American carrier, of
course, tracking the ships and planes from the An-74 AEW plane over the Soyuz
battle group. The Americans had hung about at the fringe of the exclusion
zone for three days, seemingly unable to depart and unwilling to advance.
Terekhov had advocated launching a strike on the battle group early on, but
orders from Moscow had required Soyuz to concentrate on preparing the
battlefield south of the Sognefjord instead. When the Americans had started
trying to jam Soviet radar and radio signals, there had been some concern, but
the jamming effort had been clumsy at best. As long as the An-74 stayed on
the job, there was little danger of an American surprise attack even if they
were in any shape to launch one.
So one squadron of fighters at a time shared the duty of combat air
patrol over the invasion fleet with a squadron of land-based MiGs out of
Orland, while another of the carrier’s squadrons remained on standby to
protect Soyuz, just in case. The other two were currently on the flight deck,
where busy technicians were prepping them for action to support the landings
in the morning. All four had been brought up to full strength the day before
by replacements out of Murmansk and Archangel.
“Osa, Osa, this is Gnyezdo.” Glushko’s voice snapped him out of his
reverie. “You are ordered to return here at once. Repeat, return at once.”
What was the air wing commander playing at this time? Terekhov keyed in
his transmitter and gave a curt reply. “Gnyezdo, Osa. Request
clarification.”
“American aircraft have been detected approaching Soyuz. ETA now three
minutes. Your squadron is needed to reinforce the defense. The admiral has
ordered it. Comply immediately.”
Terekhov cursed under his breath. He wasn’t sure if he hoped this was
another of Glushko’s paranoid delusions or not. If it wasn’t, the Americans
would regret falling in with Terekhov’s squadron a second time.
“Acknowledged, Gnyezdo. On our way.”
Terekhov shifted uneasily in his seat and changed frequencies to report
to the other escort commander. Just when everything had looked so right …
0006 hours Zulu (0006 hours Zone)
Tomcat 203, Odin Flight
Over the Norwegian Sea
“They’re painting us six ways from Sunday, Skipper. They’ve got so much
radar coverage out there we’re likely to end up looking like a microwave
dinner.”
Coyote smiled under his mask at John-Boy’s hyperbole, but he knew how the
RIO felt. Flying exposed like this, clearly in view for the entire approach
to the target, went against every instinct he had. The fact that the Prowler
accompanying the attack was deliberately keeping its jamming selective and
largely ineffective was no comfort either. He hoped they would be able to
switch over to a more useful mode when the time came for action.
“Don’t sweat it, John-Boy. But keep your eye on that scope. If they
start shooting, I want to know about it.”
“Trust me, Skipper, you’ll know. They’ll know back on the Jeff. Maybe
back in Washington if I scream loud enough and the wind’s right.”
“Odin Leader, this is Asgard.” That was Magruder calling. He sounded
tense. Was he still reacting to the pressures on him because of his new
position, or was he worried over the fate of the Vipers? Coyote suspected
that he’d been unhappy at the thought of sending his old squadron into the
killing ground understrength, but it was the only division of responsibility
that made sense. The special operation Coyote had proposed wouldn’t take a
full Tomcat squadron … but BARCAP over the Jefferson absolutely demanded