they manage to join forces, well, I think all of you can draw your own
conclusions.” He gestured toward one of the Flag Staff officers in the front
row, Lieutenant Commander Emerson, and cracked a grin. “Joe here put it best
when the word came through just after midnight. Something about a snowball’s
chances in hell, was it?”
Several in the room chuckled, and Emerson folded his arms and shook his
head with a wry smile.
“Defeatist talk, right? But I’m afraid this time I have to agree. The
men of this battle group have conducted themselves superbly; they’ve given
everything they’ve got and acquitted themselves valiantly. But the odds now
are simply too great. Sooner or later, our opponents are going to find us.
It’ll only be a matter of time before they run us down and overwhelm us by
sheer weight of numbers.
“I have been in consultation with the President and the Joint Chiefs.”
He extracted a printout from his shirt, unfolded it carefully, and began
reading. “‘Flash secret. One … satellite reconnaissance and intelligence
assets confirm presence of second Soviet carrier task force in CAMELOT
operational area. Evidence suggests major sortie by RED BANNER/BALTIC naval
units possibly directed at CAMELOT, as well as Free Norwegian Forces Ashore
(FNFA). This sortie is recognized as a threat to U.S. Navy operations in the
area.'” He looked up. “Well, I’d say they got that right.”
There was scattered laughter in the room. Tarrant pressed ahead. “‘Two
… COCBG will use discretion in preserving full operational integrity CBG-14
while fulfilling basic mission directives and supporting FNFA. If possible,
Soviet naval operations are to be hindered but without risking major loss to
CBG surface assets.’ I’m interpreting that paragraph to mean they’d rather I
not lose Jefferson or the Shiloh.
“‘Three … COCBG is advised that II-MEF has been deployed to Norwegian
combat zone in order to conduct amphibious operations in support of FNFA.
CBG-14 will maintain independent operational command but is directed to
coordinate activities with II MEF through COMLANT.
“‘Four …'” He looked up. “Well, there’s more, but that covers the
major points. It’s signed Admiral Lawrence R. Harriman Jr., USLANTCOM,
Norfolk, but the directives are straight from the President and the Joint
Chiefs.
“Our orders are … ah … comfortably vague. The bottom line seems to
be that they’re leaving the final decision to us. We’re directed to continue
harassing Soviet naval forces in the forward battle area, but to preserve the
fighting capabilities of this carrier group.” He nodded toward Tombstone, who
was sitting in a second-row seat. “CAG tells me that our store of antiship
missiles and other expendables is almost exhausted. Given that, and the
numbers we face, it seems to me the prudent thing to do is to retire. The
lead elements of II MEF are five hundred miles away and already in range of
air sorties off the Soyuz. I can’t emphasize this enough. It is imperative
that we shield the MEF from attack by Soviet air and naval forces. Uh,
lights, please? Let me have that map up here again.”
CVIC’s overhead lights dimmed, and the map reappeared. “Can I have a
view of the whole North Sea, please?” Tarrant asked the projectionist.
A moment later, a new map appeared, this one showing all of Scandinavia
and the North Sea, as well as part of the Norwegian Sea as far west as
Britain. “As of 2400 hours,” Tarrant continued, “II MEF was here, one hundred
miles north of Scotland.
“Now, the word is that mobilization is under way at home, but it’s going
to be a while before the Army is going to be in a position to do anything. By
the time the Army gets it together, all of Scandinavia will be under the
Soviets’ thumbs. That Marine Expeditionary Force is the only shoreside card
we have to play against the Russians right now. If they’re knocked out of the
game early, well, we might as well all go home, because there won’t be a free
Norway to defend.
“Accordingly, it is my intention to withdraw from Romsdalfjord and run
southwest. We will rendezvous with 11 MEF somewhere about here … in the