calling it a UN peacekeeping operation. Hell, maybe they don’t expect
the Russians to put up much of a fight.” He drained his glass and
brought it back to the desktop with a sharp crack. “But fight or no
fight, it’s our baby. I called you here to tell you to get cracking.
White Storm calls for a full Alpha Strike against all known shore
positions, SAM batteries, radar sites, defensive installations, and port
facilities. We’re going to want to pay particular attention to the
approaches to the submarine facilities on the Kola Inlet.
See my Intelligence staff for whatever maps and satellite photos you
need.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We don’t have much time. It’s Sunday night now. Washington wants to
be putting the Marines ashore by Tuesday morning. That’s not much time
to pull together an operation this complex.”
“We’ve done it on short notice before, Admiral. We’ll manage. How
about UNREP? The other day we kind of went through a lot of stuff. Like
AIM-54s.”
“Already taken care of, CAG,” Brandt said from the sofa. “An ammunition
ship, the Santa Barbara, will be joining us tomorrow. She should have
most of the munitions we need.”
Tombstone turned back to Tarrant. “I’m afraid to ask when you’ll need
my op plan.”
“Sorry, Stoney. Tomorrow morning, first thing.”
He groaned. It would take him that long just to go through the
operational orders. “Admiral, I haven’t slept more than five hours in
the past-”
“Save it. One thing, though. It might be an idea to lighten up on your
CAP schedule. Let your people get some more rest, so that they’ll be
fresh.”
“Or if not fresh, at least able to find their way to their airplane.
Okay, Admiral. I’ll get right on it.”
“Thanks, Stoney. I knew I could count on you. That’s all.”
Tombstone started to leave. “Stoney?” Tarrant said. “One thing more.
Morale …”
“Yes, sir?”
“How is it? I mean, after …”
Tombstone nodded, understanding. “Word about Pellet seems to have
spread through the boat, Admiral. All my people know about it. They’re
… subdued, I guess. I can’t say that it’s affected their morale that
badly. At least, not yet.”
But how would it hit them after they had some time to think about it?
That afternoon, Pellet’s body had been found in his bunking compartment
by his shipmates. He’d used a length Of nylon rope to hang himself from
a lighting fixture.
At least, it was assumed to have been suicide. There were signs of a
struggle, blankets rooted up on the bunks, a locker knocked over.
Possibly, Pellet had been murdered … but surely a murderer would have
at least straightened up the furniture afterward. More likely, Pellet
had done the damage himself during his death struggles. His death
clearly had not been an instantaneous snapping of the neck, but
strangulation. Apparently, it had taken him a while to die, and he
might have changed his mind and tried to save himself.
“His death will be investigated by the CID, naturally,” Tarrant said.
“Along with the Dickinson incident. That’s bad enough, of course. But
I’m worried about how the crew will take his death. Especially now.”
“They’ll do what they have to, Admiral. They’ll come through. Like
they always do.”
He turned then and left the room.
CHAPTER 20
Monday, 16 March
1430 hours (Zulu +2)
Bear Station
Barents Sea
Early in the afternoon, the Russians launched another air strike against
the gathering American armada at Bear Station. Composed mostly of
long-range bombers carrying air-to-surface missiles, the strike force
included Tu-22 Blinder-B and Tu-26 Backfire-B bombers, most of them
drawn from the Northern Fleet’s Aviatsiya Voenno-Morskoyo Flota, or
Naval Aviation groups.
Deadliest were the Backfires, sleek, swing-wing, supersonic aircraft
originally designed specifically for missions against naval targets.
Since the strikes were decidedly short-ranged and fuel load wasn’t a
problem, each Tu-26 carried three AS-4 “Kitchens,” cruise missiles with
one-ton conventional warheads and a range of 170 nautical miles. The
bombers were escorted in by tight groups of MiG-25 Foxbats, Su-21
Flagons, and MiG-29 Fulcrums, some with naval markings, others in the
livery of neo-Soviet Frontal Aviation.
The American defenses were tougher now, but there were also more targets