Nick fiddled with the pointer. "Until I talk with the Russians we can't pin down details. But we can get the logistics ready. It's cold over there right now. You three put together what we need for personal gear. Pack one of our AT-4's. Take plenty of C4 and our own detonators. The Russians will have theirs but I want to work with our own stuff."
"When are we leaving?" Selena asked.
"The target's on the other side of the world. Plan on wheels up early tomorrow."
CHAPTER 29
Vladimir Orlov listened to General Vysotsky explain his plan. Pale winter sunlight streamed through the windows of Vladimir Orlov's Kremlin office, the kind of light that cast no warmth.
"You should have come to me before you contacted Harker," Orlov said.
"I apologize, Mister President. I wanted to be sure she would cooperate before I informed you. Our interactions with them in the past have been successful. It's an unusual situation, I admit, but common threats have made them useful allies in the past."
"This is the unit with Colonel Antipov's half-sister."
"Yes. Because of this, I want Colonel Antipov to command."
"As you are aware, she is not experienced in this kind of operation. Her skills are somewhat different."
"Yes, sir. Her second-in-command will be Major Vasiliev. He is an experienced Spetsnaz officer with extensive combat experience. I have instructed Colonel Antipov to defer to him in the field."
Orlov snorted. "Colonel Antipov does not strike me as someone who is likely to defer to anyone."
"I agree, but she will follow orders. She is the perfect officer to act as liaison with the Americans. It will help us avoid problems with them."
"Has Yun mounted his bomb on the launch vehicle?"
"We don't think so, but it's possible. We haven't seen anything to indicate that the bomb is on site but they've moved the rocket to the tower. It has not yet been placed in position. Once it's in position, we can be certain the missile is armed. Our source in Korea said there was a two week window to launch. That was ten days ago. Perhaps we have four days, but I want to destroy the facility as soon as possible."
"You are certain we need the assistance of the Americans."
"We don't need their assistance, Mister President, but I think we must include them. They believed Yun intended to launch a missile with a nuclear warhead and had decided to send in a covert team and destroy his facility. There could have been an incident if our forces and the Americans showed up at the same time. Better to work together for the common goal, than risk the possibility of confrontation and failure."
"Very well, you may proceed. Be sure there is nothing pointing back to us if things go wrong."
"There will be no indications we were ever there, Mister President."
"I am holding you personally accountable for the success of this mission."
"Yes, sir."
In other words, if things go wrong your next assignment will be in Siberia, Vysotsky thought. He's not going to like what I tell him next.
"There's another problem, Mister President."
Orlov gave Alexei a sour look. "What is it?"
"Since the elimination of Minister Sirco, Kiev has been stirring up the American press with rumors that we intend to invade."
"That's nothing new. The American press is irresponsible. We are not ready for a ground war in Ukraine, not after the Balkan fiasco."
The year before, Orlov had been tricked into believing he could invade the Baltic States without NATO response. It had almost started World War III. The Russian forces had retreated at the last moment.
"Just the same, I have learned that the Americans have started deploying their so-called 'European Missile Shield' in the Western region. It's a shore based version of their Aegis defense system."
Orlov's face tightened.
"They are being stupid. They know we can't let them place missiles so close to our borders. It is a deliberate provocation."
"Especially since we could easily destroy the emplacements."
"Sometimes I think it is their intention to begin a war with us."
"That is a war they would not win."
"No," Orlov said, "they would not. But neither would we."
"We must respond to their actions."
"Do not worry, General. Since they threaten us with force, we will do the same. I will order our SS-20 intermediate-range missiles deployed along the border. They threaten us, we will threaten Europe. Two can play the game."
"Those missiles are forbidden by treaty," Vysotsky said.
"Treaties are meant to be broken," Orlov said.
CHAPTER 30
China had many ears in North Korea. Word of Yun's plan to attack America had reached Beijing. There were unhappy senior officers in Yun's country, men who feared the next purge would remove them from their privileged positions of power. The execution of Admiral Hwan had sent shockwaves through the top ranks of the North Korean military. Hwan had been a respected and trusted officer. If the Chairman could turn on him, who would be next? One of those officers had made sure their Chinese ally knew of Yun's folly.
A decision had to be made. President Zhang Jei sipped tea while General Liu and Minister Deng waited for him to speak. Zhang set his cup down and dabbed at his lips with a linen cloth.
"It is tempting to allow the destruction of our enemy," Zhang said, "but 'Temptation wrings integrity, even as the thumbscrew twists a man's fingers.'"
"'It is on the path you do not fear, that the wild beast catches you'," Deng said. "It is certainly tempting. But if we allow Yun to destroy the American homeland, they will retaliate. They've based their nuclear weapons around the world, preparing for just such a contingency. They will be angry and turn North Korea into a wasteland. Angry people make mistakes. It will mean war, a war we cannot hope to win."
"I fear that Chairman Yun has reached the end of his usefulness as an ally," Zhang said. "More tea, General?"
Without waiting for a response, Zhang filled General Liu's cup.
"We cannot allow him to launch," Liu said.
"I agree. How do you think we should proceed?"
"I can place a South Blade unit on site. They will destroy his rocket before he can put it in the air."
Deng nodded. "A sensible solution. Afterward, we can deal with Yun."
"Are there any rules of engagement?" Liu asked.
"No one must know we were there," Zhang said. "Take any action necessary. If there is opposition, eliminate it."
"Prisoners might provide useful intelligence," Deng said.
"There is no provision for prisoners on an operation like this," Liu said.
"It doesn't have to be complicated," Deng said. "If you take prisoners, interrogate them and then kill them."
Liu grunted assent.
"How much time do you need for preparation, General?" Zhang asked.
"It requires some thought, but two days should be adequate. We need to study the target, brief the mission, and arrange logistics."
"We must make sure the weapon is destroyed," Deng said. "It's not enough to eliminate the launch facility. The bomb would not have been manufactured at the launch site. Yun will have to move it from wherever it is, install it on the launch vehicle, and make final adjustments."
"Establish twenty-four hour surveillance. General Liu, once we are certain the bomb has been moved to Musudan-Ri, send in your team."
"What about afterward?"
"What do you mean, General? Extraction of our forces? Surely, you can handle that."
"Not extraction, Mister President. I meant Yun. What are we going to do about him?"
"Chairman Yun will be very angry," Zhang said. "He will probably have one of his fits. Alas, such things are unpredictable. I have heard that the effects on one's health can be quite serious, even fatal."