"What's the second option?" Nick asked.
"Two of our MI-35MS helicopters. You and your team will go in one, Major Vasiliev and Colonel Antipov in the other."
"Excuse me, General, but how do you propose avoiding North Korean radar? Our intelligence indicates that Yun has excellent defensive surveillance facilities, courtesy of his Chinese allies."
"Are you concerned for your safety, Carter?" Vasiliev said.
Asshole, Nick thought. He's going to be trouble.
"I'll choose not to take that as an insult, Major. I am concerned for the success of the mission. So I ask again, how do you propose to avoid the Korean defenses?"
"A reasonable question," Vysotsky said. "The MI-35MS is a new design, equipped for stealth operations. It's a variation on our first-line attack helicopter, quiet and almost invisible to conventional radar. It's also well armed with several types of missiles, a double twenty-three millimeter cannon, and antimissile defenses. It is somewhat better than similar American machines."
Ronnie raised his eyebrows at the comment. Vysotsky continued.
"It can reach a maximum speed of over three hundred kilometers an hour and is equipped to fly at night over water at a height of twenty meters."
"What if it's snowing?"
"If it's snowing, that is not a problem. From here you will head south over the Sea of Japan, then make a quick turn in toward the target. I am confident you will not be spotted."
He turned to the map. "Major Vasiliev has designated a landing zone here, five kilometers from the target. He feels this will minimize the risk of detection." He tapped a point on the map. "From there you will proceed overland to the site. When the target has been destroyed, you will return to the LZ for exfiltration."
Nick raised his hand.
"You have a comment?" Vysotsky looked annoyed.
"Five klicks is a long way to go, especially if the weather is bad."
"How would you do it, Major Carter?"
"Normally, I'd say go in hot and hit them before they know what's happening. With their defenses, that's not an option. My concern is that five klicks is a long way to go back to the LZ after stirring up that hornet's nest. We should land closer to the target."
Vasiliev snorted. "Perhaps a run of five kilometers after the assault is beyond your ability? My troops can be back at the LZ before the North Koreans recover. It is foolish to risk possible detection by flying in closer as you suggest."
"Foolish? It's more than foolish to wake up the North Korean defenses and hope to make it back five kilometers before they crank up their missiles and interceptors. Unless you think your stealth technology isn't good enough to get close."
Vasiliev's face turned red. "Our helicopters are the best in the world. Our cloaking technology is superior."
"It had better be, or we won't even get as close as five klicks," Nick said. "When we hit that target, the whole sky is going to light up with the fireworks. How long do you think it will take before reinforcements show up? How long before someone talks to the missile batteries? How long before they scramble fighters from the nearest base? I don't care if your people can make it back five klicks in five minutes. It's too far. Doing it that way turns this into a suicide mission."
"You overestimate the enemy capability," Vasiliev said.
"Bullshit. Their leader may be bat shit crazy, but he spares no expense equipping his military. Underestimating the enemy's capability or competence would be a serious mistake. We need to plan this mission accordingly."
Valentina and General Vysotsky had been watching the exchange. Now Vysotsky said, "Colonel Antipov. What is your opinion?"
Vasiliev stood. "With all due respect, General, Colonel Antipov is not familiar with this kind of field operation. This kind of planning requires experience."
"Major, you need to remember who is in command here. Sit down."
Vysotsky just handed Vasiliev his ass in a sling. He's not going to forget that, Nick thought. This is a bad start.
Vasiliev sat. His face was red and tight.
"Both Major Vasiliev and Major Carter make good points," Valentina began.
She's pouring oil on the water, Nick thought. It won't work. I hear a 'but' hiding behind those words.
"I don't doubt that we could make it back to the LZ in record time, however I think Major Carter is correct. It presents an unacceptable risk."
She moved over to a large, blown-up satellite shot of the launch tower and surrounding area.
"I have carefully studied the defensive capabilities of the enemy. There are three mobile antiaircraft guns and two ground-to-air missile batteries on the perimeter of the launch area. The missiles are surface-to-air KN-06s, recently installed. Those concrete towers are the bunkers protecting them."
She indicated the locations on the photograph. They were all some distance away from the launch tower and pad. She pointed to a low building with a radar array mounted next to it.
"This building with the radar tower is the control center for the missiles. The antiaircraft defenses are Chinese copies of our ZSU-23-4, fully mobile. They could be anywhere on site but are likely to be in the same locations you see in the photo."
The ZSU was a self-propelled antiaircraft gun. Nicknamed the "Shilka," it was an effective weapon. First designed in the sixties, it was still as deadly as it had ever been. Shilkas were excellent against low-flying aircraft. Each unit mounted four 23 millimeter, radar guided, water cooled, automatic cannons. If one of those locked onto the helicopters as they were leaving, it meant certain death.
Valentina indicated a low, barracks type building. "The reinforcements Major Carter mentioned are stationed here, a kilometer down the road. They are good troops and must not be underestimated. Explosions will alert them and bring rapid response."
"Go on," Vysotsky said.
"We know we can defeat their defensive radar. I suggest we land two kilometers away from the target. We then infiltrate the site and eliminate the personnel manning missile control and the antiaircraft positions. We do that first, then go after the tower and the launch vehicle. With the missiles and antiaircraft guns disabled we have better odds of successful extraction. Our chances diminish the farther we have to go to reach the helicopters. As Major Carter pointed out, the Koreans are certain to scramble their fighters."
"Major Vasiliev, what is your opinion?" Vysotsky asked. His voice was neutral, but Vasiliev was on thin ice and knew it.
"It is an acceptable alternative."
"Major Carter?"
"I agree. An acceptable alternative."
"Where's their nearest airbase?" Ronnie asked.
"There are small strips scattered throughout the country," Valentina said. "The nearest large base is at Chongjin. It's about a hundred and eighty kilometers away."
"What can they put up?"
"They have Mig-29s and SU-25s at Chongjin. Fast enough to get to the launch site in short order."
"What about perimeter defenses?" Lamont asked.
"Because of its location, Musudan-Ri is considered safe from ground attack. We are not aware of any electronic perimeter defenses, but they may exist. Perimeter fencing is minimal and easily breached."
"Patrols?" Nick asked.
"We know the times and routes of the patrols. You should be able to avoid or eliminate them as required."
Ronnie raised his hand. "Do we have any good shots of that tower? I'm thinking about explosives placement."
"It's a standard design," Valentina said. "If we blow the main vertical supports, it will come down."
"We might not have to," Nick said. "If the rocket is being fueled, all we need to do is set it off. It will go up like nothing you've ever seen and take everything with it. We brought something with us that might do the job."