Anna had protested, of course, but Shalenko have overruled her. It was true that renegade Polish units might be scattered around, and they might have the SAM missiles needed to take down a helicopter, but there was little need to actually panic. Russia controlled the air over Poland, the Russian Air Force was reaching out towards Denmark, Germany and even Norway… what possible threat could there be to one helicopter with two attack helicopters escorting it?
Poland was burning. They flew low, but he could still see the fires, the remains of Polish forces that had been caught by surprise by the Russians, or European forces that had been lulled into a false sense of security. Jet aircraft criss-crossed the sky, hunting for the armoured units that the Europeans had dispatched in a desperate attempt to look as if they were Doing Something; when they found a tank, or even a military vehicle, they would take it out with extreme prejudice. The pilot took them even lower as they approached their target, the forces attached to Unit One spaced out around the area, ready and waiting.
“There are no signs that Polish forces have attempted to seek refuge here,” Ivanov said softly. The sight of the American base was awe-inspiring, even to Shalenko himself, who knew what it all meant. The base was studded with antennas, radar domes, aerials and all manner of systems, some of them capable of tracking aircraft far into Russia. “The only Polish force nearby has been soundly attacked and dispersed into the countryside.”
Shalenko nodded as the helicopter came to the ground; he scrambled out and pulled his cap on as Anna followed him, one hand on the rifle she had on her back. He kept his head low as he accepted some salutes, before walking up the road towards the American base. Speed was of the essence… despite himself, he was going to enjoy himself. This was payback time.
The American guard lifted a weapon as Shalenko approached. “I would like to speak with your commanding officer,” Shalenko said, as calmly as he could. His lines had been preset; ironically, they had been preset by the Americans. His English was perfect. “I would… appreciate his presence at once.”
The Guard showed no hint of nervousness. “The CO doesn’t see anyone who comes with an invading army,” he said, making his sympathies clear. “This is…”
Shalenko spoke over him. “This is a base in a war zone aiding and abetting the enemies of my people,” he said, speaking the lines from heart. “You will inform you commanding officer that I will speak to him within the next five minutes or the base will be reduced to burning scrap metal. Your choice.”
The guard pulled down a microphone from his helmet and subvocalised into it. “One moment,” he said, grudgingly. “The CO will be out here within a minute.”
Shalenko had studied the file on Major Alan Fletcher with care. American — obviously — and regarded as a safe pair of hands for a base in friendly territory. The Americans were more or less prisoners on their own base; the European Parliament had insisted on gaining control and jurisdiction over Americans in Europe who left the base and the Americans had balked. Fletcher looked… harmless; his career had been a solid one, rather than exciting. A paper-pusher, Shalenko decided; Fletcher certainly didn’t have the attitude of a Grant or even a Sherman.
“Major,” Shalenko said. He made his voice as present as he could. “I must request that you crease all activities and prepare your men for reparation back to the United States.”
Fletcher’s eyes glittered. “This is an American base…”
Shalenko cut him off. “As your Marine Colonel Vandergrift said to the commander of a Russian research base in Iran, this base is providing aid and support to the enemy,” he said. “You have the choice between shutting the base down — on the same terms as you offered us during the Iran War — or having the base destroyed. I need an answer now.”
Fletcher seemed to stand a little straighter. “That would be an act of war,” he protested. “I certainly have no orders regarding the… incursion on Polish territory.”
“And, as your Colonel refused, I also refuse to give you time to consult with Washington,” Shalenko said. He leaned forward. “I have four batteries of heavy guns back there, Major; I will pour fire onto the base until it is wrecked and incapable of resistance, and then my infantry will secure the site. You have no means of countering my attack and no means of escape; all you can do is die.”
Fletcher seemed to wilt. “This is an act of war…”
“This is exactly what you did to us,” Shalenko reminded him. “If you agree to surrender, we will provide free transport back to Washington as soon as the situation permits it, or we can just send you all to the American Embassy in Moscow. You will not be harmed or held hostage; we won’t even interrogate you as the CIA interrogated some of our people. After the war is over, we will even transfer everything from the base back to American soil; we won’t damage it if you hand it over.”
“After you’ve studied everything,” Fletcher snapped.
“Quite,” Shalenko agreed. “Also… exactly what you did to us.”
There was a long pause. The sound of aircraft could be heard in the distance.
“Choose,” Shalenko hissed. “I have no more time. Your radar feed could mean life or death for hundreds of Russian pilots, and I am not going to allow their lives to be risked by your… insistence on rights that are used to threaten Russia. You set the precedent; live with it. What do you want to do; die here futilely, along with all your people, or go back home to Washington?”
He watched Fletcher’s mind turning over. “I am prepared to surrender on the condition you allow us to wipe the files first,” Fletcher said finally. The self-hate in his tone was remarkable. “If not…”
“You refused to allow us to wipe any files,” Shalenko said dryly. That, too, had happened in Iran, although plenty of files had been burned by the Russians before the base was surrendered. “You set the precedent…”
“Washington will not allow this to pass unpunished,” Fletcher snapped. They both knew that it was an empty threat. Washington had its hands full with Korea and the Middle East, where thousands of little groups had taken the Second Korean War as a chance to hit the Americans and hurt them. “Very well; I will issue the orders.”
“Thank you,” Shalenko said. “You have my word that you and your people will remain unharmed.”
He tapped his radio; the men of Unit One moved in. The Americans came out of the base in small groups, many of them angry and frustrated, even those who had known that the position was completely helpless. Unit One had been trained carefully; the Americans would not be searched, nor would they be cuffed; they would be interned rather than treated as prisoners of war. They would be the lucky ones; the Turks would agree to take them out and send them to American bases in the Middle East. As for the files…
Shalenko knew that the Americans had made great progress in some areas… and the President knew it as well. The chance to examine the base was beyond price, even though it was possible that the American inventions might be impossible to duplicate, at least for a few years. Anything that came out of the base wouldn’t be useful for the present war, but as for the future… well, who knew what could happen? Russia still lagged behind America and Japan in the high-tech areas and anything that could shorten the space was worth having.
He watched as the Americans were taken away on trucks, heading back into Belarus. “General, I just had a signal from 2nd Shock Army,” Anna said. He heard the note in her voice and smiled; he knew that it was good news. “They have pocketed and destroyed the main Polish force between us and Warsaw.”