“Nuclear capable?”
“Yes, Prime Minister,” answered General Fletcher. “But can also carry high-explosive and chemical warheads.”
The CDS continued again. “One of our human intelligence sources, codename Sparrow, has identified the movement of elements of a tank division in the area of Kuskin in Poland. The tanks seen were T-64As, and their turret numbers identified them as belonging to the Soviet 20th Tank Division. This division is part of the Northern Group of Soviet Forces. They were seen having their turret numbers painted out, and were moving tactically and assembling along the Polish and East German Border. Another Humint source, Magpie, identified T-80 tanks, turret numbers again painted out, in the area of Kirchmoser, fifteen kilometres west of Brandenburg. The tanks were all laden down with additional material, indicative of an anticipated road march. Brixmis have seen a large number of tanks, probably belonging to 10th Guards Tank Division of 3 Shock Army. They were spotted close to Haldensleben, north-west of Magdeburg. The tour was detained for four hours and then escorted back to Potsdam. They eventually returned to their headquarters in Berlin, shaken, but unharmed. All their equipment was confiscated.”
“Did we lose the photographs then?” asked the Foreign Secretary.
“Fortunately, no. They were able to replace the used film in the camera with a fresh one. Then the exposed roll was stuffed down one of the operator’s underwear, and they managed to get it back to Berlin.”
“What do they show?” asked Air Marshall Walker.
“The pictures confirm they were T-80s, the Soviet’s most powerful main battle tank. They have also reported increased activity around the Letzlinger-Heide PRA. That’s pretty close to the Inner German Border. The Berlin section is also reporting increased rail traffic, and a tank upgrade for the Soviet local units. What is becoming apparent though is that the Soviets and East Germans are becoming increasingly aggressive towards our and our allies’ military missions operating in the East. An operator from the Berlin Section was attacked two months ago; three of our people have been detained and escorted out of East Germany; and the Americans have had one of their own killed. I have more reports if you want me to continue, Prime Minister, Secretary?”
Holmes waved his hand. “No, CDS, that gives us a pretty good picture of what is happening on the ground. Air Marshall, you have some additional information to back up these ground sightings, I believe.”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“Excuse me a moment, Air Marshall. Have they recovered the body of the American intelligence officer, Lawrence?”
“No, Prime Minister.” Christopher Chambers, the Foreign Secretary, answered instead. “The first reports coming back are pretty grim. It is being said that Major Mortimer was left to bleed to death. The Soviets supposedly just stood around and did nothing to address his wound.”
“Are the rest of the crew safe?”
“Just the one, Prime Minister. He was very fortunate by all accounts; a bullet just missing him. He’s on his way back to the States.”
“Thank you. Sorry for the interruption, Air Marshall Walker. Do continue.”
Walker stood up and flicked on an overhead projector that had been set up in the centre of the long table, his fellow officers shuffling their seats sideways leaving a clear passageway for the beam of light that now shone on the white painted wall behind them.
“The shots I will be showing you have been taken from the air by various platforms, including the SR-71, Berlin Corridor overflights and some satellite imagery. The initial analysis of the imagery by 18 Intelligence Company does not bode well.”
He placed the first black and white slide on top of the glowing plate and an image of Soviet tanks seen from overhead were projected up onto the wall. “This was taken by an American SR-71 Blackbird. As you can see, these tanks are in a tactical formation in the area of the Lodderitzer Forest, a forest very close to the River Elbe west of Magdeburg. I would point out that this unit is not part of Exercise Hammer 84.”
He paused, letting the information sink in. He replaced the slide with another. “This image is an overhead shot from an NRO KH-9, code name Hexagon, known as Big Bird. These images are extremely valuable as they are sent back to Earth in recoverable film-return capsules. Resolution from these is better than half a metre. All these shots are secret or NATO secret by the way.”
The shot was at an angle, showing a large barracks area with lines of tank sheds, equipment lined up outside them.
“The tanks you are looking at have clearly been taken out of storage. The only reason for that would be for the exercise that is currently in progress, but it’s a little late for that, or another purpose as yet unknown. The disturbing thing about the location of these tanks is that they belong to a tank division in the Baltic Military District.”
The Air Marshall paused again but, before he could continue, Harriet Willis stepped in. “Thank you, Air Marshall. I don’t think I need to hear or see any more. But what I do need to know from you all, gentlemen, is what is going on? What are you telling me?”
Lawrence Holmes leant forward. “The Soviet Army is mobilising, Prime Minister. We suspect that the exercise may well be there purely to provide cover for their troop movements.”
She nodded. “Two hours ago I was on the phone to the German Chancellor and the American and French Presidents. All three are on their way to London for a meeting to discuss NATO’s defence posture going forward.”
“Are the Alliance of a similar opinion that the Soviets may be up to no good? Surely the Soviet Union aren’t going to want to start a war with the West? It would be madness, utter madness!” Blurted out the Home Secretary.
“Look at the evidence, Jeremy. Over a million Soviet troops are on the move, under the potential guise of an annual exercise. Along with that, we’ve seen Polish units on the march, and equipment in the Soviet military districts being taken out of mothballs. They have detained one of our liaison missions, confiscated their equipment and shot an American intelligence officer. What more do you want, Jeremy?” The Secretary of State for Defence responded angrily.
The Prime Minister patted the table gently. “And we have done nothing about it. We can’t sit here and twiddle our thumbs any more, gentlemen. It is time to act and act decisively.” She pointed at the Home Secretary. “Jeremy, I want this place fully manned and operational within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
“But, Prime Minister, that will disrupt our daily routine of running the Government and the country!”
“For God’s sake, Jeremy, if the Soviet Army invades West Germany, routine will be well and truly lost. Why do you think that three of the most powerful Western leaders in the world are coming to London? Please, see to it, Jeremy. And promptly.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
“COBRA will be set up here, at this facility.” (COBRA, an acronym for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, where the crisis response committee would meet at times of a potential threat, from terrorism to foot and mouth.)
“We must keep it from the public for now, but what would you require to put the country on a war footing, General Hamilton?”
“I don’t see how we can hide it from the public, Prime Minister. We will have to issue call-up papers to all of our Territorial Army units and reservists, and impound aircraft and ships to move men and supplies when ready; commandeer transport to start moving units across to West Germany within the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours.”
“How soon could the Soviet Union strike — attack across the Inner German Border?”