Teteris looked preoccupied. “Major, I have to tell you that things are very bad here. Latvia suffered a catastrophic cyber-attack two days ago. We have some communications, but much of our national infrastructure has been badly affected. We are doing all we can to fix things, but we can offer you only limited support.”

Shortly afterward, after a much-needed cup of strong, black coffee, Bertinetti had linked up with his kit—flown in by C-130 the day before—and found the room and bunk he’d been allocated in the transit accommodation. He and Teteris then met up with the CRG commander, discovered that the remaining four F-16s were expected that night, and talked through the way they were going to operate, while Mike Ryan, his wingman, checked reception arrangements for the remainder of the squadron.

Bertinetti was conscious that he was going to have to step carefully. Both Teteris and the CRG commander were colonels and he was a major. Although they were merely there to provide support for him and his men—the ones who would be doing the flying, the fighting and, quite possibly, the dying—he still had to follow their commands. He was going to have to find a way of telling them what needed to be done, even though he was their junior.

“Sir, I suggest we establish contact with the Latvian National Armed Forces Joint Headquarters. They probably need to know what we can bring to the party and I’m sure they’ll want to know when we reckon we can declare full operating capability.”

“Good idea, Phil,” replied the CRG Commander. “Why don’t you take a car and head into Riga? I want to stay here and make sure everything is set up for the incoming aircraft.”

“I’ll take you,” said Teteris. “They would very much like to see you at Joint HQ. I’ll get a message through to say you are coming. We’ve now got enough communications for that.”

Two hours later, with Bertinetti still in his aviator’s flying suit but, given that he was now in an operational theater, carrying his grab-bag and issue 9 millimeter Beretta pistol, the car entered the compound of the Joint HQ in Riga.

Teteris led him into the building and, much to Bertinetti’s surprise, immediately took him to the Chief of Defense’s office, where he was personally welcomed by Lieutenant General Raimonds Balderis, a measure of the importance the Latvians placed on the deployment of the American F-16s. Bertinetti briefed him on the ETA, the estimated time of arrival, of the remaining F-16s.

“That’s very good news, Major,” said Balderis. “Now you need to tie down the details of command and control and how you are going to operate alongside the NATO Baltic Air Police mission. It is not straightforward, as they are not operating from Latvia. Correct, Colonel Teteris?”