McCann nodded. “Satellite images indicate they’re maintaining strong defenses along the Polish-Kaliningrad border and, as expected, the Iskander nuclear batteries are well defended by both ground and air defense. So no change there. However, the good news is that these formations are very localized. They’ve had to thin right out on the Lithuanian border in order to reinforce their troops in the Baltic states and they’ve stripped out their garrisons and equipment inside the country.”

“Does that present us with an opportunity? I’m thinking of that idea I heard about a few weeks ago, of snatching Kaliningrad and forcing the Russians to relinquish the Baltics to get it back.”

McCann looked back at his President. His blue eyes, usually alight with the sparkle of humor, were somber. “Ma’am, we’ve looked at the proposition in detail in line with the direction the National Security Advisor passed on.” He nodded at Bear’s boss, Abe McWhite. “The reality is that, although the Russians have thinned out in Kaliningrad, they’ve still got a significant force in place. If we were to attack conventionally, it would almost certainly result in a long and bloody battle with the Russians defending to the last man. We’ve concluded that the best way to succeed is to play the Russians at their own game.”

“OK—and how do you intend to do that?” questioned Dillon.

McCann stepped forward and took the laser pointer from the briefer. Here was a man who understood that it was the commander’s responsibility to have the big idea and for the staff to implement it. Not for him a series of proposals created and driven by his staff, with him in the role of team manager. Unsurprisingly, thought Bear, his team respected and liked him for his no-nonsense, hands-on approach.

“I’ve talked through the detail with Admiral Howard, the SACEUR and his Brit number two, and we’re agreed on the way ahead. Effectively, we’re going to mount a massive deception by making the Russians think we’re planning to invade the Baltic states in a huge envelopment operation. Because, after all, we’ve now got the manpower and equipment to do it and that’s what we reckon the Russians would do in our place.”

The President nodded for him to continue, evidently fascinated to discover what the military had come up with.

“Ma’am, we intend to concentrate our conventional ground divisions in this area close to the Polish–Lithuanian border.” He pointed on the map to the town of Suwalki, in northeastern Poland.