“Meanwhile, 6th Fleet will screen off the Russian’s Baltic fleet in Baltiysk, their naval base in Kaliningrad. That will allow 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force to sail east toward the coast of Estonia. The aim is to make the Russians think we want to mount an amphibious landing here on the coast of the Gulf of Riga, south of Pärnu . . .” McCann pointed to the Estonian coast. “It’s the obvious place to land because of the long sandy beaches.”

Dillon nodded thoughtfully. “This looks pretty conventional to me. So, where’s the clever stuff?”

Bear smiled inwardly. Dillon was already getting the measure of her senior military advisers.

McCann grinned. “With respect, Madam President, I haven’t got to that yet.” He pointed way to the south now, at Kaliningrad. “While we’re massing force off the coast of Estonia and on the border with Lithuania, we’ll mount the real operation . . . To secure and disrupt the nuclear-armed Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad.”

At the mention of the word “nuclear,” Bear noted President Dillon’s eyes narrow and her face become expressionless. Like any sane person, she was clearly terrified of being responsible for the unleashing of even one nuclear weapon in heavily populated Europe.

McCann’s voice was equally neutral now, as he pressed on before Dillon could interrupt him again. “We know for a fact that the launch of tactical nuclear missiles like Iskander depends on release authority from the President, Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff through their ‘Cheget’ nuclear briefcases—pretty much identical to any black, slimline attaché case, very like your own.” He nodded to the case on the desk. “On the face of it, and in theory, all three have to agree and all three have their own suitcase,” explained McCann.

“But why are we only going after the tactical Iskanders?” Dillon asked.

“Can I stop you right there, ma’am.” McCann held his hand up, much to Bear’s relief. He had been getting worried, too, that all this talk of different missile types—tactical versus strategic—was confusing the civilians in the room, including the President.

“Modern nuclear weapons are so powerful that it is almost academic whether a missile is deemed tactical or strategic if even one is launched. The consequences for Europe, the world, would be entirely catastrophic. If you aren’t killed in the immediate blast, then fall-out will get you because, once one is launched, it is almost inevitable that the other side will respond with theirs . . . The consequence: MAD—Mutually Assured Destruction.”

The President nodded for him to continue.