“Initially by the men on the ground—it takes time to plan and execute a major counter-attack—and then by holding them to ransom with their own missiles. But if it looks as if they’re not going to listen to reason, the ARRC will be ready with three divisions to punch in to Kaliningrad to secure and protect the sites. But the bottom line is this . . . Once we have the missiles and the launch codes, that’s when you politicians take over and tell the Russians to, first, back off or else and, second, get out of the Baltic states if they want Kaliningrad and their missiles back. And we believe they will have little choice but to comply.”

“That makes sense,” said Dillon.

“But we need one other key ingredient for this plan to work.”

“What’s that?” Dillon demanded.

“We’ll need to disrupt Russian command and control, both nuclear and conventional, for two reasons. First, we’ll need to suppress what is probably the most effective integrated air-defense system anywhere in the world. Second, we have to stop them using the missiles against us as we go in to grab them. The Kremlin has made it very clear that if there’s any threat against Russian territory, they’ll go nuclear. And Kaliningrad, as I’ve said, is undoubtedly homeland. Don’t forget either, they’ve told us outright that the Baltics now count as homeland as well. The only way this works is if they don’t see us coming. If they do, then the missiles could be flying.”

Dillon frowned. “So the risk is that they’ll target 6th Fleet and 2nd MEF at sea and the divisions forming up under the ARRC in northeast Poland? Particularly if they think we’re launching an invasion of Estonia and Lithuania?”

“Correct, ma’am,” replied McCann. “That’s why we have to disrupt those multiple nuclear communications channels I spoke about earlier: Signal A, V’yuga and Perimetr.”

“I get it,” said Dillon. “Disrupt his command systems, seize his command posts and missile launch sites, turn the missiles back on them, and then invite them to come and have a chat. From a position of genuine strength.”

McCann agreed. “That’s what we figured, ma’am. Then all you’ve got to do is suggest he extracts from the Baltics and he can have Kaliningrad and his missiles back . . . without working warheads, I’d suggest, but I’ll leave that to you. Meanwhile, we’ve got 2nd MEF and the ARRC with its three divisions ready to move into the Baltic states if the Russians show any reluctance to get out.” He paused. “But we’re still working on the cyber operation against the Russian communications channels.”

“Have NSA got an answer to that?” asked the President.