“Vladimir Vladimirovich. NATO, under American leadership, has mobilized significant forces. In the western Baltic, the Alliance has amassed an amphibious force based on 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, that’s an air-ground task force of around divisional size. Supporting it is the American 6th Fleet with two carrier battlegroups and a total of forty ships, with one hundred and seventy-five aircraft. All in all that’s a sizable force in its own right. At the same time, the Alliance has concentrated a strong corps of three divisions under Headquarters ARRC, that’s the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, the British-led NATO High Readiness Force Land headquarters. They are now in northeast Poland, just south of the Lithuanian border.”

“Does that mean we are outnumbered?”

“No. But our forces are dispersed throughout the Baltic states, whereas NATO can concentrate all their effort to achieve decisive effect and we’ll be heavily outnumbered at that point.”

The President thought about this for a few moments. “So the strategic situation is still in our favor. If the Alliance is foolish enough to concentrate its forces at one point, which they must to launch a successful attack, they can be eradicated by just one of our tactical nuclear warheads?”

“Correct, Vladimir Vladimirovich.” The general gave a grim smile. “There may be a distinction between tactical and intercontinental warheads, but the reality is that even the smallest modern warhead is many times more powerful than the bomb the Americans dropped on the Japanese in 1945. Just one well-placed tactical warhead will rip the heart out of an army corps. Those not incinerated on the spot will be too traumatized to continue fighting. Many more will die in the following days and weeks.”

“And they can do the same to us with their Cruise missiles . . .”

“Exactly. The difference is that Russia is such a vast country that we can disperse and hide and enough of us will survive. Western Europe is heavily populated. Their electorates would never permit such a thing. What is more, their politicians know we really will push the button if we are attacked.”

The President nodded, calmer now. “As you say, Mikhail Nikolayevich, exactly. So, is this force they are pretending to threaten us with in the Baltic entirely American? What about the three divisions under the ARRC?”