“Effectively the same concept of operations,” replied Williams. “Although we’ve had good intel from other Forest Brother groups, it hasn’t been to the same level as the Brits have provided. There may be minefields. We just don’t know. If there are, and we’re assuming there are, then we’ll have to clear them. But Pravdinsk is the key to the plan as command and control to the other two sites is routed through there.

“So, once in, they’ll disable the nukes at all the sites. My last point is that they’ll then prepare for follow-up air-assault landings by 82nd Airborne at each site. At Pravdinsk we reckon we can build up a brigade on the ground within around six hours. That is more quickly than the Russians can launch an effective, coordinated, multi-brigade counter-attack. Any immediate and localized counter-attacks we’re confident can be dealt with from the air. When the Russians realize what’s happening and get their act together, they’ll come at us with everything they’ve got. Unless, of course, us seizing the nukes persuades the Kremlin to back off. Which is what we are banking on happening.”

He stopped.

Howard was deep in thought, facing the eternal dilemma of the commander who must make the decision to commit men to battle with all its deadly consequences. He turned to McKinlay. “What do you reckon, Dave? High risk if the Russians counter-attack before we can build up an adequate force on the ground. Even if we do and we send in the ARRC to reinforce them, we’ve got precisely the attritional, conventional, land battle we’re looking to avoid. Besides, I’m not sure the Alliance will hold together if we get stuck into a major punch-up in Kaliningrad.”

“Especially as it’s a battle they did not even know we were going to start, so they can say it’s a battle they never authorized,” McKinlay mused.

“Are you now saying you’re not sure, Dave?”

“No, SACEUR, I’m not saying that. In fact we are only a few hours away from capturing the Russian nuclear batteries. There is no indication the Russians have any idea about what is to hit them. Which means the deception plan is working. Which also means we have a fallback plan, of sorts.”

“What do you mean, Dave?”

“The moment we have their missile bases, the whole strategic picture changes. That’s always been our thinking. And, even if Rasputin does not work, or only works for a short time, then we still have our hands on one hundred Russian nuclear missiles . . .”

“Sir?” It was Skip Williams.

“Yes?” Howard looked momentarily irritated at the interruption.