“DSACEUR’s right on the money. The ODAs each have a couple of guys who’ve been specially trained on the wiring of the Iskanders and more are going in with the air assault. They reckon that it will take about thirty-plus minutes to turn one missile round and, under our control, to target Russia. Once they’ve sorted out how to do one, the next ones will be far quicker. They plan to get a minimum ten Iskanders in each battery facing the Russians before there is any counter-attack. That really is a potent threat to back off or else.”

Howard listened intently. “I like the sound of that, Skip . . . I guess if we only have ten Iskanders ready to launch at Russia, that’ll be enough of a propaganda coup to humiliate the President and force a climb-down. Then it’ll be up to the politicians to offer him a way out. Whatever happens, even if Rasputin is overcome and they recapture the batteries, the Russians will have no idea how many nukes will work or what they’ll do if they fire them. Once we’ve had control of them, for even a short time, the Russians won’t dare to use them until they’ve all been stripped down and checked . . . Hell!” He slapped his thigh and grinned. “This is like a nightmare terrorist plot, on speed. And for once we’re the goddamn terrorists—we’re the ones doing it! It sure makes a change from being the ones being kicked, doesn’t it, Dave?”

McKinlay laughed as well. The Admiral was right: it nearly always felt better to be attacking than defending. “Full marks to us for lateral thinking. And it’s not a plan you’d find in a Staff College solution anywhere west of Syria. Which is why the Russians won’t have thought of it. But if Rasputin works—which it will—it offers us the genuine chance of winning the war at a stroke. We’ll hold the Russians to ransom with their own nuclear weapons until they extract from the Baltic states. It is a solution that will see the minimum number of casualties for the maximum amount of effect. Which is why I have always supported the plan . . . as you know.”

Howard nodded his agreement and so McKinlay continued. He knew that, while the buck stopped, ultimately, with the Strategic Commander, as his deputy he was there to support, reassure and share the burden of command. And that meant committing properly to the plan.

“To summarize: high risk, but not yet a gamble.”

“Thanks, Dave. I appreciate your full support. I believe we’re decided then, gentlemen.”