“But Anatoly Nikolayevich,” protested Luzhin, “my men are more than capable of defending this compound. I have a well-planned program of mobile and foot patrols to ensure that the ground defense area out to five kilometers is properly covered. The perimeter is guarded, as you can see, by watchtowers, each with night vision devices and machine guns, which also cover the minefield. I also keep a Quick Reaction Force at immediate notice to move and I insist that my officers are out regularly to check that the soldiers are performing their duties in accordance with my orders. I can assure you, no enemy has dared come near this compound. What more can the general want?”

“I understand, Pyotr Petrovich.” Vronsky was diplomacy personified as he explained the position to his fellow major. “I appreciate that it is unorthodox for one major to give instructions to another, but I regret that I can say very little. I am here by Presidential direction, so I have to ask for your full support. This mission is of strategic importance to Russia and hence a task for Spetsnaz. I will report to General Kirkorov that I found everything here in first-class order, but please withdraw your patrols into the compound. However, I will ask that you maintain your QRF at immediate notice to move and double up the guards in the watchtowers.”

Luzhin, after the inevitable—and procedurally correct—radio call to headquarters, recognized that he had no alternative but to comply and took himself off to his office to drown his frustration.

Vronsky, meanwhile, accompanied by Senior Warrant Officer Dimitri Prokofitch Razhumikin, his Ops NCO, conducted a reconnaissance of the immediate vicinity of the compound based on a careful study of the map and aerial photos he’d brought from Kaliningrad. The ground suited his purpose admirably. The most likely route for the enemy approach was from the direction of the forest, to the north of the perimeter. It would give the terrorists the best cover and get them closer to the command bunker. His deduction that this was their target was further reinforced by a report from HQ that a drone with forward-looking infrared had picked up a heat source in the forest five kilometers north of the compound.

“That’s it,” he said to himself. “The bastards are on their way . . . and they’re not getting away from me this time.”

An hour after finishing his recce, Vronsky gave orders to his team to allow them plenty of time to get into position.